Page 483 of Devil’s Disciples

He stared into the distance, almost as if he were in a daze. Eventually, he made a phone call. After that, he made another. When he hung up, he came to the door and pushed it open just enough to poke his head through the opening.

“Can you come with me?” he asked. “On the bike?”

I glanced around. “I suppose so. I uhhm. I need to clear your table. Why?”

He nodded toward the booth. “Do what you’ve got to do. I’ll be out at my bike.”

Reno didn’t display a tremendous amount of emotion. Even so, I couldn’t help but wonder if everything was okay.

I stood. “Is everything alright?”

He nodded. “Everything’s fine.”

I got done, locked up, and wandered into the parking lot. He was sitting on his motorcycle, staring blankly toward the highway. When I approached, he glanced over his shoulder.

“Remember the asshole that revved his motor earlier?” he asked.

“Cash?”

He nodded. “Yep.”

“I do.”

“Do you remember the big fucker that came in here with me the night we met? Six inches taller than everyone else?”

“Pee Bee?”

He grinned. “That’s him.”

“What about them?”

“They’re going to be over at Crip’s place, hanging out with their wives. Crip’s Ol’ Lady’s there, too.” He handed me a helmet. “I’m going to take you over there and introduce you to the women. Then, Crip and I have something we’ve got to do.”

“You’re going to leave me there?”

“Just for a while.”

I liked Reno, but I wasn’t thrilled to be left with two men I barely knew and three women I didn’t.

I let the helmet dangle at my side. “Can we do this some other time?”

“Just put on the helmet and hop on,” he said. “It’ll be a good time.”

I felt uneasy about being around people I didn’t know. I cringed. “I should really—”

“You’re coming with me,” he demanded. “Not negotiable.”

A chill ran the length of my spine. “Everything’s not okay, is it?”

He buckled his helmet. “Everything will be just fine.”

Despite his reassurance, I didn’t believe him. Not wholly. My sixth sense wouldn’t allow me to. Nevertheless, I put on my helmet knowing I’d be left in the presence of two of the toughest looking men I’d ever encountered.

If they couldn’t keep me safe, no one could.

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Reno