I grunt, which usually does fine as an answer. I don’t listen to Crystal, nor do I have any intention of helping her.
Ox glances around. I stop next to him. He’s a fucking machine, the best cleaner I’ve ever seen.
“Let me know everything.”
“Of course.” He scans the room. We call it “going into Ox world” because he can forget about the entire world while he focuses on his job. One little thing that’s off, a bottle that’s moved, and he remembers where everything goes.
“Ryder, don’t take Caitlyn, you greedy bastard,” Axel calls after me as I make my way down the hall. The music’s so loud it ricochets off the walls, vibrating through my chest as I walk.
The front door is open, and through the screen I see Boris on his phone standing next to his shitty Mercedes. One stupid Russian stands like a statue with the door open for him.
Visions of taking my gun and blowing his head off fill my mind.
Yeah, I’m off.
This is unlike me. Screw Axel. I hadn’t even thought about who I was gonna fuck tonight, but because he’s a dick, and because he’s Axel and the reason I’m in this condition… I’m definitely taking Caitlyn.
The snap of the pool table and smoke drifting in from the bonfire pit make me relax as my eyes find her in the corner. Caitlyn. She can deep throat your cock like a fucking pro, which is why Axel wants her tonight. She grins at me, her bubblegum pink lips so pumped full of collagen they shine all the way across the room. That, and her blond hair, bugs me, but I push those thoughts away.
I smile at the rumble of bikes pulling in and my brothers’ laughter as the screen door bangs open with their entrance.
Yeah, tonight, we’re gonna rage.
JULIANNA
Past
Disciples’ clubhouse
Burbank, CA
“Um, I guess I’ll go see if I can get us something to eat and drink.” My eyes stray over to Gia who is arguing and crying on the phone with her mom. This has been a disaster. I’m living in a motorcycle clubhouse. I have no words. My dad called asking why my phone’s tracker was off, and why the BMW said I was in Burbank, California instead of Berkeley. So I twisted the truth saying I picked up Gia on the way and that it must be broken. Okay, I lied.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard once I got started. I stare at my friend who hasn’t heard a word I’ve said and try to ignore the loud growling in my stomach. I’m freakin’ starving. We’ve got to get out of here for a bunch of reasons, food being one of them. It’s clear I’m gonna have to tough love her. I mean, Axel came in last night saying we had to go…
Apparently, Gia doesn’t find her brother as scary as I, or others, seem to since she looked at him like he was crazy and burst into tears. He left, mumbling something about killing Granger. I’m really hoping that was just my imagination.
I’m like a fish out of water here. I try to smile and be friendly, but with Ryder being all dark and intense and Axel kicking us out, we need to make our move. I’m already turning into a person I don’t know or recognize. And to be honest, it’s freaking me out.
Glancing over at Gia, I sigh. She’s a mess, although she did take a shower this morning. I want to be mad at her for falling apart like this. She’s the strongest person I know. Freakin’ Granger, he’s ruined her.
“So I’ll be back.” I clear my throat and wave at her as she looks up at the ceiling. I need to get out of the room before I go mad. Maybe I’ll walk around.
“You know what? I’m going to get some—” My voice drops away as Gia holds up her hand and screams about pain and groupies into the phone.
“Perfect.” I nod and slip out the door. Loud music hits me in the face. A bunch of girls in high heels give me a dirty stare as they walk into one of the rooms next to ours. Great, they’re having a party. My stomach drops. I can’t walk around with a party going on. I shouldn’t even be out of the room. My mind instantly goes to Ryder in that wooded area, touching that woman.
“Pull it together,” I whisper, making my body mold to the wall, slowly moving down toward the stairs. I’ll just grab us something from the fridge. Amy was bringing us delicious meals, but I haven’t seen her all day. She must think we’re gone since that was the last thing Axel yelled at us last night. Even a couple of bananas would hold us over till morning. Leaving tonight is not happening. Not with the massive fight Gia’s having with her mom. We’ll be lucky if we’re out of here by Sunday.