Melodi warily looks from Meg to me, whispering, “You know you’re playing with fire, right?”
“Have you met me?” I smirk.
“Unfortunately I have,” she grins.
Carmen covers her mouth and laughs, “I love this idea, Meg. I love it!”
“Thank you. It’ll show us all how they really feel. And if it’s just a fling, which is entirely possible no matter how much we don’t want to think about our babies doing that with each other…they can work it out away from this house. Get it out of their system.”
Mel looks at Meg then locks onto me, blonde eyebrow arched. “I don’t think it’s a fling.”
“I don’t either,” I sigh, standing up. “I’m just glad we’ll be gone when Tyler shows up. Less people around to witness it. By the time we come back, Sofia will be gone. The dice will fall where they’re meant to.”
Gathering our cups, the four of us moms walk inside, and we can’t help but stare at my forlorn daughter on the way.
Carmen’s voice is quiet as she says what everyone is thinking, “I just hope Luke feels the same way.”
Chapter 20
LUKE
“You guys don’t care about the no smoking law, huh?” I ask the Native American bartender as I nurse my tequila.
“Let the people decide,” he shrugs, rolling a heavy, silver ring around his finger. “You guys? Aren’t you one of us—”
“I meant you guys who own the bar. Not your heritage. And I’m mostly Mexican, but there’s probably some Native American blood in there.”
“Half of California was Mexico, until the White Man took it from your people.”
“And all of the United States was yours until they did the same to yours.”
“What they did to my people…” he trails off, eyes distant. Grabbing the Herradura bottle he fills my glass to the top, gold liquid spinning in iridescent circles. “We have our own laws on the reservation.”
“Got it. And thanks.” Watching him place the bottle back in its home I say, “I’m not one for obeying laws myself.”
“I saw your patch. And your hair. That’s why I thought you were one of us.”
“Understood.” I take a sip.
“Where’s your gang?”
“I’m on vacation.”
His eyebrows rise. “Must be nice.”
“Haven’t had one before.”
“And?”
“Not all it’s cracked up to be.”
A rueful smile tugs at his lips. “The mark of a man who loves his work.”
“And his people,” I raise my glass and ask, “You drinkin’?”
On a shrug he pops a bottle of beer and walks over to clink it to mine. “Name’s Magi.”
I roll it on my tongue, “Majai?” liking the sound of how he pronounced it and having no idea how to spell the damn thing. “I’m Luke, cheers.”
We take a drink, savoring it, and I set my glass down.
He leans against the back of the bar, index finger wrapped around the top of the bottle as he eyes the customers. “Idiots.”
I glance behind me to a couple of guys, mid-thirties, arguing over the pool table about rules of the game. A trashy looking woman is with them, chewing on her hair, half seated on a barstool in a miniskirt that almost shows what color her panties are. If she’s wearing any.
“Must see fights a lot, working in a bar…or is this yours?”
“Mine and my father’s,” he answers, wary eyes on them. “It’s why I’m jealous of your vacation.” Turning his head back to me he adds, “Got my heart set on a beach right now. No plans yet, but soon. Sand, booze, and bikinis, sounds nice.”
Smiling and digging my phone from my pocket I agree, “When you put it that way.” Swiping to answer I motion to Magi to excuse me. “Hey, Tyler, what’s up?”
Ty’s voice comes through as familiar as my own. “Have a job I need your help on. You busy?”
“Now I am. Where?”
“Sedona, Arizona.”
“What is it?”
“Small job, but necessary. Thought you might need something to do.”
“You thought right. Text me an address.”
“Already booked you a hotel.”
“How’d you know I wasn’t busy?”
“I knew if I called you’d drop everything and do my bidding.”
“You’re an idiot.”
He chuckles, “Fuck you, too. Where you at?”
“New Mexico.” I hold my hand over the glass as Magi tries to refill it with more tequila that I no longer need. Suddenly my spirits are rising, and I want to get on the road with a clear head. I watch him put it back on the shelf as I tell Tyler. “Where are you?”
“Farther than that. You’ll beat me there anyway since I’ve gotta make one stop. Got you a nice room, top floor. Sure it’s only two stories, but the room is real sweet. Mom told me about what happened.”
Sucking on my teeth I mutter, “Thanks, but I’m cool.”
“I know you’re cool, now that I set you up in the best room in the place while you wait for me to get there and massage your feet.”
On a grin I say, “Touch me and I’ll teach you a few lessons about personal space.”
He laughs. “I’ll text you the address. You goin’ there soon?”
“What do you care? But yeah, I’ll head over tonight. Hadn’t found a room here yet.”
“It’s after one o’clock in New Mexico!”
“No shit. Are you my mother now? I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye fucker.”
I pull out the club’s card, slide it on the cherry wood counter. “Nice place you have. People like me appreciate you bein’ here.”
He takes the card, moving with the slow confidence of a man who’s home. As he runs it through the machine and rips off the paper, grabbing a pen from a jar crammed with them, I notice the place has gone quiet. There’s only a handful left in here, conversations normal compared to the growling that was going on.
“Looks like your problem left. They pay up?”
Magi hands me the receipt to sign, his eyes on the pool table. “I made ‘em pay cash. Lied and told ‘em no cards.”
“And what if they saw you ringing me up with one?”
“I’d welcome the argument,” he smirks. “You take care out there, Luke.”
“Always do.” I write out a tip for one thousand dollars, slide the paper to him with a glint in my eyes. “Enjoy those bikinis.”
Surprise sparks up and he nods his thanks, probably wondering how a guy like me has that kind of change to throw at a stranger. But people don’t realize sometimes how much a friendly conversation can help a man who needs one, like me tonight. I’ve been riding by myself for weeks, spending nights alone in hotels that would normally have my friends and family in the next rooms. Talk has been scarce, and I’m not one to talk to myself.
I head to my Harley, sliding my leather jacket on and shrugging it into place. It’s a cool night out here in the desert, and I’m going to enjoy the wind in my hair and skip the helmet. Get to see Tyler soon, and I feel good.
“Joey, let go!”
My head whips toward the sound of her pleas. I change course, head around the side of the bar by the dumpsters where the heat has done the air no favors. One of the guys who was causing a stink is wrestling the trashy girl to the ground, and her halter strap is ripped off her shoulder.
“I saw how you been eyeing me all night, Lor!”
“Stop it! Please! Stop!” Her eyes widen as she sees me.
He looks over his shoulder with a sneer, and reacts with surprise as I yank him off her and toss him aside like a rag doll. He’s not a big man, just bigger than her.
Joey cusses at me and tries to get up but I give him a front-kick that lands where it’s supposed to, right in his gut. Clutching his stomach he doubles over, wind knocked out, but he tries to get at me a second later. I spin and kick him in his head with my heel—it’s no problem for me to reach that high and
land a solid hit.
He falls to the side and I punch him a few times until he crumbles. I stand over the piece of shit. “What the fuck is wrong with people like you? At what point did you turn evil, huh?”
Bloodied and pissed off, he tries to go for my legs. Evasive tactics are my specialty, so he doesn’t have a chance. Put any of us Ciphers in a normal bar brawl with a thug like this, and it’s something to see. I kick the shit out of him until he doesn’t move.
“Is he dead?”
“Nah,” I tell her, watching his chest rise with unconscious breaths “Just thinking twice about doing that again. You go home now.”
Hugging herself, she’s shaking. “You have somewhere to go?” she flirtatiously smiles, with fear hovering in her eyes.
I bend down and wipe his blood off my knuckles with the shirt he’s wearing, telling her, “Lor, you don’t have to thank a man that way. Just know that we aren’t all bad, and clean yourself up. He have your number?”
“We went to school together.”
“Call the cops, file a report so you can save the next girl.” I stand up. “Tell your mother, your sister, your friends, any woman you know who you can trust, that you need them to watch over you for a few days. Stay inside and rest up. Get a restraining order, anything that makes you feel safe.” I pull her strap up, but it’s useless since he tore it up this bad. She gazes up at me as I lift her chin, remembering what Tonk Jr. said. “Do some work on yourself. You deserve everything you’ve been dreaming about.”
My eyes drop to Joey to make sure he’s out, and I motion for the side door. She and I walk in, come around the bar to Magi. “Lor needs a ride after she uses your phone to call the cops. And I left a mess you’ll enjoy cleaning up out there. Might want to do that soon before it walks away.”
His eyes darken with comprehension. “I hear what you’re throwing down.”
Six pairs of civilian eyes watch me from the booths as I head outside again, same way as I just did. No need to hide my face. They won’t tell the cops who I am, I know that from experience. All anyone has to do is look at Lor to know what almost happened. Nothing to say except, thank you.
Chapter 21
SOFIA
“I’ve never been so bored in my life,” I mutter, pacing the back porch. “I can’t believe they didn’t take me with them! And here we are twirling our thumbs like civilians! Why aren’t there more jobs coming in? Are the bad guys on their best behavior all across America, or what? Because I doubt it!”
Celia asks, “Luke still not answering his phone?”
“That’s not what I’m upset about!”
She tilts her head like she doesn’t believe me, but I ignore her and go to stand against a pole, dried out paint chips flattening under my skin. “They left on a job and I’m not allowed to go this time? What the fuck?! I’m crawling out of my skin here! Can’t they see that?”
“Do you want to go on a road trip? We could ask Sage and Atlas to go.”
How many times have I avoided being alone with Atlas and Celia since she shared her secret and I didn’t share mine? Every fucking day at least thirty times. And Sage isn’t a buffer, especially since she’s barely talking to her brother. I’m avoiding her almost as much as him. Hell, I spent more time with Tonk Jr. in the past twenty-two days than I have since I turned twenty-two!
Under my breath I keep my voice as level as I can. “I need to beat someone up, not lay on a beach.”
The screen door clatters, drawing my focus. “Hey Tyler, what brings you back here so quick?”
“Don’t fall over yourself with excitement over little ol’ me, Soph.”
Smiling, I shrug, “Sorry. I’m in a mood.”
Tyler’s a burly looking dude, dirty blonde since Melodi’s blonde, and kinda ugly since Fuse isn’t exactly easy on the eyes. But he’s got appeal because of his confidence, and he knows when to talk and when to shut up. That’s an appreciated personality trait, living a communal life among heathens. He pulls out a cigarette pack and lights one up, “Don’t tell my mom I’m smoking,” he smirks, casting a glance behind him to the kitchen.
Melodi shouts from inside it, “Put that thing out or I’ll put it out on you!”
We grin as he chuckles, takes a couple hefty drags off it, and stamps the embers into dead ash. “Love to rile her up. Makes me feel like a kid again.” Eyeing me from the side he says, “Sofia, I’ve got a job, you want in?”
I push off the pole and plant my boots. “Are you serious? Yes!”
“What about me?” Celia asks.
“Next time,” he nods to her. “Just need one. Heard Sofia was hurting for some road work.”
I ask, “Who told you that?”
Jerking his head toward the kitchen, he gives me a wink. “Mom sees all in this house. And she knows how to take care of her men. You’re more man than girl to her.”
“I’m a woman, but who’s arguing.”
“Girl, woman, you know what I mean. You’ve got bigger balls than most of the guys I come across out there. Let’s go.”
Surprised but thrilled, I grab my glass to bring it inside. “Now?”
Celia gets up, too, picking up her lemonade and following us. Since we were able to walk we’ve been trained to clean up after ourselves. The place would be disgusting if we didn’t carry our own weight. And as Melodi has reminded us thousands of times, she’s not our maid.
Tyler holds the door open and we duck underneath his arm, me practically singing, “Mel, have I told you how much I love you?”
“You’re welcome,” she dryly smiles. “Purely selfish. I’m tired of listening to you bitch all the damn time.”
Celia agrees, “True that.”
I start dancing around, “I’m outta here!”
Melodi just shakes her head. “Can’t run from your problems.”
Freezing mid-dance I drop my arms and cock an eyebrow at her, “Well aren’t you a ball of fun.” Swiping up my glass and putting it in the dishwasher I announce, “I’m not running, just taking some space to get a clear head, doing what I was put on this Earth to do!”
Atlas walks up to the screen door we just came through. His hands are covered in grease from the work he was doing in the garage. Celia opens the door for him. “Thanks Ceels,” he says, glancing to me. “You takin’ off?”
“Yep.”
“Good,” he mutters, heading to the sink to wash his hands. “Tired of all your dirty looks.”
Under my breath I shoot back, “And I’m sick of giving ‘em. You ready Tyler?” Off his amused expression, I realize, “Oh, I have to pack, huh? It’ll take me three minutes. Meet you out front?”
He pushes off the wall and heads out with me, but Melodi calls after her son, “Tyler, you stay with me for a minute. I don’t want you on that front porch sneaking another smoke.”
He laughs, “I did it in your line of vision for a reason, Ma.”
“Nevertheless, stay here with me. I don’t get to see you enough. Spend some time with your mother.”
Celia follows me up the stairs as we listen to their exchange. “I guess we all move away at some point, huh?” she asks me in a private volume.
“Our parents have been here over thirty years!”
“Right.”
Stopping at the top of the stairs, I block her path. “You want out?”
“No,” she mutters. At my stare her shoulders rise up. “Maybe.”
“Tyler!” I call, leaning over the banister. “Let’s bring Celia!”
“It’s a small job, literally small location. I didn’t even want to bring you!”
“Thanks a lot!” I laugh, happy he was forced to change his mind by Mel. To Celia I say as we walk into our room, “You’re not being kept here. Why don’t you go for a road trip?” I close the door and point at her. “And not alone with Atlas, either.”
She grins, “I would never do that!”
“Yeah, right,” I smile back, pulling my saddlebags from the closet, starting to pack. “I
get that you’re stir crazy…”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
She sits on my bed and watches me fold, speaking quietly so no one hears. “I don’t know, after telling you about my feelings for him it’s been harder to ignore them.”
“It was easy to lie to yourself before.”
Celia points to our closet. “Take my white halter with the lace on top.”
“You said I would stretch it out, last time I wanted to wear it.”
“I know, but you look so good in white.”
Walking around the bed to swipe it off the hanger I fold it against my stomach, taking special care not to crease it the wrong way. “You’re giving me this because you’ll miss me.” She smiles like I figured her out, and I laugh, “I know you so well.” Quieting I lock eyes with her. “I’ll miss you, too.” As I continue to pack I roll over in my mind the little that Tyler told us. “He didn’t mention how long this would take, or where we’re going, huh? I hope it’s for at least a month. God, that would be amazing. Atlas is right, I need to stop glaring at him. Being angry is exhausting.”
“And Sage is doing a good enough job punishing him already,” Celia mutters. “She’s being a little ridiculous.”
Yeah well, Sage misses Luke.
So do I.
But I’m not going to confess that.
I barely want to know it, myself.
Buckling the straps I grab my leather jacket, slip it on, and hoist the saddlebags over my shoulder. “Ready.”
In no hurry Celia rises up. “Call me from the road?”
“Don’t I always, every single time?”
“I know.” She opens the door and I throw my boot out and kick it shut, ripping it from her hand. She spins around.
“I just figured out what the fuck is wrong with you.”
“What?!”
Adjusting the heavy leather, I cock my head. “The last job we did I said you would always come with, on the next ones.” Her gaze drops to the ground. “I meant it, this isn’t the same situation. I don’t have the option. This isn’t my job. Atlas and Luke aren’t with us, right?”
Cocky Rebel : Sofia Sol Cocker (Cocker Brothers, The Cocky Series Book 13) Page 10