Page 78 of Diesel's Perseverance
“True, but we’re pretty good at keeping certain information quiet.”
Then the memory of the biker at the party in Pinewood Springs skittered across her mind.
“Oh, damn, I forgot to tell you. There was a biker at that party you guys had a couple of days after I moved in who looked familiar. I couldn’t place where I’d seen him, though.”
The veins at his temple strained. “Was he an Insurgent?”
“I haven’t seen him since that night, so I know it wasn’t anyone from your club.”
“Have you seen him at this clubhouse?”
“No, but then I haven’t seen many of the people here. I just came in yesterday.”
“What did he look like?”
“I’m not too sure. It was dark and smoky in the great room that night. I only noticed him because I felt someone staring at me. When I looked around, our eyes met. A glimpse of recognition ran through my head, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before.” She paused to take a sip of water from a bottle on the nightstand. “I saw him again when you and I got back from dinner. I looked around for him and saw him with a woman. He must’ve felt me watching him because he looked up, and our eyes locked. It was just for a few seconds, and then we went upstairs. His eyes were dark, his face was long and kind of narrow, and he creeped me out. I felt like something was off, but I couldn’t say what. It was just a feeling, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. It’s your gut, and it’s never wrong. He must have dark hair if his eyes were dark.”
“Probably. As I said, the room was dim and filled with smoke. I wish I could be more helpful.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“It didn’t seem important. After we entered the room, I thought the guy looked like someone I’d seen before. The guy at the club that night looked like a biker with the leather and stuff, so I figured I’d made a mistake since I’d never met a biker before coming to Pinewood Springs. Were all the men Insurgents that night?”
“No,” Diesel said, shaking his head. “Some were from other chapters and support clubs.”
“Except for the San Diego club, were the others all local?”
“No. Some were from our chapters in Idaho, Montana, and Kansas. The ones from different MCs were from Southwestern Colorado, but I can’t believe the dude would be a Night Rebel. Maybe a Fallen Slayer or a Grave Fiend…” his voice trailed off like he was thinking aloud.
“As I said, I’ve never met an outlaw in my life, so I’m probably mistaken.” Myla sensed that what she’d recounted bothered him a great deal. “Are you okay?”
“Just trying to put some pieces of a fucked-up puzzle together in my head.” He turned his back to her and gazed out the window.
“I guess I should’ve told you. I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You have to understand I live in a world where nothing is a coincidence. That guywassomeone you’d seen before—your gut told you that. The last time you saw him, he wasn’t wearing his cut or jacket. A lot of us don’t wear our colors all the time.”
“But youlooklike a biker even without the leather and vests.”
Diesel looked over his shoulder and winked. “Thanks for the compliment.”
“I’m serious… and you’re welcome.” A smile danced across her lips.
“A dude in jeans and a T-shirt could be anyone. I mean, go to a rock show, and you’ll see a sea of black T-shirts with stuff on the front. When you’d seen this guy, do you remember if he was with Freddy?”
“I’m sure he was. I think it may have been at the clinic.” Myla tapped the side of her head. “Yes, I’m sure it was at the clinic.”
“That’s good,” Diesel said, turning around. He leaned against the window sill. “Was it when Freddy worked solo or when he hooked up with Cano?”
“I’m pretty sure it was when Cano came into the picture. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I’d seen this guy. He wasn’t doing anything or didn’t seem all that important, he was just there in the background.”
“He was doing plenty,” he gritted. “I’ve got to get together with some of the brothers to go over some things.”
“About what I told you?”
“And other shit.”
