Page 25 of T-Bone (Steel Demons MC #11)

T-Bone

“I didn’t run off, and I left you a note.

” After staring at me for at least two full minutes, that was what Faith had to say.

Her gaze was steady and there wasn’t one hint of betrayal or guilt in those green eyes.

“I couldn’t sleep because my mind was racing, so I decided to go out and clear my mind.

” She watched me carefully and I knew I needed to keep my anger in check.

“And I should believe you?” I folded my arms and met her glare with one of my own, trying like hell to ignore the anger and worry that pulsed through me.

“Yeah,” she answered easily. “If I wanted to leave, I’d be halfway to Shiloh Valley by now.”

Which was exactly where I’d assumed she’d gone when I woke up to an empty bed and a note saying she needed to go and speak to someone.

Though I’d also wondered if that was just an excuse, and what had happened—again—between the two of us had freaked her out.

“Did you leave because of last night?” That was the hottest, most intense fuck of my life and I wondered how she felt about it.

Faith took a long time to answer, too damn long but eventually her green eyes locked onto mine and she sighed heavily. “No, I didn’t leave because of last night. It was great. Incredible, actually. I left because I couldn’t sleep and just lying there awake was making my mind race too much.”

That was just another thing I liked about her. She was plainspoken and honest. Her words weren’t flirtatious, and she didn’t say shit just to stroke my cock. She meant what she said and that was damned attractive. “So where did you go because I know you haven’t been here for six hours.”

She shook her head, a small smile on her full lips. “First you tell me how you found me?”

And she didn’t give one damn inch, which I should’ve found annoying, but I liked a woman who didn’t give in easily. “I had Slate track your phone.”

“Once you realized I didn’t go to Shiloh Valley or after?”

I shrugged. “Who knows? It’s your turn now.”

“That’s illegal, you know?” She was on her way to a full lecture but thankfully, the waitress chose that moment to deliver her food. “Oh damn that looks even better than it sounds.” Her excitement was palpable. “Please tell me you have warm maple syrup?”

“We do, honey,” the woman replied with a matching smile. “I’ll bring it out in a sec.” She turned to me with a smile. “Anything for you?”

Before I could answer, Faith did. “Steak and eggs with hash browns.”

“How would you like the eggs,” she asked with a twitch of her lips.

I looked at Faith. “Tell her, since you know me so well.”

Her gaze bore into mine and she never looked away as she answered. “Scrambled. Fluffy with extra black pepper.” She watched for any sign that wasn’t right and when she saw what she was looking for, she smiled and smacked her hands together. “Yep, that’s it. Thank you.”

“Smart ass,” I grumbled. “How’d you know?”

“At the diner where Nate showed up. You added a ton of black pepper, and you said the eggs were too hard.”

“Impressive,” I conceded reluctantly.

“I know.” She flashed a proud grin as she cut her waffle bacon burger into four wedges. “I went back to Red Rock today.”

My smile faded immediately. “You went alone.” Did the woman have no sense of survival? “If the Ghost Riders had caught up to you then, you would’ve been fucked.”

She nodded. “I did. And I wasn’t. Besides, no cop was going to talk to me with a biker at my side. No offense,” she added and took a bite of the burger.

“None taken. Did you learn anything?”

“Yeah. The body of Ashley’s ex, the one who killed her? He was dead in her backyard at least one full day before she was killed.”

“No shit?”

“I know, shocked me too. The detective I spoke to said the forensics confirmed it was at least twenty-four hours before Ashley was killed and the uniform who found them said the body looked less than fresh.” She took bites between the little bombs she continued to drop, completely unaware of the effect it was having on me.

“Not that we needed the confirmation, but he definitely didn’t kill her. ”

“He was a patsy.” Another senseless fucking murder. “Anything else?”

Faith had just taken a big bite of food when I asked the question and she froze, eyes wide and slightly embarrassed as she nodded.

Dammit, she was growing more appealing by the day which meant we needed to find her niece and end this shit sooner rather than later.

When had I spent time with a woman who was so unabashedly real?

She didn’t dress to impress, didn’t bother with too much make up or hair, but I found her as hot as any of those women.

She finished chewing just as my food arrived and stole a curly fry off my plate. “We didn’t order fries,” she said as an afterthought.

“Yeah, the chef said that your man here helped his girlfriend. You changed her tire on the side of the road a few weeks ago and followed her until she was back in town.”

I knew who she was talking about immediately. “Red glasses. Scared of me.”

The waitress smiled. “Yep. He says she wanted you to know that she was scared of you at first, but then she was thankful to you for looking out for her. Food’s on the house.”

“His food is on the house,” Faith amended. “I’m paying for mine.”

“Enjoy the food and call if you need anything,” she said breezily and bounced off to the next table.

We sat in silence for a few minutes while I ate and Faith was deep in thought. “Are you squeamish,” she asked out of the blue.

“What?”

She repeated the question and rolled her eyes. “Are you?”

“Not especially, why?”

She shrugged. “Just because you’re a big bad criminal doesn’t mean you’re used to crime scenes.”

“Tell me.”

She pulled out her phone and set it between us, scrolling from one image to the next. “These are the photos from Ashley’s case file, and these are the ones the responding officer took before anyone else arrived. Notice anything?”

“Yeah. What the fuck?”

“Exactly. He said the place was a mess and Ashley put up a hell of a fight. I didn’t know what he meant until he showed me his photos, which showed a much bloodier scene—and that skull right there.

I wondered why someone had included a drawing of the symbol in the case file and now I know.

Ashley painted it on the wall in her own blood before she died, telling us who killed her. ”

“Shit.” My stomach dropped and I wondered how the fuck I would tell that to Pike.

She covered the screen with her hand. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, watching this woman so concerned with my sensibilities even though she was still struggling with trusting me. “Yeah, just, what a fucking way to go.”

“She was a fighter,” Ashley responded with a sad smile. “And I’m going to make sure he pays for everything he’s done to her. To Chloe. To everyone else.” She had that determined glint in her eyes that was part revenge and part something else.

“How you gonna do that?” She was so straight-laced, so black and white when it came to crime that I was genuinely curious.

“However I have to,” she replied with a serious expression. After a few seconds she literally shook as if that would help her shake off her negative thoughts. “Have you thought more about what you’re going to say to the parole board?”

Her question took me off guard. “Not yet. I have another two weeks before the hearing.”

“I can help,” she offered and stole another fry.

“Why would you do that?”

She frowned. “Why wouldn’t I? Despite our difference, we’re on the same page when it comes to abusive assholes. If I can help make sure he never gets to breathe fresh air again, I’m in.”

“You’re cute when you’re feisty.”

She rolled her eyes and pressed both hands to her blushing cheeks. “Have your computer guy look into his prison record and use it against him. Talk about the ways you help other abused women because his abuse of your sister and her death, left an indelible mark on your whole life.”

Goddamn she’s pretty. She was lively as she spoke, her words clear and eloquent and passionate. “Sorry, I get a little carried away but any of that or all of it will work.”

“Don’t apologize, I appreciate the help. I don’t appreciate the fry theft though.”

She laughed and snatched one more. “Consider it a tax for my help. Besides, we burned a lot of calories last night.”

“We did.” I slept like a fucking baby, so soundly I didn’t hear her slip from the bed until hours later. I shoved the basket across the table. “Energize you. For later.”

Her gaze heated and she licked her lips. “Don’t distract me.”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

She nodded. “You know it is. Shiloh Valley. We have to go. Soon.”

“We will. I promise.”