Chapter Nineteen
Einstein
Light filtering through the curtains woke him, and Einstein looked around the unfamiliar room groggily. The chirping of birds outside was muted, those worm-chasing early ones being considerate of the rest of the world. Nothing could compete with the soothing cadence of quiet breathing from beside him, and he turned his head to see Marian, still resting on his shoulder. She fit him as if she’d been made for him, every curve slotted against his shoulder and hip, her thigh thrown over his.
Unable to believe the reality of what he held in his hands, he stared at the beauty sleeping next to him—tousled hair a testament to their activities last evening.
After hunger had driven them from bed, once sated on that front, they’d tumbled back between the sheets, and the second round had been as unrushed as the first, savoring each other’s bodies.
She’d been determined to be a more active participant, and the concentrated expression as she’d touched him was so endearing he hadn’t held back in his reactions. Everything they did was as comfortable as if they’d been together forever, but the thrill of exploring and learning her, having the chance to teach her what he wanted…had been a pounding thought in his head.
His first time with her.
Her first lover ever.
Stroking a curled finger against the apple of her cheek, he was rewarded by a soft sigh and the armful of woman snuggling even closer.
This is my life. From here on out, it’s her.
The thought wasn’t unsettling at all. He pulled in a deep breath and, as he blew out the air, felt his shoulders and neck relaxing. From the first time he’d laid eyes on her, Marian’d had this effect on him. Through the years, they’d slipped into an easy ritual. Both early risers, they’d meet in the kitchen and share a quiet cup of coffee before tackling making breakfast for the household. And through the years, every time he’d rolled up to Bane’s house, his first thought was Marian. When he’d ridden away, if she were home, her waving hand would be the last thing in his mirror.
It really has been her all along.
The passage of time had helped, he knew. If he’d gone to Florida in the early days of his grieving, he’d have been locked away, unable to react to her. Even with the distance between the shattering past and watching her in the kitchen that first time, he hadn’t considered anything other than she was sweet and nice, and he didn’t hate getting to know her. The decision to remodel the house had followed the realization that if the home continued to echo with his and Lauren’s lives, he wouldn’t return. Of course, he had taken another full year to be comfortable with the idea of having his patch brothers cleaning out Lauren’s and Makayla’s closets, handling their belongings. Retro’s wife had stepped in at that point and had promised Einstein that everything would be handled respectfully. Somewhere in the attic were boxes of keepsakes she and the other old ladies had saved for him. And someday, with Marian’s help, he’d go through them.
Easy and gradual. Wasn’t that how river stones were worn down into interesting shapes, though? Through the constant exposure to whatever was passing them by? Life had buffeted him unmercifully, yet somewhere along the way, she’d become that sheltering curve where things didn’t pound at him so hard. Where the water calmed and went deep.
“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” Her voice was low and sleep-filled, startling in the quiet of the room.
“How you’re my still water, peace for my soul, baby. Made for me in so many ways, I can’t even begin to count them.” Throat tight, he blinked fast. “I fucking love you, Marian Threadgill.”
“Then it’s a good thing I love you right back, Jim Dancer.”
Chapter Twenty
Scar
Hissing through his teeth as the forceps of the black-market doc painfully dug into the hole in his shoulder, Scar kept his eyes fixed on the clock hanging high on the wall in front of him. Every minute that passed was a chance for one of the men who’d been inside that house to track him down, find him and bring him back for their brand of justice.
Tonight all his plans had gone to shit.
First Zipline had kidnapped Dancer’s woman. Fuckin’ kidnapped her, after everything Scar had told him not to goddamned well do.
And in doing so, he’d also drugged her. The stillness of the bitch’s body as Zipline had carried her into the house they’d commandeered had been terrifying. Caused Scar to flash back to another time, years in the past, when a miscalculation by a different associate had cost the lives of a woman and child.
He’d ripped Dancer’s old lady out of Zip’s arms, not believing the man’s protests until he’d heard with his own ears she was still breathing. Felt the slow cadence of her pulse through the skin of her neck.
And then, everything still went to hell.
Good thing he had ideas not yet tapped for how to climb back out of that hole. Ideas that didn’t depend on his old familial ties.
Or that old bastard Dolph.
When Dancer had moved to nomad status, it had seriously fucked with Scar’s plans of migrating to a decent club away from the East Coast. A man couldn’t make a case for an old friend if he wasn’t near the leadership to make those arguments on a regular basis.
Now Scar needed to shift plans and set his sights on a different person to leverage. He might not have a history with the man, but he’d never seen someone as well connected.
Scar just needed to figure out the individual vulnerabilities, take the time to map the opportunities across the multitude of clubs. Then he would fully engage with an eye towards his final goal.
It’d take time, but he had proven he could be patient when he needed to be.
And somewhere in the future, there’d be a point where he’d be able to leverage Gunny’s relationships to gain access to a vibrant, growing club, join them, move up the ranks. And then?
He’d take over.
Fini
THANK YOU FOR READING
Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raised in the south, Wall Street Journal & USA TODAY bestselling author MariaLisa learned about the magic of books at an early age. Every summer, she would spend hours in the local library, devouring books of every genre. Self-described as a book-a-holic, she says "I've always loved to read, but then I discovered writing, and found I adored that, too. For reading...if nothing else is available, I've been known to read the back of the cereal box."
Want sneak peeks into what she’s working on, or to chat with other readers about her books? Join the Facebook group! bit.ly/deMora-FB-group
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ADDITIONAL SERIES AND BOOKS
Please note that books in a series frequently feature characters from additional books within that series. If series books are read out of order, readers will twig to spoilers for the other books, so going back to read the skipped titles won’t have the same angsty reveals.
Rebel Wayfarers MC series
A motorcycle club can be a frightening place, filled with hardened men and bad attitudes. Rebel Wayfarers is a club with their own measure of hard and dangerous, led by their national president, Davis Mason. This book series follows members as they move through their lives, filled with anguish and heartache, laughter and love. In the club, each of them find a home and family they thought long lost to them.
Mica, #1
A Sweet & Merry Christmas, #1.5
Slate, #2
Bear, #3
Jase, #4
Gunny, #5
Mason, #6
Hoss, #7
Harddrive Holidays, #7.5
Duck, #8
Biker Chick Campout, #8.5
Watcher, #9
A Kiss to Keep You, #9.25
Gun Totin’ Annie, #9.5
Secret Santa, #9.75
Bones, #10
Gunny’s Pups,
#10.25
Not Even A Mouse, #10.75
Fury, #11
Christmas Doings, #11.25
Gypsy’s Lady includes Never Settle (#10.5), #11.5
Cassie, #12
Road Runner’s Ride, #12.5
Occupy Yourself band series
Stardom doesn’t happen overnight. Hell, it doesn’t even happen after a decade in the business, as the members of Occupy Yourself have found out. But, with the right talent and the right representation, they might still have a chance to make it big. As long as they can keep their lead singer sober, keep their drummer focused on the music, keep their guitarist out of trouble … well, you get the idea. Come and join us, stand side stage for a close-up view of the backstage happenings in a rock-and-roll band. It’s guaranteed to be a show you won’t ever forget.
Born Into Trouble, #1
Grace In Motion, #2 (TBD)
What They Say, #3 (TBD)
Neither This, Nor That MC series
Legends are born from moments like these. Folktales spun around a single point in time so perfect, you can almost hear the click resonating through the universe as things align. Meet Twisted, Po’Boy, Retro, and Ragman, good old boys from southern states who have many things in common. First, is a bone-deep love of the biker lifestyle. Second, would be their love of the brotherhood, and knowing that you trust the man at your back. Finally, these men have the love of a good woman. None of these come without a price, and it is our pleasure to journey along with them as they discover the blessings that can be won, and lost along the way.
This Is the Route Of Twisted Pain, #1
Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad, #2
Shelter My Heart, #3
Trapped by Fate on Reckless Roads, #4
Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends, #5
Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway, #6
Rebel Wayfarers crossover stories
Enjoy these stories that tie the different worlds of my MC universe together, bringing Rebel Wayfarers MC and clubs like Neither This Nor That and other series into glorious alignment.
Going Down Easy
No Man’s Land
In Search of Solace
Mayhan Bucklers MC series
The Mayhan Bucklers MC has been part of the rolling hills of Northeast Texas for decades. Now, new life is being breathed into this reborn club, a legacy resurrected by grandsons of the founder. The MBMC is set to surpass its original glory, fortified with an honorable purpose: Helping wounded warriors reintegrate back into society, gifting those who’ve given so much with a safe place to land.
Learning how to navigate life while war still echoes inside you isn’t easy, but with solid brothers at your back, anything is possible.
Most Rikki-Tik, #1
Mad Minute, #2
Pucker Factor, #3
Boocoo Dinky Dau, #4
Borderline Freaks MC series
When you can’t count on anyone else to save you, there’s only one real choice. Borderline Freaks MC is a series of books about the men of the club and their brotherhood — and of course the love they have for their women. Take a trip along with Monk, Blade, Wolf, and Neptune, and feel for yourself the connection these men have for each other.
Service and Sacrifice, #1
More Than Enough, #2
Lack of In-between, #3
See You in Valhalla, #4
Alace Sweets series
Dark romantic thrillers, these books are not light reads. Filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense, these intense stories command the reader’s attention as they drive towards their explosive endings. Alace Sweets is a vigilante serial killer, with everything that implies and is sure to trip all your triggers. Be ready.
Alace Sweets, #1
Seeking Worthy Pursuits, #2
Embarrassment of Monsters, #3
All the Broken Rules, #4 (TBD)
With My Whole Heart series
Sweet as pie and twice as delicious, these romantic love stories are a guaranteed happily-ever-after read.
With My Whole Heart, #1
Bet On Us, #2
If You Could Change One Thing:
Tangled Fates Stories
When threads in the tapestry of life are cut short, inexorably changing the future for those you love, would you be willing to tempt fate to set things right?
There Are Limits, #1
Rules Are Rules, #2
The Gray Zone, #3
Other Books:
Hard Focus
Dirty Bitches MC: Season 3
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deMora’s Rebel Wayfarers MC and the Neither This Nor That MC series do cross over, along with the Occupy Yourself band books, so readers have a couple of choices. The series can be read independently beginning with RWMC, OYBS, and then NTNT without too many spoilers. There’s also a crossover between deMora’s RWMC world and Lila Rose’s Hawks MC world. Or they can be read intertwined—in chronological order.
Here’s the recommended reading order if you want to follow according to timing:
Mica, RWMC #1
A Sweet & Merry Christmas, RWMC #1.5
Slate, RWMC #2
Bear, RWMC #3
Born Into Trouble, OYBS #1
Jase, RWMC #4
Gunny, RWMC #5
Mason, RWMC #6
Hoss, RWMC #7
This Is the Route of Twisted Pain, NTNT #1
Harddrive Holidays, RWMC #7.5
Duck, RWMC #8
Biker Chick Campout, RWMC #8.5
Watcher, RWMC #9
Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad, NTNT #2
Living Without, Lila Rose’s Hawks MC: Caroline Springs #4
Shelter My Heart, NTNT #3
A Kiss to Keep You, RWMC #9.25
Gun Totin’ Annie, RWMC #9.5
Secret Santa, RWMC #9.75
Trapped by Fate on Reckless Roads, NTNT #4
Bones, RWMC #10
Gunny’s Pups, RWMC #10.25
Not Even A Mouse, RWMC #10.75
Road Runner’s Ride, RWMC #12.5
Never Settle, RWMC #10.5
Fury, RWMC #11
Christmas Doings, RWMC #11.25
Gypsy’s Lady, RWMC #11.5
Tarnished Lies and Dead Ends, NTNT #5
Going Down Easy
No Man’s Land
In Search of Solace
Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway, NTNT #6
Cassie, RWMC #12
More information available at mldemora.com.
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