Page 24 of Chef
Damian
I watch that man, hand dripping blood as he walks away with his group. Damn near all of ‘em looking like they were made at a stamp factory, different versions of the same damn thing.
“It’s OK, brother,” Sniper growls. “We’ve got her back. And yours.”
Straightening, I give him a nod, but my head ain’t fully in it. The club’s got Sage. Got Chef. I’ve got the club. This is the first place I feel like I ever belonged. Ain’t about to let that get fucked up. Which means, I gotta go huntin’.Luckily for me, I got three things from my Maman: charm, a handsome face, and a knack for gettin' people to trust me more than they should.
Pulling up the site from the little card Maman confiscated, I scroll til I find their next show - tomorrow at the school hall. Something feels right dirty about that, preachin’ their poison where our babies go to learn their ABC’s. Just means I got more fuel to burn ‘em all down.
“Yo, you good, man?” Chef asks.
I slap on a grin. “Sagey did good. You’re a lucky man, cher.”
He lets out a long breath, shoulders droppin’. Good. A man like him needs to remember how to breathe or he knots himself up real tight.
“She did so fucking good. She’s different than I remember.”
My brow kicks up. Maman always says my face talks too loud. “Is she different or are you just finally seeing her right?” Chef gives me a slight frown, not quite understanding. “Back then, maybe she showed you soft. Sweet. Easy to love. Now you gettin’ the rest of her.”
Chef looks over his shoulder and watches Sage as she talks on the phone, her head thrown back and her laugh echoin’. His lips turn up all soft like, and I know he’s gonna win her back. Be a hard road, but he’ll do it.
“I loved the Sage I knew,” he says quietly, almost sad like. “But I know I love this Sage more.”
I slap my hand on the counter top. “Good. You love on her, I got shit to do.”
Chef’s eyes narrow. “What shit?”
“I gotta cult crash tomorrow. Imma need Maman’s big guns.”
I hide my smile at the look on Chef’s face, instead spinning on my heel and heading for my bike. I got plans I gotta put in place.
Chapter Nine
Sage
Pulling into the long drive that leads to The Keep has my blood pressure dropping. There’s just something about the way it gently winds, the way the clubhouse comes into view, the playground with Addy, Bree, Greer and Izzy playing on it, that makes me feel like I’m coming home. I marvel how it’s only been a matter of weeks and it already feels like that. It probably helps that the first face I see as I park up is Joe’s. Her wide grin and goofy wave has me giggling as I wave back.
“Hey hey, lady, whatcha doin’?” I ask as I throw open my door.
“Just waiting for my girl. Loyal is out on date night with Vex -”
“It’s 3pm?”
“They’re old,” Joe shrugs with an impish grin.
“Right. So what’s the plan, chica?” I ask, hooking my handbag strap over my shoulder.
Joe’s eyes twinkle as she hooks her arm in mine and starts to lead me down the path, toward the cabins. “Damian and Justice are off listening to that preacher man -”
I freeze in my tracks, “Justice is with him?”
“Yeah. Damian has gone to like three rallies so far. Justice is going as backup. He’s worried Damian will be pulled in.”
I stare at Joe. I don’t know Damian as well as Joe, but he doesn’t seem like the type of guy to get caught up in something like that. She must see the look on my face because she laughs.
“I get it girl. Damian aint gonna do anything Damian don’t wanna do.” She tugs me a little, to get me moving again. “Anyway, with them away Prez has asked if I, along with my girls, would like to decorate two more cabins. With all this stuff happening, we may need more accommodation.”
“Lead the way, Joe Joe.”
