“I don’t need consent to protect you, baby, and I don’t give a fuck about boundaries when it comes to your safety. You know I’d do anything in the world without limits to keep you safe, like kill anyone that threatens you in any way, not just tell my brothers how to work with me on that,” Laius said.
“Should you not have, at least, asked me if I was ready for this overshare yet? We talked about this. Not only did you decide the timing for me, but also you decided the course of my life here without even discussing it with me.”
“Iamdiscussing it with you.”
“After you had this whole conversation with people that, regardless of whom they are to you, are practically strangers to me, while I was sleeping off the drugs you made them use to kidnap me.”
Doc—who was, other than Fort, the only member of the Night Skulls I’d officially met—had explained the dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue and the urge to sleep were all side effects from the drugs Hook and Texas used to bring me here.
He’d made a prospect—not a sweetbutt because he didn’t know where I stood with them after my incident at Rosewood, which was another thing everybody here knew about me when I knew nothing about them—bring me some food and water, waited with me until I scoffed them down and gave me some meds that would help me sleep the side effects off, and so I did all day yesterday.
“You shot me in the guts,” a man, who must be Hook, slurred from the leather couch across the far wall of the lounge, lifting a beer glass at me, his other hand on the gauze on his stomach for emphasis. He was wearing jeans only. His hair was dark and in a messy ponytail. His beard was light, lighter than Laius’s, his eyes big and dark blue, and he looked like he had one of those permanent scowls on his forehead.
“And almost broke my leg, y’all. Let’s not forget about that. Had to do something,” another one said, glancing at me over his shoulder from the opposite couch. Texas, I presumed. Dirty blond. Also had no shirt on. God knew if he had pants on or not. Thankfully, the kitchen was behind that couch, and I could only see his head.
“Well, if you’d just introduced yourself properly, we wouldn’t have been in this situation,” I said.
“We didn’t know you were alone. Prez said you had company,” Texas said.
Tirone ducked his head and moved a little so he’d block anything from my view but him. “Who was it you were supposed to be with in a motel in Utah, Miss Meneceo, if I may ask?”
“You may not, and stop staring at me like that.”
“I’m sorry,” he taunted. “It’s a little weird, after all this time, to see you have blue eyes. It’s like you’re a totally different person.”
I shifted on my feet and directed my gaze toward Texas. “Did you bring my phone by any chance?”
He shook his head. “What phone?”
“The one I was holding when you raided my room. Hook?”
“No, ma’am. I was busy being shot.”
“Oh for God’s sake,” I mumbled. “Look, I’m sorry I shot you, but would you not have done the same thing had you been in my shoes?”
“Sure thing. I ain’t blaming ya. I admire your courage.”
I blinked in confusion. He didn’t show enough—any—emotion to know if he truly meant it or was mocking me. Honestly, other than his hand on the gauze and the slur in his voice, I wouldn’t know he was shot or was in any pain either.
“I grabbed your purse on the way out, if that’s any good,” Texas added. “We sent a prospect for your car and luggage, too. It’s right outside.”
“Thank you. That’s definitely helpful. Can you ask him if he’s found my phone?”
“The fuck is the matter with you and that fucking phone?” Laius suddenly asked, his tone taking an edge. “I told you I’d get you a new one.”
“It’s not about that. I need—” I wished I could have explained, but Michele made me promise. “It has important number-s.”
A muscle popping in his jaw, Laius pointed at my own steamy cup of coffee he’d made me himself. “Baby, why don’t you drink your coffee? Get your head clear so we can talk about school over breakfast? I’m on a two-week ultimatum to save your ass. I don’t have time to waste.”
“Starting a new job as a front, while your dropout son acts as my student when he’s in fact going to be my bodyguard, isn’t going tosave my ass. I’m not applying to any jobs until everything is sorted out,” I pushed the mug, “and I don’t drink black coffee.”
Tirone rounded the counter and went to where they kept the pots. “I know how you drink your coffee. I’ll make you another cup. Two sugar, one cream, right?” He subtly winked at me. “I’m not a dropout anymore, by the way. I’m going back to school for real.” He glanced at me, his eyes sad and genuine. “I only dropped out for you, not because I wanted to.”
“You didn’t.” I refused to believe that story because if it’d been true, I had no idea how I was supposed to deal with it. “I don’t care what lies you told everyone to convince them to give you that cut you’re wearing now, but you didn’t drop out for me.”
“It’s true,” Laius said. “I checked.”
I froze for a second, a lump forming at the back of my throat. “How did you check?”
