Page 40 of Demon
Ronnie shrugged.It wasn’t something she thought about.All she worried about was getting through the day and making enough money to pay her bills.The rest would work itself out in the end.At least that was her new philosophy.
“Anything new come in?”Ronnie turned her attention to Mercedes, hoping her brother would drop the topic of how much coffee she drank.
“Nothing new, Mija.I am supposed to ask you why you have not brought in Jennings yet.And remind you that your father wants you to take Jack with you when you go after him.He says Jennings is dangerous and need backup.”
“I’m working on it.He’s slippery.”Ronnie didn’t believe that Mercedes was in on her father’s side, wanting to get rid of her.And unless there was damned hard evidence, she never would.This woman had been a mother to her in ways her own mother never had, and when Mom had disappeared, Mercedes had done what she could to make things easier for Ronnie.It would break more than her heart if she ever found out Mercedes was in on Dad’s ploy.
“I’m going with her today.I don’t think we’re going after Jennings, but what better way spend some quality time with my sister?”He moved close and wrapped an arm around her shoulders before giving her a sideways hug.
Ronnie rolled her eyes.She was tempted to elbow him in the ribs, but that would only encourage him.As over the top as he was playing it for Mercedes, it was perfect.This was how he’d treated her before he’d left so long ago, so Mercedes likely wouldn’t see anything other than the dynamic she’d been so used to from them.
“No news on any of my other skips?”
“No, nothing new.Your father was in this morning, but he got called out to write bail for someone about fifteen minutes before you came in.Have you seen him yet?”she asked Gavin.
“Not yet.I’m sure I’ll catch up with him before I leave though.”He sounded sincere, but Ronnie knew he would do everything he could to avoid Dad, just like he’d done every time he had visited since he left for college.
“Be sure you do.He will be thrilled to see you.”
“I will.”
Ronnie tilted her head toward the door.“Well, if there’s nothing for me here, I might as well hit the road.I need to bring someone in so I can get some groceries.My bank account is looking pretty dry.”
“I guess that’s my cue.It was great seeing you, Mercedes.I hope to make it back in and see you again before I have to head back east.”
“I am glad I got to see you too, boy.Come give me another hug.”
Ronnie waited while her brother hugged the receptionist, then she said her goodbyes before heading out to her SUV.She didn’t know how much longer she would be able to keep up the ruse of not knowing there was anything wrong, so she had to get out of there as soon as possible.
21
Afterthemeetingatthe clubhouse, he’d crashed.After six or so hours sleep, he’d hunted down Gizmo and gotten and update on what was going on.Nothing new, but at least he had that.
A little after six, Demon pulled his bike into the carport between Ronnie’s SUV and Gavin’s rental sedan.He eased it all the way to front so hopefully it would be a little more difficult to spot if someone was driving by, then killed the engine.After dismounting, he pulled off his helmet and put it in the saddle bag, pulling out the backpack he’d loaded with a few basics and looping it onto one arm before pulling the bags he'd put in the other side ten minutes before and carrying them with him.
At the door, he knocked twice then put the code Ronnie had given him this morning into the keypad and let himself in.
“If you were just going to let yourself in, why knock?”Gavin asked from where he stood in the entry to the kitchen as Demon closed the door and made sure the lock clicked into place.
“I just wanted to let you know I was on my way in.”
“As if the motorcycle vibrating through the whole house as you pull it into the carport wasn’t enough,” Gavin muttered as he shook his head and went back into the kitchen.
Demon frowned, but followed him.Why had he brought food, at Ronnie’s request, if Gavin was cooking?He set the bags full of food on the counter.
“Where is she?”he asked, looking around.Gavin stood at the counter beside the stove chopping something, but Demon couldn’t see what through the other man’s body.Ronnie was no where to be seen.
“She insisted she needed a shower.You need something?”Gavin twisted around to look at Demon.
“I brought a few things, since I’m going to be staying here.I figure you can take days, and I’ll stay here, and awake, to take the night shift.I was just going to ask where to put my bag.”
“I’m going to be here nights too.”Gavin scowled.
“I know, but if you’re shadowing her during the day, which I will point out that you can do a lot easier than I can.At least without blowing my cover.You’ve got to sleep some time.”
Gavin set his knife down, turned around and folded his arms across his chest as he leaned his ass against the counter behind him.
“And you think me incapable of waking if some thing happens?”
