Page 59 of Devil's Work: Dark

“Can I see your ID? It’s school protocol.”

I pull my wallet out of my pocket.

“Well, Julian—” she says.

“It’s Dark. I go byDark. Nobody but my mother calls meJulian. Not even Rae.” Fuck, she hasn’t even asked it. I introduced myself as Dark. She calls me Dark. Period. I suppose I should tell her. It’s probably good to know the name of the man you’re spending your life with.

“Sorry,” she replies quickly. “I heard about Ty’s mom and her biker boyfriend.”

“Gossip spreads fast in this town. Listen, we have to go.”

“Okay, sorry to keep you.”

“Are you mad, Dark?” Ty asks me as we walk back to the truck.

“Nah, buddy. I’m just anxious to get back to your mom. She needs her men to take care of her today. You gonna help me with that?”

“Yeah!” The kid punches the air. He’s a trip. We stop off at the store for Rae’s ice cream. I pick up some steaks for the grill and corn on the cob. Then right before we leave, I let Ty pick out a treat for him and Lacy, and I grab a box of that lemon, ginger herbal tea Rae likes. It doesn’t have caffeine, so it should be okay. Lastly, I pick up more Tylenol to make sure she has enough at the house.

Green and Dela are waiting on his bike to leave when we get back. He doesn’t even wait for me to get out of the truck before he yells, “Del’s staying the night with me at the clubhouse,” as he speeds past us. She’s with a brother and she’s out of our hair. Works for me.

“Ty, buddy, you need to be gentle with your mom, remember?”

“I will, Dark.”

“Take Baby Girl’s hand and help her into the house while I get the bags.”

The kid doesn’t whine or complain, doing exactly as I asked him. I knock on Mable’s door to tell her we’re having steak for supper and to come on over. I tell her about Rae’s concussion and all that entails, but the woman is old. She doesn’t have anyone to help her out.

“I’ll keep the children out of their mother’s hair while you cook,” she says.

I didn’t offer her dinner for her to watch the kids, but I also know better than to argue with her. “If you want, but we’re inviting you over because we like your company. No conditions.”

The old woman pats my shoulder lovingly. “Rae is lucky to have met you,” she says and I swear… swear my gut clenches, but in a good way. I’ve never had people feel lucky to have met me before.

Looking away, I clear my throat. “Nah, I’m the lucky one,” I reply, then I don’t wait for any response. Over my shoulder, I call out, “We eat around five, but come over whenever you want.”

Fuck, this is weird. I have a woman and kids now. I’m inviting neighbors over for supper. All I’m missing is a damn white picket fence. I should be freaking out. I should need to ride, spend a few weeks on the road away from everyone and everything messing up my head. But it’s not messing with my head. The opposite, really. Everything about being with Rae makes sense. And when I think about it, it brings me calm. Exactly like my bike. Leaving her and the kids would fuck me up more than the idea of my responsibilities from having them in my life.

Grocery bags in hand, I walk into the house. Ty is sitting on the carpet cross-legged, close to Rae’s head. Lacy is lying on Rae, her head resting on Rae’s stomach. Rae is absentmindedly running her hand over Baby Girl’s hair while listening to Ty. They all turn their heads when they realize I’ve entered, smiling at me.

“I’ve been gentle with Mumma, Dark,” Ty says. “Just like you said.”

“Good job, bud.” I kick off my boots then walk past the three of them to put the groceries away. After that job’s done, I get a pot of water boiling to make Rae some tea. Then I bring her the hot mug along with juice boxes for the kids.

“I invited Mable over for dinner. She knows you were injured.”

Rae turns her eyes on me; they’re shimmering. “Thank you, Dark.”

“I’m gonna play,” Ty says. He takes his sister’s hand. “Come on, Lace.” Baby Girl toddles along with him into his room.

Hours later, Rae and I lie in bed. I tucked the kids in. Rae argued a little but was too tired to put much heat behind it.

Miss Mable showed for supper, doting on Rae and the kids while I cooked. She even made Baby Girl mac and cheese because she can’t eat steak yet.

Now I’m holding Rae as she sleeps snuggled up next to me. I fall asleep like that, holding a woman I have no intention of fucking until her head is better.

Middle of the night, my phone blows up. I grab it quickly to silence it so as to not wake up Rae. Blinking and rubbing at my eyes, I move quickly from the bedroom when I see the number.

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