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

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

MARIAH

I raced for the door, ripping it open. Chase barely had time to look up before I threw my arms around his neck. He caught me against him with a grunt, freezing for a moment before he wrapped his arms tightly around me and hugged me close. I thought I’d cried out all my tears last night, but I was sobbing in his arms anyway. He didn’t get annoyed or push me away. He held me as tight as I held him, and the tension in his shoulders told me he was just as upset as I was.

“I thought you were dead,” I murmured against his shoulder.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

His voice was tight like he was choking back tears, and he didn’t let go when I loosened my grip. He just held me, like he wasn’t ready to face the world just yet. And I didn't rush him. I might’ve been there when Nevada died, but I wasn’t as close to him as Chase was.

When he finally let go, his expression was closed off, trying to hide his pain. I shook my head.

“Don’t do that. Don’t pretend to be unaffected. I know you’re not. You don’t have to pretend to be tough for me.”

He looked conflicted for a second before the expression softened and the pain came back. “Sorry. Habit.”

Taking his hands, I pulled him inside. He looked exhausted. He’d already been tired, but I didn’t think he ever got the chance to sleep after being grabbed by his crew. He needed rest. Then we would talk about what came next. I didn’t stick around the hospital long enough to even guess.

Mom was standing in the kitchen, watching us curiously. I shook my head. I’d introduce them later. I led Chase to my childhood bedroom, which was exactly how I left it when I moved out at eighteen for college because my mom refused to believe I wouldn’t move back. My sister’s room was the same. Chase didn’t comment on any of it. I wasn’t sure he even noticed. He toed off his boots, let me take his cut, and dropped face-first onto the bed. I was pretty sure he was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

Taking a deep breath, I felt some of the tension I’d carried in my shoulders fade away. My worry for him had been riding me constantly since he was accosted by the officers of the club. Wondering if he was even alive. Now that I knew he was safe, it felt like I could breathe right again. But until he talked to me, I wasn’t sure how long it would last. Would he still be alive this time tomorrow? Or the next day? If I stayed with him, would I end up like Cleo? Sobbing over my husband’s death, with two teenage boys waiting at home for a father who’d never come back?

I wasn’t sure what was more painful. That, or never seeing Chase again.

When I came back to the kitchen, Mom was waiting for me, her eyes alight with curiosity. I sat beside her at the table, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Thank you for not pestering him. He’s been awake for over twenty-four hours and he’s exhausted physically and emotionally.”

She leaned to put her hand on top of mine. “Was he there?”

I nodded. “Yeah. The guy was his friend, too.”

Her face twisted with sympathy. “Poor thing.”

Pressing my lips together, I waited. I didn't have to wait long.

“So are you two dating or…”

Huffing out a laugh, I shook my head. “Not officially. We’re…” I didn’t even know how to describe what we were. Hookups forced to stay with each other because an asshole from his past wouldn’t leave me alone? My mom would lose her ever-loving mind.

“Is it one of those situationship things?”

I made a face at her. “A what? ”

“Angelica told me about them. Where you’re more than friends, but not boyfriend-girlfriend. Sounds a lot like friends with benefits to me, but she said that wasn’t it.” She shrugged. “I don’t always get what your sister is saying to me sometimes. All I know is that she’s not ready to settle down and won’t be for a while.”

I wasn’t going to argue with that. Angelica was twenty-five and still hadn’t grown up yet. I wasn’t sure what kind of person would be able to put up with her for long periods.

“I’m not sure what that is, either. Or what Chase and I are. He’s… friends with my friend’s husband.” Sort of. They were in the same club. I wasn’t sure if my mom noticed the club logo on his back or even recognized it. She was kind of sheltered thanks to Dad.

“Oh, are you making friends? That’s wonderful!” she gushed. It successfully diverted her from the conversation of mine and Chase’s relationship, and I was happy to tell her about Lacey and Sam. I wasn’t sure they’d still want to be friends with me after I ignored them and called the cops, but they felt like my friends for a little while.

Chase slept through the morning, and I didn't plan on waking him, but I did have to go to work eventually, and I couldn’t call out without notice. I thought about just letting him sleep, but I’d caused enough trouble making decisions like that before. I had to accept that I wasn’t the expert here, and I shouldn’t be making the decision on my own.

Poking my head into my room, I studied him. He looked sad, even in his sleep. His brow was furrowed and his lips tugged down into a frown. I couldn’t imagine the heartache of losing Nevada. It was hard on me, and I didn’t really know him. Crawling into the bed, I laid down next to him. I didn't want to jostle him awake and scare the hell out of him. Instead, I ran my fingers lightly over the frown lines, smoothing them out until he slowly woke up. He opened one bloodshot eye, checked that I was okay, and let it slip shut again. I bit back a smile and poked his cheek.

“Don’t ignore me. I need to go to work. ”

His brows drew together again, and he opened both eyes to look at me. “Seriously? After last night?”

I shrugged. “Sitting around wallowing about it isn’t any easier than going to work. At least there, I’ll have a distraction. I’m thinking I’ll commandeer story time today. Being around a bunch of littles who shout out funny comments is a much better way to spend my afternoon than here at home dodging my mom’s questions about our relationship.”

The last time I suggested even the idea of something between me and him, he shut it down hard and stormed off. And that was just flirting. I waited for the same this time, but he only glanced toward the door with a frown.

“Your mom is here?”

“Uh… Yeah? This is my parents’ house. Did you not realize that when you showed up this morning?”

Rolling onto his back, he scrubbed his face roughly with his hands. “Honestly? I don’t even remember the drive over here. They told me where you were and I hopped on my bike to come see you. I wasn’t alert enough to ask questions on whose house it was and why you went here.”

That scared me a little. Driving overtired was the same as driving drunk. He could’ve gotten into an accident. And none of the Devil’s Disciples wore helmets.

I must not have done a very good job of hiding my scowl because he smirked at me. “Don’t worry. I had an escort.” The smile flickered and died, and I wanted to push to figure out why, but he sat up before I could ask, running his fingers through his hair.

“Alright. I’ll take you to work. Just let me shower first.”

We had time for that, and I figured he needed it. He still had the effects of Croy hurting him to contend with. He had a black eye and bruises along his jaw. I knew his torso would basically be one big bruise. And that was just what Croy did. Who knows what happened after I left? Or during the shootout.

An overwhelming amount of worry for him swelled in my chest. I watched him wince as he pushed to his feet, biting back a wave of tears. I hated what they did to him. Hated that he was suffering. It wasn’t bad enough that he got hurt, either. His friend had died too .

“What is it?” he asked, pulling my attention off the bruises and back to his baby blue eyes.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say. A lot of what was going through my head wasn’t rational. Nor did it make much sense. I wanted to run away and hold him close at the same time. I wanted to demand he leave his crew. I knew that wouldn’t happen, and I’d be stupid to suggest it. None of it made any actual sense in my head. I was still messed up from last night, and I didn’t want to burden him with the craziness going on in my head.

He seemed to figure it out anyway and offered me his hand. “Come on. I don’t want you out of my sight anyway. We’ll shower together.”

Keeping him in my sight would help, but I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. “How much of that suggestion is just so you can see me naked?”

He didn’t answer, but a smirk pulled at his lips and when I finally took his hand and stood next to him, he gave me a heated look that was all the answer I needed. I rolled my eyes.

“You’re awful.”

The smile died out again. It was like a flame that wanted to burn but kept getting blown out with every small gust of wind.

“I know. Come with me anyway.”