Chapter 15 #2
We walk down the hall together, and I hold the back door open for her.
The cool October night air sends a noticeable shiver through her body, and she immediately folds her arms against the chill.
I shrug out of my cut and leather jacket to separate the two articles of leather and drape my jacket over her shoulders.
“Thank you.” She smiles up at me, tugging my jacket around herself tighter while I slip back into my cut. “What did you want to talk about?”
“You first,” I say, dreading my part of the conversation.
“I’ve been offered a thousand dollars to do card readings at a Halloween Party for a couple of hours.”
“Where?”
“The mayor’s mansion, by his wife. She actually called me earlier today while Ace and I were at the park with Rosita and Mia. They’re having some kind of ritzy party, and they want a professional. A costume is required, but she said they’d provide one and send it over.”
It’s not stopping… It’s never going to fucking stop!
“This reeks of fucking Legion,” I growl. She stares at me for a moment, and I wonder if the thought never occurred to her. “Since when are you on the mayor’s radar, let alone in his wife’s contacts?”
She only nods, contemplatively.
“And you don’t even like reading tarot for others.” My words sound harsher than I intended, and her eyes drop from mine to stare at the concrete.
“You’re right,” she quietly concedes.
Was she happy about this offer? I know she misses the Ametrine Cauldron. Maybe she was too excited by an opportunity to put her witchy talents to use. The thought really hadn’t crossed her mind?
I need to rein my shit in, for her sake. I cannot let Legion win. “Are you going to do it?”
She shrugs halfheartedly, now that I’ve managed to suck the wind from her sails.
“It’s a lot of money for a few hours, plus tips.
It used to take me almost two weeks to make that at The Ametrine Cauldron.
” She finally peers up at me, a flicker of hope in her eyes as they shift searchingly in mine.
“Maybe this could open doors to something more? Maybe starting a practice closer to home could actually be a possibility? I mean, in the future… The mayor’s wife sounded very eager to hire me.
I guess with Halloween this week, she was in a pinch for another entertainer?
I mean, I did hand out a few business cards last year with my number on them.
Remember? At the Mum Festival in New Bern, when I was helping Laura at her booth…
So, we don’t know for sure this is Legion’s doing…
do we? Maybe one of Mrs. Wellington’s friends gave her my card? ”
We don’t know for sure this is Legion… It’s already fucking starting… I’m going to have to choose my battles, or he’s going to win the war.
“Maybe I’m being paranoid.” I’m not, but …
“I’m not going to stop you if you want to do it.
” Far be it from me to put a damper on her happiness.
The last thing I want is to ever make her feel stifled in any way.
Not after Jack. Not after the mistakes I made in my own failed marriage to Lucinda.
“Could be worse,” I attempt to joke, “She could have called asking you to belly dance.”
To my meager relief, Vanna laughs. “I’m way out of practice for that. And for the record, I never danced professionally. I took a few classes just for fun at Laura’s shop. Your birthday that year was a one-time thing.”
“Well, I think you move this body just fine, doll.” I grip her hips and pull her against me. “As long as you keep that talent between us... Our own private thang .”
“Are you flirting with me?” she smirks.
“Is it working? I could use the distraction.” I could use the reminder she’s mine, too. Nothing soothes my racing mind or battered soul like losing myself in her.
“You do seem a bit tense lately.” Her hands slide up my arms to gently grip my shoulders over the cut. “Is everything alright?”
Not even a little, but I force a smile for the sake of her contentment. “ Aces , baby.”
“That’s not going to get you out of anything this time. What was it you wanted to talk about?”
The rumbling of Axel’s Dyna interrupts before I can reply. We watch him park his Harley in his usual spot, near the back patio, since it’s closest to the room he shares with Cherry.
“Sorry, I’m late for my shift,” Axel says, helmet tucked beneath his arm as he walks up to us. His weary eyes are reddened, and there’s dried paint on his pants and hands. “Long day. Do you mind if I take a quick shower before I hit the floor?”
“Go for it.”
“Thanks. It’s been a day.” He combs his fingers through his disheveled hair. “This client was a pain in the ass, but at least the job’s done.”
“Ain’t always easy running your own business.”
“Nope,” Axel concurs. “Is Ace here tonight?”
“He’s already fallen asleep,” Vanna regretfully informs him.
“Damn.” Axel sighs but offers her an understanding smile. “I miss the little munchkin. Do you mind if I just look in on him real quick?”
“Of course not.” Vanna pats my chest, and I reluctantly release her and trail behind them on our way back to Ace.
When Vanna opens the door, Axel and I take a peek inside. Ace is fast asleep in the middle of the bed, tucked beneath a blanket and between two pillows to keep him in the center of the mattress.
Days when I not only put in hours at the repair shop, followed by a block of volunteered guard duty for Medusa’s Gates before my shift at the Twisted Throttle, Vanna has been bringing Ace here to spend a little time with me and whichever of his MC Uncles are around.
They’re usually here before I arrive, and Ace genuinely seems to enjoy the time he spends at the clubhouse.
It’s a boost in morale when I don’t have to go a whole twenty-hour or longer stretch without seeing my family.
Besides, this place isn’t just a clubhouse.
It isn’t just a bar. We’re a close-knit family, and I think Vanna misses everyone at the Twisted Throttle, too.
There’s been something different about her ever since the Ametrine Cauldron burned down.
I know she’s happy being Ace’s mother, though sometimes I worry the whole housewife-mommy gig isn’t keeping her content.
What if she wants more than I can give her?
Once Axel heads off to his room, Vanna closes the door quietly and turns to me. “You said you wanted to talk?”
I attempt to keep the tone of my request casual when I tell her, “Yes, but let’s go to the gym so we don’t wake Ace.” She’s still got his monitor, and it’s only a short walk down the hall adjacent to this room.
Once inside the gym, I shut the double doors behind us and turn to face her.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, studying my expression again.
“You must know how I feel about Legion.”
“You hate him.”
“You must know how I feel about Legion… and you .”
“There is no Legion and me , Dean. There never was and there never will be.” She steps forward to touch the clenched fist at my side. “Look at me… Who is the man who has bent over backwards to give me everything I’ve ever wanted?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you . Who never gave up on us despite our pasts?”
“I didn’t.”
“There isn’t another man on this earth capable of loving me the way you do. And if you think I don’t know that…that I don’t love you just as deeply…” She shakes her head as if the mere thought of my doubt hurts her, and I can’t stand that.
“I do. I’m sorry, doll. I do. I couldn’t live without your love, baby.”
“What is it you need to tell me?”
I let out a tense sigh. “Just know how much I hate that it’s come to this.” I drag a hand through my hair and swallow my pride for Axel’s sake. “I may need your help…with Legion.”
She seems surprised at first, and I desperately, instinctively , scrutinize her expression for any sign of joy over the matter.
“ Oh… well, what can I do?” Her hand slowly gravitates to the base of her throat, a sign of unease I’ve come to recognize in her.
She quickly changes course, grabbing my leather jacket and pulling it from her shoulders.
She holds it awkwardly in front of herself, fingers fiddling with the pull-tab of the zipper.
“You’re the only person who seems to hold any sway with him. I don’t know exactly what this situation looks like yet…but we both know you’re the reason he’s back…and… I don’t want to fight with you about him… about anything… but especially not about him .”
“There’s nothing to fight about.” She tries to reassure me with a soft smile. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“He’s got leverage on Axel. Probably Viking, too.”
“Leverage?” It only takes a second before her eyes widen upon realization. “ Oh no …the Demons’ Den?”
I nod. “Security footage. He showed me photos which are damning enough, but they look like still shots from recordings.” Vanna stops toying with the zipper and holds my jacket tighter against herself.
I’m not sure what to make of this reaction.
I clear my throat and continue, “I already met with my lawyer… There is no statute of limitations in this situation. Axel’s looking at a ten-year federal stint if anything happens to Legion. ”
“What do you need me to do?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know what other tricks he’s got up his sleeve…just…be on my side, doll.”
“Dean…” Her expression turns sympathetic, but worry is still evident behind her eyes. “There is no other side I would ever be on, sweetheart.”
“I know you think you see something in him.” Admitting so claws at my insides, and the way her eyes shift back and forth in mine, I’m sure she sees right through me to the insecurities bubbling to the surface.
“ Not like that .”
“But you see something .”
“I’m not sure what I see, exactly. Other than a person attempting to right his wrongs.”
“ Through blackmail ?”
Vanna winces. “I didn’t say he was going about it the right way.” She bites her bottom lip, hesitating before she asks, “Would you have even given him the time of day if he didn’t have leverage?”
Fuck… “No.”