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.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

2008 – Santana

Kennedy strokes my hair, his fingers moving softly yet constantly. I close my eyes, pressing myself closer to him, needing his comfort. I’m high, so high my mind is spinning, but he’s got me. He’s always got me. I curl my fingers around his leg, and my face is pressed against his firm belly.