Devil’s Vengeance (Devil’s Disciples MC #6)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

MARIAH

Despite the location change, the evening ended up being a good time. The club VP, Nevada, stuck around to watch the baby and his wife joined us for drinks and socializing. And when I was ready to go back home, the prospect was allowed to drive my car and got picked up by someone else after dropping me off. No chances for drunken relations with Chase. I reminded myself a couple times not to be disappointed by that.

Chase hadn’t stuck around anyway. He dropped us off and left to deal with whoever showed up at the club. None of the girls knew who it was, and despite the feeling like I recognized one of them, I couldn’t figure out how. We all let it go and moved on. Lacey and I even made plans to meet up for self defense lessons. She went to a gym in the city because it had child care and I didn't mind the drive if it meant better self defense lessons than I was getting at the place in town.

I kept waiting on Chase to show up the next time I had work, figuring he’d at least have something to say about the way I dismissed him the last time we spoke. But he never did. After two weeks of him showing up regularly, it surprised me when he wasn’t there. I was not disappointed. Nor was I going to waste my time crushing over a man who pretended I wasn’t there and growled at me whenever he couldn’t ignore me.

No matter how good the sex was, or how much hero worship I once had. Still had. I didn't want to admit out loud that he still intrigued me .

“Aw, you’re breaking my heart, honey. Why the long face?”

I glanced up, surprised. I’d been unfocused, frowning at my computer screen while I tried to convince myself I wasn’t hung up on someone not worth my time. The library was usually quiet right about now, everyone at lunch or working. I hadn’t even heard anyone come in.

“I’m sorry, I was focused on something else. Can I help you?”

The man who’d startled me didn’t look all that upset about my lack of focus. Thankfully. It didn’t happen often, but sometimes people showed up and threw a fit if they weren’t helped immediately and efficiently. This guy had a smirk on his face, so he obviously didn’t mind. He was handsome, too. Shoulder-length blonde hair, steel-gray eyes, square jaw with a light beard. He leaned casually on the desk, his eyes dancing, giving him mischievous vibes.

“Dunno. I told my mama I’d read more this year but I’ve been slacking. Got any recommendations?”

I pursed my lips at his flirtatious tone. Part of me wanted to turn him down flat before he got any ideas. I knew why, though. And I was done being hung up on Chase. Besides, it was just a little harmless flirting.

“Of course. What genres are you interested in?”

I pushed to my feet, coming around the desk to show him around. Getting a full view of him made me pause, though. He was a biker. The outfit that tipped me off. Club vest, jeans, leather boots. Not anyone I’d seen on Chase’s crew, though I hadn’t met all of them. But I feel like I would’ve noticed him. Alarm bells went off in my head, remembering Chase’s warning about their life being dangerous and rival crews showing up to the club. But that had nothing to do with me. Right?

He eyed me up and down, his expression appreciative. “If the librarians looked as good as you when I was a kid, I might’ve read more books.”

Despite the trepidation, I found myself smiling. “Yeah? What did your librarians look like?”

He made a face. “Old. One walked with a hunch. She spit every time she shushed people, even if they were right next to her.”

My mouth twisted in a grimace, which made him chuckle.

“Alright, yeah. That sounds awful. When I was in school, the librarian was a middle-aged woman with a perma frown. I felt really cool because I was the only one she ever smiled at.”

“Ah. You were one of them, huh?” he teased.

He was charming for a biker, less rugged and growly than Chase or the other guys I got to know at the party. He followed me through the library, flirting up a storm, doing everything he could to make me smile. And he actually seemed to care about the recommendations I made him. I figured suspense was more his style and showed him a few popular ones, and he was curious enough to take them. I was a little disappointed when we walked back to the circulation desk. I couldn’t keep him here forever just because I liked the attention. It was nice to be around a guy who wasn’t glaring at me.

“So the books will be due back in a week, but if you need an extension, you can just tell me. As long as someone else isn’t waiting for them, I can give you more time.”

“Is that a comment on my intelligence?”

When I looked up, startled, he flashed me a massive grin. I rolled my eyes, biting back a smile.

“You’re awful. That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Yeah, but it got you to look at me again. I don’t like it when your eyes aren’t on me, gorgeous. You’re stealing away the view.” He reached out, trailing light fingers from my temple along my jaw. It made my heart skip, and I floundered, looking for a response. In my entire dating history, no one had ever been so forward like that before. Not while still sounding charming. The guys who normally acted that way didn’t have the skill to back it up. They were all talk. Somehow, I got the feeling that this man was different.

“I, uh… I need a name for the library card.”

“Charlie Baton. My friends call me Trick.”

I was in a much better mood after Charlie left. He coaxed my number out of me and promised he’d be back. I was curious if he’d actually read the books I recommended. I got the feeling they were more an excuse to talk to me. It was flattering, but I couldn’t help but hope he read them. I loved reading, and it was important to me. If I were dating someone, I hoped they’d at least have some interest in books. Though I could let that go if necessary. It wasn’t like I needed it. It would just be an interesting conversation.

Regina had the day off, so it was just me at the end of the night. It made me a little nervous, but I’d parked as close as I could to the front door and underneath a light so I wouldn’t miss anything shady. Still, I was grateful when my phone rang and I heard Lacey’s voice on the other end.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“These books are hilarious. Do they seriously think the crew just lets women get involved like that?”

Smiling to myself, I set the alarm and locked up, looking around cautiously as I headed to my car. “It comes up from time to time. Do none of the women in the crew help out?”

She hummed thoughtfully. I could hear her son babbling in the background. If I had to make a guess, I’d say she was getting him ready for bed and wanted to chat.

“Closest to it is me, I guess. My club is owned by the crew. If my girls happen to get information, I share it with Croy. But it doesn’t really count. We aren’t wheeling and dealing or whatever else these books think we do. That’s club business. We aren’t even allowed to know half the time.”

That didn’t really surprise me. The fewer people involved in criminal activity, the less likely you are to get caught. At least that’s what I’d read anyway.

“What are you up to?” Lacey asked, before scolding her son. “Mijo, no. Mama’s earrings aren’t toys. Here, have this. Your daddy can throw a fit about it later.”

I couldn’t help but ask, “What did you give him?”

“A baseball. He caught it at a game or whatever. I didn't even know he liked baseball until after we got married. What kind of biker likes baseball?”

I snickered, starting up my car. “What? Did you think he only liked drugs and violence? They’re people too, you know.”

“Don’t start,” she growled, though there was no venom to it. I could hear the smile in her voice. “Did I tell you I didn't even know his first name until he signed the wedding certificate? He introduced himself as Brewer and I didn’t really look into it.”

We chatted all the way home, and once I was safely in my apartment, she hung up. I got the feeling she called just to make sure I was okay after I mentioned the other night that I was still antsy after I was kidnapped. It was nice knowing I had some friends now. It made me happy that she cared.

The day overall went better than I thought. Even though Chase stopped showing up and still wanted nothing to do with me, I didn’t have to dwell on that for long. I met a cute guy who was actually interested in me, and didn’t once mention that I didn’t belong in his world. I felt like Lacey and I were officially friends, and my mom didn’t pester me for thirty minutes after I got home about moving again. Apparently, my sister was arrested again so her attention was diverted away from me. All in all, things were looking up. Maybe I’d finally be able to get past what happened and move on with my life.