Blood & Bone - Easy (Blood Fury MC 12)

Even if it meant dealing with more of those unshakable haunting memories. When he closed his eyes at night. When he pushed the button to start a cremation on someone’s cherished pet.

The sound of the burners igniting, that unforgettable whoosh, brought it all back every damn time.

“Let’s get ‘er done so we can get outta here and get back before Cassie wonders why we’re late,” Easy urged.

“Take your time comin’ back. Gonna cover for you with the boss lady.”

He was going to do what? His brow furrowed. “You ain’t goin’ home?”

Shade shook his head. His hair was still pulled back but it had loosened from the tight knot and a few long, curly strands now fell around his face. “Gonna shower here. Also brought along a change of close… clothes.”

Damn. The man had come prepared. “Chelle ain’t gonna worry? Or ask a shitload of questions?”

“Gonna deal with it.”

“Okay, well then… Let’s deal with this first,” Easy suggested. He went over to the remote and, as Shade swung the body over to the rolling tray that was already pulled out of the furnace, hit the down button.

Between the two of them, they got what was left of Oliveira on the tray made of metal grates. Before rolling it back into the incinerator, they gathered the plastic sheeting with the slippery mound of bloody flesh, setting that on top of its former owner.

Not a peep came from Shade’s father. If he was still alive, he had to be unconscious.

Thank fuck for that. Not for Oliveira but for Easy.

“You can go before I hit Start,” Shade murmured as they rolled the loaded tray back inside and into place before securing the door.

“What about your clothes?”

“Will get those later once I change.” Shade set the control panel for the approximate weight of the animal inside.

“Okay, just make sure Cass don’t see them.”

Again Shade said nothing, but this time he turned and stared at Easy.

That was his cue to get the fuck out of there. “Okay then, I’m gonna go. I’ll be back as soon as I change and shower, too. You need anythin’ before that, just text me.”

Shade nodded.

As Easy headed toward the door that led out to the loading dock where his new sled waited, he heard another deep, “Yo.”

He stopped and glanced over his shoulder at the man still standing in front of the furnace containing his father.

The last piece of his painful past.

Shade jerked up his chin at him in a silent thanks.

Easy nodded and continued out the door.

He needed to get the fuck out of there before he heard that goddamn whoosh.

Chapter Eleven

She sensed his presence immediately.

It made all the fine hairs on her body stand on end, her heart beat a little faster and her breathing shallow.

But he was there. Inches from her.

His heat brushed against her skin. His familiar scent flooded her nostrils.

Then his voice filled her ears. “Where you been?”

She risked a glance over at Easy as she finished pouring herself a beer behind the bar in The Barn.

She wasn’t sure if it would help settle her stomach but it was worth a shot. The Sprite hadn’t worked and she couldn’t find a drop of ginger ale—what Jemma recommended for her upset stomach—anywhere on the property.

Jem said she’d pick some up tonight on her way home from work, but until then…

Beer it was.

She lifted the glass high enough to hide her mouth and asked, “What do you mean?” under her breath.

“You’ve been a no-show for the last three nights.”

A no-show? What the hell was he talking about? “Umm… You locked me out. I took that as a sign.”

“What the fuck d’you mean?”

Tessa glanced around quickly, hissing, “Keep your voice down.”

“Tess. What’re you sayin’?”

She turned to him. He was facing in the opposite direction than she was but his head was turned enough to stare down at her with narrowed eyes. His tight jawline was easy to see with his long hair pulled up and out of his face in his typical sloppy man-bun.

No man should look that sexy in a man-bun. Somehow Easy and Shade managed to pull it off. Just like Cage rocked his I-don’t-know-how-to-use-a-brush hairstyle.

Sexy or not, her fingers itched to pull the elastic band from Easy’s bun to free his luscious locks.

“We shouldn’t have this conversation here,” she reminded him.

“We’re allowed to talk to each other, Tess. It would be more suspicious if we don’t.”

“But not about this.”

He shook his head and turned, every motion stiff and jerky—as if he was annoyed—as he grabbed an empty pint glass and nudged her gently out of the way so he could fill it. She only shifted enough to give him space to pour his beer, but their arms touched.

That simple contact sent a shock of electricity through her. “E…”

He pulled away and even though he was no longer looking at her directly, she could see his pupils had expanded, making his eyes look darker than normal. “You’re right. Not here.”