Page 23 of Brandishing Betrayals (Devil’s Psychos MC #2)

Maya

“ G irl, I don’t know what the fuck to do,” I sighed into the phone.

I had just gotten done telling my older sister the latest news of Hillcrest stalking me and how I was trying to keep everything afloat with my son and our ailing parents.

I was feeling hysterical and getting myself worked up.

“It’s too much. I can’t take it anymore. ”

“It’s okay,” Jenna said. “It’s going to be okay.”

I wished I could believe that, I really did. “Dad’s bills are piling up and Luke just had a damn growth spurt. He’s going to need all new clothes before school starts.” I sniffled as tears welled in my eyes.

I’m such a shitty mom. I can’t even afford new clothes for my son.

“Hey, you don’t need to worry about Dad’s bills. Just let them go,” Jenna advised.

I shook my head. “They’ll stop treating him if we stop paying. You know that, Jenna. You’re a damn doctor.”

“Yeah, and I also know they can’t refuse to care for a patient!

” Jenna shot back. She sighed and I heard her take another deep breath.

“Look sis, I know you moved there wanting to help mom and dad as much as you can, but Dad’s not going to get better from this.

He’s barely hanging on as it is. You should bring in hospice care and relieve some of the burdens and stress from you and mom. ”

“But he’s not dying…hospice won’t come until he’s close to the end. Besides being completely bed bound and nonverbal… he’s not dying.” I was tired of the same argument I’d had countless times with my sister. For being a doctor, Jenna could be completely uncaring sometimes.

“He needs more care than either of you can provide. He should be in a facility,” Jenna said.

“Which we can’t afford and insurance won’t cover.” I rolled my eyes. “Look Jen, I can’t do this right now.”

“I’m sorry Maya. I wish I could help more.”

“Don’t worry about it, sister. I’ll take care of it.” I didn’t know how, but as usual, I’d figure it out.

“You should really talk to the police or your guys about what’s happening with Hillcrest. I might not agree with what they do, but they’d be the ones to help.”

I shook my head again. She could not go to my guys about Dax Hillcrest. It would only cause more problems across the board for all of us—which was the last thing we needed. “Maybe,” I conceded, placating my sister.

“Are you still coming up here next weekend?”

“Yep.” I didn’t know how I’d afford the gas and whatever else we’d need up north, but I would make it happen. I knew Luke was looking forward to seeing his old friends.

“Alright. I’ll see you then. I love you,” Jenna said. As usual, she just brushed things under the rug, acting like they weren’t as big a deal to her as they were to me.

“I love you too,” I told my sister before I hung up the phone. I felt more dejected than I had before I’d spoken with Jenna. My sister just didn’t get it.

I left my room and headed out into the living room to find my mother sitting in the recliner. It was rare that my mother left my father’s side—he often got agitated if he was left alone for too long.

“Was that Jenna?” my mother asked, cutting right to the chase.

“Yeah,” I said, taking a seat on the couch across from her.

My mother hummed noncommittedly, not looking away from the TV. “Are you still going up there next weekend?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“And what of Luke and his father?”

I ran my hands through my messy curls, pulling my hair from the roots. I was so sick of these damn conversations. “Marcos knows we’re going up there.”

My mother tsked under her breath.

I rolled my eyes. “What?”

“I just think he should be with his father. He’s been without him for too long.”

I gritted my teeth. “And I’m not keeping him from Marcos. We’re going to see Jenna for three days: Friday through Sunday.” I spelled it out for my mother, trying to reign in my temper.

Again, my mother hummed.

“I gotta go, Mom. I’ll be back later.” I stood from the couch, not caring that it was almost eight o’clock at night. I couldn’t stay in the house a moment longer.

I went back to my bedroom, threw on some jeans and put a bra on under my T-shirt, then grabbed my keys. I didn’t know where I was going, but I couldn’t stay home a moment longer. Thankfully Luke was out with Marcos, doing who knew what, but I was glad for the alone time.

I needed a fucking drink and drove down the road to a local hole in the wall place on the boarder of Mourningside and Creekton. It probably wasn’t the smartest place to go, considering the location, but it was close to home, and the drinks were cheap.

I walked in the mostly empty bar and looked around, remembering it was a Monday night, and most people didn’t go to bars on Monday nights—other than regulars.

I took a seat at the bar and quickly ordered a whisky neat from the rough and tumble older man that was bartending that evening.

Prison tattoos covered his hands and neck, and a gray scruffy beard covered his jawline.

He had a screwed gaze that screamed, fuck around and find out.

I had no interest in finding out. Thank you very much .

The bartender had just set down my glass of whisky when the door chimed behind me. I didn’t even look over my shoulder, just pulled open my phone and opened the Kindle app. I’d nurse my whisky, read some smut, and go home when I felt calmer.

“Well holy shit!” a female voice called out from behind me. “If it ain’t Maya Henderson in the flesh.”

I looked up from my phone and turned to see over my shoulder. “Jesus fuck,” I laughed. “Slade fucking Cooper.”

“Hot damn, girl,” Slade said and walked right toward me. She had a wide grin on her beautiful face. The woman was utterly gorgeous with long silky black hair that fell to her waist in a smooth sheet and the most piercing green eyes.

I slid off my stool and greeted my old friend with a hug. “You look amazing,” I said, as I hugged the woman tightly.

“So do you! It’s been too long!” Slade gushed. “What are you doing here?” She asked as she pulled away.

“I moved back, in January,” I admitted, instantly feeling bad that I never informed my friend. We had been close at one point. Slade had done all my tattoos over the years, but in the last eight months since I’d been back, I hadn’t had time to reach out.

“No shit?” Slade said, eyebrows raised in shock, as she slid onto the barstool next to where I had been sitting.

“Yeah.” I sighed, and took a seat. “My parent’s got into a bad car accident last fall. I had to move in with them to help out.”

“Ah shit. I’m so sorry, girl.” Slade’s green eyes crinkled in the corners; sympathy evident on her face.

I nodded and sipped my whisky.

“The usual, Slade?” A gruff voice asked.

I looked up to see the bartender standing before us.

“Yes please, Bobby. Thank you.” Slade grinned at the bartender before she turned back to me. “Drinking alone on a Monday night, that’s gotta sum up how things are going lately, though?”

I chuckled sardonically. “Pretty much.” I took a sip of my whisky and shook my head. “What brings you to a bar on a Monday night?”

Slade chuckled and shrugged. “Nothing as depressing as you, probably.” She smirked and bumped my shoulder with mine.

I laughed and shook my head.

“Monday’s I usually meet my dad here after we close up the shop. We’re just down the road. He was finishing up with a client and I finished up early. Figured I come down here, read a book and have a drink before the old man met me.”

“Funny, I thought I’d have a drink and read a book, while I cooled off and tried not to feel so damn pathetic.”

“Ouch. Let me guess, living at home as an adult, sucks?”

“So fucking much,” I groaned. “I’ve never been close with my parents; you fucking know that. But my mom is just like oblivious to everything, and trying to balance her judgement and Marcos’s anger, not to mention fucking Stone’s… it’s rough.”

Slade sighed. “Maybe you should just fucking tell them the truth then.” She shot me a pointed look that cut right through me.

“And what will that accomplish? You were there back then; you know what was happening! And he knows I’m back. He’s already fucking starting again.” I choked on a sob, before I quickly swallowed it and took another sip of my drink, throwing back what was left in the glass.

“Jesus fuck,” Slade groaned. “Dude…you gotta tell the guys. Killer and Stone are gonna flip the fuck out, and Dagger man… he’s gonna go ballistic.”

“I know.” I rubbed a hand over my face, thinking how weird it felt to hear Slade use Marcos’s road-name, before I held up my empty glass for the bartender. Bobby made quick work of setting down another whisky neat before me, while I contemplated my life choices.

“What’s he doing?” Slade asked.

“Leaving flowers on my car, sending them to my work. He confronted me at the mall the other day.” I sighed and sipped my drink.

“Dude.” Slade turned abruptly to face me.

She wrapped her hand around my shoulder and squeezed it until I turned to look at her.

“You’re in over your head. Please, please, talk to Marcos about this.

Talk to your guys, explain it to them. Hillcrest is not to be fucked with.

You haven’t been here in the last ten years; the man’s grown more unhinged since you’ve left. He is dangerous.”

I frowned as I took in the utter fear that came over Slade’s beautiful face.

It wasn’t like my friend to be scared of anything or anyone.

She tattooed outlaw bikers on the regular, her shop was set up between the two territories and when the Ravager Knights and Devil’s Psychos had beef last year, she had taken sides and told the Psychos she wouldn’t be tatting anyone while they were at war with the Knights.

It had been a bold move, but Slade didn’t give a damn.

To see her so pale and on edge, it sent a shiver down my spine.

I didn’t get a chance to respond, though.

The door chimed, singling someone entering the bar, and both of us looked over to see a tall man with a small potbelly walk in.

He was bald with piercing green eyes that matched Slade’s.

“Yeah girl,” I said absently as I watched Art Cooper walk over.

“Hey, Mr. Cooper.” I smiled up at the man.

“Well, hey-hey!” Art grinned broadly. “Maya Henderson! How you doing, girlie?”

“Doing great!” I put on a bright smile, though I didn’t feel it in my soul. “I was just heading out though! I’ll have to come by the shop soon.”

“Yeah you do that girlie!” Art smiled.

I threw down some cash to cover my drinks and a tip for Bobby.

I wrapped my arm around Slade’s shoulders in a sideways hug and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“Always good to see you. I love you. I’ll see you soon.

” I walked away before Slade could reply, throwing open the bar door and heading out into the night.