Page 17 of Aftershock's Fury

“Someone call for backup and Aftershock,” Gunny says with a chuckle. “Where are you going?”

“Mat Su’s Taproom,” Loki answers. “Shit, cuz, are you trying to get men killed?”

I ignore them all and head into the kitchen where Rylan hides his whisky. I pull out the bottle and a shot glass. After pouring myself a drink, I throw it back, feeling the burn slide down my throat and the calm wash over my nerves. I’m not used to exposing this much of myself, but I want to have fun. I turn,put the whiskey back in its hiding spot, and place the shot glass in the sink.

“Oh, dear God, he’s going to kill someone before the night’s through. Who the fuck tattooed your ass, Princess?” Icarus says as he walks up behind me.

Loki comes over and takes a look.

“Nice. Wait, is that?” He straightens and looks at me.

“Yep, lyrics to Mom’s favorite song. Daddy wouldn’t have been happy when I got it done, but he liked the idea when I told him I was going to do it. He also said any man close enough to read it better put a ring on it.” I joke with Loki.

“Fuck no,” Icarus says.

“I’m ready to go. I want to have fun, and this is what I’m wearing.”

“Are you sure, Harley? This is…” Loki waves a hand up and down my body.

“Yep. Let’s go.” I head for the door and tell Fezzik to stay when he tries to follow.

As we walk outside, Rylan pulls up. His eyes bug out at my outfit, but I don’t care. I’m a grown woman, and sometimes we dress like this.

I climb into the passenger seat of Loki’s truck, and we drive across the valley to the small community of Palmer. It sits in the shadow of Pioneer Peak, one of the most photographed mountains in Alaska. Palmer is close to where we lived before Sutton.

They turned the old Mat Maid Creamery into a brewery. When we park, several motorcycles pull up next to us, and I look at my cousin.

“You just couldn’t do this by yourself?”

“Nope. I needed backup. I promised Shock you’d be taken care of tonight.”

“I’m not his yet. I can do whatever I want.”

He scoffs and walks around the truck to help me out. The other guys join us. It’s the same guys who were already at the house, plus Vortex, Miner, and Romeo.

“I’m a lucky girl to have this many escorts.” I giggle, loving how nervous they’re all acting.

We get a large table, and they maneuver me into the corner. I don’t like it, so I move to another seat and cross my legs. I have good legs thanks to all the sports I used to play and the constant workouts I did while in isolation. I have actual cuts in my abs now, and my calves and thighs are tight and toned.

“Hello, sweet girl.”

I look up to see Cy standing there.

“They called you too? They can’t handle having a little sister.”

“Girl, you know what you’re doing, don’t you?”

“Fuck, yeah.” I giggle, and Cy sits down next to me, shaking his head.

“Shock can’t get his property patch on her quick enough if this is what we are going to deal with.” Romeo laughs.

I take a sip of my beer. I’m not usually a fan, but the blueberry one is surprisingly good. We order food, and after a while, I get up to use the restroom.

As I step out, a man is waiting. Something feels off. He reaches for me, but I’m prepared. I hunch my shoulders so he can’t grab my neck and tuck my head forward to keep it from slamming into the wall when he pushes me.

“There’s a price on your head, Princess. Dead or Alive, preferably alive because they want to have fun with you,” the man says.

I cover his hand on my shoulder and wrap my other hand around his wrist. I pull at his fingertips, putting all my strength into it when one starts to give. He rears back to punch me, but I release his wrist and raise my arm to block the hit.

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