Chapter 12
TWELVE
NATTY
AGE NINETEEN
The warm air blew through the farmer’s market, rustling the small canopy I’d sewn for Sasha’s cart. Each week there was a line formed in front of our little spot, customers waiting to buy her fresh produce, eggs, herbs and even honey.
I had finally started accepting a wage from her because she could easily afford it. Every week she’d completely sell out of everything she’d brought that day, and often had to even turn people away. It was a sweltering day in June when we heard the rumble of engines coming down the main road.
With Silas gone again, this time I had no idea what he was doing with his father; he was just gone again and every time he returned to me, he was a little more jaded and shattered.
I felt like he was slowly slipping away from me, but I had no idea how to stop it.
I’d even asked Sasha if she could talk to him about stopping his visits, or whatever the fuck they were, but she only hummed, listening but never agreeing.
“My son’s business is his own. I won’t interfere with what he’s trying to do.” That was the answer she’d give me, and while I completely bristled at her lack of help, I did understand it.
The group of bikers making their way toward us all slowed as they turned into the small park where our cart, along with several others, was set up. People were milling about, but had frozen at the fast approach of at least fifteen Death Raiders.
My stomach clenched tightly as I watched them all park and joke while they slid off their seats.
Dirk, the president, was the first bike in line, next to him was his vice president, and then down the line it went with his captains.
My back felt exposed in the spaghetti strap dress I wore, without my property patch.
Sasha had removed hers as well because of how hot the cart would get.
She quickly dug hers out from under the counter and slipped it on with shaky fingers. I hadn’t brought mine with me and felt mortified and naked without it.
“Go into the back, Natty,” Sasha ordered harshly, under her breath. Dirk and his men made their way toward the cart, but there was still a line of customers waiting to be helped.
Hesitating, I walked closer and muttered, “I can help. I’ll just keep my head down and keep assisting while Dirk talks to you. He’s here for you.”
Her hard gaze was pure ice as she snapped back, “Get in the back.”
I did as she said, scurrying through the curtain that covered our crates and extra inventory and took a seat against the wall. The heat nearly suffocated me, but I just endured it, waiting until Sasha told me it was safe to come out.
There was a crack in the curtain allowing me to watch the front, so I was able to track Dirk as he cut the long line of customers Sasha had, effectively ruining her image and reputation with them.
My insides bristled with the need to go out and apologize to them.
They’d been waiting in the heat all this time, only to be found at the mercy of the Death Raiders.
Several customers already walked away, giving a long glance at the leather cuts and glancing over at the bikes. Sasha had never once broadcasted her affiliation to the club, but now there was a good chance she’d have no returning customers thanks to it.
“Close up. Want you back at the club, we have some shit going down today.”
Sasha smiled up at him, but I could see the lingering tension in her face. The forced smile, the radiating anger. “What stuff? Should I be worried?”
Dirk pulled her forward by the front of her tank and kissed her hard. “No, baby, not worried, but I need my playthings where I can find them. Which reminds me.” Dirk looked over Sasha’s shoulder as if he were looking for something…or someone.
“Where’s that pretty assistant of yours?”
My breathing stopped, my head jerked up, and my fingers shook. Sasha started toying with Dirk’s cut, leaning over the counter to kiss him, but he pushed her back.
“You always fuckin’ do this. You think I don’t know what you’re doing? Where the fuck is she?” He pushed hard at Sasha’s shoulders until she was falling back a step.
Sasha’s fingers trembled as she pushed some of her hair back. “Not here. Bitch left me stranded today.”
Shit. Should I run? What if they saw me from the back?
Dirk gave one last glance around the cart, before taking a step back.
“Pack it up, get back to the club. I wanna fuck you before I have to deal with this shit tonight.”
Sasha nodded, but didn’t let out a breath until Dirk walked away.
She hung up her closed sign, which was a fancy piece of wood I had crafted for her and attached twine to.
It dangled over the counter, while the few remaining customers groaned in protest. Sasha took a crate, walked out to the line and began handing out what she had left for free to everyone who was still in her line.
Once she was back, and her crates were mostly empty, she began storing what was left.
Sasha’s movements were hurried, as panic filtered into every single gesture. It wasn’t until the Death Raiders left that I finally emerged to help her.
She spoke low but swift. “I need you to stay out of sight. Especially tonight. I have no idea what he’s planning, but I want you safe. Do you have a hiding place, somewhere only Silas knows?”
I shook my head. “Just his room…or the pond, but other people know about the pond; some people have started fishing there.”
“When we get in the Jeep, braid your hair back. Put on a hat and wear sunglasses. We need to hide as much of you as we can. I’ll pull around the back end of the club. You’ll have to walk back to the house, that way no one sees you from the club.”
Panic surged forward in my chest. I wanted Silas.
I nodded, packing crates and salvaging the eggs and produce that would wilt from the heat.
There was another rumble of a bike engine that had my hands freezing and Sasha’s head snapping up. Another Death Raider was slowly making his way toward our cart, but this time he stopped near the back and when I realized who it was, I dropped what I was holding and sprinted out the back.
Silas lowered his kickstand and unclasped his helmet right as I made it to him. His arms opened and he pulled me into his lap, and then his lips were on mine. His hand moved into my hair, over my ear and then he smiled against my lips.
We broke apart with heaving breaths. “What’s wrong?”
I tucked back a loose hair of his and searched his face for any bruises. He always had bruises when he came back.
“Just missed you.”
Sasha chose that moment to come out through the back, her arms crossed over her chest.
“That’s not it. Dirk is planning something, asked me to close early and get back to the club. She needs to ride back with you, and you need to make sure no one sees her. Then once she’s safe in the house, you need to get to the club.”
Silas was trying to work it out, I could tell by the way his dark brows dipped and his eyes narrowed on his mother. He wouldn’t ask here though; he’d get me on his bike and we’d be off.
“She done here?”
I was about to protest but Sasha nodded. “Yeah, I’m heading out too.”
He grabbed his helmet and slid it over my head, clasping it under my chin.
“What about you, you need to protect that beautiful brain of yours. It’s my favorite thing about you, my dark and brooding prince.”
He smirked, just like he always did, then he adjusted me in his lap, so I was straddling his hips, my chest molded to his chest, his lips at my ear.
“Anything happens to you, Caelum, and my brain won’t matter. Nor my heart, or anything else that allows me to breathe. It’s you or it’s nothing, my love.”
I kissed him, slow and with filthy promises of what was to come later that night, and once we broke apart, I wrapped my arms around his neck while he started his bike.
The way we rode was illegal, but nothing Silas did obeyed the laws of this land, so me riding in his lap was nothing.
I remained tucked to his chest as we rode down the road.
A short distance to the club, but since we were cutting through the back, we had to go slower.
Silas placed his cut over my shoulders and held my hand as we walked back to the house, cutting through the garden.
The sun was starting to set, the heat still as thick as ever.
Last summer, Silas had found a way to buy air conditioning for the house, so I could keep the windows locked without overheating.
The moment we stepped inside, the cool air hit me, and I sighed with relief while peeling off layers.
“What are you doing?” Silas asked, tracking every move that I made. I wasn’t normally this brazen or bold in his mother’s house. She’d been here less and less, and I’d gotten used to being alone. My dress fell to the floor in the middle of the living room, leaving me in a bra and thong.
Bending my arms to unclasp my bra, I smirked at him.
“I’m showering. Wanna join?”
He shifted on his feet, glancing at the windows briefly. The shades were open, but none of the members ever walked over here, or bothered with this old house.
He was taking too long to answer, so I let the bra drop and lightly traced a line up my stomach and over my nipples.
“I’m supposed to head over there…I don’t want to make anyone come looking for me, which would bring them here.”
I stepped forward, until I was directly in front of him, feeling my heart burst with tiny sparks. “Okay. I’ll see you later then.”
I pulled his hand up and kissed along his knuckles. He’d gotten new ink along a few of them. It seemed each and every time I saw him, he had more and more added to his skin. I loved them, and more than that, each time he got back I’d make a game of tracing the new ones with my mouth.
“Fuck it, if they come looking, I’ll remove their ability to see.”
The hand I was holding moved into my hair as he pulled me into him, his lips landed on mine, demanding and desperate.