My fingers itch to write him a reply, but he isn’t worth it. Although, my curiosity is peaking, so when he calls, I’m hitting answer instead of decline.
“What do you want, Baze?”
“Where are you, babe?”
Babe? He’s never called me babe before.
“Tell me where you are,” he pushes.
“I’m surprised you want to know, you set me up to save yourself. Why do you care where I am now?”
“Are you with him?”
“Him?”
I know he’s asking about Dex, but I want to wind him up.
“Dex,” he snaps, clearly losing his patience.
“Oh, him. Yeah, I’m still with him. He’s keeping me company while I find my mom.”
I don’t know what is coming over me, but I want to annoy the shit out of him. I want him to get angry, and shout at me. It’s only over the phone, he can’t touch me now.
“Why are you with him? You don’t even know him?”
“Turns out I didn’t know you either.”
“Come home, no one is angry with you…”
“Fuck off.”
I hang up and drop the phone on the bed. I stare at it for a second and then laugh.
I told a brother, Baze to be specific, to fuck off. My dad would have beat the shit out of me for showing such disrespect to someone in the club if he were still here. My laugh builds uncontrollably when I think if he were still here, he’s not, because he was taken out by a brother from his precious club. How fucking ironic.
“What the fuck are you laughing about?”
I spin around to see Dex is back, holding two bags of takeout.
I fall back on the bed and chuckle.
“Baze just called, he wanted to know where I was and wanted me to come home.”
“And that’s funny?”
“Not really,” I say, “I told him to fuck off and hung up on him. He won’t be happy, just like he wasn’t when I told him I was with you.”
“Was there more to your relationship than you told me?”
“No.”
He puts the food down, and I cross the room and tuck in. I’m starving.
“How did you sleep?”
“Very well,” he smirks, looking a lot less tired.
It’s quiet while we eat, but it’s not awkward.
“Have you heard anything about my mom?” I ask, hoping he has.
“No, my brothers are on the road, I probably won’t hear anything until they get here.”
“Once your club arrive, and deal with Baze, will you leave with them?”
He mulls it over and his chocolate brown eyes hold me down.
“I don’t know.”
I’m not so hungry anymore and I pick at the food he puts in front of me. It’s going to be a long day and I still don’t know where my mom is.
Dex rolls his head for the tenth time and lights another fucking cigarette. Nothing is on the tv and neither of us have said a word in over an hour.
“Let’s play a game,” I say, rolling onto my stomach lying on my bed.
“We’re not twelve,” he grunts.
“No, but we’re bored, and I can’t watch another episode of whatever the hell this show is.”
“Fine, what game do you want to play?” he asks, stubbing his cigarette out in the ashtray.
“I’ll ask a question, and we both have to answer at the same time.”
Rolling his eyes, he stands and grabs the last of his whiskey and falls onto his bed, mimicking my position and says, “Sounds fun, crack on,” he mutters, sarcastically.
“Favourite food?”
“Pizza,” he says as I say, “Lasagne.”
“Favourite movie?”
He rolls his eyes and answers, “Die Hard.” And I answer, “The Hobbit.”
“My turn,” he says, swigging from his bottle.
“What age did you lose your virginity?”
“Eighteen,” I admit, as he says, “Fifteen.”
“How many people have you slept with?” I ask next.
“One,” I admit again, “I don’t keep count.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. I’m starting to believe whoring around is built into most men.
“I’ve got one,” he says and passes over the whiskey. I take it from him and let the amber liquid burn my throat on its way down.
“Favourite sex position?”
“Doggy,” he answers his own question and I roll onto my side and sit up. I don’t want to play this game anymore.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Nothing, it’s getting late. I’m going for a shower.”
I disappear into the bathroom before he asks again what’s going on. I stare in the mirror and hate my reflection.
My favourite sex position is missionary, because to me, it’s the most intimate a guy can be with me as he stares down at me. How fucking boring does that sound compared to doggy style.
He knocks on the door, and I freeze, hoping he’ll leave me alone and go to bed. He knocks again and tries opening the door. I can’t hide in here all night. I take one last look at my reflection.
“Come on, Libby. You like what you like and who cares if no one else does,” I say, giving myself a pep talk.
I open the door and Dex is standing bang in the middle of the doorway.
“Are you okay?” he asks, looking down at me.
“Absolutely fine,” I smile and nip around him.
Pulling back the sheets, I turn out my light and shove the food onto the dresser.
“Seriously? The game was your idea,” he says.
“It was a stupid idea, and I’m tired.”
He takes his seat by the window, and I lay down with my back to him.
I should be focusing on finding my mom, not trying to impress another biker.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Dex
Opening my eyes to Libby beside me is fast becoming my favourite part of the day. Shit got awkward last night, and I don’t really understand what happened, but it didn’t stop me sleeping in her bed. She’s so easy going, she has no fear and I like that. It rubs off on me and makes me feel better about everything.
This morning, I’m clung to her back with my arm around her and she’s nestled in my arm peacefully.
She feels amazing and my dick agrees too, so much so, it’s straining against her thigh. I need to get up before she wakes up, but I’m not ready to move and lose this connection with her.
“It’s not good for your health to be that hard and not do anything about it,” she murmurs, not moving to look at me.
She pushes her ass into my groin and causes me to throb. I promised myself I wouldn’t go anywhere near trouble again, and while she didn’t kill her dad, there is a shit storm around her. The last time I got close to trouble, it nearly ruined me. I don’t think Libby could ruin me like Melissa did, plus, I have to get some pussy soon or it’ll start effecting my health or some shit.
Sliding my hand up to her face, I cup her cheek and guide her head around to meet my mouth.
One morning with her won’t hurt.
Our lips connect and she’s just as hungry for me as I am for her. Rolling on top of her, I use my knee to open her legs further. She winds her arms around my neck and pulls me down to deepen our kiss.
“Missionary is my favourite position, but not the only one I like,” she says into my mouth and I chuckle.
She likes to choose her timing.
“Missionary is all good with me.”
Grinding my hard on against her, I could blow just at the contact.
Then it’s over. My phone rings, and I’ve never hated my phone as much as I do right now. I have to get it.
Like I knew it would be, it’s Cas, and I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and answer it.
“Morning,” I grumble, trying not to sound too disappointed.
“Morning, sunshine,” Cas chuckles down the line and I smile, “We’re a few hours out, book
all the available rooms the motel has and be ready to tell me everything, again.”
“Are you not riding straight to the clubhouse?”
“No, I want a full night of sleep. After everything we’ve been through, a betrayal like this would send me to shoot him on sight. I need a clear head first.”
Fair enough.
“See you soon.”
He hangs up and I throw the phone down, ready to get back to Libby, only to find the bed empty and her in the bathroom.
“Thanks, Cas,” I mutter to myself.
“One more game?” she asks, shuffling the cards.
Poker with her would be much better if it involved her losing her clothes, but still, I nod and light another cigarette. We’ve been playing cards for the last hour, she’s been finding shit for us to do, everything but sex
The roar of bike engines surround the motel and I jump up to my feet, looking forward to seeing my brothers. It’s been over three months since I left Willows Peak and the only ones I kept in touch with was Cas and Slade.
“Tell me again quickly, what’s your president like?”
“Don’t be so worried, Cas believes me, or he wouldn’t be here. He’s a fair man, a good man.”
A man who wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for me.
She doesn’t look any less calm as I open the door.
“Stay in here, I’ll be back in a beat.”
I should have put my jacket on, the bitter air bites into my arms and I cross my arms as my brothers all come to a stop, taking up most of the parking lot.
“Dex,” Sparky hollers, swinging his leg over his bike.
He walks towards me and throws his arms around me, patting my back, he lets me go and grins.
“It’s fuckin’ good to see you, brother.”
“It’s good to see you too, Sparks,” I tell him.
After greeting my brothers, Cas steps forward and nods towards my room.
“How was the ride?” I ask, as we pile into my room.
“It was cold, but smooth,” Cas says, as they all take in Libby hovering by the bathroom door.
She’s trying to be brave, but I can see the doubt burying itself in her eyes.
“Cas, this is Libby. Cameron’s daughter…”
“The one they told me killed him,” he says, stepping closer to her, she watches his every move and sucks in her bottom lip when he stops in front of her.
“I knew your daddy, you have my condolences, but as I understand it, you wouldn’t want them, am I wrong?”
She shakes her head.
“Why is it, when a man is brought to his knees, there is always a woman around close by.”
I hope he isn’t talking about Melissa.
“Cas, Baze set her up…”
He holds his hand up for my silence, and I step back closing my mouth.
“I have little patience left for pussy when it comes to my brothers. Until I have all the facts, don’t say a word.”
Frowning, I can’t believe he’s being like this.
“Slade, let me know first when you have details on the mom.”
Slade nods, and takes a seat by the window.
Cas was tense before I left, he hasn’t changed much since. Sitting on the end of the bed, he motions for Libby to sit on the chair and he lights a cigarette.
She moves the chair closer to me, and Ricky raises an eyebrow.
“Maybe we should watch her, we wouldn’t want our Dex getting caught up in another web of deathly decisions.”
“Dex is more than capable,” Pope grunts.
“I’m just saying, we all know how he is around the pretty ones…”
Pope slaps him upside his head and I’m ready to throw a punch of my own.
“What the fuck, Pope?”
“I let you put a ring on my daughter’s finger and you’re worrying about the pretty ones.”
“I’m not worried about her, am I. I’m worried about our boy, I want him to come home. If he has to kill this one, he’ll never be right with himself.”
“Enough,” Cas barks, not finding them amusing anymore.
My gut sinks to the floor.
I avoid Libby’s face full of shock and look away. Why would he say that?
“Before we lose it and go insane, talk me through everything that’s happened since you got here.”
Leaning against the wall, I regale my time here in Mercy. It’s the same as I told him over the phone.
He loosens up towards Libby and I notice she keeps looking over to Slade. Jealousy rocks me and nearly knocks me off my feet. I’m not jealous because she’s not looking at me.
“We’ll get our heads down tonight and head to the clubhouse first thing in the morning.”
Relief floats around the room and Sparky is the first one to leave, mumbling something about calling Bonnie.
Pope and Ricky are the next ones to move and Ricky stops in front of me.
“I wasn’t trying to be a dick before, you know, about Melissa. I just want you to be okay and come home.”
I squeeze his shoulder and he and Pope leave. Cas doesn’t say anything as he disappears, and Slade stands.
“I haven’t been able to track your mom yet, if there is anything else you can give me that will help, I’m in room…” he looks at his key, and back up to Libby, “Three.”
He struts out and I close the door behind him.
“I honestly thought my mom would’ve stayed close by, for me.”
“She might’ve done.”
“I’m starting to think she’s long gone.”
I feel bad because she feels bad.
“Anyway, now your club is here, I should go.”
Go?
No.
I don’t like the sound of that.
Bad fucking plan.
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know, somewhere where the sun shines more than it rains.”
“Stay,” I blurt out, “At least until we leave town.”
“Why?” she asks.
Three knocks on the door interrupts us and it opens before I can answer it. It’s Ricky.
“We’re going over to the bar, you wanna come? Both of you?”
“I’ll be over soon.”
I wait for him to leave before turning back to Libby. Holding herself, she doesn’t look like she wants to leave.
“Are you coming,” I ask her.
“You didn’t answer my question, why do you want me to stay longer?”
“Because I want to finish what we started this morning before Cas called and interrupted us.”
“Why didn’t you just say earlier, I’d rather that than playing cards.”
Another laugh escapes me as she waltzes by me and opens the door.
“You don’t laugh enough, or smile,” she points out.
“Maybe you can change that.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Libby
Everyone is so happy to see Dex, they keep passing him drinks, and slapping him on the back.
I want to know what he did and who this Melissa was to him. I’m sure I can guess, but I want to hear it from his mouth. One of the brothers said something about him killing back at the motel, and Dex has already said Melissa is dead. Was he the one who killed her? If he did, what the hell am I still doing here?
Oh yeah, I too want to finish what we started this morning and I’m telling myself it must’ve been an accident.
Another bottle of beer is pushed in front of me, but I have to make room for it before I drink it.
I make my excuses to go to the bathroom, and I feel Cas’s eyes following me across the bar. He’s been watching me all night, he doesn’t trust me at all, not that he knows me. Lost Souls are all the same, unless you wear the patch, you’re either valuable or nothing.
At the moment, I’m nothing to them but an annoyance.
I finish my business in the dirty bathroom and when I head back to the table, I take my time. No one is talking to me, and D
ex is in a deep conversation with Cas.
“How are you really doing these days?” Cas asks him.
It looks like I got back just in time to find out some information on my mysterious saviour.
“I’m doing alright,” Dex nods.
“Anything happening between you and that Libby, and don’t lie cause I’ve see the sly looks and odd touches between you tonight.”
“Nothing’s happened, but we have plans tonight.”
Wow, the guy doesn’t keep anything private.
“Be careful, brother. Rick was right earlier, we don’t want you losing your mind again over a woman.”
“Libby isn’t like Lissa, besides, she’s leaving in the morning.”
“Leaving, huh?”
I don’t like the look on Cas’s face as he hears I’m leaving.
“How have you been coping since you left? Has it done you good?”
“It didn’t at first, but Libby…”
“It’s rude to eavesdrop.”
I nearly jump out of my skin and bump into Ricky.
“I wasn’t…”
“Yeah, you were. Come on, I’ll walk you back to the table.”
He doesn’t only walk me back to the table, he pulls out the chair I was sitting in and tucks me in.
“Don’t worry, Pope, I’m just making sure she makes it back to our Dex here,” he calls out and everyone around the table stares at me.
A gold ring gleams on his fourth finger, not that I’m interested in him. No, I’m more interested in the guy who may or may not have killed someone and then dreams about them, and the man himself winks at me and scoots my chair closer to him. This is the second time he’s done this, and I like it. I like it a little too much.
Throughout the night, drinks are drunk, women are found, and the guys begin to head back to the motel with them. Meanwhile, every time Dex touches me, or leans in too close to whisper something in my ear, Cas sees it all and doesn’t look happy about it.
I don’t know what I need more, Dex or his story.
“I’m turning in, I want everyone up early. We’ve got a big day tomorrow, we best get some sleep,” Cas says to everyone around the table and I’m surprised there are still quite a few of them left and not interested in the women.
I notice they are each wearing a ring and it blows me away they’re not playing away while they’re on the road.