Page 576 of The Tempted

By the time I pulled the van up to the Dog Pound I was exhausted, crashing from the booze and the mental anguish. I wanted to sleep for the next three days and if I was lucky when I finally awoke, the war would be over.

Fat chance.

I slammed the door of the van and damned the fucking thing to hell.

If I never had to drive a cage again it would be too soon.

The parking lot was relatively empty reminding me, Jack was due to go up to Otisville to visit Vic. Pipe was spending more time at the garage trying to expand and Wolf was searching the map for recruits, leaving Riggs and Bones in charge of the home front.

God help us all.

I entered the clubhouse, spotted Bones on the phone and tipped my chin in acknowledgement before heading towards the stairs. I reached the landing where Riggs was pacing back and forth in front of my door.

“What’re you doing?” I asked, scratching the scruff that lined my jaw. He lifted his head and his eyes narrowed as he studied me.

I could only imagine what I looked like.

“Man,” he hissed. “What the fuck happened?”

“Get out of my way,” I ordered.

“You look like you fell off the wagon,” he commented.

He should only know.

“What are you my sponsor now?” I dropped my duffel bag on the floor, shrugged my jacket off and viciously rolled up my sleeves, turning my forearms up. “Not a fucking mark. Now get the fuck out of my way Riggs,” I growled.

“Black, I’m just concerned is all,” he said, pulling off his baseball hat and scratching his head.

“Appreciate it but I’m not your fucking problem,” I argued.

“Speaking of problems,” he started.

“What?”

“You have a visitor,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the door. “Bones thinks she came by so I could help her fix her laptop.”

“Yeah? And how’d she get in my room?”

“Pop-A-Lock?” he suggested.

I glared at him with my dry eyes that burned like a motherfucker. Did he expect me to believe she called a fucking locksmith, and he wasn’t the one who let Lacey inside my room? This kid was a character, bitchin’ about getting mixed up with me and Lacey but then he picks my fucking lock and covers for her.

Idiot.

“Thanks,” I muttered as he stepped aside, allowing me room to open the door. He patted me on the back as I drew in a ragged breath and watched him walk down the hallway.

I opened the door and was greeted by the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

I guess the devil wanted to fuck me a little harder, sharpen the blade before he twisted it deeper.

Lacey was sitting on my bed with her bare legs crossed, wearing nothing but one of my black t-shirts. She turned her head, brushed her long wavy hair away from her face as she smiled sheepishly at me.

“Welcome home,” she started.

I didn’t respond as I kicked the door closed and dropped my bag on the floor. I didn’t bother to brush away my hair that fell wildly around my face, hiding my bloodshot eyes.

“Black— “

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