partnership together, because I wanted freedom to live my life the way I saw fit and have complete control over my business. You expect me to revert to the very thing I rebelled against?”
“Look , I’m trying to keep you safe now, so stop giving me shit.”
“P ick a better location then.”
Demon released her, pushed her away and clenched his fists. “Keep pushing me and I’ll shut your ass down. You brought a lot of money our way. I like doing business with you G, but that fucking mouth of yours is killing me right now.”
“Am I really being that unreasonable?” She placed her hands on her hips. “ I’m fucking terrified and I’m clinging to what I know. I don’t want to be scared and alone, Demon. It’s not a good combination for anyone.”
“ Fine, come stay with us at the cabin then.”
Lefty looked troubled and shook his head from side to side.
Demon shrugged. He didn’t have time to fuck around with this. Any other bitch, he would’ve put in her place, but he liked Gia and he wanted her safe. “I don’t like the turn this is all taking. We need to get our shit together, so we can move on this fucker.”
“We’re looking everything up as quickly as possible. You know bikers don’t make a habit of leaving a traceable trail,” Lefty explained.
“I don’t give a fuck. I don’t want the geek squad sleeping until they give me what I want.”
Lefty held up his hands. “Don’t kill the messenger brother. They’re typing their asses off as we speak.”
“Good.” Demon turned his attention to Gia. “ Look, put whoever you trust in charge. You’re going away for a while. I’m not going to risk the back and forth from here to the cabin, putting my family in danger. You ride on the back of my bike…leave everything. I don’t trust it to not be rigged or tracked.”
“What about clothes?”
“I’ll have someone pick you up something. You got five minutes to get your shit together, so we can leave. You already call in a cleaner?”
Gia nodded. “Good girl, now go do what I told you.”
She strode off, closing the door behind him.
“Dude, what the fuck are you thinking , bringing her to the cabin right now?” Lefty asked.
“What? It’s not like I’m going to fuck her.”
“NO, but you have. You think Ardy’s going to be okay with that?”
“I don’t have time for petty bullshit.”
Lefty shook his head and released a deep sigh. “Brother, you are too smart to be this stupid. You should’ve told her to shut the fuck up and deal with the alone time at my place.”
“Is this about Ardy, or the fact that you got a hard on for Gia?” Demon narrowed his eyes and studied Lefty’s blotchy face.
“Don’t turn this shit around.”
“I’m not. I’m asking a legit question. I thought you were going to rush my ass when you saw her run to me.”
“You got an Old lady. The shit between you is over, unless you plan on doing Ardy dirty?”
“The fuck!” Demon stepped closer to him. “Come at me wrong again and I’m going to lay your ass out, brother or not. Whatever you got jumbled up in that thick ass skull of yours needs to be fixed. I need your head to be on straight for this.”
“Yeah. I’m here,” Lefty muttered .
“Look , I found my forever. You got nothing to worry about from me.” Demon patted Lefty on the chest.
The door opened and a sullen faced Gia walked in. “I’m ready.”
An hour later, Demon pulled up into the driveway, cut the engine and rubbed his burning eyes. His contacts were nearly dried out from the lack of sleep and the wind. He slipped off the bike with Gia on his heels. “Everyone is probably passed out. I’ll show you to the spare room and we can get everything sorted in the morning.”
The motion light turned on and they walked up the grassy pathway to the front porch. With every step, his boots seemed to grow heavier. Clearing the stairs, he unlocked the door, waved Gia inside and followed behind her, shuffling his feet
edited by Todd Gregory
Fleeta Cunningham
Jana DeLeon
Susan Vaughan
James Scott Bell
Chris Bunch
Karen Ward
Gar Anthony Haywood
Scott E. Myers
Ted Gup