“Wow, it’s so pretty,” the client, whose name I couldn’t have remembered even if there were a gun to my head, gushed. “You’re really talented.”
Ignoring the compliment, I waited until she was back on the table before turning around.
Only to wish I’d waited for River to return before I did. The tiny shorts she was wearing were pulled down to her thighs now, showcasing her bare pussy. “Like what you see?” she purred, stroking her fingers over herself.
I quickly averted my eyes and stood.
“Hey, Dad,” I called as I left the room. “Can you patch this chick up for me?”
He met me at the door, a frown on his face. “What’s up?”
“She took her fucking pants off,” I told him with a shudder. “And now she’s touching herself. I’m not into easy.”
He grimaced. “I feel ya, son. Wasn’t River in there with you?”
“She’s getting something for Lyric,” I explained, my gaze going to the door to the storage room, where they still were. “If you don’t want to patch her up for me, could you at least come in and be my witness?”
I didn’t need this chick to get pissed at me and then start saying I touched her or some shit like that. Or worse, screaming I molested or raped her just to get back at me for shooting her down. I’d never had someone do that to me before, but I’d heard too many horror stories not to be cautious.
“Nah, son. I got you covered.” He passed me and walked into my room. “Pull your clothes up, girl. I don’t have time to be airing out this place because you decided to make it smell like rotten pussy.”
A strangled laugh had me looking back at the storage room to find Lyric standing in the doorway. A moment later, River appeared beside him, a box in her hands. “Found it,” she said triumphantly. “I don’t know how it got all the way in the back like that. I swear I put it…” She trailed off, a frown pulling her brows together as she looked down at the label on the box. “Does this look like blood to you?”
Lyric dropped his gaze to it. “Maybe the delivery guy scratched himself,” he suggested. Taking the box from her, he carried it in one hand while holding on to the car seat in the other. “Thanks, River. I need this ink for a back piece I’m doing tonight.”
River shook her head, causing her frown to disappear as she gave my brother-in-law a smile. “No problem. I didn’t know it was yours, or I would have brought it to you. Sorry you had to come all the way over here with the baby demon.” Crouching down, she kissed Ian’s cheek, causing him to giggle. “Be good, little dude.”
When she pulled back, I saw my nephew had latched on to River’s tank top and was pulling it down, exposing her bra. I couldn’t blame the kid. Her tits were perfect. I copped a feel any chance I got, too. Laughing, she untangled his chubby fist and nipped at his fingers, making him giggle again.
Lyric sighed. “I guess he’s hungry. I better get him back so Mila can feed him.”
“Yeah,” she agreed with another one of her sweet laughs. “He’s a boob man, just like every other male in the universe.” Her green eyes lifted to me, and I winked, causing her to blush prettily.
“Mila wanted me to remind you that she’s meeting with the real estate agent tomorrow. Do you want her to pick you up from here and the two of you drive over together?”
“I’ll call her later, and we can discuss it,” River told him, dropping her gaze back to Ian. “Okay, baby demon. Don’t be causing your momma any trouble. Auntie River loves you, little man.”
“This is Luca Version 2.0,” Lyric grumbled. “Telling him not to cause trouble is the equivalent of giving him permission to burn down the house.”
I grinned. “Sounds like you’re getting karma for something, brother.”
Lyric grunted unhappily. “Apparently, fate got me mixed up with my brother. He’s the one who should have a little monster to chase after.” But he grinned as he lifted the car seat higher. “That’s okay, though. I’m sure when Violet has her baby, he will get all the karma he deserves shoved up his ass. Right, buddy? Uncle Luca is going to be twisted inside out when Vi has her baby girl.”
Ian gave a loud squeal that caused us all to laugh just as Dad came out of my room. “What are you screaming about, kid?”
At the sound of his grandpa’s voice, Ian started kicking his legs and raised his arms. Dad walked up to Lyric and took the car seat from him, lifting Ian up so they were eye to eye. Spider Masterson was a feared MC enforcer. I’d seen grown men piss themselves when having to face down my dad’s wrath. But when he had one of his four grandbabies in his arms, he turned into a big teddy bear.
And there wasn’t a single man alive who gave him shit about it either.
My aunts, however, were a different story. They thought it was hilarious that he melted into a puddle of goo for his grandchildren. Meanwhile, my mom couldn’t seem to keep her hands off him when he turned into a big softy with Mila’s and Monroe’s babies. I should think it was gross, but really, I wanted River to have that exact same reaction when we had our own grandbabies to gush over and spoil later in life.
While Dad was cooing down at Ian, my client came out of my room. She didn’t even look at me as she left. River smirked as she followed the chick to the front and watched her go. I was expecting another appointment, so I went with my girl, hoping I could cop a feel or two of my own while Dad was distracted.
Walking up behind River, I cupped her ass, giving it a firm squeeze. “What do you want for dinner?” I asked as I bent to kiss her neck. I knew I was pushing things, but I couldn’t help myself.
“I’m good with whatever,” she said, leaning into me for all of two seconds before forcing herself to put distance between us.
I muttered a curse, hating that we had to hide our relationship. Plenty of people knew, but not her dad or mine, or any of the older members of the MC. They would kill me if they knew I’d been having sex with River since she was fifteen. It wouldn’t matter that I’d only been sixteen when it started.
But the moment she turned eighteen, I was going to beg her father to let me be with her. On my knees if I had to. Not just to let me date her, but to let me marry her. I already had the ring. I made good money, and I had a trust fund my mom had set up for me from the money her dad had left her. I had my own apartment, but I’d been looking at houses for us to buy.
River had her own plans, her own money she could do whatever she wanted with. I didn’t care what she did as long as she was happy. She could spend every cent her grandpa Hank left her, because I would always make sure she was taken care of.
“Order us some takeout, baby,” I told her, pulling my credit card out of my wallet. “Whatever you want. You know what I like.”
“I can pay for dinner,” she argued.
I pushed the card into her hand, glaring down at her. “Don’t start with me tonight, woman. Order us some food. Ask Dad what he wants too.”
“Dad doesn’t want anything,” he said as he came out of the back, still holding Ian’s car seat. Lyric followed them to the front door, waving at River on the way. “I’m going home for dinner later.”
River watched them go before looking up at me with a sultry little look on her beautiful face that made me want to grab her and drag her into the storage room so I could sink balls deep into her. “I want Aggie’s for dinner.”
“See if Kingston will drop it off, then,” I told her just as the front door opened and my next client walked in. I gave the guy a chin lift. “Come on back, man. I’ve got everything ready to go.”
River stopped me when I would have turned away. “Kingston is on a run with Uncle Raider and my dad.”
“Then Jack. Have him drop it off.”
“Why can’t I go pick it up myself?” she muttered with a pout.
“Because I want you here with me.” I stroked a finger down her bare arm. “Have someone drop off the food or order delivery from somewhere else. Please?”
“Fine,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “But onl
y because I have too much homework to get done to go myself.”
“Sure, baby.” While the client went on back, I cupped River’s ass again and lowered my head, touching my lips to the shell of her ear. “Be good, and we can have dessert before you go home tonight.”
“I’m not in the mood for dessert,” she sassed, putting distance between us after checking the front door.
“Yeah?”
She nodded, a sly look in her pretty eyes, and I licked my lips in anticipation.
“But I’m starving for it, sweetheart. I can’t wait to taste that decadent honey that’s just for me.”
“Mav,” she moaned.
“Later,” I promised.
Three
River
While I waited for the food to arrive, I texted Mila and asked her if we could reschedule meeting the real estate agent. She assured me it wasn’t an issue, but of course, she then asked why I couldn’t make it.
Instead of answering, I turned off my ringer and finished up my homework.
Uncle Spider’s client had already been and gone, and he’d left soon after. He didn’t tell me what he was doing that had required me to reschedule, and I knew better than to ask. Most likely, it was something club-related, and he wouldn’t have even told Aunt Willa about it, let alone me.
Maverick’s third appointment was already in the back with him when a motorcycle pulled up right in front of the shop. I grinned as Elias walked in the door with a bag of food from Aggie’s in each hand while giving me a mock glare.
“You’re lucky you’re a pretty little thing, or I’d charge you for my services,” he said as he swaggered toward me. Like his brother Reid, and my cousin Max, Elias looked just like the older Reid generation. Dark black hair, electric-blue eyes, and shoulders as wide as the door. Elias wasn’t quite as tall as Max or Reid, but since he worked at Barker & Reid Construction, which his parents owned, he was just as broad as the other two.
“Aw, aren’t you sweet?” I said with a roll of my eyes. Elias was nothing but a flirt, but he was one of the few people in my close-net family who wasn’t related to me by blood.
I grabbed the first bag he set on the counter and pulled out the top to-go box from Aggie’s, not even caring what was inside. Grabbing a fry, I stuffed it into my mouth, feeling like I hadn’t eaten in forever. I’d skipped breakfast that morning since I’d been running late, and lunch had been a few carrot sticks because school food was disgusting.
“Thanks for bringing this over,” I said, chewing my food. “I couldn’t reach Jack or Max, and your brother was still at work.”
“Anytime,” he assured me, leaning down and putting his elbows on the counter. “I was meaning to stop by here anyway.”
I lifted a brow, continuing to stuff fries into my mouth.
“Mom wanted me to ask you what you want for your birthday,” he said with a shrug. “She still hasn’t gotten you a present, and the party is only a few days away.”
Pulling a napkin from the bag, I wiped my fingers before poking him in the chest. “Liar. What you mean is, you haven’t gotten me a present yet.”
“I hate that you can so easily see through my bullshit,” he grumbled, then grinned. “Okay, okay. So, I haven’t gotten you a present yet. Come one, Riv. Give me a hint, a teeny-tiny clue. I’m shit at buying presents, and you know it.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “I don’t even care if you give me a present or not. Just come to my party.”
“My mom will beat my ass if I show up to the party without a present,” he whined. “Please, please, please just tell me so I can get it and be done.”
“Fine.” I started unbagging the rest of the food, knowing Maverick would be hungry once he was done with his client. “What I really want is an IOU.”
“What?” he demanded with a confused frown.
“You heard me. I want an IOU. Basically, if I ever need something, you show up and help me out, no questions asked. And you keep your mouth shut.”
He shook his dark head. “And how the fuck do I wrap up something like that to give to you at the party?”
Turning, I picked up a sheet of blank printer paper and a pen. Placing it on the counter, I instructed him what to write and then folded it up and handed it to him. “Now, you put that in a tiny gift box and bring it to the party. I don’t have to open it, and Aunt Jos won’t murder you for showing up empty-handed.”
He put the folded paper in his jeans pocket. “And by anything, you mean…” His brows bobbed up and down suggestively, and I snorted out a laugh.
“Shut up, Elias. If Mav hears you, you know you’ll be sucking your meals through a straw for the next six months.” Leaning forward, I lowered my voice. “I mean, if I call you and say I need you to move a dead body, your ass shows up and you don’t complain. And you sure as fuck don’t tell anyone.”
“Who are you planning on killing?” There was no concern, just pure curiosity in his eyes.
“You, if you don’t shut up,” I hissed. “That was just a hypothetical, dummy. I’m not saying I need you to bury a body. But one day, you might get a call that requires you to show up and keep your mouth shut. Understand?”
“Yeah, yeah, sure.” He pushed back from the counter. “I have to get home. Call me if you need anything. If not, I guess I’ll see you at your party.”
“Thanks for bringing my dinner,” I called after him with a wave.
While I was alone in the front of the shop, I texted my mom.
Me: Any news?
Mom: Raven and I went to some of the surrounding cities around Oakland today. One woman thought she saw D at a soup kitchen—three fucking weeks ago.
My heart clenched at the thought of my cousin having to go to a soup kitchen for food. Mom had been searching for Delaney ever since she found out about her niece, but Delaney had run away from her aunt and uncle’s house down in Oakland as soon as she’d turned eighteen.
Poor Delaney was out there somewhere, completely alone. Was she cold? Hungry? Scared?
Blinking back the sting of tears, I encouraged Mom to keep looking and not to give up. When I got a heart emoji in reply, I slid my phone into my back jeans pocket and stuffed another fry into my mouth. The rest of the evening flew by, but as I was locking up, Mom showed up at the shop looking exhausted.
“Drive me home,” she urged quietly, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Maverick was still in the back. “Raven dropped me off since your dad is home, and I don’t want him asking questions about where I was all day. If he thinks I was here with you all evening, he won’t question me.”
I pushed down my disappointment that I wouldn’t get to stay and give Maverick his anticipated dessert. But if I expected my mother to cooperate with me when I needed her to, I had to help her out a little, too. “Okay, but tomorrow, I have somewhere to be. Cover for me with—” I nodded toward the back “—and Dad.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “Where do you have to be, little girl?”
Jaw clenched, I remained mute, just looking at her and daring her to question me further. If she wasn’t going to confide in Dad about what was going on with her and finding Delaney, I didn’t have to tell her what was going on with me just yet.
“Fine,” she muttered, blowing out a frustrated sigh. “I get it. And yes, I’ll cover for you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “Give me two minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Hurry.”
I walked into the back to grab my backpack and purse from Maverick’s room. He was cleaning the space, getting everything ready for his first appointment the next afternoon. When he saw me pick up my things, he grabbed my hips. “Where do you think you’re going?” he growled, lowering his head to kiss my neck.
I leaned into him, savoring his lips on me. “I have to go.” I stroked my hand over the scruff on his jaw, wishing I could stay and just let him hold me. “Mom is out front waiting on me. Something came up, and I need to take her home.”
Disappointment fill
ed his gray eyes, but he nodded in understanding. “Okay, baby. Just be careful.” He brushed his lips over mine. “Love you, River.”
“Love you, Mav,” I whispered before forcing myself to step back.
He followed me to the front, stopping to hug my mom before we walked out the door and he locked up behind us. I tossed my things into the back seat while Mom got into the passenger seat. By the time I got behind the wheel, only a few seconds had passed, but she already had her head leaned against the window and was drifting off to sleep.
Sighing, I leaned over and fastened her seat belt before driving us home.
Dad didn’t even question her when we walked into the house fifteen minutes later. Sometimes, if Mom didn’t help out at the bar, she would come and keep me company at the shop, so it wasn’t unusual for us to come home together.
Leaving my parents in the kitchen, I went upstairs to get ready for bed. After showering, I texted Maverick good night and that I loved him, something I did every night, no matter what. Just as I started to drift off to sleep, my phone pinged with his message.
Maverick: Sweet dreams, baby. Love you.
My eyes filled with tears, and I cried myself to sleep.
The drive back to Creswell Springs felt like it took forever the next evening. I was exhausted from traveling to a city I didn’t know on top of everything else.
That morning, I’d called Aunt Willa to let her know I wasn’t feeling well so I wouldn’t be able to work that evening. She’d told me she would handle the shop for me and hoped I felt better. I hadn’t gone to school that morning, but Mom knew I wasn’t going and had agreed to cover for me with everyone. If Maverick came looking for me, she’d promised she would tell him I was in bed sleeping.
Once I was home again, I went straight up to my room and showered the day off me. My heart felt so heavy, and I could barely keep my eyes open as the water rained down on me, mixing with my tears.
I’d thought I could be brave and do what had to be done on my own, but the truth was, I was a scared little girl. I’d chickened out at the last minute and run.
Sacred Vow Page 3