Page 89 of Ruckus

“Wait…” Ruck halts me again. “I just wanted to say, thanks. Freya standing up and giving that speech in front of everyone was hard for her. What ya said after was real nice.”

“I was just speakin’ truth, Ruck.” I didn’t know Davy for long, but I knew he was a good person. He wouldn’t want Freya carrying the weight of guilt for the rest of her life.

“I know, but she needed to hear it.” He looks over his shoulder to where his old lady is standing with Finn and Rocco. “I told Finn the club would take care of him until he’s ready to take on his first Montana member.” Ruck smiles.

“They’re proven to be just like him, huh?” I watch the way the brothers interact with her, making her laugh and proving the past is done.

“They’ve both been great about it. I think it brought ‘em a comfort to hear her story, gettin’ a gal outta trouble was always Davy’s favorite thing to do.” Ruck laughs.

“He did love being a hero.” I laugh with him.

I know Freya had spoken to the brothers before she announced to the club what actually happened before Davy went on his last run, and they showed what kind of men they were when they stood beside her as she made her confession to us all. It can’t have been easy for her, but anyone who knows how things were back then, would also know that Davy’s death can’t be pinned on her alone. He should have set up the Montana charter years ago, he always planned on going back to his roots, but he’d stayed here because Jimmer already knew he couldn’t trust Cliff. I believe Cliff knew that, it’s why things were always a little hostile between ‘em, and what went down with Ruckus’s old lady just gave Cliff another reason to have the trigger pulled.

“Finn thinks the guy that shot Davy was Cam,” Ruckus tells me, scratching his jaw. “ No one can account for him at that time, and we know he was workin’ with Cliff, now.”

“Makes sense.” I hate the fact we all trusted that fucker.

“Ruckus, come look at this, Finn found old pictures of you and Aaron when he was going through the photos Vex sorted,” Freya calls him over and he quickly runs to her beck and call. I’m starting to wonder what's happening to the brothers around here. Our president went home early, Wrath’s married with a kid on the way, and Ruckus actually put a ring on a girl’s finger. Shit’s gone fuckin’ crazy.

I make it out to my bike without being interrupted again and I raise my hand to Vike when I see him on gate duty and not looking happy about it.

“Not havin’ a prospect fuckin’ sucks,” he calls over before I can start my engine and I swear if he’s another guy who’s gonnagive me shit about Corey, he’s gonna learn real quick how sick I am of hearing it.

“We all gotta take a shift, Vike. I was on duty last night.” I slide my gloves over my hands and light myself a cigarette.

“Don’t know any young, trustworthy, guys keen to join a brotherhood, do ya?” He shakes his head and laughs. It’s been a while since he did that, Vike lost his best friend, and I think about Saul instead of pounding his head into the asphalt.

“No,” I tell him, balancing my smoke between my lips and revving up my engine.

I pull up outside the house and see Corey’s car on the drive, the only light that seems to be on is the one in his bedroom, and I’m hoping that means he won’t wanna talk about the fact we got an opening for a prospect. Him and Rocco are friends and he would have heard the news by now.

I head inside, moving through the dark to grab myself a beer. The fridge is always stocked with them instead of food, but I do spot a Tupperware container that no doubt came from Jean next door. She’s a busybody, but a kind one. She smiles and waves at Corey but avoids me at all costs. It’s pretty obvious that she feels sorry for him, you can see it in her face, and taste it in her fuckin’ pity food.

I place it back becasue it wasn’t made for me. Grabbing my beer, I head over to the couch. The door to Corey’s bedroom swings open and I stand static when his girlfriend tumbles out of it laughing.

Look away…Look the fuck away.My head is screaming at me but my eyes remain fixed on her body and the white lace underwear set she’s clearly wearing for my little brother.

“Oh, shit!” The laughter turns to horror as she covers herself with her hands and awkwardly curls her body. It’s still dark, but I can see enough for my dick to go fuckin’ hard. “I’m sorry, I was just heading for the bathroom.” She laughs nervously, and when Corey steps outta his room wearing just his boxers, he flicks on the light and makes the vision in front of me even harder to ignore.

“Shit… Dev, I was studying, I swear. Millie was just–”

“Goin’ to the bathroom,” I remind her, nodding my head toward the bathroom door and cursing myself when my eyes follow her.

“You don’t have to be so fuckin’ rude.” Corey looks pissed at me and I don’t respond, just take a seat on the couch and light myself another smoke.

“Don’t do that.” He shakes his head.

“My house, I’ll smoke if I wanna.” I shrug.

“I don’t mean the smokin’, I mean the disappointment. I’m just doin’ things that a normal guy my age would do and you're lookin’ at me like I’m committing a sin.”

From what I just saw that girlisa fuckin’ sin. I sure as hell feel like a sinner for the thoughts going through my head.

“But you ain’t a normal guy, Corey. You’re a fuckin’ genius.” I’m about to lecture him, but the bathroom door opens and I’m silenced when Millie comes back out wearing my fuckin’ robe.

“Sorry, I was… I think it’s best I go home.” She clutches it tight around her neck and blushes, before heading back to Corey’s room.

“No, babe, you should stay. It’s fine, right, Dev?” My brother looks at me and narrows his eyes.

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