Reverence: MC Romance (The Davis Chapter Book 3) by Davida Lynn Read Free Book Online Page B

Bakersfield turned into the suburbs, and Raven weaved the motorcycle through the quiet and gentle streets. It reminded me so much of home. Despite our family’s less than legal income, we were just another address on a long street.  

    My mother had wine and pretended to read books with her neighbors, and Gage still took care of Mrs. Hendrix’s lawn down the street. The people around us new that Mr. Capriani and his son rode motorcycles, but their understanding stopped there. If the neighbors could see over our high back fence and into the deep, dark world of outlaw motorcycle gangs, I doubted we would have any neighbors left.

    Raven coasted to a stop in front of a large, but unassuming house. God, it was so like my own. I stood and tried to ignore the stiffness in my legs. Raven remained straddling her Harley, the engine still running.

    She motioned toward the house. “I’m done playing taxi, but I do hope I see you again, Julie. There aren’t nearly enough tough chicks in this life. For someone as young as you, I see potential. You listen to what Faith has to say. She has been through the ringer and back. Be nice, and if she offers you something to drink, accept.”

    I felt like I was losing a friend. Raven had this rough, tough bubble around her, but there was a kindness that just drew me in. “I’ll see you around?”

    She nodded. “If things up north go well, probably. If things go to shit, definitely.” With that enigmatic statement, Raven let her motorcycle shatter the quiet piece of the neighborhood.

    There I was, in a place that felt so familiar but was brand new. I raise my eyebrows and shrugged to nobody. I walked past the mailbox that read Rivers and had wildflowers around its base. I was worried for Romero, for my father, and brother, and I was even worried about Raven and her unborn child. They were right when they said love was messy.

    My finger never made it to the doorbell. I gave a start as the door pulled open. God, Julie. Get your shit together. Be the strong woman Raven saw.

    The matriarch —Faith— gave me a smile. If she was Trask’s mother, she had done a fantastic job battling time. Her smile was bright and her skin flawless. Her eyes were deep, powerful brown showed no sign of weakness. She wore a flowery blouse with short sleeves. It would have made her look like any other housewife on the block if not for the tattoos peeking out from beneath the both sleeves.

    “Well.” her voice was as cheery as her smile. “We’re not cooling the entire Southwest. Come on in.”

    Even their house had the same little character touches as ours. I’d say most of the design work was done by Faith with little touches here and there to still make the man of the house still feel at home. The place was feminine, filled with classy little masculine touches. Vintage posters advertising motorcycle races hung here and there. Small polished engine parts sat on the occasional end table. To the untrained eye, they would’ve looked like any other trinket.  

    My father had fought tooth and nail for a piston ashtray. He eventually got it, but only after trading it for a pearl bracelet my mother had been eyeing. So comfortable, so familiar, so different .

    I followed Faith through the kitchen and out onto a shaded patio area. A pitcher of some tea was sweating on a glass table. She sat down at one end, and I dropped into a padded chair opposite her.

    “I don’t want this to feel like an interrogation. It probably already does, I’m sure, and for that, I’m very sorry. I hope you understand where we’re coming from, though.” Her voice was even and soothing. Faith reached for an empty glass.

    As she poured some of the tea, I shook my head. “I understand. I feel a little bit like a defector. I’m sure the last day has been pretty strange for everyone. It certainly has for me.”

    “Strange is putting it lightly, dear. Tea?”

    Doing as Raven had suggested, I nodded. “Thank you.”

    Faith