Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
DIESEL
“Skeet couldn’t come himself?” Hunter asked dryly when we arrived, my eyes flicking over to Rory and Marco in the cage before returning to Hunter.
“Look, it’s better this way. Besides, he wanted to handle today’s drug deal, and I’d rather not be around the drugs or him when I can help it,” I answered, letting out a sigh.
“Would you have preferred Skeet showed up to see Rory in the cage with one of your jackets on? C’mon, man. You know that’s asking for trouble.”
“She was torturing people earlier and probably got blood on her riding jacket. Marco wouldn’t have switched them over without a reason.”
“I know that, but Skeet’s not really a logical thinker when he’s pissed. Wait, Rory was doing what?” I asked as I looked over at her again, watching her take Marco down to the ground. At least he was teaching her something important.
“Go ask them about their day. Marco had a job and let Rory tag along. Bobby dealt with the cleanup and was pretty impressed with the scene. Apparently, Marco told him Rory had done most of it,” Hunter replied, making Brick wince.
“Isn’t that a bad idea getting her involved in stuff like that?”
“She can do what she wants and we’ll protect her. Everyone says she doesn’t belong in our world, but she does. I don’t love it, but Marco insists she needs to let a little of that darker side out, so he’s happy for her to tag along with him.”
“You’re going to get her killed,” Brick grunted, eyeing them too. “This just looks like Skeet was right all along.”
“I haven’t touched her,” Hunter said sharply, making me grimace.
“Not from a lack of trying though.”
“You can’t even blame me. You of all people know how tempting she is,” he grumbled, flicking a hand at us. “Go see her. Her throat’s pretty bad to look at but she seems alright. She’s been texting Josie so she knows she’s okay.”
“You slept on the couch, right?”
“Unfortunately,” he huffed. Brick snorted, but I was over the conversation, leaving him to talk to Hunter while I headed over to my girl. She took down Marco again before looking up and seeing me, her face lighting up.
“Hey. What are you guys doing here?” she asked as he got to his feet to stand beside her. Her voice was still scratchy and occasionally cut out, the purple bruise around her throat looking painful, but she seemed pretty happy.
I climbed into the cage and she immediately hugged me, tilting her face up for a kiss.
“You really need to take that jacket off,” I murmured, and Marco sighed.
“Why? I think she looks good in it.”
Rory shot him a dirty look before turning her attention back to me with a look of apology.
“Sorry. It was better than no jacket to ride in. The other one got dirty,” she explained.
“Hunter was telling me. You should be resting,” I reminded her, and Marco scoffed.
“I assume you’re here on business since you have Brick with you. Have you even acknowledged the fact that your boss tried choking your girlfriend to death?”
“He knows I’m pissed and have been avoiding him. If I flip out—”
“Flip out? You should shoot him, asshole. Look at her,” Marco snapped, jerking Rory back towards himself and pushing the collar of his jacket away from her throat.
“Look! She’s black and blue. He tried to kill her.
The Psychos supposedly changed their ways once Savage died, but from where I’m standing, nothing’s changed. ”
“Hey, time-out,” Hunter called as Marco took a step towards me, jogging over to be the peacemaker. “No fighting. Mark, I need you to head out with Preston and Dom. You have that party, so handle it.”
Marco muttered under his breath but nodded, and Rory moved close to me again with a pleading look. “Can you stay a while?”
“I’ve got about one hour before Skeet comes looking,” I confirmed, and Brick gave me a nod.
“He’ll be busy for a bit. Hey, Donovan,” he greeted, surprising her a little.
“Hey. Are you allowed to talk to me?” she joked, making him roll his eyes.
“I personally don’t have a problem with you. Anyone with eyes could see you weren’t playing anyone. That jacket’s a bit of an insult to your boyfriend though, don’t you think?”
She hesitated before unzipping it and pushing it towards Marco, who didn’t seem happy about her taking it off, but he was leaving and needed it anyway.
Brick gave me a flat look like I’d zoned out, and it took me a second to realize he wanted me to give her my jacket. She was probably cold now, and it would look better around the Devils if I reclaimed her with mine.
I slid it off and helped her into it, loving how she wrapped her arms around herself a little as if to hug it as she gave me a small smile. “Thanks.”
“It’s purely alpha bullshit. I have to remind people you’re mine,” I grinned, draping an arm around her shoulders. “Come sit. I want to hear all about your morning.”
Brick headed upstairs with Hunter to talk business, which was mostly a check-in to make sure there were no surprises coming our way from any of the crews, while I sat at the bar with Rory.
Marco was still grumbling when he left, but Bobby seemed content playing bartender and pouring us drinks. At least I got to see her a little, even if it wasn’t for long.
Tyler
“Dude, you’re going to get expelled,” Caden warned as I stumbled into class after lunch, grinning at him.
“You going to rat on me?”
“I won’t have to, you’re a mess,” he hissed, getting up to take my arm before I could sit at my desk. “C’mon, you need to go home. Are you drunk?”
“Just a tiny little bit,” I replied, holding my thumb and finger apart to show him. “A minuscule drop.”
“You need to focus more in Math if you think that measurement is correct,” he deadpanned, steering me from the room. Jensen and Lukas were in the hallway and eyed me knowingly, Jensen sighing.
“You taking him home?”
“Yep.”
“He’s taking me to my man. Marky Poo will look after me,” I announced, earning a dirty look from Caden.
“No, I’m not.”
“Are too! I practically live with him now anyway, we’re bros,” I replied, pulling my phone out and finding Marco’s contact to call him. It rang three times before he answered, his voice flat.
“What? I’m working.”
“Marky Poo, don’t be like that. Are you at the warehouse? Caden’s bringing me to you,” I said brightly, and he paused for a moment before answering.
“Are you drunk? Aren’t you at school?”
“Yes, and yes.”
“Your rich ass can afford rehab, you know?” he said dryly before continuing. “I’m not at the warehouse, but Rory is. Go hang out with her.”
“Is Hunt there?”
“Yeah. I’ll be home super late tonight so you might want to crash with one of your boys.” He hung up as a way to end the conversation, and I huffed.
“Rude.”
“Where am I taking you?” Caden sighed, and I looked at him like he was stupid.
“The warehouse.”
Annoyance filled his face but he started pulling me through the school towards the parking lot, not saying anything until we were in the Challenger on the way to Mount Mercer.
“I don’t like you getting close with these guys. You can’t trust them, dude.”
I turned in my seat to face him, wishing he’d just get along with them. They’d be good friends if they tried.
“Marco’s been the best these past few months. You don’t see it, but he’s had my back and he’s had Rory’s. I know you’re dealing with your own shit, but when I needed you, you left. Mark didn’t. He’s not the bad guy Skeet makes him out to be. It’s just personal between them.”
“I suppose you’re fine with him and Hunter fucking Rory?” he snorted, not looking at me.
“You’re like a broken record. I told you they’re not hooking up, but I wouldn’t care if they did though. I don’t want to talk about it because it will only turn into an argument,” I answered, turning away to look out the window.
“I don’t want to fight with you either. I miss you,” he sighed, and I forced myself not to look back at him, knowing he had more to say. “I’m sorry I’m not around, but seeing her hurts.”
“She didn’t do anything. I know it looked bad, but she honestly just had no choice but to call them for help when Skeet didn’t pick up the phone.
You need to sit down and talk to her to figure it all out without Skeet in your ear making you hate her,” I answered honestly, glancing over to see the defeated look on his face.
He was quiet for the rest of the drive, and I managed to convince him to come inside with me for five minutes. It was obvious he hadn’t expected Rory to be here from the way he tensed beside me, but then genuine concern filled his expression when he got a good look at her.
“What the hell happened to her?”
“Skeet didn’t fill you in?” I asked, not at all surprised he’d kept something like that from him.
He studied her as we walked closer, and I had to admit, the bruising was looking pretty bad today.
“He didn’t say anything. Did the Soldiers attack her?”
“No. Skeet tried to kill her yesterday. Strangled her and shot at her,” I explained, his head turning so fast to look at me that I was surprised it didn’t break.
“Skeet did that?”
“Yeah. You really think the Devils are the bad guys here? They’re the ones looking after her to keep her away from your mom. We can’t have cops brought into this right now.”
Rory was standing next to the bar talking to Diesel and Faris while Bobby stocked the fridge, her small frame covered with Diesel’s jacket. It was unzipped, showing off the purple bruising around her throat.
Hunter and Brick were coming out of the office, and Hunter lifted his hand in greeting, which I returned. I liked being here, the vibes were different from the Shed. Probably helped that no one here had made it obvious they wanted to kill Rory.
Rory’s eyes swung to me and she smiled, her voice worse today. “Hey. Shouldn’t you be at school?”
“Holloway made me leave,” I answered, and Caden scoffed.
“He’s drunk.” He stepped closer to Rory, who eyed him suspiciously. “Skeet did that to you?”
“You mean he didn’t brag about it?” she said, coughing between some of the words.
“I didn’t know,” he mumbled, his eyes not leaving her throat.