Page 39 of Death's Devotion
The men of her husband’s motorcycle club scare the hell out of me. There’s reasons for my fear. Very valid reasons. So, I try to stay away from anyone from Knight’s Rebellion when they come to the center.
“No. Thank you for your help today. You did way more than I did,” she answers, laughing at her lack of work carrying in the heavy as hell boxes.
“It’s no problem at all. If you need me for anything, don’t hesitate to call,” I tell her before giving a small wave and fleeing her office.
When I’m outside and heading to my car, I can finally breathe normally again. These men might be good ones, but it doesn’t matter to me. I’ve got so many secrets I’m holding in and no one can find out. It’s bad enough they did a background check on me. I’m sure they know who my brother is and what I’m running from. Yes, I’m on the run and I don’t plan on staying here for very long. I’m just here to collect enough money so I can move on and get a place of my own. Even if it’s a rundown apartment in a shitty part of town. It just doesn’t matter to me anymore.
See, Braedon isn’t some random stop for me. I know all about the Knight’s Rebellion. They do some work for my brother and he couldn’t say enough good things about them. Unfortunately, I don’t care how good these men are. All that matters to me is getting some money so I can move the fuck on and head somewhere to start over fresh. I want to live in a small town where no one knows me and I can remain a perfect stranger to everyone. No one will ever get close enough for me to get hurt again.
“Come on, Beast. Get in the car,” I tell my dog as he lowers his head to smell the grass. Again.
I got a Blue Neapolitan Mastiff from my parents. It was one of the many gifts they gave me in their attempts to get me to do what they want. I’m not sure they realized how big he’d get. Even at a year old, my big baby is huge. I mean, I’m really short and stand at just over five feet tall, but my Beast is going to be bigger than me. It makes my current living situation extremely difficult too.
When I left my parent’s house, I had very few clothes, a little bit of money, and Beast. I still don’t have money and there’s no way I can rent some room at one of those pay to stay motels. So, Beast and I live in my car. The hardest part, besides him taking up all the space, is finding good spots to park and go to sleep for a while. I’ve been using the parking lots of the club’s businesses so far. They seem to be my safest option because of the continuous security being run. So far, it hasn’t been an issue and no one has said anything to me.
Once I finally get Beast in the car, I climb in behind him. Saying a quick prayer that my car starts, I turn the key in the ignition. After a slight hesitation, the engine turns over and starts with a rumble. I’ve got an older model car and I don’t really know how it’s still running. Yes, I take care of it and make sure all of the maintenance is done when it needs to be done. It’s only going to get me so far though. If it decides to take a shit and be done, then there’s nothing I can do about it. Hopefully it gets me moved one more time so I can begin my new life.
Pulling out of the parking lot, I make my way to a fast food restaurant. I grab enough food for me and Beast to have tonight before driving around to find where we’ll be sleeping for the night. I really want to eat and lay down and close my eyes. I haven’t been sleeping too good lately and it’s finally catching up to me. So, today will be an early one for me.
I find the gym I know belongs to the club and pull around behind the building. There’s no one back here so I drive over by a light and put it in park. For right now, I’ll keep it running so I can run the heat for a little longer. Beast and I don’t keep the car running overnight because there’s no way in hell I’m about to die from carbon monoxide or something. And I’m not going to make my Beast sick because of it.
Eating my dinner quickly, I give Beast his and take him out to the bathroom in a field behind the gym. While he’s running off some of his energy, I grab a few bottles of water from the cooler I keep in the trunk and the blankets I use to cover up with at night. I make my car look as if I’m not living in it every morning. If anyone were to find out, I’m not sure what would happen. I’d probably be shipped back home or something. Or Jagger would be called. And neither option works for me.
Opening up the back door, I lay out the blankets and place my pillow against the passenger side door. When I’m done making sure everything is ready for me to climb in the backseat, I call Beast in. He comes trotting over to me and climbs in the front passenger seat. That’s where he’ll stay until I’m ready to get in the back. We have a routine down and he doesn’t forget it. Climbing in behind the wheel once again, I pull out the pair of sweat pants and hoodie from a bag I keep in the front seat. Right now I can say it’s a bag of extra clothing in case my car breaks down. It still gets cold as hell and is a reasonable excuse.
Looking around again, I make sure no one’s around before changing into my pajamas. When I’m ready, I climb into the backseat, plug my phone into the charger I have that stretches from the front to the back, and slide under the blankets. Beast watches me until he knows I’m comfortable and ready for him to join me. Beast carefully climbs into the backseat and lays down on top of me. Usually, I’d read on my phone for a while. Today, there’s no way in hell I’m going to make it through even a page of anything I’ve been trying to keep captivated.
Letting my eyes slide closed, sleep doesn’t take long to claim me. Beast keeps me warm with his body heat and helps me slip deeper into a sleep I hope will last all night long.
I’m startled awake by two things. One is Beast standing on my chest as much as he can while growling. There’s also someone yelling outside of my car. A deep, masculine voice. And it’s angry. It’s too dark out and I can’t make out too many details about him right now though.
“Who the fuck is in there?” the voice demands to know as fear fills me, and I’m thrown through a series of flashbacks.
“G-G-Give m-m-me a minute,” I finally manage to stammer out.
Shoving Beast a little so he moves up to the front seat of my small car, I roll down the back window a small amount so I can try to figure out who’s yelling at me.
“Who the fuck are you?” the voice demands again as a bright light shines directly in my face.
“I’m Makena,” I say, purposely leaving my last name off since I don’t know who’s on the other side of the window.
“The fuck are you doin’ in my parkin’ lot?” he questions me, finally moving the light so I can see it’s the man who came to help at the center earlier. Boxer I think his name is.
“Um, well, I don’t have anywhere else to sleep. So, I parked here. I’m sorry. I’ll leave now,” I manage to get out as the fear filling me only increases knowing a biker is standing outside of my car.
“You’re fuckin’ tellin’ me you sleep in your car? You don’t have a damn apartment, motel, or anythin’ else?” he questions me, only sounding angrier with every word he says.
“No, I don’t.”
Shame fills me at the thought of someone learning one of my secrets. I never thought I’d be homeless and living in my car with a dog while trying to earn enough money to get out of here. I’m not sure how I fell so far. Though, a large part of it is because I don’t want to tell Jagger what’s truly been happening since he left. The less my overprotective big brother knows, the better.
I climb up into the front seat after rolling up the window and making sure the doors are locked still. Beast is still growling as the man moves away from my car. Or at least I thought he was moving away from my car. Instead, he comes to my driver’s side window and taps it a few times. Heaving out a huge sigh, I roll it down just enough to hear him and no more.
“Where do you plan on goin’? Does Hartley know about your current situation?” he barks out, making me jump in my seat.
“I don’t know where I’m going. No, she doesn’t know. Please, don’t tell her. It’s bad enough you know. I’ll go somewhere else and you won’t find me here again. I’m sorry,” I apologize again as Boxer stares me down.
I’m a woman and can appreciate a sexy man. Boxer is definitely sexy. He’s got a lean, muscled body and is tall as fuck. He has to be at least a foot taller than I am. His skin is tanned and the tattoos I saw peeking out of his shirt made my mouth water and caused a need to explore them closer to see what he’s got permanently marked on his body. Don’t even get me started on his eyes. They’re the warmest brown I’ve ever seen on a person. Like melting chocolate on a hot day. I could get lost in them. However, he’s a biker and someone I have to stay far away from.
“Follow me,” he barks out as I try to start my car. “You’re not gonna stay in some random fuckin’ parkin’ lot overnight. For tonight you can stay at my house in a guest room and tomorrow you’re gonna answer some fuckin’ questions.”
Before I can say anything in response, Boxer takes off to the side of my car. I watch him straddle his bike as my car finally starts. Rolling up my window to keep in the small amount of heat left, I wait for Boxer to pull out before following him. There’s no doubt in my mind he will follow me and make me do what he wants if I pull off and head in a different direction. I have no choice but to follow him to his house. I’ll keep my door locked overnight and hope he’s nothing like my past.
The End . . . for now!
