Read Online Deal with the Devil by Stacia Stone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stacia Stone
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slams the door shut. The car beeps and the doors lock as he hits the button on his remote.
I watch until he turns the corner on the next street and disappears from sight, before moving down in the seat like he instructed.
What am I going to do if he doesn’t come back? Where am I going to go? The thought of being left alone to fend for myself against my crazy-ass family terrifies me.
An eternity passes as I huddle with my knees on the floor of the car. Or maybe it’s only five minutes, but my messed up head can’t tell the difference.
I’m down there long enough that I can’t help but notice how clean the interior is. Even the floor is free of the bits of dirt and dust that accumulate in most vehicles. Leo either never drives anywhere or he details his car on a near-daily basis.
Judging from the state of his apartment, I’m guessing it’s the latter.
The passenger door opens so suddenly that I let out an involuntary scream. Leo is standing over me, nostrils flared and an angry expression his face.
“How the fuck did you get messed up with the Devil’s Rejects MC?”
I stare up at him, still huddled on the floor of his car. “The what?”
“Local motorcycle club caught up in the usual shit — some prostitution and drug-running. They keep their business to shit we’re not into, so we don’t usually involve ourselves.”
“Uh…okay.” I have no idea where he’s going with this.
“A bunch of guys wearing their patch are hanging out around the courthouse. I’d place bets that they’re waiting for you.”
Oh, shit . “Did one of them have The Undertaker stitched on the back of his vest?”
“Maybe,” he grinds out, obviously exasperated. “How the fuck should I know?”
“I think maybe Mack sent them.”
“This is real shit, Mara.” The grim set of his mouth worries me as much as his tone. “C’mon, get out”
I slowly climb out of the car. Leo doesn’t raise a hand to help me, true gentleman that he is. Though I probably shouldn’t complain too much, since he’s the only thing standing between me and a group of drug-dealing bikers.
Once I’m standing next to him on the sidewalk, Leo holds out the keys to the car. I don’t take them. “Drive the car back to my apartment.”
“What about the hearing?”
“I’ll call Willy. He can go for you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m gonna get some guys down here and take care of this.”
I can’t keep the quaver out of my voice. “What does that mean?”
“It means what the fuck it means, Mara.”
It’s broad daylight. He can’t possibly be thinking what I think he’s thinking. “Aren’t you worried about starting a war with the MC?”
“It’s that or let them have you.” He eyes me speculatively. “I bet there’s a nice price on your ass with all that money up for grabs. What do you say?”
“Fuck you.”
“We’ve already been over that, sweetheart.” He rubs the back of his neck, annoyance rolling off of him in waves. I get the feeling he doesn’t spend much time explaining himself to anyone, especially a woman. “I’m not worried about a war. The Devil’s Rejects aren’t big enough for that to be a problem. But I need your ass out of here before I can do anything. Unless you want to wait around for them to go looking for you?”
“Fine.” I snatch the keys out of his hand. “I’m going to be pissed if you get yourself killed.”
“You worried about me?” His voice is full of sardonic amusement. “That’s sweet.”
I walk away from him before I give into the urge to punch him in the throat. I’m completely torn between anger at his high-handedness and terror at the thought that he’s about to get himself killed. “I just don’t want to be out a bodyguard.”
“Bodyguard, huh? That’s a new one.”
He waits for me to get in the car, probably wanting to make sure I actually follow instructions.
I wonder if it’ll be the last time I ever see him.
Chapter
I watch until he turns the corner on the next street and disappears from sight, before moving down in the seat like he instructed.
What am I going to do if he doesn’t come back? Where am I going to go? The thought of being left alone to fend for myself against my crazy-ass family terrifies me.
An eternity passes as I huddle with my knees on the floor of the car. Or maybe it’s only five minutes, but my messed up head can’t tell the difference.
I’m down there long enough that I can’t help but notice how clean the interior is. Even the floor is free of the bits of dirt and dust that accumulate in most vehicles. Leo either never drives anywhere or he details his car on a near-daily basis.
Judging from the state of his apartment, I’m guessing it’s the latter.
The passenger door opens so suddenly that I let out an involuntary scream. Leo is standing over me, nostrils flared and an angry expression his face.
“How the fuck did you get messed up with the Devil’s Rejects MC?”
I stare up at him, still huddled on the floor of his car. “The what?”
“Local motorcycle club caught up in the usual shit — some prostitution and drug-running. They keep their business to shit we’re not into, so we don’t usually involve ourselves.”
“Uh…okay.” I have no idea where he’s going with this.
“A bunch of guys wearing their patch are hanging out around the courthouse. I’d place bets that they’re waiting for you.”
Oh, shit . “Did one of them have The Undertaker stitched on the back of his vest?”
“Maybe,” he grinds out, obviously exasperated. “How the fuck should I know?”
“I think maybe Mack sent them.”
“This is real shit, Mara.” The grim set of his mouth worries me as much as his tone. “C’mon, get out”
I slowly climb out of the car. Leo doesn’t raise a hand to help me, true gentleman that he is. Though I probably shouldn’t complain too much, since he’s the only thing standing between me and a group of drug-dealing bikers.
Once I’m standing next to him on the sidewalk, Leo holds out the keys to the car. I don’t take them. “Drive the car back to my apartment.”
“What about the hearing?”
“I’ll call Willy. He can go for you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m gonna get some guys down here and take care of this.”
I can’t keep the quaver out of my voice. “What does that mean?”
“It means what the fuck it means, Mara.”
It’s broad daylight. He can’t possibly be thinking what I think he’s thinking. “Aren’t you worried about starting a war with the MC?”
“It’s that or let them have you.” He eyes me speculatively. “I bet there’s a nice price on your ass with all that money up for grabs. What do you say?”
“Fuck you.”
“We’ve already been over that, sweetheart.” He rubs the back of his neck, annoyance rolling off of him in waves. I get the feeling he doesn’t spend much time explaining himself to anyone, especially a woman. “I’m not worried about a war. The Devil’s Rejects aren’t big enough for that to be a problem. But I need your ass out of here before I can do anything. Unless you want to wait around for them to go looking for you?”
“Fine.” I snatch the keys out of his hand. “I’m going to be pissed if you get yourself killed.”
“You worried about me?” His voice is full of sardonic amusement. “That’s sweet.”
I walk away from him before I give into the urge to punch him in the throat. I’m completely torn between anger at his high-handedness and terror at the thought that he’s about to get himself killed. “I just don’t want to be out a bodyguard.”
“Bodyguard, huh? That’s a new one.”
He waits for me to get in the car, probably wanting to make sure I actually follow instructions.
I wonder if it’ll be the last time I ever see him.
Chapter
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