Chapter 13 – Everly
EVERLY
Walking out of my bedroom to find Mason and Kaylie in the kitchen shouldn’t feel strange. It’s been a normal occurrence every day for the last two weeks.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Kaylie greets me around a mouthful of fruity cereal.
“Starting the day with a healthy bowl of sugar, I see.” My tone is teasing, but the glare I give Mason is one he gets often. He’s always giving this child sugary sweets.
Mason lifts his shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “We didn’t have much to cook and we need to get to the salon soon. I went for the easiest option.”
“If you need to get to the clubhouse, go. We’re fine.
I can get us to the salon on time.” I offer, knowing he hasn’t worked the last few nights and wants to go see Ghost. Since the day of our wedding there’s been no sign of the Devils anywhere in Oakridge, which should make everyone happy, yet it seems to have had the opposite effect.
We even put off our wedding celebration party at the clubhouse until Mason is certain we’re out of the woods.
But a part of me wonders if he’s just putting it off because he’s having second thoughts.
Maybe he’s thinking the annulment might be better once this is all worked out. Although he says I’m it for him.
You’re just too stubborn to believe him, even though he shows you every single night.
Of course, I am. It’s true. I wake up deliciously sore every morning from all the filthy ways he works to get his point across.
With the countless number of orgasms this man has given me, he should be in the Hall of Fame.
There has to be one for the most orgasms given in one night, right? If not, there should be.
No matter how many times we make love or how spectacular the orgasms are, I can’t shake the feeling that this is all going to blow up in my face.
It’s a dream that I’m suddenly going to wake up from and everything will be gone.
I still wonder if the whole reason Mason agreed to marrying me wasn’t just because he believes the Devils will leave me alone if they believe I belong to one of the Kings.
It’s supposed to be some unwritten rule or code that all bikers abide by, yet I’ve heard the guys say more than once that the Devils play by their own rules.
So having Mason’s last name won’t mean anything to them anyway.
We didn’t even have a real wedding.
There was no real proposal either.
But you got your man.
Did I?
“What are you thinking?” Mason’s voice draws me out of my thoughts.
“Huh? Oh, nothing.” I shake my head. “Work stuff. Sorry.
“Hmm,” is all he says, but I can read his expression. He doesn’t believe me.
“Hey, Squirt. Go grab your coat and your backpack. We need to get you girls off to the salon,” he orders, and Kaylie jumps to do as he says.
Mason crowds my space as I pour myself a cup of coffee. His mouth hovers near my ear as his finger trails along the side of my neck. “I should swat your ass every time you lie to me.” His breathy words tickle my skin, but that’s not why I shiver. “What’s on your mind, Sprite?”
“I was just thinking about our party. There’s a lot to be done and I should probably reach out to Linzie to see if there’s anything we can help with.” It’s not a complete lie.
Mason bites down on my neck, and I jump. When he releases my flesh, he kisses over the same spot, soothing the sting. “We can have the party this weekend if you’re ready. I think it’s safe enough.”
“Isn’t this weekend Valentine’s Day? You sure the guys won’t mind sharing a romantic holiday with us and not their women?” I ask, not wanting to be the damper on anyone’s planned celebrations.
“Babe. The guys only care about whether they’re getting laid and in which position for Valentine’s Day. That’s as romantic as it gets,” Mason informs me.
“How romantic,” I deadpan. “So now I know what to look forward to, huh?” I tease.
He pulls me back against his body, my back to his chest. “I’m not like the rest of them, Ev. I don’t need a special holiday to fuck my wife. I do that every day already.”
“You’re an ass,” I grumble, pulling out of his hold as he laughs.
“I’m about to take your ass, you keep sassing me woman.”
Kaylie rushes back into the room with her coat on, her backpack over her shoulder, and Winston in her hand. “Ready!” she hollers.
Mason followed us to the salon before heading out to meet with Ghost. He’s been diligent in keeping an eye on us or having a prospect around when he can’t be.
Today Colt is on duty. I don’t understand why.
It seems to me the person who trashed my shop was a one and done situation, but the Kings aren’t taking chances.
Kaylie takes her backpack and makes herself comfortable in her little play area, setting out her coloring pages and crayons.
Winston has been given his seat and instructions to be quiet and not disturb Sissy while she works.
Leslie has Mrs. Dickenson in her chair getting her usual bi-weekly cut and style. It’s a fairly calm morning.
A couple of hours into the day and we’ve had a steady flow of customers all morning. People who had to reschedule because of the repairs and insurance claims are all coming in to get caught up on their hair care routine, but I’m grateful for a break.
“I’m going to pick up something from Magpies’ for lunch. Did you or Kaylie want anything?” Leslie asks on her way to the front door.
“Wow. It’s that late already?” I ask, looking at the clock.
“Thank you, but I have food for us in the back.
I'd better take the lull for what it is and get Kaylie fed. You go on ahead. Looks like we have about thirty minutes until the next wave comes in.” She leaves, and I call for Kaylie to come to the break room.
She waddles in with Winston in tow, taking a seat at the table.
I grab her lunch box from the fridge and set out her sandwich and apple slices for her.
The chime on the front door sounds, alerting me to a customer arriving.
The mirrors on the wall back here give me a perfect view of the front door where a man in a dark hoodie and a ball cap stands with his back to me.
“I’ll be right with you.” I call out through the doorway. I’m opening Kaylie’s juice pouch when I catch something moving in the mirror. I see the side of his face, and I know immediately this is no customer.
Squatting down beside Kaylie, I whisper, “Do you remember what Mason told you to do whenever you’re scared at home?
” Kaylie nods, her eyes wide and full of fear.
I grip her little face in my hands and tell her, “I need you to go hide, Kaylie. Hide and don’t come out until I come get you.
Do you understand?” She nods as I hand her Winston.
“I’ll be right back. Now go.” I don’t watch to see where she hides.
I know Kaylie will find a good spot. She’s great at playing hide 'n seek.
There’s a bottle of Barbicide on the back table with a few pairs of scissors and shears. I reach for a pair of scissors and tuck them into a towel. I pretend to be wiping my hands with the towel as I walk to the front, gripping the scissors tightly.
“Hello, Everly.” Chills run up my spine at the sound of his graveling tone. I haven’t seen him in years, but I’ll never forget his voice.
I stop halfway to the front counter, frozen in place as his eyes pierce mine. “Aren’t you going to say hello to an old friend?”
Torch has lost weight since I last saw him.
His eyes are sunken in and his skin looks pasty.
But the darkness I’ve always known was there remains in his eyes.
I grip the towel in my hand tightly, willing myself to stay calm.
My phone is in my bag behind the counter, and Kaylie is hiding somewhere nearby in the back.
But where is Colt?
I glance behind Torch out the window and see a black leather jacket and the back of another man’s head, but I can tell from here it’s not Colt. Torch turns his head, following my gaze.
“Oh, your friend is taking a bit of a nap, I’m afraid.
My boys and I had a little talk with him, though.
We let him know we would be happy to keep an eye on things while he’s incapacitated.
” Torch smiles. “You’ve been making friends with the wrong people, I see.
I thought your mama would’ve taught you better than to be friends with the Kings, but then I may have expected too much from that whore. ”
“I’m sorry, I seem to have forgotten your name. Do we know each other?” The lies and disrespect piss him off. His eyes snap to something behind me.
“The kid’s not back here, boss.” I turn to find another man, shorter in stature but similar in greasy looks. He’s got on a black hoodie and jeans and appears to be very jittery standing in the doorway of the breakroom. “She was here at some point. Her lunch is on the table, but the kid’s not here.”
“Well, find her!” Torch shouts, storming toward me. I’m momentarily relieved to know Kaylie did as she was told while silently praying Mason will get here and find her before these assholes do.
I look around the room, contemplating whether I can make it to my phone or out the front door, but I don’t want to leave until I know Kaylie is safe.
My choice is taken from me when Torch’s hand grips the back of my hair and pulls, wrenching my head back and forcing me to my knees.
“Where is she? Where’s my fucking daughter? ”
I blink, stunned by his words, when a gunshot rings out, and the body once standing outside the salon window hits the ground.
I take the opportunity given and stab my scissors into Torch’s thigh.
He screams in pain and releases my hair to grab his leg.
I’m up on my feet but don’t make it two steps before his other goon is tackling me to the floor.
“Not so fast, bitch.” I squirm and kick, fighting to get loose, but his elbow comes down hard on the side of my head. A jolt of pain and a wave of nausea hit me simultaneously. But I don’t stop fighting. I can’t. I have to get to Kaylie.
Another round of gunshots is fired, and I wrap my arms over my head as I hear glass break and shatter around me. Everything happens in a rush. My heart is beating fast against my chest. My vision is blurred, and my ears are ringing. I can’t stop screaming as the world collapses around me.
The body that once pinned me to the ground is now limp, and blood pools on the floor beside me.
When I look up, I find the man who struck me to the ground.
His eyes are open but unseeing, and his body is limp.
I push him away from me and make my way under the front desk, where I cower and wait.
I don’t know who’s shooting or if it’s safe to come out.
So, I stay hidden and wait, praying it’s Mason who’s found us and for Kaylie to be tucked somewhere away from all the chaos.