Chapter Twenty-One

 

Abe

 

The roar and vibration from my Harley feels like it’s going to crack open my skull when I roll into the airport the next morning. Once Chase confirmed that Sasha had picked up Mercy, I went back to the bar and crashed in the corner, drinking and smoking until my guts started trying to crawl up my throat. A couple of my brothers tried to come talk to me and find out what had put me in such a dark mood; but after I sent a few scampering away with their tails between their legs, the rest understood I wanted to be left the hell alone.

The truth is I’m not entirely sure why I’m in such a shitty mood. Mercy has been nothing but an angel to me. And if it wasn’t for this damned show she has to finish and the men she has to be seen with, I think I might have a chance with her. I know she’s acting this out and has no real interest in any of those guys. The problem is that I just can’t completely trust any woman not to destroy me. All the women that have ever come into my life have wanted to use me in one way or another, and the idea that she truly likes me for just being myself is hard to wrap my head around.

I leave my bike in the underground long-term parking lot and double check the straps on my carry-on, cinching it tightly to my back. Everything I need for a few days rolls up nicely into a backpack. I spot Dalton on my way into the terminal, and damn if that idiot isn’t sitting on a big ass piece of luggage with wheels on the bottom, riding the damned thing into the airport.

“I like your new ride, little D,” I yell at him. “You decide to bring that leaky-ass knucklehead engine of yours on vacation to try to replace the seals finally?”

“Hey, Abe, you’re alive!” Dalton yells. “I was sure you were going to miss the flight after the night you had,” Dalton waves at me cheerfully as he kicks his new ride along the sidewalk towards me. “Ha-ha, knucklehead. For your information, some of us need more than one pair of underwear and our teddy bear for an event like this.”

“I didn’t pack any underwear,” I tell him solemnly, sending him into a cackling fit.

“Hey, man, if you can go commando in the Vegas heat, more power to you. You probably tuck that hog leg into your socks anyway, so it won’t sweat too much.”

As I turn to go inside, Dalton’s cackles grow louder. I just grit my teeth and keep going, knowing full well what he saw that got him so tickled. It wouldn’t fit all the way into my pack, so peeking out of the top is the head of what is obviously a rather large stuffed bear.

Thankfully, we get separated once we’re inside, as his trusty steed is too big for a carry-on. While he’s checking in his bag, I get through security and head on down to the boarding area. By the time I get there, they are already letting my brothers on the plane.

One of our prospects, Maddox, runs up to me as I near the lady checking our boarding passes. “Thank God,” he mutters, “Chase told me not to set foot on the plane until I rounded up you and Dalton. You haven’t seen him, have you, Abe?”

“He’s here,” I grunt. “He was still getting through security when I got clear, but he’ll be along in a few. Don’t worry, you aren’t going to miss the trip.”

Maddox gives a relieved sigh, then wisely gets out of my way. Once the tiny ticket agent checks my credentials, I duck my head a little and head down the tunnel to the plane. The captain and his co-pilot give me the stink-eye when they come into view, but at least they greet me civilly as I wedge myself past them.

My seat, or seats I should say, are right behind Chase, Sasha, and Mercy, who are sitting in an aisle together. Chase had the decency to purchase the middle and window seat for me, so no one had to suffer the indignity of me sitting in their lap for the flight.

Mercy is talking on her phone, and she looks up at me nervously as my shadow falls over them. I smile at her and almost lean down to whisper an apology to her, but she begins to blush before she says into the phone, “Yes, I know it’s the city of sin, but I’m sure I’ll be fine, mother. I’m sorry I’ll miss church tomorrow, but the trip is just for a few days. I’ll be there next Sunday. I promise I’ll call you every day, okay? Love you too. Bye.” She ends the call in a rush as I shrug off my backpack.

Reaching into the overhead compartment to stow my pack, I immediately recognize the neon green bag that I remember seeing in Mercy’s bedroom. Quickly, I pull the bear I bought on the way here this morning out of my pack and wedge it into her carry-on.

Slamming the compartment shut, I take my seat behind Chase and the women, and then lean up to see what they’re watching on Sasha’s phone.

“This is the guy covering me this week while we’re out in Vegas,” Sasha says, referring to a reporter on her screen. I recognize the scene he seems to be reporting from and strain to listen to the newscast.

“…live from the scene of what used to the ‘Ace of Spades’ pool hall here off of Old Birch Road. As we reported several weeks ago, a fire broke out here shortly after the business closed one Saturday night, leaving one man dead. Investigators today confirmed the identity of the victim as 43-year-old Johnny Martin, the owner of the facility. We were able to speak to the forensics team earlier today, at which time they confirmed the cause of the explosion and fire seems to have been a mobile methamphetamine lab, which had been parked behind the business. Police indicated that no foul play is suspected in this incident, and it appears to have been a tragic accident, proving once again the need for more drug enforcement in our area…”

Turning down the volume, Sasha looks over at Chase and asks, “Well, what do you think?”

Chase strokes his beard and tells her, “I think making meth seems pretty damned dangerous.”

“No, I mean about the reporter. You don’t think he’s going to take my job, do you?”

Chase chuckles at that. “Not a chance, baby. Dude sounds like he sucks helium in his spare time, and he seemed nervous on camera. I think you’ll be safe for a few weeks.”

Sasha turns her attention to Mercy, who I swear seems to be avoiding my gaze. I lean back in my seat and start fumbling with the lap belt when Chase looks over the seat to talk to me. “You see that report about old Johnny Martin that Sasha was just showing me?” he asks, choosing his words carefully.

“Yeah,” I drawl, phrasing my reply just as cautiously. “Damn shame for a man to die in an accident like that.”

“We’ll pour one out for him when we get to Vegas, yeah?” Chase says with a wink, before turning back around in his seat.

It’s good to know that business, at least, was settled. I look around the cabin and wave to Chase and Torin’s parents, and then give a nod to each of my brothers as Dalton and Maddox finally board. The only two people up here I didn’t recognize right off are a man and woman, who I’m assuming must be Sasha’s mom and dad. They’re in the very back and don’t look all that comfortable even with all the extra leg room. I chuckle at their expressions, right up until Dalton plops his goofy ass down in the aisle seat beside me.

With a huge grin, Dalton starts to say something, but I just hold up a hand to him and look out the window. I don’t want to listen to him prattle on for hours about whatever silly-ass thoughts come into his head. I want to think about Mercy and how she’ll react to the little apology gift I left her. I need to think about what else I can do to get her to forgive my outburst and what I should do to make sure that this gorgeous woman doesn’t give her heart to some other man on that damned reality show.

 

…

 

Mercy

 

The flight to Vegas seemed so much longer than five hours with Abe sitting just behind me. There was a palpable tension in the air and a feeling of eyes on me that made it impossible to relax on the plane. I couldn’t get out of my own head long enough to just unwind with Sasha and enjoy her company knowing that, when the gentle giant boarded the plane, he had wanted to say something. After talking to Sasha and hearing what his life had been like, I feel like I understand so much more about him and why he seems to run so hot and cold. None of that, however, helps me figure out how to deal with the feelings I’ve developed for him or the resentment and hostility he has towards the requirements for the show.

When I finally make it to my hotel room that evening in the Hard Rock Casino where all of the MC and their guests are staying, I immediately drop my luggage and flop onto the bed in relief. Here, at least, I can get some privacy and get myself focused on my best friend’s wedding. After lounging around for a few minutes, enjoying the silence, I call and let my mother know I arrived safely, and then grab my luggage to head into the bathroom to start unpacking.

When I set the carry-on bag on the vanity and unzip it, a big, smiling, furry, brown head immediately pops up, startling me so badly I gasp. My first panicked thought is that somehow, someway, this stalker nightmare has managed to follow me all the way to Vegas. When I carefully open the bag the rest of the way, however, a smile spreads across my face. The bear is big and wearing a soft, black, leather jacket. Between his paws he’s gripping a heart, with a message that has been carefully written in bold, black permanent marker:

“FROM ABE, NOT STALKER”

I pick it up and clutch it to me. It smells like Abe, and his clothes, presumably from the time spent riding in his bag. I take it back to my bed and prop it between my pillows; then get to work around my room setting out my things. As soon as he and I have some quiet time, I plan to bring him in here and have a long, civilized discussion with him about what he and I want to do moving forward. For now, however, I’ve got to get ready for dinner with Sasha and her family tonight, and then tomorrow morning we’ve got a ton to do to get ready for the wedding.

Once I’ve gotten myself cleaned up and dressed, I text Sasha, who says that she and her parents are already downstairs in the casino. I let her know I’m ready and take the elevator down, so we can all grab something to eat before heading over to take a look at the venue. I’m pretty sure we’re gonna try to squeeze in some salon time too.

Right when I step off the elevator, I spot Abe on the far side of the lobby. And when he turns my way, I wave at him before forming a heart with my hands while mouthing ‘thank you’ to him. His face breaks into a huge grin, and I’m pretty sure he even blushes under his beard. I start to push through the crowd in the lobby towards him when Sasha intercepts me.

“There you are, girl. You look great! Come on, my parents are right out front. We’ll go for a little walk and check out the restaurants until we figure out what we want,” Sasha says.

I start to protest as she takes me by the elbow to lead me to the door, but Sasha is pulled up short when Abe suddenly takes my other arm.

“Sorry,” he rumbles, immediately letting me go.

“Oh, hi, Abe!” Sasha says. “Are you going to take care of Chase for me today?”

“Always,” he tells her with a wink, before looking at me, still red-faced. I notice the crowds are still parting around him and can't help but smile at the thought of him bulling through everyone to get to me so quickly.

“Thank you for the gift,” I tell Abe again.

“It was silly,” he replies, lowering his eyes. “But I’ve never bought a woman anything and didn’t know…”

“It was perfect,” I tell him. “I’ve got to get going, but I want to talk to you. Tomorrow’s going to be crazy, but you know where my room is, right?” When he nods, I continue. “Come on over tonight, and we can have some time together, okay?”

“I’ll be there, Mercy. Anytime, anywhere you say,” Abe tells me, giving my hand a squeeze before stepping back. “You ladies have a great time. I’ll see you soon.”

I finally let Sasha drag me outside as I give Abe a wave, then try to put him out of my mind as much as possible to focus on having fun with my friend. The Vegas heat hits both of us like a fist as we step outside the casino, and we rush off to rescue her parents before they melt.