Page 25 of Dancin' with Demons

When I finally look at the guy, I get this uneasy stir in my stomach. He’s got long hair that’s greased back with sallow skin and these strange bright green eyes. He smiles a yellow-toothed grin at me, and that’s when I notice the leather cut folded on the seat next to him with some kind of skull on it and a patch under it that saysRoad Captain.

Chapter 9

Renegade

As I put the truck in reverse, Somethin’ catches my attention on the other end of the parkin’ lot. Throwin’ the truck back in park, I sit back and realize it’s a motorcycle parked right near the alleyway on the opposite side of the diner. Somethin’ in my gut isn’t sittin’ right, so I pull my cell out and call my president.

“Catacomb.” His voice is deep and still sleepy.

“Sorry to wake you, Prez, but I need you to look into Somethin’ for me.”

“Renegade,” he says, becomin’ more alert damn near instantly, “what’s wrong? The girls okay?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly, “but there’s a bike outside the diner and Somethin’ in my gut don’t like it. Can you get Geek Squad to run a trace on the plates?”

“Text it to me and I’ll send it to ‘em,” he says before tellin’ me to hold on. There’s muted conversation on his end and I’m sure Sandra woke up and asked him what was goin’ on. “Ray has her phone, right?”

“Yep. I’m gonna text her and tell her to watch herself. I don’t wanna scare her, but I want her on her toes when she ain’t with me,” I say, sighin’ as I watch her approach a lone guy sittin’ at one of her tables. His back is to me so I can’t get a description. After hangin’ up, I text the plate number to Catacomb and then start a new text with Raylynn.

Baby, don’t panic, but do me a solid and be careful today, okay?

Raylynn: How did you know I was about to panic?

What? Ray, what’s wrong?

Raylynn: I’m sure it’s nothing. Guy at my table just gives me a bad vibe. Go home to Savior. I’ll text you on my first break, okay?

Be careful, little love. Stay in the buildin’ today and if anythin’ seems off, you fuckin’ call me. Understood?

Raylynn: lol, yes, sir.

For a second, I stare at my phone and smirk. I might have to get her to call me ‘sir’ in-person because hearin’ it in my head is sexy as hell, so actually comin’ from her lips will be twice as hot. As I go to pull out of the spot, my phone vibrates so I stop.

Raylynn: He has a cut on the chair next to him. It’s leather. There’s part of a skull and it has one of those patch things like yours, but it says Road Captain.

Aight, baby. I’m gonna have the club look into it. Remember what I said. Be careful today. Call me if anythin’ seems off.

Raylynn: Okay. Thank you for watchin’ Savior.

No thanks needed, little love. Can’t wait to spend the day with the little one.

Tossin’ my phone on the seat, I back out of the parkin’ lot finally and head back to the vacation house. I didn’t really make any plans for today because I want to do Somethin’ fun with Savior. It’s her first time stayin’ with someone other than her mom or Miss Irene, so I want to make sure this little girl has a good day. There’s little to no traffic on the way back to the house, and pullin’ up out front, the sun is fully out and there’s a nice cool breeze.

Openin’ the front door, I stop just inside and watch as Savior wiggles her butt and hums to the music from a movie while Sandra brushes her hair into a ponytail. She’s clutchin’ her little unicorn plushie, and I know that thing means a lot to her because she made a point to tell me the other mornin’ that she’s had it since before she was born and it’s the first thing her mommy ever got her. That’s one of the toys that never gets replaced. This girl needs more than that, though, and Christ, does she need a bigger wardrobe.

“Hey, little one,” I say as I step toward ‘em, and she turns her little chin up to smile at me, “how would you like to go shoppin’?”

“What we goin’ shoppin’ for?” she says as Sandra reaches around to lay the hairbrush on the table.

“Clothes, toys. Whatever you want, sweetheart.”

“Yay!” Savior pushes off the front of the couch and jumps at me.

I catch her under the arms and hoister her up into my arms as she giggles. “Okay. To the mall we go. Sandra, can you lock up?”

“You go it,” she says as she stands and I turn toward the door. “Oh, take Trick with you. He needs to get out of mine and Cat’s hair for a few hours.”

Steppin’ outside, I groan, my eyes landin’ on Trickster and Catacomb standin’ across the property at the bottom of the front steps for the main house. Headin’ over to his truck, I whistle loudly to get their attention. “Hey, stupid. Get in the truck. You’re comin’ with us today.”

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