Page 19 of Wolf.e

Twenty minutes later, someone has turned the music back on and people have started to drink again like nothing was even wrong. Mason pulls his phone out and reads a text then stands.

“You’re free to go, there’s no threat. Just one thing. You can’t leave the building tonight. You have to wait till morning.” He looks to Layla. “And you’ll be escorted to your house to get what you need before we leave for Tybee,” he says.

Layla isn’t bothered but I feel like I might throw up.

Not a chance I’m sleeping here.

“No way, that wasn’t part of the deal,” I say to Layla, my voice a full two octaves higher than normal. “I don’t even have anything to sleep in,” I say which gets Mason’s attention.

Getting the hell out of here was my first plan the moment we got the go ahead.

“Shelly will have everything you need. It’s just a precaution, new girl. Don’t need people coming and going while we’re carving someone up out there,” Mason adds with a pat on my shoulder. I can’t tell if he means it.

“He doesn’t mean that,” Layla says. She must notice I’m terrified. The thing is, she says that but doesn’t look convinced herself.

I watch Mason walk away and ask myself how someone becomes that way. Goddamn terrifying is what it is. I follow Layla blindly, still a bit buzzed from my pre-dinner shots and wine. I’m pretty sure that alcohol is the only thing keeping me standing. We meet up with Chantel, Maria, and Amber on the way back to the bar and they also seem unfazed.

I guess gunshots and things blowing up are normal around here?

I mentally scold myself for allowing myself to come.

“Have another drink,” Layla says, handing me something fruity looking.

“Breathe. It’s just a daiquiri. Remi makes the best ones in the entire town.” She sends a friendly wink and smile to the redheaded woman behind the bar as “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes begins to play over the speakers.

I look around at the party in full swing, outside dramatics long forgotten. I try my best to force my body to return to its normal pace. My heart has been beating rapidly and I’ve been clammy for the better part of a half hour. Less than a month ago, I was watching The Real Housewives on my sofa in Atlanta eating ice cream. I take a sip of the daiquiri that goes down super easy and actually is really good.

When the lyrics Hounds of Hell play through the speaker, the whole crowd sings along.

I shake my head as I look around, resigning myself to soak up some of the energy of the rowdy, carefree crowd. There’s no question I’m in some sort of alternate universe here.

Screw it. I take another sip. If I have to stay here all night long, I might have another six of these daiquiris. It certainly seems easier than coping with the danger lurking everywhere I turn.

I watch as Rick, our club’s resident doctor, wraps the piece of shit DOS prospect’s hand. I don’t need this fucker bleeding all over the place.

“Knock me out…” he whines around his gag. Pussy.

“It’s just a couple fingers.” I clap him on the back and lean forward. “You have eight more. Wait until it’s your kneecaps. You’ll be ready to die then,” I add.

He starts to hit his head against the interior wall of the van—trying to knock himself out, I presume.

I roll my eyes. “Jesus Christ, that won’t work, dipshit.” I turn to Rick. “Got something to help put the baby here to sleep? I don’t want to worry about him for the rest of the night. I’ve had a fuck of a long day already.”

“Will do.” Rick nods, heading to his medical bag.

“This all has to happen the fucking night before my wedding?” Ax asks as he approaches, acting appropriately annoyed. I know he secretly lives for this shit. He stops to tuck his gun into his holster at his back. “The rest of the perimeter is secure. I have no idea how this fucker got in… but you’re going to tell us, aren’t you?” he adds before grabbing the intruder by the hair. “There could’ve been women or kids out here, you motherfucker.” He bounces his head off the side of the van wall.

I shake my head. Exactly what the dipshit wants.

“We’re going to get the answers we want out of him… but not until tomorrow,” I say, mostly just pissed off that he is pulling me away from my little fixation I was just starting to get to know.

I turn to my prisoner. “You spend the night dreaming of how loyal you plan to be for a club you don’t even belong to yet.”

He whimpers behind his makeshift gag.

“And don’t worry. Tomorrow, you’ll have some company. You play your cards right, maybe you’ll live.” I let him in on the little secret we’re bringing in a friend for him.

“Wolfe,” Ax says from beside me. “Kai is already getting what you want, and the party’s back on.”

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