Page 5 of Battling Aries

Fuck me.

There’s one thing our parents taught us, and that’s when we give our word, we never go back on it. No matter how much we might want to.

Of course, she’d use that card on me.

“How about you tell us what you heard the men saying,” Viper suggests, keeping a tight rein of his anger. Considering we’re the newest charter for the club, he doesn’t like anything that could potentially look bad on the club.

We already had to deal with the bullshit of that death match fight club and getting Rosemary away from the sick-ass fucker who thought he could control Kevlar’s woman.

I shove the thought away and focus solely on Cordelia. “Just tell us what you can, Cordy. I’m sure there are some things you can share.”

Cordelia glances around, getting that nervous look in her eyes, and draws her bottom lip in. That alone is a tell that sheknows plenty that she could spill. But what she’ll share? I’ve no damn clue.

Finally, she refocuses on me. “What I can share is that she never wanted to send you a Dear John letter. Rory didn’t want to break up with you, especially the way she did. She had no other choice. It was her choice to do it in order to protect you. There. I’ve said that, and that’s all I’m saying. I can’t tell you what the men were saying. I can’t tell you the reasons for what she did. That’s hers to share.”

“But the men were there to teach her a lesson and then take her back. To where?” Cyrus queries, brows furrowed. “What was Rory into?”

“I can’t tell you that part. The only thing I can answer in your questions is that Rory was a singer. She sung and danced.”

I knew Rory could sing. I used to love listening to her voice any chance I got. She’d sing along with the radio. That twang in her sweet, soft voice came out sometimes when it was a country song. Other times, it was like she was singing a melody. Then, there was the fact that she could also dance. Her body moving to the music could be hypnotizing. I’d been able to watch her for hours.

One of her favorite things had been dancing in the rain.

In fact, the day Rory turned eighteen, I’d taken her on a ride. We stopped off at some field where we set out a blanket and ate lunch. It started raining, and instead of getting back on the road, Rory got up and started laughing and dancing. Somehow, she’d gotten me to join her, and it ended up with us back on the blanket and me taking her virginity.

“So, she sang for a living?” I manage to ask, shoving the memories to the very back of my mind with the rest of them. I don’t need to be thinking about those days. Just as I don’t need to be worrying about what Cordelia revealed. For all I know, Rory lied to her about that shit too.

Cordelia slowly nods in answer rather than using words, at the same time biting down on her bottom lip. It means there’s more to that as well.

“Is there anything you can share with us, Cordy?” Wolf asks, leaning forward on the table.

I dart a glance at him, seeing the fierce look in his eyes. He’s not playing around with this shit either. Wolf is like a brother to me. Just as Kevlar is. I’ve known Kelvar since we were kids. Wolf and I met while in basic training. We clicked, and he and I have always had each other’s backs. Wolf had been there when I’d gotten the Dear John letter from Rory. He saw what that shit did to me.

“There’s nothing else I can share about the situation. I’ve said more than enough without going against my word.” Cordelia huffs and gets to her feet, hands planted on her hips. “Can I go see her yet? I need to check on her?”

“Gotta wait for Mace to say the word. No one goes in until he’s given the green light,” Viper tells her. “Why don’t you go ahead and crash in the room Jade set up for you. We’ll let you know when Mace has something to report.”

“Is this your way of saying you guys need to talk without me here?” Cordelia has a way of getting right to it even when she knows better than to butt in.

“Yeah, Cordy, we gotta talk. Club business, and you don’t need to be listening in,” I tell her.

Cordy huffs and rolls her eyes. “Whatever.” She starts toward the hall leading to where we have the rooms set up in the clubhouse, only to stop and turn toward all of us once again. “You better come get me when Mace has something about Rory.”

“We will.” I nod.

“Good.” She nods in return, and her eyes start to shimmer with tears. “And don’t be mean to her when she wakes up, Aries. I know what you think she did. What I thought she did. But it’snot at all what you or even I thought. She was doing what she thought she had to. For you. For . . . for . . .” She doesn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she pivots on her heel and races away. In doing so, my sister leaves me wondering what the fuck she meant by that last bit. What was it she didn’t finish?

“Want me to start looking into Rory?” Vulture asks, speaking up for the first time. The big bastard, no matter how huge he is in size, how deadly he can be, he’s silent. Moves without being heard, but also smart as shit. He kept to himself while we spoke to Cordelia. He simply listened.

“Aries?” Viper calls.

“I want to say no. I don’t give a fuck about the bitch.”

“But you want to know what the fuck is going on,” my Prez finishes for me.

“Yeah,” I confirm, nodding. “I think I need to know. Cordelia knew what Rory did to me. She knew I hated her. Hell, she hated her too. For her to want Rory back in her life, there’s definitely more to it, and I need to know. I don’t want to wait around until Rory gets around to filling me in. And Cordy ain’t gonna break her word.”

“Then I’ll start looking. I’ll have something in just a little bit for you.”

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