Kevlar to My Vest

by Lani Lynn Vale

  My fingers tightened on the steering wheel so tight my fingers popped.

  “Let me know when you have him. I have a few questions of my own.” I spat.

  “Alright. We’re here. I’ll keep you updated.” Loki hung up.

  “Was that Loki? Since when does he do anything that doesn’t have to do with undercover work?” Foster asked.

  I glanced at him, but then back to the road. “Loki’s not doing undercover work anymore. He hit a bad case and decided it wasn’t for him anymore. Now he’s a plainclothes.”

  Miller grunted in agreement.

  SEALs lived under the air of secrecy. My brothers were rarely ever home. They knew what it was like to be burned out on the lies and deceit. Hell, I did too, and I didn’t even have to deal with all the undercover BS that they did.

  When we pulled into the drive, I backed the trailer underneath my carport and shut the truck off.

  Miller and Foster got out, unhitching the boat from the receiver, while I went to Viddy’s door.

  I opened it and curled my fingers around her jaw, turning her head in my direction.

  “You are pretty good, girl. Your breathing changed though. I was going to tell you later, but why don’t you go ahead and ask me the questions while my brothers get changed and showered.” I said softly, studying her face.

  A slow smile overtook her mouth as she opened her eyes. “You’re good.”

  “I know I am, baby. I just haven’t shown you how much.”

  She blushed beautifully at my words, and leveraged herself up until her knees were on either side of my hips.

  “What was on the tapes?” She asked.

  “I don’t know. My best guess is just about anything you do in your room, he saw. Or would’ve seen. We don’t really know how many actual videos he’s taken so far, but this one was the type where you have to actually come into the apartment to get the feed. That’s probably what he was going to do when he broke into your apartment.”

  Instead of the fear that I expected, her face was replaced by rage. Pure, volatile rage.

  “That stupid piece of shit. That goddamn piece of mother fuckin’ shit! Do you have any idea how much of his shit I had to put up with?” She asked, pushing me backwards so she could stand. “That little dick. Do you have any idea what he tried to do to get in my pants?”

  I looked at her, stunned at the change.

  When I shook my head, she continued. “That man was hounding me for months! Thank God I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him until I loved him. Jesus Christ.”

  Her hair was in a braid, but during her tirade, she yanked the band that was at the end of her braid out, and started viciously tearing her plaits apart.

  “The nerve! Thank God you came along, or I would have. When I met you, everything I thought I had with Paul flew out the fuckin’ window. Then you had to go and give me a ride on your stupid motorcycle, and all of my bad girl tendencies came back.”

  “Bad girl tendencies?” I asked in surprise.

  She glared at me. “Yes, bad girl tendencies. The ones where I want to ride motorcycles, and blow off my responsibilities.”

  “You blew off responsibilities for me?” Trance asked.

  My brothers were standing behind me laughing at Viddy’s tirade, all the while she paced. “Yes! I was supposed to go to Adeline’s house and help her deep clean her house, but all you had to do was bring out the dimples and I don’t even have the gumption to tell you no.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and glared back at her. “You know she’s pregnant, not an invalid. There’re pregnant people running marathons at nine months pregnant. I think Adeline can handle a goddamn house cleaning.”

  “She told me everything hurts. I was supposed to help.”

  “You’re blind, or you were blind, what could you do?” I asked.

  “I’m not blind...per say. I can offer moral support.” She said as she crossed her arms across her chest.

  “Right. If it’s really that bad, then Kettle can afford to hire some cleaners.”

  “You just have an answer for everything, don’t you?” She sniffed.

  “Most.”

  With a huff, she spun around and walked into the house.

  I watched the door slowly, waiting for the inevitable, and wasn’t let down a minute or so later when all four dogs were let outside, with the door slammed shut solidly behind them.

  “You don’t keep her, I will.” Foster said.

  “You’ll have to wrestle me for her, first.” Miller confirmed.

  “Fuck off.” I said before doing some exercises with the dogs.

  “You got it, you got it bad, when you’re on the...”

  “Shut up!” I yelled, glaring at the two over my shoulder.

  They were making wrist gestures at me, so I flipped them off for good measure.

  I wasn’t kidding them nor myself. I did have it bad.

  Chapter 7

  Feel safe at night. Sleep with a cop.

  -T-shirt from Adeline to Viddy

  Viddy

  “You ready?” Trance asked me.

  Squealing in excitement, I wrapped my fingers around him tightly. “Yes!”

  He chuckled and started the bike with a throaty growl that set fire to my veins.

  It was Saturday night and we were taking our ride to Texas and Catfish Village that rested just West of the Texas/Louisiana line.

  What started out as a small date with just Trance and me, turned into an all-out ride with nearly every member of The Dixie Wardens.

  Even my sister and Baylee were going, although they were driving behind us in Sebastian’s truck rather than riding.

  Baylee was Sebastian’s wife, and one of my favorite people in the world.

  She told it like it was, and there was never a dull moment with her and my sister around to stir things up.

  Sebastian and Kettle were riding their motorcycles, not ones to drive when they had the option.

  “How’d your brothers get motorcycles?” I asked into my headphone.

  Trance moved us from the parking spot in the gas station where we’d met everyone, and merged into traffic, rapidly picking up speed until it felt like we were flying down the interstate.

  My hair, unbound and wild, flew behind me in the wind, and I relished in it.

  It’d been so long since I’d ridden anywhere further than just a quick ride here and there.

  After our accident, there wasn’t much chance to ride, despite the fact that my dad belonged to a motorcycle club himself. He’d refused to even let us near a bike again, and kept that promise until he died in a motorcycle wreck of his own.

  I’d ridden on the back of Trance’s bike two other times since I’d met him, and each time was better than the first.

  “They were parked in my shed. I’ve been keeping them tuned and riding them every couple of weeks to make sure the battery doesn’t go dead on them.” Trance’s deep timber voice said into my ear.

  That was the last thing we said to each other until we crossed the Texas border.

  I laid my head onto Trance’s back and savored the ride.

  “You awake back there, cupcake?” Trance asked.

  My eyes opened and I leaned up off his back.

  I was awake, but I hadn’t realized how far we’d come until he broke me out of my daze.

  “Yeah, I’m awake. We’re almost there?” I confirmed.

  His head nodded in confirmation, and it wasn’t five minutes later when we were pulling into the parking lot.

  My vision had returned to only a quarter of the way while my eyes were closed, making me sigh long and loud, drawing Trance’s attention.

  “What’s wrong, Cupcake?” He asked as he placed the kickstand down.

  I shrugged. “Can’t see as well anymore.

  He swung his leg off the bike, and then helped me off before pulling me close and looking into my eyes.

  I had to work really hard at not turning my face so I could see him better,
but in the end it didn’t work, and I turned slightly so I could see him with my limited vision.

  He smiled, producing the dimples, when he saw my struggle. “Seems to me you should be thankful you can see it at all. Try not to push it. You’re perfect either way it goes.”

  With a soft kiss on my nose, he grabbed my hand and pulled me in his wake.

  The butterflies that are always present when he’s within arm distance to me turned into goddamn bats, and I had to restrain myself from making happy little sounds as he guided me into the restaurant.

  I was just inside the door when I was jostled to the side by a cute little blonde girl.

  Then, I shit you not, she threw herself forward, pushing me even further away and falling to the floor like a piece of paper. Slow and smooth.

  Then she started crying.

  “My ankle!” She cried.

  Her voice was annoying, and I wanted to kick her.

  Trance, of freakin’ course, let go of my hand, and helped the unfortunate girl up.

  “You okay, Tillie?” Trance asked worriedly.

  Trance spoke to her as if he knew her. With the satisfied smirk she sent my way when Trance dropped to his haunches to examine her ankle, I knew immediately that they’d been lovers.

  Trying my best to not run away, I started walking quickly, only for Foster and Miller to flank me.

  “Where ya running to, Vidalia?” Foster asked as he took my elbow.

  “Nowhere. I just wanted to sit down. Have y’all ever been here before?” I asked politely.

  I wasn’t thinking about that woman having her hands on my man. I mean Trance. Trance was not mine. Even though I’d like him to be. But I came with too much baggage.

  When we moved up to the hostess stand, the young girl stared at the two men at my sides in awe. “Uhhh,” she said. “How many?”

  I shrugged. I honestly had no clue. Close to twenty though, at least. Maybe I could get a separate table for the snake and Trance.

  “Thirty?” I asked.

  “That’s okay. I’ll just give you the banquet room. It seats up to fifty.” The young girl said as she blushed profusely.

  “That’s fine, thank you.” Foster gave her a devilish smile.

  Impossibly, she turned even redder before grabbing nearly all the menus and walking away quickly.

  “I think you have an admirer.” I said and laid my head down on Foster’s shoulder.

  A not amused voice cleared his throat behind us before saying, “What’s going on?”

  I glared at him before turning back around, keeping a death grip on the two males’ arms.

  “Y’all have incredibly large arms. Do y’all work out a lot?” I asked.

  I hadn’t meant it to be funny, but the two men laughed uproariously.

  “Oh, God. That was a good one.” Miller said, running the back of his hand across his eyes.

  “What?” I asked.

  Miller looked down into my eyes, and I was struck again at how much he looked like Trance.

  “We work out every single day and then some.” He answered soberly. “This is our first week off in nearly a year.”

  I squeezed his bicep tightly before dropping it.

  Walking to the opposite side of the table, I picked the seat that had the wall to my side, leaving only one opening on my right, and sat down.

  I’d hoped that Miller or Foster would get the seat, but of course Trance did.

  Miller and Foster took the seats across from us, while the stupid little bitch, Tillie, took the seat on Trance’s right, effectively ruining my entire meal.

  My sister and Kettle sat on the opposite end of the table, so they were no help either.

  Fun stuff.

  Not.

  I’d never considered myself lucky to be blind, but right then, I was. With Trance sitting on my right, that meant that I couldn’t see him very well unless I completely turned my head in his direction.

  Which I didn’t.

  I could hear him and Tillie talking.

  I could hear Tillie’s sugary sweet voice cooing at him, and I wanted to vomit.

  Pulling my phone out, I sent a quick text to my sister.

  Me: Who’s this bitch sitting next to Trance?

  Addy- That’s Trance’s ex.

  Me: Fucking perfect. I think I want to throw a hush puppy at her. Maybe I’ll be lucky and choke her with it with the way she’s running her big mouth.

  I could hear my sister’s laugh at the end of the table, and I smiled for the first time since I’d met Tillie ten minutes ago.

  Addy- I could probably nail her with a bowl of horseradish. That okay?

  Me: Perfect.

  “Who are you texting?” Trance asked from my side.

  I ignored him, shoving the phone in the pocket of my jeans before taking a ball of doughy goodness and dipping it in a generous dollop of ketchup.

  Then I shoved the entire thing in my mouth.

  It was divine.

  Hush puppies were one of my favorites.

  “Ma’am, what would you like something else to drink?” The waitress asked.

  “Miller Genuine Draft. In a mug.” I said around a mouth full of food.

  “Nice choice.” Miller said with a wide smile.

  I held him a thumbs up and kept eating.

  For the rest of the night I alternated in between Foster’s and Miller Genuine Draft.

  I could tell Trance was pissed by the way heat seemed to emanate off his body, but I didn’t relent. Especially when he started talking to the heifer next to him.

  By the time I was on my fifth beer, I was three sheets to the wind, and I’d forgotten I was mad at Trance. That was the most I’d drank since I got shitfaced in college and had to have my stomach pumped.

  “Ma’am, would you something else to drink?” The hostess asked.

  Damn but the woman was attentive.

  “I want a Killian Red. I’ve wanted a Killian the entire time. Why haven’t you been bringing me those?” I asked her curiously.

  She looked at me oddly. “Because you told me you wanted Miller and Foster’s. Was I wrong?”

  “No,” I moaned. “Just make sure it’s a Killian for the rest of the night. Bottle please. I want it straight from the source.”

  Truly, I never should’ve had that fourth beer. There was always a fine line of when I was just tipsy, and when I was shitfaced, and I seemed to cross it nearly every time. Which was why I didn’t drink much.

  Chuckles from the man beside me, as well as the two in front of me had me aware that I must’ve said something funny, but hell if I knew what it was.

  “You want any more fish from this batch?” Miller asked me.

  I looked up at him and saw the smile on his face. “No, thanks. What kind of beer are you drinking?”

  I didn’t know why I asked him that, but I felt it very imperative to my well-being at that moment.

  “Heineken.” He answered.

  “What about you?” I asked Foster.

  “Heineken.” Foster answered.

  “Hmm. What about you?” I asked Trance, elbowing him in the ribs.

  He grunted. “Blackened Voo Doo.”

  I glanced at his beer. “What’s that taste like?”

  The bottle came into my view, and I took it with my free hand that wasn’t holding my fork.

  Taking a swig, I saw God.

  The beer God that was.

  “This is delicious,” I declared loudly.

  A small burp slipped out of my mouth, and I excused myself before finishing the rest.

  “Here, you can have the rest.” I said handing the empty bottle back to him.

  “Thanks,” he said dryly.

  ***

  Trance

  “That’s disgusting.” Tillie sneered when she heard Viddy let out a small burp.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “What do you see in her?” She asked in disgust.

  My cold, hard eyes turned to hers. “What? Your shit doesn
’t stink? You’ve never burped in your life before? If you don’t like it, move to a different seat. You rode here with Dixie, how about you go back and sit with him?”

  Dixie was one of the original founders of The Dixie Wardens. He was one hell of a guy, but right then, I could’ve kicked his ass.

  “You know we were good together. You damn well know it.” Tillie seethed, clutching onto my arm.

  I ripped it free of her grip and glared at her. “You can...”

  “Get your filthy slut hands off him.” Viddy snarled from my other side.

  I turned to find her standing and leaning over the back of my chair.

  She was glaring daggers at Tillie, and I had a surge of desire shoot through my system when I saw the look in her eyes as she stared at the woman beside me.

  I was thankful that she was finally letting her jealously show. I’d wanted to beat the shit out of my own brothers for holding her hand. When we’d arrive at the restaurant earlier, Tillie had purposefully fallen.

  I’d waited until Viddy was out of sight to call her on it, livid that she wouldn’t take the fucking hint. Tillie wanted more, and I wasn’t willing to give it to her. She wasn’t what my body wanted, and never had been. Viddy was, and I’d told Tillie as much.

  She hadn’t taken the hint though, and I could see now that it was going to take more from me other than a simple, ‘I don’t want you.’

  I’d endured an entire dinner of Tillie being wholly too close to me, and Viddy only talking to my brothers. I’d about hit the point where I was going to physically make her talk to me when she’d started asking about beer.

  I hadn’t realized how much hearing about her taste in beer meant to me until she’d said she preferred Killian’s to the server.

  Miller and Foster sat in front of me, giving us both shit eating grins, and I couldn’t help the smile that overtook my own.

  “How about we go for a walk, cupcake?” I suggested, standing and taking her hand.

  She latched onto my own with surprising strength, and followed me outside.

  When she stumbled for the second time, I stopped and wrapped my arm around her waist until her side was flush with my own.

  She leaned into me, sighing in pleasure as we walked through the hot, humid night.