Page 24 of Thunder

Either way, it was about the woman who was already under his skin. He actually didn’t want to stay for shit, but there he sat.

He no sooner said the words when Taps and Blast started in. Mostly telling him what a piece of shit he was. He tuned them out mostly. He knew he wouldn’t get out of that room until his brothers said their piece.

Taps took a breath and that’s when he heard Blast proclaim. “Fuck you, you asshole. I wanted to see her tits last night but not like that.”

Maybe it was the hangover-shots combo that did it, or perhaps his words actually hit him. His brain was disengaged, but the rest of him went into autopilot. He dove across the table and went for Blast’s throat.

Unlucky for him, his alcohol-soaked body was slow, and Pound was fast. Thunder leapt over the table, but Pound grabbed his leg right when he was within striking range, dragging him back across the carved phantom. That shit didn’t feel good as his shirt rode up.

“What the fuck, man? You act like a grade-A asshole to a woman I invited here and then you swing on me? I should’ve kicked your ass before she even got on Taps’ sled. But she asked me not to.”

By now they were both standing with the table between them. Pound had his hand on his shoulder in case he tried to hurdle the table again. “You’re just mad you didn’t get to hit it.”

Blast turned his gaze to Granite who still sat at the head of the table letting his veep handle their scuffle. “Has he always been this clueless?”

Granite raised a hand and bowed out of answering.

“Yes,” Pound answered for him, but his gaze never left Thunder’s.

“Dude, I knew before we ever walked through the door it wasn’t a date. She’s the most upfront chick I’ve ever met. But you threw her out of your room in her underwear. Her fucking underwear, man. Into a room full of single horny bikers who most were still lit. You yelled so loud about honesty and games, but from where I stood, she wasn’t the one playing.”

Blast’s words were a gut punch. They had him questioning everything and reliving the past at the same time. He wasn’t ready for that. He also wasn’t prepared for his brothers to come down on him this hard.Not right now. Not today. Of all fucking days, not today.Blast didn’t know what today was, but Pound did. Which was probably why he gave his shoulder a squeeze every so often.

Thunder had to quell the flood of emotions washing over him. If he didn’t, he’d either get blackout drunk or end up in a blackout rage. It was too late to go to Ozzy’s and get fights. So, he said words that tasted like acid in his mouth. He tried to swallow them, but his anger had surged.

“Don’t be mad at me over easy p—” Thank God, Pound was predictable and threw one hell of a left hook. One reason his road name was Pound. It was how they’d met. Pound sponsored him into the Phantoms. He didn’t spend that kind of time with the man and not learn what makes him tick.

“Son of a mother whore.” The double vision of Pound said as he shook three hands. “Fucker’s face got harder since he shaved.”

Blast and Taps came around and none too gently pulled him to his feet and sat him in the chair. A loud whistle split the air and a few seconds later, Trixie stuck her head in the half-open door and disappeared. It wasn’t long before Taps smashed a bag of frozen vegetables against his throbbing jaw. “You’re lucky Trixie brought you peas, I would’ve slapped some dead cow on it out of spite.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Thunder slurred.

“Of course not, cows are friends, not food. But I would’ve thought about it for a hot second. What’s with you, man? I’ve known you a while now and this ain’t you.”

Granite came around. At least there was only one of him. Pouring shots for all, he raised the glass and repeated. After three shots down, he spoke. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m with Taps, what’s up? I only seen you this tied up in knots once, and that was over some chick from Rage Cage. You suddenly get over her after three years?”

What was he supposed to say to that? ‘Nope, but I called her a lying slut and threw her out of my room in her underwear last night.’ Hard pass. Thunder grunted like he was still half-conscious, he kinda was. He would keep his secret. No one had to know. Thunder would roll over to Horns, ask Ripley about her. And if she checked out and wasn’t a danger to his brothers, he’d apologize, peace out, and no one would need to know Andy was her. They would never realize what a colossal mistake he’d made. What looked like a life-altering one through the cold lens of sobriety. Well, not sober anymore. Shit, she’d stolen just a minuscule piece of his soul back in that locker room, and he cast the rest of it behind her out the door last night.

“Not over her,” Pound spoke. “Well, maybe over, under, behind. . .” He trailed off.

What the hell is he. . .oh shit. He was there.

Taps was the first one to catch on. “Well, I’ll be a screaming teen at a Bieber concert.” All heads in the room whipped in his direction. “What? I’m secure enough in my masculinity to admit that the Bieb can bring it.”

No one else said anything. “Oh, y’all missed the point. Let me draw you a diagram.” Everyone, even Thunder, groaned at Taps.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Andrea is the chick from the fights. She’s the one I was so obsessed with, okay? Now, can I please go to my room, Dad?”

Granite shot him a warning glare as he stormed out. He heard Pound trying to smooth shit over. “You know he don’t mean it, Prez. We all get like this one day a year and we get a pass. This is his. It just lined up with woman trouble.”

Pound wasn’t wrong, Granite gave everyone a free pass once a year since they all had days to get through.

Thunder’d never cashed his in before.

12

ANDREA

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