Chapter 34
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR
JULIETTE
I watch him walk out of the bar without noticing me. I’m not sure he actually sees anything. He is beyond focused. Bringing my attention back to my water, I wonder why I’m even staying here. I should get in my car and drive back to my motel.
I bite my bottom lip and begin to tug on the corner of the water bottle label. I’m not even sure how long I sit there, peeling the plastic wrap, but when someone sits down across from me, I drag my gaze from my water to the person watching me.
I don’t speak.
I don’t recognize this person, and as much as I don’t want to be rude, I can’t help myself, because he isn’t Slade. And the only person I really want to see right now is Slade. I watched him walk out of the clubhouse and straight outside.
I can’t help but wonder what’s going on.
The vibe in this place is electric, and not in a fun and happy way. Something is happening. I don’t know what, and I’m not sure I should, but I’m far more curious than I should be.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I work the flesh there as I wait for whatever this person is going to say to me. I don’t know who he is, but the patches on his vest indicate he’s part of the Iron Flame, so I guess he’s someone.
“So, you and Loot,” he states.
I blink because I’m not sure how to respond to that. Slade and I had one night together, and he didn’t even sleep over. As much as I want to think that we’re more than just a one-time, one-night thing, I honestly don’t know.
I open my mouth then snap my lips closed and press my lips together.
My eyes scan his patches again, and I see a name patch on his chest. Sparrow.
I don’t know how they come up with these names.
I think I’ll ask Slade when I see him again.
Because it doesn’t seem to have rhyme or reason from the outside looking in.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking, if you’re asking?”
It almost seems like Slade has told him or someone else something about us being together. I can’t imagine that a man in his fifties would go around bragging about getting laid, especially a man like him, who I would assume has no problem at all in that department.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Not really asking, just an observation. I could tell he was into you when you were here working the other day. I happened to drive by the motel and saw his bike there.”
So he doesn’t know. He’s fishing for information.
Since I don’t know him, I’m not going to go into detail about anything.
Even if I did know him, I don’t think I would.
Not even Alex and Elodie know any dirty details.
All they know is that it was the best I’ve ever had, better than I imagined sex could be, really
Instead of saying any of that, I lift my bottle of water to my lips, allowing the cool liquid to slide down my throat, buying myself a few more seconds of time before it becomes too awkward.
“Okay,” I say. “He did come to my motel.”
Sparrow’s lips twitch into a smirk. “No kiss and tell?”
“Not my style.” I’m not sure if it’s a lie or not.
I don’t really know what my style would be, considering I’m not really versed in kissing or telling. But I let it be and don’t try to clarify anything else. Sparrow raps his finger on the table between us, tapping it a couple of times before he stands, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Gotta be a strong woman to be part of our group. I know you must be. Otherwise, Wrath’s old lady wouldn’t have brought you into the fold.”
I am taken aback by his words. I’m not sure if I’m truly in the fold, but strong?
Now that is funny. I would never consider myself strong—not before Victor, and especially not after him.
Having been with him, run from him, been dragged back to him over and over again, and continuing to run, I’m not strong.
I’m weak.
I run away.
I don’t stay and stand my ground.
I would not consider that strong by any means.
Instead of telling him all of that, I decide to just curve my lips up into a bright smile. I dip my chin, then excuse myself and head outside. Instead of going out the front door, I slip out the back.
I don’t know what I’m doing here. I should just go home.
Once I’m outside, I close my eyes and inhale the warm desert air. It fills my lungs, and I hold it in for a moment before I let it out slowly. I take a dozen or so steps away from the building and pause when the sounds of the bar inside fade away and my ears are met with a moment of silence.
A noise in the distance causes me to pause. My eyes open, and I turn my head, tilting it to the side as I stare out. There’s a building out there. Light spills from a couple of windows, and then I hear the noise again.
It’s a woman’s muffled scream.
I chance taking one step forward, and then another, pausing to listen for more. Nothing. The silence is deafening, and I swallow my saliva, wondering if I’m just hearing things. Then the door to that house opens and closes.
Three darkened figures make their way toward me, and to further prove just how not strong I am…
I freeze.