Chapter 13

Elena

“Any luck?” Viper asks as I walk through the door to the kitchen.

With a huff, I pull out a chair at the table and sit. “No. Things were weird there. It’s like they were hiding something.”

My father’s face falls to a frown and peers at me over the rims of his glasses, then places his coffee mug back on the table. “Well… they are bikers.” He places a hand over his chest. “I should know.” He pauses to take in the fact that I did not think that was funny in the slightest. As if Viper having the knowledge of all the different possibilities of what they could be hiding would comfort me or ease my mind. “I’m sorry, Elena. Maybe, at least, you’ll be left alone now, and you won’t need to worry about it anymore.”

A sigh escapes as I say, “We’ll see.” While picking at my index fingernail, I can’t help but think of my dad and Mike. My chest constricts as I literally feel my heart ache.

I wish they were here.

What I wouldn’t give to hug my dad again, to smell his cheap cologne that always reminded me of burnt apple pie. I’m beginning to forget the sound of his voice and his deep laugh.

How long has it been? Six, seven months? It feels like eternity.

Mike. Oh, Mike. My heart aches for a different reason whenever he crosses my mind. I love him and hate him at the same time. I would give my soul to just be in his arms and tell him that I love him.

“Elena? Are you okay?” Viper’s concerned baritone voice shatters the blanket of darkness that consumes me in the most random times. It is then that I realize a tear has shed.

I reach up to wipe my cheek and smile one of those fake smiles that has been able to fool many people who look upon me with pity. “It’s okay. I’m fine, really.”

Before Viper is able to say anything more than his blue eyes already do, there’s a knock at the door behind me. Those crystal blues shift from me to the door and something changes in him.

He’s giddy.

I turn to see a woman that could be around Viper’s age with tight, light brown curls, an angular nose, and a warm smile. She has blue eyes that light up as soon as Viper notices her.

In her hand is a large Tupperware container. It clicks.

“Judy!” Viper exclaims, then removes himself from the table to greet the woman who has been feeding him for the past nine to twelve months. He opens the screen door to let her in, so I stand and head for the door as well to greet our new guest.

“Elena, this is Judy. Judy, Elena,” Viper introduces us as he takes the container from her hands.

I offer my palm for a shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”

She takes it and says with a sincere smile that reaches her ocean eyes, “So nice to finally meet you! I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You, too,” I smile back and glance at Viper.

After pleasantries fills the entrance of the kitchen, I decide to excuse myself so these two can have some time alone together. Plus, I could use some time for myself as well.

Once in my room, I can hear the light chatter from the kitchen and some laughter. A faint smile forms on my face as I listen to them; it’s a nice memory of when I was little, before Mom got sick, and I remember being in my room upstairs and hearing my mom and dad laugh and talk.

The memory is now tainted with the truth of how they ended up together. It wasn’t love at first sight like how they said.

The smile falls at the same time my phone dings in my pocket. Removing it, I see a text from Declan.

Just wanted you to know. You don’t need to worry about Marcus anymore. My dad has been dealt with.

Dealt with? Is he dead or in prison? The weight on my shoulders lifts, but my pulse still races with this news. How is Declan handling all of this? Is he okay? Who all helped him? Surely it wasn’t all on his own…

Maybe the Devil’s Henchmen helped.

Typing out a response, Viper’s voice chimes from the bottom of the stairs. “Elena! Judy and I are going to sit outside on the porch for a bit if you need me for anything.”

            He doesn’t need to tell me these things, but I suppose with my history and somewhat fragile state, Viper can’t help but give me his play-by-play. In response to him, I make my way to the stairs. “Okay! Sounds good.”

            As they head out the door, I take one step at a time down the stairs and back into the kitchen for a glass of water before retreating once more to my room. With the glass in hand, I turn on the faucet at the sink and that’s when I see it.

            A flicker of a light inside the church across the field. It’s faint, but with how dark it is getting, it glows enough so I can see it.

            I can still hear Viper and Judy on the porch, puzzled, I wonder who’s in the church?