Outlaw's Ride: An MC Romance by Carter Steele (books recommended by bts .txt) 📕

“I blame the good Lord.” Dreamer smirked unfazed at the jab and at losing the game. He drained the rest of his beer and raised a finger to the waitress to bring him over another. “He gave me one flaw so I didn't make men everywhere too jealous.”

Sarah's face puckered in a snicker at his boast then she rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. She sat with me at the high top table by the dart board as we watched Yoga wipe the floor with Dreamer. Curling a strand of hair behind her ear her amused smile began to fade. Sarah casually doodled in her notepad in between the short written-out replies and questions. Seeing her small half-drawings made me realize she hadn't fully sketched anything in almost a week.

The Sarah I'd come to fall for was there only in flashes lately. She'd been more reserved since the museum several days ago and whenever I asked about what was going on with her she'd become even more withdrawn. With a doubt it was somehow Patrick's fault, but it frustrated the shit out of me because I didn't know what he did to her this time. Physically she looked fine, no new bruises that I saw, so it must've been something he told her or forced her to do.

Was he still making her whore after I dropped her off in the evenings? When I asked Sarah about that directly she'd just shook her head with sad eyes. It was a look that said I wish that was all it was. It drove me crazy trying to guess what game that motherfucker was now playing with her-with all of us.

“We got next game,” I announced, not wanting to sour my mood for the night thinking about that fucking prick.

“Fuck no you don't,” Yoga replied clearing the chalk score from the board. “It's winner's board. Who's my next victim?”

“Ok,” I agreed, taking a chance on a hunch. “Winner and loser versus me and Sarah.”

Sarah's eyes widened as she started to shake her head with her hands up, mouthing the word no over and over.

“Oh, so it's a two on one game you want then?” Yoga replied, but smirked at Dreamer who just flipped him off with a comically forced smile. “Losing team picks up the tab.”

“Sorry, girl, you're on the hook now, it's out of my hands,” I said with an innocent shrug. She was resistant at first but after a bunch of playful goading eventually she let me drag her off the stool. Turning back to Yoga, I gave him my best Clint Eastwood sneer. “You got a deal, punk. Get ready to be pounded.”

“Let's be clear. I'm the one that pounds,” Yoga retorted pointing an outstretched finger at me with an overly-serious expression.

“We all know you're a power-bottom at best,” Dreamer shoved Yoga, spilling his glass. “And Sarah and I aren't paying shit for either of you swinging dicks, even if you are only drinking seltzer water...like a little bitch.”

“My body's a temple. Yours is a doughnut.” Yoga ripped the darts free and divvied them out. “Sarah, you're up first. Show us whatchu you got.”

Hesitantly Sarah lined up her shot mimicking the way Yoga did it. That wasn't too surprising. Maybe it was because she couldn't talk and spent most of her time observing life around her instead of actually being part of it, but the girl had an incredibly keen eye. She was definitely a visual learner. The first dart missed the board entirely, but the second and third honed in on what she was aiming for allowing her to score at least a point before ending her turn.

“All right, I see how it is. I get stuck with a dude who doesn't know which end of the dart to throw and Wreck brings a ringer.” Yoga cracked his neck to either side then shook out his hands. Dreamer distractedly flipped him off between sips of his newly dropped off drink then then went back to watching the football game on one of the bar’s many flat screens.

By the end of the game Sarah scored two more points than I did. Despite Dreamer only really half playing Yoga still nabbed the win although just barely. Not wanting to push his luck he loudly proclaimed he was officially retiring from darts for the night as the undisputed king. Needing to switch it up from the sting of that last second loss I brought Sarah over to the pinball machines and challenged her to a game of highest points.

“What's next for you after all this?” she signed slowly as I loaded my quarters into the machine. That was at least one thing that hadn't changed these past several days. If anything we spent most of our time together practicing sign language. I know she enjoyed teaching it, but I think the real reason we did it so often was so she could avoid having to have any painful conversations.

It killed me that I didn't know what changed! I wanted to find a way to help her but she obviously didn't want me to, which frustrated the fuck out of me.

“I don't know. Move on I guess.” I shrugged, working the game cabinet's paddles. “That's the nomad lifestyle. Wind at your back, live for the moment, all that shit.”

“I thought the Devil Kings didn't have nomad chapters?” Sarah signed just before I pulled the knob back and released my second ball into the game.

“Someone's been doing their homework.” I snapped a quick side glance to her. The nervousness on her face at me calling her out felt out of place. Didn't she know I was only joking? “Yes and no... It's complicated. We're probably the only chapter that is still nomad, especially after the changing of the guard.

“We had a falling out with our shit-bag national president, Snake Eyes, back in the day so we went nomad. I hear the new pres, Bravo,