Chapter 5
Heresy
I leaned against my hog, watching her stand there, arms crossed and chin up, like she had the whole damn world against her. And maybe she was right.
Salem.
Hell, there wasn’t anyone like her. She had this way of looking at you, like she’d seen more shit than most people could even dream of. And she wasn’t afraid to tell me to fuck off either, which, I’ll admit, kinda turned me on. There was a fire in her, burning just beneath that cool exterior, and I couldn’t help but be drawn to it. Girl didn’t take no shit from nobody, and I respected the hell out of that.
But it wasn’t just that. It was like she knew something the rest of us didn’t, like she could see through all the bullshit people tried to throw at her. I wasn't into the whole spooky voodoo crap or any of that, but there was something about her that made me second-guess all that.
“Salem,” I called out, my voice low, laced with the gravel from too many cigarettes and not enough sleep. “I ain't here to play games.”
Her eyes narrowed, sharp as daggers. “Then what the hell are you here for?”
I stepped closer, close enough that I could see the way her jaw tensed up when I got near, but damn if she didn’t stand her ground. Most chicks would've taken a step back by now, but not Salem. She didn’t flinch, didn’t budge. And that just made me want to get closer.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, hating how honest I was being as I was lying. “But I know you’re different.”
“Different how?” Her voice was sharp, like she was ready to cut me down right where I stood.
I shrugged, pretending like I wasn’t thinking' about how much she got under my skin. “You’ve got this fire in you, somethin' that makes you stand out from the rest of 'em. Like you don’t belong, not here, not anywhere.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes, but I caught that flicker in her gaze. She heard me, even if she didn’t wanna admit it. “And that’s supposed to mean something to me?”
“It means I notice you,” I said, surprised at my own words. “I’ve been watchin' you, Salem. You’re not like the other Heelz.”
I could tell she didn’t want to hear that shit. She glanced away, like she was trying to shake off what I said, but when she looked back, there was that damn fire again. “I don’t need you to watch me, Heresy. I can handle myself.”
I believed her, too. She wasn’t like the soft women I was used to. Hell no. She was sharp-edged, like a blade you didn’t want to mess with unless you were ready to bleed. But that didn’t stop me from wanting more of her.
“Maybe I’m not the one you need to be worried about,” I said, letting my voice drop even lower as I hinted at my mission.
She blinked, her eyes narrowing like she was trying to figure me out. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’ve got your own demons, Salem. And you’re not facin' 'em.”
I watched her flinch. It was small, barely noticeable, but I caught it. She had walls built up around her, thick as steel, but that one little crack told me I was hitting too close to home.
“What do you know about my demons?” Her voice was tight, like she didn’t wanna give me anything more than she had to.
“More than you think.” I stepped back a little, giving her space. “But that’s for you to figure out, not me.”
She didn’t say nothing, just stood there, staring at me with those sharp, witchy eyes, like she was waiting for me to give her more. But I wasn’t gonna push her. That wasn’t what I was here for. I just wanted to see what she’d do when the chips were down.
Finally, she huffed, shaking her head like she was done with my shit. “You’re a real piece of work.”
“Right back at you, witch,” I shot back, a crooked smirk pulling at my lips.
She threw me a look that could’ve killed, then spun on her heel and started walking away, all fire and defiance. But just before she disappeared into the darkness, she glanced back over her shoulder, just for a second.
That glance—it was like she was saying more than her words ever would. And fuck me if it didn’t make me want her even more.
As she vanished into the shadows, I kicked at the dirt, running a hand through my hair. She was something else, all right. A curse and a blessing wrapped in leather and attitude. And hell, if I wasn’t ready to ride straight into the storm she brought with her.