Page 25 of Brandishing Betrayals (Devil’s Psychos MC #2)

Maya

I stretched in bed as my alarm blared obnoxiously on my phone from the nightstand. I reached out blindly, grabbing the cell and snoozing the alarm. I needed a few more minutes. It wasn’t like me to go out on a Monday night, let alone drink.

I remembered passing out on the couch while waiting for Luke, then nothing else. “Luke!” I called out in a panic, remembering.

Luke stumbled into my room. “What, mom?”

“What time did you get home?”

“Late. Dad tucked me in. He carried you to bed and was tucking you in when I woke up. I brushed my teeth and he tucked me back in.” Luke climbed under the covers next to me and curled up.

I smiled and pulled him into my arms, cuddling my baby. “He carried me to bed?”

“Yep.”

I didn’t know what to think of it. Marcos was acting different since Jason’s assault. I hadn’t seen Jason either in the weeks since that fateful dinner. It was all confusing and made my head hurt to think about.

I tried not to think about them. I tried not to think about a lot these days: Marcos and the guys, Dax and his threats, and the money I would need to come up with for my father’s continued treatment. It was all too much and I was beginning to feel like I was sinking.

I just needed to get through the rest of this week, then come Friday I would be headed north to Chicago for a weekend with my sister. I needed that very much right now.

“Start getting ready for camp, alright? Today’s the first day of football, so make sure your bag is ready to go: water bottle, snack, all of that.” I hugged him tighter to me, before I let him go and climbed out of bed.

“Yeah, mom.”

My head swam as I stood up, alluding the hangover I was clearly sporting.

It was going to be a long day.

I was exhausted by the time I pulled into the parking lot later that day. I’d gone home after work and changed my clothes. I helped my mother cook dinner and ate a small salad before I left to go pick up Luke from practice at six. I would wait to eat dinner with him.

The football field that the Panthers organization used was owned by Mourningside Park District.

It was located about ten minutes from the house in one of those outdoor multi-sport complexes with multiple baseball, soccer, and football fields.

There was also a skate park, playground, tennis courts, and badminton courts on site.

It made finding the right field to be at confusing.

I had given Marcos a detailed site plan of the park that I’d found online, and labeled the football field by number, I even highlighted the closest parking to the fields—anything to make it easier for him to drop off Luke to practice on time.

By the time I parked in the lot closest to the field Luke was currently playing on, I had five minutes to spare. I got out of the car and walked over the field, searching for not only Luke, but also to see if Marcos was still there.

Dread curled in my stomached when I found Stone leaning against the side of the bleachers, one booted foot crossed over the other.

His arms were crossed as he took in the kids practicing, the gray T-shirt he wore under his black leather cut stretched across his muscular biceps.

A black baseball cap adorned his head, and mirrored aviators covered his eyes from the blazing summer sun.

He looked fucking hot as hell, and butterflies fluttered in my belly as I slowly walked toward the field.

Exhausted and nursing a hangover still, the last thing I wanted was to deal with Jason and his bullshit. I looked around, frowning when I didn’t find Marcos anywhere. Ignoring Jason, I walked right on past him without sparing him a glance, on my way to the front of the bleachers.

“Maya.” Stone’s low voice sent a shiver down my spine as it always did.

I didn’t stop, though. I scanned the bleachers of the all the waiting parents and found a large empty space halfway up. I took a seat looking out at the field, as the boys ran around.

Heavy footsteps sounded from behind me, as someone walked down the bleachers from the top. My bench sagged as someone took a seat next to me. I looked up, just as Dagger’s heavy, ring covered hand landed on my thigh.

I arched an eyebrow at him, ignoring his hand, and waited.

He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Hi, Little Dreamer. It’s been a while.”

I rolled my eyes and turned back to the field, brushing him off. I didn’t know what kind of games him and Stone had planned, or what he had roped Nico into, but I wasn’t interested.

Thankfully the coach seemed to be wrapping things up on field. All the boys were huddled up around him, each down on a knee, listening.

“I get you not talking to him, but why me?” Nico asked.

I sighed and shrugged a shoulder. “I’m tired, Nic. What are you doing here?”

“We came to see Luke practice. Marcos was having dinner with Kara tonight, so we offered to stay and watch his first practice.”

I frowned. “You don’t have to, though. Coach said parents can drop off and pick up.”

Nico squeezed my thigh. “We wanted to. We don’t get much time with him.”

Guilt tore through me at his words. It was always fucking guilt when I thought about leaving them ten years ago, about keeping Luke a secret from them. I had once thought they’d be my happily ever after . Funny how life turned out sometimes.

The coach ended practice right then and all the boys on the field turned for their bags lined up near the bench. I stood up and walked away, letting Nico’s hand slide from my thigh. I walked down the bleachers and toward Luke, who was talking to the coach a minute longer than the other kids had.

I walked closer, hanging back a few feet to give Luke some space. The coach, a bald-headed man with a beard and a start of a pot belly glanced at me and smiled. “You must be mom.” He held out his hand and I smiled and stepped closer, shaking his hand.

“Yes, I’m Maya.”

“Coach Tim Boone. Nice to meet you.” We briefly shook hands. “I was just telling Luke here, for never playing before he’s got talent!”

I beamed. “He gets that from his father.” I ran a hand over Luke’s sweaty hair.

“That’s great! It was Dad who dropped off?”

“Yeah. Do parents need to stay during practice? We work opposite schedules most days,” I said, covering for our situation.

“Oh no, not at all,” Coach Boone said with a smile. “Most parents drop off and come back. First practice we tend to see them stick around, but once the weather turns, they’ll be in their cars.”

I laughed, feeling relieved.

“Good work today, Luke.” Coach Boone patted Luke on the shoulder before he turned to another parent.

“How do you feel?” I asked Luke with a smile.

Luke groaned and started walking toward his bag. “I’m OK, I think.”

I laughed and followed after him. It only took him a minute to strip off his shoulder pads and practice jersey. Chucking everything into his bag along with his helmet and water bottle, Luke was ready to go a moment later.

“Can we get burgers? I’m starving,” Luke commented as we started walking toward the parking lot.

“Not tonight babe. Grandma made food at home.”

“What’d she ma—”

“Hey guys, good practice, Luke!” Nico smiled broadly as he walked over. Jason trailed several feet behind him.

“Thanks! Thanks for coming!” Luke beamed.

“We wouldn’t miss it, dude,” Jason said, moving closer. He held out a hand for a high-five. Luke jumped and slapped his hand against Jason’s.

I sighed internally. Even after what Jason did to me, I still enjoyed seeing Luke close with him, was still happy they had formed a bond in the last eight months.

“Dad said he had to work today?”

“Yeah, a job came up.” Nic nodded. I eyed him, because that’s not what he told me, but I didn’t mention it, because they didn’t owe me anything. For all I knew, Marcos had plans with his sister, then got called away.

“Can we get burgers?” Luke asked again.

“No, Luke. I told you already. Grandma made dinner.” I shook my head.

Luke groaned.

I narrowed my eyes at him, giving him one of those ‘mom looks’ that was meant to put the fear of God into him.

He met my gaze and quickly looked down.

“Say good-bye .”

“Bye guys. You coming to dinner Sunday?” Luke asked.

I froze slightly, realizing how Luke had just played me. Fuck my life .

“Uh, if it’s okay with your mom?” Nico asked, tactful as ever.

I forced a smile on my face. “I did say Sunday family dinners. It’s fine. We’re coming back from Chicago that day. So we’ll probably just do take out.”

“Mom, we should bring home Gino’s East from the city!” Luke exclaimed.

“It’d be cold by the time we got it here,” I sighed, trying to keep him off that. I really didn’t have the cash to buy dinner for everyone. I was barely going to be able to afford the gas to get there and back.

“It’s okay, Luke. We’ll pick up something and bring it. That way it’ll be hot when you get home and your mom doesn’t have to worry about it after a long drive.” Nico smiled and my heart warmed as the relief of not having to pay for another a meal, after what was sure to be an expensive weekend.

While the guys were saying their good-byes, I climbed into the front seat of my car.

I was just closing the door when someone stopped it.

Looking up, I found Jason standing there with his large hand on the top of door, pulling it back toward him.

“Can we talk?” His voice was low, as not to draw attention to us, but I knew Nico was probably helping by distracting Luke, so Jason could confront me.

Fear spiked in my gut. “No.”

“Well then you can listen, while I speak,” Jason said.

Anger twisted through me. “No,” I said again. I turned toward the door, reaching out for the handle without looking up at him.

He stepped between the door and car before I could grab the handle, cause my hand to graze over his dick. Recoiling back, I snapped at him. “What the fuck, Jason?”

Crouching down, Jason got in my face. Fire blazed in his eyes as he braced one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the back of my seat. His slate gray eyes were a storm of emotions as he glared at me.

Feeling caged in, I leaned back as far as I could with the center console behind me, digging into my back. He had successfully cornered me and there was nothing I could do without making a scene—and I did not want to draw Luke’s attention to them.

“Can I just fucking apologize, already?” His voice was low and deep, that sensual fucking tone that always drove me fucking wild.

I was too incensed to listen to him. “No. You can’t.” Period , I thought in my head, reminding myself to keep him away and to keep him upset with me. It was safer that way.

“Well, I’m going to.”

I rolled my eyes and looked away, turning my body toward the steering wheel, as to not have to look at him further.

He grabbed my jaw and forcefully turned my face to his. Stifling a gasp at the raw pain storming in his gray eyes, I gritted my teeth and waited.

“Look, I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I let my anger and rage get the better of me.” The low melodic tone of his voice sent shivers down my spine. With just two sentences, I could feel my resolve cracking. His god damned voice!

Words escaped me, keeping my teeth clenched shut, I didn’t respond.

He watched me carefully, his gaze roaming slowly over my face, taking in every detail as he absently stroked my cheek with his thumb. “I never should have put my hands on you.”

I swallowed thickly, blinking back tears. God, I wanted nothing more than to lean into his touch and have him wrap his arms around me. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t put herself, or Luke in danger like that. I didn’t know who was watching and it seemed like Dax was watching at all times now.

Steeling my resolve, I blinked away tears and took a breath before I responded emotionlessly. “Ok. You apologized. Let me go.”

Jason blinked, his mouth slowly opening. He looked almost dumbfounded by my response and it fucking killed me.

I had to stay strong, though. I HAD to keep them at arm’s length. My family depended on me.

He slowly dropped his hand from my face, his eyes searching mine as I glared at him. Walk away Jason. “Why did you leave, Maya?”

“I already told you—”

“I want the truth,” he demanded. His brow furrowed as stared contemplatively at me.

“I don’t owe you anything. I’m still wearing the bruises you gave me from the last time we had this conversation. Leave me alone. Please .” I emphasized the word almost imploringly.

Jason ground his molars, a vein in his temple popping. His stone-cold stare cut right through me. I couldn’t give in; I stared right back. His eyes roamed over my face, as if trying to see through my lie, or look for any hint that something else must be truth.

I had to stay strong. I couldn’t let them in.

“Mom!” Luke called out. “You ready? I’m starving!”

“Yeah, honey. I’m ready,” I called back to Luke, my eyes still on Jason.

The vein in his jaw popped again as he ground his molars. Ignoring him, I put my key into the ignition and cranked on the car. “This isn’t over,” he ground out, before walking away.

I took a deep breath, then turned to close my door again. Luke climbed into the back seat and was buckling up as Nico squeezed into the doorway before I could close the door. “Jesus,” I gasped.

“Nah, not Jesus. Still Nico.” Nico laughed at his own joke.

I rolled my eyes, despite the small smile pulling at my lips. I’ve never been able to stay angry with Nico for long. Our relationship had always been different than with Marcos or Jason—lighter, more carefree. I had missed him more than anything in the last couple days.

“Have a good night, beautiful,” Nico said, and then pressed a kiss to my cheek before I could stop him.

He stepped away and closed my car door before I could say anything.

I sat there slightly dazed for moment, before Luke spoke up in the backseat. “Ready mom?”

“Yeah, honey,” I said, jerking myself out of my thoughts and put the car in drive. I glanced around to make sure no one was around me before I pulled out of the parking spot, thoroughly ignoring the two bikers that were about twenty feet away, watching me intently.