Never Let Go (Devil's Chariots Motorcycle Club Book 2) (8 page)

CHAPTER TWELVE

She hadn't heard from him in weeks—not since the day after he had shown up and abruptly left with his so called brothers. His only purpose that time was to tell her that he'd be leaving. Again. Seemed to be what he did best anymore. He left. Every time things got serious, Johnny took off.

Beth was tired of it all. She was pregnant and had to think of the future. A future where things were stable and caring.

Chris came by fairly often. He was a good friend—not the kind of friend that Johnny had become during his visits, but the kind who sincerely worked to make sure that she was okay. The kind that wanted her to be okay.

He didn't keep her up-to-date on club business or Johnny. He just checked in and let her know that all was okay in the world. Truth be known, she didn't much give a shit about whether or not Johnny was okay.

She was sick and tired of being left all the time. Hell, at least Dan had possessed the decency to stick around. They'd had their differences, but hiding her and what he felt for her had never been one of them.

Johnny was a selfish fucking bastard, and she didn't want to deal with it anymore. He'd never responded to her message. He'd never done much of anything to be honest. He didn't stay in touch anymore. She had no clue, other than Chris, that he was even alive.

Fuck him. That was her theory.

She'd focused on other things, like getting a job. It wasn't anything spectacular. She worked at the library a couple days a week. It wasn’t out of necessity since money wasn't a problem. It was just nice to be out and doing something.

It was at work that she'd met Darryl. He seemed like a really nice guy. He didn't fit the mold she was used to at work. He was a regular in the library during her time, but Betsy had told her that he was fairly new to the area and the library. It hadn't been until she worked there that she'd learned how gossipy librarians were.

Darryl seemed to take a shine to Beth and managed to find ways to talk to her every day. He hadn't asked her out.

To Beth, he seemed shy—and cute. However, Betsy warned her to watch out for shy guys, telling her with a laugh that they are the most dangerous.

The more she talked to Darryl, the more Beth was intrigued. She was very interested in dating a nice, normal man—not one who would turn her world upside down with emotions. She wanted a safe, secure, and happy life with her baby.

“Is your husband eager for the baby?” he had asked one day as she helped him search for a book.

“My husband passed away,” she answered. The response was neither emotional nor cold. Just factual. She had accepted that Dan was gone. She was just having a hard time accepting that Johnny was gone.

“I'm sorry,” Darryl seemed sincere.

She realized she really liked this guy, thinking he was one of the good ones. He told her he was an accountant, and his wife had died of cancer. He was happy being single but sometimes it was lonely. His favorite food was Italian. He loved to snuggle, watch movies, and missed the feeling of another warm body.

His reading taste was amazing. He had such a variety of interest. She picked his brain on various subjects and sat fascinated as he told her his viewpoints. The problem was that he was also somewhat boring, which she presumed most people would enjoy. She should enjoy it since she'd had a bit much excitement in the world.

However, it left something lacking. Big time.

Still, when he asked her to dinner the following week, she agreed. It was time for some normal. He seemed interested in the baby, as well, which made her feel good. It wasn't a bad thing for her kid to have a nice stepfather or at least a fatherly figure.

The night of her date she spent a good half-hour deciding what to wear. She had always been a free spirit, and Darryl seemed much different than that. He seemed like someone she would want to dress to impress. So, she studied her options and put together something she felt would be appropriate.

“You look lovely,” he commented when she answered the door. “Ready?” He took her arm and began promising her a great evening, as he led her to his very safe and boring car.

“Can't wait,” she answered half-heartedly. “Where are we going?”

“Oh, Bethany,” he answered. “I'm about to show you a night you will never forget.” With a smile, he shut her door and walked around to his own.

The date was better than Beth could have imagined and led to a second and a third. At the point where Darryl had asked her to a friend's wedding, she had not heard from Johnny in almost three months. Chris still stopped by, but it was getting less frequent.

Her baby bump had turned into a full-fledged preggo belly, and she was miserable. Had the library not meant so much to her, she'd have quit and spent her days laying on the couch feeling sorry for herself.

Constantly talking to Darryl helped Beth pass the time and kept her from feeling alone and sad over the loss of Dan and then Johnny. She was terrified that her baby would grow up alone, and she didn't want that to happen.

“Where is the wedding?” she asked Darryl over the phone.

He had just informed her that they'd be traveling for the wedding and would be gone for several days. The idea thrilled her, but scared her at the same time. She was pregnant and didn't really want to be too far from home if something happened.

However, a vacation from her misery and loneliness seemed like an ideal answer. She would make her final decision based on his response.

“California,” he shared enthusiastically. “It's beautiful there. You will love it.”

It seemed like one hell of a trip for a wedding, especially since she wouldn't know anyone but Darryl. She fantasized about sipping cocktails on the beach, but at the same time she was slightly freaked out about the potential dangers lurking everywhere for a pregnant woman. Darryl didn't seem like the type that could protect her if anything threatened her safety, and she wasn't totally sure he could handle anything happening with her and the baby.

Then again, she was a pretty feisty thing and didn't back down easily. She didn't hurt easily, and she'd handled more than her share of problems. So why not? It'd be nice to get away. Plus, calm, normal people were what she needed in her life most.

Besides, what if Darryl became the person she ended up with. What if these became her friends and family? This was a good time to make a nice impression—except for that pesky fat stomach that interfered in looking nice. But she'd handle that.

“Okay,” she said. “But I'm going to get mistaken for a beached whale,” she finished.

Darryl laughed. He always laughed. He was so free of stress; it was refreshing.

“Honey,” he began. “You'll be the sexiest whale in the place.” Her heart skipped a few beats at the compliment. It was nice for someone to speak to her freely, not bound by some code or oath or commitment. It was nice to hear someone found her sexy.

Her body responded, as well. She wanted sex. That much was certain. Johnny had been the last man she'd been with, and it had been months. Her hormones were crazy, and she needed the freedom that came with release.

Maybe if she agreed to this trip, they'd finally consummate their relationship. That was her hope anyway.

“Sure,” she laughed. “Sexy whales on display.”

Darryl didn't speak for a minute, and she worried a little that maybe she'd went too far. Finally, she heard a chuckle and then his soft and sweet voice.

“I'd pay for a ticket,” he answered. “But I'm hoping this is our chance for me to get a nice show of my own.”

That sealed the deal. Beth agreed to go, and after the phone call ended, she began to stress about what she was going to wear. She'd never been to California, and she wasn't quite sure how she should dress. In fact, she wasn't sure of anything—except that she hoped this turned out to be all she was hoping for. If he was as boring in bed as he was everywhere else, she might not survive this experience.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Whiskey,” Johnny ordered to the bartender.

He didn't like the guy. This clubhouse wasn't nearly as friendly as the rest he'd been too. They seemed edgy here—like none of them really wanted to be around. It made him wonder why they were.

“You don't alter much from the usual drink do you?” She approached without a sound.

Her name was Velvet. She wasn't a club girl really. She wasn't an old lady. He wasn't totally sure what her place was here, but he knew that she was here a lot.

“Trying to stay consistent,” he answered.

The truth was that Johnny drank whiskey because that is what numbed the pain and the heartache of leaving Beth and losing Dan. He was fearless and painless when he was drinking whiskey.

He didn't want to say all that because it would start a conversation, and he wasn't in the mood to talk. The tall redhead didn't seem to understand that though because she pulled the stool beside him out and sat down.

Her hair was past her shoulders in giant wavy curls, and her pale skin was adorned with just the right amount of makeup. Had he seen her from the shoulders up, he would have easily believed she was nothing but an ordinary chick. However, past those shoulders, she was squeezed so tightly into leather and spandex that it was quickly obvious that she was far from ordinary.

“What brings you to California,” she asked, as he chugged his drink and ordered another.

“My bike,” he answered without even glancing at her.

Johnny didn't want to give the wrong idea. He wasn't into this woman, and he wasn't going to pretend to be—even with the guys sitting across the room watching him. At this point, it didn't matter one bit what they thought. He'd deal with that later.

On his mind that night was Beth. He hadn't seen her smile or heard her voice in so long it almost seemed like a really good dream. He longed to hear her giggle at a movie scene that most wouldn't have found funny. He wanted to see what kind of pizza she would order and how much she would drink.

He tried hard not to remember the feel of her body beneath his and the way she had moaned his name with the look of complete satisfaction on her face. Instead, he focused on the things that wouldn't drive him crazy—the little things that most didn't notice.

However, he had always noticed—and now he remembered. And it hurt. Badly. He wanted to see her. But he couldn't.

They'd made their way to California because that's the last known location of Hell's Order. They weren't making their plans known. They were simply cruising around and forming a plan along the way. So far there'd be no other word about the club or what they were planning to do. He was hoping their attack would prevent any further damage.

Johnny knew that Chris kept an eye on things and sometimes that was more painful than helpful. She'd been dating some douchebag from the library who was not even employed there. Apparently, he just hung out there to make moves on Beth; but, Chris said he didn't seem much of a threat. He was some boring accountant named Darryl. They'd been on a few dates, and he hung around a lot.

Chris said she was smiling a lot, but it kind of seemed fake. Part of that made Johnny feel good and part didn't. He wasn't sure what he felt.

How could she just move on? How could she start dating some loser the minute he left? Wouldn't she understand that he'd be back for her?

Those thoughts are what spawned his constant love for whiskey. He wanted to take out this club and get it over with. He wanted to go home and tell her he loved her, before this Darryl took her away.

Not that he could. His brothers wouldn't allow it. They wouldn't be okay with his need to love her. So even if he went back, it'd still be a big secret, and apparently, Beth wasn't okay with that.

Chris found it funny she was dating such a boring person. He'd said it was just a way to pass the time, but Johnny wasn't so sure. She was looking for something neither Dan nor Johnny had been able to give her. Stability. Security. Normalcy.

Johnny took another long shot of whiskey and tried to ignore the lady on his right. Beth was all he wanted. He would take out the Hell's Order Club, and he would have her back. One way or another.

“You don't seem very friendly,” she taunted.

“I'm not,” he answered.

“Why not?” she asked.

What the fuck was her deal? Johnny couldn't figure this woman out. She didn't seem to want to leave him be and that was the only thing he wanted.

“Because being friendly means people want to be around me,” he snapped. “I obviously don't want that.”

She seemed to think that answer over a little bit before she spoke.

“You bikers are all the fucking same,” she accused. “Only want the attention of the whores.” With that, she ordered herself a drink and decided to be quiet.

“Do you see me with whores?” he asked.

There was no way Johnny was letting that kind of an accusation go. He was tired of women and their petty shit.

Velvet shook her head. “But it doesn't mean you won't be,” she answered out loud.

“Look,” Johnny began. “I'm not a whore kind of guy. I'm just a nice guy. I'm out here with very little on my mind but fucking over those who fuck me over.”

“You married?” Velvet changed the subject without acknowledging his statement.

“No,” he answered. “Why?”

“You talk like my husband,” she laughed. “Ex-husband. Soon. I Hope.”

Johnny nodded. He kind of felt bad for treating her like he was. Maybe he should talk for a few. Might do him some good to have companionship. None of the guys really had much to say. He didn't have to fuck this chick to enjoy her company, right?

“Sorry to hear that,” he replied in a nicer tone.

“The ex-husband part?” she asked, and he nodded. “Don't be. He was a douche.” Johnny laughed at the comment.

“Aren't we all?”

“Yes,” she answered definitively. “But he was worse than most. Evil really.”

“Belong to a club?” Johnny was curious. She was at a clubhouse, but she had no real place there.

“Yes,” she answered. “I was so accustomed to coming here that I didn't want to be at a typical bar.”

The thought made sense. Most people preferred clubhouses once they'd experienced them. It was hard not to. It was a different environment. One with loyalty and honesty.

“You know we don't fuck with the old ladies of our brothers,” Johnny mentioned.

His hope was that she'd realize he had no interest in her that way. It didn't work.

“Generally,” she answered. “But there are exceptions.”

Her reply intrigued him. Exceptions. Like him and Beth? Did she know? He wanted to find out more but couldn't unless he feigned an interest in her. Maybe this was part of a game. A set-up. Something that was going to cause him further problems.

“What exceptions are those darling?” he asked with a sickeningly sweet smile.

“If the brother is mostly hated, the club would overlook it,” she replied. “Except his club. But who gives a fuck about them?” She smiled.

“I do,” Johnny answered. “I'm pretty loyal to my promises, and one of those was to respect the relationship between a brother and his old lady, even if it failed.”

“I understand.” She smiled. “But do you feel the same when the
brother
,” she emphasized the word brother in a negative way, “is the leader of Hell's Order?”

Johnny sat his glass down and turned to face the woman on his right. For the first time since he'd met her a few days prior, Johnny had full interest in what she had to say. All it'd taken was the knowledge that she was somehow tied to the group he was trying so desperately to find.

How lucky was he that this had landed in his lap? He was trying to find a way to locate them without setting off alarms, and it was hard to find someone with information that was willing to even look at another club member.

Now, he had a bitter ex-wife who wanted him and didn't know his ties to her ex-husband. He couldn't have asked for a better fate.

“I see that changed your opinion,” she smirked.

“Yes,” Johnny agreed with a nod. “Drastically.”

“I thought so,” she answered. “Interested in people talking to you now?”

Her comment worried him. Was she setting him up? Did she know what to say to get to him?

“What do you mean?”

“I presume you blew me off based on the fact I'm an old lady.” She smiled. “Now that you know, you don't care about an oath in regards to my ex-husband, maybe you aren't so keen to blow me off.”

Johnny smiled. She knew nothing. She just overvalued her place in his world and undervalued his lack of interest; but, it turns out she was right because in that moment not even Beth could top Velvet for the woman he most wanted to talk to.

Grabbing another drink, Johnny led Velvet to a table in the corner. Over the course of ordering some food and sharing a meal together, he initiated a relationship that she would go for. In other words, he teased and toyed with her and touched her as they talked.

It was like taking candy from a baby. She just opened up and gave it to him.

“Why would anyone let you go,” he asked seductively, as he kissed her.

“He didn't.” She laughed. “I left him. He was sadistic.”

Johnny nodded and pondered how well he knew the sadism that was involved in Hell's Order.

“He wanted me to be okay with the shit he was planning. I wasn't.” She looked away. “I'm still not. But I don't have a fucking clue what to do about it.”

“He told you club plans?” Johnny asked.

“No,” she answered. “I overheard them. I thought he was cheating. So, I had something put on his phone to record shit. I wanted proof.”

Johnny was amazed that any old lady would stand up to a Hell's Order member. She was ballsy. He had to give her credit for that.

“And you found he was?”

“Not at all. Well, I guess now he is.” She smiled a weak smile. “I found out he's planning to attack an innocent person.”

Johnny's hair stood on end along the back of his neck. Had she just said what he thought? He could only hope she could give him the information he'd wanted all this time. When? Where? How was he going to attack her?

It was possible that Velvet meant someone else; but, the timing made it seem right.

“Attack? Innocent?” Johnny acted like he had no clue what was going on or she was talking about.

“Some chick,” she rolled her eyes. “Honestly, I don't know her name; but, her man was involved with a club that hurt one of my ex's brothers, and she is now involved with another dude that they want. Badly. So they are going after her.”

Johnny felt his breath go. She was talking about Beth. He knew that now. A few more of the right moves and words and he'd find out the plan.

“Wow,” he exclaimed as his hand moved up her thigh. “That's crazy.”

Pretending a lack of interest was the only way to go. If she knew how badly he wanted this information, she wouldn't give it so easily. She had to think his desire was her.

“Yea,” she replied and slid her hand inside the zipper of his jeans. As she stroked his shaft, he had to envision Beth to get hard. “It's beyond crazy. That douche was planning to go to her and romance her. Make her fall for him and then bring her here to do the job.” She laughed, but it was a hesitant and guilty laugh. “When I told him I wasn't okay with that,” she stopped for a moment, “he told me to get the fuck over it. That he was honoring his brother.”