Page 42 of Praying for Thunder

“I know!” Ani grabbed the sketch to get a better glance. “We look like we belong on some sort of paranormal book cover. The Stripper and the Biker.” She giggled.

The nape of her neck was suddenly in his grasp, his big hand tilting her head back. “Do you see the strength he sees in you? In this artwork, you are fierce, like in real life.”

His lips mashed to hers.

Peering around the affection, I explained to Moola, “Ani’s kisses talk to Dio.”

With a grin, she teased, “Their kiss is talkin’ to me, too, baby.”

Forehead to forehead, Diablo whispered to Ani, “Bye, babe.”

Her eyes drifted open from the strong kiss. “Thank you for picking him up.”

Like a loving lion, he nuzzled his face to hers. “What pleases you, eases me.”

Moola walked away, mumbling, “Cold shower time.”

Anita rose to her tippy toes. “One more kiss, please.”

“Sure!” Mwah!

Huddled around me, they both laughed.

Dio never took me out the front door when Sexy Myths was in business. It was always out the back and around the building to his truck. “Thunder.” He chuckled. “Drawing the secret is no bueno.”

I gasped! “Am I not a man? But… I didn’t tell!”

Understandably, I wasn’t permitted on Dio’s motorcycle, even though I loved the sound of it. That was the last place Ani wanted to ever see me.

I hope she knows better now.

So, I had two car seats—one in Dio’s truck and one in the fancy car he bought Ani. She had put up a fight, of course, but it ended when he reminded her that a safe and reliable car was best for me. Once a month, Ani gave him cash as payment. Dio would, patronizingly, say thank you. Then, when she wasn’t looking, he’d slip the money in the freezer behind some ice cream.

“Another secret, Dio?”

Closing the freezer, he replied, “Yes. Keep the beans in the bowl, blabbermouth.”

I crossed my arms. “I. Didn’t. Tell.”

My defiance only made him laugh harder. “You growin’ a pair, kid?”

Pause… “A pair of what?”

He scooped me up. “Damn, I love you.” He smothered me in kisses. “If an emergency happens, get that money for Ani, okay?”

I wasn’t sure what consisted of a true emergency, but agreed, “Yes, sir.”

At first, I was in bed with Ani and Dio every night. As Ani relaxed, I was allowed more freedom, and soon was a big boy in my own bedroom.

Blissful, blissful times…

It’s hard to believe, but some things are designed to fail. It can be even harder to believe that the failure was worth it, but that’s exactly how I still view the next two-and-a-half years I had with Ani and Dio; these spectacular beings rode the waves life blessed and cursed them with. I witnessed true love, valiant efforts to respect one another, and so much patience with Ani’s encumbering fear that it began to fade.

Diablo had fallen, and fallen hard for Anita. That meant Stew was right. Even though she had yet to take the title of Old Lady, she was now under the protection of Nevada’s local motorcycle club. I didn’t get to see those men often, nor learn the ways of a properly run club, but I saw enough to know they cared deeply for their boy, Diablo.

Anita had developed a family of her own.

“Girl, I’m not prying,” insisted Moola. “Just reminding you he has to go to school.”