Page 9 of Faking it with the Bad Boy Bikers

CHAPTER 8

Nellie

I stood there, wrench in hand, looking guilty as hell, when my neighbors parked their bikes next to Beatrix. I noticed they got off their bikes faster than they had the night before, coming towards me with a healthy amount of suspicion and confusion on their faces. I realized I was still gripping the wrench and dropped it.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Seth’s deep voice was quiet, despite the anger filling it.

I looked down at Hammer and then down at his bike before looking back at him. “Would you believe me if I said he walked into a door?”

Hammer groaned near my feet and I casually stepped away from him, but not before picking up the wrench again. He brought his hands up to his face and let out a vicious string of curses. “Stupid bitch hit me.”

I cleared my throat and crossed my arms over my chest. “Can you blame me? Listen to him.”

Woodrow groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You hit him.”

I shrugged. “He was asking for it.”

“Goddammit.” Seth pulled out his wallet and flashed me a badge. “You really chose to assault the guy feet from where the entire sheriff’s department lives? You couldn’t have moved this party a few doors down?”

I felt the blood drain from my face.Theywere cops? I’d just admitted to assaulting someone to the cops? Shit.

Hammer was trying to sit up but it was clear he wasn’t feeling very good when he leaned over and vomited. That plus the way the right side of his face was already swelling and turning purple wasn’t great for my defense.

“We’re going to need to take this to the station and figure out what happened, Nellie.” Henry frowned down at me. “What the fuck were you thinking? Waylan could’ve come out here and witnessed you swinging a wrench around like a lunatic.”

A wave of shame was quickly chased away by a bigger wave of anger. “I was defending myself. He followed us from Arkansas. He had some stupid notion that I owed him and was going to go back with him. If Waylan happened to see me protecting myself from this asshole, I would’ve explained what happened. This asshole threatened her before. Should I have let him drag me away from here? Take me back to Arkansas so I could do what? Get on my knees and treat him the way he deserves? His words, by the way.”

“Little bitch took my bike apart.” Hammer finally caught a glimpse of said bike. “What… What the fuck happened to my bike?!”

Woodrow caught my arm and pulled me away from Hammer. “Come on. Henry and I will walk you to the station and I’ll drive the cruiser back to pick up Seth and this fuck.”

“Why do I need to go to the station? Can’t I just tell you what happened here? Waylan is inside. I can’t just leave her.” I glanced up and, sure enough, Waylan was coming out onto the porch.

“Hey!” She spotted the guys and her eyes went wide with happiness. “We made you cookies!”

I rushed over to scoop her up before she could get close enough to see Hammer. “How about you go inside and tell Ms. Vivian that everyone’s here?”

Seth waited until Waylan ran back inside to stand next to me and take my arm. “You assaulted a man, Nellie. You have to come down to the station.”

“Are you going to lock me up?” I glared up at him. “I was protecting myself.”

“Did he hit you?”

I looked away. “No.”

“Nellie…” He trailed his hand down my arm as he sighed. “If he presses charges and you just told me that he didn’t hit you, we’re going to have to book you. This fucking town just dealt with a piece of shit dirty sheriff. We can’t bend the rules.”

I winced when his fingers trailed over my wrist and then tried to take a step back when he looked down and went still. His entire demeanor changed. In an instant he transformed from intense and closed off to ice cold and downright scary. His blue eyes and dark lashes were almost haunting when he looked up at me again.

“Did he do this?”

I looked down and frowned at how ugly my wrist already looked. I’d been so freaked out I hadn’t felt it after the fact. “Yeah. He was dragging me to his bike.”

“We’re all going to the station, but we’re going to be taking a statement from Nellie and locking this piece of shit up.” He glared at my wrist and took a deep breath. “I need to take photos of this. Bring Waylan if you need to. We’ll make it a tour of the station or some shit.”

I looked back at Hammer and pulled my arm back to my side. “He probably needs a doctor. I hit him with a wrench and I didn’t hold back. As much as I hate him, I don’t want his death on my conscience.”

“You’re nicer than me.” He scowled. “You’re right, though. Fuck. Fine. We’ll get the cruiser and take him to the clinic before we come back and pick you up. I trust you won’t leave town in the meantime?”

---