Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SKEETER
“Let me do it,” Slash scowled as I almost dropped a box of cocaine bricks that I’d been loading into the van, glaring at him as he yanked it away from me to finish loading himself.
“I had it.”
“We’re already late, you’re moving too slow,” he answered, wedging the box inside before slamming the back door. “Get your head out of the clouds.”
I laughed dryly, knowing he was just being a prick for the sake of it. We’d been snapping at each other back and forth since five in the damn morning when we’d arrived at one of our drug warehouses, and it was now almost nine.
I was so over his bullshit, and this was not how I wanted to spend my Saturday. He knew I’d planned on seeing Rory this morning too.
I hadn’t seen her since Wednesday when I’d had to deal with Lukas’ fucking breakdown, and I wouldn’t admit it, but she was in over her head with him and I was worried.
Hopefully, I’d scared him enough to make him lay off the ending his life bullshit because the last thing I wanted was for Rory to find him dead.
I also, possibly, didn’t want the prick to die either, and I wanted to check in to see how he was.
“You know what? Be my guest, man. Feel free to do it your fucking self,” I offered, turning to walk towards my car.
“Where are you going? You’re on this job with me, asshole.”
“Take Matteo or Brick. I’m not working with you,” I said over my shoulder, hearing his growl before he stalked after me.
“Skeet, get in the fucking van. I don’t have time for this today.”
“Not my problem.”
He grabbed my arm, jerking me around to face him. “It is your fucking problem. This is crew business, and you’re my right-hand. Pull your head out of your ass.”
I shoved him back, matching the dirty look he was giving me. “You knew I was busy today and you deliberately made plans to stop it. Are you that jealous of a girl? Stop sabotaging my personal life.”
“You’re throwing this tantrum because you didn’t get to have morning sex with your walking fucktoy? Seriously? You’re brainwashed by that pussy. I’m about to put a bullet in her to get your head on straight again.”
“You think we have problems now? Keep threatening her like that and you’ll see what a real problem is,” I warned, motioning to Diesel, who was eyeing us. “Take D with you. As long as the job gets done, that’s all that matters.”
Diesel scowled, crossing his arms. “I’m not interested in working with him either, to be honest. He’s been a dick all morning.”
Slash spun around, pointing a finger at him. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“You. All you’ve done this morning is bark at people. I think you need to take five and hang out at the Shed while we handle the job. You’re going to fuck up our deals if you take this attitude with you,” Diesel shrugged, lifting his chin to me. “We can handle it, right?”
I’d hoped to bail, but if I didn’t have to sit in the van with Slash, I’d go.
Nodding, I rolled my shoulders to ease the tension in them. “Sold. I’ll go with D and Brick. We can handle the deal, and you can go back to the Shed for a nap since it’s obvious you fucking need one.”
“Watch it,” he snarled, and Matteo moved between us and pushed us back a little.
“Hey, enough. If Skeet and D want to handle the job with Brick, then you and me can organize some of the fights tonight,” he suggested.
“Tell Donovan I want her ass in the cage tonight. Maybe it’s time I go a few rounds with her since she likes fighting the men,” Slash scoffed, flexing his knuckles.
“She’s busy tonight. Party at Ty’s,” I answered, and I swore he was going to punch me.
“She doesn’t have to be there for that. She doesn’t even like them half the time. Tell that bitch—”
“Eat a dick,” I bit out, making my way towards the van. “Get in, D. Let’s get this shit done. Brick, if you're coming, hurry up.”
Slash fumed as Matteo muttered quietly to him, and Diesel didn’t say anything as he got in the van. Brick slid in next so Diesel was in the middle, and we set off towards Pine Valley.
“You guys really gotta chill out,” Brick said randomly once we were on the road, my fingers tightening around the steering wheel.
“Are you saying this is my fault?”
“Honestly? A little. Regardless of how you feel about that girl, you have a job to do. You said she wouldn’t interfere with crew business, but it sure as fuck looks like it,” he replied dryly, leaning back against the door to eye me.
“I don’t get it, and I won’t pretend to, but you're only fueling the fire when you fight with the boss over her. It’s proving his point that she’s getting in the way. ”
“If he’s that threatened by some girl—”
“He’s not threatened, Skeet. You’re literally not doing your job, and now both you and D don’t even want to work with the boss,” he cut in. I wanted to argue, but caught myself frowning.
It wasn’t that big of a deal, right?
“Don’t you ever want more out of life than this?” I asked after a few moments of silence.
“Like what? Having a warm pussy in bed for me when I get home, and then having to worry about her being a target while I’m gone all the time?
You’re right, it sounds magical,” Brick deadpanned, nudging Diesel.
“You’ve tried it and know how it ends. I’m surprised you’re even going along with this shit.
You know you’re both going to get her killed, right?
Even if you can tame Slash’s hatred of her, there’s still rival crews sniffing around.
The second they hear about some girl that’s important to you, they’ll come and take her to spite you. ”
“They won’t touch her,” Diesel scowled, and even I had to wince at that.
Brick was right, they’d come for her and break her to get to me.
“You all accuse me of being obsessed with her, but you’re the ones who don’t shut up about her,” I grunted, reaching out to turn the radio up to drown them out.
Brick shook his head at me but turned his attention out the window, and I noticed Diesel was texting when he didn’t think we were looking. I peeked down out of the corner of my eye, seeing Rory’s name at the top of the screen.
Rory: It’s okay, take your time. Josie’s smothering me with breakfast and family time anyway.
Diesel: We’d prefer to be there than here, trust me.
Rory: Bring me some whiskey later and I’ll forgive you.
Diesel: Deal. What time is Josie leaving?
“You know, you sure seem interested in her,” I stated as I turned the radio down a little, not hiding that I’d seen their conversation. He didn’t try to hide the screen as he gave me a dirty look, my eyes catching on her reply.
Rory: Her car arrives at eleven. The guys are heading to Ty’s to get ready for tonight, and I’m finishing up on some school work. Is Skeet still coming?
My phone had been buzzing in my pocket earlier, so I assumed it had been Rory.
“Tell her we’ll be there once I get fight night handled. Slash will fuck up the paperwork,” I sighed, and Diesel typed a quick reply before pocketing his phone.
“You know I just like her as a friend, right? After the shit with Sasha, I just don’t see myself with anyone else,” he mumbled, and I felt kind of bad for giving him shit about it.
It had been years, and I was starting to wonder if he’d ever heal.
“Sorry, man,” I answered, glancing at him. “I’ve just never seen you pay attention to a girl like this since Sasha.”
“I just like talking to her, that’s all.”
“Have you told her about Sasha?”
He blew out a breath, looking uncomfortable. “She knows something happened to a girl I loved, but not the full story. I want to tell her, but I’m not there yet.”
“I think you should tell her,” Brick grunted, joining the conversation without looking at us. “Maybe she’d take things more seriously if she knew the outcome.”
“Slash is in charge now, so that wouldn’t happen anyway,” I pointed out, making him snort.
“Tell yourself that if it helps you sleep at night, but he’s got it out for her. If he snaps for real, he could do anything to her.”
Slash wouldn’t let those things happen to Rory. He was a monster, but not that kind of monster.
Diesel winced, but he didn’t disagree.
Slash was out of control when it came to Rory, his anger clouding his judgment. I had no idea how to make them play nice together to keep her safe.
Rory
The guys had all gone to Tyler’s to plan their big party, leaving me home with Josie for some girl time. After the last few days, I appreciated it.
Lukas hadn’t really left my side, so I was glad he was feeling like he could hang out with the guys without me.
Josie had only just been picked up by a driver to take her to the airport for a meeting, and I’d shooed the staff away to soak in the silence. Even Skeeter was busy on a job today, so I knew I had uninterrupted silence until at least the afternoon.
I was almost asleep in bed as I watched a movie when footsteps sounded on the stairs, and I sat up as Slash stalked in, instantly putting me on alert as he raised his gun at me.
“I’ve dealt with rival gangs, mafia kingpins, cops, and hitmen, but none of them have pissed me off as much as you!” he snarled, kicking my door shut as he walked closer, and I scrambled back against the headboard to put some distance between us.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said calmly, trying not to let the fear reach my voice but failing.
“Nothing?” he spat, his hand shaking. “You’re like fungus! Half my damn crew won’t work together right now because of you! Skeet and Diesel have some kind of loyalty to you over me, and I’m fucking sick of it! They’d only go on their job today if I didn’t, you know that?”
“I haven’t seen Skeet since Wednesday.” I swallowed as he snagged the front of my shirt and yanked me towards him, glaring down at me. “All week they’ve argued with me about you. Nothing makes you run, and I can’t tell if it’s because you’re stupid or delusional that someone will always save you.”