Chapter 17
WHITE BOY
Pacing the waiting area in the police station, I wear a hole through their cheap linoleum. Where the fuck is Jade? Why haven’t they released her yet? She didn’t do anything wrong. Her gun is registered. She killed three men, so the hell what? This is a clear case of self-defense.
The silent alarm went off at the shop just as I was visiting Hunter.
Everyone was on their bikes and on the road within seconds.
I don’t remember much. It was a damn blur of adrenaline and fear.
Rolling up to find the windows shot out and no hostages, I swore they were all dead.
Hell, all of them are, except Pixie and Jade.
Closed casket dead. Multiple body parts in bags, dead. What a fucking waste.
Big tried to talk the dickheads down. When that didn’t work, we did what we do—mowed them to the ground and worried about the consequences later.
The consequences? Jade and Pixie’s interrogations to find out what the fuck happened.
Sure, we have camera footage from the shop, but we’re not handing it over to anyone.
As far as they’re concerned, these were some common thieves looking to score an easy payday and ended up fucking with the wrong shop.
That’s our story, anyhow. Do they buy it?
Nope. Can they prove otherwise? Also, no.
The cops around here know they shouldn’t go sniffing where they don’t belong, or they’re liable to end up in a war they want no part in.
Gunz is back at the compound right now, trying to figure out what went down.
This was sloppy, even for Remy, which makes me wonder if it was an initiation game into his sick world of human trafficking.
Or worse, the first of many hits to come.
It’s been quiet for a while now, even though we’ve increased security.
Apparently, not enough if these assholes made it to the shop where our women work, and we were none the wiser.
We usually have someone there for protection, but today of all days, Axel just so happened to get a haircut when he was supposed to be keeping an eye on the women. Coincidence? I think not.
Speaking of Axel, he shoves the front door open to the station and jerks his head for me to follow him outside. On the front steps, five of us huddle round.
“Anything yet?” I ask Oz, Gunz’s boy, and our current Sacred Sinner prospect.
“No. But until further notice, everyone’s living on the compound again.” He looks at me, the only one of us this will affect.
I get it. My woman not only killed three men today, but she’s no longer safe at home.
That means I’m gonna need an escort to pack our things.
Looks like Hunter gets his wish. We’re moving onto the compound.
Unfortunately, all the houses are taken, and my room ain’t big enough for the three of us.
That means he gets to bunk somewhere else.
Debbie’s got teenage boys. I’m sure we can figure something out.
As Oz and Axel go over the details about what we know and all that shit, I flex my hands down at my sides.
I need to fight. To kill something. To… fuck if I know.
I haven’t even touched her yet. After an EMT checked out Jade and Pix, they were sent on their way with the cops for questioning.
That was hours ago—too many hours. I need to see her.
“Do we need to get our lawyer involved?” I cut in, not paying a lick of attention to what the brothers are talking about.
Hands tucked in his front pockets, Dallas shakes his head. “No. We’re solid. Blimp’s lady friend texted to let him know all is good on the inside. She’s looking out for our women.”
“And the rest of us?” I check, worried we’re next on their radar, after they finish harassing women who were just put through hell.
Oz clasps me on the shoulder. “The cops didn’t see nothin’. Right?”
Heaving a sigh of relief, I nod. “Right.” If they had, Prez would be locked up for pulling a trigger at point-blank range, into a fucker’s skull, who had just given himself up.
“Are they running cleanup, or are we?” I ask, referring to whatever has been leaked online that needs to be squashed before any major media outlets catch wind, as well as the collection of bodies that needs to be disposed of.
“We are,” Dallas confirms. “Sunshine and Angel are already on their way. Gunz has everything else handled.”
Thank fuck.
That’s one less thing we gotta worry about.
Now, if they’d just release my woman, we could be on our merry fucking way. Let’s hope she doesn’t lose her shit when she hears we’re moving to the compound. ‘Cause that’s not up for negotiation. From here on out, she’s never leaving my sight.
We carry on a bit more before Blimp and Viper roll up to relieve the brothers we don’t need here. The four of us grind concrete under our boot heels as we wait well into the night for the pigs to cut the women loose.
My jaw aches from grinding my molars as my anger soars to the heavens, the longer they force us to wait.
This is bullshit.
They’re dragging their feet, making us sweat. Our women know better than to talk. They’re not like that. They would never give them anything on us. There’s no question where their loyalty lies.
It’s all a game to those who think we belong in jail.
It only takes one dickbag to ruin your night.
I should appreciate that they’re playing by our rules and pretending this never happened, but why the hours of questioning, if that’s the case?
It’s not adding up.
Not the shootout.
Not the cops.
Just last year, our prospect turned on us. Fucking rat.
Now this.
I’m sick of war.
I’m sick of Jade gettin’ caught in the crossfire.
When the front door to the station swings open and my puffy-eyed hottie walks out in a set of gray sweats, I pound up the steps, grip her cheeks, and kiss her.
It’s brutal and all-consuming. Shaky hands clutch my sides as she pours the cutest little sounds into my mouth.
When I lash her tongue with mine, she leans in, surrendering herself, letting me care for her and love what’s mine.
The relief is immense to have her in my arms, tits against my stomach.
I cup the back of her neck and devour her sweet lips until we’re both panting and my cock is so damn hard it could punch a hole through steel.
A dickhead clearing their throat breaks our spell.
On a frustrated growl, I rip my mouth from Jade’s to tear the meddlesome prick a new asshole. “Fuck off,” I snarl over my shoulder at Blimp, who lifts his hands in surrender, smirking next to his bike.
“Maybe you can do that back at the compound?” he suggests.
Yeah, okay, he’s right. We shouldn’t put ourselves at risk, out in the open, on the top steps of the police station.
I nod at my brother for lookin’ out and turn back to Jade. Her lips are sexy, all swollen and rosy from me. I brush my thumb over them, and she gasps.
“We need to go home, babe, and pack a few bags. We’re moving to the compound.”
“Okay.”
Hold up. Did I kiss the sass right out of her?
I cock my head to the side, confused by Jade’s easygoing response. “Is that all?”
Blinking up at me like an owl, she nods once and sighs. Like air draining from a tire, her shoulders sag and her expression drops. “I’m tired, Josh. I just wanna sleep. Wherever I can sleep, I want to sleep. It’s been a long day.”
“I know, babe. I know. How about I take you back to the compound, and I’ll go pack the bags?”
Taking one of my hands, Jade slots her fingers through mine.
“I don’t want to be alone. Can we go tomorrow?
” Her words are laced with need, her eyelids heavy.
I listen, as I always do, reading between the lines.
As a woman who never wants to put anything on anyone, too strong to ask for help, this moment matters.
She’s putting absolute trust in me. Asking me for something. I will not let her down.
“Yes, babe. Of course. Whatever you need.”
“Thank you.”
Pulling her tight against my chest, I wrap my arms around Jade’s shoulders and kiss the top of her head as she snuggles her face between my pecs. “Let’s get you some rest,” I whisper.
Her weak nod fucking breaks me.
I wasn’t there for her.
I didn’t protect her.
She lived through another nightmare without me.
I don’t know how to make any of this right, but I’m damn well gonna try.