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Nix frowned. Didn’t they understand the scale of the issue then? How could they just laugh off the Demonios? Hadn’t they met the likes of Ramon before? “There was a group in prison, led by this guy, Ramon, he was part of the Demonios… he said he was coming for the MC…”
“The MC?” Rafe looked incredulous. “Us? The Demonios, coming for us?”
Rita again guffawed like Nix had told a funny joke.
Rafe chuckled and went to wipe a tear of laughter from his eye. Nix was wound so tight he thought he could snap.
“It’s not funny, dude, they are serious people-”
“Phantom has killed all the Demonios in the state already. Sounds like Ramon’s been left behind. Demonios are no more in Cali, that’s for sure.”
Nix felt the air hiss out of his lungs. He almost saw his life flash before his eyes. The taunting and teasing in prison. How Ramon had made Nix’s life a living hell. The constant threats against Ash and the MC. The constant fear and worry Nix had carried on him for the last number of months.
“What?”
“Yeah, man, were you worrying they were going to find you here?”
“Well…” Nix blinked and his heart pounded. “Yeah. They said they were going to take over-”
“They couldn’t take over a fucking bicycle with your grandma on it, no offense meant,” Rafe quipped.
“I…” Nix was stunned into silence. “But they said…”
“Where have you been, man? Living under a rock or something? Demonios are old news.” Rita smirked.
“I’ve been…in prison, so…” Nix trailed off.
“Look dude, go have a shower, have a sleep if you want, we’ve got food, we’ve got drinks, we’ve got women,” Rafe flashed his eyebrows and winked. “Come down and have a drink with us. And hey, relax. No one is coming for you, least of all Ramon’s Demonios fuckers. Unless they are zombies, ‘cause Cali Demonios are already dead.”
Nix was left with the key to his hotel room, a huge bed covered in clean, crisp white sheets, and the bathroom downlights twinkling on the marble floor like starlight. Rafe and Rita walked away, waving and smiling.
Nix couldn’t quite believe it. He didn’t have to betray Ash and his MC. He didn’t have to fear Ramon coming, in the dead of the night, torching the place, killing Ash, painfully. It wasn’t going to happen.
Nix felt sheer relief envelop him. He wanted to jump on the bed and whoop with delight. In the end he sunk to the floor and cried. Because fuck it, he was saved. Praise whatever gods might be now looking out for him, because he was saved.
* * *
After a shower and a moment to collapse on the bed and think about what had just happened, Nix slinked downstairs. He’d chat and get a drink and eat something and see how the night unfolded, generally just pleased to be free from the mind games of those prison walls and Ramon’s threats. He planned to see Ash, tell him everything, get him to understand. Apologize and explain. He saw Ash by the bar and jogged over to him.
“Hey, Ash, I’ve got to-”
“Fuck off,” Ash spat back. “To me, you don’t exist.”
Nix stopped in his tracks. Stunned. Nix knew he’d been harsh, but he didn’t think Ash would ever find Nix unforgivable. Nix met Ash’s eyes.
And saw mischief there. Ash gave him a smirk. A smirk that said, you want me? Prove it. Ash was raising the stakes. Ash was playing hard ball. Ash was asking for Nix to atone.
Thank fuck. Nix felt his heartbeat flutter and stutter back stronger than before.
Nix nodded back. Fine. If that’s how Ash was going to play it, that’s how Nix was going to play it, too. If they weren’t going to talk like adults, then they’d sulk around and goad each other like children. They’d taunt each other like animals. Nix would repent like the sinner he was. He smirked.
Nix looked around the bar. How to get a rise out of Ash? How to get him to acknowledge Nix’s presence? Nix’s eyes were subconsciously drawn to a busty girl walking past with a bikini on. Barely. She winked and smiled and picked up a bottle of whiskey, making the rounds, offering shots to all the guys and some girls. Nix’s eye’s snapped back to Ash, but Ash had seen Nix watching. Ash flicked his eyebrow up at Nix. A tiny movement. A dare.
Oh, Nix dared alright. Nix would take that and force Ash to go one step further. That’s what they did to each other. Nix got it, he’d pissed Ash off. He’d taken it too far. Nix had for good reason, thinking he’d have to end the man he loved. God, the guilt of that almost devoured him.
Almost. But no, Nix was free from prison and free from Ramon’s influence. He saw now how he’d been blinkered, he’d thought there was only one way. There was not. Ash had shown him there were many ways. Many paths. He didn’t have to follow the yellow brick road. He could make his own road.
“Hey sugar, you want a taste of good ol’ Jim Beam?” The bikini clad bottle girl was at his side now. She was hot. Nix felt the changes keying up his body. Rippling in his blood. Physical arousal. She looked at him like he was a catch. Nix hadn’t felt like that in a while, not since Ash had looked at him when Nix had very first entered that cell of Ash’s. Nix’s cock plumped instantly.
