Page 16 of Battling Aries

“I’m thinking of just ordering in. I need to make some phone calls,” I tell him. I need to find out some things, and there are only a few people who can answer them without me going to Rory. If I can get those answers, then I can put the shit out of my head until I get back to her.

The way I left wasn’t ideal, and, in all honesty, I don’t give a fuck if it hurt her more than she was already feeling. I was having to deal with all this for the first time, and she had no right to keep the fact she’d lost our kid.

“You’re gonna call Fox, aren’t you?”

Only a handful of people know about my brother, Fox, but only Wolf knows I have a way of contacting him. Fox disappeared off grid years ago. I hadn’t even seen him, but he reaches out every so often with a code that tells me he’s alive. It’s the only reason I let him keep himself off grid without finding his ass and beating the hell out of him for his disappearing act. I also know that when it comes to my little brother, he’s got a skill set that only a few know about. I need those skills. I also need to ask him what he remembers about Rory when I left for basic training.

“Yeah, I’m gonna call him,” I confirm.

“Right then, you make the call. I’ll check us in and order us a pizza.”

Nodding, I watch Wolf head for the hotel entrance, and I pull my phone out of my pocket along with the little metal tin case I keep my pre-rolled joints. I’m gonna need something to ease the rage flowing through my veins. I pull one of the joints out and put it to my lips.Scrolling through my contacts with one hand, I shove the case back in my pocket and pull my lighter out.

I find Fox’s number as I light the joint. On the first inhale, I touch the call icon and stare at the dark sky.

“This better be good for you to call me,” Fox answers after only the first ring, his voice harsher than I remember it being.

“What do you remember happened to Rory before she split?” I demand, getting right to my reason for calling.

“So, the rumor’s true. She’s at the clubhouse.” He snorts.

“Answer my question,” I tell him, not playing games.

“That’s something I’ll have to do in person. You at the clubhouse, or did you take off like you normally do when you get pissed?”

Damn, if my brother doesn’t know me so well.

“Left to go on a run for the club. She’s at the clubhouse under my brothers’ protection.”

“Keep her that way,” Fox orders and sighs. “Roger’s put out a bounty for her. He believes she’d go to you, but he’s smart enough not to come there himself.”

“Right,” I grunt and take another puff of the joint, “and let me guess, you took the bounty?”

“Of course, I did.” Fox sneers. “But not for the reasons you might be thinking. Send me the address where you’ll be. I’ll come to you.”

I give him the address to the hotel and know that come morning, he’ll be here if not before then. It’s been years since I’ve seen Fox, but he’ll know what I don’t, and I need him to give me the answers I’m looking for. If not, the battle waging inside me might win once and for all.

CHAPTER 10

RORY

Shifting in the hallway, slowly moving toward the voices filling the main room, I find myself more nervous than ever before.

After I said my piece to Aries and ran into the bathroom, I haven’t seen him since. He left.

I didn’t ask anyone about it. Nor did I tell anyone what was said between Aries and me. It’s no one else’s business. They didn’t need to know.

I hadn’t had the energy to deal with anyone else last night, so once I got myself together and knew he wasn’t coming back, I climbed into the middle of the bed and just allowed myself to sleep. It was restless, and I tossed and turned. I didn’t want to think about him, about what I told him. For years now, I’ve done my best not to think about any of what happened or that letter I’d had no choice but to write.

“He’s going to end up self-fuckin’-destructing, Prez,” the voice is one that sounds somewhat familiar, but I can’t be a hundred percent sure.

“That’s why you’re heading out to help Wolf make sure he keeps his head on straight,” Viper states.

I step into the main room, to see Cordelia standing just to the side, hands on her hips, glaring at another man. I assume he’s the one Viper is talking to considering Viper was also facing him. The man had a beautiful woman standing next to him, her arm around his waist, her eyes in my direction.

“Kevlar,” she whispers and nods toward me.

Great. Everyone twists to see me step into the room fully.

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