Live Free (Lords of Mayhem 3)

The sturdy building reminded Evonne of barracks. All stone, with bunk beds and an arsenal that would make a soldier wet his pants.

There were different areas. The main one housed the living space and led into a tiny kitchen. Down the hall were big communal-style rooms for the children, split up into boys’ and girls’ designated areas and a larger one for prospects. Farther down were separate areas for higher-ups.

r /> Evonne glanced over at Rocky playing pool with Shooter and Moose. She had to smile. They’d all bonded a bit tighter.

“God, she can’t even take her eyes off him. We’re cooped up here like wild animals and she’s totally using it as an excuse to make their room into a den of sin,” Hil grumbled.

“Girl, you did not just say that,” Juliette said, laughing.

“At least someone’s getting it,” Hil said.

Her sullen expression made Evonne’s chest ache.

“I know you don’t want to be here, Hil, but it’s for your own good,” Juliette replied, resting a hand on her arm.

“Because staying in here and doing nothing is better?” Hil whispered.

“They’re not doing nothing,” Joey snapped.

Evonne’s eyes widened and she glanced at Juliette, who winced. The two had been butting heads the past few days as Hil’s sharp tongue and Joey’s pregnancy hormones got the better of them both.

“Could’ve fooled me,” Hil said.

“Look, you’re not privy to what goes on. It’s not our place to be and you’re not officially Mayhem,” Joey snarled.

“Right, I forgot you’re the expert,” Hil said with a sneer.

“Got something to say?” Joey asked.

“Whoa, calm down, ladies,” Evonne said.

“If she thinks she’s so great, how come she hasn’t come up with anything yet?” Joey asked.

“Maybe I have,” Hil said.

“Bitch, do you think this is a game? This is my life and I have to live every day with the fact that it’s my fault all this has been brought down on everyone I care about.” Juliette stood up and stalked off, stunning them into silence.

“Jul, I didn’t mean…” Hil stood.

Joey held up her hand. “Let her go. The last person she wants to hear from is you right now. She’s damn good at keeping what’s bothering her under wraps. We forget where this originated.”

“Look, I’ll go and try to smooth things over before Shooter gets pissed. Trust me when I say no one wants to see that.” Evonne shuddered. She’d seen him angry, it was a scary sight.

A member of another M.C. they were friendly with had come in and tried to screw him over in a game of pool they’d had a healthy amount of money on. The bloodied face and bruised ego the man left with spoke for itself.

Evonne rose from the chair and hurried after her friend, who had disappeared down the hall. She caught her at the back door that led onto the deck. She slipped out beside Juliette, and they quietly soaked in the barren area around them. “Don’t pay mind to Hil, she runs her mouth without thinking sometimes and she’s pissed she’s here,” Evonne said, breaking the stillness of the moment.

“Yeah I know. I shouldn’t have gone off like that. I just kept it in so long, it came tumbling out. I feel like shit about all of this. It’s my fault. Every time another incident occurs it’s a weight on my shoulders.”

“No, it’s not. We can’t be held accountable for people with a one-way ticket on a crazy train.”

Juliette snickered.

“Hah, gotcha laughing,” Evonne said.

“Usually that’s Joey’s job,” Juliette said.

“Not these days. Man, I thought she was going to throw a punch at Hil,” Evonne said, shaking her head.