Chapter Four
I unplug my cell phonefrom the charger in my car, start my play list up, and secure my device to the strap on my arm. I exit my car and hit the alarm before tucking my keys in the pocket of my zip up hoodie. I stop at the beginning of Middle Ridge Road for some stretches. When I need to clear my head, this is what I do. I come to Kanawha State Park and run. There are other more rugged trails, but I prefer the smoother terrain of this one.
Dorothy belts through my blue-tooth earbuds. I keep thinking about that stupid biker prick from the other day. Who does he think he is? I don’t know why he’s under my skin and boiling the blood in my veins, but he pushed every damn button. The good and the bad. Mostly the bad, but damn if he wasn’t pretty to look at.
That’s why I’m here. To get him out of my thoughts so I can focus on Mariah and bringing her home. The problem is not everyone wants to be found. I don’t feel comfortable reaching out to her family to ask for something personal of hers. They’ll think I’m a weirdo.
My feet pound the dirt path as it winds around the ridge line of the mountain. The scenery around me is gorgeous. The leaves are starting to turn lovely shades of red, orange, and yellow. Squirrels dart along the trees like they are playing a game of tag. I breathe in through my nose and out my mouth. Sweat clings to the back of my neck. The sun attempts to peer through the grey clouds with little luck. I keep pushing thoughts of Sandman from the forefront of my mind and concentrate on how I’m going to connect to Mariah. All I need is one sign to tell me to pursue this. A memory comes to me of Mariah. In school she was heavier than most girls. She was always trying to make friends with the popular kids. She’d do their homework. Make everyone friendship bracelets. That’s it. She made me one. It was black, silver, and blue.
I smile at the sky and hope it’s still somewhere in my old room at Gram’s house.
I turn midway through the trail to return to my car. I keep getting that creepy sensation like I’m being watched. Uneasiness settles in my gut. I remove my earbuds, tucking them in one of my pockets, like if I can hear I’ll be able to see better. I do the same shit in my car. I turn down my radio to read a sign. I scan the woods that surround me on either side, but don’t see anything out of the ordinary or suspicious. I’m being silly. Maybe it’s because I’m a smaller woman in the woods alone or that now my mind is centered on Mariah’s disappearance. I make my way back to where I parked. I stop dead in my tracks. Leaning against the driver’s side door of my black Dodge Challenger I bought with some of the money I received courtesy of the settlement Gram got from the accident that killed my mother and Grampy is the sexy but rude biker from the shop the other day.
What the hell is he doing here?
“You following me?” I shove a hand in my pocket, making contact with my keys and the mace I keep on the ring.
“What are you?” He doesn’t shift to give me access to my car, and I don’t step any closer.
I swallow hard as he pierces me with his gaze. He’s cuter than I remembered. “Excuse me.”
“You a witch?”
“Are you a biker?”
His lips curve into a sexy smirk that’d make weaker women melt. “Need your help. Heard you were good at finding people.”
“Sorry, I can’t help you.”
“You’re trying to find Mariah. I am too.”
“Why?”
“I want to make sure she’s okay.”
“You dating her or something?”
“Nothing like that. She started dancing at a club owned by the Royal Bastards. She’s the second dancer to disappear.”
I read on some social media post that she’d basically lost all her weight after her husband left her. Guess being a father and husband didn’t rank high on his list of priorities. “How do I know you didn’t do something to her?”
“You don’t, but if you’re as good as people say then you’ll figure that out.”
“And if I’m not?”
“Listen, it may not mean much but I give you my word that I never met her. I’d never hurt a woman. I may be an outlaw but, we respect women. A friend of yours is married to one of my brothers. Wylla Mae.”
“Right. I know her.” I haven’t heard much about Wylla since we graduated, but I remember her being hung up on an older guy. “I can’t promise much. I’m going home now to find something Mariah gave me when we were younger. It helps to have something personal of the person I’m trying to connect with.”
“Good. We’ll start there.”
“I work alone.”
“Not anymore.” He steps away from my car. “I’ll follow you.”
“You’re not coming to my Gram’s with me.”
He doesn’t reply. Only shakes his head and walks toward his motorcycle that’s parked opposite of my car.
Well, this is simply great. Perfect. Sure, I could call the police and file a harassment report but all that will do is put me on the bad side of his motorcycle club. What if he’s lying? What if the MC had something to do with Mariah disappearing?
Though if he means me harm, I’ll know for sure when he tries to enter Gram’s house. She has a protection spell cast that makes anyone who wishes ill intent nauseas when they set foot inside the house. Not that I’ve ever had to test it. I can’t believe I’m doing this.
I hurry to enter my car. The first thing I do is take a drink from my water bottle and crank my AC up. It’s still that time of year here where you start the day with a hoodie and by midday you are removing layers. I check my review mirror and confess the sight of this biker dude climbing on his motorcycle is one of the sexiest things I’ve ever watched.
By the Goddess I hope Gram is at the shop.
**