Chapter 8 #2
I didn’t even make it to the office door before a gunshot went off, and I spun around to find Hunter’s eyes on me, his gun still pointed at the ground where Lonnie laid. Blood pooled around her head, a shiver rolling through me as Hunter slid his gaze to Slash and spoke.
“We know you wouldn’t send someone important into our crew. You know we’re smarter than to believe her bullshit. Next time you want someone eliminated, do it yourself. I love how you thought I’d just kill her and clean up the mess though.”
A lump formed in my throat as I watched the steady trickle of blood run down the back of Lonnie’s head, my chest tightening as a memory of Liam flickered in my mind. I took a deep breath, not wanting to put myself into a panic.
My eyes lifted to find Marco staring at me blankly, waiting to see how I’d react to them murdering someone right in front of me.
When I didn’t run away screaming, his gaze dropped from my face to study the rest of me, and I quickly flipped him off and ducked into the office to shut the door behind me, needing his eyes off me.
Skeeter
Violence swam through my veins as Hunter and Marco stood in front of me, rage clouding my vision. It was bad enough that they’d just waltzed through my damn door without a single care in the world, but the fact that they both knew about Rory and seemed interested in her just pissed me the fuck off.
They’d have more of their men outside, I wasn’t stupid, but it was tempting to just kill them both and deal with the fallout later.
“What’s the deal with you and the Donovan girl?” Marco asked once his eyes were finally off my girl, curiosity in his tone.
“None of your business. Tell us why you’re here,” I gritted out through clenched teeth, making Hunter huff.
“Lots of shit. I intended on killing your girl, but she’s kind of pretty. Maybe I’ll just take her for a ride on my cock instead.”
He was so full of shit. Hunter wouldn’t kill her just to piss me off, his conscience wouldn't allow it. Despite him being pissed at her for her attitude, he was too intrigued by her, which wasn’t exactly good, but it would keep her alive.
Marco was just as bad because that piece of shit would draw her in just to break her. He’d lure her in with a false sense of security, fuck her until he was bored, then stab her in the back.
I knew these guys like the back of my hand, and neither had good intentions towards Rory.
If they thought they could swoop in and take her from me, they had another thing coming. She was mine, and there was nothing they could do to make her turn on me.
“Touch her and I’ll fucking kill you,” I warned, and Hunter gave me a sinister look.
“Try it. Maybe my shot won’t miss any of your vital organs this time.” He turned to face Slash, dismissing me. “Let’s talk. Just you and me.”
I went to argue, but Slash glared at me. “I think that’s a good idea. Skeet can start on the cleanup.”
Hunter smirked as they started walking towards the office, and I didn’t miss the way his arm brushed Rory’s as Slash kicked her out. She barely even looked at me as she fled towards the main door, and I gave Marco a scathing look on my way past as I followed her outside.
“Aurora, stop.”
“Did you know they were in town?” she demanded once we were outside, turning around to glare at me.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does! What if they come after me? I should’ve known about your enemies making an appearance, Skeet. Why can’t you tell me things like that?”
“They wouldn’t have the balls to go after you.”
She scoffed. “So they’re not dangerous?”
“That’s not what I said.”
She rolled her eyes and went to open the car door, so I grabbed her and spun her around, making her squeal as her ass landed on the hood. “You’ll dent the car!”
“With your tiny ass? Doubtful.” I held on tighter as she tried to fight me, my fingers going around her throat in warning.
“You had no idea who they were but you still couldn’t keep your mouth shut.
You saw that a different crew stepped onto our turf, and didn’t even consider the danger of it? You saw him shoot Laney, right?”
“Lonnie.”
“Whatever. He just killed some bitch in front of you.”
“I killed someone too!” she threw back, her voice wavering slightly.
“You act like I’m some innocent kid to protect, but I’m not.
I beat people up to destress, I’ve committed murder, and I can handle all the bullshit you throw at me.
I don’t need protecting, Skeet, I just need you to stand beside me. ”
She tried to punch me in the stomach, but I grabbed her wrist to stop her, scowling.
“I warned you. In my world, there’s no place for women beside their men.
This was supposed to be casual sex, and it’s pissing me off that it’s obviously more than that.
You’re trying to force me to choose between you and my crew, and for the first time in my fucking life, I don’t know if I can choose my crew,” I said in a low voice, her movements going still.
“I’d never ask you to choose,” she said quietly, opening her legs to let me stand between them.
“You are. You might not be saying it with words, but every time you challenge authority in my crew, or when you get stubborn and do dumb shit that gets you in trouble, I end up having to fight to keep you alive. My crew aren’t your friends, they want you dead.
Why don’t you see that? They’re questioning my loyalty because of you. ”
“I already told you I won’t let anyone walk all over me.”
“It’s better to be stepped on than killed. Trust me. Sorry I didn’t text you all weekend. We were dealing with some shit.” My hands moved to her waist and I hated how she leaned into me as if I was safe. I was the reason she was going to get put in a damn hole.
Why couldn’t I fucking let her go?
“I spent the weekend with Jense and Luke,” she blurted out, and jealousy shot through me.
“Did you fuck them?”
I moved to shift my weight and she flinched. “We messed around. I had sex with Luke though.”
That almost turned me speechless.
“You fucked Lukas? Why? He probably doesn’t even know where your pussy is.”
When I didn't rage out at her, she relaxed and laughed quietly. “Lukas knows what he’s doing.”
“I can’t believe you let them suck you back in again,” I snorted, her face falling.
“It’s not like that. I didn’t want Caden to find me, so—”
I fisted her hair, yanking her head back and nipping her throat. “I don’t give a fuck. If you have an itch to scratch, you call me.”
“I can’t run to you all the time,” she argued, pushing me back and slapping at my chest when I grabbed her throat again. “Get off me, asshole.”
“Why the fuck wouldn’t you run to me?” I demanded, getting in her face. “What the fuck can those rich pricks give you that I can’t?”
“They were there when you couldn’t be,” she said firmly, and this time, I let her push me back so she could slide off the hood. “You’re married to the crew, and that’s okay. I didn’t want to bother you when I knew you were busy.”
“I would’ve come if you’d needed me though,” I bit out, some of the anger leaving me as she gave me a sad smile.
“I know you would’ve. Which is the problem, right?
I’ll see you later, Skeet.” She kissed my cheek before sliding into the car and closing the door firmly, frustration washing through me as I watched her back out of her parking spot and leave.
The Corvette flew down the road as the bass kicked in with her music, and I raked a hand through my hair with a curse.
Why was she getting to me so badly?
“I think you handled that well considering she’s cheating on you,” Marco stated from behind me, and I didn’t waste time as I turned around and punched him right in the mouth. He was ready for it, laughing as he stumbled. “Feel better?”
They were cockier than usual. I’d only just noticed that they didn’t even have backup out here like I’d thought.
“Fuck off home, Mark. I mean it,” I snapped, jerking back as he tried to grab my wrist. “Touch me and I’ll stab you.”
“You need to get laid or something, man. Need me to bend over?” he joked, dancing out of the way as I swung at him again. “No need to get violent. You know I like it.”
“Don’t fucking turn on me then act like we’re friends. You’re a real piece of shit.”
“You’re the one being an asshole. I’m simply trying to make conversation,” he shrugged, grabbing his black helmet from his red 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 sports bike and pulling it over his head before flipping up the visor.
“Your girl had no choice but to kill Liam, did she? She doesn’t exactly look like the murdering type. What did he do to her?”
I didn’t respond, stalking back inside to avoid beating the shit out of him. I’d been hit in the face by a bike helmet before, and it was something I didn’t want repeated.
Thankfully, Diesel and the others had already started on the cleanup of the skank on the floor.
Hunter emerged from the office, and he didn’t say anything as he walked past me, motioning for his other guy to follow him out. Derek and I had come to blows before in the past, the prick giving me a mock salute as they left.
Hopefully, that was all the drama for the day because I was close to killing someone.
Slash
The Devils’ visit put me on edge. Skeeter always behaved erratically when they were even mentioned, let alone when they were right in front of him. I saw him punch Marco on the cameras, but the fucker would’ve deserved it.
He was probably talking shit, as usual.
I waited until they all left before poking my head out of the office and calling Matteo in, ignoring the questioning look from Skeeter. I needed a little bit more time before talking to him or he was getting shot.
I couldn’t believe that Rory showed up here unannounced, let alone opened her fucking mouth to give Hunter some shit. I needed to hurry up and make her disappear.
“Boss?” Matteo asked as he walked in and shut the door behind him, cutting us off from the noise in the main room.
“Rivera claims he’s just here for business then he’s leaving. I don’t believe him.”
“You going to do something about Donovan?” he asked bluntly, making me nod.
“Yeah, I’ve got something in mind that will scare her off.
I need you and Brick to shake down that junkie prick in Rawson.
We gave him the extra week and haven’t heard from him.
He owes us another five percent for it being late.
Tomorrow, it will be ten percent. If it gets to twenty percent, I’m taking my money’s worth of his personal items.”
“What do you have in mind for Donovan?” he asked, seeming more curious than distrusting. “Not a lot has scared her away yet.”
“Just trust me, I have a few things up my sleeve that will terrify her,” I smiled, clapping his shoulder. “I just need to find something to keep Skeet busy for a few hours, that’s all.”
He seemed to relax, giving me a nod and leaving, and I wasn’t surprised when Skeeter walked in a moment later.
“What did Rivera want?”
“To sit in a circle and play duck, duck, goose. I told him we were busy,” I said dryly, frustration taking over his face.
“I mean it, man.”
“I saw you.”
“Saw me what?”
“The second that little bitch ran out of here, you chased her like an idiot. What the fuck is wrong with you? You should’ve stayed inside and kept an eye on Ortega and their bitchboy. Instead, you were fighting with Donovan outside over petty shit. I’m getting sick of defending you to the crew.”
“They’ll get over it,” he shrugged, pissing me off.
“No, they won’t. If they keep questioning you, I’ll have to replace you with someone they trust. Head in the game, bro. I fucking mean it.”
“I am. I was trying to explain to Rory why she needs to stay away from the Devils,” he hissed, but I just laughed.
“I think you need to let her go. If she’s dumb enough to chase them, she deserves the broken heart they’ll leave her with. I know they fucked you up, but stop letting them get to you. It’s just pussy.”
“She’s not just pussy to me, just because that’s how you see her.”
“Fine, fall in love, knock her up, and marry the bitch for all I care, but when you’re here?
She doesn’t exist in your head. That’s all I ask.
Tomorrow, I need someone to deal with the prison visit.
Commissaries need filling up, and Yoyo claims he has information for us.
Can I trust you with that?” I asked, giving him the side-eye.
Yoyo was forty-five and had been in the crew since he could barely walk. He got the name from his constant trips in and out of prison, and he was our eyes and ears inside.
It gave him purpose too.
If he wanted to see the outside world again, he’d have to live to be one hundred and twenty.
He probably shouldn’t have stolen the guard’s gun and killed two inmates. If it wasn’t for the judge being an associate of ours, he would’ve had the death penalty by now.
“I can do that. I thought you wanted to see him though?” he asked suspiciously, and I shrugged.
“I’m backed up with paperwork. Figured it might be a good idea for you to go, so the crew see you pulling your weight. I’m happy to do it if—”
“I’ve got it,” he said quickly, cutting me off. “Thanks.”
“Just looking out for you. I’m not your enemy,” I said brightly, hoping he couldn’t see right fucking through my bullshit.
I had a long night ahead of me if I was going to pull this off tomorrow.