Page 496 of Devil’s Disciples

He nodded. “She kicked the shit out of me, fair and square. I had to beg her to stop. Truthfully, that’s why I hired her. I felt like she had the guts to stand up to my Pops. So, I hired her.”

I loved hearing the stories of how everyone met. I hoped that one day I could tell them of how Reno and I met, and how he ultimately saved me from a monster.

I grinned. “That’s an awesome story.”

The rumble from motorcycles caught my attention. Excited about Reno joining the fun, I stood and walked toward the window. Two motorcycles pulled into the driveway, followed by a Red SUV.

In a moment, Reno, Goose, and Crip came in through the kitchen.

Wearing long faces, Crip and Goose shuffled their way into the living room. Upon seeing me, Reno sauntered in my direction with spring in his step, like he’d just awaken from a nap.

I pushed myself up from the couch and stood.

“Sorry it took so long,” he said apologetically. “You ready?”

“For what?”

He edged his way past the other men. “To go.”

I never got an opportunity to spend time talking, drinking, and having fun with people my age. My nights were limited to talking to my brother, listening to my father’s stories, and helping my mother cook.

Being around people who were willing to accept me as one of their own was a nice change of pace.

“Do we have to?” I asked. “I’m having fun.”

“It’s four in the morning,” he replied.

I had no idea it was so late. My time with the group had flown by. “Oh. Well, I guess if we need to, that’s okay.”

“Stick around, Brother,” Crip said. “Sun will be up in an hour and a half. We can head to that diner for breakfast.”

Reno stepped in front of me and put his hands on my shoulders. In anticipation of what was to come, a tingle ran from my fingertips to my toes.

“If you need to go,” he whispered. “We can go.”

I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay and talk, and, to have him kiss me. They were his friends, I decided. Ultimately, the decision was his to make.

“I let my family know I was fine,” I said. “I don’t need to go. Unless you want to.”

He looked me in the eyes long enough it made me feel uneasy. Then, he leaned away. “God damn, you’re pretty.”

If he wasn’t going to decide, I was going to do it for him. Before he could step away, I kissed him like it was the last chance I’d ever have to do so.

Two can play at this game, Mister.

* * *

Instead of eating with the group, Reno decided to take me to breakfast alone. Snuggled into a booth in the rear of a really cool diner in San Diego, we ate our breakfast while sharing lingering looks at one another.

He poked the corner of his toast in his mouth. “This is weird.”

“What?” I asked. “Eating breakfast together?”

“No.” He sighed. “Feeling like this.”

“Like what?”

“I like being around you.”