“Shut the fuck up, mama. We both know it’s going to happen. Soon as I can get shit together…you’re mine. At the fucking compound in front of everyone.”
“But, Shooter and Juliette—”
“I’m not asking you,” he deadpanned.
“Heavy handed,” she muttered.
“You need a stern hand. You like it too.” Her breath caught so deep, he could hear it over the phone. “You keep thinking about that. ‘Cause tonight your ass is mine. After you get chewed out by the Prez. ‘Cause believe me, baby, he’ll have words.”
“Are you trying to make this worse?”
“Nope. We’re here and I’m coming in.” He disconnected, trying to prepare himself for the fucked-up scene he’d be walking into.
“Your girl got her head on straight?” Ajax asked, fixing him with those penetrating black eyes that would make a lesser man pee himself.
“Straightish.” Rocky shrugged.
“Least she’s not hysterical. I can’t stand that shit.” Ajax scowled. The corners of his lips turned down and his sun-weathered skin wrinkled as his face curled up in disgust. “Can’t stand all the screaming and crying. Shit gets on my last nerve. Hinders the process and makes a fellow sloppy.” Ajax shook his head.
“She’s solid as far as that goes,” Rocky assured him.
Ajax grunted. “Type of woman made for a biker.”
They stepped from the car with the prospect taking the rear. They reached the front door and it slowly opened. Evonne’s face was drawn, her eyes looked too large in her face. “Hey,” she whispered, moving back so they could step inside.
Rocky took in her appearance and shuddered.
Her face had speckles of red and the hoodie she wore had the same red splatter treatment. A slimy piece of gray matter clung to strands of her hair, along with tiny white fragments he thought might be bone.
“Jesus, shit, you blew this fucker’s head off. Damn, don’t get this one mad at you.” Ajax shook his head, but Rocky could hear the pride in his voice. “You did him up proper, girl. Way you should. I’d have you at my back any day.” Ajax and Evonne locked gazes and something he couldn’t understand passed between them.
Evonne nodded and stood just a bit taller.
Rocky mourned the loss of her innocence even as he embraced the new facet. Another barrier had fallen between them. He would focus on that, and not the fact of how she looked like a heroine from a horror movie.
“Go, clean yourself off best you can. We’ll handle this. Our car is unmarked, but it’s probably best we lay low ‘til the sun goes down anyway. It’ll draw less attention and give us time to figure out how we want to spin this,” Ajax instructed. “Gadget and Specs will be here to do tech cleanup.”
“Come on, Firecracker, let’s see what we can do about those clothes of yours.”
She nodded and he placed his hand on her hip, guiding her to the bathroom.
Chapter Twelve
Evonne had never felt so empty in her entire life. Ajax had made the problem go away. No one would ever find the bodies or know what had occurred in that little house. Her justification had begun to fade now as the fact she’d taken a human life without so much as batting an eye sank in. Do any of us even know who we are until we’re tested? She sat with her thighs touching Rocky’s, stealing his warmth. Right now he was her anchor. The solid weight that held her together, keeping her from falling to pieces.
Night had fallen hours before and they were on their way to the cabins where everyone had settled. She should be nervous, but there was nothing left.
Prospects opened the gate and they pulled inside.
“This might be a first, but you’re going to church with us.”
“Church? Your members meeting, why?”
Rocky shrugged. “Because Prez said so.”
“Should I be worried?” She toyed with the shirt Rocky had literally given her off his back. His tan skin peeked out from beneath his leather vest.
“You know he won’t hurt you. Burn your ears up and make you feel like shit, possibly.”