8. Faith
Eight
Faith
Amelia
As soon as Bullet walks into the room, I know something big has happened.
His face, no less beautiful, but filled with concern, says that this is a sit-down conversation.
Puss and Boots rally quickly around Bullet’s feet.
He takes the time to snuggle them before he guides me to sit in my cozy chair and puts Puss on my lap, then sits across from me.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Crush coming in and shutting the door behind him.
I give him a quick “Hey,” which he responds to with a chin lift.
Crush gravitates to the far end of the room to give Bullet and me space.
The weird thing is that Boots jolts out of Bullet’s arms and dashes over to Crush.
Boots meows until Crush bends to pick him up.
Crush looks uncomfortable holding my kitten, but Boots is a little love and burrows into his arms. It’s so cute, and I swear I almost see a smile on Crush’s lips.
“Baby, I hate to start your day off this way, but I’ve got to talk to you about Freddie’s shop,” Bullet says.
“Does he want the money back?” I ask.
Bullet shakes his head. “Freddie was the original owner of the place. Sal was the man you met, and he was the owner. After we left yesterday, Sal was murdered,” he says, taking my hand in his. “When we left him, he was very much alive.”
I’m stunned and horrified. Freddie, I mean Sal, is dead. I gasp. “Who—who would do that?” I stutter.
“I don’t know, babe. But the club got a visit from the police early this morning asking questions. I swear to you, I never laid a hand on him.”
Bullet looks into my eyes, pleading with me to believe him. And I do! I know he wouldn’t kill a man over being a crappy mechanic. “I know you didn’t. I don’t think you’re the kind of man who would take a life unless you were in danger. Why did the cops come to you?”
Bullet sighs. “When we were there yesterday, his crew tried to make trouble and pulled out their weapons. Blade disarmed one of them and held him to the ground. We were able to take their guns, and that’s when Sal gave back the money he took from you. When we left, Sal was alive.”
“Then I’ll ask again, why do the police think you’re involved?”
Bullet opens his mouth to respond, but Crush gets there first. “Satan’s Pride has enemies.
Even before Bullet and I were part of the club, there’s always been a gang or another MC that’s tried to take us down.
Guard thinks that someone was tailing us and took the opportunity to make it look like the Pride had gone rogue and killed Sal.
Sal’s not a good man, and from what I hear, he was scaring the shit out of the girl that was working for him.
She’s disappeared. The cops are looking for her too.
Guard’s convinced she’s in trouble and is on the run.
We want to find her first and hopefully keep her from being another victim. ”
“Oh my God! All this because you all tried to help me!” I whisper loudly, digging my fingers into his thigh.
“Amelia, look at me.” Bullet’s soothing voice is like a warm blanket.
His palm cups my cheek. “This isn’t about you.
Whoever is behind this saw an opportunity and took it.
The Pride has nothing to do with Sal’s death.
But the cops are going to question you. They’re just doing their job.
I’m going to ask you to trust me and call me if they show up at your door.
I’m not sure if you’ve met Sofia Bardon.
Her kid goes to your school. She’s also the wife of a club brother and is the best lawyer you’d ever want. ”
“Dean’s mom, right?” I manage to get out.
Bullet gives me a grin. “Yeah, babe. That’s her. I’d rather you have me and her by your side when they come by.”
“Okay,” I readily agree. “But I don’t know anything, except for you going to see him and coming back with the exact amount that I paid Freddie, uh, I mean Sal.”
“You’re right. Still, Sofia wants to make sure they don’t try and twist your words.”
“Why would they do that?”
A snort comes from Crush as he crosses his arms over his chest. Bullet turns to glare at him before turning back to me.
“Bikers don’t always have the best reputation.
For the most part, we’re just men who want to lead a good life our way, riding free and enjoying life.
Satan’s Pride stays out of trouble. We work hard, and we reap the benefits of our hard work.
Some clubs deal drugs, pimp out prostitutes, and a whole whack of other shit.
That isn’t us. And some cops are on the take, and the good cops get a bad reputation because of that.
The perception is that bikers are lazy fuckers that cheat and steal.
It’s easy to try to pin this on the Pride because we just happened to be there the same day.
All I’m asking is that you have Sofia here when they come to speak with you. ”
“I’ll call her,” I confirm.
“And me,” he adds.
“Definitely you.” I muster a smile.
“This afternoon, the material is arriving so we can fix your roof. Crush and I will be working on it for the next couple of days.”
“I have to go to school. We have parent-teacher conference night on Wednesday, and all the classrooms need to be ready with displays of the children’s work.”
“Then half the Pride will be attending. Gavin and Ryder go to your school,” he says.
“So does Maddie’s girl, who is also named Amelia, by the way, and Romeo, Risk’s kid,” Crush adds. “All the Pride kids go to your school.” He snickers. “You already have more than half the Pride looking out for you.”
“Izzy was worried when they announced a new principal was coming into the school. After she met you, she came home raving about how much you do for the kids and how you stand up to the board. Izzy says that anyone can come into your office and talk to you, and they walk out feeling better. She’s not the only one who says it.
Your staff thinks you’re the greatest. I think you’re intelligent, beautiful, and adorably cute when your cheeks turn pink, which they’re doing right now,” Bullet tells me.
I feel the heat in my face. I’m not used to compliments. “You have to stop being so sweet, or I’ll start crying, and that isn’t a good look for any woman,” I say quietly.
Bullet bursts out laughing, and Crush snorts out a laugh.
I look at Crush and see him smiling. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen him do that.
He’s a handsome man, in a rugged way, and when he smiles, it makes him even hotter.
No one compares to Bullet, but I hope Crush finds a woman who will bring out that grin more often.
He always seems to be on guard, and his eyes look sad.
“Have faith in the Pride, baby. We’ll never let you down,” Bullet says.
“You got that right,” Crush confirms.
“I have plans for grocery shopping and stopping off at the pet store for more food for my kittens after work. Then I plan on making my shepherd’s pie for dinner. You’re welcome to join me for dinner.” I turn to Crush. “You’re welcome too.”
“I don’t—” Crush starts.
“I make a really good pie. We can watch movies after. I’ll even let you pick the first one. But no movies with spewing blood or cutting off body parts, or I’ll end up tossing my cookies,” I tell him.
Crush glances over to his friend. “It’s rude to refuse an invitation,” Bullet jokes.
“’Kay, I’ll be here,” Crush agrees.
Bullet is spending the evening with me, making me happy all over. Once Crush leaves, I make a list of what I’ll need to pick up. Bullet and I say our goodbyes, and I walk away, happy to know that we’ll be together tonight.