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

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

CHASE

Lacey was surprised to see me when I showed up at the club, but didn't say anything. Brewer was there checking in before the place opened and she told me she wouldn’t say anything while I handled business. I parked myself outside her office, since she refused to have anyone hovering all night. Right outside the door was close enough for her, and it was as far as she was willing to compromise. I knew, and so did Brewer, that Lacey wasn’t going to back down. She was a hellion, and didn't take shit from anyone. Not even her old man.

Trick didn’t show up at the club that night. He hadn’t shown up at the library either. I saw no sign of him during my drive in. If it were anyone else, I would’ve assumed they were in the wind after almost getting caught by the pigs. But this was Trick. He was just biding his time. And I needed to be prepared for his next move.

My mind flicked back to Mariah. Why the hell had he sunk so low to target an innocent woman? And how would I keep her safe from him without mentioning shit to my crew? I felt like I was putting her life at risk by keeping it from them, but I’d forfeit mine if I told them the truth. Reaper warned me what would happen if I brought my personal shit anywhere near the girls. The only hope I had for saving us both was handling Trick myself.

On my break, I headed out to pick up Mariah. People would get suspicious if they noticed I was babysitting her, so I texted her when I left and she waited for me in her car at the corner. I followed her back to the clubhouse, brought her upstairs, and went back to work without anyone noticing my absence. Anyone but Bear, that is.

He was waiting for me when I got back, glaring from his spot outside Lacey’s office. I’d left Aero there, not him, so I was surprised to see him. I frowned.

“What are you doing here?”

“Where were you?”

He was becoming a demanding asshole since I told him what actually happened with Trick. He thought I should tell the crew. I refused, so he decided to be up my ass about it instead.

“Bringing Mariah home from Sam’s. I don’t want her going anywhere alone.”

His brow furrowed. “Why is he after her? You can bullshit everyone else all you want, but I know you. You can’t stand her.”

Apparently, I could bullshit him just fine. My feelings for Mariah were complicated, but there wasn’t any issue with me liking her. If I felt like she could handle it, I’d think about claiming her. She was gorgeous, funny, she didn't panic in hard situations, and she was smart as hell too. But I wasn’t letting her become another Hannah. No matter how badly I wanted her.

“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He came looking for me, she was there. I’ll handle it.”

He scoffed, raising an eyebrow at me. “Like you’ve handled it so far? How bad does it need to get before you admit you need help?”

I glared at him, but didn’t take the bait on that one. I wasn’t going to bring my crew into it. It was my fucking problem.

“Shouldn’t you be working right now?”

He huffed out a laugh and shook his head before turning to walk away. I watched him go, my hands flexing at my sides. He didn’t get it. He wasn’t there when Hannah died. Or when Mariah was taken. The Trick issue was personal. I was going to handle it on my own.

I was still pissed when I headed back to the clubhouse. Brewer showed up to shadow Lacey home so I could go straight back. I was going to look for signs of Trick, but Bear was watching me and I knew he’d follow me. I wasn’t interested in his help. Instead, I went home and vowed to head out again once he was asleep and no longer stalking me.

I’d honestly forgotten Mariah was in my bed until I walked into the room and startled her awake. She sat up with a gasp and I hit the deck when I realized she’d found a spare pistol of mine from my nightstand and had it pointing directly at me.

“Holy shit, woman!”

“Chase? What the hell? Why would you just bust in here like that?”

Shoving to my feet, I stormed over and snatched the gun away. “Do you even know how to use that? You’re going to end up blowing the wrong person’s head off.”

She scowled at me, crossing her arms over her chest. “Of course I know how to use it. I wouldn’t touch it if I didn’t.”

That… was a little hot, actually. And not something I needed to be focusing on. She could be lying to get away with it, too.

“Oh yeah? Who taught you?” I demanded.

She rolled her eyes at me. “My dad. He’s a trucker. Every once in a while, someone does something stupid like try to rob him. He has a permit to carry. He always said since I was a woman in a rough town, I needed to be able to handle myself. So I carry a taser when I go to clubs, I know how to use a weapon, and I always have my location tracker on my phone. I’m not an idiot, Chase.”

The list was a lot more extensive than I’d originally thought. Maybe I was wrong about her.

“Maybe you know how to use it, but you shouldn’t if you’re jumpy enough to point it at me coming through the door.”

Apparently, it didn’t matter if I was wrong or not. I was still in a shit mood, and being on the business end of my own pistol didn’t help matters. I put the safety back on, tucking it and the one on my ankle away in the nightstand. I stripped off my cut, laying it on top of my dresser, and started undressing, too irritated for small talk right now. Not that Mariah seemed in the mood. She seemed just as irate as I was .

When she let out an annoyed sigh, I looked over my shoulder at her while fighting off a scowl. “What?”

She gave me a look that said I was an idiot. I was getting really tired of people questioning me right now.

“Fucking spit it out, Mariah. What?”

She thrust her hand at me. “That! You keep flipping between asshole Chase and nice guy Chase. I never know who I’m going to be talking to next! It’s exhausting!”

Making an irritated sound, I sat on the edge of my bed to take off my boots. “So I’m the bad guy because I don’t like having a gun pointed at me? Jesus, Mariah.”

“I didn’t say that! Though you should’ve expected that when you came barreling in here like a gorilla. Someone literally threatened my life the other night. I’m allowed to be on the defensive. Just because we’re in the clubhouse doesn’t mean it’s one hundred percent safe. But come on, Chase! You’ve been like this all day! Nice one minute, an ass the next. You’re giving me whiplash.”

So that’s what she’d meant by that comment earlier. I felt a little guilty, because yeah, she’d been through hell recently, but I had a reason for it. I just forgot to explain it to her.

“I don’t want Trick thinking he was right about our relationship. He’s already fixated on you. If he thinks he can use you against me, he won’t leave you alone. So I was trying to stay aloof, so he’d take the hint that you and I weren’t together. I’m trying to get him off your tail.”

She rolled her eyes so hard, I almost laughed. Even when she was driving me nuts, I still wanted her. Damn it.

“First of all, thanks for not telling me that before. Appreciate the vote of confidence. Second, you can be aloof without being such a dick. And third, pretty sure it doesn’t matter anymore. Relationship or not, he knows you’ll come for me. I’m already on his radar. I don’t think you making it obvious you don’t like me will change anything. So while we’re stuck together, can you at least pretend to be a decent human being?”

I made a face. “Who the hell said I don’t like you?”

She shot me a dry look. “Have you ever given me any evidence to the contrary? Aside from the day we met, you’ve been on my ass about not belonging here and basically telling me to fuck off in big neon lights. What else am I supposed to think?”

“That’s because you don’t!” I shouted. I was way too damn worked up, but I was tired of defending myself from fucking everyone. I was trying to keep her safe.

With a scoff, Mariah tossed the blankets off her legs and rolled out of bed, grabbing clothes from the bag she’d brought with her.

“What are you doing?” I demanded when she began pulling them on.

“Leaving. I’m not doing this with you anymore, Chase. I don’t like the mind games. I’m going to stay with my parents until I find a new apartment. That way, Trick won’t be able to get near me. You won’t have to pretend to put up with me anymore, and I won’t have to wonder which version of you I’ll have to deal with. We both win.”

Fuck.