“Rip? That guy! Pfft. You had a choice, you could have gone to the cops. You should have,” I pointed out. Her confession about being with Rip made me jealous. I wanted to pummel the guy into the ground. That’s when it hit me that I was falling in love with Mia. I didn’t want to be, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. I would have to flush her out of my system somehow, someway.
That’s when the fury came to life in her eyes. “Why the hell are you judging me! You of all people, and Rebel Saints haven’t always been saints so shut up, Numbers.” Her voice was trembling with anger with her body shaking.
Her animated anger was another thing that sent me into a testosterone overdrive. “Maybe so, but this is different. You don’t get to back out so easily. You saw that guy overdose in the club. You saw what happened! After I offered to take care of your mother as well. I trusted you, Mia. You broke my trust!” I brought my hand down on the table. I felt every fiber in my body clench up, I was angry at myself and angry at her. I knew I was letting my pride get in the way. My eyes were wide as she jumped.
She flinched hard as she looked away, shaking her head. “I made the choice. You’re right. I’m sorry. I messed up big time. I know I did and I haven’t spent a dime of their money.” She then turned her head back to meet my eyes.
This news made me sit up and listen a little harder to her. I looked into her watery eyes. I didn’t know how to resolve the situation. I still had fire burning in my soul. “You haven’t spent the money? Why?” I asked as I gulped down the hard lump in my throat.
“Because the money is dirty, and I get it now. I plan on turning it over to the cops.”
This shocked me, I could feel my heart hammering. There was more to the story after all. She wasn’t disloyal at all. She was loyal to her mother, and the girls at the Sweet Spot.
Me ? that part I wasn’t convinced of. I was keeping her at arm’s length until I was sure.
“Doc asked me about a hypothetical, a couple of days before the guy overdosed in the bathroom. He wanted to know what type of charges and problems that would cause for a motorcycle club. The way he worded it was as if it was the Devil Riders who were having problems, but it wasn’t and he walked me into a trap. It was a set-up for you guys. I didn’t realize that at the time. I’m so sorry,” she said quietly.
Silence. I rubbed my finger over my chin several times. “What a mess.”
“I know.” She looked down at her hands and her hair dropped in her lap. “There’s more. Doc has plans. He wanted me to become a mole for him so he could find out your plans. It’s what you thought I was. He is trying to sabotage your club. I wanted to come and tell you that part so you know. I won’t do it, he offered to pay me another lump sum.”
“Well, that’s it isn’t it? You can’t be our legal counsel, that’s for sure. Too much trust has been destroyed,” I added as I processed everything. “Is that all you came to tell me?” I said coldly.
“That’s all,” she indicated as she looked for something more.
Well, I wasn’t willing to give her anything at this stage. “I got some things to do right now, so I’ll see you out the door.” I was a little firm, but there were too many times where she had an opportunity to open up and tell me the truth. I had no intention of sitting around and chatting with her even though I wanted to comfort her.
She scooped up her belongings, and we both walked down the stairs. She went first.
I enjoyed watching her hips sway as she moved down the stairs with grace and her brown hair floating from one side to the other with her movements. I checked around to see if Bones was around.
He stood near the front of the building, talking to one of the local business owners that ran the pizza shop down the next block.
I walked into the sunlight.
Mia hesitated and looked up at me making a sun visor with her hands.
My eyes ran the length of her as a memory flashed of her naked body underneath me and her moaning. I let the memory fade. Her standing here was making it unbearable for me.
“For what it’s worth,” she spoke quietly. “I never meant to hurt or betray your trust. I’ve had the best time with you. I really have, Numbers. I cherish the time we spent together and I meant every word I just told you. Have a great day.” The scratchiness in her voice evident.
I knew the apology was genuine. “I had a good time with you too, Mia. I’m glad you had the courage to come and tell me. I’ll see you around. Take care of yourself and your mother.”
“I will.”
A black motorcycle that resembled a Ducati came flying around the corner, making me frown for a second. I knew most of the bikers in the area. That’s the business we were in. This wasn’t one I knew of. I looked further up the path to where Bones was laughing with the pizza guy, but he saw the bike too.
He glanced back at me. “You see that?” Bones called out.
Mia opened her car door and got in.
“Yep, I saw it,” I called back.
Mia reversed out of her parking space giving me a reluctant wave.
I waved back, holding my hand up.
So long and goodbye. I wanted to trust her again. I did, but it would take time and I didn’t even know if we would get it back again.