Chapter 18 #2
“You never come here again,” he bit out, our quickie not sating his mood. “This is enemy territory, Aurora. This isn’t a game. Myles could’ve just shot you, you know? You pointed a gun at him.”
“He pointed his at me first,” I threw back as I put my panties and skirt back in place, and he spun me around to push my back against the wall, pointing a tattooed finger in my face.
“You should never have been here in the first place. Who said I was here?” I kept my mouth shut, not wanting Diesel to get in trouble, and he scowled before letting me go. “I’ll deal with you later.”
I unlocked the door, yanking it open and stalking out as I flipped him off over my shoulder.
The meeting must have been over since the bar area was now filled with Reapers and a handful of Psychos, and I didn’t get far before Slash grabbed my bicep to stop me.
I swung a fist at him and he caught it, the men all chuckling as he easily restrained me.
“Don’t test me, Donovan. I’ll smack you back,” he warned, giving Skeeter a dirty look before manhandling me outside towards Tyler’s car. “Get in. I’ll ride with you to the Shed to get my car, then I’ll follow you home.”
“Did you help?” I demanded, and the flat look on his face said he knew exactly what I was talking about.
“Get in the fucking car, Aurora.”
“I told you both to leave it alone,” I hissed, smacking my palm against his chest.
“And I told you that fucker wasn’t going to be left breathing,” he said in a chilling voice, grabbing my jaw in his hand and leaning closer. “Do as you’re told and get in the car.”
I pushed his hand away with a sneer and climbed into the car, forcing myself not to run him over as he took his time walking around to get into the passenger seat.
Diesel
I should’ve known Rory was going to ignore my suggestion and track Skeeter down. I’d just gotten back from a meeting with some of our weapon clients when I heard cars outside, Rory’s pissed off voice reaching me before she even stepped inside.
Slash had her by the back of her blazer, practically carrying her like a naughty kitten, and Skeeter appeared a moment later like a dark cloud behind them.
“You said you’d leave it!” she snapped, trying to shake Slash off.
“I didn’t promise shit,” Skeeter drawled as he walked past them, and I braced when I realized he was walking straight towards me.
His fist connected with my eye, knocking me back a step, and he grabbed my jacket to yank me closer, punching me again before leaning in so that he was nose-to-nose with me.
“You’re lucky I don’t fucking kill you,” he growled, stumbling as he was shoved.
Rory stood behind him, a deadly glare on her face that was slightly impressive.
“Leave him the fuck alone,” she bit out, and I put a hand out to stop her shoving him again.
“Don’t defend me. He has every right to punch me,” I said flatly, a little frustrated that she obviously didn’t listen to me. “I told you I’d get him to call you when he was done. I honestly thought you’d use your fucking brain and wait. That’s on me.”
She looked as if I’d slapped her, and I turned my back on her to look at Skeeter, who punched me again for the sake of it.
“Why the fuck did you tell her where I was? She went in there and put a gun in Myles’ face,” Skeeter hissed, my stomach dropping.
“She was going to come here. I was hoping the fact you were in a meeting with the Reapers—”
“I don’t give a fuck what you were hoping. You told her about crew business,” he snarled, and I sighed.
“Won’t happen again, Skeet.” I glanced at her and shook my head before walking towards the office, wondering what the hell I’d been thinking.
She was just like Sasha, so I should’ve known better. Of course she was going to barrel into the Reapers’ territory and wave her fucking gun around.
I lit a cigarette, wishing I could punch something. If Rory had gotten herself killed, then it would have been my fault.
Just like Sasha.
I heard arguing from the other room as some of the others joined in with their thoughts on the entire thing, and I walked around Skeeter’s desk to check the cameras, my heart sinking more.
I’d only been in here for a moment, but Rory and Skeeter were already toe-to-toe with her gun out and a bunch of the others starting to look tense around them.
What did she think she was going to do? Shoot him in front of everyone?
I wasn’t surprised when Slash grabbed her wrist and bent it at an angle to force her to drop the gun, and I could hear them arguing more as he started dragging her in this direction with Skeeter on their heels.
Waving a gun around here, especially at a member, meant she had to be punished. I hated the thought of her getting hurt, but part of me wondered if it was what she needed to realize this was serious.
The door banged open and the three of them entered, slamming the door behind them again as Slash shoved her towards his desk. I’d seen him angry, but he was beyond that now.
“You’re a stupid fucking cunt, you know that?” he spat as she caught herself on the edge of the desk, glaring back at him.
“Me? He started it!”
“Do you have any idea what you just did?” he demanded, flicking his eyes to me for a moment before returning them to her. “You can’t get away with that.”
“You’re the boss. You—”
“Some days I forget how naive you are. You’d think after growing up in the Heights that you’d have more self-awareness for trouble. Do you think Skeet’s going to just angry fuck you then send you home?”
Her attention moved to Skeeter, his jaw clenched. “I have to punish you in front of them.”
“No, you don’t. You guys are in charge,” she scoffed, and I rolled my eyes as I blew out smoke.
“We have a process here. All crews do. Just because Slash and Skeet got the rules changed about rape, doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt.”
She didn’t seem to realize I was here until I’d spoken, and I hated how she looked at me like I was going to help her. I wanted to, I really did, but I couldn’t get between her and them in front of the others.
“So what now?” she asked, and Skeeter punched the wall, trying to contain his anger, while Slash eyed her.
“He’s supposed to beat you.”
“But?”
“No buts. Jesus Christ, Donovan,” he snarled, clenching his fists. “Why don’t you just listen? You think Skeet wants to lay hands on you?”
Skeeter had no issue punishing women, but Rory wasn’t just anyone. He genuinely gave a shit about her, and I wasn’t sure he could go through with it.
“What happens if he doesn’t do it?” she mumbled, looking at me again.
I looked away, focusing on the screen to see what the others were doing. They looked pissed, so Skeeter had to figure out what to do quickly before someone took it upon themselves to punish her.
“The guys are already trying to push him out as my right-hand for putting you above the crew. If they decide to vote on this, he’ll be replaced and probably punished on top of it,” Slash replied, and she seemed to think about it for a moment before shrugging.
“I can take it.”
“Aurora,” Skeeter growled, giving her a dark look. “I don’t want to fucking hit you.”
“You totally do.”
“No, I don’t. You piss me off to the point I want to fuck you half to death, but never hit you.
Do you understand I have to do it in front of them?
I can’t give you a little tap then send you on your way.
One of my hits would knock you the fuck out.
I’ve killed people with these fists. They probably won’t be satisfied with one punch either. ”
I felt sick. If he punched her multiple times, she’d definitely get knocked out. What if he fractured something in her face?
“Just do it. I won’t hold it against you,” she said confidently, and I wanted to shake her.
“Matteo’s coming,” I mumbled as I noticed him approaching on the camera, and Skeeter grabbed her bicep with a scowl, pointing a finger in her face.
“Never force my hand like this again.”
Slash tucked her gun down the back of her skirt with a sigh. “I’m not going to leave you unarmed, not with the Soldiers in town, but that shit can’t be repeated. The guys want blood, and next time won’t be as simple.”
The door opened and Matteo stepped in, narrowing his eyes. “If you think she gets out of punishment—”
“She’s not,” Slash bit out. “We just needed to talk to her first.”
“Pretty sure a few smacks will give her all the information she needs. I’m happy to correct her if you’re too much of a little bitch to do it, Skeet,” he replied and cracked his knuckles.
“You will never touch her,” Skeeter said in a menacing tone, tugging Rory away from the desk and towards the door.
The glee on Matteo’s face pissed me off. How did anyone get off on hurting women?
Matteo followed, and as Slash went to do the same, he looked at me. “You stay here.”
“What? Why?” I scoffed, his face softening a fraction.
“You know why.”
I did. I knew that he didn’t want me to be thrown back in time to when Sasha was beaten bloody. This was different though. Rory wasn’t going to be beaten half to death and raped.
I stood in the office alone for only a second before heading out to the main room, Slash sighing with annoyance when he noticed I’d followed.
My heart was hammering as Skeeter dragged her over to the others, and bile filled my throat when he drew his fist back and hit her. She went flying as expected, and I didn’t even realize I was stepping closer to stop it until Slash grabbed my elbow to pull me back.
“I know,” Slash said quietly, blocking my view with his body as I heard a second hit connect. “If you get between that, you’ll make it worse for her, and you’ll get your ass beat too.”
I’d let them beat the shit out of me if it meant stopping Rory from being the target, but I knew they’d just beat her more for it too.
I flinched as I heard Sasha crying out for me in my head, my breathing turning rapid.
Some of the guys were cheering, asking Skeeter if they could have a turn too, and I hated that I was part of this.