Chapter 15
“I kind of wish y’all were here,” Devyn said as she pulled her short hair back into a messy bun.
She stood in the mirror in the bathroom, getting ready for the races today, while Haze went to talk to Gideon about security for the event. Devyn took that time to call her cousin and best friend and fill them in on the past twenty-four hours.
“If your ass hadn’t been actin’ stank over the past month, we would fuckin’ be there,” Koren said with her face scrunched up.
This race event today was something Koren would have loved to attend. It was right up her alley, and Devyn felt bad for depriving her of that.
“I’m sorry, cousin. Things have just been so complicated. I finally feel like I can breathe some,” Devyn said.
“That’s because you got some good dick,” Koren pointed out.
Devyn beamed. Yeah, that might have a little something to do with it.
“Maybe,” Devyn sang.
“And now you in a good mood and want us around.” Koren pouted, and Devyn went back to feeling bad.
“I probably wouldn’t have come anyway,” Emilia said with a note of anxiety in her tone.
“I get that,” Devyn said. The last time Emilia had been around the Vicious Kings, she’d been shot. Devyn felt insensitive to even suggest that she should be here.
“I want you to have fun, though, and be safe,” Emilia encouraged.
Devyn smiled. “I’ll do my best on both fronts.”
“And next time there’s a party, I better get an invite,” Koren snapped.
“I got you, girl.” Devyn giggled. Devyn heard the front door of the room open, and her smile grew. “I gotta go, ladies. I’ll check in later.”
“You better,” Koren said.
“Love you,” Emilia added.
They hung up just as Haze walked into the bathroom. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
When they woke up that morning, Haze had given her a black crop top with the Vicious Kings crest on it.
He wore a black T-shirt with the same crest. She wore blue jeans while he wore black ones.
They looked really good together. Devyn admired their reflection while Haze asked, “Who was you talkin’ to? ”
“Koren and Emilia, my cousin and best friend. You saw them briefly the day we met.”
He nodded. “You should have invited them. You know your people are always invited.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t know that, but now I do. Besides, I didn’t really know what the vibe was going to be between us. I’ll invite them next time, but I don’t think Emilia will come. Koren will for sure.”
“Emilia’s the one that got shot?” he asked.
Devyn nodded sadly. “Yeah.”
Haze kissed her cheek and then turned her around. “I hope with time she can see it’s safe for her to be around us. If your friends are as important to you as my club is to me, then I assume you want them to be around.”
“I do, but I won’t push her on it.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t blame you. You ready to go?”
“Yup. Just need to grab my fanny pack.”
“Fanny pack is crazy.” Haze chuckled as she walked around him.
Devyn ignored him and walked into the bedroom to retrieve the black fanny pack she’d already gotten together with everything she’d need for the day.
Haze could make fun of her all he wanted, but she bet he wouldn’t laugh when he needed some hand sanitizer or a tissue and she produced it from her fanny pack.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Hand in hand, they walked out of the room and toward the elevator.
Once they were on the elevator, Haze hugged her to his chest. She felt so full and complete in his arms. The fact that he had even forgiven her for keeping their daughter from him said a lot about his character.
Haze had a bigger heart than anyone would ever know because he kept that part of himself locked up so tightly.
Devyn was thankful that she got to see that part of him.
Once they were in the lobby, Devyn spotted Glimmer and Gideon. They were hard to miss because Gideon was a giant. Haze led them toward his people, and when they were within arm’s length, Glimmer pulled Devyn into a hug.
“Hey, girl. I’m glad you came.” Glimmer beamed and then whispered loudly, “And welcome to the family.”
Devyn blushed. “Thank you.”
“Someone been runnin’ his mouth, I see.” Haze joked as he playfully hit Gideon on his arm.
“Haze wifed up? Damn sure I’ma gossip wit’ my wife about that. Neither of us ever thought we’d see the day.”
Haze waved them off and grabbed Devyn by the waist. “Let’s get out of here.”
Devyn followed them out of the hotel. When they got to their bikes, they hopped on and took off through the streets of Downtown Ellwood. The city reminded Devyn of Desmore Bay but smaller.
She relaxed against Haze as they wove through traffic. Being on the bike with him had quickly become one of her favorite things. He bought her a bike, but she wasn’t sure how much she’d even use it, because she preferred riding with him.
Soon, their surroundings changed from sky-rise buildings to countryside roads.
Just over Haze’s shoulder, Devyn saw hundreds of people in the distance.
The closer they got, the more Devyn could see.
There were tents scattered on both sides of the wide road.
Smells of grilled meats filled her nostrils as she looked at all the bikes they passed.
Haze found a spot to park, and Gideon pulled up right beside them. They all got off their bikes and took their helmets off. Devyn felt a bit overwhelmed with the big crowd, but Haze grabbed her hand, and she instantly calmed.
“My race is one of the first, so let’s try to find some food and get you and Glimm set up with a good spot,” Haze said.
“Who are you racing against?” Devyn asked. She had no idea how these races even worked or what the prize was for the winners.
“Me and Hades. He’s the president of the Obsidian Riders.”
“What do you get if you win? Bragging rights?” she asked as they walked by a group of women taking shots. It was only eleven in the morning, but the atmosphere was live.
Haze laughed. “Definitely bragging rights. In my bracket, winners get thirty thousand as well. It’s the highest bracket since it’s the presidents racing.”
“Dollars?” Devyn asked. She wasn’t broke by any means, but she’d also never just been handed thirty thousand dollars.
“Yeah, mama. Dollars. See why I needed you here? You still my good luck charm.” He grinned.
Devyn felt warm all over whenever he called her that.
They found a food truck and ordered food before Haze and Gideon guided their women toward a reserved section of tables and chairs.
“You been to many of these?” Devyn asked Glimmer.
She nodded. “A few. It’s not really my scene, but Gideon likes when I come, so I try to make an effort.”
Devyn nodded. She wasn’t sure it was her scene, either, but she was definitely intrigued by how the day would unfold.
She liked that she was able to step into Haze’s world comfortably now.
She loved that he had proved her wrong in so many ways, though she knew it would take time for that guilt to subside.
“There’s the man of the hour.” Haze grinned as a large, mean looking man walked toward them. He held hands with a beautiful dark-skinned woman with a soft smile.
“’Sup, nigga? You ready to lose?” the man asked.
Haze shook his head with a smile. “Never that. Baby, this mean ass nigga is Hades. He’s the one I was tellin’ you I’ll be racing against. Him and his club are also hosting this event today.”
“Nice to meet you,” Devyn said with a wave.
Hades glared at her. “You came here to watch yo’ nigga lose?”
The way he said it let Devyn know he wasn’t joking at all. It was a dead serious ass question.
“Uh . . . I—”
“Please do not listen to my husband. My name is Harley. I’m assuming you’ll be hanging around the presidents’ reserved area today?” she asked.
Devyn glanced at Haze, unsure.
“Yeah, she gonna be here. Harley, this my old lady, Devyn,” Haze replied.
Harley smiled. “Let me know if you need anything, Devyn. Hey, Glimmer.”
“Hey, girl,” Glimmer said with a wave.
Harley grabbed Hades, who still mugged them, and tugged him along.
“He’s a ray of sunshine,” Devyn mumbled.
Both Haze and Gideon laughed.
“Like his wife said, pay him no mind. He’s a mean ass nigga, but he don’t mean no harm. To us, anyway,” Gideon said.
They sat down to eat, but only ten minutes passed before Gideon stood up. “We should get goin’. They ’bout to start the races soon, and we still have to go grab our bikes. We should check in wit’ the rest of the club too.”
Haze nodded before he kissed Devyn on the temple. “You good?”
“Yeah. Good luck, baby. I’ll be cheering you on.”
“That’s all I need.” Haze kissed her again before he stood and dapped Gideon up.
They left the reserved area, leaving Glimmer and Devyn alone.
“Good. They’re gone. Girl, tell me how you got Haze to fall in love?” Glimmer asked.
Devyn’s eyes ballooned. They had just confessed their love for one another the night before. She didn’t understand how Glimmer could already know.
“How did you—”
Glimmer waved her off. “Anyone with eyes can tell, sis. Besides, anyone who has known Haze as long as I have knows he’s different with you.”
“I didn’t realize you’ve known him for so long,” Devyn admitted. She realized there was still so much she didn’t know about Haze. They were kind of working backward, but she looked forward to settling into this relationship with him and learning every little piece of him.
“Our fathers were best friends until his passed away. We grew up together. He’s literally like a brother to me. Kyomi and Deja are my best friends.”
“I love that. So, you and Gideon have known each other a long time? I think I remember Haze mentioning that they grew up together.”
“Technically, yes. I saw him around when I was young, but we didn’t really get to know each other until we were grown and married.”
“Wait, what?” Devyn asked, confused. How did a couple get to know each other once they were married?
Glimmer giggled and explained how she and Gideon had come to be. When she finished, Devyn’s mind was blown.
“Damn. And here I thought me and Haze were working backward.”
Glimmer tilted her head back and laughed. “It can’t get any more backwards than me and Gideon, but that’s my baby, though.”
Devyn smiled. She could see how in love they were. She wondered if that was how she and Haze looked to others.
“Oh, look. The first race is about to start.” Glimmer pointed toward the starting line. There was a huge screen that would show the race from start to finish in real time, so no matter where people sat, they could witness every second.
Devyn didn’t recognize the first two people set up to race.
She decided if they weren’t from the Vicious Kings, she would simply choose the person’s bike she liked best as the person she cheered for.
In this round, it was a sleek gray bike that Devyn knew for a fact went for a cool one hundred thousand dollars.
The race started, and within a matter of minutes, the man on the gray bike won. Devyn clapped politely. She wasn’t about to cheer a nigga on that wasn’t her nigga, so she kept it cute, but she was glad her bike of choice won.
Two more races went by, and each bike she chose won. By the time Haze and Hades took the starting line, she felt like he had it in the bag. She was on a winning streak, so that had to be only good news for her man.
Her palms sweated as she stood up.
“Go, baby!” she cheered. She knew he couldn’t hear her over the crowd and the engine of his bike, but she hoped he could feel her.
She jumped up and down when they took off.
Hades started out in the lead. Devyn couldn’t lie.
His bike was a masterpiece. Black with blue flames and his name on the side.
It was top of the line and a bad-ass bike, but Haze looked so damn good out there.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she watched him push his bike to the limit.
When he took the lead, she cheered, stomped, clapped, and screamed.
Glimmer was right beside her, acting a fool.
And when Haze crossed the finish line two inches before Hades, Devyn went crazy.
My man, my man, my man!
She couldn’t believe she had taken a step out onto the wild side and taken that leap of faith. Here she was in love with a bad boy who had a soft spot for her. Nothing could have prepared her for this, but she loved it. She wouldn’t change it for anything.
“Gideon’s up next.” Glimmer beamed as they watched Gideon and a guy with the name Lucifer on the side of his bike take their places.
They cheered Gideon on just as they had cheered Haze on, but at the end of his race, Gideon ended up losing by a millisecond.
Bummed, the two women sat back down and watched several more races while they sipped their drinks and got to know each other better.
Glimmer explained that it normally took a while after the races for the men to find their way back because there was paperwork to sign and photos to be taken and things like that.
Devyn waited anxiously for Haze to come back. For some reason, the longer he was gone, the more antsy she became. She realized it was because he was her safety blanket. The reason she felt so safe being here was because he was there, but when he wasn’t directly by her side, her anxiety flared.
As she watched the people in the reserved section, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She wasn’t even sure why.
Glimmer must have noticed because she asked, “What’s wrong—”
But she was cut off when a man put a gun to her head. He came from out of nowhere, and before Devyn could panic, she felt cold steel at her temple. She froze as a deep voice whispered right into her ear.
“Ah, the president of the Vicious Kings old lady. A pleasure to meet you. My name is Azul.”
Devyn had no idea who these men were, but they were definitely there to harm her. All she could do was silently pray to God to spare her life for both Haze and Hazel. They needed her, and she wanted to stay on this earth to live life with them.