Page 67 of Blackout-

“Oh, come on, Lace, I don’t gotta tell you how this shit works. It’s embedded in your D.N.A. They don’t tell me shit,” he grunts. “I’m a glorified water boy dressed in leather.”

“So, you have no idea why Blackie left with Bianci?” I ask, not really believing that. Yes, it’s true, a prospect is more like an errand boy, but he’s gotta know something. I mean, Wolf is his father. That’s gotta give him some kind of advantage.

“They don’t tell me shit,” he grunts. “My father called and told me Anthony was picking me up and that’s it.”

“Bet you’re rethinking that chemist gig now that you’re a babysitter,” I tease.

“Cute,” he replies, rising from the chair.

As I reach for the remote, he shoves the chair out of his way and struts towards me. Taking the bowl of raisins off the couch, he leans forward and drops it on the table before taking a seat next to me.

“What are you putting on?” he questions as he drapes his arm across the back of the couch and kicks up his boots, resting them on the wooden coffee table. As innocent as the gesture is, it feels awkward sitting on a couch next to Nico and I find myself moving further away from him. If he notices he doesn’t seem bothered.

“Lace?

“Sorry,” I mutter, focusing on the task of logging into my Google Account. “A Star Is Born.”

Reaching for the raisins, he rolls his eyes as the movie picks up where I last left off when I attempted to watch it with Blackie.

“Typical,” he mutters, shoving a handful of raisins into his mouth. “What is this garbage?” he asks, pushing the bowl towards me. “There’s no popcorn in this joint?”

“It’s not exactly an AMC theater, but maybe you can leave a note for my old man. I bet he’d appreciate the suggestion.”

“That’s an idea,” he retorts. “Every safe house should have a suggestion box. Bikers and harbored guests have needs too.”

Shaking my head at his absurdness, I make myself comfortable and raise the volume on the television.

“Is that a man or a woman?”

“What do you think?”

“What the hell am I watching?”

“Shut up and watch the movie, Nico.”

“That woman just put on a pair of tits like I pull on a pair of shorts,” he admonishes.

“Have you never been to a drag club?” I question, glancing at him. His head snaps towards me and his eyes widen.

“Are you out of your fucking mind? I don’t like dick.”

“You don’t have to be gay to go to a drag show, Nico. It’s a lot of fun. You should take your next Tinder date to one.”

“The raisins are going to your head,” he mutters.

Laughing, I turn my attention back to the screen. We don’t speak anymore, and I take his silence as a sign that he’s overcome his fear of drag and is enjoying the movie. He taps his boot to the beat of some of the songs and even laughs at some parts. When Ally singsRemember Us This Wayto Jack, I start to cry, and Nico grabs a box of tissues from the end table, offering them to me. Watching Jack struggle with his addiction hits too close to home and somewhere in between Ally’s climb to fame and the rock star’s downward spiral, I close my eyes and fall asleep.

Being a spoiler queen, I know how the story ends and I’m happy to spare myself the torture. When I wake, Nico is asleep next to me, his head resting on my shoulder and Blackie is sitting on the coffee table with his back towards me and his eyes glued to the screen.

I’ll Never Love Againrings through the air. Lady Gaga hits the notes and the lyrics of the ballad strike a chord deep inside me as I stare at the reaper branded to my husband’s leathers.

Pushing Nico off me, I straighten up.

“Ouch!” he groans.

Ignoring him, I call out to Blackie. Without acknowledging me, he takes the remote from the coffee table and shuts the television.

“Oh shit, when did you guys get back?” Nico questions, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His gaze darts around the cabin. “Where’s Bianci?”

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