Page 82 of Break Out

“Yeah, you doing a fuckin’ hundred-yard dash told me as much, Tor.”

He gave a feeble grin. “I still got it, motherfucker. But Debra’s here.”

Simone had come around the hood of the truck and stood next to me. “Debra… as in Jordan’s mom?”

Torque’s blue eyes darted to her, then to me. “Yeah. You didn’t tell me you were bringing her with you.”

I didn’t tell him a lot of things – for many different reasons. To be fair, I’d hoped to keep Simone away from the clubhouse this trip. As usual, that plan was shot to hell already. I gave a small nod. “Now you know she’s with me.”

Torque raised his arms over his head, getting his breathing under control. “Want me to give her a tour of the compound, show her the fire pit, keep her away from Deb and the other catty bitches.”

“It’s okay, I can handle it. This isn’t the first time I’ve been to a clubhouse,” Simone said.

A thoughtful expression took over Torque’s features. “You think you can handle it? Debra alone in there, sure. The catty club whores on their own, probably so. But all those women at one time, sorry… Jade, I’m puttin’ my money on them breaking you.”

Simone looked up at me. “He knows who I am?”

I turned to her. “He knows I call you Jade. Simone, meet Torque. Torque, this is Jade as far as anyone around here is concerned. She’s Volt’s daughter.”

Torque’s eyes widened at me. “Fuck. You didn’t tell me that.”

I pressed the tip of my tongue to my canine tooth, thinking. “And she’s Jordan’s ex-girlfriend, which is likely what brought Debra here.”

“Yeah, she’s been ranting about that non-stop. You really know how to step in it, Steel,” Torque said, turning around to lead the way.

The front door of the clubhouse slammed open and Debra stormed toward us. Her brown hair with blonde highlights was pulled into a high ponytail, which should have made her look younger. Instead, she seemed to be trying too hard. The anger in her eyes put me on alert. I’d never seen her so riled.

“Get back in the truck,” I muttered to Simone.

“She’s already seen me, Steel. I’m not running. Not from her.”

I gave my head a short shake. “That kind of anger, she’s unpredictable right now, Jade.”

She gave my hand a squeeze. “I can hack it.”

“Stop right there, Debra. You need to cool your shit,” Torque said, stepping between us.

“Don’t play go-between right now, Tor. He says he gives a damn about his son, but he’s screwing Jordan's ex-girlfriend.”

A handful of the club girls had followed Debra outside, because those bitches ate up drama with shovels, not spoons.

“It’s all right, Torque. Get those bitches back inside the clubhouse or they can be kicked out of the compound – permanently.”

“You got it, Prez,” he said, and strode to the front door, waving his arms as he went. “Get inside or you’ll get tossed out – forever, bitches.”

Debra’s hazel eyes cut to Simone. “That’s what he does. A woman makes him uncomfortable and he tosses her aside.”

Simone stared at Debra, obviously considering her words. “He didn’t do anything like that. Whatever you have to say to us is private. Those women try to eavesdrop, that’s offensive in many ways. He hasn’t tossed anyone out – yet.”

I fought off a smile, because she was good. Zero attitude in her words, and all truth aimed at Debra.

“He’ll replace you,” she said in a venomous tone.

She shrugged. It irritated me that Simone could even think I’d do such a thing. “Maybe, but I shouldn’t have to tell you that he can’t replace his baby’s momma. Oh, that’s right. You’re a baby-momma, but to some other man.”

So much for being good.

“Simone,” I muttered.

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