Page 13 of Hell Bent

Making the decision not to give anyone ammunition to talk shit about her, Sway made her way to the bar. She took her time, glancing in store windows that were already putting together their holiday decorations. Fuck, she’d forgotten the holidays were coming up. Maybe she’d close the shop and leave town. Hide out somewhere and pretend it was just another day instead of sitting in her apartment, no doubt still feeling sorry for herself.

Twenty minutes later, Sway walked past the window-lined pub. She saw Lottie and her boyfriend standing with some of the other people from the funeral. Everyone was laughing and having a grand time. The bar was a narrow building with a long, straight bar running along one wall. Stools were lined up like a row of silent soldiers. High top tables lined the opposite wall, and four booths flanked each end of the establishment.

Tucking her head, Sway wrapped her gloved hands around her waist, holding her jacket tight to her body as she moved along the sidewalk. Passing the glass door, she caught Lottie’s eye. Now, she had to go inside. The door came open as two men stumbled out into the evening air, almost running her over. She heard the catcalls and whistles as they moved past her. Breathing in, she held her temper. Instead of slamming the two fools with harshwords, she stepped into the small alcove that covered the entrance.

A commotion caught her attention from across the way. Peering out from the alcove, she saw motorcycles lining the street. She watched as men leaned and sat on bikes drinking. They seemed to be celebrating. She couldn’t read the patch on the back of their jackets, but she was sure it was the name of their gang embossed across it.

Sway let her mind wonder a minute about what their lives were like. Were they hardened criminals? Were they upstanding citizens pretending to be warriors clad in leather? Smirking, she decided whatever they were, she would never know. Turning, she faced the door of the bar and pulled it open.

Swank jazz music and the chatter of patrons filled the room. Stepping inside, warm air wrapped around her as the door shut out the cold wind. The feel was comforting. Unwrapping the scarf from her neck, she let it hang down as she unbuttoned her long coat and shrugged out of it.

“Give me your coat and you take this.” Lottie handed her a drink. “Oh my god, your hands are freezing.”

“I walked over from my apartment.” Not wanting to hear Lottie chastise her, Sway changed the subject. “What is it?” she asked about the drink.

Lottie was worried about her best friend. Tesh and Sway were all each other had when it came to family. Without her brother, Sway would be struggling with things. Nothing the girl couldn’t handle, but enough to make Sway stumble. “Something to make you forget about your broken heart.”

“Keep the drink. I’ll hang on to my broken heart.”

Following Lottie farther into the room, she hugged, smiled, and listened to everyone who had something to say about her brother. She appreciated the sympathies, empathies, and well wishes from everyone. If it wouldn’t have been frowned upon, Sway would have gone straight home. Instead, she now sat in a corner booth with her hand wrapped around a warm glass of beer.

She stayed for an hour and then slipped out silently as the shop employees, her brother’s friends, along with Lottie and her boyfriend, Dawson Franks, partied. Walking along the sidewalk, she focused on the other pedestrians and the few cars driving by. Old Montreal was an area where most folks walked everywhere. Her place was three blocks up and two blocks over, a quick walk for most. Wrapping her arms around herself, she huddled against the brutal winds, thinking she should have driven.

Stepping out of a local bar, Vicious was done celebrating the life of a fallen friend. The guy had been a stand-up dude when it came to having his friends’ backs. He was also one hell of a damn bike mechanic. The club had heard through the grapevine that he’d been killed in an accident. They didn’t attend the services at the cemetery to avoid causing Tesh’s family any unease. A few dozen bikers sometimes did that to people.

Moving into the street, he saw the hellcat from the party leaving a bar. A hooded figure ahead of her crossed the street, heading straight for her. Vicious moved down the sidewalk, keeping an eye on both the female and themystery man. Knowing Player was across the street and Joker was behind him, he let his instincts take over. As the individual angled toward her in a deliberate move, Vicious went on high alert.

Sway glanced up momentarily to see someone stepping up on the sidewalk. Easing closer to the building, she attempted to let the other pedestrian get by. In a blink, she found herself shoved against the brick wall. The hood fell back, allowing her to look into the face of Jerome Michel. “I thought I’d find you in the bar toasting Tesh,” he said, leaning into her.

Sway struggled to get out of his grip. “Let go of me, you asshole.”

“I’m not letting you go. You need a man to teach you your place.” Sway shoved at Jerome, trying to get him off her. “Keeping fighting, I like it.”

His breath hot on her face as he leaned even closer made her stomach flip. Turning her face away as he tried to kiss her, she felt his tongue dart over her scar. Raising her knee fast and hard, she caught him in the balls. Before he could retaliate, Jerome was being slammed into the wall.

Quick hands pulled Sway back. She barely saw the guy’s face before being shoved behind him, but she didn’t miss the wink or the smirk he gave her before her vision was blocked by his broad back. Going up on her tiptoes, her eyes went wide as she recognized the leather-clad guy from the Royal Bastards. Dropping back a few feet, she saw the man in front of her sporting a patch on his back that read ‘Royal Bastards MC’.

Sway managed to get a bird’s eye view of Jerome being handled like a punk bitch by mister green eyes.Vicious . . .his name is Vicious, she reminded herself. How could she forget it? She’d been staring at it every night for the past week. She’d run her fingers over the deep black print of the business card a hundred times. With her eyes on him and her hand perched on his friend’s shoulder, Sway waited and listened.

“Listen to me, fucker. You come around this girl again or any of your friends come around her and you’ll answer to me.” Vicious slapped Jerome in the head, getting his attention. “Do you know who I am?”

“Yeah,” Jerome groaned, still holding his balls.

“Who am I?”

“Vicious. You’re a Royal Bastard.”

“That’s right, I am.”

“Now, get your ass gone before I don’t let you go.”

Jerome scurried down the street, only looking back once. Vicious was sure the weasel wouldn’t listen to him. He needed information on the guy. Turning to face Sabine, he saw she was peering from behind Player. Joker walked up from the opposite direction.

“Are you okay?” Vicious tried asking her with Player’s big ass in his way. “Player, move.”

“Yeah. Okay.” Player stepped aside, keeping his eyes on their surroundings. Glancing down the street, he noticed more of the brothers were paying attention. Evidently, Vicious yelling at the punk had been loud enough for everyone to take notice. He signalled all good and motioned for Joker to give Vicious some space.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” He’d go find the dick and break his hands if he so much as bruised her.

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