“Got an idea, Prez.”
Demon nods at Cad.
“We found her. If her new identity hasn’t been found already, then it’s only a matter of time before it is. In the end, Cara said, it was easy.”
“Hold up. You only found her as you were looking backward. You still haven’t found who she was before she became Stevie Nichols.” I note Prez is sharp remembering everything Cad had said. He goes up in my estimation.
It seems Cad has taken that as criticism. His mouth tightens. “We’ll know soon. Cara’s still trying to track back. Would have started with that if I’d thought.”
I point out what they have forgotten. “Hang on, there was the accident. Her location could be already known if that car was targeting her.”
“What if it was just that? Someone falling asleep at the wheel as we first thought?”
I breathe out. It could well have been, that’s what I’d accepted at first. “So she could still be safe. If that fucking accident wasn’t deliberate.” Then I sigh. “But there’s the problem with the dog and his fuckin’ microchip. If…”
“Lots of ‘if’s’ there, Beef. Just hear me out?” When I nod, he continues, “Pal’s setting up a security business. He’s looking at security gigs at venues. Not too much of a leap to extend that to personal security. He even joked that you would be a good addition if we got into that.”
“Hang on.” I try and catch up. “You suggesting I become her bodyguard?”
Demon’s head tilts to one side. “Way to broach the subject, Brother. Rather than scaring her saying I know you’re a fake, offer something up. Tell her you know she needs help, and you can provide it. In an official capacity.”
There’s no doubt in my head. “I’d do it anyway.”
“We know that. But she doesn’t. It at least gives you a place to start.”
Chapter Thirteen
“You recognised the sound of my bike.” I’d spent an hour yesterday listening for a rattle, but I’ll be fucked if I could hear it. I’d also parked a little way down the road, but clearly I hadn’t fooled her.
She’s holding the door open, enough so I can see lines on her face which weren’t there yesterday. Immediately I’m concerned.
“How’s Max?”
“He’s doing as well as can be expected. Came through the op, James put in a plate to support the bones, just got to wait now. He’s still under heavy sedation, no point me going to see him tonight. I thought you were going to call, not come around.”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“I’m tired, Beef. I think it’s all caught up with me.”
She’s probably telling the truth, but I’m going to insist. “Babe, let me in. There are things we need to discuss.”
Her sightless eyes stare at me. “Is it money? Have the vets taken it out of your account? I’ll pay you back, Beef.”
“Babe, this isn’t about fuckin’ money. It’s about you and your life.” I’ve had enough. I step forward, crowding her. As she gasps my hands go to her biceps and carefully, watching what’s behind her, I push her back. Enough so I can kick the door shut behind me, then release her.
It strikes me she’s not the only blind person here. I’m used to being able to stare someone down, to see their pupils change with different emotions, to use their small giveaways to see into their souls. As her eyes give nothing away, I’m relying on other clues just as she leans on her senses.
“We need to talk,” I tell her again.
“I don’t think so.” Her hands raise, she moves closer until they touch my chest. She pushes but has no chance of moving me even an inch. “Please leave.”
“No. Not without you listening to what I have to say.”
“I don’t have to talk to you. I don’t want you in my home. I’m very grateful for your help with Max, but now, please leave.”
I’m conscious she’s starting to look unnerved, and I can’t blame her for that. She’s got six foot five of well-muscled biker standing uninvited in her house. I slide a card out of my cut, and hand it over to her, pressing her fingers against it.
“Read that.”
“What?” she almost screams at me. Then her mouth opens in an O, and her other hand comes up to hold it. Her forefinger traces the front.
“SD Security Colorado. Dwayne Carson Security Consultant? Who’s that?”
“Me.” As of this morning. Well, obviously it’s my true government name, but the job is new.
“You had this made special,” she throws at me accusingly. “No one walks around carrying business cards in braille. Not unless there’s one hell of a lot of blind people you do business with.”
“Nope. Just one. You’re right. Made that special. But I wanted you to know who I was and doubted you’d listen otherwise.”
“So what else is fake? Just how long has this company been in existence?”
“A few months. It’s a new business venture we’ve been getting into.”
She shakes her head, disbelieving. “Are you going to tell me that’s why you came to Pueblo? To join a security company?” Then she frowns and says contemptuously, “What are you then, the muscle?”
My hand snakes out and slides around the back of her neck. She jumps at my sudden touch, but I don’t feel apologetic. “I might be muscular, babe, but I’ve got a fuckin’ brain as well. I won’t be dismissed as nothing more than brawn by anyone, not even you.” She’s touched on a sensitive point. All the times Drummer had me going to meets just as a dumb-ass threat. All I needed to do was stand looking like I could kill someone with my bare hands. I didn’t object but had had to bite my tongue more than once, feeling frustrated I couldn’t add to the discussion, particularly when I saw a point someone had let slide.
“I’m sorry.”
Releasing her as the apology comes, I step away, giving her space. “Stevie, come sit down. Let me talk to you.”
She knows she can’t physically remove me from her house, and her requests have failed. Her shoulders slump, but before she moves to the couch, she has one more thing to say, “You can talk to me, Dwayne, doesn’t mean I want to talk to you.”
How long was it since someone called me by my real name? Even Sally hadn’t used it. Coming from Stevie’s mouth in that softly spoken voice shouldn’t have caused my cock to twitch, but it did.
Forcing my brain to kick back into gear, and my dick back under control, I nod, agreeing to her terms. Hoping she’ll change her mind when she hears me out.
“Beef, I can’t see if you’re nodding or shaking your head.”
“I’m agreeing, babe, sorry.”
It’s her turn to raise and dip her head, then she walks straight to the couch, sitting down on one end. As before, I sit on the other side, and the sagging cushions dip. Her head tilts expectantly.
“Your name isn’t Stevie Nichols,” I begin, ignoring her sharp intake of breath. “It’s hard, isn’t it, when you choose a new identity? Hard to respond to a name that isn’t your own? You risk ignoring people however good your hearing is and stumbling over giving a handle when you can’t remember it. So you choose something you wouldn’t forget. You a fan of Stevie Nicks? Your parents’ favourite singer?”
She makes no move, not admitting or agreeing to anything. But if we were wrong, she’d have denied it by now.
“You could be a criminal, or you’re in witness protection, or you’re just running as you don’t want to be found.” I pass a hand over my face. “I might not know you, but from the little interaction we’ve had, I don’t reckon it’s you that’s done wrong.”
If I had a statue sitting beside me, it wouldn’t have been more still. Only the slight rise and fall of her chest gives away she’s a living woman.
“You’ve got family, yet you’re in a strange town without them. You can work anywhere, as you said, so why here? Why not stay where it’s familiar? Because you had to get away. Because someone is after you.”
I can almost see the wheels whirring in her head. Eventu
ally she responds, “Perhaps I’m escaping an abusive relationship.”
“Nah. Dismissed that. Whoever set up your identity knew what they were doing.”
“I’m a programmer,” she objects. “You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
“Is there an ex somewhere? And did you do it yourself?” I ask direct.
Her mouth opens, but she can’t force a lie from her lips. Yeah, just as I called it.
I change tact. “What are your thoughts about the car that almost killed you?”
“An accident. I spoke to the cops earlier. They’ve still had no luck finding out what car it was. They think, because they hit the dog and not me, that they felt they needn’t stop. Should have, but maybe acted in panic.”
“That might be what the cops think. But how about you? What conclusion have you arrived at?”
“I haven’t had the time, or the want to think about it, Beef.” She throws herself off the couch and starts pacing, expertly avoiding everything in her way. “I’ve been too tied up with worrying about Max. Since I’ve had him he’s made my life worth living. I couldn’t have come here without him. Now he’s not here, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
I stand. I move into her space, my hands stopping her forward motion. Again she tries to push me away, her fists hitting my cut. I pull them away before she damages herself, knowing she’d bruise before I do. “You’re fuckin’ worried, aren’t you? Whatever you’re running from may have caught up with you, and while you’re trying to ignore it, you can’t.”
“They can’t have found me, Beef,” she admits at last. “I was assured it was impossible. Yeah, what do you think? Of course I’m wondering if I was deliberately targeted, but the driver probably just made a mistake. That’s more likely than someone finding where I am when I’m halfway across country.”
“Where do you come from, babe?”
Her mouth slams shut.
“I’m not here to hassle you. You really want me to go? Then that’s what I’ll do.” It wouldn’t sit well with me, and she’d probably hear my bike more times than she’d like as I kept a careful eye on her from a distance. I’m more protective over her as she can’t see what’s coming for her. A sighted person would have been able to jump out of the path of that car, but she’d had no warning. “Before you show me the door, can we talk a little more? You don’t need to tell me where you’re from or who’s after you. But I’ll tell you what I can do, and you can tell me what you need.”
Her brow furrows as she considers my words. Her frown disappearing shows me the moment of capitulation. “Okay.” I’d expected it might take more to persuade her. Then I remember, she doesn’t appear to have anyone else.
“Okay.” I take her hand and lead her back to the couch. Once there, I let her go again, then flex my fingers, missing her touch. “Can you tell me this, has your move, and the reason for it, been legit?”
“Yes. I’ve done nothing illegal.”
That’s what I expected. “Is it permanent, or temporary?”
“Hopefully just for a few months.”
“Way I see it, sweetheart, is that it would be hard for you to relocate unless you have Max fit and well with you. That may not be for another three months. Any chance you can be assigned a new dog?”
Her lips purse as though she’s not really taken that in. She’s quiet. I give her space. “A new dog is out of the question. Even if I could come out into the open, there’s a waiting list, then you have a month’s training to pair you up with the right dog and learn how to interact with each other.” She sighs. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve got dependent on having him with me. Some people manage with a white stick or have friends who can help. But I can’t go anywhere that I know someone. Can’t go to a place that’s familiar. It’s important I don’t stick out. Max allowed me to explore and stopped me from making a fool of myself, by falling over curbs or crashing into obstacles.”
“If whoever wants to silence you has found you and was behind the car almost running you down, then they’re going to make another move. My feeling is it will be soon. First thing they’ll expect is that you’ll run, and this time they may lose you for good. I reckon if anyone wants to make another attempt on your life, that it will happen before you, or whoever’s helping you, has time to make new arrangements.”
“You’re not exactly helping me feel better.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do. I want you to face up to what I think’s happening. Get ready to fight it head on.”
“I can’t fight…”
“You can with me beside you.” Stupidly I indicate the business card which had dropped from her hand onto the floor. “Won’t lie and tell you this isn’t my first assignment, but I was telling you the truth. Satan’s Devils have a security company, and I’m now on their payroll.”
“You’re suggesting I employ you and pay you? As what? A bodyguard?”
“That could work.”
Her lips press together. “And just how much will this cost?”
If I say nothing, she won’t believe me. Which will mean I lose the opportunity to learn who’s after her, and who may now have the club in their sights. “We can work out the details later, but it won’t be at full cost. I’m doing this on a trial basis myself.”
“I’m a test? You keep me alive and they’ll take you on permanently?” she scoffs.
I chuckle. “Something like that.”
Another woman might have turned toward me, her expression trying to read mine to see whether I was serious. I only notice that’s missing when she doesn’t. If she could see, her gaze would be fixed at a point on the floor.
Another woman might be in hysterics. Her dog is fighting to be able to walk again if not for its life, and I’ve just forced her to face up to the fact, whatever she’s running from may have caught up with her. But then she’s faced more adversity and challenges than most other people I’ve met in my life. I suppose she’s had years to get used to it, but that she doesn’t berate how much she’s lost makes me admire her.
“You got a good family?”
Now she smiles. “The best, yes.”
“Well let me help you get back to them in one piece, yeah?”
“How can I trust you? And what help can you provide?”
“Well,” reminiscent of the position I’d take in Demon’s office, my elbows go back on my knees and my chin rests on my clasped hands, “have I done you wrong, so far?”
“What if you were working with them? What if you’re trying to trick me? Getting on my right side, sucking me in. Then… hurting me? You were there right at the time the car ran me down.” Her mouth twists as if she’s tasting something unpleasant. “You’ve quickly reached the assumption I’m not who I say I am. How did you do that, Beef? Or did you already know?”
As the thought hits her, she shudders. Her visionless eyes search for my face.
Quickly I rush to reassure her. “Once I pieced everything together it was obvious. I picked up on the clues you let slip. Maybe someone else wouldn’t have put it all together. I assure you, Stevie, I have no idea of this ‘them’ you think I might be working with. I have no idea of your real name or what you’re involved with.” She doesn’t seem convinced, so I try to explain. “Think about it, babe. Think about how we met. Sure, I was there when you had your accident. I always hang around to watch women being run over with my bike loaded up with all my clothes. Oh, and don’t forget, immediately coming up with a plan to worm my way into your good books by looking after your dog. Kinda proves I’m not just muscle, doesn’t it babe?”
Fuck me, she giggles. Down, fella, I instruct my cock.
Chapter Fourteen
After the brief moment of mirth, she stands as though she’s uncomfortable. It’s hard to accept she can’t see a fucking thing as she confidently walks from one side of the room to the other, and then back. Then she does it again. I can well appreciate her warning about not moving furniture. If that stool, for example, was put in h
er path she’d end up flat on her face. She needs a moment, I give it to her, watching the fleeting expressions come and go as they rearrange her features. Her brow furrows, then smooths, her lips press together. Her mouth twists as though she’s remembering something that’s painful.
Several minutes pass before she turns her face in my direction. “I was warned not to tell anybody anything. They impressed on me just one careless word could lead them to me.”
I’m hanging onto every clue here. She’s referred to them a few times. That rules out an ex. I know she’d told me that herself, but it’s good to have confirmation.
It’s not easy for just anyone to set up a new identity, so I’m pretty certain we’re on the right track thinking she’s in witness protection. If there wasn’t a mystery surrounding her, I could have written off that car as just an accident as we first thought. Now I know more, it seems unlikely to be a coincidence. I’d bet good money, someone has got the information about where she is, and that that someone shouldn’t have. I can do nothing to help her unless I know who that is.
“Who knows where you are, babe? Your family? Have you had any contact with them? Could someone have let anything slip?”
“Don’t you think I’d love to talk to my mom? To my dad? My sisters? Have you any idea how hard it is to be so far away and unable to even pick up the phone?”
I don’t. Sure, I’ve left my family to come to Pueblo, but I can call, go back to visit, hell, go home for good if that’s what I wanted. Drummer would probably give my Tucson patch back in a flash if I explained staying away was too hard. To be so alone, unable to hear a friendly voice when she wants to. I can’t imagine that. My respect for her increases yet again.
My brow furrows in sympathy. “Did you know how hard it would be?”
Devil's Due: Satan's Devils MC Colorado Chapter #3 Page 11