Chapter 16 #2
By the time I caught up, he already had Danielle up against a wall and deep into a lip lock. Pregnant as she was, it was interesting he could even lift her into that position.
Speaking of… Rose sat at the bar. But so did Zoe .
She’d kept to the perimeter of our crew during the ride, someone always outside with her and her mother, but damn it, they should be home.
I included all three women in my announcement.
“ I’m escorting you ladies home soon. Kate , you good to drive?
” She’d had a few beers during the milder moments of the trip.
And Zoe was more than capable of getting her home, but for some reason, I wanted an excuse to sic a prospect on them.
Before she could answer, Wolf stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled hard. “ Yo , listen up. It is my profound pleasure to introduce the latest motherfucker who we call brother. KC ? Get your ass over here.”
I grinned because Wolf springing it on the crew wasn’t necessarily a surprise, but he dragged out the timing to happen as soon as we were all mostly in one spot and safely tucked at home. Sprout scrambled to right his wife, then stood by Wolf’s side. “ Where’s that fucking vest?” he yelled.
Someone dug it out from the meeting room where we’d hidden it. The name patch was a rush job we had Hagerstown ferry up while we were riding. Wolf slapped his hand on KC’s name patch, hard.
“ I know you got used to us calling you Whoosh , but Kill Count sounds much better for a Destroyer .” He slammed his fist down hard in the same spot. KC staggered under the blow, but kept his feet.
“ Have at him. Whoever takes him down first gets dibs on the best room upstairs.” Five men rushed in.
I cupped my hands around my mouth so my voice would carry. “ KC , you can fight back.”
And with that, the melee began.
Poke went down. Smoke’s heart wasn’t in it. He wouldn’t dream of taking his woman upstairs. Wolf had Tits , but already made his point, twice. Sprout laughed his ass off the whole time he swung wildly at KC .
Sketch was ruthless, but Isobel loudly reminded him she’d leave without him if he won a room. He caught a fist to the jaw when he tried to reason with her.
Cooper smacked KC in the vest. Almost exactly where Wolf had.
That had to sting. Coop might be old, but that motherfucker was still fast with a right hook.
He held out his hands and let KC know he’d taken his shot.
Big Joe waded in and everyone paid attention.
Money changed hands. KC slipped, but locked a leg.
With KC’s retaliatory kick, Joe went down to a knee and groaned.
“ Motherfucker . That’s my bad leg.” He limped away.
KC’s hands flexed, adrenaline and pain mixing with his joy at finally getting a patch. His left hand rubbed the name plate leaving a smear of blood. Baldy took his time. Fists up and feet moving. I dissected his form. He was getting better.
Rocket used the distraction to hit KC on the blind-side and took him to the floor.
“ Foul !” I yelled. “ Doesn’t count.”
They rolled a moment, and KC let loose a flurry of punches that left the smaller man reeling. Baldy held a hand out to get KC on his feet again. Before he let go, he shot out a left hook that caught KC in the eyebrow. It rocked him, and it took two backwards staggered steps before KC shook it off.
“ Damn . Thought I had him.” Baldy held his hands out, having his shot and wisely not pushing it any further.
Hickey went down. Skinner , too. Cutty didn’t stand a chance.
I pulled Rose close. “ We will go home soon. Okay ?”
She nodded and accepted the quick kiss I tapped on her cheekbone.
The club whistled as I walked up. Wisely , no one cast a bet.
KC’s eye was starting to swell where Baldy caught him. “ You need ice on that?”
I got a wary nod from KC .
He held ready for me. I shrugged. With a glance around at the men and a wink toward the ladies now clustered together at the bar, I squared off. “ One shot.” I held my arms wide.
KC balled up his fists.
He didn’t pull his punch, but it barely glanced off my face. He stepped back, waiting to see what I’d do. I motioned for him to come closer.
A shake of the head. “ Gotta catch me.” His cocky grin was too cute.
I faked a right and while he twisted to block it, I came in with my left. His core was wide open, but I aimed higher. His arm managed to fling into place, giving just a modicum of resistance. I held my knuckles against his temple, proving that if I hadn’t pulled the punch, he’d be dead.
“ Consider yourself caught.” I smiled and tapped his eyebrow. Then , with my other hand, I socked him right in the name patch where Wolf and Coop had nailed him.
He doubled over, wheezing. “ Fuck , that hurts.”
I helped him stand straight. “ You good?”
He grinned as he panted. “ When Griz and Hollywood get back, do they get shots at me?”
As much as being the bearer of bad news sucked, I let him down as gently as I could. “ That’s the rules.”
He groaned, stretched, and looked around. His sights landed on one of the girls who wasn’t claimed. “ You .”
She giggled and shot forward.
Wolf slapped him on the back as he slipped upstairs.
My private reserve came down from the top shelf.
I glanced at Rose , checking if she was going to throw a fit. Her mouth twisted into a half frown. She lifted her fingers and quietly asked for two glasses.
I tugged her close. The shot glasses were clean, the liquor straight out of the bottle and I poured both. As I lifted the glass, I spoke quietly so no one else except Rose heard me. “ Remember last night?”
Her eyes widened. “ I doubt you do.”
“ I owe you a debt.” I tapped my glass against hers. “ Anything you want tonight. Anything .”
Her gaze didn’t stray from the laser lock she had on my eyes. I drank the shot down, and she followed suit, barely lifting her chin to let the whiskey slide down her throat.
I kissed her. If only to taste the liquor on her lips.
Her breath was heavy when I finally let her go.
“ Anything ?”
“ That’s a vow.”