Page 58 of Tech

“Son, wait!” My dad shouts, and I sigh, looking his way as I mount my bike. He shakes his head. “How…fuck, how do you know your momma….”

He can’t finish his sentence, and I can’t blame him.

I sneer. “Before I killed hi, the fucker admitted a woman paid him to rape my girl.” Dad’s eyes widen, knowing two women who would love to hurt my girl. “Last night, Brook finally admitted that she believes it was either Momma or Nina. Momma is the reason my girl won’t give me more than her fucking body, I just know it, and I know I shouldn't have grabbed her throat or called her a whore. I just....” I shake my head. “Why in the fuck is she so against Brook, against the club? What has Nina got that’s so good, huh?”

My dad shakes his head. “I don’t know, son, I don’t fucking know, but I promise, I’ll find out.”

I sigh, place my shades on, and state, “I need to go. Brook’s dog, Shadow, passed away today, and no one can find her. I can’t deal with Momma being fucking dramatic to make me feel guilty.”

Dad curses, knowing the significance of the animal, then nods, and I spin out of the club parking lot, Phil opening the gate for me.

Ten minutes later, I’m pulling up near Devil’s Rose bar. My eyes go to the alleyway, and I see her white sneakers. I sigh, my body deflating in relief.

Climbing off my bike, I put my shades on my head, and walk over to her. I can hear her sobs, and my heart breaks.

She’s sitting against the wall, her head leaning on her bent knees, her body shaking. She’s still in her scrubs.

Fuck.

“Angel,” I rasp, causing her to look up. Her tears coat her cheeks, her eyes puffy.

“James,” she sobs, and I quickly squat in front of her.

I pull her up into my arms, lifting her. She wraps her legs around my waist, her arms around my neck, her face pressing into it as she sobs.

“I’m here, baby, I’ve got you….” I whisper. “I’m so sorry, Angel….”

She sobs harder, her body trembling.

A few hours later, I’m watching Brook sleep in my bed. I brought her home with her wrapped around me like a koala—I do not recommend riding that way; honestly, I thought I was going to crash more than once. Then, after getting Timmy, our prospect, to pick up her truck and bring it to mine, I took my truck to her apartment, picked up half of her belongings, Sammy and the pups, her father helping me load everything up, and brought it all back here.

This is it now, no more running, and if she tries, I’ll run fucking faster to catch her.

She stirs in her sleep, and I hold her close from where she’s laying half on my body, mine leaning up against the headboard. The pups are all crowded around the foot of the bed, Sammy laying on the floor near the head of the bed.

I move Brook’s hair out of her face, fucking hating seeing her so distraught. How in the fuck am I going to help her heal from this kind of loss? Shadow was her best friend, her everything.

Sighing, I lean my head back right as my phone buzzes, and I quickly answer it, not looking at the screen.

“Hello?” I answer quietly, not wanting to disrupt my girl.

“How’s Brook?” Snake asks.

I sigh. “Not too good. She’s asleep now, and I’ve moved her in without telling her.”

Snake chuckles a little, knowing she’s going to kick my ass, before saying, “Prue stabbed Doc.” My eyes widen, and I sit up gently, hoping not to wake Brook, and he continues, “She went for him, and none of us moved; we knew he had her, but then Ken got in the middle, and Doc ended up tackling the bitch. The knife went into his stomach. Thankfully, Kennedy managed to save him with the help of Quinn’s dad over the phone; he’ll be alright.”

Anger courses through me. “And Prue?”

He chuckles darkly. “Currently tied to a chair in the outhouse.”

I nod ,even though he can’t see me. I snap, “Honest to fucking God, Snake, we need to get rid of these clubwhores and hang arounds, they’re becoming too fucking problematic, and while we’re at it, we need new rules; no more fraternizing between employers and employees, because this shit is getting old.”

He sighs. “Already got it on the agenda for church. Even if we keep the clubwhores, stricter rules will be implemented. The no fraternizing rule is a must, I think, because you're right, brother, this is getting old.” He grunts. “Look, I just wanted to inform you that your dad has moved into the club permanently, and this time not by his doing. She kicked him out. He and your momma had a big blowout. She’s adamant she didn’t set Brook up and told your father she wished she never married him, knowing he can think so little of her. Brother, I know you think she may have had something to do with it, but fuck, she was adamant, and the hurt on her face when everyone in the club believed she could do that....”

He trails off, and I bite my lip. I know what he’s getting at. If she had something to do with it, Momma would have let it slip within a few hours.

Sighing, I rasp, “All right, thanks for letting me know.”

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