Rely on Me - Elizabeth Knox Page 0,34
wasn’t for him and Mugshot showing up.
Mammoth stops at the red light in front of us, and glances to me. “Mouse, you don’t need to thank me for that. I hated hearing you that scared. You have no fuckin’ clue how much I hated it.”
I bite my bottom lip, staring into his deep hazel eyes and finally something hits me. It’s like I’ve been blind to it this entire time. He wouldn’t have come if he didn’t care. For fuck’s sake. He asked me out on the plane, made his intentions clear as day. “You keep lookin’ at me like that, Mouse, and I don’t know what I’ll do.” He smirks devilishly as his eyes drift back to the road.
We go another two blocks before he makes a left and we pull up to a massive building with a mural on the brick. It’s a skull mixed with swords and a couple other things. At the bottom it says Iron Vex MC.
“We’re here.”
Mammoth exits the vehicle first and I get out next, meeting him at the front of the car. A garage bay opens and out comes a woman. She’s about five foot-five maybe, is thin with long, dark brown hair. There are some streaks of blonde coming down through the bottom, maybe from a previous highlight. She wears a deep red hoodie and her leather vest is over the jacket. “Man, you flew like hell to get up here.” She jokes to Mammoth.
She breaks the distance between us and is maybe a foot or so away from Mammoth and I. Extending her hand, she greets me. “I’m Boss. I’d say it’s nice to meet you . . . but it would be better under different circumstances.”
“You’re sure right about that.” I comment. “I’m Riva.”
“Riva. Beautiful name. I take it you’re Mammoth’s ol’ lady?” Boss inquires. I don’t get the feeling she’s being nosey she’s just making assumptions.
From the corner of my eye I can tell his eyes are on me. I smile, “Yeah, that would be me.” Though as I speak, I look over to him.
In all my life I’ve never had a man risk so much for me, putting my needs above his own. It’s been mind-blowing, terrifying, and exciting all in one. I don’t know what’s going to happen with him, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to give him a chance. He’s done so much for me. How could I not?
“Cute. Alright, come on inside. It’s freezing out here.” Boss says, leading us in through the garage bay she hustles up a couple stairs and taps on a button attached to the wall. The garage bay we just came in through closes and Mammoth sticks behind me.
We walk into some sort of bar area where there are tons of people. I spot women in short shorts even though it’s almost Christmas. Maia had told me back in Baltimore how there were clubwhores and then porn stars at their club. She explained she came with the porn stars from a whorehouse out west, but how she didn’t want to be in adult films. I wonder if these girls are clubwhores.
“Ooo, who’s the new girl? She’s gorgeous.” One girl with cotton candy blue hair tells me. She has mocha skin and dark brown eyes.
Boss chuckles, “Relax, Devi. She’s claimed.”
Devi looks over to Mammoth. “You big toughies always have to take the pretty ones. She could be a damn princess you know.”
“She already is in my eyes.” Mammoth responds.
“Shit. Smooth talker,” Devi giggles, heading back over to the bar with a few other people.
“I got you an appointment with them tomorrow morning. Ten sharp. They requested I be with you.” Boss speaks to Mammoth . . . but who does he have an appointment with?
“Appointment?” I question.
Boss looks to me, then Mammoth. She narrows her eyes. “Now isn’t the time to keep secrets, Mammoth. We’re going to see some friends of mine in the city tomorrow, friends who will help you with your Marielitos problem.”
“Did you just say Marielitos?” A man questions, walking up.
“Ricochet, this is none of your concern. Mind your own business.” Boss says, trying to get him to butt out of our conversation.
Ricochet huffs and goes back to where he was sitting with an older man. The older man has his arm around a woman with rose gold hair. “You two make yourself at home. I had Iris and Faith clean out one of the extra rooms for you two. Um .