“Wow.” He grins. “The infamous Galen Lennox is asking the nerd for advice with the ladies. I need to note this moment for posterity.”
I flip him the bird. “It’s in all our interests for me to fix it. Can you help or not?” I’m pissy ’cause I’m in pain and I haven’t been able to locate Mom in days, which can only mean one thing—she’s high or passed out someplace. I knew this latest round of sobriety wouldn’t last, but it’s still a punch to the gut every time she falls off the wagon.
“Lo isn’t like other girls, so buying her jewelry or flowers won’t work,” he says, tapping his fingers off his chin, “especially when the sin is so heinous.”
“Thanks for the reminder,” I growl. “It’s not like I’m thinking about it every second of every day.”
“Lo enjoys shooting and training, so maybe, buy her a gun. A collector’s item, perhaps.”
I stare at him. “Great idea. I’ll buy her a gun so she has something to use on me when she remembers my betrayal.”
“Or you could take her to the shooting range or one of those hunting weekend things. I bet she’ll love that,” he says, pretending he didn’t hear my sarcasm.
“And how do you expect me to get her to agree to come anywhere with me?”
“You need to earn her trust.” He tucks his long blond hair behind his ears, looking contemplative. He pins earnest eyes on me. “You need to open up to her. Nothing is more appealing to Lo than honesty and vulnerability.” He wets his lips, looking down at his lap. “Whatever it is you haven’t told her, about the past, tell her now. Tell her everything.”
“Like you have?”
His jaw tenses. “I have tried to tell her, which is more than you’ve done.”
I raise a palm in surrender. “You’re right, but I’m not sure it won’t make things worse.”
“I guess that’s a risk you must take.”
“I guess so,” I say, swinging my legs around and leaving his room.
_______________
“You’re an hour late,” I hiss at Darrow Knight, scowling over the rim of my warm beer.
“Chill the fuck out. You’ve got beer and easy women.” His eyes dart around the dimly lit, grungy biker’s bar. “It’s not much of a hardship.”
“I’m trying to stay under the radar,” I snap. “You’ve landed me in the shit. We had a fucking deal, asshole.” I glare at him, really playing it up, because Lo will string me up by the balls if I mess this up. “And she’s not dead.” I slam my beer down for added effect.
“She’s a fucking liability,” Darrow says. “And now, she’ll come after me.”
“She won’t. She’s out of town for a while, and then, she’ll be busy with her mom’s wedding. I can keep her under control.”
“How? Doesn’t she want you dead too? And how are you still alive? I thought Saint was fucking her.”
“He is,” I sneer. “I didn’t get these injuries walking into a door, but I’ve bought us some time.”
A bottle blonde with big tits slides two fresh beers on the table. “Can I get you anything else, sweetheart?” She eye fucks Dar with zero shame.
“Keep your tight ass on ice, babe,” he says, sliding his hand up her fleshy thigh. “I’ll fuck you nice and hard before I leave.” He swats her ass as she walks away, sashaying her hips. “We can tag team,” he offers.
“Pass. Despite what’s said about me, I’m fussy about who I stick my dick in.” Contrary to popular belief, we all are, and tales of our conquests are much exaggerated. Within our crew, Saint and Caz are the ones who partake the most. I’ve been known to sit out, and Theo rarely pounds pussy, preferring blowies and the occasional anal fuck.
“You hitting Lo, too?” he inquires, sipping his beer.
“I hate that bitch, and I regret fucking her stupid cunt,” I lie. “She still needs to be taken out,” I add, eyeing his reaction.
He doesn’t blink or show any emotion. “I agree. If she opens her pretty mouth to Sinner and more shit rains down on The Arrows, I’m a dead man.”
You’re a dead man, anyway.
“I have a new plan. A new deal. One which will give us both what we want.”
He leans forward, grinning. “I’m all ears.”
CHAPTER 13
Harlow
A RAP ON my door signals Bry’s arrival. “You ready?”
I swing the door open, stepping back, briefly looking up from my cell. “Almost. Just give me a few.”
I tap out a short thank-you message to Galen, my chest heavy as I stare at today’s pic from the hospital. Galen has been checking in daily with Sean, sending me updates on Sariah.
Unfortunately, my bestie is still in a coma, and with every passing day, it becomes more serious. If she doesn’t wake up, I don’t know what I’ll do.
She can’t die.
I need her, and she doesn’t deserve to go out like this.
Why does God punish good, kind people over and over, yet evil pieces of shit like Sinner Lennox get to stroll around the place unencumbered by his sins and his many crimes? It makes no sense to me, and the unfairness reeks. It’s one reason I gave up on any notion of a God years ago.
“Any change?” Bry asks, dropping onto the end of my bed.
“No.” I sigh, opening the text from Saint next. “Sar’s still in a coma.”
“Those bitches need to pay for that.”
“They will,” I promise.
I read Saint’s message, pleased the guys are taking care of business while I’m gone. They have a plan for The Bulls, which they’ll share with me tomorrow. They are coming to watch the final challenge and then taking me home. Although I have quite enjoyed this week, I’m dying to get home, itching to put wheels in motion, and to put my plan for vengeance back on track.
Sliding my phone in my pants pocket, I slip my feet into my boots and stand. “Let’s go.”
It’s Saturday night, and we’re going to a bar off-site for dinner and a few beers. Several of the instructors will be there, and all the initiates, so it’ll probably be lame ass, but the change of scenery is welcome.
“Gotten into her panties yet?” John says, sneering at Bry when we land in the lobby where the others are waiting.
“Go annoy some other sap.” Bry folds his arms, threatening John with a dark look.
“When it’s so much fun annoying you two?” He snorts. “Not likely.”
I step right in front of him, clicking my fingers in his face. “You’re an annoying gnat. One I’d enjoy crushing except you’re not worthy of that investment of time.” I shove his shoulders. “Fuck off, John. Run to your older brother, and plot more ways to take me down if you dare.”
Turns out, John is Instructor Corr’s younger brother. I would never have made the connection if he hadn’t let that slip, because they look nothing alike. All week, they’ve tried to undermine me and make my life hell. John is doing the dirty work, but I know his older brother is the orchestrator. He’s tried sabotaging me every step of the way, but I’ve handled everything he’s thrown at me. It helps that Bry has my back, and the more time I spend with him, the more I realize him joining our ranks is a good thing.