Page 56 of The Devil's Revelation
Again, realizing my discomfort, Rose assures me, “I know my boys have sex, Izzy. Nothing to be embarrassed about.” Then she grins wickedly. “You’ll be hearing stories about my man and I, so it’s only fair.”
“Hearing being the operative word there,” Sage says drily. “They give King and I a run for our money on who can be the loudest when getting busy.”
I blink and glance at Syn. Syn rolls her eyes. “It’s true. Everyone around here goes at it like rabbits. So far the only ones in relationships are King and Sage and Bullet and Rose, but the rest of them get busy with the club girls and it’s like a free for all around here. So if you don’t like public sex, or loud sex, best to stay in your room and put on some noise cancelling headphones.”
I’m not a prude, but I definitely am not one to just watch people have sex either. “Hmm,” is all I say, because really, what else is there?
Sage snickers. “We’re scaring her. Alright, I’ll drop the subject of sex for now, but when you and Torque finally hook up, you best be ready to spill the details. I’ll get you drunk if I have to.”
I slowly nod. “So what’s this I hear about you guys mooning a cop car and going to jail?” I ask, changing the subject.
Syn groans. “Here we go,” she mutters.
The next hour is full of wild stories and griping about the men from Sage and Rose. Ranging from them not carrying their favorite drinks, to treating them like menaces to society. I’m almost sorry I asked.
So I’m extremely grateful when my phone rings and I see it’s Zeb calling. “I have to take this,” I tell the girls.
They all stop and Rose eyes me for a moment. “You know who it is?”
I nod. “It’s my former boss from back in Missouri, and well, he’s kind of like a surrogate father.”
Rose nods. “Don’t tell him anything he shouldn’t know, Izzy,” she warns me softly. “This isn’t something you want to bring too many people into, okay?”
I nod before swiping my finger across the screen and heading for the stairs that lead up to my room. “Hey,” I say brightly.
Silence on the other end. “What’s wrong?” Zeb demands.
“What? Nothing’s wrong,” I say in what I hope is a surprised voice.
“Don’t try and bullshit me, Isabelle Mills,” Zeb scolds. “You never answer the phone that chipper, and when you do, something’s wrong and you don’t want me to know about it. Like you did that time you fucked up the paint on that old Chevy you were working on.”
Fuck.I let myself into my room and move to sit on the bed. “I didn’t fuck up the paint,” I protest, trying to distract him. “That was the stupid intern you brought in that didn’t watch what she was doing and scratched the paint with her keys. Maybe if you hired people with brains instead of giant boobs you wouldn’t have had to repaint the entire thing.”
“Don’t try to distract me,” Zeb growls at me. “I got a feeling in my gut and I never ignore that feeling. So spill it, little girl, or I’ll be on the first flight down there.”
I sigh. “I lost my job at the shop,” I lie. “But I might have another one lined up.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Their loss then,” he finally answers. “You sure that’s all it is? I might give you a hard time, but if you need help Izzy, you know I’ll be there.”
“I know you will, Zeb,” I say softly, a soft pang in my heart. “I guess I never really told you this, but I really appreciate you taking a chance on me and being there for me.”
“You’re not making me feel any better that something isn’t going on, Izzy,” he grumbles at me. “I’d have never looked your way if you didn’t have the skills. That’s what I saw and I wanted to mold you into one of the best. You being a girl didn’t matter. Though it worked in your favor when you pissed me off. Didn’t want to have a harassment complaint lodged on my head.”
I chuckle because we both know that’s bullshit. Zeb treats his staff all equally, and that was why it is one of the best and most sought after places to work. “Yeah, but you didn’t know then that I didn’t have anyone. You and the guys at the shop there were my only friends for the longest time.”
“Well at least I was anyway.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Izzy, I need you to promise me that you’ll tell me if you’re in danger. I’ll help, you know that.”
“I know,” I murmur, my heart aching. I miss Zeb, and I miss having his support there every day. “I promise I will call you if I need you. Just make sure you can get your walker up on the plane.”
“Smartass,” he snorts. “You’re lucky I can’t reach through the phone and beat your ass for that. I’m in my prime, thank you very much.”
“That why you’re chasing women that could be your daughter?” I snicker.
“Like hell,” he growls. “I don’t have time for that bullshit. I want some, I got a hand or a list of numbers I can call.”
I curl my lip in distaste. “TMI, Zeb,” I groan.
“That’s what you get for being a smartass,” he says smugly. “Now, tell me about this new shop.”
