Page 19 of Diesel's Perseverance
“And you’ve never had a serious relationship?”
“Nope.”
“I’m surprised some woman hasn’t snatched you up.”
He glanced over at her. “I’m not looking to be snatched up.”
“Doesn’t it get lonely?”
He smiled. “I got plenty of chicks giving me attention. No problem there.”
The images of the scantily-clad women at the party and the club girls who lived at the clubhouse popped into her mind. Most of the clubhouse women didn’t talk to her. They glared at Myla and whispered things behind her back but never spoke to her. They acted like she was an unwelcome intruder in their world, and she supposed she was to a certain extent.
As they entered the town, they passed several people biking and jogging with dogs.
“You like barbecue?” Diesel asked.
“Yes,” she replied as they passed a few souvenir shops. “We were supposed to go on a family vacation here when I was a kid. My parents promised me, my brothers, and my sisters, we’d go if we were good, but we never went.”
“Maybe you all weren’t that good.” He joked.
A faint smile whispered across her lips. “That wasn’t it. My parents were so fucked up they could never get their act together.”
His fingers lightly brushed over her hand. “That must’ve sucked.”
She shrugged. “It’s whatever.”
“Do your parents live in Denver?”
Myla turned away and watched the shops and restaurants go by. “I don’t know if my dad does. He just split one day and never contacted any of us again. My mom does. She’s on husband number”—she racked her brain for a few seconds—“five, I think, or it could be six. I can’t remember.”
“Fuck,” he said.
She shrugged again. “I haven’t seen my mom in years.”
Diesel placed his hand on hers and squeezed it. “Parents can do a number on kids.”
“It is what it is,” she said, pulling her hand away. “So what’s this barbecue place like?”
“It’s one of the best in town. The club owns it.”
“Really? I didn’t think outlaw clubs owned legitimate businesses. I read that the one-percenters are into strip bars, prostitution, firearm sales, and drug manufacturing and dealing. Is your club into anything besides owning a restaurant?”
Myla saw the slight stiffening of Diesel’s shoulders, and the fine lines around his eyes deepened.
“I don’t talk about club business.”
“It’s not allowed?”
“Club business stays inside the club. Change the conversation.”
I hit a nerve, for sure.The last thing Myla wanted was to get on his wrong side. He was the only one she could trust at that moment. “Sorry, I can’t keep up withallyour club rules.”
“It’s easy. There are only three things citizens need to remember: don’t ask about club business, don’t talk to members unless spoken to, and show respect at all times.”
“Got it.”
The vehicle swung into a large parking lot, and he took a spot in front of a sign that read “Members.” Myla shuddered at the thought of what his club did to non-members who disregarded the warning.
