AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Abyss’s cell rings, and he answers it without looking at the screen.
“Hey, sugar tits. Ready for round tw—” He presses his lips together and rolls his eyes. “Oh, hey, Prez. What’s up?” Abyss begins to pace and nod absently while he listens to Soul. “Yeah, okay… Uh-huh… Sure, no problem.” He freezes and looks at me. “I’ll try, Prez, but you know how he is… pain in the ass is right… I said I’ll try… Make sure she’s staying hydrated, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Sugar tits?” I taunt as he disconnects the call. “I bet Soul loved that.”
“Fuck you, Malice.” He closes the distance between us and tilts his head. “I’ve got a question for ya?”
“What?” I ask cautiously.
“Are you gonna stay here like a coward or come with me to Jez’s?”
“Like a…” I grab the lapels of his cut and yank him closer. “I’m not a fucking coward.”
“Then prove it,” he says calmly, not bothered by my temper at all. “I have to go check on Apple, Mark’s girl, and Soul told me to bring you. So, are ya gonna come or not?”
Fucking hell. The last thing I want to do is go see my brother and his hippie girlfriend, but I refuse to let them all continue to see me as a coward.
“Let’s go,” I snap, shoving him away from me and moving toward the door.
“I gotta grab my medical bag from my room,” he says. “I’ll meet ya in the garage.”
He races ahead of me, and for a split second, I contemplate returning to the gym and locking myself inside. But I’m not a goddamn coward, and it’s time they all remember that.
An hour and a half later, we pull our Harleys into Jez’s driveway. Soul’s bike is parked next to Cece’s car, and in front of that is that stupid VW van I remember from the night of the fire. My muscles tense at the reminder that I’m going to see my brother far sooner than I’d like.
“You coming?” Abyss asks as he makes his way to the porch, his medical bag slung over his shoulder.
Without responding, I join him. We enter the house without knocking, as comfortable here as we are at the clubhouse. Besides, I know Jez has a top-notch security system that includes cameras with facial recognition. If anyone who isn’t already programmed into her system tried to walk in, alarms would be blaring. It’s ridiculous… and effective.
“I’m surprised you showed up.”
I glare at Soul, who’s standing in the middle of the living room, his arm around Cece’s waist. His better half smacks him on the chest.
“Be nice,” she admonishes. “You told Abyss to bring him, and he’s here. Leave it at that.”
“Why am I here?” I ask.
“Because you wanted to prove you aren’t a coward, remember?” Abyss says casually.
“You’re here because I want you here,” Soul says, ignoring Abyss. “You’re here because Mark is here, and the two of you need to talk. He’s clearly not gonna leave Apple’s side so now is as good a time as any to confront him.”
I arch a brow. “Confront him about what?”
Soul shrugs. “You tell me.”
“While you two sort whatever this is out,” Abyss begins as he heads to the stairs. “I’m gonna go check on the patient.”
“She’s in the spare room,” Jez says from where she’s sitting on the couch. “I told Mark and Apple you were coming so you can go right in.”
“Thanks, Jez,” Abyss says, and then he disappears upstairs.
Jez rises from the couch to walk toward me and when she’s close enough, she lifts her hand as if to slap me across the face. I wrap my fingers around her wrist and squeeze as I lean into her face.
“I know you weren’t about to bitch slap me,” I snarl.
“Let go of her,” Soul barks as he storms toward me.
Jez holds up her free hand, stopping her brother. “I can handle a giant man baby’s temper tantrum, Soul,” she says without taking her eyes off mine. “As for you… If you value your ability to produce children in the future, I’d suggest you take your fucking hand off of me.” Jez’s tone is calm, cold… scary. I remove my hand and let my arm fall to my side, and she gives a curt nod. “Better. Now, go sit your damn ass down so we can talk.”
