Chapter 7 Marcus
MARCUS
“So, is it true?” Caden asked the second Marcus walked into the back of the bar.
“Is what true?” he asked, dropping a box of supplies onto the table.
“That you are babysitting a Valentine murder victim?”
Marcus glanced up at Caden and gave him a look.
“How could I be babysitting somebody who’s dead?”
Caden looked at him, confused and trying to figure out what he got wrong.
“But Lucas said…” he began before realizing what he was about to admit to.
“Lucas has a big mouth,” Marcus said, turning back to the box he had just brought in. He began unloading boxes of straws and putting them in a pile for Damien to take to the front of the bar whenever he had a chance.
“So? Is it true?” Caden asked once again, this time leaning against one of the tables in the back.
Marcus broke up the empty box and then laid it flat on the table. He gave Caden a stern look, then double-checked that no one else was around to overhear.
“Yes, what Lucas said is true. Sheriff Burke asked us to watch and protect Gavin until they can catch this motherfucker and Gavin can testify. I need you to keep this info to yourself. The fewer people who know the truth, the better.”
Blade decided to walk into the back room at that very moment.
Both Marcus and Caden froze, watching Blade as he cautiously came to a stop a few steps from the door.
“Yes, I know all about our special guest. And no, I didn’t ask Ace to blab his mouth.” He continued walking toward the basement, then disappeared from sight.
Marcus shook his head. “I swear to god, nobody follows orders anymore.”
A few seconds later, Ace, Lucas, and Gavin all walked into the back laughing before they came to a sudden halt.
“What?” Ace asked, shrugging his shoulder as if he hadn’t a clue what all the whispering was about.
“You and I are going to have a talk about what following orders means,” Marcus growled.
“Now, now, Daddy, it’s too early to be this growly,” Gavin interjected.
Shaking his head, he pointed at Gavin. “You. Come with me,” he said as he walked toward the basement door.
Gavin looked at Ace and Lucas, who both shrugged at him.
“Now,” Marcus barked, walking down the stairs. Gavin came running after him like a good little puppy.
Wow, what’s all this? Gavin asked, looking at the heaps of merchandise that had fallen off trucks in recent months.
Some items were spoken for, while others were for the Vipers to use whenever they… needed something.
Other items, like the leather jackets Marcus was standing by, would eventually be sold to those interested in buying high-quality leather at a discounted rate.
It was all profit for Marcus. Everything had been liberated from their delivery trucks at no cost to the Shadow Vipers, so all proceeds from any sales went right into their pockets.
They were criminals, not good Samaritans.
Sue him.
The real hardware—guns, drugs, and other illegal items—were safely locked in his secret room. A room Gavin knew absolutely nothing about… he hoped.
“Here. Which one do you want?” Marcus asked, pointing to the leather jackets hanging on racks.
“What? I can have one?” Gavin asked, seeming shocked by the offer.
“Yeah, and when you’re done, I’ll take you into the city to buy some clothing. It’s not like you packed a bag when you decided to enter the Viper Protection Program.” Marcus gave him a tiny smirk. He kind of liked the sound of that.
Gavin let out a squeak as he began perusing the designer jackets laid out before him. “Jesus, these are gorgeous.” Gavin pulled one out and held it up in front of him. “Wow.”
Then he froze.
“Wait. Are all of these… stolen?”
Marcus shrugged. They were going to be sold to someone else eventually. Who cared how these items got in his possession?
Marcus could see the conflict storming in his eyes. He took the jacket from his hands and held it open so Gavin could slip inside.
“Yup, that is definitely the one for you,” Marcus whispered, turning the boy so he could check himself out in the mirror. “What do you think?”
The boy was good-looking to begin with. His dark hair against his piercing blue eyes added a sleek contrast that could only be described as… mesmerizing.
Add to that the badass leather jacket Marcus had just thrown onto him. Oh, Mama.
Staring at himself in the mirror, Gavin's eyes lit up when he saw his reflection. “Wow.”
“Yup. It gives you that badass biker look. Now you look like you are one of us.” Marcus slapped Gavin on the arm. “Now let’s go get you some clothes to go with that jacket.”
Turning, Marcus headed back upstairs, with Gavin close behind him. They headed out to the back of the bar, where Marcus had his Harley parked.
“Here,” Marcus said, passing Gavin a helmet and helping him up onto his bike.
“Hold on tight, and don’t let go,” Marcus explained, wrapping Gavin’s arms around his waist as he started up the bike.
“I’ve never been on a motorcycle before!” Gavin shouted over the roar of the engine.
“Hang tight!” Marcus warned as he peeled the bike out of the parking lot without warning.
A car honked its horn as Marcus cut past the driver, missing the car by only a few feet. Marcus felt Gavin’s grip on him tighten as he buried his face into his back.
Feeling the boy cling to him, knowing he was the only thing that stood between him and certain death, made Marcus feel powerful.
His whole life, Marcus had been a protector, a provider, a brother, a pseudo-father, and for the past ten-plus years, a leader. So many people looked up to him and relied on him to guide them and help keep them safe and out of jail.
Marcus loved it.
He loved that feeling of being needed, being counted on. The knowledge that people depended on him. He might put on a growly demeanor, but secretly, he loved it.
Now, feeling Gavin’s face pressed into his body, he felt important. He felt needed.
They drove about twenty minutes north to these really cool clothing stores that Ace and Lucas liked to shop at. He figured that Gavin would have similar tastes and might appreciate getting clothing that actually fit his physical measurements.
Shopping from broken-down trucks did not always provide the wearer with the appropriate measurements they were looking for. One kind of got what was available. And there were no returns or exchanges for sizes.
But Marcus wasn’t cheap. He planned on buying Gavin a big enough wardrobe to ensure that he never had to wear the same outfit twice while he was staying with him.
Seeing the vulnerable look on Gavin’s face this morning when Marcus found him sleeping outside his bedroom door—too afraid to ask if he could sleep with him in his bed—nearly broke his heart.
It reminded him of when Ace used to have nightmares as a young boy, then sneak into his bed to sleep, snuggling into him, needing his protection from the monsters of his dreams.
Ace never ran to either of their parents. He sought Marcus out, knowing his big brother would always be there to have his back and protect him.
Once a protector, always a protector.
Marcus would be whatever it was that Gavin needed. A protector. A provider. A person to listen.
Still clinging for dear life, Marcus could feel Gavin laughing behind him and having the time of his life. Marcus wasn’t wearing his helmet, but he had a Bluetooth in his ear so they could communicate if needed.
The sound of Gavin’s laugh warmed Marcus’s belly.