Chapter 15 #2
“Oh, baby girl, I’m bad alright,” I say, pursing my lips into a pout and blinking with both eyes. She cracks, bursting into hysterics. I laugh, watching her, loving hearing her laughter.
“You’re a dick.” She snorts.
I perch on the pool table. “I know. What are you doing here anyway?” I ask.
She breathes through the last of her laughter, wrapping both her hands around the pool cue before she tips her head to the side. “Am I not allowed here?” she asks, arching her brow at me.
“Didn’t say that. I asked why have you come here today. You haven’t been to the club house in a while,” I press.
Her smiles falters a little. “Figured it would do me good to get out the house.”
“If you ain’t busy, you want to go for a ride in a bit?
I’ve got some business to take care of for the club, but if you wanted, I’m free after that.
” I shrug casually. She nibbles on her bottom lip, and I can tell she is overthinking it.
“As a friend, we don’t have to stop anywhere.
Your bruises will remain hidden under the helmet,” I assure her.
She grins. “Sure.”
“Hendrix, get your ass in here. Church started five fucking minutes ago!” Hap yells from the back.
I grin. “Got to go.” I head towards the back room, not surprised to see Hap watching from the doorway, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Don’t you fucking start,” I warn, pointing my finger at him.
He holds his hands up in surrender. “Wasn’t going to utter a word.” He smirks.
Fucker.
All eyes turn in my direction as I enter. “In your own fucking time,” Ghost snaps.
“Sorry, was chatting to Storm,” I say, gesturing with my thumb.
Ghost eyes me, not saying a word. “We’ve got a location,” he murmurs. “There was movement in his parents’ house; he’s got to be hiding out there. I want us there now,” Ghost demands.
“Now? Would it not be better to go at night?” Beast queries.
Ghost’s murderous gaze snaps to Beast. “I’m not waiting another second. I want him strung up in the fucking barn,” he seethes.
Beast nods in understanding. I want him just as much as Ghost.
Enzo looks at me. “You ready to make this fucker pay?” he grinds out, dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. He hasn’t stopped partying and fucking since it happened. He’s struggling. Not that he would ever fucking admit it.
We are so close to getting him. My fingers twitch, wanting to feel my blade in my hand and slice it slowly into the prick’s flesh.
“When do we leave?” Enzo asks, his voice tight, sharp, and ready for murder.
“Right fucking now,” Ghost seethes with a wicked grin. The brothers cheer with uproar, slapping the palms of their hands on the table. “Load up. We fucking ride,” Ghost sneers, getting to his feet.
We file out one by one; the tension is electric. All of us are savage for blood, savage for revenge. Storm’s eyes widen slightly as she looks at each of us leaving.
I take a slight detour and stride over to her. “Rain check on the ride. Something’s come up,” I state. Her eyes flicker past me, and I turn to see her look at her dad and Enzo.
“You’ve found him,” she whispers, her face paling. The rumble of bikes grow louder and louder with each brother that leaves.
My jaw set tight, I nod.
She swallows, rolling her bottom lip between her teeth. “I want to come.”
“No fucking way,” I say, shutting her down immediately.
“I want to come,” she repeats firmly.
“Your dad would never allow it,” I counter.
“Dad will cave,” she asserts, dropping the pool cue on the table and strides past me.
“Storm!” I yell after her, but she’s already stepping outside. “Fuck,” I sigh, jogging after her.
I come behind her, watching as Ghost’s eyes narrow on her. She stands there glaring at him, her hands on her hips; a move her mom so often takes with him. “I’m coming and I’m riding on the back of Drix’s bike.
Ghost’s eyes flick to mine, and it takes everything in me not to piss my fucking pants. I hold my hands up and shake my hand. “Don’t fucking look at me. I told her no,” I defend.
“It’s not safe,” Ghost grits out.
“I’m not safe with all of you there?!” she argues.
“Dad, let her. She needs this,” Enzo interjects. Ghost looks to his son, then back at Storm. He’s right. She needs to see the fucker beg for forgiveness.
“You stay with Drix or you brother, and you never leave their side,” Ghost replies, caving. Storm grins softly. “Fuck me, you are just like your fucking mother,” he mutters, rubbing his temples.
“Told you.” She grins. I smile back at her, happy to see some of her spark returning.
Once Storm is on the back of my bike, we ride. Her body is pressed against my back, and her small hands are splayed across my stomach. Fuck, she feels good, like she belongs there.
As we get closer, I feel her arms tighten around me.
My hand moves, giving her thigh a gentle reassuring squeeze, stroking my thumb back and forth.
I feel her relax slightly, until we come to stop just down from his parents’ house.
Her fists grip a fistful of my T-shirt, her body locking tight around me.
I kill the engine and just sit with her, not pushing her, not urging her to get off, letting her take it her time.
I catch Enzo looking over at us, at his sister’s hands.
His jaw sets tighter, his brows narrowing as his eyes meet mine.
I give a subtle shake of my head not to make a scene. He gives me a sharp nod, climbing off his bike before walking over to Ghost. I watch as he says something about Storm, and Ghost’s gaze flickers over to us, pure murderous rage filling his ice-cold gaze.
Someone needs to make sure they don’t do anything stupid. Beast stops beside me, looking down. I feel Storm’s body tremble, her cheek against my back, looking away from everyone.
“I think I will keep watch out here. Make sure none of the neighbours call the cops,” I murmur.
Beast nods, understanding in his eyes. “Good idea. I will let Prez know.” He goes to walk off but I grab his arm.
“You might want to assure Prez that no one lets their emotions take control,” I state, arching my brow as my gaze flickers over to Enzo and Ghost. He follows my line of sight.
“Gotcha.” He nods before walking off.
I sit, watching as they move on foot towards the house, spreading out and walking around the back. A neighbour across the road, an older lady, watches us with wide eyes.
Hawk spots her and walks over, oozing his charm.
“Hey, sweetheart, why don’t you get yourself indoors?
We don’t want no trouble. We just came for a guy; he did something unforgivable.
So, we just want to remind him of what happens when someone crosses us.
A little chat.” He grins, flashing her his white teeth.
The woman softens slightly. “I knew that boy Zeke was no good. You know he hit my daughter when they played out here. I watched him. He enjoyed it. Evil that boy.” She tuts.
My lips twitch, fighting back a smile. With him pissing off the neighbours, that means they are on our side, which means no trouble from the police.
Hawk crosses his arms over his chest. “Well, sweetheart, I can assure you, he won’t be causing problems anymore,” he says with a nod and a wink and walks off. I place my hand over Storm’s, gently stroking back and forth.
“Nice area this. Not sure I’d want to live here though.
Not keen on having neighbours knowing all my business,” I mutter.
“I mean, I don’t want them hearing my woman screaming while I fuck her, and what if I want to fuck her on the front porch?
I should be allowed to do what I want without people looking over like fucking perverts,” I ramble.
“Mind you, I am fucking good to look at. I have an outstanding dick. Maybe neighbours should admire it,” I ponder.
“Oh, my fucking god, will you shut up!” Storm snaps. Releasing her grip, she jumps off the back of my bike in disgust.
A slow smile spreads across my face. “Thought that might snap you out of it.”
She glares at me, fighting back a smile. “Your ego holds no bounds, you know that?” she snaps.
I shrug and get off my bike, standing in front of her. “It doesn’t, but it has some uses, like snapping you out of your head,” I say, lightly tapping her temple.
She exhales a slow breath and nods. “Thanks, I guess.” She shrugs.
“What do you want to do?” I ask.
She wraps her arms around herself, nibbling on her bottom lip.
“I don’t know.” She pauses before running her fingers through her dark hair in frustration.
“I wanted to be here, to face him, to scream at him, hit him, kick him. I wanted to make him suffer, but I—” She looks up at the sky.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to face him. I don’t want him to see me, like this. ” She gestures to herself.
“Like what? Beautiful, strong, and fucking ruthless?” I counter.
She gives me a ‘you’re full of shit look’, shaking her head. “That isn’t what I feel right now.”
I move closer, lifting her chin and forcing her to look at me.
“Then I have a job to do. I will make sure you feel all of those things.” I pause before taking a step back, shoving my hands into my jean pockets.
“It’s what friends are for.” I shrug, putting my wants and feelings aside.
It isn’t about me, or what I want right now.
It’s about her. For her to be herself again.
Loud shouting catches our attention, and we both turn to the house.
The sound of crashing, things being smashed follows.
I tense, ready to tell Storm to stay here while I go help, but the front door aggressively swings opens.
Hawk and Beast drag a wild Enzo down the steps, and even from here I can see that his eyes are crazy. He’s panting with molten rage.
“What happened?” I ask as they approach, gripping Enzo tight.