Chapter Thirty-One
“WHORE INSIDE!!”
“GOD WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN!”
“EVIL IS HERE!”
“GAYS GO TO HELL!”
“What a bunch of idiots,” Marisol snorted, shaking her head at the group collected outside Medina’s big front windows. “Should we tell them your dudes don’t even cross swords?”
“’Sol!” Elena couldn’t believe her friend was trying to crack jokes at a time like this. “This is serious. Not funny.”
“It’s a little bit funny,” Marisol argued with a pointed look out the window. “That guy’s sign isn’t even spelled right. He spelled succubus with a ‘ck’. Oh wait, that might be a play on words and actually kind of funny.”
Elena rolled her eyes as Marisol stared thoughtfully at the crowd of picketers blocking the front of their business.
“Nah,” Marisol mumbled with a shake of her head. “He looks too stupid to have thought that one out.”
“You’re not taking this serious enough, ‘Sol,” she warned, rubbing her forehead where it had begun to throb. This— all of it— was becoming overwhelming. “These nutjobs didn’t impact the garage’s business with their fuckery, but Medina’s is different. There’re two other Mexican places down here that are getting the business we should be and it’s because of me.”
“Pffft,” Marisol snorted. She grabbed Elena’s arm and tugged her back to the kitchen. “Why don’t you chill out here and help Ricky when he gets back from the bank? If they don’t see you, maybe the dumbasses out front will get tired and leave.”
“What if they don’t? Maybe I should just go,” Elena offered sadly. It was probably for the best anyways. The taco shop used to be one of her favorite places until the fools outside decided to target it. Now, she dreaded walking through the doors and that was breaking her heart.
“Don’t let them chase you away,” her best friend argued with a fierce frown on her face. “Your last name may not be Medina but you’re one of us. You belong here. Fuck those guys. They don’t matter.”
“What do I do then? Because the way I see it, I can either leave and let Medina’s get back to normal or I stay and end things with the guys.” Her mouth soured at the idea, turning her stomach.
“You don’t have to choose!” Marisol tossed her hands in the air. “Have you even talked to the guys about what’s going on? They’ve dealt with these assholes before, right? There has to be some way to deal with them other than breaking up with your bikers.”
“Say that again.”
The women startled, both jumping at the sound of Pax’s deep rumble.
“Sorry,” Marisol whispered, giving her hand a squeeze. “I didn’t mean for…you know.”
“I know.”
Elena swallowed hard. His expression was thunderous, letting her know he’d overheard them.
“I’ll be up front if you need me,” Marisol promised her before giving Pax a threatening smile. “Be nice or I’ll kill ya, okay?”
The amused grin he gave her friend as she left had Elena relaxing somewhat.
“So…” she stalled, unable to figure out where exactly to start.
“What the fuck is going on, ‘Lena?”
“Well—”
“Wait,” he interrupted with a shake of his head. Without another word he walked up to her, bent, and folded her right over his shoulder.
“Pax!” she gasped as the air left her lungs. She didn’t know how this always looked sexy in the movies because it certainly didn’t feel that way. All the blood was rushing to her head, and she could barely breathe in this position.
“Not another word.” The order was punctuated with a smack to her ass.
She gasped as he carried her into the front of Medina’s, ass first. “Pax!”
“I thought for sure you’d slip out the back,” Marisol commented from behind the counter. “Need help with the door?”
“Yes please.” Pax paused to let the other woman pass.
“I can walk, you know,” Elena huffed, pushing herself up against his back.
He ignored her, striding through the door with her tossed over his shoulder like a bag of loot.
“Text me!” Marisol shouted with a wave, elbowing a protester out of the way when they tried to crowd her. “Watch it, asshole!”
“Should we go back and help her?” Elena strained to see her friend in the middle of the crowd.
“My guys are coming.”
As if on cue, the sound of motorcycles filled the air.
“They’ll handle things for her,” he promised, unlocking his truck with a beep as they approached. He pulled open the door and gently shifted her off his shoulder and onto the seat. “Stay.”
“I’m not a dog,” she snapped even though she had no intention of moving. She scowled at him through the window as he walked around the truck to the driver’s seat.
“I’m sorry, babydoll.” Pax let out a deep breath. He reached over the divide and gave her thigh a quick squeeze. “It’s just…hearing that…”
“I’m sorry too,” she interrupted before he could finish. Tears threatened at seeing him this upset from her stupid words. The last thing she’d wanted to do was hurt him or the others. “Where’re we going?”
“The guys are going to meet us at home.”
“Good.” Elena nodded, already dreading the confrontation. “We need to talk.”