Demented Sons Series Volume One: Books 1-4 (Demented Sons MC Iowa) Page 10
Even though neither of us had actually said we were boyfriend and girlfriend, it seemed he had decided I was his exclusive property or something.
When I hollered for Remi to come up to the table, she came running to the kitchen, standing by the sink for me to lift her up to wash her hands. She played in the bubbles as I soaped up her hands and rinsed them clean.
After several failed attempts at climbing up in her chair, I helped her up into the booster and then grabbed another plate, adding it to the two I already had on the counter.
Michael grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat at the table, teasing Remi. The way he made himself at home made me grit my teeth as I dished up the plates.
After we’d finished eating, I took Remi in for her bath without saying a word to Michael.
Preoccupied, I was trying to think of how I was going to break things off with him. It was getting too weird. My thoughts continued to circle as I bathed Remi.
Once she was rinsed clean, I drained the tub, pulling her out and wrapping a fluffy towel around to dry her. As I fluffed her hair, she pushed the towel off her face, hollering, “Mommy! Me no see!” with a frown on her face and bottom lip protruding.
Gently flipping her lower lip with my finger, I grinned. “Don’t pout like that or a chicken will poop on your lip.” That made her giggle.
“Mommy! You say poop!” Remi continued giggling as I dressed her in her jammies.
Our bedtime routine was complete with a story, tucking my bugga-boo in, and kissing her precious dimples. Taking a deep breath as I left her room, I quietly closed her door.
Like I was heading to the gallows, I slowly walked out to the living room, shuffling my feet on the wood floor.
Michael was flipping through the channels while he sat on my sofa. He didn’t even look at me as he said, “You really need cable. There’s nothing to watch.”
In disbelief, I stood there and stared at him. “Michael, I think we need to talk.” Gathering my courage, I sat on the edge of the couch and folded my hands in my lap. Still not sure exactly what to say to him, I pressed my lips together and bit my lower lip. When I glanced up, he was looking at me in question with his brows raised.
“About?”
“About us.”
“What about us?” he asked slowly as he muted the TV and turned to face me on the couch.
“Well, we’ve never really discussed our relationship, and it just seems like things have evolved a little further in your mind than mine. I was thinking that maybe we needed to take a break from each other to think about what this is”—I motioned back and forth between us—“and where it’s going.” Sweat broke out on my upper lip after I blurted out my thoughts.
His jaw clenched. “What the hell are you saying? Is this about that guy Reggie? Are you trying to ditch me so you can hook up with him instead? You sure haven’t had a problem holding out on me, but maybe you’ve been getting it from him, so you haven’t needed it from me.”
“What? What in the heck are you even talking about?” I asked in shock.
Fury filled him as he stood and threw the TV remote against the brick wall, shattering it. Then he turned to me. He stepped closer, pointing his finger in my face and yelling as I leaned back against the couch to get him out of my space.
“I’m tired of you acting like the born-again virgin with me while you laugh and flirt and act like a slut with those guys you work with! You think I haven’t seen it? You have Remi, so I know you aren’t a damn virgin! I’ve been patient with you. I’ve been a gentleman!” His eyes took on a demented look, and spittle gathered at the corners of his mouth.
A gasp escaped me when he reached down and grabbed my upper arms in a brutal hold. Viciously, he jerked me off the couch and shook me. I was terrified he was going to hurt me or, worse, wake Remi. My heart was racing, and my entire body shook. Nausea welled in my stomach.
“Michael, you need to leave,” I said in a tone much more confident than I felt at that moment.
He let go of me, raising his hand like he was going to hit me. I fought from flinching because there was no way I would let him see how he had affected me. Instead of following through, he clenched the hand in a fist. After a few deep breaths, he seemed to pull himself together, with the exception of his flared nostrils.
“We’ll talk about this tomorrow night. You’re obviously tired and not thinking right. You need to go to bed. I’ll come by tomorrow when I get home. I’m sure you’ll be thinking with a clearer head by then, Steph.” He turned without another word and left my apartment. After I heard the door close on his apartment down the hall, I raced to lock my safety hasp and the deadbolt.
Jesus, I needed to get away for a while. I leaned against the door, racking my brain for what to do.
Though I didn’t want to have to miss work, I was going home. Mom had been bugging me to come home anyway.
Mentally, I made a list.
I’d call in sick the next day. I’d also call the management office in the morning to get my apartment rekeyed while I was gone.
Shaking, a nervous thought came to me, and I raced over to the glass dish on my breakfast bar. The spare key I’d kept in there was gone.
He’d gone through my things. As I replaced the glass lid with shaking hands, causing the glass to rattle, I felt violated and sick.
With new determination, I quietly snuck into Remi’s room, opened the closet, and took my suitcase down.
Remi wiggled and rolled over in her sleep. I stood still until I heard her even breaths again. Moving quickly but quietly, I pulled open drawers and shoved Remi’s clothes in, then moved to the closet and did the same with mine.
Dragging the suitcase to the bathroom, I packed toiletries into the pockets until there was no more room. At the time, I didn’t care if I’d forgotten a damn thing.
When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I saw a pale, frightened little girl staring back at me. Noticing the bruises already forming on my arms, I began to cry as I leaned over the sink.
What the hell just happened to my happily ordered life?
I washed my face with new resolve. A brief glance at my watch showed it was almost 9:00 p.m. If I left immediately, I could make it home by about midnight. Hell, I wouldn’t sleep anyway. Remi would sleep in the car, I prayed.
I’d call my mom after I got on the road to tell her we were on our way. Later I would think of something to tell her about what happened to bring me home in the middle of the night.
“HEY, MOM!” I TRIED to sound bright and cheery.
“Stephie! What are you doing up so late?”
“Remi and I are coming for a visit.”
“Is everything okay?” Mom had an innate ability to hone in on her children’s feelings.
“Of course! Well, actually I was feeling a little homesick,” I admitted.
“Goodness, you’re going to get here in the wee hours of the morning! I’ll wait up though. I won’t be able to sleep until I know you’re here safe.”
“We’re actually only about an hour away, but you can leave the light on. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“No way. I want to see my grandbaby! Well, I want to see you too.” She laughed.
We chatted a few minutes before I ended the call to concentrate on the road. It was dark, and the highways were mostly deserted that time of night. Remi was asleep in her car seat, but I snuck glimpses of her in the rearview mirror.
I was about forty miles from Grantsville; then it was another three miles past town to the turnoff for my parents’ farm.
The drive had been long, and I was getting kind of sleepy. All it took was the roar of a bike going the opposite direction and I was alert again.
The bike’s passing made my thoughts drift to Colton.
Dammit! There he was, sneaking into my head again. Shit. Maybe I needed to see a counselor. After more than three years, it had to be an unhealthy obsession. On the other hand, I did share a child with the man, whether he knew it or not.
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br /> Finally, I saw the lights of G’ville come into view. The restaurants and stores were all closed that time of night, but the nostalgia came flooding back.
I’d never forget stopping at the Dairy Queen when my dad would pick me up after school on Fridays. That was the one day he wouldn’t make me ride the bus. There was the library and the downtown square where the Corn Festival was held every fall. The Catholic church at one end of town and the Lutheran church at the other.
My whole life, I’d sworn I’d run as fast and as far from there as I could. I hated to admit I missed the small town.
Before I knew it, I was slowing down at the large oak set back a bit at the top of a small rise in the road. Exhausted, I turned into the packed gravel driveway and parked under the carport I’d helped my dad build years ago. Like a sentry, it sat off the side of the old square two-story farmhouse.
Cutting the ignition, I sat listening to Remi’s soft breathing and the utter quiet. The stars seemed so bright and more abundant than in the glaring lights of downtown Des Moines.
The floodlights came on at the corner of the house, and my mom rushed out onto the front porch in her bathrobe. She rushed down the stairs and over to me as I opened my door and got out. She hugged me and then leaned back, holding my shoulders.
“Let me look at you, my baby girl! Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you? And where is that beautiful granddaughter of mine?” She looked in the windows for Remi, who woke with her eyes popping wide and her mouth open in surprise.
“There she is!” My mother squealed like a teenager and quickly opened the back door, unbuckling Remi and scooping her out of her seat in one smooth motion. Remi’s squeals mirrored my mother’s as she returned my mom’s hugs and clapped her hands in excitement.
So much for her going back to sleep. Thanks, Mom.
“Come on inside. I’ll have your brother come out and get your bag. He stayed here waiting for you to arrive, but I think he dozed off watching TV.” She bustled up the steps, chattering away with Remi.
My younger brother, Sean, stood in the doorway with a big smile. A good head taller than me, he was the spitting image of our father with his dark brown, close-cropped hair, hazel eyes, and ready smile.
“No, I’m not sleeping, Mother, but I figured I’d give you your moment with Steph and Remi.” He kissed Remi as my mother reached the doorway, then snatched her from Mom. “Come see Uncle Sean. You probably don’t even remember me since your momma is so stingy with you.” He winked at me, causing me to grin, and then Remi started babbling a hundred miles a minute. Patiently, he listened to her while nodding, then responded with “Oh really” before giving her back to her grandma. Then he jumped down the stairs two at a time to grab the suitcase from the back of my SUV.
“I’ll go put it in your old room. Mom has it waiting for you. Dad’s sleeping since he needs to get up early in the morning, but he said he loves you and he’ll see you tomorrow.” Sean gave me a big hug and then headed up the stairs with my suitcase.
I glanced into the living room and saw it looked exactly as it did when I left the last time. Cozy and spotless.
Even when we were kids, my mom was a meticulous housekeeper, despite us sabotaging her efforts at every turn. Shaking my head, I followed my mom’s voice into the kitchen, where she had Remi sitting at the table. Mom had her set up with homemade banana bread and milk.
“Mother! You’re spoiling her already. She needs to get back to bed.” I rolled my eyes as my mother had the nerve to look falsely contrite. I laughed before kissing her cheek. “I’m going to run up and get ready for bed while you spoil your granddaughter.”
She chuckled. “I’ll bring her up shortly.”
My feet dragged as I tiredly trudged up the stairs and into the third room on the left. It was much as I had left it when I went to college, except Mom had taken down all my posters and replaced with some of her amazing cross-stitch that Dad had framed, and the walls were now a soft yellow instead of the pale pink of my youth.
A white double bed still had the quilt on it I’d made with my grandma the summer after eighth grade. The squares were a little crooked, but every single one had been made from her old clothes. They were lovingly sewed by me with my grandmother’s guidance.
My suitcase was resting in the corner. I shuffled to it and pulled out some sweats and a tee to sleep in. After I changed, I looked around once more.
It hit me that I shouldn’t have stayed away so long. It was good to be home, but I couldn’t escape the irony that I’d run to the same place I’d run from.
“YOU’VE GOT TO BE kidding me,” I whispered. Frustration grew as I was waiting in line at the Fareway grocery store because there was only one cashier. Dang it, I knew I should’ve gone to Hy-Vee.
Another thing I should’ve done was grabbed a dang cart. But I didn’t expect to get so much.
I didn’t really feel up to going out, but my older brother, Samuel, had stopped by and asked if Sean and I wanted to join him down at the little town bar, the Oasis. It was Mama Jean’s birthday party tonight, and everyone showed up there at the end of July for her big birthday bash.
Hell, my parents would’ve gone if they weren’t watching Remi.
The city allowed them to close off the town square so they could bring in a band. There would be dancing in the street in front of the bar until early morning. Mama Jean was like a fixture here, and she and Pops were loved by everyone, despite Pops’s big bad biker presence. Everyone knew he was a teddy bear at heart.
Speaking of bikers, at least I had a nice view while waiting in line.
Surreptitiously, I stared at the very nice butt of one of Pops and Mama Jean’s “boys,” as she fondly called them.
The MC had been in the area for as long as I could remember. Pretty sure everyone knew they were into some shady shit, but they never bothered anyone in town, and they kept the riffraff to a minimum in G’ville.
They were also huge supporters of the Adolescent Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Center that had been built on the north edge of town my freshman year of college. They ran a big annual fundraiser every fall to raise money for it. In fact, they were one of the biggest contributors to its development and subsequent construction. Their president’s baby brother overdosed when we were in high school, and it was a huge scandal back when it happened.
The sexy biker in front of me seemed a little more patient than I was. I couldn’t get a good look at his face, because he had his head tipped down as he messed with his phone while waiting to pay for his Gatorade and an energy bar.
Though it was a little embarrassing, I couldn’t help that I was leaning slightly toward him to inhale his sexy-smelling cologne, along with the leather of his vest and a faint smell of oil or maybe engine grease.
Don’t get me started about how bad I desperately wanted to touch his midnight hair. Maybe feel the rasp of his short beard. And Lord have mercy, I would’ve loved to have “accidentally” bumped that butt to see if it was as firm as it looked.
When I realized what I was doing, my face flushed scarlet, and I looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Thankfully, the young girl behind me was too busy popping her gum and reading one of the gossip magazines by the checkouts.
Sheesh! The last thing I needed to do was go sniffing after some sexy biker. Besides, a guy on a bike was my downfall once.
I needed to get a grip. I was a mom, for God’s sake. But it was so hard to behave myself at that moment.
We moved up in line, and he reached in his pocket with a sculpted, tattooed arm. As I tried to get my racing heart under control, I attempted to distract myself by reading the cover of a magazine. To hide my flaming cheeks and ears, I dipped my head so my hair fell over my face.
“Excuse me, ma’am? Are you ready to check out?” the cashier said in a sarcastic tone. Little high school brat. She’d gotten ticked because the sexy biker ignored all her childish attempts at flirting with him as he wordlessly paid for his items.
Mmm, straight-up sexy. Moms weren’t dead; we just had responsibilities. Look but don’t touch.
“As if,” the cashier said, interrupting my thoughts.
“What was that?” I asked, wondering what she was talking about.
“I said have a nice day.” The little shit sneered with a fake smile.
With narrowed eyes, I grabbed my receipt from the snotty cashier and gathered my bags, trying to hold the Pull-ups under my chin on top of the bags I had over my arm. She could’ve called for a carry-out for me.
Little wench.
Going out the door, I saw two bikes sitting off to the left. Mr. Sexy was pacing down the walkway in front of the store with his phone pressed to his ear. There was a guy sitting on one of the bikes, and right as I passed, the Pull-ups fell from under my chin.
Great. Crouching down, I tried to pick them up, but I was having a hard time with the other bags around my arms. A set of tattooed arms grabbed the Pull-ups, and I looked up into a familiar face.
“Erik!” I said with a smile when I realized it was one Sam’s buddies from high school. I hadn’t seen him in years. He was still handsome as ever with those beautiful blue-green eyes and dark, messy hair
“Well, well, little Stephie! All grown up. Where the heck have you been hiding, girl?” He gave me a one-armed hug as we stood. “Let me help you get these to your car, babe. Where you parked?”
“Over there.” I gestured over to my dad’s farm truck that I had taken to town, and we walked over to put the bags in the back.
He looked at the Pull-ups and realized what he was holding. “Oh! Dang! Grown and a mom, huh? Shit, some guy is a lucky dog.” He laughed. I didn’t bother correcting him that there was no “lucky” guy. “Don’t tell Sam I said that. He’d probably still kick my ass. He’s always been protective of you, you know. All the guys on the team were threatened with broken legs if we so much as spoke to you. I doubt that’s changed.” He laughed again as he dropped the package over the side of the truck.