He pulled the bag away and I saw how large the purple bruise was near his eye. My eyes widened which made him smile outright.
“Yeah. Could get used to you lookin’ at me like that.”
I rolled my eyes. “Quit stalling.”
“Went home. Walked two steps into the house when an asshole clocked me in the head.”
My lips parted, but I forced myself to keep silent.
“I ducked the next shots coming at me, and when I turned on the light, I saw it was Diana attacking me.”
My eyebrows drew together. “Diana?”
His lips twisted for a moment before he winced. “You heard Layla talk about the blonde throwing the brick?”
I nodded.
“That’s Diana. She swung a lamp at my head—”
“A lamp,” I shouted.
He winced, and I patted his arm. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“It’s all right, babe. But, she only grazed me, which led to the scratches.”
“Okay, so... what’s with the humongous shiner?”
He sighed. “Well, that’s the thing.”
My face went slack. “‘The thing?’”
“Her brother showed up.”
“A real brother? Like biological?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, babe. She’s not part of our world.”
My heart warmed at him calling it ‘our’ world, but he might not have meant me to be included in that so much as referring to him and his other brothers.
“But, why?”
He arched a brow and winced at that, too. “She needed his help with the bullshit she was doing to my home. She’s accusing me of knocking her up. Won’t take a pregnancy test now. But she told him I had knocked her up.” He cupped my cheek when my eyes bulged. “I didn’t, baby. Used protection, and knowing shit now, I’d have double wrapped if I could’ve.”
I burst with laughter and he grinned.
I shook my head. “So where the hell is she? In jail?”
He leveled a look at me.
Oh, right. They didn’t do things like that.
“You’re kidding? Legitimately, Michael, she should be in jail for breaking and entering, assault, the whole shebang. You were within your rights to defend yourself in your own home.”
He shook his head once. “Not how I roll, baby. We went over this the night she threw that brick. Besides, she vandalized both our rooms.”
Confusion washed over me. “Really? Surely we could’ve slept—”
His finger came to my lips. “She slashed your futon, destroyed your pillows. Destroyed our bed and dumped manure in the bedroom.”
“You’re shitting me?” I hung my head at my words. “Sorry, that was a lousy way to put it, but you can’t be serious?”
His eyes gentled with remorse. “Sorry to tell you, but I’m dead serious.”
“Prez, you comin’ with us?” Brute asked as he and Roman sauntered toward the back door.
He lifted his chin at them. Then he pecked my lips. “I’ll tell you the rest when I come back.”
Har
Har couldn’t believe he had been in the shed twice in two days. Diana glared at him from the chair she was tied to and muffled sounds came from behind her gag. Her brother, Dixon, if his ID was to be believed, sat slumped with his head hanging low. The Riot MC brothers had shown no mercy when they arrived at his house, but Har didn’t believe this man was still unconscious.
He gave a short whistle through his teeth before Brute got too close to the man.
Brute raised an eyebrow in response.
Har pulled his switchblade from his pocket.
“I’m thinking, my blade hasn’t seen enough action today, Brute. I’m gonna stand here behind Diana with this blade at her throat so if Dixon tries any funny business, his sister buys it.”
Diana screamed with all her might and thrashed before he could get his hands on her.
Dixon’s head jerked up and Har grinned.
“Yeah. Didn’t think you were out, motherfucker.”
Brute gave a disgusted snort. “This dumb fuck thought he’d get the jump on me?” His body whirled and his boot connected with Dixon’s jaw, blood spewing in the air.
Roman sighed, shaking his head. “Man. You keep this shit up, we’re gonna have to find a fuckin’ boat headed out of the Mississippi River to get rid of them.”
It took a moment for those words to register, but when they did Diana whimpered and tears rolled down her face.
Har moved and crouched in front of her. “Is the seriousness of the situation sinking in? The brick was one damn thing, and I might have gone easy on that shit. But this,” he tapped his face where she’d swiped at him. “This shit doesn’t stand. Woman or not, you don’t get to assault me, in my home. World doesn’t need more psycho bitches in it.”
He stood and her muffled words came at a rapid fire behind the gag.
Brute gave him a curious look. “They always want to atone when it’s too damn late. Why is that?”
“This is no time for philosophical questions, Brute. How are we getting rid of them?” Roman asked.
Har looked past the two prisoners and debated how they should do this. He looked to Brute. “Block or Cynic find Carter yet?”
He shook his head. “No, and Block’s stickin’ close to Tiny. He sponsored Carter, which brings Tiny’s loyalty into question, right or wrong.”
They had to deal with Carter because otherwise he was a loose end who could point authorities at Har when someone reported Dixon or Diana missing. He grabbed two five-gallon buckets, and placed one under each chair.
From behind Dixon and Diana, he said to Brute and Roman, “When Carter’s found, we take care of business. In the meantime, got the buckets under ’em, they can piss and not cause a big mess.”
Roman closed his eyes and shook his head.
Brute shrugged. “Whatever you say, man.”
As they approached the clubhouse, Roman asked, “Shoot a game of pool? Take your mind off shit, Har? Or you gonna—”
He shook his head. “Pool sounds good. Best of three.”
As they moved through the common room, Stephanie still sat curled up with the blanket and her sketch book. He’d been curious earlier, but didn’t get the chance to spy her work. As he
