“Yeah.” I look at Alex and my heart flips. His eyes are gentle as he watches me. This is what he must have looked like as a boy. This is how he must have looked at Jo-Leigh before her death. I sip my beer. I refuse to think of that time. A time when she had the true Alex.
“It’s the family day at Demon’s Lair this weekend. Come with me.”
The pounding of my heart echoes in my ears as I shake my head. “I’ve promised Cole I’ll go with him.”
Alex’s smile slips, then he forces it into place. “It’s my four days, Mia.”
I nod. “I know. But I’ve already invited Cole.” I look at Alex. “You can’t expect me to break a promise.”
Alex glances to the river, then looks at me. The tenderness gone. His lips set in a fine line. I should rejoice at this show of jealousy, but I know it’s more about ownership than emotion. “This once, Mia. Then no matter what promises you make Cole. My four days are my four days.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
Alex’s smile is back. Not the one he wore moments ago. His teasing one. The one he uses to flirt with. The one he uses to get his own way and I nod. “Alex.” He leans back, and my gaze drops to the open zipper and I shake my head. The man has no shame. “How come you don’t have a moniker.”
Alex keeps his eyes closed. “I did, but I dropped it.”
I shuffle closer, drawing circles on his stomach. “Why?”
“Because I don’t like it. Anyway, now the River Demons are moving in a new direction, we don’t have use for them.”
“Are you going to tell me what it was.”
A shadow passes at the back of his eyes. “Slick.”
“Why don’t you like it.”
“Jono gave it to me.”
His answer sounds like a lie, and I search his face for the truth. “Is that the reason you don’t like it?”
Alex shrugs. “Partly. He gave it to me because I could always get him and me out of trouble. Then when I became a lawyer. He said it suited me even better.” Alex turns his gaze to me. “When he broke away from the club, I was glad to drop it.”
“Can I give you a new one?”
Alex blinks and his smile twists at my stomach. “Will I regret it if I say yes?”
I shake my head. “Nibbana. You are my Nibbana. But I guess everyone else can call you Nibs.”
Chapter 13
Alex: Demon’s Lair Noir Valley
As the low strains of a guitar rhythm swirls in the air from Soul Insurrection, a local up-and-coming blues band, I leave Demon’s Lair to join my brothers on the banks of the Mississippi. Raised voices catch my attention and I watch Firebird and TJ amongst the throng. In her hand she is waving a clipboard at TJ, who scowls in response, pointing to the cooking pit and Firebird shakes her head.
“If he didn’t love her. I’m sure I’d never find her body.”
I turn to Leon to find him watching Firebird. A light gleam’s in his brown eyes while a small smile plays at the corner of his lips. “TJ tells me he has a yearning to be an uncle.”
Leon’s chuckle vibrates around us as he shakes his head. “If he wants kids, he can go and get his own.” His smile slips. “This is Firebird’s time. She held her family together for too long. Now’s the time for her to fly.” Leon glances in my direction, his smile is back. “Or sail should I say.”
TJ and Leon are not the only ones fond of Firebird, and I chuckle, “She’s a Demon, Leon.”
“What about you, Alex. Are you ready for the mundane?”
“Mia is as mundane as Firebird.” The biker chuckles as I slap him on the back as I walk away from him, scanning the crowded parking lot in search of my prey. Our guest began arriving about thirty minutes ago and as I search the revelers for a particular blond, my scowl deepens when there is no sighting of Mia. I weed my way through the stalls selling raffle tickets and tombola. Soul Insurrection are playing near the makeshift bar and on the other side, filling a fair part of the ground is a giant bouncy castle with several small kids running, jumping and tumbling on it. There’s a small merry-go-round with chairs on chains and a horse carousal, both are in motion. Although we are on the banks of the Mississippi, Firebird has had a giant inflatable swimming pool installed in the grounds, which the club whores, along with several of the young men from Noir Valley and a couple of River Demons younger bikers are using.
“You look as thou you could do with a beer.” Flash slips her arm through mine as she hands me a beer. I shrug my arm, smiling at the whore to diminish the rebuff and notice her gaze on the swimming pool.
“Thanks. Are you going to take a dip?”
Flash shrugs as she sips her beer. “I might later.” Eyes devour me as her gaze caresses my body, but there is no answering twitch from my cock. “If the company’s right.”
“I’m sure you’ll find someone.” My smile is more of a smirk as Oyster and Kit stroll our way. When they reach us, I insert by body between the two bikers, loop my arm around Kit’s neck, turning him away from Oyster and Flash. “Kit and I have business to discuss, I’m sure you won’t mind keeping Flash company.” I wink at Oyster as I steer Kit towards Day, sitting on one of the benches, watching and studying the crowd.
Kit chuckles as he ambles beside me. “Shit, Alex. Leave the matchmaking to TJ. You’re as subtle as the quick sands
