Chapter 19
MARIETTA
So, this is new.
I protested when Symphony wanted to try to force Merrick on a double date, but I had no choice when Betz came into the bunkhouse with a cute yellow dress and told me I was spending the evening with the new prospect.
That was fast. She just told me about him this morning.
But he’s coming to church tomorrow, so she’d said, and probably he’ll be expected to report.
So, as we walk around the backyard of the clubhouse in the damp grass, we’re supposed to get to know each other.
“I hate that I can’t take you anywhere,” Adam says. “But Iron Jack was insistent.”
“They are full of rules,” I tell him. My feet feel wet, and I’m cold even though we already went back inside once for a sweater.
He notices my shiver. “We can talk inside, I guess.”
We head into the kitchen, where Carol is sitting around the center island with her kids.
Adam gives her a polite nod. “When are you due?” he asks.
“Four days,” she says. “It’s been the longest nine months of my life.”
He takes in the other three dunking chicken nuggets into ketchup. “Were the others this tough?”
Carol points to the oldest, the girl I caught with the chips last Sunday. “This one was a full week late. I’m hoping this one doesn’t take after her.”
The two boys shove the last nuggets in their mouths and dash off to their room.
“There’s nobody in the living room if you want to hang out there,” Carol says. “Sorry you’re forced to stay close by. Don’t want those Lucifer’s Kin coming after you. They’re on the prowl.”
I glance over at Adam to see if he already knew this. He’s nodding in agreement. I decide not to ask about it in front of Carol. That will get back to Stoney. Maybe Adam won’t be aware I’ve been kept in the dark.
“Let’s go,” I tell him, stealing a french fry off the metal tray. I haven’t had anything to eat since lunch. I thought our evening might involve dinner, not wandering the back lawn of the club.
It’s warm in the living room, probably from the oven heat drifting this way, so I peel off the sweater.
Adam watches me, and I try to surreptitiously watch his gaze hit the rather flat front of the dress Betz brought. The push-up bra I got from Carol was black and would show through, so all I have is what God gave me. Which maybe I prefer. I don’t want to make him think I’m something I’m not.
His eyes skitter across my form, but I can’t get any sign of what he thinks. He’s wildly polite and strikes me as completely wrong for a motorcycle club.
We sit down on the sofa, a good cushion’s width apart.
At least now I have a topic of conversation. “Sucks about Lucifer’s Kin, right?” I say.
“Yeah. That’s why I signed on. Ridiculous they would kidnap an ol’ lady for someone who isn’t even Wild Hair anymore.”
Whoa. That was a lot to process. They kidnapped someone? A woman? Of an ex-member?
But I collect myself. I can fake this. “So crazy what started the whole thing.”
Adam wipes his hands on his knees. “I don’t know if I would call it crazy.”
Shoot. Wrong direction.
“You’re right,” I say. “What would you call it?”
“Revenge. Though I don’t know if there’s a solid enough case that Lucifer’s Kin was involved in that accident. But Iron Jack will never give up trying to find who is responsible for mowing down his parents.”
Wait, what? I’m so flabbergasted by this whole thing, I don’t know what to say. I suppress all the questions that I should obviously know the answer to, like how did his parents die? And when? And what had Iron Jack already done?
I go for the next logical question, as if I’m in on it. “Do you think Lucifer’s Kin were part of it?”
“My dad didn’t think so before he died. He was friends with Steel from way back. Dad didn’t want me joining the Wild Hair, but I think he was wrong.”
“Why didn’t he?”
“The usual reasons. Danger. Risk. But with my ma gone ten years, and my sister off in Colorado, the Wild Hair is the closest thing to family I’ve got now that he’s left me.”
I reach out to squeeze his hand. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents. I think you’re making the right decision. The Wild Hair takes care of their own.”
“They’re certainly taking care of you,” he says. “You’re part of why I’m here. But you know that.”
“I guess they’re sort of pushing us together.”
“Is that all right? Did you have someone else in the club you were thinking of?”
Merrick. Of course. My cheeks heat, thinking about this morning.
But Merrick was specifically avoiding doing anything that would change my status in the club. Almost as if I were a fun toy he doesn’t want to break in case he has to buy it.
I could be wrong. I hope I’m wrong.
I’m not going to assume anything. In fact, I won’t let a thing happen with Adam until I’ve talked to Merrick. He may not know they’re bringing in someone just for me. And he needs to know.
But for now, I have to get through this moment. Adam seems nice. I’ll do my best not to give him hope but not turn him down either.
Not easy for someone with as little experience as me.
“I know what we can do,” I tell him. “Let’s drag out one of the fire pits from the back and roast some marshmallows. I saw a package in the pantry this morning.”
Adam grins. “I like it. Show me where it is, and I’ll get it set up.”
I pick up my sweater and lead him back through the kitchen. I can have a friendly date with a new man and not impact where I’m headed with Merrick. I can think of Adam as a friend.
And also a great inside source of information it seems others in the club don’t want me to know.