by R. E. Bond
Slash gently touched my arm, causing me to turn and look at him.
He seemed worried, not that I understood why.
I obviously had my shit handled.
“Hey, you okay? You didn’t get hurt or…”
“I’m fine, don’t panic. Diesel got a nasty graze from a bullet on his arm though,” I replied, heading over to the car to make sure Diesel was still alright.
He wouldn’t look me in the eye, making me scowl.
The guys were all moodier than I could ever be.
“What did I do to you? I helped as much as I could, and…”
“I told you to stay in the car. You could have gotten fucking killed out there, Donovan. What if Hunter had shot you dead, just to get to us? And why the fuck were you rubbing against him like that? You…”
He stopped talking when I cupped his cheek and smiled softly.
“Because I have your back, D. That’s why I got out of the car. Besides, you knew I had shit handled, because you stayed in the car and didn’t cause a scene. It’s not like you were shot in the fucking knee cap.”
He sighed, giving me a small smile in return as I patted his cheek and took a step back, running into Slash who suddenly looked angry.
Fucking bipolar men, I’m telling you.
“So, what the fuck was with you and Hunter just now? You don’t rub against the enemy, Donovan. You’re Psycho territory!” He snapped, but I just shrugged.
“Stopped people getting shot, didn’t it? Not like it was a chore for me.”
His eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched with irritation.
“Just don’t fucking do it again.”
“Careful Slash, sounding a little jealous there,” I joked, but he backed me into the side of the car, moving against me and boxing me in.
“I fucking am, now cut that shit out.”
Diesel sniggered, but I kept my eyes on Slash as I spoke gently.
“Can we talk about this later, please? We need to fix Diesel’s arm back at the shed.”
He grunted but moved back, barking orders at an amused Diesel before he stomped over to his Mustang and took off, leaving me to stare after him with confusion.
Diesel gave me a shit eating grin from where he still sat behind the wheel.
“You getting in, babe?”
I nodded as I climbed into the passenger’s seat, and once we’d driven back out onto the main road, he gave me a smile.
“Thanks for all that, even though it was stupid. My guys usually just stay in the car like they’re told.”
“That’s no fun,” I joked, but his expression morphed into a cringe.
“Look, shit might be about to get messy, okay? Just a heads up.”
“What do you mean?” I groaned, but he let out a nervous chuckle.
“I mean, boss man’s got a thing for you, so expect shit to go down. Skeet and your boys won’t like it.”
“They’re not my fucking anything,” I gritted out, but he shrugged casually.
“They love you, and you know they don’t take kindly to people getting close to you.”
We drove the rest of the way in silence, and I had to admit, I knew he was fucking right.
Skeeter kept glaring at me from across the shed.
I knew he’d heard about what had gone down, and he wasn’t impressed.
Not that I gave a shit.
He looked even less impressed when Hunter sauntered through the door with some of his guys not much later, moving directly over to me.
Diesel clenched his fists, but I grinned as I leaned against the bar with a cocky look on my face.
I was getting way too confident in the world of bad boys and bullets, and I knew it would eventually bite me in the ass.
Hunter was honestly fun to stir up, and I was pretty sure he felt the same way about me.
If you can’t beat them, join them, right?
“Miss me already, pretty boy?”
“I need to talk to you. Now,” Hunter said sternly, but he didn’t sound angry.
What now?
I finished my beer, jerking my head towards the corner of the room, and I was surprised he followed without argument.
Skeeter’s eyes burned into me from where he stood, but I ignored him as I leaned against the wall and gave Hunter my attention.
“So, what’s so important?”
“I wanted to give you a heads up about something, alright?” he said straight away, making me snort with amusement.
“And why the fuck would you do that?”
“Because, I like you. There’s another crew coming to town. Satan’s Soldiers are a whole different level of fucked up, so keep an eye out. Okay?”
I frowned, relaxing more as he watched me as if waiting for me to burst into tears or some shit.
“What does that have to do with me? I only got warned about you because you’d use me to hurt Skeet, so…”
“I’m not like the Soldiers, babe. Yeah, I was going to play with you to get under Skeet’s skin when I met you, but I was never going to actually hurt you. The Soldiers on the other hand are coming for you specifically.”
My blood ran cold as I stared at him blankly, my heart thumping in my chest.
“The fuck for? I don’t even know them.”
“No, but news travels fast between crews, and they’ve heard about you dealing with Tristan and Liam. When a tough bitch comes and fucks shit up, crews get excited, alright? The Soldiers want you gone, and it won’t be a pretty way to go.”
Fuck.
“I can handle their bullshit, Hunter. I handle yours just fine.”
He stepped closer, his fingertips gently brushing my arm, causing my skin to tingle at his touch.
How come when I panic these days, I get horny too?
“You can’t handle them. They won’t just threaten to shoot you and drop you in a hole, Rory. These guys are nasty and have no respect for women. They’ll torture you for weeks before actually letting you die.”
I ran a hand over my face with frustration before meeting his gaze again, not understanding what I was supposed to do with that information.
I kept my expression hard, not wanting to show him any weakness.
“So, what the fuck do I do then? I don’t even know what they look like or anything. I’ll shoot at anyone who tries to come near me.”
“Trust me, you’ll know if you see one. Talk to Slash, I fucking mean it. Be careful,” he said gently, giving me one last glance before turning to leave the shed.
“So, you’re fucking the enemy now? Nice touch, Aurora,” Skeeter called out from across the room, and Hunter instantly turned to face him with a blank expression.
“No, but I’d ask her about what I spoke to her about. Before she’s fucking dead,” then he left with his guys, all eyes going to me to explain.
When I stayed quiet, Diesel moved over to me and gently touched my arm.
“What did he mean by that? Did he threaten you?”
I sighed, resting my forehead on his shoulder for a moment to get a hold of my thoughts, before moving into the middle of the room to speak.
I couldn’t deal with it alone, even I knew that.
“Another crew’s on the way. They want me gone, and Hunter was just giving me a heads up.”
Slash tensed, instantly on full alert.
“Which crew? The fuck did he tell you about it?”
“Words out about who really killed Tristan and Liam. Apparently, tough girls in this scene don’t always make a good impression, and for some reason I’m something to be dealt with.”
Skeeter smacked his hand on the table and spoke up, not hiding the fear in his voice.
“Which fucking crew, Rory?”
I knew by Hunter’s concern that they were bad news, but I kept my voice steady as I replied with a cringe.
“Satan’s Soldiers.”
A million thoughts seemed to pass through Skeeter’s head, but Slash was the first to speak up, authority strong in his voice.
“Can you shut the fuck up? I can handle them fine. I’ll just keep my gun on me at all times,” I exclaimed with annoyance that I hoped covered my fear, making a few of the guys chuckle, but he scowled at me with anger in his tone.
“Sorry that I’m on fucking edge, Donovan, but this is the second crew in a week. It’s also one of the worst crews around. You can’t reason with them when they have their sights set on a target.”
Skeeter snorted, apparently only paying attention to the information that he wanted to stew on.
“What I want to know is, why did Hunter come to personally warn you when you hardly know each other?”
I rolled my eyes, knowing he was going to hound me about it for the rest of my fucking life, regardless of what I told him.
“He likes me because I shot at him or some shit. Either way, he did me a solid by coming and warning me.”
“Well, he needs to fuck off. The only solid he wants to give you is his fucking dick,” he snapped, his voice growing harsher.
“Keep going Skeet, and I’ll fucking stay with him to keep me safe,” I taunted, but Slash growled, obviously sick of my shit too.
“Like fuck, Donovan. Get Diesel to run you home and he can stay with you tonight, okay? Good job on your first run though, yeah?”
I gave him a small smile and nodded, my anger simmering at his unexpected praise.
“I guess I can do as I’m told this time. You want to stop by later for a beer?”
“Sure, have some cold for me,” he chuckled, despite still seeming tense, excusing us before Skeeter could go on a rampage about it.
Chapter eight
Rory
“You can’t go to school, you have a hit on your fucking head,” Slash hissed at me the next morning as I yanked my shoes on and scowled at him.
“I have to, they’re about to kick me out. I need to pass high school, Slash. Can’t I just take someone with me?”
“No. Don’t wear your jacket either, because…”
“Obviously. I’ll keep an eye out, I promise,” I cut him off, making him grumble.
“I don’t like it.”
“You don’t have to fucking like it, asshole,” I muttered back, grabbing my school bag and opening the door to leave, but his fingers wrapped gently around my wrist to stop me.
“Please, stay home. It’s safer.”
I sighed, moving closer to give him a hug, more for me than for him.
The Soldiers worried me more than I’d let on, but if I started to panic, so would everyone else.
“I’ll be okay. I’ll keep in contact.”
Diesel watched from the couch, and I gave him a grateful smile as I stepped back from Slash.
“Hey, thanks for staying last night and keeping me company.”
“All good. I’ll see you tonight, yeah?” He smiled back, making me frown.
I didn’t want him on baby-sitting duty twenty-four seven.
“You’re staying again? You’ve been awake all night, D.”
“Yeah, I’ll sleep today and then I’ll be rested to keep an eye out tonight. Have a good day at school,” he winked, Slash cursing me out under his breath as I left.
Once I’d climbed into the Corvette, I cranked the stereo up and drove off alone, Manifest by Starset blasting out the windows.
I parked in the school parking lot, biting back a groan as I noticed Caden and the others leaning against the fence watching me.
I didn’t need their shit on top of everything else I was already trying to deal with.
I shut off the engine and climbed out, glancing over my shoulder as a dirt bike revved close by, loudly pulling in and parking beside my car.
I rolled my eyes when I noticed the Devil’s Armada jacket.
It was too fucking early for his shit.
I leaned back against the Corvette and raised an eyebrow as Hunter took his helmet off and shot me a panty-dropping grin.
“Morning, hot shot. You look fuckable as usual. Where’s your bodyguards at? Why am I not getting shot at?”
“I can’t have people at school with me all the time and you know it, pretty boy,” I replied with a snort, hiding my surprise as an annoyed scowl crossed his face.
“You shouldn’t have fucking come then. You’re being hunted, for fuck’s sake.”
“They’re about to kick me out. I have to make an appearance for a few days,” I groaned.
His eyes seemed to light up as a devilish grin tugged at his lips, his hand patting the bike seat behind him.
“Jump on, since when do you play by the rules?”
“Like fuck. I don’t trust you, and I have classes that I really can’t fail,” I bit out, earning another grin that almost set my panties on fire.
He was trouble, and he fucking knew it.
“Live a little, sexy legs. C’mon, let’s go and have some fun. You don’t need an education for that.”
“No offense, but I don’t trust you at all. A pretty face doesn’t always get you what you want.”
He chuckled but gave me a nod, not seeming that bothered by my answer.
“I respect that. Hey, they look a little bit mad. You talking to them yet? Will they bark and bite me if I give you a kiss?”
I glanced at Caden and the guys who looked deep in discussion as they glared at us, and I turned my attention back to Hunter with a grunt.
“Ex-boyfriends, what can I say? No, I’m not talking to them, and no you can’t kiss me because I fucking bite. Why are you here anyways?”
His gaze moved over me slowly, a lazy tom cat smile hitting his face as his cheeky brown eyes met mine.
“I was hoping you were a biter, lucky me. I’m just checking that you’re alive, babe. Don’t panic.”
“Careful, people will think you care,” I teased, his smile turning into a nasty grin.
“It would just be a waste of a good piece of ass. Don’t get too excited, hot shot.”
Asshole.
I thumped his shoulder, making him laugh as he grabbed his helmet, but he hesitated, putting his hand out with his palm up and wiggling his fingers.
“Give me your phone. I’ll put my number in for you.”
“No offense, but its causing problems that you’re being nice to me, so they’ll start thinking I’m crossing them if we’re buddies who text about bargains at the local mall.”
He raised an eyebrow, reaching out so that his fingertips brushed my arm.
“C’mon, you know I don’t want to be your buddy. Unless it’s a fuck buddy, I could totally live with that.”
I forced myself to take a step back, giving him a tight smile.
“That won’t happen. I’m loyal to the Psychos, so bumping uglies with the enemy would be a bad idea.”
“There’d be no bumping babe, it would be a fucking pounding. Have a good day, try and stay alive,” he winked, jamming his helmet over his head and revving the bike loudly.
I chuckled, giving him a wave as he shot out of the parking lot as I turned to walk to class.
I dodged Caden’s hand as I walked past them, ignoring them completely and headed to my locker to collect my books.
I wasn’t going to put up with their bullshit.
“Rory? Where have you been?” Claire asked as she wandered over to me, and I gave her a fake smile.
It made me nervous that she knew about the murders, despite Skeeter threatening her into silence.
“Hey, I’ve been around.”
“Why didn’t you come to school with the others? Who was on the bike?” She babbled as we walked towards class together.
“You ask a lot of questions,” I said flatly, gripping my books tightly and considering hitting her over the head with them as a back-up plan.
“Sorry. People saw you avoiding Caden and the others on your way inside the school, and I was worried that talk would…”
“People can say whatever th
ey want, I’m not with Caden and the guys anymore,” I cut her off with a shrug, making her gasp as if it affected her life.
“Any of them?”
“Nope. Skeet and I broke up too, so I’m as single as a fucking pringle.”
“Who was on the bike?”
“Someone who shouldn’t have been here,” I muttered, thankful when she shut her big mouth to do her work the moment the teacher walked in.
I ignored my phone as it rang, and I continued to ignore it three hours later.
I didn’t recognize the number, and I didn’t like answering unknown ones anyway.
I’d just walked to my locker to dump my books when Hunter cornered me, appearing upset with me as if I’d stolen his last fucking cookie.
I pressed my back into the lockers and frowned up at him and his lack of personal space.
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s fucking wrong? Let me see, I’ve been calling you all morning to let you know the Soldiers are in town right now. I thought maybe they’d fucking found you since you didn’t answer your goddamn phone,” he bit out, his eyes roaming over my face as if he was going to find damage.
I instantly felt bad, placing a hand on his chest to feel his rapid heart rate, his muscles flexing under my palm.
“Hey, I’m sorry for worrying you. I don’t answer unknown numbers.”
He relaxed when I didn’t argue with him, moving against me and boldly placing his hands on my waist as if it were an everyday occurrence.
“Then save my number so you answer next time. Jesus fucking Christ.”
People were watching us and whispering, so I cleared my throat and moved him back a step, relieved when he moved with ease and didn’t fight me on it.
“I can’t go anywhere, you know that, right? I have afternoon classes today.”
“I knew you’d fucking say that, so I’m staying with you,” he replied, not taking his eyes off me as he crossed his arms stubbornly.
I glared at him with frustration.
Was he fucking serious?
“You can’t just hang around campus. There’s rules here and…”
“And I’m signed in as your visitor and have a pass,” he rolled his eyes before I could finish, flashing the card at me for proof.
