I can’t help it, I throw my head back and laugh like the fucking lunatic I am. As I’m catching my breath, movement below me gets my undivided attention.
Bang.
I blow the finite smoke from the barrel of my gun and realize too late that, again, I’ve acted before thinking.
The screaming gave it away. The same scream I heard as I pulled up just minutes ago.
Fuck.
“Shit, I’m so sorry. I kinda forgot where I am.” My lips stretch over my teeth with a grimace. This is a battered women’s shelter. I have no business shooting my gun like a fucking neanderthal.
Although, neanderthals didn’t have guns and therefore were more civilized than I am.
“What the actual fucking fuck, Grinder?” Yeah, Bear’s about to make a necklace from my balls. This is going to hurt. Totally worth it.
“Yeah, sorry, man. I didn’t th—” Ouch! I narrow my eyes at Bear, who’s definitely in grizzly mode, his big hand slapping me upside the head, and fuck my life, it’s just so much fun fucking with him when he’s like this. “Think it’s the best idea to use violence in a shelter?”
For the briefest moment, I see the teddy bear’s eyes swimming with regret. His old lady lived here for a while after running away from sex traffickers in The Firm. We took care of those motherfuckers, but the trauma lives on, and because I’m an asshole, I’ve just triggered him. Again.
“Anybody else, they’d be six feet under.” And I believe him. But what can I say? I’m adorable and sexy, which gives me a lot of passes around here. “Now fucking apologize.”
Right. Of course.
“Maribel and…” I frown, then look at Parker for help.
“You’re on your own, you fucking psycho.” Brat.
“Someone call for me?” What the fuck is Psycho doing here? Boner really did call in for reinforcements. The Enforcer whistles but I ignore him. I have more important shit to do.
“I’m sorry.” Hopefully the woman cowering in the corner hears the sincerity in my voice. “It was like a reflex action. He won’t be bothering you again, we promise.” The promise was a little much since the guys are literally lying dead at our feet. Maribel nods our way, her hair wrapped in a silk scarf, as she makes a beeline to the tenant.
Well, this is awkward as fuck. I don’t do well in these situations. Blood, gore, violence and a hard fuck with a few laughs in between, no problem. Getting in touch with my feelings is like opening a door that’s been shut for a very, very long time.
“Boner?” I call out, turning and walking out the door to meet him. On my way out, Shade is walking in with Hoops. Damn, is the entire fucking club here?
“What happened?” Hoops interrupts whatever he was saying to Shade and lifts his chin, addressing me.
“No fucking clue, Prez. I’m getting the prospects to clean this shit up.” He nods, then eyes my baseball bat, shaking his head with a smirk on his face. He knows me so well. “Didn’t even get to use it.”
“‘Sup?” Boner greets me, a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. He takes a drag then hands it to Jonesy. “You sounded spooked, man, so I woke everyone up. I think Psycho may actually kill me in my sleep.”
I shrug. Chances are high. “I’ll bury you with your porn.”
“Thanks,” he deadpans and I grin.
“What are besties for?” I slap him on the shoulder and look around. “Gather up the prospects, we need this to be clean before sunrise.” It’s a tall order, I know, but we can’t have the police involved. No fucking way am I taking a chance on Parker going to jail. The stand your ground law is firmly in place in North Carolina, and since Parker is a tenant at the house, she wouldn’t have any problems. However…I don’t fucking care.
Someone needs to tell the scared woman that nothing happened and she can now live her life without the fear of being attacked by her…whoever it is that wanted to cause her harm.
No fucking way is Parker paying for saving their lives. Not on my fucking watch.
“I thought it was self-defense?” Boner takes another drag from the cigarette and talks through the inhale.
“It was.” I don’t look him in the eye because I don’t need any shit from him.
“So? No one’s gonna bat an eye. That there’s Maribel’s castle. She ain’t gettin’ jammed up.”
“It wasn’t Maribel. It was Parker.” Leaning on the bat with the Beretta in my other hand, I lower my head and purse my lips, knowing damn well Boner’s about to fuck with me. I mean, I would if I were in his shoes so, fair.