Chapter Nine
One week later
Lola was finishing up the programing for a client who had found some problems in setting up his business. She spoke to him on the phone, at the same time she was connected to his computer, and was talking him through everything as well as fixing problems he’d created. It had been a week since she had last seen or even heard from Sinner. Her phone calls and text messages went unanswered, and she didn’t want to worry.
So, she’d gotten in touch with Devil, and asked for him to get in touch with Sinner. It would seem that Devil also couldn’t get in touch with him either.
Working was helping her try not to get distracted. At least, for the past week that was what she kept telling herself.
“Thank you so much, Miss Sparks. I appreciate all the help. Honestly, you’re amazing.”
“Just doing my job, sir. Do you need anything else for today?”
“No. I’m good.”
“Have a nice day.” She hung up the line, and immediately there was another call. She saw it was a little after two. Hunger, and the need for a break stopped her from answering another call. There were over thirty cubicles filled with experts like her.
How Whizz made her feel special was beyond her. She had to wonder if all of them were hackers, or just expert in reading computer code.
Her lunch was stored in her filing cabinet. She took it out, grabbed her jacket, and made her way down toward the cafeteria seating area. She took her lunch outside. The weather was cold but manageable. She stared up at the sky. There were blue skies, gray clouds, and just a feeling that it would be raining by the end of the day.
She chewed her sandwich watching the sky, all the time wondering about Sinner. He had sneaked out of her apartment.
The moment he moved away from her, she had woken up, and she had lain there, pretending not to hear him.
She closed her eyes, eating, not really tasting anything.
“You’re deep in thought,” Sarah said, disrupting her peace.
“I’m just thinking. It’s nothing.”
Sarah took a cigarette and lit it. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Yeah, but what is the fucking point in telling you? You lit up anyway.
“It’s fine.” She finished her sandwich, and stared inside at the non-smoking zone. It was strange. Sinner was a smoker, not a heavy one, but she didn’t find it offensive to be around him. Maybe it was just Sarah’s complete lack of care. Why ask if someone minds after lighting up?
“I’m going to head in.” She didn’t wait to hear Sarah’s response.
Entering the cafeteria, she went and bought herself a coffee, and took a seat in the corner.
Sipping at the hot liquid, she wondered about Sinner.
Putting her cell phone on top of the table, she texted Devil once again.
Lola: Any news?
Devil: Stop worrying so much. I’m in contact with him. Sinner’s battery died. He told me to tell you he’ll be in touch.
Sinner’s battery had died. Why not text from someone else’s phone? She didn’t say anything, and instead, went back to drinking her coffee.
“Hey, so I’ve got a question for you,” Sarah said, taking a seat at the table opposite her.
“What kind of question?” Lola sipped at the hot liquid, really not caring about Sarah or her question.
There were loads of ways of getting in touch. Why didn’t Sinner contact the club and then get them to tell her? She had been so worried about him, and he was fine.
He’s part of a different club now. You can’t keep expecting the same treatment. He’s out there because you put him there.
“Well?” Sarah asked.
She shook her head, and frowned. “I’m sorry. What was the question?”
“I’m just curious about you. Your name came up in a search. You were taken from the streets, right? Kidnapped.”
Lola stared at Sarah as she just spoke about a point in her life as if it was nothing.
“What do you want, Sarah?”
“It’s true then? You’re the Lola Sparks in those stories?”
She nibbled on her lip. Whizz had warned her that when she ventured out there was a chance that someone would find a story or remember it.
“I really don’t want to talk about this, but yes, it’s true. Don’t tell anyone else, please?”
“Shit, yeah, I’m sorry.” Sarah held her hands up. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t … I thought it was you, but I didn’t know it was. God, I’m such a bitch.”
Lola stared across the table, and waited.
“How? Why are you here?” Sarah asked. “The story didn’t say why that guy took you. Surely you could be doing anything.”
“That guy took me because I had a knack for computers, Sarah. I used to be a hacker. This is all easy to me. I was a budding computer person, hacker, techno thingy, whatever. Don’t believe everything that you read. Some of it is just made up bullshit.”
“Is this why you don’t date anyone?” Sarah asked.
“I don’t date anyone because I’m still with someone. We’re just having a break at the moment. Well, not a break. I saw him last week.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “I’m … doing what I need to do, okay? I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone.”
“I’ve not told Belinda either. Look, I know I come across as some stupid bimbo, but I’m not. It’s easier to have people believe that I’m useless, and that there’s nothing inside, you know.”
Lola stared at the woman that she had believed that very thing.
“You don’t have to come out partying with us. I understand.”
“I enjoyed going to clubs. It helped me.”
“You can come anytime, and I’ll stop Belinda from saying anything, and I will stop saying something as well. Wow, I was such a bitch.”
She smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I just want to be your friend,” Sarah said. “Nothing else.”
“How did you find out that information?” Lola asked. “It’s not exactly easy to find.”
“I want to write a story,” Sarah said, smiling. “I know, weird, right? I love to read, and I’ve even started writing. I’m researching at the moment. I typed in some keywords, and your story popped up. I didn’t dig or anything. It was just there, and then I had to ask.” She pointed toward the window where they had been sitting outside. “I don’t smoke often, only when I’m nervous. If you didn’t like me smoking, just say so. Don’t take anyone’s crap, Lola. You don’t have to.”
Lola sat back in her chair, and looked at the woman opposite her, surprised by the kindness she was portraying.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime. I better get back to work. I kind of sneaked out when I saw you leave. I wanted to talk to you in privacy.” Sarah reached over and covered her hand.
Lola got the comfort that Sarah was trying to give her. It was sweet of her, and she appreciated it.
Thirty minutes of her lunch break had already passed. Her sandwiches were gone, and so was her drink. There was nothing left. She was about to leave when her cell phone rang.
It was Sinner’s number.
She stared at it, wondering if she should even bother to answer. Don’t be a bitch. This was what she had been wanting all week.
Taking his call, she sat back, waiting, then realized she needed to actually say something. “Hey.”
“Babe, it’s me.”
She chuckled. “I know it’s you. I’ve been freaking out about you to be honest. Wondering where you were.”
“I’m fine. My battery died, and then we were on the road. I didn’t see a problem. I know you were worried, but I don’t want to check in with Devil every time I go somewhere else.”
“I understand?”
“Do you? I’m part of the crew, but I’m not in Piston County anymore. If you don’t hear from me, then you’re going to have to be patient.”
“What if something happens to you?”
“Devil will be alerted. It’s not all bad, I promise. Nothing is going to happen.”
“You charged your phone?”
“Yeah, and the moment I did, I had to go through all of the texts and missed calls.”
“I’m sorry.” She teased with a strand of her hair, which had come loose from the bun she had put it in. “I guess we’re all learning these new barriers.”
“I know. Being on the road is different. I caught up to Lucius and the others. We’re heading down to the coast to do some partying.”
She smiled thinking of Sinner dancing. He wasn’t a very good dancer, but he had always tried for her. She wanted to be angry that he’d not been in touch, but why should she? They were in different worlds right now. Something she had started.
“What’s going on with you?” he asked.
“Let’s see, my friend, the one that I made, she knows about me, and about the kidnapping. She found it on some old news online,” she said.
“How does that make you feel?”
“I don’t know. At first I was stressed out, but now, I don’t care. You know.” She shrugged. “There’s not a lot I can do. It’s part of my life.”
“If you worry, call Devil and Lash. They will help you out.” Lash was the Prez of The Skulls.
“I will. I know the drill. I think I have their numbers on speed dial even before emergency numbers.” She laughed.
She heard some commotion in the background, and she was a little jealous and envious. Glancing around the sterile and boring cafeteria, she wished she was with him, and not here alone.
Choices.
This had been her choice.
And look where it had gotten her. The day and night she spent with Sinner was one of the best experiences of her life so far. She would remember and cherish it always.
“I’ve got to go, babe. Take care.”
She said her good-byes, and closed her phone.
He was fine, and she needed to realize that he would be. He didn’t have to keep checking in every two seconds, just like she didn’t need to. She was fine. She was happy, and she was safe.
****
“Your girl got you on a tight leash?” Lucius asked.
Sinner looked up to see Lucius with his arm wrapped around Roxy. The couple were standing on the beach, swaying to the music. It was warm where they were, which was a million miles away from where Lola was, experiencing the beginning change of fall. “Yeah.” He pocketed his cell phone.
“Why haven’t we seen your girl?” Rock asked. He was a long-term Nomad. Rock had tried to do the settling game with them in Piston County. It had lasted a day, and then he was gone. He never stayed in one place, and was always on the move. That was his thing, and that was how it was going to stay.
“You don’t stick around, buddy. Maybe if you did, you’d know a thing or two.”
“I know Devil’s woman has the nicest tits I’ve ever seen,” Rock said. “Of course, I wouldn’t say that to Devil’s face.”
“Too late,” Devil said, drawing all of their attention toward the large man standing to the side of the group.
Sinner smiled as he caught sight of Pussy, Death, and Ripper. Each looked pissed off with him.
“Boys,” he said.
“Wow, Devil, to what do we owe the honor of your visit?” Lucius asked. He pulled away from Roxy, and gave a bit of a bow.
“I decided I needed to do some hunting. You see, Sinner here made sure that his girl was to call me any time she needed some help. When her guy goes missing, guess who is the first person she calls?” Devil pointed at himself. “You didn’t call.”
“Devil, man, you’re too late. He has already put a call in to his old lady. His balls have been snipped, and he can party right now as if he’s a single guy,” Rock said.
Devil shook Lucius’s hand, and moved toward Rock. When Rock put his hand out, Devil slammed his fist against the guy’s mouth.
Rock went down, and laughed. “Yep, yep, I deserved that. Shouldn’t have said some bad shit about your girl, right, Devil?”
“If you need to ask that question, I didn’t hit you hard enough.”
Sinner got up off his ass, and held his hand out to Devil. His old Prez took him and pulled him in for a hug.
“Good to see you, Sinner. You’re looking good.”
“You’re looking like shit.”
“Lexie’s preggers again,” Pussy said. “I think we should have called Devil ‘fuck-a-lot’.”
“Or ‘lots-of-cum’,” Death said.
“‘Baby machine’, maybe?” Ripper asked. When the guys looked at him, he held his hands up. “Forgive me. I don’t have all of your wisdom and words. I make this shit up as I go along.”
“We all can tell that,” Sinner said, laughing.
Ripper gave him the finger, and they all just laughed.
“Congratulations,” Sinner said.
“Yeah, another kid to put through college,” Devil said, but there was a smile on his face that told Sinner he was really happy with that.
“You’re happy about it?”
“Yeah, of course I am. I just, Laurell was supposed to be the last. Lexie’s exhausted, so I’ve decided that I’m going to take matters into my own hands. I’m going to get my balls chopped,” Devil said. “Only way I can stop getting her knocked up. I can’t keep my hands off her.”
“Lexie’s a good woman,” Sinner said.
“You talked to yours?”
“I did. Just before you arrived. I let her know she shouldn’t be calling you.”
“Let’s go for a walk. Give the other brats time to catch up.”
Sinner followed Devil down toward the ocean. The tide was out at the moment.
“How have you been?” Devil asked.
“I’ve been doing good. Much better. I’ve got my shit together, you know.”
“Have you seen Lola?”
“Yeah. I went to see her a week ago. I stayed the night.”
“Do you think that is wise?” Devil asked.
“Yeah, it is. I still love her, and we’ll be back in Piston County at some point.”
“Relationships like these are hard, Sinner. Temptation is put in your way, will you even want to go back?” He nodded at the women around the club brothers. Roxy was by Lucius’s side, and he saw the two were holding hands. Yep, that was going to be a problem.
“None of them are Lola, Devil. I know what I want, and what I don’t want.”
“I get that, son. Sometimes decisions are taken out of our hands, you know? What if she finds someone else?”
“Then I’d be the better man.”
Devil laughed. “You’re a better man than I am. I’d kill any bastard who tried to steal Lexie away.”
Sinner laughed. “Of course, I’d make sure that Lola knew I wasn’t going away without a fight. I love her, and that is never going to change. So, what are you doing here?”
“Making sure you’re not dead.”
“I’m part of the Nomad Chapter now. I can go days and weeks without a word.”
“Yeah, but when I called Lucius and he hadn’t heard from you, and you weren’t in contact with Lola, I was concerned.”
“Are you happy about Lexie?” Sinner asked.
“I’m … worried. Phoebe is around helping us out. Lexie is exhausted, and there’s talk that she may need to rest during this pregnancy. It’s not a problem. Simon can be a big help.”
“And bribing him with Tabitha works just as well?”
“It gets the job done, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Get the job done.” He sighed. “Did you know I’m not the only one doing some bribery. Even Tiny’s figured out the best way of getting our kids to do shit is to bribe her with time with Simon.”
“That’s what parents do, Devil. It’s all about the bribery.”
“I’m shitting myself to be honest. Lexie has told me I’ve got to do the birds and the bees talk with him. I want him to know that most birds stay locked up in cages, and don’t ever come out.”
Sinner threw back his head and laughed. “For real?”
“I started fucking women at a young age. I do not want Simon to follow in my footsteps. Especially not with Tabitha.”
“Maybe he’ll get bored of waiting.”
“I don’t want to be a granddad.”
“Then give him the protection talk.” Sinner slapped him on the shoulder. “It can’t be that hard, right?”
They headed back toward the rest of the group who were singing and dancing to a song playing out of someone’s player on the cell phone.
Sinner didn’t have any fancy shit on his phone other than a camera. He didn’t do apps, or social media, or other crap. Roxy held her hand out to him, and together they swayed to the music.
“You’re in a better mood,” she said.
“You told him yet?”
The smile that was on her lips crashed down.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“You can judge me all you want, Sinner. You don’t know me, and you don’t know Lucius.”
“I know that he cares about you. He may not love you, but he does care, and that has feeling in as well.”
“What are you two talking about?” Lucius asked, breaking in.
“I was just asking her about how her results are going.”
Roxy shot him a glare. “I told him to mind his own damn business, and to stop spoiling the fun with crap that is not his concern.”
He gave her the finger, and went to grab a bottle of beer from the stash that Rock had brought with him. Pussy and Ripper were dancing, pretending to be two girls, which was too funny. Sinner pulled his cell phone out and taped it. The moment they were done, he sent one to Sasha and the other to Judi.
The sun went down, and they kept on partying. Sinner and Rock went for food around seven, and even as the whole tide came in, they still didn’t move from their spot.
He was having a buzz from the beer, and headed around one rock to take a piss when he paused.
“You okay, Roxy?” Lucius asked. “You’d tell me if something wasn’t right?”
Sinner had thought Lucius and Roxy were both shit-faced from all the beer. Staring at them now from where he was standing, he saw they were very much fucking sober.
“I told you, I don’t get my results for a little while. Everything is fine, Lucius. Don’t worry.”
Roxy made to move past Lucius. The brother caught her arms and pressed her against the wall. It wasn’t hard, and there was no violence to it at all. Lucius cared about Roxy, and may have felt something more.
“You don’t think I notice the change in you, Roxy? How weak you’re getting? The way the cold is affecting you. Your loss of appetite. Don’t try for a second to fool me, babe. It’s not going to work.”
Tears were in her eyes as she looked at him.
“It’s back, right?”
She nodded, not saying anything.
“What do you have to do this time?” Lucius asked.
She shook her head.
“What?” There was real pain this time in Lucius’s voice.
Roxy started to speak, and then stopped, clearing her throat. “They can’t do anything else, Lucius. That’s it. I’ve done everything that I can do. I … I’m dying.”
Sinner watched with tears in his own eyes as Lucius pulled her into a hug. They were best friends, he saw that now. Best friends, lovers, partners—they meant something to each other.
“How long?” Lucius asked.
“Lucius?”
“How long?” he asked with a bit more firmness to his voice.
“I’m on borrowed time now.”
“No.”
“I’m sorry. I … I wanted one more party with you. I won’t see Christmas, and I won’t see your next birthday. I won’t see the New Year. At best, I’ll make it to Halloween.” The last one was said on a sob.
Sinner’s heart broke for her, especially as he watched Lucius as well. The brother was just keeping it together. He held Roxy so damn tightly that it was just too painful to watch. Leaving them alone, Sinner headed out toward a private part of the beach. It was fucking cold, and he had his jacket on, wrapped around him.
“Life is fucking bullshit, right?” Lucius said, coming to sit down beside him. He had changed his beer for some whiskey. The scent was strong, overpowering. “You saw and heard that shit. Roxy told me that she told you. You’re supposed to take care of me and help me through that kind of shit.” Lucius laughed.
“You’ve known Roxy a long time?”
“Yeah. She’s … like a best friend to me. Without fail she has always been there for me, and I’ve been there for her. The longest time I stayed in one place was to help her. I left home at sixteen, and I was on the road with my first bike by eighteen. Couldn’t stand the same kind of people. They were all fucking rotten to the core. Knew Roxy as a kid. We stayed in touch. Memorized her fucking number.” Lucius stopped, taking a long swig of his drink. “She has spent more of her life in a fucking hospital. I was her first fuck.” Lucius stopped, and shook his head. “I knew life was unfair. I, this is cruel,” he said. “She deserves better than this.”
Sinner didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say.
“She’s going to die,” Lucius said. “My little Roxy, she’s going to die, and there’s nothing I can do. She had plans. She wanted to be a wife, and a mother, and everything, and now she’s going to have nothing.”
Sinner took the bottle of whiskey from him and took a drink. He needed it.
“She’s on borrowed time. There are rapists, murderers, child killers, and fucking molesters who will live long healthy fucking lives, and what does my girl get? Fuck all! Where is the fairness in that?”
Sinner shook his head.
“I’m a fucking monster. I’ve killed people without blinking an eye. Taken life without giving a fuck to what it means, and she has done nothing. She is an angel.” Lucius, stopped, dropped his head between his knees.
The anger, the rage, it was coming off him in waves.
“I can’t save her. For the first time in my life, I can’t save her, and she’s the only one in the world that deserves to be saved.”
“I’m sorry.”