Page 19 of Death's Deal

Chapter 11

The trip out to Anaheimwas uneventful, thankfully. There was the odd stare, more stoplights than I could count, and as her hands wound around my waist, I felt like that kid who had it all, all over again. The one who was happy to ride around town with his girl. It’s a memory I shouldn’t think about, but I can’t hold back how it feels. Her warm body, her soft caress as she jerks when I pull away at the lights, all of it is a reminder of back then. A part of me I’d hidden away. The happy part.

I know if I pull up to Humble, the clubhouse, or my home, there’s no way out of the questions that will be asked. There will be nosy pricks, no matter what, and I best get used to it. Toni will be with me for the foreseeable future and questions will arise, no matter what. It’s not like I can avoid the boys, my brother, or my sister. That would raise more questions.

At Humble, at least, most of the boys will bite their tongues while she’s near. Therefore, driving down the hill back to Anaheim I muddle through the choice, realizing there’s only one option. Humble.

Seeing Trigger with Radish, his beautiful Rottweiler service dog, along with Mack and Thunder out front, I park in my spot. Cutting the engine, and hopping off, the stares are far worse than I expected. I’m not known for the ladies—I just don’t have the time for it—and even if I have one around, they don’t get on my ride or wear my cut. Plus, Toni is in no way a hang around or a dancer. She’s far better than that. She stands out like a couture supermodel at a pig farm, and I know there’s no way to avoid the conversations.

Her perfectly made-up attire and makeup has her looking like she should be walking into one of the financial buildings instead of Humble, but as she’s letting her long hair out of the helmet, standing beside me with my cut covering her, my cock responds in kind. She’s hypnotic and arresting.

Snapping myself from theWeird Sciencestyled wet dream, I notice the guys standing nearby have the same slack-jawed look I undoubtedly do. I’m grateful neither Apoc or Boyd are here, or they’d have a few choice words for me. Eventually there’s going to be a scene and I know it’s not going to be easy, but a few-minute reprieve would be nice.

Seeing Apoc’s ride in the lineup, along with Boyd’s, I know I’ll have to deal with this problem sooner than I thought. Stepping outside, nearly freezing in his tracks, Boyd schools his features. “Hey, Boss. What’s up?” His eyes slowly travel to mine as he states sharply, “Toni.” He’s been with me through it all. He saw me taken away in cuffs. He was with me in the joint. He knew the truth of how my life was ruined by the woman I loved.

“Hi, Boyd. It’s been a long time.” Placing the helmet back in the saddlebag it came from, she’s visibly frazzled by seeing him so quickly, even though she schools her features.

“Boyd. Mind gathering the boys for church?” I tell him, taking my cut back from Toni. Since the fight at our clubhouse and its subsequent repairs, we’ve made my office in Humble the unofficial church.

“Yeah. Okay.” He isn’t happy about Toni here, but he’s a good soldier and a good friend. He’ll wait to find out what the fuck is going on before setting judgment.

As I hold out a hand, without question, placing her hand in mine, Toni nods.

“Don’t let go. This is a strip club. Not a Louis Vuitton store. Eyes on me if you feel uncomfortable.”

Giving my hand a slight squeeze, she smiles. “Got it, Death.”

Hearing her call me Death instead of Quinny, it actually causes pain. Like my old life and the kid from that time is disconnected from the woman who owned his heart. I don’t correct her though. In this place, at this time, it’ll be easier if she calls me by my road name.

Pulling the door, walking into the darkness, our eyes adjust to the dull interior of the front hall. Standing inside the entrance, carding the underage jackasses who try to gain entry, the hulking form of Curse overshadows Margo, the female door host. The tiny woman grins, eyes Toni with disdain from top to bottom, then winks my way.

I speak to Margo, “We’ll be in church. You’ll be okay here for a bit alone?”

“Of course, Death. It’s kind of quiet right now. I’ll grab a prospect if I need help.”

Turning to Curse, I add, “We’ll need Apoc too.” He nods, staring at Toni, I turn back to Margo. “Grab Hellion if you need someone extra. Yeah?”

“You got it, Death,” she replies, pulling her eyes from Toni to me with a half-hearted smile.

“Curse,” I snap him from his slack-jawed staring.

“Yeah.” Not acknowledging the elephant in the room, he blinks quick before answering, “Right behind you.”

Opening the second set of doors, the sights and sounds blast the air. I doubt Toni’s ever walked into a gentleman’s club, even on a girls’ night. She doesn’t strike me as a woman who’d had that kind of fun. Surprising me though, she strides across the club floor with determination, eyes up and full of wonder.

I acknowledged the odd person as we pass without stopping, as we head directly to my office. As eyes fall upon us, I do all I can to ignore them as we move toward the stairs.

Taking the six steps to the door and entering, I close the door behind us. “I figure it’s best to lay out the groundwork of this situation before the boys arrive. No matter what Martin said, I need to tell the boys what’s going on and why you’re here. Consider yourself a statue. Don’t speak. Even if it’s someone like Tlaloc. Don’t answer. Leave it to me.”

Annoyed, hands on her hips and brows furrowed, she retorts, “Silent? This is about me, and you want me to be, what? A bimbo without an opinion in this? No. I get you haven’t seen me in years, Quinny, but that’s not about to happen.”

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