Page 15 of Hallow’s Eve
Earl was our one and only bouncer. “Why would he do that?”
Celie answered me, but she looked at Hallow like she just noticed him. “You wouldn’t know it, but Grady was prospecting with that club, the Royal Bastards MC.”
“Yeah, I had no idea.” Ford had said something about it, but just last night. “Prospecting?”
“It’s like a try out. He wanted to join them and had to prove himself.” Celie swayed her head. “Grady done sold his soul to the devil. Earl was just doing what he was told since Grady belonged to that gang now.” She paused. “Who’s your friend?”
“Pardon me. Where are my manners? Celie this is Hallow. Hallow this is Celie.”
As they said their nice to meet yous, I glanced around the bar. No one had moved from their spot, really. The bikers were still questioning folks. Dimple had left the stage for some Hot Chicken so Sheila, one of our barmaids dressed as a nurse, sang an eerie, incredibly quiet, acapella version of “Those Memories of You”. No wonder we could hear ourselves think.
“You with them bikers?” Celie asked Hallow, pulling me back to the conversation.
“He’s with me,” I said to defend him.
Celie showed her teeth. “It’s about time you found someone.” She turned to Hallow. “You’re one lucky guy.”
I opened my mouth to tell her it wasn’t like that but Hallow beat me to it. “Yeah. Eve is an angel.”
“That’s her name, Eve Angel. You take care of our girl.” Celie ended the conversation, so I motioned for Hallow to follow me. Louis and Terry left to follow Dimple back to the stage. They started into “There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang”. With the makeshift band and the three of them, they sounded enough like the Highwaymen, making the place way too loud again.
Hallow caught my waist, surprising me.
Getting close, he whispered, “So, Eve is your real name. Eve Angel.”
“I told you as much.”
Hallow’s arm twisted around me. We hugged up like Donette and I usually did, like we were about to slow dance. His tongue darted out and licked my earlobe. “An angel who fell from heaven meant only for me.” His rough hands went places they weren’t welcome. Not in public anyway.
Fluttering my eyes, I smiled. He couldn’t see it. As much as I enjoyed his touch, I pressed his hands away. I talked into his ear, “You’re acting like a demon that crawled out of hell.”
Hallow’s hands returned but stilled on my hips. “I might just be. But you’re a temptress like your namesake.” He laid a kiss under my ear that made me quake. My body responded as I about melted onto the floor, but I freaked out. “Not here,” I squeaked in his ear.
“Then where?”
“Nowhere.”
“You know, if we’re going to mingle, find out anything it’s best folks think we’re not strangers.”
“Everyone here knows that I have no love life to speak of.”
“How’s that?”
“I leave alone every single night.”
“Celie didn’t seem to suspect anything.”
“You’re right.” I locked arms with him. “Let’s try to find the killer.”
We headed back to the bar. Ford knew good and well I wasn’t with anyone, but I was bound and determined to get this game over with.
Greta and Viv claimed they didn’t know anything about Grady’s murder. They had no suspicions either. I’d tried to act casual, but they didn’t buy it. Ordinarily, I never asked anyone anything. I rarely made conversation.
“The bikers already asked us,” Greta said.
Viv added, “If I knew, I’m not one to snitch.”
Hallow spoke up, “I heard he’s a biker now. He’s bound to have enemies.”
