Page 35 of Creep (Vulture Hollow MC #2)

Angel

At this point, I’m no stranger to Creep’s silence, but it felt different during our return to Vulture Hollow.

He claimed to be fine, but how could he be when my throat was overly stuffed with words I should have said instead of the ones I had?

We couldn’t have talked during the drive anyway, but the easy closeness from the start of our date was replaced by a tension that would keep growing until my chest felt swollen from a sickness I brought upon myself.

Of course he was hurt.

In his place, I would be too. Creep isn’t the kind of man who opens his mouth unnecessarily.

Asking me to attend the rally as his date must have taken a lot of courage from a guy who seems to still doubt whether he deserves my attention.

I wanted to tell him how much I’d love to go.

That I trusted him and his friends to keep me safe if someone from another MC disagreed with my presence, but I didn’t dare tell him about Domino.

The bastard is so deep in the closet he refuses to admit he’s there in the first place, and seeing me with the Vultures might trigger all the alarms in his head.

He told me many times that he’d kill me if I out him, and I believe him.

I tried to move once, to get away from him, but he found out and, well…

in the aftermath of that I decided it would be much safer for me to wait him out and leave once he got bored of me.

Being the protective guy he is, Creep would surely get it in his head that he needed to keep me safe.

Things would escalate, because they always did with Domino, and Creep might end up injured, or provoke the wrath of the Hell’s Butchers.

I’ve only been in Vulture Hollow for a short time, but the village and its inhabitants already feel like home , and I don’t want to drag them into a needless conflict, just because my ex is a bit crazy. And at this point he is most definitely an ex, since Creep is all I can think about.

Still, when Creep left me at the doorstep of my cabin earlier with barely a goodbye, I felt lost, and that sentiment hasn't left me since. Sure, we parted because we both had stuff to attend to, but echoes of the unfinished conversation keep rattling in my mind.

At least I have the hair treatment to focus on.

Working on hair or nails can be meditative at times, and since Clyde’s hair is so long, it’s taking a lot of time.

When I met him, his hair was in a braid, but now that I see it in all its glory, I’m shocked a biker like him takes such good care of it.

We’re in a cabin that must have been a small salon before.

I had a lot of cleaning to do to get it in order, but there’s a swivel chair that leans back, a large mirror, and a sink suitable for my purposes.

I’ve not been asked to pay for using this space, which means anything I earn goes straight to my pocket.

Especially since everyone pays with cash here.

Unless, of course, Prophet comes to collect a tax from me at the end of the week, but I don’t think he will.

The hair treatment smells of honey and almonds, but it packs a punch, and by the time Clyde leaves my chair, his hair will fall in a smooth veil Road will inevitably tangle later.

The tall, butch biker is clearly obsessed with his husband’s mane, so I’ll make sure it’s extra smooth.

That’s how kind I am when I want to be. “Would you like me to cut your split ends once I’m done? ” I ask.

“Yeah, just don’t take too much off.” He stares at the ceiling as I make sure the water’s the right temperature.

His ice blue eyes are so striking even when he isn’t looking straight at me.

It’s strange how that only makes me think of the bottomless black of Creep’s gaze when it settles on me with such intensity.

I have him on my mind all the time and everything reminds me of him.

“I wouldn’t dare. I like my balls where they are,” I quip, as the clean water swirls inside the sink, making the pale strands float.

Clyde chuckles. “And you think I’d be snipping them or Road? That man is fucking obsessed with it. Not that I’m complaining. Speaking of which… You’re gonna cut Creep’s any shorter? Or is that up to him?”

I stall, wanting to voice my protest, but Creep’s hair is up to him, and I shouldn’t impose my taste on him just because I know he’d fold.

“I think he enjoys it the way it is now, but he’s his own man,” I say, massaging Clyde’s scalp.

“I think it’s so cool you guys are out. That’s quite unusual, I think.

I once marched behind a gay MC at Pride, but this is different. I’m happy Creep has this.”

He definitely couldn’t count on the good will of people like Domino, if he was a member of the Hell’s Butchers.

Clyde smiles. “I was also surprised Road’s coming out went smoothly when push came to shove.

I was fully prepared to leave with him and nothing but the clothes on our backs.

But we were all pretty shocked about Creep, and now he brought you under, let’s be honest, shady circumstances.

I guess I’m wondering… Are you okay? He’s a weird guy. ”

My thoughts, which have been fizzing like prosecco, go still, as if the question sucked out the pleasant buzz, leaving behind only the stale aroma of worry.

“He is just a bit different, but he abducted me only so I can’t rat him out to the cops.

I mean… lots of people would have done it, given the circumstances. ”

“He didn’t um… hurt you? In the cave?” Clyde closes his eyes as he speaks, probably so no water gets in them, but it’s for the better, because I don’t want to catch his gaze after this insinuation.

“What? No! Of course not. He wouldn’t—I mean…

” Flustered, I cut the water and wring it out of Clyde’s hair.

“He might not be best at expressing himself, but he is a person who cares very deeply. He has that calm energy about him, and in the cave… well, I worried I might never see the sun again, but not that he’d assault me.

” Because that’s what Clyde’s insinuating, isn’t he?

I’m not truthful, strictly speaking, because the thought that it might happen did race around my mind when I first found myself in Creep’s secret room, but I would rather tell a white lie than have anyone think that Creep might be capable of hurting me.

“Okay, but if he… gets out of hand, you can come to me and Road. You live here now, so you might worry about rocking the boat. I get that. You’re the first guy we’ve ever seen him with, and as far as I know him, he… you gotta admit, he’s strange, right?”

What an infuriating mix of a friendly and reassuring sentiment blended with an insult to my man .

But Clyde means well, I think, so I temper the first response that comes to my mind, take a deep breath, and only then speak.

“Thank you, that’s very kind, but I don’t think I’ll need any help.

Creep is a bit of an oddball, sure, but he’s also very thoughtful, and kind, and I like him.

” And saying that out loud makes me once more regret rejecting his invitation so quickly.

Clyde nods. “And… what is his cave like? We’ve got a bet going. Some of us think it’s basic and he sleeps on the floor, and some of us think it’s got all amenities, a stash of cash, and high-speed internet.”

I chortle, spraying his hair with lightweight oil, then combing its entire length. The cave definitely isn’t some James Bond villain lair, but Creep asked me to not discuss his home, and I won’t break my promise. “You wish! Keep that bet going a bit longer, and maybe one day he will show you.”

Clyde sighs. “Oh I see how it is! You want to keep the secret route to his riches to yourself. Fair, I can respect that.”

I resist the urge to pat his head as if he were a golden retriever that’s returned my rubber ball. “Speaking of respect… are you and Road going to that biker rally that’s coming?” I ask, because maybe if Domino’s club isn’t there, I could tell Creep I’ve changed my mind and make him smile again?

“Yeah, it’s gonna be this big thing, with a funfair nearby and the whole nine yards. And if anyone tries to give us shit about us being together, they can taste my knuckles.”

He sounds so confident. I like it.

“So… who’s going to be there? I assume it’s a large gathering,” I tell him and grab my hair dryer.

“Several non-one percenter clubs as well, since it’s no murder and mayhem kind of party. Things can always spiral, but I doubt it. Some people from Vulture Hollow are even bringing their teens.”

“Do you know who exactly will be there?” I ask, hoping he won’t find the question suspicious. If he does, I’ll mute him with the dryer and then strategically change the topic.

He opens his eyes and it’s like they’re drilling into me. “What do you mean? It’s not a party with a guest list. Anyone can rock up. Are you asking if you can come?”

I chew on my lip, then make up my mind and speak. “Creep asked me to go with him.”

Clyde whistles. “Oooh… it’s that serious then?”

My stomach drops. Is it? Was him asking me such a big deal? And I said no?

Damn, I’m such an idiot. Especially since it happened so soon after I rejected his offer to move into the cave. I could sense he saw it as a slight, even though I didn’t mean it that way.

Congratulations, Angel, you’ve clearly lost some of your social muscle!

“We… spend a lot of time together.”

“Has he moved in with you? It’s hard to tell, because he sneaks around so much.”

I shake my head, feeling a loss I definitely shouldn’t, not after knowing Creep for such a brief time, but deep down I’m a bit upset that he’d rather be in the cave than with me. “We move fast, but not that fast.”