Naomi
The Devil’s Predators left with a lot of fanfare, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or roll her eyes.
By them, she meant mostly Taz. He made the rounds, hugging all the women goodbye and acting emotional as he begged for Karissa’s forgiveness over the hair-and-eyebrow situation.
Karissa had punched him in the nose, but not hard enough to break it.
Glitch laughed and told him to watch his back; she always knew where to find him.
Taz looked downright gleeful.
Before they headed for their bikes, Simba called her over to where he, Taz, Jag, Glitch, and Karissa were waiting.
She shifted Asher to her other hip, her arm growing tired.
Since Ink and Ice had to leave, he had become quiet and unsure again.
That was a whole other problem she would need to deal with later.
“I … I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” It was hard to admit. She’d always had a job, something to do. Now, she was being left in a strange place with people she didn’t know anything about.
“You just need to stay low,” Jag said. “We’re not saying you can’t go into town or whatever, but you need to keep your face hidden or find a way to disguise yourself. The cartel will be looking for you, so avoiding as many cameras as possible is your best move.”
“And we’ll find you something to do if you’re bored,” Glitch offered. “With Esme soon going to be out with the baby, Rogue would probably be grateful to have someone working at the garage. Or if that’s not your thing, we’ll find something else.”
“Or, since you’re a genius, you can help us plan our next attack against the pains in the ass that stop through here,” Karissa suggested, shooting a glare at Taz.
“She likes me too much,” Taz taunted. “We’ll probably be back once a month, so you won’t be without us forever.
And if we come back and this isn’t working, we’ll figure out something else.
I know they’re not as great as I am, but if you give them a chance, I’m sure it will work out just fine.
” He brushed a hand over Asher’s hair. “And this little guy is going to keep you on your toes, I’d say, once he gets comfortable. ”
Asher looked at him and didn’t shy away from the touch like he sometimes did. Maybe they were right, and her son would start to see what a normal life was like. Not everyone was dangerous. It was her own instincts she’d need to learn to fight against.
“Do you have any questions or concerns for us before we go, Naomi?” Simba asked, jerking her out of her thoughts.
“Will you keep me updated on the cartel and where the Feds’ case stands? I’m going to need to prepare.” In more ways than one, including figuring out how to organize all the information whirling around in her head that has never been written down on paper before.
The whole reason she was given immunity in the first place.
“We will, but Glitch will be the one who knows more than us if you need anything specific. She’s our tech person, and she’ll be the only contact with the Feds and prosecutors; they’ll contact via secure and encrypted emails and messages.” He looked at Glitch for confirmation.
Glitch nodded. “I’ll keep you updated on everything I have, Naomi.
Right now, it’s been quiet, and I assume that’s more to make sure that the cartel hasn’t caught your trail.
We were very careful, and I’m seeing nothing that indicates they’ve located you.
Diego has been pushing hard, but they got you out quickly and carefully. ”
Relief and fear warred. The Devil’s Predators seemed very good at their jobs, so she had no reason to believe they would give her up or make a terrible mistake, but she couldn’t get complacent. That was when everything would fall apart. She’d had too many instances of that to prove otherwise.
“Thank you all for your help,” she said, with what she hoped was a smile. She hadn’t done that much in a long time. “I’ll make sure to follow all the rules.”
“Oh, now, where’s the fun in that?” Taz joked.
“Darlin’, if you aren’t having a little fun, it’s going to get mighty stale around here.
Just don’t be doing anything crazy, but you can live your life here a little bit.
The women here will become good friends with you, and your son will have other kids to play with.
You just have to let them in.” He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.
When they all headed out, the roar of their bikes filling the air, she tried not to let the dread sink in. Or show. She was alone on a biker compound with strangers and in charge of keeping her and her son alive.
No one said anything or tried to stop her when she retreated to the apartment.
They also didn’t bother her when she didn’t leave for most of the day.
Asher went down almost immediately for a long nap, exhausted from so many events and emotions.
She managed to doze with him, but her mind was filled with so many worries, fears, and questions.
By the time darkness fell, Asher was awake and cranky. He was bored, tired of the same toys and books. She tried to come up with little games to play with him, but he quickly grew bored with those too. He also had a high IQ and was picking up on things much faster than the average two-year-old.
But the things she could use to test him with would be expensive and noticeable if purchased. So she would have to figure something else out.
A thought occurred to her. Glitch was a tech genius, right? Maybe she could search for things and make them untraceable. Things that would help her work with Asher, improve his skills, and keep him happy.
It was the same when she was a kid, but the resources she’d had wouldn’t be available now.
The raucous laughter outside startled her out of her thoughts, so she quickly moved to the side of the window to look out. She’d heard bikes arrive, and looking down, she saw Ink, Ice, and Jax all getting off their bikes, laughing and talking loudly.
Was it really necessary for all the men around here to be so damn handsome? Not one of them was ugly or grizzled as she expected most bikers to be. The same went for the Devil’s Predators. They had a hardened edge the Dragons didn’t have, but all of them were really good-looking.
Her gaze was most drawn to Ink, though. She always liked the look of a man with tattoos. Not that she knew why, considering the men she surrounded herself with.
She wasn’t stupid; the Dragons weren’t on the right side of the law either, but they didn’t give off the vibes Diego and his men did.
There was a certain air about the men who worked in the dirt and muck of the criminal world. These men didn’t have that.
Ink really was good-looking, and seeing him hold and play with Asher this morning made her see him differently.
He seemed so open and carefree, and even though it’d terrified her that Asher wasn’t with her, a strange sense of contentment overcame her that her son was so happy to play with someone other than her.
She moved to step away from the window but froze when Ink looked up, his gaze meeting hers.
Horrified that he caught her staring, she gave an awkward smile, then he offered her a warm smile and waved.
The other two turned to look as well, so she waved before stepping back from the window and putting her face in her hands.
God, she sucked. Why couldn’t she just be normal? Staring at men like a creeper? What was she?
Asher let out a sharp “Mama,” banging his hand on the coffee table in front of him. “I’m hungry.”
His speech was improving every day, but not being allowed to talk while living in that terrible apartment when anyone was around had stunted him, and she was really working to help him reach where he should be.
“Alright, baby, let’s get you something to eat.” Thankfully, the apartment had plenty of options. “What do you feel like? Mac and cheese? Or do you want to try something new?” They did have the ingredients to make some homemade burgers and fries.
“Ummmm … new. I help?”
She smiled, relaxing. He always wanted to help and learn new things, and she loved to encourage it. “Yes, you can help. Come on.”
It took twice as long to make dinner, but Asher enjoyed himself so much that she didn’t care that her stomach was hurting from being so hungry.
Asher giggled as he watched her put together his smaller burger-and-fries plate, with a small helping of corn.
One of the few vegetables he ate without complaint.
“I did it, Mama. I did it!” He said it so proudly it made her heart tighten.
“You did, baby. You did such a great job.” After preparing her plate, she set it on the small dining table then helped him into his chair. She moved to take her seat but stopped when someone knocked at the door.
Asher lost his smile and ran for the couch, ducking behind it. She wanted to cry. No child should ever have to go through that. She wanted to tell him to come out, but he had to see for himself it was safe.
How to do that, she didn’t know.
She walked to the door, her hands trembling, and looked out the peephole. Her breath caught when she saw Ink standing there, something in his hand. Why was he here?
Should she let him in? Or ignore him? Her thoughts conflicted, leaving her still and unsure.
“Naomi?” Ink called through the door. “It’s Ink. Just wondering if I could get your help with something. I won’t take up too much of your time, I promise.”
Naomi bit her lip. What could he need help with? Was this some trap to break into her apartment? Maybe he was trying to …
No, damn it. She had to stop thinking that everyone was like Diego. Not everyone was out to get her.
She opened the door before she chickened out, biting her lip.
He gave her a warm smile. “Hi. I’m sorry to just drop by, but I was hoping I could get your help with something.
” He held up a folder full of papers, a few slipping out.
“I’m terrible with paperwork, and I can’t seem to find where I’ve gone wrong in my math.
I normally ask Ice since he’s our club treasurer, but he’s busy with something, and I need to get all this shit done before tomorrow night, and well … ” He gave me a sheepish grin.
Wait, he wants me to help him with paperwork? Really? Meanwhile, my mind was racing, eager to have something to work on. To keep me busy.
“I’ve never done regular accounting before for a business.”
“Anything is better than having the IRS all over my ass.” He gave an exaggerated shudder, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Please?”
She really wanted something to do, and he didn’t seem like a terrible guy. “Alright, I’ll have a look.”
“Thanks, sweetheart, I appreciate it.” He practically shoved the folder into her hands. “And as a thank you, let me treat you to dinner. Since it’s not safe to go out, you just let me know what you like, and I’ll send the prospects to pick up something for us.”
“Oh, no, that’s all right. I already made something for Asher and me.” She hesitated. Wait, was that rude? Not inviting him in? Would Asher be all right with inviting him into their space?
“Another time, then. I won’t bother you if you’re already eating. Okay if I stop in tomorrow to grab the stuff?”
She relaxed. He wasn’t forcing himself in or getting upset that she didn’t invite him in. Maybe this would be all right after all.
“Ink!” Asher screeched. “Ink, eat. I made myself.”
She stiffened as Asher rushed out from behind the couch, running toward them with a bright face.
“Hey there, buddy,” Ink said, looking down as Asher wrapped his arms tight around her leg. Asher was vibrating with excitement. “You helped Mama make your dinner, huh?”
“Yes. I make myself.” He puffed up his little chest, and she stroked his hair with a soft smile. She was so happy to see him excited instead of scared.
“And what did you make?”
“’urger and ’ies,” he rushed out, slurring his words.
“And some corn,” she reminded him.
“And corn,” he repeated.
“Wow, that sounds delicious. You make sure you eat it all so you grow big and strong, right?”
Asher nodded, grinning up at him.
She softened and said, “Would you like to come in? I have extra, and I can look things over. As long as you don’t mind a toddler running around.” It might be one of her biggest mistakes, but she’d do anything to keep the smile on her son’s face.
His eyes widened before he schooled his face then smiled. “If you don’t mind the company. I don’t want to intrude.”
“Ink, come!” Asher ordered, releasing her leg and hurrying back inside. “See. See!”
Ink laughed and stepped inside. She was either insane or about to make a complete fool of herself. She didn’t know which was worse.