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Horror swore it was true. “I saw it with my own eyes. She works there, going by the name Angel Hart. She’s using Hallow’s real last name as if they went through with the marriage. We’ll find where she’s living soon.”
After all this time, Eve was still hung up on Hallow. Staring at the address, I didn’t know what I should do. One thing was certain, I couldn’t leave the party. “Why didn’t you bring her to Royal Road?”
“I wasn’t sure you wanted her brought here with such an event going on tonight.”
“Why not?”
The big man raised his chin and looked at the ceiling. There was something he wasn’t telling me.
“Eve’s okay?”
“Yes, she seems fine,” Horror said but something was off. “You should see for yourself. Decide if she should come back. Or maybe we should just let her be.”
“Let her be?” Confused, I dismissed my officer.
Maybe Horror was right. If Eve was safe and happy, we could keep an eye on her from afar. I wouldn’t have the temptation of her. Reading the address, I punched it into my phone. The diner was only miles away, on the way from here to the nursing home. I’d be driving past the very road later taking Satan back to Silver Springs.
Eve had been hiding in plain sight.
Chapter 16
Eve
The early shift at Jolene’s Diner, a Dolly Parton themed restaurant, wasn’t nearly as busy with all the snow falling. After all, it was Christmas Eve and it’d be a half day. I had worked there for the last two months and already made shift manager. It wasn’t much, but it was my own. I was on my own. No Hallow, no Kingpin, no Royal Bastards MC. I’d left Royal Road with no real plan. I sold the orange, El Camino, I loved, Gran’s car to put my deposit on a small, one bedroom apartment. It had new hardwood floors and granite countertops. The place was better than any house I’d ever lived in. There was not a lick of furniture besides a new mattress on the floor. I’d also bought that with the money from Gran’s car. Every dime I made at Royal Road, I put in the bank for the baby. Regardless, my new place was cozy. I planned to fill it with everything I needed for the baby soon.
When I found the job at Jolene’s, I knew it was close to Royal Road, but the hours were perfect. I went in at four am and got off before noon. No biker was up and out at those hours.
They’d never find me.
And I’d gotten a text from Kingpin, saying I wasn’t safe. Being so close to the clubhouse, I was only a text away from safety. Anything happened I could text Kingpin back and a slew of bikers would be here in no time. I had a life line.
Being farther along in my pregnancy that my doctor considered high risk, the job was easy enough. The pay and benefits were very generous as well, because of our namesake. Even though my heart was still broken, I felt quite lucky, sometimes even optimistic about my future, alone. Even if I’d celebrated my birthday last week all alone. I’d talked to Hob, dad and gran on the phone, though.
As it was fixin to become a blizzard, I was just about to call upper management to see if we could shut down the place. Go home before the roads become impassable. The bells jingled on the door, and someone walked in, bringing a whoosh of frigid air with him. I shivered. Goosebumps covered me. It felt like an omen. I looked up and saw why.
A biker.
Lordalmighty.
You couldn’t miss Kingpin, but his ugly Christmas sweater threw me off. Consequently, it was a hot minute before I stepped behind the register. When he about fainted, I knew I’d not been quick enough at hiding my baby bump. I was only six months pregnant but big as a cow.
“This is where you've been hiding yourself?” Kingpin said in disbelief.
“Hiding. Who's hiding? You said I could leave, so I left,” I howled, unable to control myself.
Besides, the Halloween raid had spooked me. While the Gods ran around Royal Road trying to kill everyone, I worried for my unborn child. No one materialized to protect little ol’ me. I hid the whole time in a Porta-John. It was downright disgusting. When it was over, no one but Riff, who was tasked with counting everyone, came to check on me. Not Hallow. Not Kingpin. Two men who’d laid claim to me. I heard that Hallow and Steph made it out alive. I went to check on Kingpin as soon as I could, but he was too busy to see me.
I knew then, that evidently, I was on my own. No matter Kingpin’s words in the midst of our passion, he always backed out after he’d gotten what he wanted from me.
I’d known the Royal Bastards MC were looking for me from the calls and texts I received first from Kingpin. And then from all the others. I didn’t answer them. Regrettably, even Ember, Connie or Allie. And I’d not had any contact from Hallow. I’ve not contacted him either, not that I had his new number.
Speechless, Kingpin approached me. His eyes fell to my stomach. I placed my hand on my belly and tried to see my toes. I couldn’t. Another reason I left was because I’d be showing soon, and that would give us away. I just never expected to be as big as a Chinese spy balloon. My doctor said it was on account of my health conditions and stress. I breathed in deep, feeling that stress more than ever.
Flustered, Kingpin finally opened his big mouth. “Does Hallow know?”
“Why would he?” I quipped.
“It's his, ain’t it?” His mouth spoke, not his brain.
