Haley
I parked my Subaru outside the rest stop and waited a few moments as I took a look around. Nothing moved except the grasses in the field beyond the parking area and a pair of abandoned shoes tied by the laces to the cross tree of a sign post. They weren’t even a matched pair. Another car sat a few spaces from mine but the driver must have already been in the building.
It’s gonna be okay. It had been my mantra for the last month since I’d signed the contract with the Concrete Angels. But it had taken me that long to find the courage to tell my cousin about it.
Jeff hadn’t arrived yet and I had to pee, so I pushed out of my car and headed for the doors. The cold wind knifed through my jacket and scarf, and I shivered. It might be sunny outside, but the heat didn’t start until at least April, and we were in the middle of March.
I pushed through the doors and hurried to the bathroom, hoping Jeff wouldn’t be long. I should’ve probably kept him in the dark about the Concrete Angels and just how inhuman they were, but he’d come to know them and trust them, and that was a lot for Jeff.
I finished in the bathroom but stayed in the foyer of the rest stop. I couldn’t quite face the wind again. I scanned the parking lot and found Jeff just pulling in, his bright red SUV appearing like brilliant poppy in a sea of brown grass. He’d thought I was nuts to meet at a rest stop, but most folks wouldn’t travel at this time of year. Less likely to be listeners.
And glory knew, the story I had to tell would recommend me for the Arkham Asylum.
You only end up in Arkham if you’re insane.
The definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. But this time, it pertained to something so different, so completely outside mainstream thinking that folks might just come to the same conclusion. I hoped Jeff knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t be having him on. Not about this.
I tucked my hands under my armpits as I watched Jeff park. The other people who’d been there when I arrived had returned to their car and drove out ahead of him. The sun glinted off his hood, blinding me for a moment, and I swore I saw a flash of Michael sitting on his bike just at the edge of my view. But I blinked, and when I looked again, only Jeff remained in the parking lot.
You’re imagining Michael ’cause you’re scared to face Jeff.
Correction, I was scared I’d lose Jeff when I told him about the Concrete Angels.
He pushed into the open foyer and waved, his expression worried. I’d been cryptic when I called him and he probably feared the worst. He’s not wrong.
“Hey, Jeff. Thanks for coming.” He wrapped me in a hug and I closed my eyes, taking what comfort I could.
“Not a problem. What was so urgent that we had to meet at a random rest stop?” He pushed me back and scanned my face.
I was struck at how beautiful he was with clear light-brown eyes, golden brown skin, dark hair and full lips thanks to his mixed race heritage. He stood a good six inches taller than me with a sleek, athletic frame and shoulders slightly broader than mine. We could’ve been siblings as we shared the same eye shape and wide mouth, and as far as I was concerned, we were.
“I gotta tell you something and you have to hear me out before you label me as crazy or insane or off my rocker, okay?” I led him over to one of the picnic tables they’d installed inside to allow travelers shelter from the wind. I sat down facing the door to keep an eye on people coming in and waited for him to join me.
Jeff raised his eyebrow but settled at the table across from me. “What’s going on, Haley? First you want to drive out here to this random rest stop. Does this have to do with the Concrete Angels? You already know I thought you were crazy for spending time with them.”
“Yeah, you did until you met Sam and Talon, and now you love them.”
Jeff blushed and glanced out the windows at the parking lot. “Love is a strong word.”
I opened my mouth to ask more about that, but I was only stalling and pulled my curiosity back under control.
“Okay, this is something so big and so out there that I need you to promise me you’ll tell no one. Not even family or lovers.”
He snorted. “I don’t talk to family since they disowned me and I don’t have a lover.” But his voice suggested there was a ‘yet’ at the end of his sentence.
Focus.
“Jeff, I need you to promise you’ll tell no one.”
He tilted his head and the humor left his face. “Okay, okay. I promise. What is it?”
I gathered my courage with a sigh. How did I present the news that people around us weren’t human? Even thinking it made me question my own sanity and I’d seen Torch shift into a real, fire-breathing, winged dragon. And Sam had turned into a giant fox.
“Just spit it out, Haley.”
“The bikers of the Concrete Angels MC aren’t human.” I bit my lip after the words came out in a rush.
“What?”
Oh, glory, he’s gonna make me say it again.
“They aren’t human.”
He snorted. “What, are you saying they’re aliens?” He smirked, but I shook my head as my heart sank. He wouldn’t believe me.
“No, not aliens. Not like from outer space. They’re inhuman, other, mythical even.”
He looked at me like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. When I didn’t grin or laugh, he frowned.
“You’re being serious.”
“Yes. Very serious. Why do you think I had you meet me way the hell out here to talk about this?” I threw my hands out. “They’re not all human.”
“How do you know they’re ‘not all human’? They told you?”
I shook my head. “They didn’t have to. I saw them when they threw off their human disguises.”
“Oh, come on, Haley.” Jeff rose to his feet and paced to the window. “Human disguises? We aren’t in some sci-fi flick or a fantasy story. This is real life. Mythical creatures don’t exist.”
Little did he know. I didn’t say anything. What if I’d made a mistake telling him? I had my reasons for doing so, but if he wouldn’t believe me, I’d wasted the effort to bring him into the new world I’d discovered. I rubbed my chin and studied the little flecks in the plastic table.
“Think of it as New Year’s Evolution.”
“What?” He turned to stare at me.
“New Year’s Evolution – a shift in the year matching a growth in understanding.” That sounded wise and pithy, right?
“But it’s March, not even close to New Year’s.”
I shrugged. “The time frame isn’t important. This is a new year, a new beginning and a whole new understanding for us. It’s evolution of perspective and like it or not, we can’t go back to not knowing.”
I stopped talking and waited to see what Jeff would say. It was a lot to take in, and it totally destroyed what we thought we knew of the Concrete Angels Biker Club. Well, normal biker clubs.
“Why are you telling me this?” He sat back, his mouth drawn tight.
I shrugged, trying to dispel my unease. “I know you liked Samurai and Talon, and they treated you with respect and kindness.” I shrugged again. “I wanted you to know what you’d be getting into if you kept up with them. And I didn’t want to hide this from you. I, uh, accepted a position as their inhouse PR writer.”
“You’re quitting the Bugle?” He blinked.
“Not exactly. I’m going freelance as an investigative reporter.” At least, I would be as soon as I got this conversation over with. “Look, I probably shouldn’t have told you about the bikers, but you’re my family. The only one I have left that I can trust, and it’s a secret I didn’t want to carry alone.”
Jeff bit his lip and raised his gaze to mine. “You shouldn’t have told me. What if I was too scared to accept it?”
“Are you?” My voice sharpened.
He grimaced and gave a one-shouldered shrug, his gaze sliding away. “I don’t know. They’ve been really nice to me, and I do like Sam and Talon. But what you’re telling me is so fantastic and out there, y’know? How can you be sure they aren’t having you on?”
I sighed and glanced out the windows of the rest stop, glad the cold, windy weather kept most people inside their cars. “I’ve seen them do their thing, Jeff. I can’t tell you everything because it’s not my story, but believe me, they’re not human. Or at least some of them aren’t. Didn’t Loki give you the heebie-jeebies?”
Jeff shivered. “Yeah, he’s scary.”
I didn’t tell him the half of it. If he knew the Norse God of Mischief was hanging out in Fort Collins, he might shit himself. Hell, I was still spooked at the idea and he’d made me sign a contract about exposing them. In blood.
“Yeah, so, you gotta keep this to yourself if you want to keep in contact with them and me.”
His gaze snapped to mine. “What do you mean ‘and you?’ Is this now some sort of secret cult?”
In some ways, it kinda was. But only because humans were destructive toward anything different. Hell, we couldn’t even handle humans with different skin color, sexual orientation or gender equality without violence. Glory knew what we’d do with other species.
“No, it’s about safety. Remember when we were growing up, we always wanted the dragons and unicorns and gryphons to be real?” He nodded. “Surprise, they are real, but they have to hide because humans suck.”
“You are human. We both are.”
“And I work for the newspaper. I get to see the worst of our species, all for the love of money and power.”
“That’s because it’s all y’all concentrate on.” Jeff glared at me. “If it bleeds, it leads, remember?”
I sighed. “Yeah, I do. Better than most. Which is why protecting these people is important to me, and not just because my life’s at stake.”
“What?” Jeff’s eyes widened. “Did they threaten you?”
“No, nothing like that. They made me sign a contract.” I didn’t tell him the consequence of breaking said contract was probably my death or worse.
He took a breath, but snapped his mouth shut and narrowed his eyes. “What does your famous gut have to say about this?”
“It says this is the right thing to do. Michael is the love of my life and he’s worth this kind of effort.” I couldn’t get more honest than that.
Of course, I wasn’t about to tell Jeff that Michael was the Archangel Michael and his older brother Luke was a far more famous fallen angel folks were meant to revile. And forget about mentioning Sam’s foxy self. Besides, I liked Luke, and who could say they’d hung out with the Devil and actually had a good time? Jeff would learn who everyone was soon enough. Or I’d have to cut him off to protect everyone, including him.
“I don’t know if I can handle this.”
I sighed. “What else do you want me to say? They’re people, just like humans. They just have some skill sets we don’t.”
“Like breathing fire?”
I remembered Torch’s breath and Michael’s flaming sword. “Yeah, like that.”
“This is insane, Haley.”
“Why? Because they’re more effective at hiding who they truly are than everyone else? Hell, I bet they’ve perpetuated the idea that they’re myths just to keep us dumb humans from finding out the truth.” I shook my head and let my gaze fall on the day outside. The clouds had rolled in with the wind and hidden the sun.
“Look, Jeff. You’re my family and I wanted you to know that I’m going ahead with my relationship with Michael. He’s worth every effort on my part, even if he’s not human.”
“Wait, Michael’s not human?” Jeff looked like he’d swallowed too much peanut butter. “What is he, then?”
I grimaced. “I had to sign a contract, Jeff, to protect their secrets. I can’t tell you if you can’t handle this. You’re family, but if it’s too much, I at least wanted you to know why I’d have to cut you off. It’s for your protection as much as for theirs.”
Glory, it curdled my stomach to say that. But I’d chosen Michael and Luke, Calhoun, Viper, Attila, Torch, Sam, Talon, Nightingale, hell, even Loki and the Scooters. They’d be my new family and considering how many weren’t completely human, that was a powerful family to have.
“You’d really cut me off?” He looked wounded and my heart bled for him, but I nodded.
“Their secrets are that powerful and they’re worth it to me to keep them, contract or no.” I bit my lip and took a deep breath. “I love you, Jeff, but what’s it gonna be?”
This was it. He could choose whatever he wanted, but I’d have to make good on my statement and I really didn’t want to lose him. He was just as important to me as Michael and the Concrete Angels. But I’d given my word to keep their secrets and I wouldn’t go back on it even if it was inconvenient.
“I can’t believe you’d choose them over me, after all we’ve been through together.”
I nodded. “It doesn’t have to be that way, you know. All you have to do is keep their secret.” I rubbed my chin and took a chance. “And considering how you feel about Sam, I’d think it’d be something you’d choose to do, too.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Jeff’s voice sounded a little panicky and I gave him a one-shouldered shrug.
“I’m a reporter, and a pretty damn good one. I notice things. You’ve opened up and relaxed around him, smiled and laughed more. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
“He’s a friend.”
I nodded again. “I know. Someone you trust and like and respect. The thing is, if you want more time with him, you’re going to have to make this decision.” I straightened my shoulders. “Think of it this way. You can either get a whole new family of people who might not be what you expect but still accept you as you are. Or you can lose the only family you have left, including Sam and the others. That’s what it boils down to.”
Jeff didn’t say anything and I figured I’d said all I could. It was time to head out. I had other people to disappoint. Of course, they were bad guys and I was looking forward to it, but I couldn’t stay here.
“Just think about it and text or call me with your decision.” I wanted to give him a hug, but I didn’t think he’d welcome the touch, though he’d allow it. “No matter what, I love you. Take care, Jeff.”
I gave him a pained smile and walked away. It just about broke my heart. He was the only one who knew my past and cared. We’d shared so much, but the past was only memories and I couldn’t live there. I’d made my choice and I wanted Michael as he was, even if it meant losing Jeff.
I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders as I stepped out into the windy, gray day. I would be strong and I could do this. At least, that was what I told myself. Fake it till you make it. The words were easier thought than put into practice.
I climbed into my car and wiped my tears away before I started the engine. I was moving into the compound and I needed to pack up the last of my things. My lease ended at the end of the month and I just needed to finish cleaning and turn in the keys.
“It’s gonna be okay.”
I tried to listen to my famous gut, but my mind got in the way and garbled the message. I backed out of my parking space and headed for the freeway entrance, refusing to look back. This was my decision and I’d made it. Hell, I’d exposed a national shadow group infiltrating law enforcement. I could deal with my cousin taking his time to absorb this information.
I took a deep breath and blew it out. “It’s gonna be okay.”
I kept telling myself that all the way back to Fort Collins.