“Christ. If my ol’ lady’s gonna be on my back, I’ll have no fuckin’ chance. Okay, bring them in. Luckily, we’ve still got Skull’s room vacant. They can squat in there until we work out what to do. I’ll call everyone in later. You know what they’re like. Nosy fuckers won’t want to be kept out of the loop.”
“One problem, Prez. Esme’s terrified of men for good reason, and Shayla’s jumpy as fuck herself.”
“Make my life easy, why don’t you?” He’s quiet for a moment. “You sure here’s the right place?”
“No,” I reply, honestly. “But I think we’ll have to try to make it work. Unless you can think of anything else?”
Demon’s quiet for a couple of moments. “Wish I could, but I can’t. Brothers will just have to wear kid gloves around them. Maybe show this Esme that there are men who can be trusted.”
My bet is that Shayla will need to relearn that as well after her time in Major’s hands.
When I return inside, Vi and Esme are no longer at her station. I head on back and find the four of them in Lizard’s office, open soda cans in front of them, and more candy has magically appeared. Leaning over, careful not to touch her, I swipe a bar that’s in front of Esme.
I’m rewarded with a glare, followed by a frightened look. But that fades at my wink, and she gives a tentative grin.
“Thieving asshole,” Liz rebukes me.
“Language,” I tell him. Having spent the weekend with Cas and Vanna, an idea comes into my head. I turn my eyes on the girl. “Liz said a rude word. I think he owes us a dollar, don’t you, Esme?”
I’m not sure of her level of comprehension, but she seems to understand at least that. Lizard’s forehead creases, then he gives me a chin lift, takes out his wallet and passes over a bill. Esme stares at it.
I chuckle and instruct, “Take it. It’s yours.”
She glances at Shayla who gives her a nod, while shooting me a curious glance. Suddenly, I realise all the brothers are going to hate me for starting this up. But hey, if Esme gets the confidence to start demanding payment when they swear, maybe it will do her some good.
“You spoke to Prez?”
I nod, then turn to Shayla. “We’ve told you we’re about respect, family and keeping women safe. The club would like you to come to stay with us on the compound while we work out what danger you’re still in from Major.”
Her eyes widen in horror. “Stay with you? With bikers? No, we couldn’t do that.” She looks between me and Liz, blood draining from her face. “Come on, Esme, time to—”
It’s Vi who steps in and interrupts. “Hold up a minute, Shayla. The compound is secure and can be protected, far safer than being out on the streets. My man is the prez, and what he says goes and,” she leans in conspiratorially as if Liz and I can’t hear her, “in turn, he’ll do anything I say.” I smirk at her suggestion, but there’s probably some truth there. Especially if she uses sex as a weapon. “No one will touch you or harm you, I can promise you that. Once Devils extend their protection, well, you can be assured you’ll be safe. The last place Major will expect to find you is living with us.”
Shayla studies her, as if estimating how sincere she is.
Seeing an in, Vi enlightens her, “I’ve got an eighteen-month-old boy, the bikers all love him. It’s not all men either, there are other old lady’s too. Jayden is a nursery nurse, she loves kids, and I bet she’ll take to Esme. Steph is our VP’s woman, she’s blind and is amazing with it. She’s got a lovely guide dog. Beth, well she’s a giant who’s with Ink, and then there’s Mel. She’s pregnant and we’re all treating her so damn carefully as she miscarried last time she was expecting. She bakes, and oh, the cakes she makes. They are to die for.”
I find myself licking my lips at the reminder. “Don’t forget Jeannie, she’s been around the club for getting on forty years. And Mo, the ex-prez’s old lady. And Sindy who’s… with Buzzard.” I nearly said who’s Buzzard’s, but at the last moment remembered to change the wording she probably would object to.
Shayla’s not at all certain. Her face tightens. “What will the men expect for payment?”
“Nothing,” I say fast, wondering if I should explain why. She’s going to find out pretty soon if she comes back with us, so might as well get this out in the open now. “We’re not in need of unwilling women, Shayla. Got girls of our own who live at the club and cater to our needs. Oh, no.” I hold up my hand to stop her at that twist of distaste. “They’re there for mutual satisfaction, stay because their needs align with ours. They choose to be with us, can leave at any time, but bikers hold a certain attraction for them.”
“Whores?” she says with not a little concern.
I shrug. It is what it is.
Vi’s lips press together. “Can’t say I’m enamoured of them, Shayla, but the thing is as Mace has said, they want to be there. In your position, I wouldn’t understand it either, but they enjoy the… loving they get.” She too tempers her words in front of Esme. “The fact is, no one needs to pressure you because they’ve already got willing girls.”
Shayla still seems unconvinced. It’s Lizard who comes up with a suggestion. “Why don’t you come back with us, see what you’d be getting into? I swear on the lives of my brothers that you will be free to leave at any time. Not swapping one captor for another, Shayla. I fuckin’ assure you of that.” Proving he learns quickly, a dollar passes from his hands to Esme’s before I can prompt him.
Seeing Shayla’s wavering, I add one final word on the matter. “We don’t know who Major is and whether you’re with us or not, we won’t stop digging. The info we find, you’ll want to hear first-hand. Maybe you’re right to keep running, maybe Major stays in his own turf and has given up looking for you. Whichever it is, I swear to you we’ll find the answer.”
Shayla looks at him, at Vi, then finally those haunted eyes land on me. She nods toward the money that Esme is holding. “You’re about as far from Major as anyone can be. I think I trust you, Mace, and you, Lizard, too. But it’s hard to believe there are more like you. If you give me your word we won’t be held against our will, we’ll come back with you and see if we’ll fit.”
Leaning down, I untie the sheaf on my ankle, take out the knife, and press it into her hand. “Keep this on you, darlin’. You won’t have to use it, I promise. But you’re not unarmed or helpless.”
I’ve surprised her. Taking advantage of her capitulation, I waste no time, summoning Dirt with the truck and texting a few extra instructions.
Half an hour later when we’ve drunk our sodas, demolished the candy, and Liz and Shayla have admired Esme’s drawing she’d done, which I’d retrieved from the drawer and brought back to show them. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. Dirt walks in, accompanied by a three-legged Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Esme’s eyes go large and she can’t seem able to focus anywhere else. Bagel, apparently named because of the light chestnut brown colour of his wavy coat, seems likewise to be drawn to her. With a tail that’s wagging furiously, he limps his way over and plonks his head in her lap.