Page 25 of Death's Deal

Chapter 14

Pulling into the frontof Humble again, I leave the bike running and my mind processing a thousand thoughts, I tell Toni, “Don’t move,” as I nearly sprint toward the club.

The club is almost silent at this hour, and only a handful of members and patrons are lounging around. Even though it’s barely dawn, and I could really use a touch of sleep, it can wait.

Tweet is stationed at the door. “Watch her. I’ll be right back.”

“Got ya, Boss,” he replies as I blast past him for the doors.

Taking the steps two at a time, I jog into my office far faster than I’ve done before. Unlocking the safe, I find myself muttering alone to the space, “I better be right about this.” Swivelling the tumbler through the digits, with a soft click of the door, the safe unlocks. Pulling out the book, slamming it on the desk, and flipping to the page I was at before, I see it. The symbol. An actual account showing she was real and not the imagination of a kid who missed her. I don’t need someone to corroborate this newfound information as true, I feel it in my soul. Flipping forward to another page and another, I find her symbol everywhere. There are drop-off dates, meetings at the club, vacations in Cabo, and more. Finding one with the date ringing with truth, I read the lines.

Cactus and Claw’s meet is postponed. It seems her little cactus has decided to arrive. Another girl, I hope.

The date is Tlaloc’s birthday. She was talking of the day of his birth. Without a doubt I now know anything I read going forward with that symbol, is her. Hylo.

I find myself only twenty pages in and wanting to know more. Gathering up the book, flying out of the club, and back out to the bike, Toni is exactly where I left her. Her face raised to the sun, soaking in the early rays as the light peeks between the buildings, it is channeled directly to her beauty.

Without a word, walking over I tuck the book in the saddlebag, and mount my ride. Kicking it into gear and spinning us back toward the house, I hate to admit, Toni has hardly bitched. As we're riding through Anaheim, blissfully quiet, I keep thinking of the pages yet to be uncovered. To others this book could be dangerous, but to me, it’s a testament to the woman I adored. I’m holding out hope it will give me some insight into her disappearance and her life after leaving us.

Rounding the corner and hitting the highway toward my home, I feel a release of stress falling off my shoulders. Yeah, sure, I still have Toni in my care, and I still have to figure out the best way to get out from under the thumb of the government, the mayor, and those who would tear us down, but I’m hoping this book is as powerful as everyone assumes. That we can survive this on our own terms.

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