Page 36 of Brandishing Betrayals

“Leaving flowers on my car, sending them to my work. He confronted me at the mall the other day.” I sighed and sipped my drink.

“Dude.” Slade turned abruptly to face me. She wrapped her hand around my shoulder and squeezed it until I turned to look at her. “You’re in over your head. Please, please, talk to Marcos about this. Talk to your guys, explain it to them. Hillcrest is notto be fucked with. You haven’t been here in the last ten years; the man’s grown more unhinged since you’ve left. He is dangerous.”

I frowned as I took in the utter fear that came over Slade’s beautiful face. It wasn’t like my friend to be scared of anything or anyone. She tattooed outlaw bikers on the regular, her shop was set up between the two territories and when the Ravager Knights and Devil’s Psychos had beef last year, she had taken sides and told the Psychos she wouldn’t be tatting anyone while they were at war with the Knights. It had been a bold move, but Slade didn’t give a damn.

To see her so pale and on edge, it sent a shiver down my spine.

I didn’t get a chance to respond, though. The door chimed, singling someone entering the bar, and both of us looked over to see a tall man with a small potbelly walk in. He was bald with piercing green eyes that matched Slade’s. “Yeah girl,” I said absently as I watched Art Cooper walk over. “Hey, Mr. Cooper.” I smiled up at the man.

“Well, hey-hey!” Art grinned broadly. “Maya Henderson! How you doing, girlie?”

“Doing great!” I put on a bright smile, though I didn’t feel it in my soul. “I was just heading out though! I’ll have to come by the shop soon.”

“Yeah you do that girlie!” Art smiled.

I threw down some cash to cover my drinks and a tip for Bobby. I wrapped my arm around Slade’s shoulders in a sideways hug and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Always good to see you. I love you. I’ll see you soon.” I walked away before Slade could reply, throwing open the bar door and heading out into the night.

Marcos

Itwasgoingoneleven p.m. when I finally pulled my truck into Maya’s driveway. Luke had dozed off in the backseat, his head propped against the window. I never meant to keep him out so late, but after the movie, we got ice cream and we sat talking in the truck while we ate it.

Thankfully Maya hadn’t started texting me, asking where we were—not that she did that ever. No, Maya left me alone when I was with Luke. Shit, she left me alone, period. She only ever reached out to me when it was regarding Lucas.

And I never reached out unless it was regarding Luke either. I sighed softly as I shut off the truck. I’d have to carry Luke in the house and put him to bed. Maya was probably already in bed as it was late on a Monday night and she had work in the morning. Thankfully the living room lights were still on, so I might have a chance that the house was still unlocked. Otherwise I’d have to wake Luke to get the key out of his pocket.

It took me a couple minutes to get Luke into my arms and out of the truck. I carried him up the driveway and to the front door. I could see through the picture window that Maya was sleeping on the couch. I managed to get the unlocked front door open without waking either Luke or Maya.

I spent the next ten minutes pulling off Luke’s shoes and pants, and tucking him into bed. I picked up Luke’s bedroom a bit and when I was sure my son was sound asleep, I shut off the light and closed the door.

In the living room, Maya hadn’t moved from her spot on the couch. She was practically naked, dressed in the smallest booty shorts I’d ever seen, skintight and barely there. She had on a tiny crop top as well, that was loose on her curvy frame, exposing the bottom half of both creamy tits.

“Fuck,” I groaned as let my eyes roam over her curvy body. Her light brown hair up in a messy bun, the white crop top doing little to hide the piercings on her nipples through the shirt, along with her belly button piercing, making me wonder if she had any other piercings on her body. She definitely didn’t have them back when we had been together.

I ran my hand over her bare thigh, marveling at the smooth tanned skin. It had been so long since I touched her, so long since I felt the heat of her body against mine. I slid my calloused hand over her thigh, around her hip, and under her ass. I gripped her plump ass cheek and roughly squeezed.

She let out a soft sigh and shifted on the couch.

I froze.What the fuck are you doing, dumbass?I couldn’t be caught feeling her up. I shouldn’t be doing this at all. We might have been into somnophilia when we were dating, but we were no longer dating and I was being a perv.

I slid my hand down the back of her thighs and under her knees while sliding my other hand under her upper back. I slowly pulled her into my arms and lifted her from the couch. I would be good and put her in bed and leave—that’s it.

I lifted her from the couch and stifled a groan as she snuggled into my neck—just like she used to. I carried her down the hall to her bedroom and pushed open the door. I was surprised to see her room still looked like it belonged to a teenager, down to the old rock band posters that were still hanging on the walls.

I never realized how little she had lived here after college. I knew when she moved in with me and guys back then, that it had been quickly after graduation. She hadn’t been in a good place with her parents, but I would have thought over the last decade apart, they would have talked things out. Seeing her mom last week only cemented the fact that I really didn’t know Maya anymore.

I gently laid her down on her bed, before I pulled the sheets and blankets out from under her. Once she was tucked in securely, I sighed and stepped back, watching her intently. My cock was hard as a rock in my jeans and I briefly had a thought of jacking off right there, but refrained, and thank God for that because there was shuffling in the hall before Luke peaked his head in the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Luke asked, his voice thick with sleep.

I jumped, clutching my heart. “She was asleep on the couch. I carried her to bed, just like I carried you to bed.”

Luke nodded, frowning slightly. “She doesn’t usually fall asleep on the couch.”

“She was probably waiting up for us. We got home late.” I kept my voice low, trying not to wake Maya. I walked toward Luke and nudged him out of the way. “Come on, back to bed with you,” I murmured.

I spent another ten minutes settling Luke back into bed after the kid brushed his teeth and put on PJs. I was exhausted by the time I finally closed and locked the front door behind me and headed back to my truck. It was times like this, where I desperately wished we all still lived together, so I wouldn’t be going home alone to a cold and empty apartment.

Maya

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