Rhett leans in close to my face, stopping a breath away from my lips. “Bitch.” He says with amusement before letting me go as he kisses me softly.
The hallway comes alive with clapping that joins with our laughter. The men have finally showed themselves and this is the moment they choose to do it. Now they stand a few feet from us clapping and whistling at our show. Even Aimes joins in with her appreciation. Rhett bows to the other men and his short towel rides up high enough to silence Aimes who is standing behind him. She freezes mid-clap and the look she wears creates another round of laughter from us. For these few moments, the past few days with their drama-laden hours, fade away. I can almost hear the jukebox playing around us as if we were back standing in Grit. I only wonder how long it will last.
Their entire group is in some form of undress from their showers. None are as brave as Rhett though with his fraction of a towel. They walk past us into their room, leaving Rhett with us in the hall. It is a buffet for the eyes, or one hell of a long dry spell for me. Looking to Aimes, who wears the most perfect blush, I am voting on the buffet.
“Do I even want to ask where you four have been?” I ask Rhett, who is still wearing his smile, keeping his eyes on Aimes. I almost feel sorry for her with the jests she will have to endure from him now. Almost.
“Dunno, do you?” He returns, starting another game.
“Where were you four this morning?” I ask, calling his bluff.
He shrugs and the towel dips a bit lower, as do my eyes. “Testing out the weight room before the run. Not too many ways to burn off steam around here.”
“Tell me about it.” Aimes says, making her blush deepen upon hearing her voice speak the words she was hoping to keep locked away.
Rhett’s smile widens as he sees a better target to play with. “Been awhile since I have-”
“No.” Aimes says, cutting him off before he can finish his sentence. Her blush is a full-force red, now knowing where his mind was going to invite her but too afraid to board the ride.
“If you ever change your mind.” He leans his tall, well-formed body against hers, bending over to whisper in her ear. “You don’t even have to ask.”
Aimes goes stiff with his implications, watching him like the prey she is, as he walks to the door.
It is my turn now to clap and he turns to smile at me. “Win some, you lose some. Rematch.” Rhett says to me, as he closes the door behind him.
“Did you know he had arms like that?” Aimes asks, her voice is a little more breathy than normal.
“No.” I answer, enjoying her torment.
“Did you know he had a chest like that?”
“No.”
“Did you know he had a stomach like that?”
“What are you, Little Red Riding Hood?” I ask her. “All the better to seduce you with, my dear?”
“No, I want to be the Grandmother. She gets eaten.” She says with pure honesty and we both laugh.
Our laughter is what the men come back out to. Rhett eyes us with the hopes that he is the target of our glee. When Aimes blushes again as he walks by, it is all the proof his male ego needs. They are all wearing a smile and it is not the only thing they have in common. Each man is wearing the dark black leather vest of Grit with its grinning skull. Our laughter dies with the realization of it. They ignore our shock, continuing to make their way down the very crowded hallway. People split to either side of the path, letting them through, and we are forced to follow behind them or either be left behind.
The vest has always been a way for them to show the town who they are and how little they care for their opinions. It is a silent message of solidarity, boasting of rank and deeds done, in the name of the club. The skull on the vest’s back, with its jagged smile, is a grim hint of the personalities and attitudes held within and how they are not afraid to face life, no matter where it may take them. The one silver tear on its cheek serves as a reminder of those that have come and gone. The black eye patch, with the 1% in its center, reminds the MC that it is “an eye for an eye” in their world. The double guns behind the skull tell them no one stands alone as long as they are standing with their Brothers. The black leather vest is as much of a way to bind them together, as it is a way to keep them apart and that is exactly the point of wearing it today.
“J.D.,” Aimes whispers in a hiss when we reach the shelter of the closed stairwell, “what are you doing?”
“Why, I am walking down the stairs, Sweetheart.” He calls back to her, ignoring the real question she is asking him.
“What is up with the vests?” She clarifies, not letting him slip away that easily.
“We can’t all look good in just a towel.” J.D. still avoids her question and we both know he will not answer us.
“I think we need to see how well the girls look in it.” Rhett does answer though, still unwilling to let it go.
“Looking to lose again?” I bait him, just to see that smile again.
“I’ll lose to you any day.” He says and I earn my prize.
“What about all night?” I watch Lawless miss a step and I smile as he tries to hide it. It feels as good as if I had pushed him myself.
I do not know what Rhett may have said as his answer. J.D. gives the man a look that silences him and melts the smile from his lips. Aimes looks to me with the curiosity of it. I shrug to her. I refuse to play with their hidden plot-lines anymore. If sexually teasing Rhett will help me get through the next few hours, then by the end of the day we both may be in desperate need to visit the weight room.
Ross is waiting for us in the courtyard with his smile. He leans against my truck with Chapel watching us head their way. Chapel looks to me when he notices the dress code of the men before me. Aimes and I shrug, letting him know we are not on the “need to know” list about their agendas and our annoyance of that fact.
J.D. tosses something to Chapel, never stopping to talk to the man. “Get dressed.” He says over his shoulder.
Chapel unfolds the bunched fabric to find his own leather vest in his hands. The emotions that wash over his face fold over and onto themselves while looking at it. He glances to the men that file past him, each patting him on his shoulder or his chest as they pass, before he slips on the leather. I am confused as to what he feels at this moment as the men show him signs of camaraderie, or at what point J.D. stripped him of his vest removing that same link. The men that we have drawn our lines against, and circled the wagons from, are now welcoming him home. Something clicks for him with their renewed brotherhood, setting a different tone to his posture. For the first time, I see how much it has cost Chapel to be on the outside of their circle even if he does not agree with their actions.
“Man down.” Aimes says to me with disappointment as we watch Chapel rejoin the group that is mingling around their dark warhorses.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I try to reassure her. The sight of Leslie running towards them removes any hopes I may have tried to hold on what today will bring.
“Where to?” I ask Ross, ignoring the scene in front of us.
“I’ll show you.” He says. His smile may still be bright, but his voice does not match the wattage.
“Something wrong, Ross?” Aimes asks him, noticing the difference also.
“No. Not at all. We’re good!” He says to us. His voice is a little too forced. His smiles a bit too big. Either we are making him nervous or he is hiding something. I look to Aimes to gather her ideas on the topic. She makes a face at me, showing her suspicions also of the man before us. We have both come to the conclusion that he is hiding something from us. The day just keeps getting better, and with his smile, brighter. Let me twirl a certain finger with the joy of it.
CHAPTER 34
Ross directs us to an abandoned strip mall. Not that much these days is not abandoned. This place though screams it like a banner of helplessness. Store windows are covered in thick layers of dirt, shielding whatever items they may hold within. The parking lot holds random mode
ls of abandonment forming yet another frozen moment of times gone by. Their frames are foggy with the many layers of seasonal dirt piled upon them.
Ruined newspapers and other forms of litter from spilled containers lay spread throughout the area. I almost expect to see a tumbleweed roll by with the lack of life that surrounds us. Instead, a shopping cart does with a strong gust of winter wind, its wheels screeching their anger over the movement. The comedy is not lost on the three of us, as we watch it roll across the lot. A small fragment of our amusement slips from us when it rolls into a parked car, finally ending its path. I cannot imagine anything left to be found in this place, much less a whole list of needs to be fulfilled. Perhaps Ross is having those same concerns. His nervousness has grown with each roaring motorcycle that pulls in beside my truck. Motorcycles that are bare of a red headed thorn in my side. Did the sun just peek out, or did the sudden lift of my mood just make it seem so?
The men do not seem as surprised as I am at our location. They almost seem to be amused at what is surrounding us as if it is exactly what they expected to see. Only Marxx looks as annoyed as I feel by what we are seeing and I don’t know which response worries me more.
“Well this looks like a big pile of nada.” Aimes says to me more than to Ross. Ross has lost his ability to form words, just head nods like a dashboard bobble head. His smile is still with us though. Lucky us.
J.D. opens my door, holding out his hand for me to take. He is staring into the empty shopping center, waiting for me. His inability to look at me shows his weakness in this moment. I know he is covering his fear of my refusal for his help with the act of scouting the area ahead of us and I am tempted to slide past him. I am tempted until I see the many faces watching us, waiting to see my reaction. J.D. is attempting to cross the many spider webs of cracks that have escalated between us with this simple gesture. The option to allow him is now up to me, making me the heroine or the villain. Well played J.D. I lift my arm and reach for him, hoping what is left of our foundation still has the strength to support us both.
“Well Smiley,” J.D. says, still holding on to my hand, more tightly than necessary, as I stand beside him, “what’s the plan here?”
“The items should be in the stores. I’ll stay here and keep an eye out for anything. I’m not feeling all that exploratory after the last excursion.” Ross says. He seems almost ill with his nerves.
Something Ross has said makes all the men look to him. Their faces slide to their blank looks and I now know he is hiding something. Something they have already figured out. Something I should have figured out, but I haven’t yet.
J.D. reaches past me into the truck, grasping a hold of Ross. He pulls the man from the truck with such force that Ross stumbles as he spills forth into the parking lot. Ross stumbles into the arms of Marxx, who grabs him, bracing him from the fall. He may have kept him from falling but Marxx does not allow the action to be friendly, as Ross is spun around to face J.D.
The men crowd around Ross with their blank faces and stances of male posturing. Ross has seen this before and panic settles over him, making his smile return. I feel myself heading towards their cluster without being aware of the decision. I may not be a fan of Ross, with his toothpaste commercial worthy smile, but I cannot stand by and watch them terrorize such an easy target. Dolph or Simon yes, I would even grab some snacks to watch the show, but not Ross. I hear Aimes falling in step behind me with the same determination. My little constant chihuahua.
Rhett smiles at us as we head towards them. He slides through their circle, coming to block us from their game of “Toss the Ross”. He stands in front of us, using his body to keep us from going and seeing around him. He stands playfully in front of us with his “look at how harmless I am” smile, but he is ready to stop us if we force that chore upon him. I have seen them go from this laid-back state to full brawl without a second to spare and that worries me.
“Move, Rhett.” I try to match my voice to his stance. His smirk tells me I have failed.
“Nope.” We both know I am not a threat to him no matter how many emotions I put into my voice. “They are just having a friendly chat. Nothing will happen to him.”
“Nothing will happen to him as long as he does what?” Aimes asks him, letting him know we are both well versed in their games.
Rhett graces us with a true smile as she catches him off guard. “Nothing, Sweetheart. Truly.”
“Then move.” She pushes him further to prove the lies of his words.
“Nope.” We both sigh at him and with the lack of options really left to us. Thumb wrestle?
“If they are just talking and nothing is going to happen to him, then why not? Why won’t you let us go over there?” Aimes gestures around him. I am pretty sure though he knows where “there” is without the help she provides pointing behind him. Then again, maybe not.
“Because quite frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Rhett’s smile is in full bloom at us. He is fully recovered from being knocked off guard and he is ready to play again.
“You totally did not just “Gone With the Wind” me!” Aimes shouts at him with shock and annoyance at his barb.
We laugh together at her outrage. I can’t help but wonder how long Rhett has been holding on to that little gem. Sometimes life gives us these perfect moments for our one-liners. Life has finally granted Rhett that moment and he is completely enjoying it.
Lawless walks from behind Rhett, patting him on the shoulder and releasing us from being watched. He did his job well because we still have no idea what their anger is about. Marxx is leading Ross into the strip mall with blatant shoves. Every time he tries to turn around and protest, going the rest of the men file in behind them with laughing jests about his bravery. Lawless falls back from the group, waiting for us to catch up to him, signaling that it is now his turn to watch us. Did I mention how the day just keeps getting better and better?
We catch up to the men with our minds racing about what exactly is going on. Rhett has taken a too invested interest in us today with his flirting smiles. J.D. is actually trying to mend our many shattered fences. Now Lawless, to whom we have been invisible, walks with us through the area. He is wordless and on edge, but he is here. My tongue is pressing tight against my teeth to keep the many words that I want to say from flowing out. With how silent Aimes is, I imagine she has to bite hers. I know it is only a matter of time though before she gets her stick out again.
Lawless stays with us as the men go into the store to begin gathering the items on the list. He keeps his back to us, using himself as a shield for any threats that may occur. He must be seeing some small detail of this place differently than I am. Unless dust and litter are going to combine forces to take us out, I think we are rather safe. None the less, here we three stand in silent formation. Aimes has reached her breaking point though. Her glances and the faces she makes speak of her frustrations. I can only shrug, unsure of anything more to do.
The swooning days of Lawless have passed for us both. It should sadden me, but it doesn’t. I feel nothing at this moment as I stare at his back. A part of me knows that is a lie. I have a room shoved full of feelings for this man. I have just shut the door, keeping them locked safely away. A heart can only take so many scars before the soul turns the key.
He is doing his best to appear that he is not aware of us, but Aimes has found a new game to prove just how very aware he is. She will slide her foot to the far side of him, making his head come down to see behind him without having to actually turn to look at us. She can make a noise directly behind him and his shoulders will pull back as his head turns just enough to take notice. When we are walking, she can walk away from me leaving a larger space between us than normal. He will automatically adjust his pace to fall in that gap to keep us both in his sight, and as she pulls in, he will readjust his pace to allow her back beside me. She is proving that he will not ignore her and that she does not have to use words to make him aware of her. For me, it is all j
ust incredibly amusing to watch.
Standing outside the fourth store, Lawless finally grows tired with her game.
“Really?” He asks her when she is on her third round of “guess which side of you I made the noise” game.
“Really, what?” I can hear her stick sharpening. I wish I had popcorn.
“Give it a rest.” His voice holds none of the warmth from our past playful days.
“Or you’ll what? Go tell Daddy we are being naughty?” Her voice is dripping with her charm. “Gee Lawless, will you spank us, or just go back to pretending we aren’t alive while you sneak off with Leslie?”
She found the pointy end and his head tilts back and forth stretching his neck with the blow.
“It wasn’t like that.” His voice is flat, and fighting to stay neutral, keeping his back to us.
“Noooo, of course not. You’re just “friends”. Which explains exactly how she knows about that nice lower tattoo of yours. Or why Shelia saw her in your bed. Or why I caught the two of you creeping around last night. Ohhh Law. Ooohh Law. Don’t stop! Don’t stop! Best friends forever now or just until the sheets grow cold?” Aimes drags every truth of him forward, and now I am face to face with my lie. A lie that she has known all along to be just that.
My amusement fades as I feel my heart drop. My breath catches in my throat as I wait for his answer. The key begins to rattle in its lock. The door from behind which I have tried to keep my emotions for him vibrates my heart making it skip beats with the force. I held it all as just speculation up to this point. It might have been there, but without confirmation, I have been able to ignore the truth. Now as his head tilts back to stare up into the blue sky with her words, my heart breaks with every moment of his silence that passes.
The Risen (Book 1): Dawning Page 21