Desolation Road (Torpedo Ink 4)

Scarlet laughed. “I’m finding that out. Was Savage able to help Donny straighten out his checkbook?”

“Yes. I think he had to deposit quite a bit of money into his account, but if he did, he wouldn’t tell me. Jackson will look into it when he gets back.” There was an underlying note of worry in her voice for the absent Jackson. Scarlet didn’t know who he was, but it was clear Inez loved the man.

“If Savage wanted to bail Donny out, Inez, you have to let him,” Absinthe said and caught up the two burlap sacks by the handles, dragging them off the counter.

A low whistle slid through the store. The sound seemed to vibrate right through Absinthe. His body didn’t exactly react, more like he turned slowly, and as he did, he swept Scarlet behind him.

“Inez, stay behind the counter and if there’s shooting you get down and stay there until the cops come or I tell you it’s safe.” His voice was very low, holding a soft, compelling note that seemed to push into the mind of the older woman.

Scarlet watched her nod. She didn’t seem as if she was in any way hypnotized or under a spell. Her eyes weren’t glazed; in fact, they appeared clear, but she shifted deeper behind the counter and kept her eyes glued to Absinthe as if waiting for any signal or word from him.

“What is it?” Scarlet asked. She didn’t reach for a weapon. She knew where they were and how fast she could get to each of them when needed.

“Why don’t you stay here with Inez and protect her. I’ll head outside,” Absinthe said. “And see what’s up.”

“Not a chance,” Scarlet said. She had the feeling he knew exactly what was up. “And don’t use your voice on me. I agreed to the bedroom, not to anything else.”

“Sex,” he corrected, glancing down at her, “not necessarily in the bedroom. Most definitely not just in the bedroom. Inez, keep away from the windows.” He didn’t argue with Scarlet, he just dropped the money for the groceries on the counter, put both bags into one hand and walked boldly out the door, Scarlet right behind him.

Savage lounged just to the right of the door as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Across the street, up on the roof, Scarlet thought she caught a glimpse of someone, but when she looked again, there was no one there. Still, she was certain they were covered. Absinthe kept walking. Scarlet went with him to the Harley. Savage dropped into position on the other side of her, matching pace as if they’d been doing it for a lifetime.

At the motorcycle, Absinthe stored the groceries in the compartments, all the while looking down the street. Scarlet could see the truck he was inspecting. It was a newer model. Two of the Torpedo Ink members were on the opposite side of it, seemingly disinterested, talking to each other just inside a doorway of a closed shop. There were several closed businesses on the street, but others that were very new. Clearly, the little village was being brought back to life again.

Absinthe’s fingers slid into Scarlet’s hair. Tapped gently. Rhythmically. Slid into the thickness and massaged. She wouldn’t have thought anything about it but she noticed that Savage’s hand came up to his chest and his fingers tapped over his heart, just for a few seconds, and dropped away. It was just an odd coincidence.

She flicked a gaze over to where another man stood. She had never seen him before but he had long, dark hair streaked with silver pulled back in a ponytail that went down his back and was dissected by bands every few inches, dark facial hair also streaked with silver, gray-blue eyes and tattoos on his neck and over his very muscular arms. His tattoos hadn’t been done in the same artist’s distinctive work as the others in Torpedo Ink. His tattoos looked much more like prison art.

“Who is he?” Scarlet indicated him with her chin.

“That’s Razrushitel. At least we call him that. I suppose the outsiders call him Destroyer. He patched in with the other chapter, but Czar put out a call and essentially, he’s a loner, so he came. He seems to fit better with us.”

She didn’t know what any of that meant. Why would a man be in one chapter and then go to another? Then the door to the small hardware store two doors down from the grocery store swung open and a man emerged. He was stocky, shaggy but very distinctive and there was no mistaking him. Her breath caught in her throat and she stepped back away from Absinthe, or tried to—Savage was in the way, crowding her.

“Don’t,” Absinthe ordered, his voice a thread of sound. “Don’t you fuckin’ move, Scarlet. You’re with me and you show that to him.”