Page 46 of In It for the Long Ride

After a few minutes of quiet reflection, Phil approached with a beer.

“You know momma said something about days like this,” he teased.

I couldn’t help the amused grunt that met his words. “She sure did, brother. I just wish she would let me know there was gonna be so many of ‘em.”

Chapter 20

Daisy

Wakingup was getting harder and harder. Not because of sadness, or depression. It was like every morning I was being shot out of a cannon. I typically woke up with a gasp that left me clawing at both Carl and the covers while my mind did a backflip to figure out where I was and if I was safe.

Of course, for the past week, I’d been safely tucked beside him each morning, but it wasn’t something I could shut off by accepting that. It wasn’t a full-on panic attack, my heart didn’t race, I wasn’t hysterical, or disorientated, or anything like that. Rather I felt the need to stay in constant motion. I had nowhere to be and yet inside I felt late, rushed, or perhaps racing toward something terrible and unseen, with no brakes to be pulled.

Yesterday it was so bad I felt compelled to leave for work at six in the morning. I sat in front of Mane Attraction for two hours before I got out of my vehicle and unlocked the front door. Sitting still was impossible and every unexpected noise made me startle like my life was at stake.

“Are you done in the bathroom?” I asked, when I found him sliding his kutte on in the kitchen.

“Yeah. All yours, babe.” He tried to brush a kiss against my forehead and blow by, but I snagged his waist.

He smiled and savored a slow kiss, while cupping my face. I stared up at him and for a moment, I didn’t want to let go. I knew he was going to meet Demetri. I’d heard all about their big meeting tonight.

“I want you to stay here until I get back.”

I snorted and tried to shift away, but he grabbed my wrist.

“I mean it, Daisy. Do not leave this house for any reason. Not until he is out of town, promise me…”

I numbly nodded and moved toward the bathroom. I turned the water on and contemplated my nightly shower, but when I heard the front door close behind him, I changed my mind. I was tired of internalizing and blaming shadows. I made up my mind right then and there, I was going to see Demetri Valentino.

Something inside me needed to lay eyes on him. I needed to behold the monster we created and unknowingly unleashed on everything we loved.

I mean, not like this…

The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked rough. My hair was a poofy, knotted mess and my eyes had bags under them. I splashed some water on my face and took out my makeup bag and hair supplies.

It took a good thirty minutes, but when I was finished, I looked like a new woman. My curls were revitalized, and my skin looked fresh. I smoked my eyes and curled my lashes to perfection. I rarely wore makeup and certainly never this much, but I didn’t want to draw attention. I needed to look like one of those club strumpets so I could fit in and move around unnoticed!

I managed to squeeze my ass into a pair of jeans that were tight enough to be a second skin and found one of Carl’s Steel Disciple shirts in the closet. Scissors in hand, I sheered the neck and the sleeve, so it hung far enough to show off my black bra.

I took every measure to look the part, except donning heels. Everyone had a limit. That was mine. I shoved a leg into a pair of knee-high boots, donned the twin and off I went. I grabbed my purse and threw the front door open only to be met by a man who had longer hair than I did.

I screamed, fisted his kutte and shirt, drew him forward, and promptly slapped his face. The moment my palm connected, shock filtered through me, and I shoved him away, scrambled backwards and slammed the door shut in a panic.

It happened so fast; it was like my body willed itself into action.

“Oh my God. Oh my God,” I quietly chanted, while waiting for him to blow through the door and kick my ass!

“Miss Daisy?” he hesitantly called from his side of the door.

“Who the fuck are you?” I snapped, panic still ebbing out of me.

“Hey, Sweetie, folks call me Demon. They named me road captain after Anthony passed away, ma’am.”

“Oh hell no.” I jerked that door open, slapped the screen door wide and sent Demon backpedaling with my finger thrust out in his direction.

“I don’t know you, Demon.”

“No, Ma’am.” He shook his head in a hurry and held both hands up in surrender.

---