2014 – Santana
I pack as many things as I can, without taking too much. I have all the essentials—clothes, shoes, toiletries, and all my creams and makeup. I stuff it all into one big suitcase and drag it down the stairs. My heart hurts, even though I know it’s not forever. The idea of being without this house frightens me.
The idea of being without Maddox frightens me more.
“You ready?” Mack asks, dropping a smoke and crushing it out with his boot.
I stare at him, then his SUV, and nod. He takes my suitcase, and tells me to stay at the door until he’s got it in, and he’s sure we’re not being watched. Then he shrugs his jacket off and then his bandana and puts both on me. He tucks my hair down behind the jacket and tightens the bandana over my head. Then he slinks his arm over me and walks out.
It’s not really a disguise as such, more a precaution. When I’m in the car, with its dark tinting, I hand the items back. He checks around, and then points to the floor. “Down you go.”
“Seriously?” I gape.
“Seriously, now.”
I growl, and drop onto the space on the floor. I tuck my knees up to my chest and glare at nothing in particular. Mack pulls out, and the rumble of the car radiates through my bottom. “How will you know if someone is following you?”
“There ain’t a single person behind me now. If someone comes in the next twenty miles, I’ll drive around in random places to see if they follow, but the fact that no one has popped up already tells me they’re probably not there.”
“Maddox has had watches all night; they probably know that.”
“Won’t stop them. I’d say they’re regrouping.”
Great.
“How far is your new place?”
“About half an hour.”
“And you haven’t moved in yet?”
“Nope.”
“Where will we sleep?”
He smirks. “Side by side in the cubby house out the back.”
“Ha ha. Maybe you can build us a fire, too. Eh, Chief?”
“Smart ass,” he grunts.
“You started it.”
He snorts. “I’ve ordered some new stuff that will come in this afternoon.”
“I’m sorry you have to do this for me.”
He shrugs. “I was doin’ all this anyway, chante. You’re just makin’ it more fun.”
I know he’s just saying that, and it makes me feel worse. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, staring down at the screen.
“You’ll need a new one of those. I’ve got one coming.”
I frown, but don’t answer. Instead I stare at the message. It’s from Alec.
A – Hi beautiful, how are you?
I hesitate, just staring at the screen. He’s good for me, he really is. I shouldn’t push him away because I’m confused about Maddox. Right? I reply.
S – I’m okay. How are you?
A – I’ll be good when I can see you again. When will that be?
S – It might not b for a few days, but hopefully soon.
A – Thursday night? Did you still want to talk to my sister about that job?
I sigh, knowing that’s not going to happen right now. Damned biker life.
S – I can’t, sorry. I’ll explain in person. I have to get a new number, I’ll call you tonight.
A – So I can’t see you before then?
Wow, he’s being kind of pushy.
S – Sorry, things are bad.
A – Right. I’ll talk to u later then.
I sigh and go to shove the phone into my pocket, but stop and decide to text Maddox. It’s probably not the best decision, but I feel bad about how he left.
S – I just wanted you 2 know I’m safe.
M – Wonderful.
Really? I can almost hear the sarcasm in that message. Men. I put the phone away. I don’t want to respond when it’ll only be nasty. Besides, Maddox hates texting, and he only does it when he’s too lazy to make a phone call. He’s clearly angry at me, which is fine. I’ll leave it for now.
I sit in silence until Mack pulls up. I look over to him, and he’s glancing around, double checking we’re not being followed. Then he opens the garage and drives in. He shuts the car off and turns to me. “Stay here.”
He gets out and I hear him shuffling about, a door slamming, and then a moment later he’s back. “We’re good, you can get out.”
I shove the door open and leave the car, stretching my legs with a groan. We’re in a dark garage, but I can see light through the open door at the front right of the room. I walk towards it after Mack, and we step straight into a really nice place. It’s super gorgeous and modern.
It’s got grey tiles and white walls. The kitchen is the first thing I see, and it’s massive, with granite countertops and shiny white laminate. The rest of the apartment is all walls and floors, because it has no furniture. The living area seems to have loads of space, and then it narrows off to a hallway that holds all the bedrooms, bathrooms and a laundry. I walk down the halls, checking it all out.
“This is really nice,” I say to Mack, staring around.
He nods. “Yeah, it’ll do. You can have the room on the right.”
He points to a closed door, and I rush over, opening it. The room is large, and it faces the backyard where no one can sneak in because there are blocks of apartments restricting access. Smart man. I can see quite well out of the large, double windows. I smile, and turn back to Mack. “Thank you, it’s lovely.”
He nods. “The furniture will be here soon, so until then we’ll just wait.”
I follow him out, checking out the new bathroom and laundry as we walk. We both stop in the empty kitchen and stare at each other. Well, this isn’t awkward at all. I walk over to the window that faces the front yard, but Mack grunts at me to get away from it. With a sigh, I find a spot on the cool floor, and pull out my phone to read while I wait.
The furniture arrives two hours later, and I stand back while Mack lets them through, ordering them about. He’s gotten some really nice stuff. There is everything from lounge chairs to full kitchen appliances. This must have cost him a lot. I begin pulling plastic off and unpacking appliances while Maddox sets the beds up in the rooms.
We work well into the night, until we finally have the lounge and dining room set up, the kitchen appliances and necessities out, and the bedrooms all ready to sleep in. I make us both some coffee after the groceries are delivered, while Mack showers. He comes out in only a pair of jeans, and I have to keep my eyes trained on the coffee cups to keep myself from looking.
Mack is a stunning man, in clothes and out. I wouldn’t be a red-blooded woman if I didn’t think that he was extremely gorgeous. I turn, keeping my eyes on his face, trying to avoid staring at his well-built body, with his smooth clean skin. I’m a fan of tattoos, but there’s something so beautiful about Mack’s bare, muscled body that’s completely ink free.
“You hungry?” he asks, taking the cup out of my hand.
“Sure. Did you want me to make something?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, tonight we’ll order in.”
“I don’t mind.”
He grins. “I know. I’ve got it.”
He dials for a pizza and we both flop down onto the couch with a sigh while we wait. It’s a nice, leather couch. Super comfortable and squishy.
“This is a good couch,” I say.
He snorts. “You uncomfortable bein’ here?”
I sigh. “Yes.”
“Don’t be. It ain’t forever, and I’ll hardly ever be here. Don’t be scared to make yourself at home.”
I nod, sipping my coffee. “So, Chief, tell me what’s been happening on all your travels as a nomad?”
He snorts. “Nothin’ much. Same old shit that happens here. Club life, pussy and a whole lot of drinkin’.”
I roll my eyes. “Any pussy worth talking about?”
I expect him to laugh, but his face hardens and he barks, “no,” before standing and stalking into the kitchen.
Okay, then.
This will be fun.