Page 21 of Diesel's Perseverance
“I didn’t know that about your parents. Freddy always talked about what a wonderful marriage they had. They seemed nice when we’d go visit them in Hayes.”
“Yeah, he was always the delusional one. I couldn’t get outta there fast enough.”
“Hayes seems like a nice town.”
“It sucked. It was scorching in the summer and freezing in the winter. We were only about ten miles from the Nebraska border, which the townspeople would tell anyone who’d come through Hayes. I never got that. There was a grocery store, a Dollar General, and one small street with businesses on both sides as a downtown area. The only good thing about that desolate town was the park by the Rider River, where I’d hang out with my friends and smoke weed. On the weekends, I’d take a chick down there to have some fun.”
“Freddy doesn’t feel the same way you do. He told me so many stories about his days in Hayes.”
“Like I said, he was delusional as fuck. He always saw things the way he wanted them and not the way they really were.”
The waiter placed a plate of spicy links and beef brisket in front of her and a steaming heap of ribs in front of Diesel.
“It smells incredible,” she said, cutting into one of the links. She placed the morsel in her mouth and chewed slowly. “This is delicious.”
“Best barbecue in the valley,” he said before picking up a rib.
“I feel bad that you’re not staying in your room. I can sleep on the couch. You should be back in your room.”
“I will be for the next few days. More out-of-town members are coming, and they’ll be crashing at the club, so all the rooms are gonna be full.” He took a big bite out of the rib. “AndI’llstay on the couch.” His eyes bore into hers. “And that’s not open for discussion.”
They ate, drank, and talked for an hour, avoiding any conversation about how Diesel would find Freddy. A gnawing feeling in Myla’s gut told her he was working to find his brother, but she wasn’t included in the plan.
“Are you ready to head back?” he asked after signing the bill.
Nodding, she pushed back her chair and stood up. The hostess gave him a big hug that made Myla grit her teeth. She opened the door and stepped into the night air. A few seconds later, Diesel came up from behind her.
They walked silently over to the SUV. A few stars scattered across the night sky. The yellowish light of the streetlamp shone down on the parking lot as miller moths erratically fluttered around it. Myla slipped into the car and tucked in her legs before Diesel closed the door.
“What kind of music do you like?” he asked, pulling out of the space.
“Pop, some metal, hard-rock, fifties, mellow rock, country—I’m pretty eclectic.”
“What about Bruce Springsteen?”
“Sure.”
He plugged the USB cable into his phone, and a few seconds later, Springsteen’s gruff voice sang, “Born to Run.”
Myla closed her eyes and let the melody and lyrics wash over her. She felt safe for the first time since that awful night when Freddy took off, leaving a bloodbath in his wake. Diesel had that effect on her. She knew nothing bad would happen when he was around, and the panic that always threatened to spill out of her was subdued in his presence.
Myla’s heart sank a bit when he pulled into the clubhouse’s parking lot. She wished they could’ve kept driving all night. Loud music spilled from the building’s doors and windows, and more people milled around outside, smoking cigarettes and weed, drinking beer and whiskey.
“Are you going to hang out at the party?” she asked.
“Yeah, but first, I’ll take you to the room.”
“I can go by myself.” She scooted out of the car.
“No way. The guys in there will take you for a club or party girl. Just stick next to me.”
Diesel grasped her hand. A tingle ran along her skin where his warm fingers touched hers. She glanced up at him, but he looked straight ahead as they approached the front door.
Inside, the air was hot and thick. Two women with glassy eyes danced provocatively on a makeshift stage. A group of bikerswhoopedand clapped, their laughter sounding like tin in her ears. Several men greeted Diesel with back slaps. She ignored the wolfish stares as she sliced through throngs of leather-clad men. Myla looked around for the man she’d seen earlier, the one who looked familiar. She spotted him in a corner, his pants to his ankles and legs spread wide. A blonde head bobbed between them. Suddenly, the biker’s dark eyes locked onto hers, and a shiver ran down her spine as a chill crept through her skin.I know him. He knows me. Something’s off here.
Then Diesel led her to the stairway, and she followed him up to the next floor. When they entered his room, relief spread through her.
“Keep the door locked. I have a key, so if someone knocks, don’t answer, okay?”
