Chapter Eight
Alfonso’s was acharming Mexican restaurant that had recently opened on the corner of Champa and Colusa. The interior resembled a beachside eatery with light blue and yellow walls and paintings depicting seaside towns in Mexico. The cuisine came from Baja California Sur, unlike all the other Mexican restaurants in Alina that served dishes from the states of Chihuahua and Sonora.
“I hear the margaritas are so good here,” Ava said as the two women followed the hostess to their table by the window.
“I’m counting on it. I could use one.” Raven sat down and took the menu from the lady. “It’s really cute in here. I love all the oil and watercolor paintings. It’s like we’re having dinner by the ocean. A nice change.”
“I’m glad you decided to come out tonight. I practically gave up on you ever going out. It’s a good sign. Sometimes you have to get away from everything and just have a good time foryou. Believe me, I know.” Ava picked up a chip and dunked it into one of the four salsas on the table.
Raven nodded. “How’s your mother?” Ava’s mother had just recently come home from the hospital and wasn’t doing so well. Ava and her sister took turns staying with her. Raven knew it was emotionally draining and physically challenging for her. To make the situation more difficult, Ava’s mother wasn’t the nicest patient.
Ava sighed. “The same. It’s my turn to spend the night. I told my sister I’d be over by nine thirty.” She glanced at her watch. “That’ll give us enough time to catch up.”
When the waitress came over, Raven ordered a margarita with a double shot of Cointreau and Ava ordered a pineapple margarita. As they talked and sipped their drinks, Raven heard a familiar voice in the distance. Casually, she craned her neck toward the direction of loud, deep laughter. She saw a table of about eight broad-shouldered, good-looking men in leather vests sporting tattoos on their arms. Then she spotted Muerto, a glass of beer in his hand, his hair falling over his forehead. She yearned to brush his hair out of his eyes, feel the smoothness of his skin, and kiss his full lips which were pressing against his glass. An intense craving for him—all of him—kept her from turning away. Then his gaze locked on hers and her insides quivered as she held his stare, mesmerized by him.
“Camarones baja?” the busser asked.
“That’s hers,” Ava said.
The scent of onions, cilantro, and tomatoes pulled Raven away from Muerto’s intensity, and she turned and looked down at her dish. The busser placed a charbroiled flank steak in front of Ava, the pungent smell of jalapeños wafting around them.
“This looks so good,” Ava said as she picked up her fork and knife. “Your shrimp look fantastic. How are they?”
“Really good. The perfect blend of spices, and they’re cooked just right.” Raven tore her flour tortilla in half and dipped it in the sauce.
“So who’s the gorgeous guy you were staring at?”
Raven groaned. “My landlord, and heisgorgeous. I wish he wasn’t.” She took a sip of her margarita. “And he’s so damn cocky it’s unbelievable.”
“Your landlord’s a Night Rebel?”
“What’s that?”
“An outlaw biker. It’s the name of their club.” Ava placed another morsel of steak in her mouth. “This is just so good.”
“Outlaw biker? Is this for real? I thought all that had gone away. I mean, I remember reading about the biker wars from the sixties and seventies, and I saw some of the old movies about bikers, but I thought it was all in the past.”
“Not in Alina. I keep forgetting you’re not from here. The Night Rebels are an outlaw club, and they’re hooked up with the Insurgents MC in Pinewood Springs. The Insurgents are like the head club and Colorado is their turf. I’m not sure how the two clubs fit in, but I know no one wants to get on the bad side of the Night Rebels.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. Mr. Arrogant reallyisa badass. I kinda thought he was, but I wasn’t sure if part of it was just bravado.”
“It’s not. It looks like you’re interested in him. What’s his name?” Ava gestured the waitress to come over. “I’m going to order another margarita. Do you want one?” she asked Raven.
She nodded. “You’re going to love this. His name is Muerto.” Ava stared at her for a couple of seconds, then burst out laughing. Raven joined her. “Isn’t that crazy?”
Wiping the corners of her eyes with her napkin, Ava shook her head. “Too crazy. I’m glad you’re showing an interest in the opposite sex again, but you don’t want to start anything with that one. I think you better stay away from him and his club. They’re known not to play very nice.”
“No worries there. We don’t get along too well. He’s got a real attitude and I give his shit back to him, so he’s not too fond of me. I just think he’s good-looking, that’s all. I do kinda like the sense of danger that seems to emanate from him. I never even thought about bikers.”
“I wouldn’t start thinking about them now. I’m sure he’s got a different woman warming his bed each night. I’ve heard they have wild parties and have a bunch of girls living at their clubhouse who have to be available for sex twenty-four seven. And they seem to have a lot of money. I don’t even want to think what they’re doing to get it.” She shook her shoulders in an exaggerated shudder. “Not for me at all.”
Raven laughed. “Switching gears, I’ve come up with a new design for a necklace. I’ve made a few of them and want to try them out at your store.”
“Sounds good. Did you take any pictures of them?”
“Yeah.” She scrolled through her photo files and showed them to her. As they talked about business, she heard a chair scrape across the tiled floor. From the corner of her eye, she saw someone sit next to her. She turned her head and met Muerto’s gaze. “Oh,” she said.
“Hey.” He smiled at her and her insides fluttered.
