Chapter 10 #2
“Put these on,” Fury told her, handing her a pair of gloves. “They’ll be too big, but better floppy than getting your hands blistered.”
When he walked away, Rosa got busy. The gloves were a complete bother. She couldn’t grip the pipe or hold the cutter correctly with the flapping fabric interfering. Afraid she’d make a mistake, Rosa stripped the protection off almost immediately.
A few hours later, Fury announced, “Lunchtime, Rosa. You need to take a break.”
Rosa set down the cutter and winced. She saw the redness coloring the web of her hand between her thumb and index finger and shifted her arm behind her back to conceal her injury.
She’d noticed her hand hurt, but they’d made significant progress so far.
Fury had finished with the piping for the bathrooms.
“Why are these gloves over here?” Fury asked, picking up the discarded fabric.
“I couldn’t grip the plastic well with those on. I’m okay.” She rushed to reassure him.
“Let me see your hands,” Fury demanded.
“No, really, I’m fine.”
“Hands,” he repeated, staring her down.
Rosa glared at him. She’d learned years ago not to allow people to intimidate her. If she didn’t stand up for herself, others would walk all over her. Or worse, take her stuff or refuse to pay her wages.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll go home and grab some food. If I return in twenty minutes, will that be okay?”
“You’re done unless you show me your injuries.”
“I’m not hurt.”
Fury held her gaze. “Now, Rosa.”
“Fine.” Rosa held out her left hand. “See, I didn’t cut myself.”
“Now the other.”
Exhaling in a huff, Rosa showed him the top of her right hand with her thumb tucked next to her palm. “This is a lot of fuss about nothing,” she said to distract him.
Fury caught her wrist and turned over her hand. He winced at the sight of the blisters and red skin. “Didn’t this hurt?”
She shrugged. She was used to working no matter if she had a headache, fever, or some other ailment. Rosa didn’t call in sick or stop early. She took extra shifts immediately when offered and covered for others. Every penny counted.
“Come on. We’ll go to the warehouse and let Razor clean and bandage this.”
“No, thank you. I’ll go grab something for lunch and I’ll be back. I’ll put on the gloves after lunch.” She might even wear them now that she’d seen the consequences.
Fury pulled out his phone and made a call. “Street? Your girl didn’t wear the gloves I gave her, and she’s blistered her hand. I want to take her to Razor, but she’s refusing. Want to meet us there?”
He held the phone away from his ear, and Rosa could hear the yelling. Fury held the device out to her.
Used to having horrible bosses curse and even throw things at her when they thought she’d done something wrong, Rosa didn’t get scared but sighed with resignation. She took the cell phone awkwardly with her left hand as she prepared herself for Street’s wrath. “Hi.”
“Go with Fury. I’ll meet you at the health center. No arguments,” Street declared.
To her surprise, his voice wasn’t angry but sounded worried. “I’m….”
“Now, Little girl, unless you want me to spank you in the exam room.”
She gasped and knew he wasn’t kidding. Why did sexual heat flare inside her tummy at the thought of being punished even as negative memories of being hit popped into her mind? Could she tell him she needed to avoid that consequence?
Instantly, she chose the easiest path. He wouldn’t change his mind about her going to see Razor. “Fine. I’ll see you there.”
“Ask Fury to walk you over so you’ll know the route.” With that, Street disconnected the call.
“Are we going in my truck or on foot?” Fury asked.
“Can you show me the way? You can eat lunch first,” she assured him. “Or you could just point me in the right direction.”
“Not happening. Come on, Rosa. Let’s go.” Fury grabbed his toolbox and waved her toward the doorway.
“Fine.”
In a short time, Fury boosted Rosa into the tall truck and had attached her seatbelt for her. She had to admit that her hand throbbed. She should have put those gloves on when she’d noticed her skin was pink. Stupid rookie mistake.
“You know, my hands were bleeding after my first day cutting pipe,” Fury confessed as they exited the compound.
“You’re making that up so I don’t feel like an idiot,” Rosa said.
“Devil Daddies don’t lie to each other.”
“I’m not a Devil Daddy,” Rosa pointed out.
“One has claimed you. That makes you part of the MC. The same rules apply.”
“Really?” she squeaked in surprise. Had Street told everyone she was his? She loved that she wasn’t a secret, but he had declared her to be special to him.
“Yes. We don’t bring a casual acquaintance to the compound. Ever. Street may be new, but he understands that. He’s just luckier than some of us who haven’t run into their someone special.”
Rosa guessed he was avoiding using the term Little girl. “You’re a Daddy?”
“That’s private information, Rosa. But since we’ve known each other a total of three hours and you worked your hands bloody, I guess I won’t stand on a long timeline. Yes.”
“You haven’t found your Little girl?”
“My Little hasn’t appeared yet.” The corner of his mouth drooped as if in sadness or regret.
Rosa picked up that he’d skipped over the word girl. Maybe he was searching for a male companion? The sex of the person he was attracted to didn’t matter to Rosa in the least. Paying attention to details had just helped her out in the past.
“He’s going to be mad,” Rosa whispered.
“Street?”
“Yes, and probably Razor. I’ve already met him when the MC came for Street at the farm.”
“You were brave helping Street. You could have not risked yourself by interfering. According to Razor, that drug would have fucked him up so badly that he would have had no chance of escaping before the Ravagers captured and tortured him,” Fury said, focusing on the road. She could hear the anger in his voice.
Rosa couldn’t protest Razor’s assessment. The Ravagers could have even killed him without an ounce of regret. “That’s one of my biggest flaws. I don’t like bullies,” Rosa confessed with a sigh. “Standing up for someone always gets me fired.”
She leaned forward as Fury steered his truck into the parking lot of Inferno.
She studied the large building, impressed by the size and appeal of the roadhouse.
He drove past the line of motorcycles on the side of the building and around the back.
A guard opened the gate in the fence upon recognizing Fury.
“We’re going to Razor’s,” Fury informed him.
“They’re waiting for you,” the guard shared and winked at Rosa. “Good luck.”