Angels In Leather

CHAPTER 4 MEADOW I am the devil’s friend. I’ll be there to the end.

“Where are you headed, darlin’?” the old truckie says when he pulls over to the side of the road early the next morning.

“I’m heading to San Diego,” I say, hoping he can get me that little bit closer to L.A.

“I can take you there. It’s on my route.” He nods.

He looks friendly enough. In case not, I purchased a good knife that’s tucked into my jeans. I open the truck door and climb in, sitting as far away from him as I can. I clutch the USB stick like it’s my lifeline.

“What’s a young, pretty girl like you doin’ catchin’ rides with strangers?” he asks as he pulls out.

“I’m just in a bit of a pickle, that’s all. I’ll see my family in San Diego,” I lie.

“Oh? You got folks there?”

“Ah, yeah. A mom and dad.”

Another lie.

“You goin’ to school?”

“No. I never really had an interest to do anything professional.”

He nods as if he understands. “Fair enough.”

I peer around the truck, and see empty packets of food, drink cartons, and smoke packets everywhere. Gross. Then I spot the laptop tucked into the side of the seat. Oh God; maybe it works?

“Does that laptop work?” I ask.

He nods. “Yeah, have a look if you need.”

I grip the computer and place it on my lap, turning it on. I wait for it to load up.

“Does it get service?”

“Yeah, got me one of those fancy-ass little sticks that give me Internet.”

I nod, forcing a smile. The computer connects to the Internet, and I begin researching Raide. I have only had limited access to the Internet, so it’s not been easy trying to locate him.

I start searching all the Raide’s in L.A. Turns out the name is actually quiet popular, and there are thousands of them. I add in a profession, which is police officer, and narrow it down to about thirty of them.

Some are too young, or too old, so I rule them out. Some are retired, so they’re gone. I narrow it down to three, and I pull out my cell and write down their numbers. That’s when curiosity sparks. I’ve always wanted to know what’s on the USB, but I was scared of being tracked. I won’t be in this truck long, so the chance of tracking me is slim. I pull it out of my pocket, glance at the truckie who is whistling and focusing on the road, and then I put it in.

It takes a long time to load. When it finally pops up on the screen, I glance at the hundreds of files. What is this? I click one, and narrow my eyes. There are loads and loads of pictures of drugs, all tightly packed in what seems like a warehouse. The next lot of pictures has my stomach turning. Oh God, they’re dead bodies, like police shots. Why the hell does my father have police shots?

The information is extensive. There are drug locations, and information on all the massive motorcycle clubs, but there’s a lot in there about Axel’s club. I don’t get a chance to read the rest because truckie is glancing at me, and I don’t want him to get suspicious. I eject the USB, and tuck it back into my pants.

He shifts, and the seat squeaks loudly. “So what’s your name, girlie?”

“Laila,” I lie.

“Pretty name.”

“Thanks,” I mumble.

I can’t concentrate. What does all that information mean? Why was my father gathering information on clubs when he was running one himself? Is that why he and Axel had a falling out? Was my father working for someone else? I don’t understand it, and the confusion is making my head feel likes it’s spinning. Is this Raide guy safe? Or am I running into a trap?

I don’t know, and it scares the hell out of me.

“Thank you,” I say, jumping out of the truck at San Diego.

“Any time.” The truckie smiles before pulling back onto the road.

I glance around, trying to get my bearings. I’ve been here before, but I need to find somewhere that’s safe, somewhere Axel wouldn’t think to look for me. I have no doubt he’ll catch up to me—he always does—but I am hoping I might get a night’s rest. I need it. If I don’t get it, running will become difficult.

I walk out onto the road and flag down a cab. I need money to be able to survive all the way to L.A. I have enough from my last cash job to get me through a few more days, but I’m going to need to find something low-key to make sure I can get through. A bright yellow cab screeches to a halt beside me, and I climb in.

“Nearest hotel,” I say.

“You got a price limit?” The older, gray haired man says, staring at me through the rear-view mirror.

“Nothing expensive. Something cheap, under one hundred if possible.”

He nods, and puts his blinker on before pulling out into the busy traffic. I stare out the window as he drives, and wonder how long it will take Axel to find me here. Will I get enough time to get myself a job, maybe some extra money in case I can’t find Raide? I hope so. I’m running low. I close my eyes and rub my temples, feeling the urge to throw up.

I need to change my look.

The thought hits me very suddenly, but it’s a brilliant idea. It might buy me a few days. Axel is looking for me. He knows what I look like, and if I change it up, he might be thrown off my trail a little. I lean over the seat and say to the cab driver, “Never mind the hotel, take me to a salon. Again, preferably a cheap one.”

He raises his brows but nods, and turns into a small side street. He pulls over on the curb, and nods toward a bright pink store. “They’re said to be good.”

I smile, and hand him a twenty. “Thank you.”

Another nod.

I get out of the car, and he drives off. I peer up at the large, overly pastel store, and then I grip my hood and lower it. I pull off my sunglasses and grab the handle. A little bell jingles as I pull.

When I step inside, it smells like hair products, and is buzzing with people. A young, very attractive blonde girl saunters over, smiling at me. She has massive hair, all piled up on her head. I could never achieve that if I tried.

“Hello, how can I help?” she says, stopping at the desk.

“I...need a change. A big one.”

Her eyes widen, like I’ve just made all her dreams come true. “Oh?”

“I need to look different. I’m tired of this color and this style.”

She nods, and walks over. “May I?”

I bob my head as she reaches out, takes my hair between her fingers, and begins inspecting it. She lets it out, and loosens it, before circling me.

“I think dark. You have the skin tone for it, and your eyes are stunning. I’m thinking a dark chocolate brown, if you’re willing to do a change that drastic?”

I nod, liking the idea. “Sounds good to me.”

“I say we take some length off too, and shape it. Is that okay?”

“Yes,” I say. “That’s great.”

“Well, if you will just come over to the sink, I’ll wash it for you.”

I do as she asks, and settle myself in the large, leather chair that she points to. I tilt my head back and let it fall into the sink, and she begins washing it for me. My entire body breaks out in tingles. It’s been so long since I’ve felt something so good. I want to moan, only I don’t want to come across as creepy so I put a lid on it.

“Okay, all done, come over to this chair and we’ll sort this out for you.”

The next few hours pass by in a blur. She colors my hair and then trims it, and by the time I walk out of the salon, I don’t recognize myself. I stop in at a cheap travellers’ store, and I pick myself up a new pair of jeans and a tank, deciding to ditch the hoodie. Axel is looking for that. I get a new pair of sunglasses, and then I flag down another cab.

He takes me to the nearest hotel, and I book myself a room for three nights. It was cheaper than I expected, so I’m able to give myself a little extra time. The room I’m in is basic, modern and comfortable. The hotel doesn’t look like it’s been around long, so everything is fairly new.

As soon as I settle in, I let myself relax just a touch, and my body slumps in exhaustion.

I need to rest.

I stare over at the bed, longingly. Can I afford to rest? Or should I be out looking for a job? Glancing down at my watch, I realize it’s early enough for me to get a good few hours of sleep. I drop my clothes until I’m in only my bra and panties, and I crawl into the bed. It’s a soft mattress with feather pillows, and within minutes of my head hitting them, I’m out.