“Trust me, babe.”
As if.
The collection from the Mexicans had gone ahead. The weapons were now in Devil’s Barbarians’ hands. She’d overheard Rigor and Teddy talking about an issue with removing the serial numbers. So she knew Wyatt was back in the country, breathing, strutting around in that cocky fucking way of his.
Prick.
“Hey, we’re here, so a smile wouldn’t hurt.” Teddy took her helmet from her.
“What’s there to smile about?” She frowned at the Sleepwell sign. The light in theWhad broken.
“Marie’ll be here tomorrow. Then you’ll have your girl to hang out with.”
“Yeah, I know.” She half shrugged. Truth was, ithadpissed her off that Marie wasn’t arriving until the next day.
Teddy stiffened, and a frown crossed his brow. “He didn’t call, did he?”
“I dunno who you’re talking about.” She clenched her jaw. Teddy would blow up if he knew how upset she was about Wyatt’s lack of contact. Only Marie really knew the extent of the hurt. But maybe Teddy’s anger wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Maybe Wyatt needed to learn when he said he’d call … he had to call.
“That Californian asshole who took you to the beach without a helmet. That’s who I’m talking about.” Teddy glanced around, the sunlight glinting off his shades. “I knew he was no good the minute I saw him looking at you. You need someone nice … a doctor, a vet, someone who isn’t in our world.”
“It’s the only world I know, remember.” She placed her hands on her hips and jutted them to the right. Her breasts wobbled in her tiny pink top. “As if a doctor or vet would ever date me.”
“Belle.” Teddy pinched her chin and lowered his face to hers. “You are beautiful inside and out, and anyone with a brain can see that. And from what I hear, doctors and vets have brains.”
She stared at her reflection in his shades—heavily kohled eyes, ruby-red lips, hair that was still fluffed around her face despite the helmet. “You’re always so sweet to me.”
“I promised your pa I’d look out for you, and I will.” He paused. “Not that Rigor can’t. He just gets busy with club business. Hard for him to keep track of the jerks that want into his little sister’s panties, ya know?”
“I appreciate you looking out for me.” She squeezed his thick, inked forearm. “Really, I do.”
Even if it is a bit much sometimes.
He smiled. “I need a drink. My mouth’s as dry as the damn desert.”
“Me too. Which bar we hitting?”
“The nearest one.” He laughed. “Champs.”
“I’ll see you there.”
After checking in at the motel and heading into her room—two double beds covered in red-checked blankets, a creaky AC, and a long table scarred with beer bottle rings—Belle took a quick shower to wash away the dirt of the road. She then put on neon-blue heels and a curve-hugging black dress and wandered to the end of the block with her small purse strap looped over her shoulder.
The curb was lined with sleeping bikes, their shadows long in the evening sun. They’d all been polished and smartened for the rally. She admired several models that were her father’s favorite.
I wish he was here.
When she arrived at Champs, a group of bikers had spilled outside with their bottles of beer. Inside, it was loud and busy. Music blared—some heavy metal band—and a fog of smoke hung like an ominous cloud.
She spotted Teddy with Rigor and two other members of the Phoenix chapter but bypassed them to the bar. She, too, was thirsty.
As she walked through the thick, leather-clad crowd, she scanned the faces, her brain searching for Wyatt even though she’d sworn she wouldn’t.
Damn him.
“Hey, darlin’.” A tall slim biker she didn’t recognize leered at her.
She ignored him, squeezed between a table and a woman about her age chatting on a phone, and reached the bar. She rested her elbow on it, but only for a second because it was sticky.