Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
RORY
Skeeter had been quiet most of the day, obviously still processing the information about mine and Slash’s relationship. We hung around the house, not really doing anything, but it was a comfortable kind of silence.
He’d almost finished cooking spaghetti bolognese when Diesel arrived, and I got up to let him in with a smile.
“Hey,” I greeted, receiving a warm smile in return.
“Hey. No trouble?”
“Only me,” I joked, closing the door behind him and making sure it was locked before sitting at the dining table.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you guys were eating. I can come back—”
“Plenty for you too,” Skeeter called over his shoulder, and Diesel winced.
“Oh, it’s fine.”
“Sit down, D,” Skeeter huffed, and he thankfully did as he was told and sat opposite me.
“We can talk after dinner. I’ll fill you in on the Reapers,” Diesel stated, and I went to stand.
“You guys talk. I’ll hang out in the bedroom until—”
“Aurora, stay,” Skeeter said firmly, glancing at Diesel. “You can tell me now. We can discuss it while we eat, if you want?”
I lowered myself back into my seat, giving Diesel a look of uncertainty. As much as I was glad Skeeter wasn’t shoving me into a corner, I wasn’t sure I was allowed to listen in on this.
Diesel shrugged, leaning back in his seat. “We were right. He wanted the gossip about the Soldiers. He’s asked for a favor too.”
“What kind of favor?” Skeeter grunted, not turning around.
“It’s about Lexi.”
Muttered curses left Skeeter as he turned the stovetop off and started dishing the spaghetti.
“What the fuck does he think we can do for her?”
“Just wanted our girls to keep an eye out for trouble and Lex will repay the favor,” he explained, flicking his attention to me for a second as he sighed. “I hate to ask this, but did Slash mention anything to you about the Kings?”
I frowned, sensing Skeeter’s gaze on us without even looking at him.
“Just that Rage was his brother who took out their family. Why?”
“Hendricks claims the Kings were coming to town with you as their target. When I demanded to know why he didn’t tell us, he said he told Slash a month and a half ago.”
“What the fuck do the Kings want from me? Max again?” I asked, and he blew out a breath.
“Honestly? No fucking idea. Possibly. Makes sense if Max fucked them over so Rage sent the Soldiers after you. Plan obviously backfired since they took out Slash accidentally.”
“Do you think it’s bought us some time?” I asked, turning to Skeeter to find him still eyeing us.
“Most likely. Rage hated Slash, but he’ll be pissed the Soldiers killed him.
He’ll deal with them before coming for you again.
No idea how long that will take though. I’ll have to try and reach out to him to find answers,” he explained, finishing serving three bowls before bringing two over and placing them in front of us, grabbing his own before taking a seat.
“You can do that? Just call and ask for an explanation?” I asked with surprise, a grim look on both their faces.
“We can. Doesn’t mean he’ll tell us. Rage isn’t exactly a team player,” Diesel said before shoveling food into his mouth, all of us going quiet as we started eating.
“Are you going to help Lexi?” I asked randomly, Skeeter’s eyes narrowing on me.
“What do you know about Lexi?”
“Just what you and Slash told me. I know you don’t like her, but aren’t alliances like that good?”
“Kind of hoping someone shivs her in her sleep,” he grunted, and Diesel rolled his eyes, telling me his hatred for the girl was most likely ridiculous.
“But it can’t hurt to agree to have our girls keep an eye out.
We’ve got two in there right now, so hopefully if the Soldiers or Kings try anything, our girls will be protected if people like Lexi are looking out for trouble. ”
“I’m surprised you’re agreeing,” Diesel said dryly, and Skeeter scowled.
“I don’t need Hendricks to throw a tantrum right now. It’s not like I have to do anything.”
“You want me to drive down to Fairview and see them?”
“No. It’s not safe right now. Just get a hold of them. It’s not like telling them to buddy up with Lex over the phone will be a problem if the warden finds out,” Skeeter shrugged, finishing his bowl.
“Isn’t that suspicious if you guys start being friendly with Reaper connections?” I asked with confusion, picking at my food.
“We haven’t really been at war with the Reapers. We don’t like each other, but we’ve kept the peace. They can’t prove anything just because we tell the girls to play nice,” Diesel explained, eyeing my half-eaten dinner with a frown.
“Aurora, eat your food before I force it down your throat,” Skeeter muttered, grabbing his phone out to text. “Anything else happen today, D?”
“I went over more of the footage from the Shed with Brick,” he answered, pulling his phone out and tapping the screen a few times before sliding the phone over to him. “You need to put your emotions aside with this.”
Curiosity burned inside me, but I kept my eyes on my food and kept eating, knowing I probably shouldn’t see whatever it was.
“What am I looking at?” Skeeter scowled, taking the phone.
“Matteo wasn’t running. He climbed out the window and was outside, trying a sneak attack on the Soldiers. You can’t crucify the guy for locking Rory out of the bathroom.”
“Want to fucking bet?”
“Yes, actually,” Diesel snapped, my eyes lifting to him in surprise.
He sounded mad as fuck. “If you lose your shit at him, the guys won’t trust you.
Matteo has it out for her, man. Is it frustrating?
Of course it is, but if you blow up that she couldn’t escape because of him, you’re putting her first. I get it, I want to put her first too in this scenario, but the facts are right in front of us.
He went through the bathroom to sneak around to the front door and defend the crew.
He was only doing what he was supposed to. ”
“Why does he hate me so much?” I asked quietly, and Skeeter gave me a dirty look that I was pretty sure wasn’t aimed at me.
“Don’t take it personally. He was a loyal member to Savage. He likes the old way we did things.”
I looked at Diesel, finding him already looking at me, waiting for me to connect the dots.
“He was part of it? With Sasha?” I asked, not wanting to spell it out.
“Yeah, and the bastard got off on it too,” Diesel replied tightly. “He’d do anything to punish you himself. It’s like a game to him.”
“Why can’t you just kick him out?”
“Doesn’t work that way. Unless he makes a move, we can’t prove shit. The guys will back him if Skeet doesn’t put the crew above you. If he hurt you for no reason, they’d side with Skeet,” he explained, pointing at my food. “Eat.”
We fell silent again as I went back to picking at my food, eyeing Skeeter as he went through footage.
I’d just finished when Skeeter looked up at Diesel, seeming tired.
“Have the guys said anything?”
“Brick crashed with them last night. Matteo’s waiting for one single reason to push you out and punish Rory.
Don’t give it to him. You’re the boss now, Skeet.
You need to push down those emotions. Definitely keep Rory away from them for a while though.
You need to prove to them you’re focused and have their backs. ”
“I do.”
“Not if you flip out about Rory,” he warned, taking his phone back. “Keep your cool, handle your shit, and you’ll have nothing to worry about. You know I’ve got her back, and Brick does too.”
Skeeter nodded, his shoulders relaxing a fraction. “I can have her here tonight, right?”
“Of course. Take tonight, discuss the crew shit with the guys tomorrow at the meeting, and remain focused on what’s in front of us.
We need revenge. Take your mood out on those who deserve it.
Matteo wasn’t the reason Slash got killed, the Soldiers were.
Hold onto that,” Diesel murmured, and I could sense that I was in the way a little.
Maybe they didn’t want to get too emotional in front of me?
I finished my food and started collecting bowls, rinsing them and stacking them on the counter to wash later.
“I’m going to go for a shower. I’ll be back soon,” I said brightly, leaning down to give Skeeter a quick kiss. His hand automatically slipped up the back of my shirt to brush my cut as he kissed me back, making me shiver.
“Take your gun. Never find yourself alone in a room without it, okay? The one time you get ambushed will be the one time you aren’t prepared.”
I nodded, giving his shoulder a squeeze before leaving the room.
I took my time a little, not wanting to rush back. If knowing about crew things could get Skeeter in trouble right now, I had to be careful.
I kept my gun within grabbing distance the whole time, making sure to clean the cut properly before applying some ointment to it, silently cursing him out for putting it in a spot I struggled to reach.
Once my hair was dried, I padded back out to the kitchen, a little surprised to find Lukas there. Panic filled me at the thought of him coming here alone, but he gave me a knowing look.
“The guys dropped me off.”
“What are you doing here? Miss me?” I teased, his hand reaching for me as he pulled me closer. Skeeter and Diesel were still sitting at the table, and Skeeter scowled.
“Whiney little bitch was freaking out. He’s apparently staying the night.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing he wouldn’t be here unless Skeeter had said he was welcome, and I gave Lukas a quick kiss.
“Come watch a movie with me. Skeet and D are doing manly gang stuff.”
Diesel gave me an amused grin, and Skeeter glared at me.
“No fucking on my couch.”
“Not without you, baby,” I cooed, laughing as he swatted my ass on our way into the living room.
I picked a random movie and got comfortable on the couch, curling into Lukas.
“You okay?” I asked him after five minutes of staring at the screen.
“I just needed to see you,” he mumbled, nuzzling into my neck and pulling me onto his lap.
“You and Jense okay?”