Page 33 of Brandishing Betrayals (Devil’s Psychos MC #2)

I hugged her tightly. “Thank you for today. I’m sorry I’m so distracted.”

“I’m sorry I’m pushing. I just want you safe. I love you,” Slade said softly, hugging me tighter.

“I love you too girl.”

By the time I was dressed in the leggings and t-shirt, I was exhausted and starving. Walking out into the lobby I looked around, wondering if Nico was waiting for me or not, because apparently, I couldn’t call him as I left my phone behind at his place that morning.

Nico was waiting in the lobby for me though, a pair of blue jeans on with a white t-shirt under his leather Devil’s Psychos cut.

There was no missing him. His blond hair fell around shoulders and cocky as fuck smirk was plastered on his face as walked my way.

“Hey, Little Dreamer. How was your day?”

I couldn’t help myself; I smiled up at him. “It was pretty fantastic. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, babe.” He kissed my forehead and wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me gently. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” With his arm wrapped around my waist, he led me out of the spa.

I smiled as we left the air-conditioned building and headed out into the hot and humid late July evening. My leggings were already making me sweat and I wondered where he planned on taking me dressed in basically pajamas. “Nico, where are we going?”

Nico stopped walking in the middle of the parking lot. He turned and stood in front of me. Both of his hands came up to cradle the sides of my face, “Little Dreamer, I’m gonna need you to trust me tonight. Can you do that?” He was so serious. His blue eyes were so intense as he stared down at me.

My heart shuddered in my chest and my breath hitched in my throat. He was a stunning specimen of human male. God damn, he was gorgeous. But the intensity of his stare, and the question he asked after a day of pampering and relaxation, caught me off guard; I was incredibly vulnerable. “I—”

“Maya, please baby. Let me take care of you tonight.”

“Nic.” I bit my lip as my hands came up to hold both side of his leather cut. I needed something to ground me. I was losing myself in his gaze.

His thumb brushed over my lower lip, pulling it gently from my teeth. “You’re so strong all the time. You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Let me take care of you tonight. Let me carry your burden.”

My lips parted slightly as shock rolled over me.

My heart hammered in my chest and butterflies exploded in my belly.

This man would be the death of me. I licked my lips, trying to think of what to say, how to answer.

I wasn’t mentally ready for whatever he was planning.

I needed space, needed time to build my walls back up.

I nodded my head anyways. Against my better judgement, I nodded my fucking head and agreed to go to with him. Let’s face it. There’s nowhere on this earth where I wouldn’t follow this man .

Nico gave me a soft smile, his cocky smirk nowhere to be found. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead that had me eyes closing as I almost fucking swooned. He was stealing my heart all over again and if I wasn’t careful, I would let him.

Maya

Hours later, I found myself back at Nico’s townhouse lying on the couch.

Tucked into his side, with my head on his shoulder, I zoned out on the movie he had playing.

The lights were dim, remnants of our takeout food were strewn about the coffee table, and I was tucked under his arm, squeezed between his body and the back of the couch.

It was bliss.

After the relaxing day I’d had, I was barely holding on and about to doze off any minute. A contentment I hadn’t felt in years settled over me. Nico’s hand absently slid through my hair and his other hand was laced with my fingers on his chest, his thumb stroking idlily.

It was almost the most perfect night; it was just missing a few more people.

Maya

I woke to darkness. No longer on the couch, I was wrapped up in Nico’s bed, his limbs entangled with mine.

His soft breaths tickled the back of my neck.

I blinked at the clock, noting it was four a.m. Feeling wide awake, anxiety gripped at me, I really didn’t want to lay there for hours waiting for an awkward good-bye come morning.

I dreaded having another conversation with questions I couldn’t answer, that would lead to yet another fight.

Not after we had spent the most relaxing night together.

It had been a soothing balm for my tired soul, and I didn’t want to ruin that.

If anything, I wanted that calm connection between us to last, the reminder of how it used to be between us, before life went to hell.

The weight of my responsibility settled on me, trepidation pooling within.

I needed to leave, now. But how? Nico had purposely picked me up Friday night, making me reliant on him for a ride—just as he planned.

Rideshares were out of the question, ever since that night ten years ago, I hadn’t ever taken another ride share alone—not that I needed to, I rarely drank anymore.

My punishment that night had made a lasting impression on me, leaving me with more baggage than I knew what to do with.

Just another reason I saw my therapist.

No, I would have to take his car. He could pick it up whenever he needed it, but for now, the sports car would be my getaway. I just had to sneak out of bed without waking him while he was wrapped around me like a damn octopus.

It took me close to twenty minutes to disengage, slowly sliding his leg and arm off me. Once I was out from under him, I headed downstairs, not bothering to look for the bag with my dress in it. I’d get it back whenever. I found the keys to his car in the kitchen on the counter, next to a notepad.

Before I could leave, my conscious got the better of me and I left him a quick note.

I grabbed my own keys and purse from the counter, then I was down the stairs and into the garage a moment later.

I wasted little time opening the garage door and starting the very loud engine.

As I backed down the driveway, I adjusted the driver’s seat forward with the electric button.

My heart was racing, I was afraid that the noise from the engine would wake Nico and I really didn’t want to still be here when he walked outside.

The drive home from Nico’s only took ten minutes and I parked his car on the street in front of my parents’ house, as to not draw attention to it.

It was going on five in the morning when I let myself quietly into the house.

Thankfully the house seemed quiet, so I headed down the hall to my bedroom and closed the door.

I wouldn’t be able to get any more sleep, I knew, but at least I wouldn’t draw attention to the fact that I was sneaking back in the house after a weekend away.

Not that it mattered, I had spoken to my mother on Saturday morning before the spa, making sure everything with my father was good and to see if my mother needed anything.

Elaine, as usual, was fine. A little short and brisk on the phone, but when wasn’t she? I still didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that I came home at five a.m. and not after breakfast time. It made it look suspicious and I really didn’t want to hear my mother’s opinion on the matter.

I was tired of everyone’s damn opinions.

It was my damn life, my fucking son’s life, I could and would decide what was best of the two of us.

Or so I told myself as I sat in bed and brooded over my current state of affairs.