Page 42 of Three Little Words

“For the coke.”

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment. “Okay. Okay. So, you have a problem.”

“Calling it a problem makes it sound like I want it to stop.”

“Okay, well, I’m telling you that it needs to stop, Bryan.”

He sighed. “God, you’re such a bitch.”

“Sure am.” I sighed, shaking my head. “This is why I didn’t want you getting involved with a motorcycle club, Bryan. You have to get out.”

“You think they’ll just let me leave?” He sounded more alert than before. “It’s not gonna happen, Bryn. People don’t just walk away.”

“Okay, well…”

I paused when I heard a car pull up. I couldn’t see the driveway, but it had to be Benny. I swallowed and shouted, “We’re in the back. Just walk around!”

A moment later, he appeared, wearing pajama pants and a sweatshirt. He was here, though. That’s all that mattered.

“Holy shit.” Benny came closer, crouching down next to me. He looked seriously at Bryan. “What happened?”

“He got beat up. Somebody in the King’s Devils.”

Benny frowned. “Who?”

Bryan shook his head. “Dunno.”

“You don’t know, or you won’t say?”

Bryan huffed. “I don’t know. It was, like, five dudes.”

Benny frowned.

But he didn’t say anything else.

I swallowed. “Benny, can you help me get him inside?”

“Yeah.”

Together, Benny and I lifted Bryan to his feet, supporting him on either side. We walked him inside and to his room, helping him into bed.

Benny lingered for a minute. He looked at Bryan, frowning. “Does the club know about this?”

He shook his head. “If the whole club knew, I’d be dead already.”

Benny nodded once. “You rest. Okay?”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Benny put a hand on my shoulder and guided me out of the room.

“Benny, what are we gonna do?” I looked up at him, eyes still stinging.

Benny squeezed my shoulder. “I got somebody I can talk to. Okay?”

“Who?”

“Don’t worry about it. Um, just let me handle it.”

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