Chapter 55
Cody and I got stretched out, rosined up our ropes since it had been a while for mine, and went over all of our gear. Twice, I reminded her to put her knife back into her boot, but when Donald Merrill walked through the warm-up area to look us over, that convinced her I wasn't full of shit.
She slipped the blade into her boot, made sure it was clipped on, then started fishing out her gear. That was exactly what I'd been waiting for. While she was distracted with her shit, I found my own, then began strapping it on.
Spurs came first. Those were looking tired enough I'd normally buy another pair, but not this time.
I pulled my vest on but didn't close it.
Then I lifted my chaps and flipped them out to flare out the leather.
The metallic red fringe down the side caught the overhead lights, sparkling just enough to be fancy.
The voodoo doll down by my calves? Yeah, it was as pink as Cody's.
"Oh you got - " She paused, slowly straightening to look at my new sponsor. "J.D., that's pink."
"Yep," I said. "Team Deviant, rookie. Made it clear I wanted to match."
Something about her changed. She didn't shrink into herself, but I swore she ducked her head a bit, and the cutest little smile took over those pretty lips of hers.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Mhm," I agreed. "Besides, a little pink goes with all my red."
So she furled out her own chaps, then buckled them around her waist. Without even bothering to secure the legs, she moved to stand beside me, hip to hip, and compared the matching logos we now wore.
The little dolls were almost the same distance off the ground. Mine were placed to fit around some other shit I got paid to wear, but it worked out. Max had told me to trust him, and I had. This was the result, and I was convinced I did not deserve that man.
"Now, you gotta get all pretty for this shit?" I asked her. "Mama's here with Isabella. So, you make sure you look the part, Cody."
"Hair's down," she said. "Mascara's on. I'm as good as I'm going to get."
After that, there was nothing but waiting.
Jake came and went from beside her. I had a feeling he was making sure all the other riders knew this was finally happening.
Me? I just planted my ass against the panel where our ropes hung and waited for the man with a headset to announce we were lining up.
It didn't take long. Cody and I headed that way together. Her hat was down on her head. Her gear was all buckled and zipped up. My vest was still open, but I'd get that when we started moving. Too hot otherwise. But when we reached the midpoint, she paused.
"No matter what, J.D., today is a good day. We got Tanner back."
"Yeah," I agreed, daring to catch her hand. "Today is a real big 'fuck you' day, and I like those."
"That's my partner," she praised, her voice shifting to something husky and alluring.
Oh, fuck me. Yep, that definitely worked for me. The way I wanted to step into her? But no. Not yet. I was saving this for when everyone was watching.
"Be good," I told her, then tapped the brim of her hat before heading all the way to the back.
And there, Renato was waiting in the number two place. When he saw me, he jerked his chin in greeting.
"You know I'm about to slip down a bit," he said.
"Yep," I agreed. "That bother you?"
"Nope," he said. "Hannah can't hold this kid in there much longer, and the moment she needs me, I'm out of here. Don't care if that's two seconds before I'm about to ride."
"Good," I said. "So which one of these fucks do you think is going to rank up enough to get into second?"
Renato chuckled. "Ty."
"Jake," I told him.
But he scoffed. "Nope. Ty made a bet with a bull rider. If he does better than her, he gets to buy her dinner." Then he turned, giving me his full attention. "And he has every intention of cashing in on that just so he can tell her he's sorry."
"He's done that a time or two," I pointed out.
"Yeah, but he wants to make it clear he means it," Renato assured me. "And he does, J.D. He's trying to grow up."
"Like you did?"
"Well, I had a woman's help," he reminded me. "Makes it a hell of a lot easier. Ty? He's doing this without the promise of a reward at the end, so if I'm not here, help him keep his head out of his ass?"
"Can do," I said just as the lights began to dim out here and the pyrotechnics started going out in the arena.
The announcer started the show off with a bang. Music was playing real loud. Then, finally, the line began to move forward slowly. I waited, listening, until they called Cody's name. When she went out, I heard a girl screaming enthusiastically, her voice carrying over the rest of the crowd.
"That's probably my sister," I said.
Renato chuckled. "Home show?"
"Yep, and I'm gonna win."
"Good."
Then we were close enough to start paying attention. The man with the headphones gestured when the next person should walk out. I could see the spotlight swirling around. Fifth place, fourth, third, second.
And then it was my turn.
"And finally, the top rider in the Pbr, J.D. Adkins!" The announcer blared.
As he rambled on about my impressive wins and numerous records, I lifted my hat and gestured around the arena. From the left, I heard that girl again, so turned that way.
"Hola, Mama!" I yelled. "Isabella!"
"J.D.!" people called back.
I couldn't be sure if Mama and Isabella were in that, but it didn't matter. Shoving my hat back on my head, I ran up the ramp to stand in the center of the bull pen as the lights took over, turning the arena into some kind of disco show.
"But what would the Pbr be without the men who keep our riders safe?
After a little delay, we're proud to present.
.." He dragged it out dramatically. "...
the Deviant Rescue Squad! These three men are the real heroes, and check out their new uniforms. Thanks to Deviant Games, now an official sponsor of the Pbr, we can be sure they will be right in the middle of the action tonight.
Watch as they protect our bullfighters, risking themselves against animals that weigh fifteen hundred pounds or more! "
Wait, what? I'd expected the script to be new, but this wasn't how I'd expected it to go.
But the announcer kept going. "Those bright uniforms make them easier to see in the chaos. So for those of you used to seeing their red, yellow, and purple colors, just know these are the same men, but with a whole new look we're thrilled to finally unveil tonight."
Finally? What the actual fuck? Naw, that had gone down on Monday! There was no finally to this. Shit, it had all been pushed through a hell of a lot faster than I'd expected.
"While this change was happening, our alternate bullfighters have done their best to keep the Pbr from noticing. But at long last, we are pleased to announce the Deviant Rescue Squad is back at work!"
But as the announcer kept going, I realized what they were trying to do. They wanted to make it sound like the main team had been sidelined for rebranding, not because Tanner had been suspended. Fuck! This was why they hadn't said shit.
They were covering their own asses and trying to make it all go away.
Yeah, well, fuck that. I may have stood up there, half listening as the announcer poured out information about the sport, the sponsors, and everything else, but my mind was spinning.
When the national anthem played, I pulled off my hat and held it over my heart, but my eyes were on Tanner over at the side.
Yeah, those rainbow uniforms looked damned good under the lights. The Deviant logo was reflective, making it stand out. The colors? They were blatant enough to make the guys easy to pick out in the middle of shit going down. They were also wearing their normal-colored shoes, so that'd help.
But when I saw Tanner's jaw clench, then Jorge's, I realized they weren't happy about this either. Still, this shit-show was dragging on. A pastor spoke next, offering a prayer, and while normally I'd be into getting some holy protection, today was not the day.
They were fucking with my man. They kept fucking with my woman. This shit was so much fucking bullshit, and I had no goddamned shit left to lose. So, the moment we were released, I realized it was time to burn it all to the fucking ground.
"Tanner!" I yelled the moment the other riders started heading back off the dirt.
"Yeah?" he called, turning to find me in that mess.
I wasn't real happy about this. Fuck, I was fuming as I stormed over to him, but instead of looking worried, a little smile was taking over Tanner's face. It was almost like he could read my mind.
"Show time," I said when I was close enough.
And I'd be damned if he didn't meet me halfway. I couldn't be sure if he knew what I wanted, or maybe he wanted it himself, but we were about to make one hell of a scene. Fuck the Pbr. Fuck their weak-ass attempt to cover up suspending my man. Fuck the way they kept screwing over my woman.
Naw, it was time to make a scene where there weren't no one who could say it didn't happen.
My hand caught the side of his neck. His pulled my hat off, and right there in front of God and everyone, we kissed. Our tongues met and swirled. Our chests pressed close enough for me to feel all the padding he was hiding with that rainbow shirt of his.
I was waiting for the lights to go out in some attempt to hide this shit, but it didn't happen. I was listening for something - anything - in the crowd. What I got wasn't exactly what I'd expected, though. Up there, lost behind too many dramatic lights, my sister called out.
"That's my brother!"
It was enough to make me smile, ruining the kiss. But just as I pulled away, a lean pair of feminine arms draped over me from the side. I looked to see Cody hanging half on me and half on Tanner.
"I am not getting left out of this," she told us.
So Tanner kissed her. Cody's hat bumped up, but I caught it. Then I snagged my own from Tanner's hand, cramming it down on my fucking hat-hair. And maybe their kiss wasn't all rage-filled like mine had been, and Cody didn't try to drag it out, but I had a feeling it got the point across.
"Now watch your backs," Tanner said as he pulled away. He turned to me, meeting my eyes to make it clear he didn't just mean her. "They want their problems to go away. Today, we've become a problem."
"Hence the knife," I told Cody before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Let's go start shit."
"Be safe!" Cody called to Tanner, but she did let me lead her away.
I dared to glance back. Tanner had already turned to meet up with his guys. In the stands, people were talking, but I couldn't be sure if that was a good or a bad thing. Shit. I should've thought this through better!
"That," Cody said as we headed off the dirt, "was a little dramatic. What happened to waiting until you win?"
"Fuck," I grumbled. "Cody, they were trying real hard to make their mess go away. I just put a big fuckin' spotlight on it."
"Yeah, you did," she agreed. "And on you."
"But they can't ignore how they tried to get rid of him because of me," I countered. "They also won't be able to do it as easily next time."
"Ok..." She gave me a confused look just as we turned into the warm-up area.
And something hit me hard from the side, shoving her off.
I staggered. Cody slipped on her spur, knocked sideways instead of back, and fell on her ass - but my rookie didn't stay down long.
Hell, I didn't either. I was moving to the threat even as my eyes tried to figure out what the fuck had just happened.
A nearly empty vest. Brown chaps. I didn't recognize any of the gear, but when I reached this idiot's face, the only thing I saw was red.
"Get your fool hands off me, Austin," I growled.
"Fucking faggot!" Austin shot back.
And Cody hit him from the side.