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

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

MARIAH

Unlike Chase’s hot and cold, Charlie was a lot easier to read. He came back the next day, and the next. Flirting hard while talking about the books and what he liked about them. The fact that he was actually reading them wasn’t lost on me, and it only put him in a better light. He either liked them, or he cared enough about getting to know me to put in the effort. Either way, I was flattered and smiling every day after he left.

On the third day, he showed up with flowers. Regina was at the desk while I put away some books, and I heard him talking to her before I saw him.

“Now come on. How is a man supposed to expand his mind when there are so many gorgeous women here to distract him, huh?”

I bit my lip to muffle a laugh. That cheesy stuff might work on me, because I was a bit of a romantic, but it wasn’t going to work on Regina. She didn’t respond to that kind of attention.

“Yes, well… Is there something I can help you with?” she asked dryly in response.

“Depends. Is your coworker here? I’ve been working up the courage to ask her out, and I finally found the nerve. You might not believe it, but I’m incredibly shy.”

That made me laugh out loud, though I quickly muffled myself. He must’ve heard me though, because I heard the jingle of the chain attached to his belt as he came my way and poked his head around the end of the aisle, smirking at me.

“What? Don’t believe me?”

“Not even for a second,” I laughed, shaking my head. “What are you doing here, Charlie?”

“Trick, babe. Only my mama calls me Charlie.”

I tried not to roll my eyes. Bikers and their road names. “Fine. Trick. I kind of doubt you finished those books already.”

He put a hand to his chest, mock pained. “You wound me, gorgeous. I’ve been busy with work. I don’t have a lot of free time. What little I do, I’d rather spend with you.”

I tried not to melt at that. He was sweet. Nothing like Chase with his scowls and demands that I steer clear of the club. He berated Lacey about hanging out with me, which she told me all about when we met up to practice self defense. He was really going above and beyond to keep me away. Meanwhile, Trick was charming and sweet and way more the kind of guy I was into. It was getting easier and easier to let go of that crush. He might have saved my life, but that didn’t make him less of an ass.

“Maybe they should call you Charming instead of Trick,” I muttered, setting aside the books I’d been shelving. I needed a stool to put them away anyway.

“Need a hand with that?” He sauntered down the aisle, grabbing the books without waiting for my reply. Shoving a small bouquet of flowers into my hands, he said, “Here. Hold these. Which shelf, gorgeous?”

I pointed to the one just out of my reach. “That one. But–”

He shoved them into place, completely ignoring the system they had to be sorted in. I didn't mention it. It wasn’t his job to put them away anyway. I would just fix it later.

His helpfulness put him right next to me, and he took full advantage, caging me in with his hands on the shelves on either side of me. He smirked. “What do you think? Did I earn a treat for that?”

Biting back a smile, I raised an eyebrow at him. “What kind of treat?”

Cupping my jaw, he dragged his thumb along my bottom lip. “I was thinking this kind of treat.” His voice had dropped lower, huskier, and sent shivers up my spine. I glanced around, worried we’d be seen, but Trick’s hand tightened just enough to get my focus back on him. “Eyes on me, gorgeous. There’s no one else here but you and me.”

He leaned in and I felt his breath on my lips just as my eyes fluttered closed. Before he could close the remaining distance, though, he jerked away. Or was pulled away. By a seething Chase.

“Get the hell away from her.”

My mouth fell open in surprise as Chase shoved Trick against the opposite shelf, knocking books to the floor from the force.

“Chase! What the hell!” I screeched.

He ignored me, as usual, drawing his fist back. Trick ducked before he could hit him, knocking Chase away with an elbow to the gut. His normally playful expression turned serious, and he shoved Chase away with a growl.

“Chase! Stop!” I shouted, trying to get between the two of them. Trick stopped me with an outstretched arm, shooting me a smirk.

“Babe, this ain’t your fight. Wait for me at the desk, alright?”

Like hell. I wasn’t going to abandon him while Chase attacked him. But before I could say so, Chase tackled him, knocking them both to the ground. I wasn’t sure how they knew each other, or if he knew Trick at all. It wasn’t like he was going to stop and explain himself. And I wasn’t sure what to do about two grown men wrestling and punching each other on the floor between two bookshelves.

“Mariah! Come here!” Regina snapped, waving me over to the end of the aisle. She had her phone pressed to her ear, and she grabbed my wrist when I got close enough, tucking me behind her as she spoke to the police. “Yes. Two men in leather vests. They look like bikers. They’re attacking each other in the middle of the library.” She put her hand over the speaker, shouting louder so the two men on the floor could hear her. “I’m calling the cops! You need to leave!”

They shoved apart, and Trick rolled to his feet, giving Chase a scathing look. He left out of the other end of the aisle, heading for the exit with all due haste. I didn’t have time to ask why. He bypassed me completely, ducking out the door and jogging to his bike without a backward glance.

Stunned, I swung around to ask Chase what he was thinking, but he was on his feet too, wiping blood on his lip as he edged past us and ran out after Trick. It looked like he wanted to keep the fight going in the parking lot, but Trick was already pulling away on his bike by the time he got out there. Chase shouted something and Trick flipped him off, disappearing out of the parking lot just as the sounds of sirens filled the air. Chase looked back at me through the glass door, a deep frown on his face, before getting on his own bike and driving away.

“In twenty years as a librarian, I’ve never had an experience like that,” Regina breathed, her hand pressed against her chest in shock. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

I shook my head quickly. “I’m fine.”

“What was that even about?”

I didn’t even have to lie when I replied. “I have no idea.”

The police came and asked questions, but because we didn’t have funding for any cameras in the library, they didn’t have a lot to go on. I wasn’t about to name names, especially knowing at least one of them was in a notoriously dangerous biker gang. I didn't want to put a target on my back. I vaguely mentioned that one of them had flirted with me a few times, but it never went past that. They gave us their card and said to let them know if it happened again before leaving for the night. Regina was so shaken up about the experience, I convinced her to go home early, promising I’d be alright until we closed. The experience was shocking, sure, but not as terrifying as she was making it out to be. I’d experienced way worse.

The rest of the night was quiet, and it wasn’t long before I was locking the front doors. When I turned toward my car, I came up short, nearly jumping out of my skin when I noticed Chase leaning against it.

“Jesus! What the hell, Chase?”

Pushing off my car, he stalked closer, still seething. “What the hell were you doing with him?”

I shot him an incredulous look. “Excuse you. How is that any of your business?”

He bared his teeth, frustrated. “He’s bad news, Mariah. You need to stay the hell away from him. ”

I rolled my eyes, shoving past him. He sounded jealous, and he had no right to be. He made it perfectly clear where we stood, and I wasn’t interested in games like that.

Grabbing my elbow, Chase stopped my forward momentum, his voice gruff. “You’re making a mistake.”

Spinning around, I ripped my arm from his grasp, glaring at him. “Tell me why. Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like you don’t want me to see anyone, but you don’t want anything to do with me either. So what? Because I slept with you once, I’m suddenly off limits to everyone?”

Grimacing, he shook his head. “It’s not about that.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Sure it isn’t. Look, Chase, I appreciate what you did for me and I had fun the other night, but I’m not interested in playing games. You need to leave me the hell alone.”

Spinning away again, I headed to my car. I was unlocking it when he said, “He’s screwing with you.”

Brows furrowed, I looked over at him. He looked determined, but there was an undertone of worry. I almost wanted to roll my eyes. I didn’t need his protection.

“Oh yeah? So a guy being sweet and charming to me is him screwing with me? Why? What makes you think he’d do that? Because I’m not seeing a reason. All I see is a jealous hothead throwing punches when someone else shows me any kind of attention.”

For a minute, Chase was quiet. A muscle ticked in his jaw, barely visible under the street light above us. His hands clenched at his sides and he looked torn, but when I pulled open my door to leave, he finally spit it out.

“He’s using you to get to me. We’ve got a history. He likes to steal women I’m into.”

I wanted to ask more questions about that, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. And that reminder only irritated me more.

“Except you’re not into me. Unless you show you’re interested in women by avoiding them completely,” I pointed out with a scowl.

He ran a rough hand through his hair, grinding his teeth so hard I could almost hear it. “It’s not– Look, you’re a beautiful woman and any guy would be interested. But you’re sweet and kind, and you don’t belong in my world. It's too dangerous. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

He actually sounded sincere for a second, and it threw me off. “I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“No, I know that,” he replied, stepping off the curb to close the space between us. “It’s an old habit. And my job most days. You don’t belong around us. Just go back to your life and steer clear. You don’t need to be dragged into our shit.”

I knew why he was saying it. I’d seen evidence, heard the stories. But it still hurt that he constantly told me I didn’t belong. Maybe I wanted to. I liked hanging out with the old ladies, and the party at the clubhouse was fun. I didn’t feel like an outsider when I was there. Only one person seemed determined to chase me away.

“Alright. Fine. You want me to stay away from the crew, I will. But I’m not giving up my friendship with Lacey. And you need to stay the hell away from my dates. You might not want me around, but he does.”

A pained expression flashed across his face, but I ignored it, dropping into my seat and shutting the door. I had to wait for him to back away to pull out, but I didn't look at him. Not until he slapped his palm on the hood of my car, jogging around to talk to me.

“Give me your phone,” he demanded after I rolled down my window.

“What? Why?”

He sighed heavily, the exasperation thick in his tone. “Just do it, Mariah.”

Rolling my eyes, I handed him my phone, watching him type in his phone number in my contacts. When he finished, he handed it back to me, his voice terse.

“I know you don’t believe me now, but he’s going to show his true colors eventually. I don’t want you getting hurt in the crossfire. So I don't give a shit what time it is, where you are, none of that. If you need help, call me. I’ll come get you. And whatever you do, don’t get anywhere near his crew. Understand?”