Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
HUNTER
We’d barely slept, keeping an eye open in case Skeeter realized his girl was sleeping in my bed, but he never showed. It only added fuel to my anger that he didn’t give a shit about her enough to track her down.
She was obviously distressed last night and had been covered in Slash’s blood all damn day, so how had no one checked on her?
Marco made coffee while I showered, then we switched so we were both ready for the day.
Rory emerged just after eight in a pair of my sweats and still wearing my shirt, looking just as exhausted as she had been when she’d gone to bed. Her eyes were more alert though, telling me she’d gotten some sleep and the shock had worn off.
I wanted to tear the Psychos jacket off her and burn it though.
“Morning,” I said as I placed a coffee on the kitchen table for her, her guard back up.
“I don’t have time for coffee, I’m—”
“You’re going to drink that and then I’ll take you home,” I said as I cut off her argument.
“You can’t show up at my house,” she stated, but she took the coffee and sipped it.
Marco eyed her from his seat, cleaning his gun.
“Why not? Your blue blood boyfriends going to fight us?”
A huff of annoyance left her as she glared at him, lowering herself into a chair.
“No, but they’ll tell Skeet.”
“Aw, you think I’m scared of your man, Princess?” he grinned, leaning forward and taking her coffee, downing a mouthful before passing it back.
She scowled and pushed it back towards him, so I sighed and made her another cup.
“You two really need to ignore each other. I’m not trying to piss off Skeet, babe. I just want to make sure you get home in one piece. Crew wars put everyone on edge, and it’s dangerous out there right now,” I explained, her eyes rolling in response.
“You’re worried about crew wars but will happily put me on the back of your bike and take me home? If the Psychos see it, we’re all fucking dead, idiot.”
“She’s got a point. I say let her fend for herself. Surely if anyone kidnaps her, they’ll return her pretty quick. She’s fucking annoying,” Marco deadpanned, and I shot him a look that said to shut up, that he pretended not to see.
He didn’t find her annoying, he had a major boner for her and she wasn’t giving him the time of day, which was what bothered him.
“Do you think you’re funny?” she cooed, flipping him off.
“Wasn’t trying to be.”
She went completely stiff and almost dropped her coffee, so I knew he must have touched her under the table with his foot or something.
I grabbed the back of his chair and pulled him back a fraction, scowling at him. “Don’t touch her.”
“You’re no fun. I bet if you sat and asked her to crawl to you, she’d be a good girl and do it.
Maybe even choke on your—” He shut up when I grabbed the back of his neck firmly like he was a cat, amusement flickering across his face.
“Easy there, Hunt. It’s not my fault she won’t fuck you.
If you’re that desperate, I’ll bend you over. What are best friends for?”
“You’re not my type, asshole. You stay here,” I bit out, his smile faltering.
“What? You can’t go alone.”
“Sure I can. You’re just going to get us killed,” I said dryly, noticing Rory relax again at knowing I wouldn't let anyone touch her.
That made me feel like shit. I’d never let anyone touch a woman that didn’t want it, and I really wished she trusted me enough to know she would never be in danger around my guys when I was there.
I also understood why she didn’t trust me, which was smart.
“Only if Skeet shows up. You know I can’t help myself,” Marco smirked, tilting his head to the side to watch Rory as she stood from her chair. “Maybe take the jacket off. You’re ruining my fantasy.”
“Unless the fantasy is where I slit your throat and make you bleed to death, it won’t be happening,” she smiled sweetly, my cock jerking to life like it always did when she sassed one of us.
Marco’s smirk turned almost manic as he stood, dodging me as I went to stop him from moving towards her.
“Mark,” I bit out, but he advanced on her and grabbed a fistful of her hair, tugging it back to force her to look up at him. Her hands reached out to his chest to keep some distance between them, her eyes narrowed.
“That wicked little tongue of yours is going to get you in trouble one day,” he murmured, his free hand sliding around her waist to tug her closer.
“I’ll cut your balls off,” she warned, a chuckle leaving him.
“Promise? Feel free to use your teeth.”
“Leave her alone. Last warning,” I snapped, the hand on her waist lifting to her face to brush some loose hair from it.
“One day, he won’t be there to keep me in line. We’ll have our fun later.” He let her go but she didn’t move back, her eyes on his.
“You won’t touch me. You said so yourself.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be begging me for it when I do,” he answered, fishing his keys from his pocket. “Let’s go piss off some rich boys.”
“We’re not going there to do that,” I reminded him before Rory could argue, pulling my phone out to text some of my guys to tell them to meet us at our warehouse in two hours. I’d get Rory home safely, then get back to business.
I couldn’t lie, I was nervous about her being on the back of my bike in broad daylight. It could bring trouble, but it could also put a target on her head by my enemies or the Psychos.
I’d love to get her away from Skeeter, but this wasn’t the way to go about it.
She scowled once in the garage when I tried to help her put the helmet on, and I stepped back to let her do it on her own. The fight was back in her, which was good.
“You don’t really have a way of carrying these, so I’ll give them to you at your place,” I murmured, motioning to her gun and knife as I pocketed her knife and tucked the gun into my pants.
She seemed annoyed to not have them back, but I wasn’t wrong.
There was nowhere for her to put them while on the bike.
I pushed my bike outside into the crisp morning air, waiting for Marco to do the same so we could lock the garage and get on the bikes, and I wasn’t surprised when Rory ignored my hand to help her climb on.
Her hands grabbed my shoulders as she hauled herself on behind me, and I could tell from the way she held on that she really didn’t want to touch me.
The ride relaxed her a little like it always did for me, and Marco rode alongside us as he kept an eye out.
I wished we could slow down more so I got to have her on my bike a little longer, but the Holloway mansion appeared way too soon as we reached Ashburn Valley, my time with her almost over.
We parked the bikes in the massive driveway, facing the road for a fast escape if needed. Rory swung off and stood beside me as she removed the helmet, handing it over with a sigh.
“Thanks.”
My gaze flicked to the door as it opened and her guys walked out with pissed off looks on their faces, and I turned my attention back to her as I handed over her knife and gun.
“Anytime. Be careful. This shit isn’t going to get better any time soon. If you find yourself in trouble on the road, you can always come to me. I don’t care who’s tailing you.”
Marco scoffed and muttered under his breath, and Rory was suddenly tugged back from me as Caden got between us to protect her.
It was admirable, but he had zero chance against me if I wanted to start a problem.
“What the fuck are you doing with her?” he bit out as I put the kickstand down and climbed off.
“Bringing your girl home. She’s safe, by the way.”
“She was safe at her friends’!”
I looked at Rory and noticed her wince, making me realize she’d lied to them. I could either keep her secret, or rat her out.
If I kept her secret, she’d trust me more. If I ratted, they might keep a better eye on her, but she’d hate me for it.
“I don’t know what to tell you, man. I found her, so I brought her home,” I said vaguely, relief taking over her face at me leaving out the part that she’d been with me all night.
“I know everyone’s grieving, so I’m not here to make trouble.
She was on foot, which isn’t safe right now, so I brought her back. ”
He frowned at me, not seeming to understand why I gave a shit if she was safe or not, but Jensen stepped forward and tried to diffuse Caden’s temper.
“She’s home, that’s all that matters. Thanks.”
“I don’t know what Skeet’s told you, but a lot of shit is about to go down.
Crew wars usually fizzle out fast, but when a leader gets taken out, it causes long-term beef.
Just because it’s quiet, doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Rory’s tied to Skeet, and you guys are tied to Rory.
You’re all targets, and you need to assume the Soldiers and Kings know about you,” I warned, swinging my attention back to Rory.
“This is unfortunately what it’s like to be part of this life.
It’s always war and death, nothing changes.
I hate to scare you, but you guys are likely to be the first target when the Soldiers make a move again.
They see you as the easy option. I mean it, Hot Shot.
If Skeet doesn’t answer when you call, call me. ”
“She has us,” Caden snapped, and I put my helmet on, flipping up the visor.
“The Soldiers aren’t like us. They won’t fire some shots at you to scare you.
If Rage tells them to tear your limbs from your body with a butter knife, they will.
They could shove you all in cages or strap you down and make you watch while they gang rape and beat Rory.
They’re not men, they’re monsters. Your money and social status won’t keep you safe. I have guns and manpower.”
“Skeet has our backs,” Lukas said firmly, and I could tell he really believed it.
“I really hope you’re right,” I replied before getting back on my bike and starting it, Rory’s eyes on us as we rode back towards Mount Mercer.
Caden