“You’re wrong,” I reply while chewing, making him cock his head curiously.
“How so?”
“Because, even though I’m damaged as fuck, I’m only dangerous because I’d do anything for my crew and my guys. I’d swap places with Slash in a heartbeat if it meant he could still be here. I also just happen to like killing people, so of course I go in guns blazing,” I said honestly, stabbing some of the pasta and pretending it was his face.
I was sick at the realization that the reason Slash was dead, was because of the man who now sat at my table, eating the food I’d cooked.
He seemed deep in thought for the rest of the meal, and he surprised me as he took our plates and rinsed them off.
It was such a simple domestic act, for a brutal piece of shit.
“You know, they’re lucky to have you,” he stated, making me frown.
“How so? They don’t really have me anymore, no thanks to you,” I bit out angrily.
He met my gaze and sighed, ignoring my temper.
“They’re lucky because you love them that much. I’ve never known anyone to love someone enough to do what you’ve done. For someone that’s always been hurt, you sure can love like you’ve never been burned.”
Wow, poetic asshole.
“Yeah, well. It took a long time to get to where I am now. Why are you being nice all of a sudden? It freaks me out when people are nice,” I asked warily, giving him a dirty look.
He shrugged, plonking down on the couch and flicking the television on as if it was a normal evening together.
“Look, I like you. I really do, despite the shit going on. If we’re going to spend time together, we may as well enjoy it. Come here,” he ordered, crooking a finger at me.
I hesitated before moving towards him, tensing as he took my hand and tugged me down onto his lap, hurting my bruises as he wrapped his arms around me.
What the fuck?
“Donovan, relax,” he said gently, running his finger in a small circle on my arm.
It took a while to relax again, but when he didn’t make another move, I slowly started to.
I wasn’t sure how I would cope if he’d asked me to get naked or blow him.
By the time we were halfway through a movie, the tension in my muscles was completely gone and I was feeling more confident with the deal he’d made me.
I could fucking do this.
We chatted here and there, only getting up to grab a beer, but my heart rate quickened as a car door slammed outside.
Skeeter was fucking pissed as he barged in, but he halted when he noticed us, confusion bleeding from him.
“Tell me right now what the fuck’s going on, Aurora, because I’m sick of hearing shit today from multiple people who aren’t you,” he demanded, his voice surprisingly gentle.
I glanced away from him with a scowl.
I couldn’t have the same conversation with him, that I’d had with Hunter.
I’d break and he’d see the truth.
“Fuck off, Skeeter. I don’t want you here,” I stated with boredom lacing my tone.
He didn’t budge, like I knew he fucking wouldn’t.
“No. You need to tell me what the fuck is going on,” he growled, crossing his arms so tightly that I was surprised his chest didn’t crack.
“What can I say? Razor and I got talking and we hit it off. Now, get the fuck out of my house and leave us alone,” I snapped, his eyes blazing as he pulled his gun out of nowhere and aimed it at us.
Fucking hell.
“No! I fucking know you, and this isn’t you! I’ll kill him, I swear to God, Rory!” He shouted, his eyes not straying from mine in the slightest.
I snatched Razor’s gun from his jacket pocket and aimed it at Skeeter as I stood, the betrayal written all over his face as I shook my head, my heart aching as I spoke.
“This is my choice. I don’t want anything to do with you guys anymore. If you touch him, I’ll fucking shoot you myself, Skeeter.”
“This is really your decision? You’re choosing the fucking Soldiers, over us? Your own fucking crew?” He growled, waiting for me to nod before he cursed, getting in my face and wrapping a tattooed hand around my throat tightly.
“Then that choice is all on you. You’ll only end up hurt or dead, but don’t come running to us to help you. We’re completely fucking done, Aurora. Next time there’s war, just remember who you have to fucking shoot at,” then he shoved me back hard and stormed out, tires squealing as he went.
I didn’t care that I was crying in front of Razor.
I hoped he saw how much pain he’d caused me and felt the tiniest amount of remorse.
I didn’t care that my life was falling apart.
I only cared because I’d watched Skeeter finally break inside.
I’d actually fucking broken him.
Razor gently touched my shoulder to surprisingly comfort me, but I spun around and glared at him.
“Are you fucking happy now? You’ve managed to sever all ties to everyone I love. You fucking win. Go home, I don’t feel like company,” I screamed at him, a sad look crossing his face before he nodded and left me in peace, locking the door on the way out without argument.
Skeeter
Rory actually did it.
She fucking turned her back on us.
On me.
I’ve never given my heart to anyone before, and this was fucking why.
Well, I did once, and they stomped all over it, but she’d never know that part of my history.
Not many people did.
I didn’t believe Holloway when he said she seemed genuinely into Razor, but now I’d seen her with him, I saw it.
She left us for him, there was no denying it.
She was lucky I didn’t put a fucking bullet in her right there on the spot, after slicing Razor to a million pieces.
The funny thing was, the bastard didn’t even look smug about it all.
He was watching her with worry, which was fucking hilarious if I thought about it.
Soldiers didn’t care about anyone, especially not women.
He was going to have her raped and beaten and God knows what else, but she’d made her bed, so now she could fucking lie in it.
She was dead to me, and she no longer had the Psychos to back her up when everything went to shit for her.
I’d been sitting in my car for half-a-fucking hour as I tried to process it all, but I’d made my decision.
I got out of the car, slamming the door behind me as I stalked across the yard and headed into the shed, Diesel’s head jerking up at my arrival as hope glimmered in his broken gaze.
“Hey, did she…”
“No one’s to go near her. No helping her. No checking on her. No fucking saving her when they gang rape her and she calls someone crying,” I bit out on my way past, loud enough for everyone else to hear me.
Diesel followed, his face distraught as if I’d been the one to turn on us.
I understood why he was so cut up over it, I really did.
He’d finally connected with someone for the first time since Sasha had passed, but Rory had fucked us all over without a second thought, and he needed to understand that.
She was a traitor, and she’d deceived us.
Was she ever actually in love with me?
Diesel followed me to the bar, his voice full of panic.