Page 6 of Taming the Demon

“I’m not a fucking rat, Cyrus. I did this all on purpose. We can go get the detective right now. I’ll show you where he lives. And the… the Russian guy… the fucking… rat… cheese… rats… I’m not… I don’t like cheese, Cyrus…”

Mara stood in complete shock, putting the pieces together. A decision had to made right then and there. Mara backed away and left, never to see her husband again. The only problem with that was she knew nobody would believe her. Not for a second.

She also had the option of going to the club directly, but that meant putting herself in harm’s way, directly with Fitz himself. He could have easily lied his way to her death and then… what…? That’s what sent Mara into a dive motel for a full thirty-six hours.

Another option stood in front of her all along. An extremely risky option. That was going to Darrow’s apartment and seeking his help. His comfort. Hoping he would listen to her and understand she had nothing to do with Fitz being a rat and that she just discovered it herself. And that she never really loved Fitz.

He chose her. He inked her. There were rules to follow. It was either that or… hide in a motel until she ran out of money. Or flee.

Mara wasn’t stupid though. She knew a guy like Cyrus would look for her. He’d use all the other charters to find her. She’d never get a chance to think, sleep, eat in peace. She’d never have a chance at life. Darrow was her only chance.

That’s what made Mara dress in all black, including a baseball cap, and that’s what made Mara sit outside Darrow’s apartment until he came home. And when Darrow found her, he drew his gun, not realizing it was Mara until she stood up and took the baseball cap off.

That was maybe the most important moment of her life. Either Darrow would put a bullet between her eyes or tie her up and drag her ass to the clubhouse… or…

Mara knew she’d never forget the moment Darrow put his gun away. The moment he lunged at her. The moment his hands touched her face. Stroked her cheeks. The moment she knew that he knew she had nothing to do with Fitz.

A second after that moment, another came in the form of a kiss that had been way long overdue.

Chapter Three

The Mid-Blow Job Antibiotic Saga

Darrow typed on a laptop when it suddenly disappeared. He was too stuck between dazed and focused to realize Cyrus had entered the room and grabbed the laptop. It wasn’t until the laptop smashed against the wall behind Darrow did he snap back to reality.

The letterJhit the table while the rest of the now shattered laptop lay scattered and beat up on the floor. Darrow jumped up, allowing Cyrus to grab his shirt.

Oh, fuck, he knows about Mara. How the fuck could he know about Mara?

Without hesitation, Darrow threw his hands up, breaking Cyrus’s hold. Then he pushed at Cyrus’s massive, muscular chest, sending the President ofSOFRAWback a step.

This was why Priest was needed. For as mean and violent and absolutely insane as the outlaw was, he would bring a sense of levity to everything. There was absolutely no need for Cyrus to be going after members. Even if Darrow felt guilt stirring in his stomach like a toxic soup.

“Find something!” Cyrus barked at Darrow. “You’re on that fucking laptop for hours and you have nothing! What the fuck are you doing? Looking at porn?”

“You want to hack into the city cameras,Prez?” Darrow asked.

Now Linc and Slade were in the room, getting between Cyrus and Darrow. Both men wrong in their own ways. Both men also right in their own ways.

“Tension is high, guys,” Slade said. “We all need a minute. We all need a breath.”

“Meeting is set,” Linc said to Cyrus. “Come on. Let’s handle this.”

Darrow kicked at the shattered laptop. “You’re right,Prez. I can sit there for hours and I’ll find nothing. Fitz is smart. Too smart. He knows how we would handle this.”

Cyrus curled his lip, then turned and walked out of the room.

“Take it easy, Darrow,” Slade said. “End of the day, he’s still—”

“I know who the fuck he is,” Darrow growled at Slade.

Now these two outlaws were facing off. Going damn near nose to nose. Slade easily saw something eating away at Darrow.

This club is falling apart,Slade thought to himself.

“You know I’m right about Fitz,” Darrow said.

“We need to stay close to Cyrus, no matter what.”

---