Chapter 13
After the volunteer moving crew had delivered everything to a storage unit at the Devil Daddies compound, the entire group had adjourned to Inferno for lunch.
Well, after Vex dropped off one particular box along with her clothing and personal belongings to his cabin.
Angel wiggled in her chair, thinking about how the conversation about those private items would go later.
Boink!
Angel looked up when Winnie kicked her lightly under the table.
Her new friend looked at Angel meaningfully, silently telling her to get out of her head before launching into a discussion about how intelligent chipmunks were.
Winnie had memorized so many facts about the furry creatures that Angel was astounded.
“Winnie, do you know what animal everyone else likes best?” Scythe asked her after several minutes.
“Um. I bet Angel likes seals most because she has Sammie. I’d say monkeys for Caroline and bees for Honey,” Winnie guessed. The women nodded, confirming her guesses.
“Sounds like you know your friends well,” Scythe praised her.
“I have a special treat for the ladies,” Street announced and pointed to a server, who was bringing a pail like a kid would take to the beach. “Thanks, Becky,” he said kindly to the server.
“I struggled not to dive face-first into this,” Becky told the table. “I brought a ton of spoons. Everyone is going to want a bite.”
“You can join us,” Winnie suggested.
“No way. I’d be in a sugar coma for the rest of the day. Enjoy for me. I’m living vicariously through you.” With a wave, Becky headed to the kitchen to grab her next order.
“We’re going to kill you for the sugar naughties that will follow this,” Razor told Street.
“You’ll be too busy for revenge,” Street said as Caroline, Angel, Winnie, and Honey grabbed a spoon to dig in.
Angel was seated the farthest away. She shifted onto her knees to reach.
“Ooo!” she gasped as Vex lifted her out of her chair and onto his lap, bringing her in front of the dish.
“Oh, this is better!” she exclaimed as she grabbed one of the cookies half decorating the top and scooped up whipped cream.
“That’s the best idea. Use the cookies,” Honey said and followed Angel’s lead.
Winnie climbed onto Scythe’s lap and tested Honey’s suggestion. “Yum! Try the chocolate cookie with the fudgy ice cream. Delish!”
When she’d eaten all she could, Angel leaned back against her Daddy’s chest with a sigh of contentment.
Her friends still attacked the dessert with a gusto that made her smile.
How had such an awful experience being held by the Ravagers led to this?
A gathering of the most accepting and friendliest people she’d ever met.
“Happy, Baby girl?” Vex asked.
“Thank you for sharing this with me.”
“The Devil Daddies MC doesn’t run in the same social circles as the Berts and Trevors of the world do,” Vex told her without a trace of discontent in his voice.
She suspected he wasn’t interested in becoming part of the wealthy status quo. She’d never been concerned by status and family background. Each person mattered more.
Angel scanned the inside of the bar and restaurant. Inferno was a tremendous success. The hip location had to rake in a ton of money. She realized she didn’t know what Vex did for work.
“What, Angel? Something just struck you.”
“It’s nothing important. I know you so well, but there’s so much I haven’t learned about you. Can we talk sometime about how you got to be a Devil Daddy? Part of the MC?” she asked.
“Of course. I’ll be glad to share any information you’d like.”
“Angel! I want to dance. Would you like to boogie with me?” Winnie asked.
“I… I could dance for a while.”
“Yay! Come on!” Winnie scrambled off Scythe’s lap as Caroline and Honey stood.
Vex caught her hand and pulled her close. “Put a bit of distance between you and Winnie. She’s a bit clumsy, and your bruises are now healing.”
Angel smiled and nodded. Vex wasn’t being mean. He was taking care of her as always. She followed the girls to the floor. Razor trailed them and stood a couple of feet from them. Winnie and Caroline didn’t react. Maybe he was making sure they were safe?
Winnie’s moves were expansive, to say the least. The others dancing shifted away from their small group as Winnie flailed her arms around enthusiastically. Smiling at her friend, who obviously was having a blast, Angel took Vex’s advice and stayed out of range.
During the second song, Honey stumbled. Angel stepped forward to lend a hand, but Razor was there before she could reach Honey.
He wrapped his arm around her waist from behind and danced along with her.
Honey smiled at him over her shoulder as she continued to move to the music with his support.
Caroline and Winnie waved at Razor, welcoming him into their dancing circle.
This must be normal? Angel hoped her friend was okay. She turned to look at Vex. He nodded, reassuring her that everything was fine.
When the music slowed down, Razor whisked Honey into his arms, holding her close.
The others walked off the dance floor. Vex, Scythe, and Wraith headed toward them.
Even with her gaze fixed on Vex, Angel bristled as the trio of hot men drew a lot of attention from the females in the crowd.
Some brazen women even called their names or offered themselves as a partner.
She wrapped her arms around Vex’s neck to claim him when her Daddy guided her into his arms.
He held her close as they swayed together to the slow rhythm. Angel closed her eyes, savoring the brush of his hard form against her. Pure masculine strength and power radiated from his chiseled form. She’d never dated anyone like Vex. With him, she felt protected and cherished.
His lips whispered across her hair in a soft kiss. He was as into her as she was attracted to him. Angel crossed her fingers behind him. Please let this continue. I want to enjoy this forever.
Vex halted abruptly to pivot. He pulled Angel behind him automatically, putting himself between her and whatever had stopped him. Angel peeked over his shoulder. She’d recognize that sculpted hairstyle anywhere.
“Trevor?”
“Hey, man. Thanks for letting me cut in,” Trevor said smoothly and sidestepped around Vex.
“Fuck you.” Vex reclaimed Angel and danced her farther onto the crowd, leaving Trevor standing alone on the dance floor.
Angel met Trevor’s gaze as she looked over Vex’s shoulder. He physically bristled with indignation. His hands clenched into fists. Angel shook her head at him, trying to stop any conflict between the men. Trevor could never win against Vex. She definitely didn’t want Trevor suing Vex for assault.
Trevor didn’t heed her warning. He started forward. Instantly, Scythe and Wraith got in front of him, blocking his way. Their Little girls huddled behind the two-man barrier as Street got in front of Trevor and forced him backward away from the couples.
Angel lost sight of Trevor when Vex spun her to face the other direction. “Vex! We have to stop. Don’t let them hurt Trevor.”
“Trying to fucking cut in on a Devil Daddy in our fucking house? What the fuck!” Vex said, completely pissed as he stopped dancing in the middle of the floor.
A man bumped into Vex. “Sorry, dude. How about moving over there to talk to your lady?”
“Fuck off,” Vex told him. The man wisely shifted to the other side of the dance floor.
“While I am impressed with how you can use one obscenity in a variety of grammatical categories—noun, adjective, verb, your anger is my fault, or that guy’s,” Angel said, pointing to the jerk who’d asked them to move.
When Vex glared at her, she continued, “Trevor doesn’t understand what’s going on. Let’s go speak to him. I owe him that much.”
Vex’s eyebrows drew together in a savage glower. He opened his mouth and snapped it closed. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Thank you.” Angel ran her hand up and down his bulging upper arm. “Can I talk to him alone?”
Vex stared at her for several seconds before shaking his head no. “That will never happen.”
Angel didn’t push her luck by insisting. “Okay, you can be near me. But let me meet with him privately.”
Again, he paused before growling, “I hate this.”
“Thank you, Vex. I owe you one. How about if you consider how you’re going to collect on that promise?”
The fury receded from Vex’s expression. A different light appeared in his deep green eyes. A thrill ran down her spine at the heat in his now predatory gaze. “I’ll work on that, Baby girl. But I’m staying close.”
“I’m better when you’re nearby. Thanks, Vex.”
Vex took her hand and shouldered a safe path for her to follow him through the dancers. He led her through the front door, where Scythe and Wraith had towed Trevor into the parking lot.
“Wraith! Scythe! Angel wants to speak to him. Let him go,” Vex called over the scattered people waiting to get inside to eat and drink.
Wraith released the collar of Trevor’s navy blazer and backed off, holding his hands up. He and Scythe stepped away to watch the show.
“Thank you!” Trevor shook himself off and straightened his clothing with indignation. “I should sue you for assault.”
“If you’re going to call this assault, I’m going to get a few blows in,” Wraith said, walking forward.
Angel was impressed. Trevor stood his ground, squaring off as the enormous man approached. Before anything could happen, she ran down the stairs. “Thanks, Wraith, Scythe. I’ll handle the conversation from here.”
Out of the corner of her vision, she spotted Vex taking a place next to his Devil Daddies brothers. “Trevor? What are you thinking?”
“I had no way to contact you, Angel. I went by your apartment to check on you, and the rooms were empty. Have you moved in with that biker?” he asked.
“Thank you for being worried about me, Trevor.” Angel sidestepped the question. “I am in a safe location.”
“You’re not going to tell me where?” Trevor demanded.
“No. The fewer people who know where I am, the better.”
“Are you really at such risk?”
Angel stared at Trevor for several long seconds before shaking her head.
“You do remember I was kidnapped and held in atrocious conditions until the Devil Daddies happened to be there rescuing Razor? Razor didn’t know me—didn’t know my name or that my family is rich.
Vex risked his life when those who I thought loved me sat back and waited for something…
I don’t know what. The price to come down? The police to find me? Me to die?”
“You had a harrowing experience,” Trevor said in his most concerned tone.
“Trevor. Do you understand I had to shit and pee in a corner? I might get fed every couple of days, but whatever they threw for me to eat off the floor was spoiled. When I got my period, I had no supplies. My jeans stiffened with blood. The fabric smelled and attracted insects. The head of the Ravagers paraded me through the halls for the bikers in that MC in my bloodstained jeans to embarrass me. He wanted to tell me that my father had refused to pay my ransom. That no one cared for me enough to get me out of there.”
Hearing all that aloud horrified her. Angel hated remembering any of that.
She stopped to gather herself and waited to see if Trevor would say anything.
His expression wasn’t of anger or even self-blame for having done nothing.
He looked disgusted. An image of Vex getting her clean popped into her mind.
Angel centered herself and finished, “Then, when they’d robbed me of hope and dignity, they threw me back in that blackened room to rot.
Oh, and he threatened to hand me over to the Ravagers for their fun if no one coughed up some funds.
That idea made the return trip through those violent men yelling foul suggestions at me more terrifying. Is that your definition of harrowing?”
“You can’t hold me responsible for criminals and their behavior. I’m sure with some counseling.…”
A garbled sound of anger and disbelief welled up behind her. Angel turned to see Wraith and Scythe’s muscles bulging as they held Vex back. She mouthed, “I’m okay, Daddy.” Wraith nodded at her. He understood she needed to finish this.
Angel spun to stare into Trevor’s handsome face. “I was a different person when I thought I loved you, Trevor. I didn’t know what true love was. That’s one thing this ordeal has taught me. Go on with your life, Trevor. I can never be a part of it.”
Not able to look at him anymore, she walked to Vex. The guys let go of him. Vex stepped forward to wrap his arms around her in the tightest hug she’d ever received. Angel clung to his body, shaking with the reaction of reliving that horrific time in front of someone who would never get it.
Clapping filled the air. Angel peeked up to see Scythe and Wraith showing her their approval.
She grinned as her face heated slightly at the attention.
She wouldn’t have chosen to speak to Trevor so bluntly with an audience, but the situation hadn’t allowed her privacy.
Besides, these guys weren’t strangers anymore. They were Vex’s family and now hers.
“You guys,” she said, rolling her eyes at them.
“Come on, Baby girl. I think it’s time to go home.”
“Yes, please.” Exhaustion draped over her. All she wanted was to cuddle with Vex, Sammie, and her blanket.