Debbie shuddered through her next few breaths. This pregnancy wasn’t fair to either of them—her or the baby growing inside her.
Worse, she was alone in her feelings. Preacher seemed… almost happy about it.
Maybe because it served as a distraction from the ugly things that often plagued his thoughts. Most nights Debbie would find him wide awake and pacing the hallway in their tiny apartment. Debbie would go to him, and Preacher would pull her into his arms. Eventually, his hands almost always ended up on her belly, and his entire expression would shift—the shadows would flee his face and his eyes would brighten.
They never spoke of what bothered them—Preacher didn’t talk of what kept him up at night and, not wanting to burden him further, Debbie kept her pregnancy fears to herself. They’d talk only about meaningless things—television sitcoms, whatever idiotic thing Tiny had done recently, and Debbie’s frequent outings with the girls.
For the first time in nearly two years, her hair was styled, cut into feathered layers, and enhanced by her natural waves. And her nails were done, painted a soft pink that matched the color of the flower studs in her ears. Her outfit today was simple yet fashionable—a white, long-sleeved peasant top paired with a beige corduroy skirt. Dark tights and knee-high boots completed the ensemble.
Flicking a cookie crumb off her skirt, she couldn’t help but smile. A year ago she never would have thought she’d be wearing clothing like this again. A year ago she’d never have imagined this was where she’d be—in New York City, in love with a man, and blessed with all the creature comforts she’d thought she’d lost forever.
And so Debbie took solace in how different things were now compared to a year ago. How incredibly lucky she was and, aside from her pregnancy, how good things were with Preacher.
“There you are!” Maria Deluva rushed inside the kitchen and gathered Frankie into her arms. “I was looking everywhere,” she lovingly admonished her son and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Maria was a small woman, slim and petite with olive skin and long jet-black hair, and one of the only people associated with the club that Debbie had yet to spend any real time with. Unlike the other wives and girlfriends, Maria was soft-spoken and reserved, and rarely made an appearance at the clubhouse. She was only here today because it was the first Saturday of the month, the one day each month that Preacher required everyone to gather for family day.
Even if Preacher himself wasn’t currently here.
Three weeks earlier, Preacher had left for business reasons. The last Debbie had heard from him was almost a week ago, promising her he would be home two days ago. She wasn’t worried yet; he often arrived later than he said he would. She simply missed him.
“More cookies, please.” From Maria’s arms, Frankie beckoned Debbie.
“How many have you had already?” Maria asked.
“Just two,” Debbie lied.
“One more?” Frankie asked, holding up four fingers. “Please, Mama?”
“Oh, alright,” Maria laughed. “Just one—”
“No more.”
Everyone froze as Frank’s booted feet pounded a heavy, authoritative cadence across the linoleum. He stopped beside Maria and placed a possessive arm over her shoulders. Maria seemed to stiffen further beneath him. Even little Frankie appeared eerily still. It was as if Frank’s presence had sucked the life straight from them both.
Frank wasn’t an overly large man, his stature was fairly similar to Preacher’s. But standing beside his wife and son, instead of giving the impression of a doting husband and father, he had the look of a king dominating his subjects.
Frank was an enigma Debbie hadn’t quite figured out yet. Although he dressed the part of a biker, he hardly looked like his fellow Silver Demons. His short hair was always neatly trimmed and perfectly styled, and his face was always clean-shaven. And unlike the other men, whose hands and clothing seemed forever stained with grease, Frank’s were always uncommonly free of grime.
“Ready to go?” Though Frank was addressing Maria, his calculating gaze was on Debbie. She often found him staring at her—his brown eyes so dark they appeared black. And each and every time it made her uncomfortable. Yet, Preacher considered Frank a good friend, so Debbie was inclined to keep her feelings to herself.
Maria nodded mutely, and as Frank led his family from the kitchen Maria glanced over her shoulder and flashed Debbie a small, wooden smile.
“Say goodbye to Debbie,” Maria encouraged Frankie.
Chocolate-covered fingers wiggled. “Bye-bye Debbie.”
She blew the little boy a kiss. “Bye-bye Frankie.”
Debbie remained inside the kitchen until she heard the front door open and close, signaling the Deluva’s departure. Moving into the hallway, she stopped suddenly when she found Joe dangling over the side of the stairwell railing.
“Debbie!” he whisper-shouted. “Where’s Sylvie?” His one eye darted nervously around the hallway.
Debbie only shrugged in response. She’d made a point to never get involved in Joe and Sylvia’s sham of a marriage. Grimacing, Joe spun away and darted up the stairs. Rolling her eyes, she continued on, pausing briefly to glance into the stairwell Joe had been hanging from.
The Silver Demons’ brownstone was an impressive five stories high, not including the rooftop patio and flower garden. The second-floor apartment was where Gerald, Ginny, and Max had lived, while the third and fourth floors contained rooms for the club members.
Max lived with Joe and Sylvia now, and Preacher had closed off the second-floor. As for Ginny’s flowers on the roof, Louisa and Debbie took turns tending to them as best they could.
Debbie entered the living room—a large space lined with couches and chairs in a variety of sizes and colors. Mismatched rugs covered the in-between areas. Large, colorful pop art prints from the 1950s and 1960s hung on nearly every wall. Near the back stairwell a bar area had been set up, and on the other side of the room sat a wall-to-wall entertainment center.
Today Louisa and Anne were huddled together at the bar, while Whiskey Jim was stretched out over one of the sofas, snoring loudly. Some Girls by the Rolling Stones was buzzing softly through the speakers while a Silver Demon named Bullet browsed the records.
“What’s your pleasure today, Debbie darling?” Bullet called out. “We got Queen, we got the Doobie Brothers… we got some Aerosmith…”
“Blondie,” she replied with a smile. “Always Blondie.”
He flashed her a gleaming white grin that accentuated his dark brown skin. “’Course,” he drawled, “What was I thinkin’? I got your Blondie comin’ right up, little mama.”
Debbie headed for the bar and took a much-needed seat on one of the stools. Although her pregnant stomach was still measuring relatively small and had yet to become a bother, she was tired and sore almost all the time.
“Aw, honey,” Anne cooed. “You look exhausted. How’re ya feelin’?”
She shrugged. “I’m okay, I guess. Just wish Preacher was back.”
Sighing, Louisa frowned down at the drink in her hand. “They were supposed to be back days ago.”
“Preacher’ll be back soon, don’t you worry, honey.” Anne wrapped an arm around Louisa’s waist and gave her a squeeze. “Yours too, baby doll.
“I envy you both, though, you know?” Smiling mischievously, Anne tucked her long blonde hair behind her ears and leaned over the bar. “Jim’s gettin’ on in years, so he doesn’t go riding as much. But when he did…” Anne’s smile turned positively wicked. “Oh honey, the welcome home sex was some of the best I’ve ever had.”
Debbie and Louisa glanced to where Jim was still snoring on the sofa and started giggling. “Gross,” Louisa mouthed to Debbie and Debbie nodded vigorously in agreement.
“I saw that!” Anne snapped. “And all I gotta say is don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
“Speaking of gross…” Louisa’s eyes darted suspiciously around the room, and she lowered her voice. “Did Frank leave?”
Debbie nodded. “A few minutes ago.”