Chapter 4
1951 Words
Chapter Four
AMANDA
The crowd inside of the bakery was a change of pace. Just ordinary folks looking for a donut and a cup of coffee to get their day started. Very different from the crowd I’d seen the night before.
I was doing the same. At least, I was trying to.
It occurred to me that Steelbarrow was really a tale of three types of people. There were the blue collar, working class types who did what they had to to make ends meet. They were no-nonsense, salt-of-the-earth people who were tougher than they looked, especially the women.
Then there was the hucksters, the grifters, those types. Just walking used-car-salesman energy. There were a lot of them here, for some reason. I could spot them a mile away. The kind who’d empty your bank account on bullshit without a moment’s thought.
Finally, the third type, the ones that lived outside the normal roles and bounds of society. The MCs, the politicians, the gangs, and last but not least, the police. Steelbarrow was uniquely positioned along major interstates such that it attracted a bustling trade of the illicit and illegal. Of course, this brought in all types of characters, but one thing they all had in common was that they played by their own rules.
Tired even after a few hours passed out on my hotel bed, I leaned up against the table and kept stirring the sugar in my coffee.
“Long night?”
I looked up at the cheerful little brunette standing there. The friendly smile she had made me do the same, though it probably took me a lot more effort than her.
“I guess you could say that,” I sighed, thinking back to that kiss. I had let that go too far. I had bailed when I felt I was becoming compromised. Maybe it was a mistake. I didn’t know. I’d spent all night agonizing over it. Who was Malachai? What was his deal? It was more than just wanting to f**k for him, I could tell. What was I getting into?
Questions and doubts swirled a storm in my mind. If there was one thing I was certain of, it was that I liked Malachai. I liked the way he looked, the way he felt — and I had definitely felt him, especially below the belt — but I didn’t trust him.
Hell, maybe I didn’t trust anybody anymore.
I smiled and asked, “How could you tell?”
“You mean besides the messy hair and the bags under your eyes? Don’t worry. We all have our moments, especially in a town like Steelbarrow. How’s the town treating you so far?”
“How… How do you know I’m not from around here?”
“I’ve been working here long enough to recognize everybody. You’re not a regular, so I figure you’re from out of town.”
She took a seat in front of. I would’ve minded if she didn’t have such a pleasant attitude.
“Gina.”
She raised her eyebrows at me. I couldn’t help but smile back at her.
“Amanda.”
“Amanda… So… How’s Steelbarrow treating you so far? I mean, outside of whatever it is you did last night.”
“It’s hard to say. I haven’t been around for very long. One night I’m dealing with a bunch of bikers riding through the streets like thunder and lightning. The next morning, it’s Pleasantville.”
“That’s just how it is. Don’t worry. You get used to it eventually.”
“Maybe you do. I don’t plan on sticking around long enough to get used to it.”
“I see. Business, huh?”
“Business.”
“Business business or business business?”
I laughed at the way she made quotes with her fingers. I didn’t bother answering her. Gina might’ve been the most trustworthy person I met in Steelbarrow but I knew I had to keep this to myself.
“In any case, just figured I’d treat you to some good ol’ Steelbarrow hospitality.”
She put a plate in front of me and a fork down next to it.
“Tiramisu,” I said.
“Hey! Check you out.”
“There was this place up in the city. Italian… They had the best tiramisu.”
“Hopefully this doesn’t disappoint. It’s the specialty here at Amy’s.”
Gina gave me a wink before heading back behind the counter to tend with the line of people moving in and out. I ate a piece of the tiramisu.
“Wow… That’s good…”
While I enjoyed the dessert, I searched through my phone. The only thing there was the phone call I made to myself from Malachai’s phone.
Malachai…
Focus…
I shook away the thoughts and sighed. I couldn’t let anything distract me. Not Malachai. Not this dessert. Not the warm weather or all of the bikers in the streets. But without any information from Cade, I was stuck. Somebody at Farley’s knew something. The problem was trying to single one of them out.
That’s when I realized Malachai was probably my best bet.
“Here goes nothing…”
I was just about to call him when the door to the bakery opened up behind me. I turned my head and had to blink my eyes to make sure I was seeing things right.
“What…”
It was him. Malachai stood there. Denim jeans. Leather kutte with the Cobra logo emblazoned on it. That same inexplicably rugged appeal that made him stick out in a crowd. Even after a morning to sleep it off, he still looked the same as ever.
It didn’t take him more than a second to spot me. He stared at me like he was just as confused I was s**t.
“s**t…”
He sauntered over to me like he was trying to hide his smile.
“Well… Look who it is.”
“So we meet again…”
“You still remember me?”
“I had a few beers. I wasn’t drunk or anything.”
“Good. I wouldn’t wanna take advantage of you.”
He took a seat in front of me.
“I didn’t invite you to sit at my table,” I said.
“I know. But it’s okay because you were about to.”
Bastard. This isn’t what you think it is.
He was doing his best to try and flirt with me but I was too distracted.
“The tiramisu here is great, isn’t it?” he asked.
“It’s good. Is that why you’re here?”
“I usually get a coffee and a donut. Club sent me on a run to pick some s**t up though.”
“Well, aren’t you a nice little errand boy.”
“Prospect isn’t around. Not above doing some honest work for the club.”
“If you say so…”
He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. He kept staring at me, a satisfied little smirk on his lips. Suddenly, his whole body started to shake from laughter.
“What?” I said with a shrug. “What is it?”
“What’s your deal, Amanda? One night you’re giving me your number. The next you’re acting like you don’t want me sitting in front of you. I… I can’t figure you out.”
“Figuring someone out is never easy. I don’t see why I would be any different.”
“Good point. I get it. If you’re here in Steelbarrow on vacation, I’ll give you your space. I’m not that kinda guy who’s desperate for attention.”
“Yeah…”
I poked at my dessert with my fork.
What choice do I have?
I shook my head and sighed, knowing that Malachai was still my best option.
“It’s… It’s personal—”
“I get it, Amanda. You don’t have to tell me anything.”
“I know. But the truth is… I do need some help. I don’t know anybody in this town.”
“Maybe there’s something I can help you with. Or at least, I can point you in the right direction.”
“You already know I went to Cade and the Demons for help. He said it’d be some time before I got the information I was looking for.”
“And what kind of information is it you’re looking for?”
“I’m… I’m looking for someone.”
“Right…” he said with a nod. “I’m guessing you’re not gonna tell me who this someone is. That’s fine. Truth is, Cade is probably the best man for the job. Ever since the Demons came back to town, they’ve always been up to some s**t. They know all of the right people. If you need information on someone, Cade is the man to get it for you.”
“So, I should trust him?”
“I didn’t say that. I could never completely trust a man who calls himself Venom. But from what I know about him, him and his club play it straight with civilians. You don’t look like the type to get involved in some s**t, even with that piece you’re carrying.”
Malachai stared at me like he was trying to read my thoughts. I didn’t pay attention to him and took another bite of my tiramisu.
“I don’t mind waiting for Cade,” I said. “It’s just frustrating without having anything better to do in this town.”
“I’ve got an idea for you.”
“Sorry. Steelbarrow seems like a nice town but I’m not interested in sight-seeing.”
“Sounds like fun. But that’s not what was on my mind. I know you can’t tell me what you’re up to, but I can tell you what I’m doing.”
“You mean you’re not just trying to flirt with me?”
“Actually, I’m working on something,” he said.
“Sounds kinda serious.”
“It is. My neighbor Mrs. Salman… her son died recently.”
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. They found his body on the riverbank. People don’t show up on the riverbank. Not unless some s**t went down. I’m trying to find out who’s responsible for what happened to him.”
“Isn’t that what the cops are for?”
“That’s not how things work around here in Steelbarrow. Sheriff Stilton and the crew only work hard enough if the s**t is obvious. Around here, the MCs are the law.”
“Still, why are you already assuming it was foul play? Maybe he went for a swim and drowned. But I’m guessing things like that don’t happen around Steelbarrow. I sure picked a hell of a town to do my business in…”
“That’s the only kind of business to do here in Steelbarrow.”
Another bite of my tiramisu was good but enough to distract me.
“I woke up earlier probably than I should have. This is good. So is the coffee. But I still don’t see why you’re telling me what you’re up to.”
“You said you’ve got nothing better to do. Maybe this’ll give you a chance to do something besides sit around and wait for Cade to get you the information you’re looking for.”
He stayed leaning back in his seat, nonchalantly crossing his arms while he eyeballed me.
This is dumb.
I knew better than to get involved with a man like Malachai. The tattoos. The bike. The MC. The apparent murder he was investigating. I had every reason to not go along with this but all reason was going out the window.
“All right,” I sighed. “I’ll go along with you.”
“What was that?”
“What was what?”
“You sighed like you don’t wanna do it.”
“I do. I just… I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“Coming to Steelbarrow in the first place wasn’t a good idea.”
“Fair enough.”
“We don’t have to leave right now. I know how good that is.”
“Gina gave me a free piece. A little Steelbarrow hospitality. Want some?”
I stuck my fork out at him, an eyebrow arched.
“If you think I’m gonna let you feed me in front of a crowd of people, you don’t know me very well. Then again, after last night, you’d think we’d know each other.”
“Just because that happened doesn’t mean it has to be awkward between us.”
I turned my fork around and shoved it into my mouth. The surprised look on Malachai’s face was enough to make me crack a smile.
“Take your time,” he said as he got up. “I’m gonna get some s**t done today. Need all the sugar and caffeine I can get.”
“I’ll be right here.”
Malachai got in line with the rest of the folks, giving me a moment to myself.
He seemed honest enough. I didn’t have any reason to turn him away. But I knew better than to let myself get too attached. Spending time around Malachai was just wasting time until I had to do what I had to do. I couldn’t let myself get distracted. Not even by a man like him.
- Writer
