Page 19 of Monster
Keeley’s face softened. “Coming up.” With a cheery wave, she flounced behind the counter. “Sit down, I'll bring it over. And once the dinner rush is over, you can tell me all about how you met.”
“Isn’t she going to take our order?” Angela looked perplexed. Closing my hand around hers, I led her to my usual spot. “No, she doesn’t need to. Keeley has a gift. She will bring you exactly what you need.”
15
ANGELA
I couldn't helpbut watch the blonde woman as she moved around behind the counter with a happy, easy-going smile on her face. It wasn’t put on, that smile, it was genuine. She liked people, she liked her job and the people around her liked her back. Not because she was overly sexy but because she was nice.
I could see men finding her attractive though, and I could see women finding her beautiful. She had a wholesome look about her with her curly blonde hair and upturned nose. Keeley was the kind of woman I had always made feel small because she was so different to me.
She was different from Monster as well. I tore my eyes from her and fixed them on him. “She’s your family?”
Monster stared at me, folding his hands together on the table. He didn't say a word.
“She’s not what I was expecting.” I finished lamely. I didn’t like the way he was looking at me. “Pretty girl.”
“Yeah, she is.” His eyes flicked towards his cousin and he smiled. He had a true affection for her. Would he look at me like that one day? Or would this thing between us stay the way we had said it must? All about sex and money. I had been fine with that. But part of me, a tiny part that I stuffed right down and ignored, craved having someone look at me like that.
“She’s a good girl, sweet as candy. The total opposite of me.”
“I bet she’s really popular with the Savage Sons.” I could already imagine it. All that sweetness wrapped up in those curves, the bikers must eat her alive on a nightly basis. Maybe that was why she had such a spring in her step.
Monster scowled. I realised too late that I had said something wrong. “The Sons don’t touch her. EVER.”
The venom in his voice made me lean back. There was obviously a story there. My eyes flicked up to her again and then back down to him. “Ok. Any particular reason why? Or are they just afraid of you?” That was a very real possibility. Monster was a scary son of a bitch and he seemed even more so when he was defending his cousin.
“There’s a reason, but it’s not one I will ever share with you, Angela. All you need to know is that she is off-limits and she is to be treated with respect.”
“I get that, of course, I will treat her kindly. She's your cousin. All I’m saying is that a girl with a figure like hers. I expected your club brothers to be all over her.” I shrugged.
Monster’s hand lashed out, gripping my fingers and squeezing hard. “The last prospect who tried didn’t get patched in.” His voice had dipped dangerously low and still, he clutched at my fingers. It was becoming painful, my bones crushed together.
“Why?” Tears sprang up in my eyes before I could help myself.
“Because I broke his legs and made sure he would never be able to ride again.”
* * *
The loud rumbleof bikes filled the silence that stretched between us after his outburst. But I was betting that the sound wasn’t uncommon in those parts. The Savage Sons were such a huge part of the town.
“Keeley,” a deep masculine voice boomed out as the door of the diner bounced open and recoiled.
And in poured a group of men. All wearing the same kind of leather waistcoat as Monster did. I recognised a few of them from the bar.
With a giggle and a smile, Monster's pretty cousin was back around the counter and being hugged tight by a heavily muscled and even more heavily tattooed man who literally lifted her from her feet and swung her around.
“Cyber,” she said before calling them all by name as they hugged her. By the time they put her down, her cheeks were flushed. “Monster is over there with his…” Her voice dropped. I couldn't see her face once her back was turned to me, but her voice didn’t seem happy. Not that I could blame her for that. The girl didn’t know me and even if she did, I was betting she wouldn’t like me anyway.
Nice, that had been my first impression of her and Monster was fond of her, but I couldn't see us being best friends. I was betting there was a catty side to Miss Keeley. No one could be that sweet all the damn time.
“Yeah, we heard.” The man with the tattoos on his head lowered his voice a notch. His tone was unreadable. “Fang filled us in. That's why we are here. Celebration cheesecake.”
“Or pie?” Another threw over his shoulder as he traipsed towards us. “You do have pie, right?”
“I have pie, Havoc.” Keeley shook her head. “I always keep pie for you and Darcie. Where is she?”
“Coming.” The man called Havoc slipped opposite me, taking a seat next to Monster. He didn’t bother asking if he could join us. I guessed the Savage Sons weren’t big on manners. “With the others. Fang as well.”
