Unwritten Rules (Filthy Florida Alphas 3)

“Spill it.”

“Toi followed him. Babs said she was going to Cherry’s room. Desi told them that Cherry had a plan to take Harley and leave.”

“Son of a bitch!” Max roars from somewhere behind me.

I’m heading straight to the passageway that Toi used to leave the last time. Cherry helped Weasel, trying to take Toi from me before. I have no doubt she’s trying to do the same shit now. She better hope when I find her, Alvaro has already ended her. Because if she’s breathing when I find her I’m going to choke the life right out of her.68ToiI’m kicking my own ass. I shouldn’t have waited so long before I checked on Harley. I gave him entirely too long—which gave that fucking bitch Cherry way too big of a head start. I get Harley back and I take out my frustrations on that fake redhead, I’m going to set Marcum’s ears on fire. He locked Cherry up, but there wasn’t a guard around! Harley got her free easily. I mean, I know we were under attack and he had his men involved in that, and then watching us… but still. He hasn’t seen her as a real threat this entire time.

“Big, strong, he-man, macho ass. You can’t underestimate a woman. We might have tits, but we can also be more dangerous than a man, and mostly because men never worry about us.”

I’m muttering to myself and I need to stop it, because talking is getting harder. I’ve used my voice too much today and I missed my last dose of steroids and medications. Marcum’s right. I need to stop worrying and have that surgery. I’ll cave in if we all survive this. Being afraid seems ridiculous, considering everything that we are going through now.

I swore the last time I was in this damn tunnel I wouldn’t come back. In fact, when this is over and I kill Cherry, and Harley and I are back with everyone else, I’m going to demand that Marcum destroy these damn things. Who has secret passages and tunnels in their home? I ignore the fact it probably comes in handy when you’re an outlaw motorcycle club with a leader who can piss off the Pope without barely trying. Hell, he could have tested the patience of Mother Teresa. Yet I love him and when he’s not making you want to pull out your hair he can be unbelievably sweet and caring.

A man who is everything I always wanted and never thought I’d find. I need to tell him that if I survive this. I know there are moments he still beats himself up about so many things when it comes to us. He doesn’t realize I don’t care about his past, or what he does. He doesn’t know that to me he is the most amazing man I’ve ever met. I don’t care about his age or that I’m closer to Max’s age than his. I love him. I’ve told him I love him, but I’ve never told him the rest. I need to.

I will.

I stop walking and strain to hear. It’s light, but I can hear someone up in front of me. I take a shuddering breath and pick up my speed, trying to remain quiet. I make my way through the tunnel by feeling the walls. If I had been smart, when I discovered Harley and Cherry already gone, I would have grabbed a damn light.

As I turn a curve, I can see light ahead. It’s coming from outside and it’s entirely too déjà vu, for comfort.

“Cherry maybe if we told Daddy we wanted to stay, he would let us. He wouldn’t have to love us, but we could still stay,” I hear Harley say and tears sting my eyes. I’m going to enjoy sending Cherry to hell.

“You know better, Harley. I told you what he said to me. He doesn’t have any place in his life for either one of us now. That bitch wants us gone,” she mutters just as they push on the old door, opening it.

I blink from the glare of light, trying to adjust my eyesight and then I stop thinking. Her words and the pain she’s causing an innocent, confused boy are nearly destroying me. I run as hard as I can. When I get to them, I see shock on her face and I can hear Harley yell, but I’m focused on Cherry. I jump the last little distance, hurling my body into her and tackling her to the ground. I pull at her hair, I claw at her face and I’m pretty sure I’m more than ready to rip her throat out with just my hands. The only thing that stops me is Harley’s cry and the sound of guns cocking and preparing to shoot. I freeze. Cherry must have heard it too, because she goes still underneath me.