Shadow and Skulls (Rebel Skull MC Series Book 6)

7. Chapter Seven

Imanage to make it to school. Everyone has stayed clear of me, probably because I’ve kept my eyes lowered the entire day.

Until now.

The bruise on Jason’s face is the first thing I notice, and when my gaze meets his, I think I see the boy I once knew. He looks almost remorseful.

It doesn’t last though, because Matt and his posse walk in.

“Look at them making starry eyes at each other. Jason must have enjoyed that beat down her new man gave him. You fuckers missed a hell of a show last night.”

Jason’s jaw clenches, his mouth turning up in a disgusted scowl. “Kelsie here is a pro. She’s definitely worth the beating I took. You guys should give her a try sometime.”

My stomach falls as if he just pushed me off a building. My eyes instantly drop to the floor when everyone in the room laughs.

“No thanks. That dude is fucking crazy. There isn’t a pussy in the world worth a knife to the jugular,” one of his friends joke.

Matt taps my boot with his stark white basketball shoe. “Oh, I don’t know. I mean, I’ve never had a pussy worth that price, but maybe Jason is on to something. This one here ...”

Tap. Tap.

Tap. Tap.

The bad feeling begins to creep over me like a shadow you can’t escape as a cloud passes over, blocking out the sun entirely.

“You’re such an asshole.” Lexi’s voice breaks the silence.

Instantly, the tapping on my foot stops. He shifts in his chair, diverting his attention to her. “Oh yeah? But you love this asshole. Don’t you, Lexi?”

He laughs when she doesn’t respond. “In fact, you love it so much you had your tongue up it just last night. Isn’t that right, Lexi?”

The way he says her name makes me cringe.

She stills, and it’s so familiar to me that my heart reaches out to her. But I don’t speak up. I don’t bring his attention back to me. I just hold quiet solidarity with her as we wait to see what he’s going to do next, both of us hoping some other shiny thing will catch his attention.

I’ve known many men like Matt. Men who live for the sole purpose of making others uncomfortable. They are the worst kind of cruel.

The sound of the fire alarm floods my system with relief, making me gasp for breath as I rush out of the building. It doesn’t take long for everyone to get outside, and by the time all clear is given, the final bell of the day has rung.

Thank god.

I’m seriously getting worried about finishing the year, let alone another day.

“Hey, hon,” my mom says, waving to me from the counter when I get to work. “I’ve got to run, but could you drop these keys off to JD on your way home?”

I place my bag over the wooden coat rack hanging by the door. “Yeah, no problem. Go on,” I say, gesturing for her to leave before she slips out the back door.

The store is quiet today, allowing me to get lost in my mind.

I’ve been trying to stay busy at the shop, organizing and reorganizing, struggling to rid myself of the bad feeling that’s lingered since my interaction with Matt. I don’t like the way he tapped his foot against mine. It’s the first time he’s ever touched me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

The bad feeling evaporates as soon as I see who it’s from.

I know I blocked him … twice. How many numbers does he have?

Unknown: The fire alarm did the trick, yeah?

Maybe he really is a spy.

Unknown: Don’t let them get in your head.

Me: I’m not.

Wait. How does he know they’re in my head?

Unknown: You are. You’ve been standing in the same spot for the past thirty minutes.

My hair whips around my face as I spin in a circle, scanning the room.

Me: You’re starting to scare me.

This is getting … weird, but oddly entertaining.

Unknown: You’ve been scaring me, too. It’s thirty minutes past closing, little shadow. I couldn’t leave you in your head any longer. Even if that meant I might have to scare you.

Me: You hid a camera in my mom’s shop!!!!!!!

Unknown: No. I just tapped into a camera that was already hidden in your mom’s shop.

Me: So, someone else is spying on us? You’re not helping me calm down here, Tank.

Unknown: Yeah, he’s a real big guy, although not nearly as tall as me. He’s real possessive about his women. Would do anything … and I mean anything, to protect them.

My shoulders fall. Why am I even surprised? I begin to shut the lights off.

Me: I’m pretty sure my dad’s got you beat by at least two inches.

Unknown: No way. I’ll get one of the guys to measure us and get back to you on that.

Me: So, things are going well?

I know I shouldn’t ask about club business, but I always worry about my dad when he’s on a run.

Unknown: Everything is good, little shadow. I’ll keep an eye on the old man for you. I know he’s getting up there in years.

Me: I dare you to say that to his face.

If my dad knew Tank was watching me right now, he would kill him.