Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
HAVEN
The plan worked!
Who knew arson could be so much fun? We watched from a distance for a large boom, but that never happened. The house, however, caught fire quickly, and within an hour, we could see the large black cloud of smoke that drew most of the police presence from my house.
I guess the gas must have been off, but either way, the result was Loki asking Mrs. Duncan what happened while I got Diesel out of the backyard.
Thank God my neighbor is such a gossip.
We had one of the other club members meet us, and I switched vehicles with her. I was now sitting inside a cherry red Camaro with my dog, waiting outside a shitty looking motel, regretting my life choices.
“I think the clubhouse might have had fewer bed bugs.” I pet Diesel’s head affectionately as the rumble of a Harley finally meets my ears.
“About fucking time.” It had been hours, and I wanted a shower and a bed desperately.
Although maybe I should just go get my own room somewhere else. Then I remembered I had no ID with Danica’s name, and I couldn’t stay anywhere in my own at the moment.
FUCKING HELL.
“You stay here and behave. DO NOT eat the car.” Diesel whimpers and puts his head down on the console.
“I MEAN IT!” I step out of the car and close the door as Apex approaches.
Diesel sits up and growls at him.
“Call off the pooch.” I look between them as they stare at one another.
“Sure, once you show me the room and I decide if I’m staying here.” I cross my arms in defiance.
“Azrael, you’ve got no other option. Get that demon dog and come on. I got your shit.” He lifts my bookbag in the air and shakes it.
Sighing, I open the door for Diesel and then grab his collar as he launches himself at Apex.
“Easy, he’s a friend. I think,” I add the last part lower as I wrangle the dog and try not to fall on my ass.
“You’re a mean old fucking thing, aren’t ya? EASY,” Apex comes closer with his hand stretched out for Diesel to sniff.
Brave man.
My dog lunges, and I barely hold him back.
“Behave, Diesel.” I hiss at him, but he continues to growl.
“I bite back fucker, so calm the hell down.” Apex’s hand is now in biting distance, but to my surprise, Diesel calms and bumps his nose into the man’s palm.
“That’s a good boy. You get a steak on me tonight.” He pets my traitor of a dog and then looks up at me.
“Hungry?”
“Ok, this place is incredible! I was sure I’d find blood splattered walls and bugs.” I look around the motel room that would put some five-star resorts to shame.
“Looks can be deceiving. Weren’t ya taught not to judge a book by its cover?” Apex is currently lighting the fireplace, and I’m having trouble keeping my eyes off his ass.
“Um, yes, but in my experience, that’s always been bullshit.” He chuckles and stands back up straight.
“Fair enough. Danica and I found this place years ago. The old couple that owned it were going to close the doors ‘cause they couldn’t keep up. So we bought it and renovated it. We leave the day-to-day business running to their family and split the profits fifty-fifty,” he trails off as he talks and then sighs.
“We did.”
I nod in understanding.
“It’s hard to switch to the past tense. Give it time.” I turn away so he can gather himself.
“She had a living will, you know. She didn’t look like it and never would have dreamed of acting like it either, but she had money. It’s all yours now.” I spin around so fast that I make myself dizzy.
“What? Me! No, that can’t be. We weren’t even talking. Why would she do that?” I flop down on the couch and grab my head in my hands.
The migraine I’ve been fighting comes barreling in full force.
“She always knew she’d die young.” I turn to glare at him, but he looks like he’s lost in a memory.
“It’s what she said. Anyway, I don’t know your side of the story, so I won’t defend her actions.
I know the woman I loved, and she would never dream of hurting you.
You are…were, the only family she talked about.
I didn’t want her money, so she left it to you.
I don’t give a fuck what you do with it, but this place is now partly yours.
I’m gonna go get us some grub. Anything you don’t like or can’t eat?
” That was information overload, and I shook my head to clear it, but he took it as my answer.
I’m not hungry anyway, so whatever he gets, Diesel can eat.
I turn to my dog, who’s lying out in front of the fire like the king of the castle. I grab my bookbag and start looking through the pockets for some medicine, and bump my hand into a metal device I don’t recognize by touch. I pull it out and groan.
A taser and wrapped around it like some fucked up bow, three condoms with a post-it note that reads ‘Just in case’ in Corvin’s sharp script writing.
Thanks, best friend.