The bottom drops out of my world.
“Heath?”He’s older, filled out and all grown up. He looks nothing like I remember, but now that I’m looking, I can see what’s left of the boy I knew in his face.
“Haven’t heard that name in years,” he says with a chuckle.
I take a step back, bumping into Colt. “I don’t understand. You aren’t here to work? Then why…” I gesture confusedly at their clothes.
Sinner’s mouth quirks up at the corner. “It’s not a costume.” He turns slowly and I take in the logo on the back of his vest.
“The Outlaw Sons MC?”
Like most sane people, I’ve never had any run-ins with them personally, but The Outlaw Sons are notorious in this city. According to the rumors, they’re dangerous criminals, willing to do just about anything. Drugs, smuggling, weapons dealing, murder. Whatever you can imagine, for the right price.
Heath, or Priest, or whatever his name is now, nods. “Guilty as charged.” There’s a challenge in his gaze, like he’s daring me to run.
I remember Heath as my brother’s best friend. They were about seven years older and I’m sure I was a pain in their asses, but Axel was always good about letting me tag along. As I got older I realized he was trying to shelter me from what was going onin the house, but as a kid I felt like one of the gang when I was with them. Heath was my first crush, when I wasn’t even really old enough to understand why his smile made my insides do cartwheels.
There are so many things I could say, but all that comes out is, “It’s been a long time.”
“Since Axel.” His lips pull tight at the memory. “He’d be fucking over the moon if he saw you. Maybe not in that outfit, but—shit.” His expression hardens with regret. “Coming was a fucked up idea. I’m real glad you’re doing well. Have a good life, kid.”
Before he gets a chance to turn away and vanish from my life again, I grab his wrist. We both stare down at my hand, like touching made this whole situation more real somehow. “No, wait. It’s fine. I… I’m glad you’re here, just surprised. Stay. Talk to me. Why do they call you Priest? Are you religious now?”
Sinner snorts a laugh.
“Fuck off.” Heath’s tone makes it sound like telling Sinner to fuck off is a daily occurrence.
“Oh, come on, the pretty lady asked you a question.” Colt puts his hand on Heath’s shoulder. He and Sinner seem to be enjoying Heath’s discomfort.
“Well, I could ask you the same. What kind of names are Sinner and Colt? Is there a rule about not using normal names if you’re a biker?”
Sinner shrugs. “It’s no secret that we don’t exactly live the kind of life you put on your taxes. There’s safety in anonymity. Some guys have reasons, some just liked the sound of it. I picked Sinner because I’ve made terms with the shit I’ve done and Idon’t need anyone’s forgiveness. Colt, on the other hand, it’s probably ‘cause he wants the ladies to think he’s hung like a hor?—”
Colt elbows him hard enough in the gut to knock Sinner’s laugh into a soft wheeze. “When you run out of thoughts and prayers, it’s the Colt that finishes the job.”
I nod with mock seriousness. “Very scary.”
He narrows his eyes, hesitating a second before adjusting his stance to flash the butt of a gun nestled at his side. I suck in a surprised breath. He’s had it on him the whole time, even while we were dancing. Sinner and Heath don’t seem surprised.
Are they carrying, too? In the span of a few songs, my whole evening has been turned on its head.
“Easy,” Heath says under his breath when he sees my panic rising. “Nobody’s looking for trouble here tonight. To answer your question, Q, no. For a time I went looking for meaning, and it was nice to think there was some greater fucking plan that I couldn’t see. The more fucked up things got, the harder I looked, but at the end of the day I decided I don’t give a shit.”
“What do you mean?”
“If there’s someone out there pulling our strings, they can go ahead and fucking do it. Heath was the hand I was dealt. Priest is the life I made for myself. If this is all we get, I’m not going to waste my time worshiping the fucker just to stay on their good side.”
“That’s what I’m fucking saying,” Sinner agrees.
“One more round?” Colt asks.
Heath—no, Priest—looks down at me with a question in his eyes. If I tell him to leave, they’ll walk out the door and I don’t think I’ll ever see him again.
My mother’s voice is in my head, telling me to listen to her and not to be stupid. Men are distractions, and these aren’t the type of people I want my brand associated with. But it’s just one night, and who would even pay attention? I bet everyone else assumes they’re part of the cast for the party just like I did. Nobody will notice me hanging out with a few extras.
“Stay.”
2
