Page 37 of T-Bone
He stood there, staring at me as if he couldn’t quite figure me out. “You’re talking a lot of shit for a bitch without a weapon.”
I smiled and then I nodded. “A real bitch doesn’t need a weapon to make you scared,” I began and then quickly pulled the gun from my hip holster. “But if it makes you feel better, it’s now two against one and even though you look like a dumb shit, I don’t think you’re that dumb. Are you?” The words hung in the air.
Nate trembled with rage. He didn’t want to die tonight but he also didn’t want to leave just because a woman told him to.
“Blade,” T-Bone said, his voice lower and angrier. “You’re leaving either way man. Own your own or on a stretcher. Maybe in a body bag if you piss me off bad enough.”
Nate glared at me. “This ain’t over bitch.”
“You’re right about that. See you around, chickenshit.” I smiled and gave a small finger wave that was guaranteed to piss him off.
Silence settled between us while Nate rushed off. Minutes later his bike sounded in the distance and that’s when T-Bone finally spoke. “You are a cruel woman, Faith.”
I laughed. “He needed to hear it and we need him on edge. He’ll be more dangerous but also more reckless.” I hoped so anyway.
Chapter Twenty-Two
T-Bone
“We’re not going to Shiloh Valley tonight.” I knew Faith would be disappointed, but I figured she would understand. The roar of Blade’s engine had barely faded so, of course, she would understand. Right?
“What?” She shook her head proving that she had no plans of being understanding. “What do you mean? We’re halfway there.”
“Yeah,” I nodded and folded my arms. “And who knows where the fuck Blade went. For all we know he circled back and is just waiting to follow us.” That motherfucker was crafty when it was important. “He’s not going to give up easily.”
Faith nodded this time before pinching the bridge of her nose. “I see, but what I can’t figure out is… oh. Shit.” Her eyes went wide, and she shook her head. “Of course. Ashley mentioned something in her diaries,” she muttered and shrugged off her backpack, rummaging around until she found her small notebook.
“She mentioned what?” My frustration grew but I kept my tone even.
At least I thought I did but her glare told me I did a terrible job. “Just hang on.” She flipped through pages upon pages of handwritten notes, going line by line with her finger until she found what she was looking for. “Yeah, she said that Nate grew up with Marcus and Victor so they’re more than biker brothers, they are orwerejust brothers in every sense of the word.”
“So you agree that we can’t head there tonight.” There was a little too much fucking hope in my voice and we both knew it.
“I don’t agree. I think it’s more important than ever that we get there now. Tonight. He’s determined, and we have to get to Gemma first.” She was so damn insistent I could see why she was a good detective.
“We need to lay low and leave when we are absolutely, dead fucking certain that nobody is following us.”
Faith nodded. “That’s why now is perfect. He just left and after what we said to him, he’s probably off licking his wounds and regrouping. We’re as in the clear right now as we ever will be.” There was a determined set to her jaw, and I knew we wouldn’t agree on anything tonight.
“Faith, you agreed to listen to me. To do what I say. That was the only condition of our partnership. You listen to me, and you do what I say. Remember?”
“That was so you wouldopen doors,” she shot back, emphasizing the last two words as a reminder. “This isn’t your world and I’m well-versed in making tactical decisions as you are. Maybe more.” She threw her hands up in frustration, her face red and her eyes fiery. She was hot as fuck in that moment.
Hot and annoying. Very fucking annoying.
We went back and forth for ten goddamn minutes before my patience snapped. “Get on the fucking bike, Faith.”
She sucked in a sharp breath and glared at me so hard that I’d have been dead if looks really could kill. “You know what? You go back wherever it is you’re so eager to go, without me. I’ll be fine.” She looked left and then right, sighing before she took off to the right.
I let out a low growl from deep in my gut and went after her, scooping her up over my shoulder before marching back to my goddamn bike. “Just remember that you did this, not me.” I set her on her feet, put the helmet on her head and stared at her.
“High handed bully,” she grumbled but she didn’t leave again so I considered it a win.
“I’m not high handed, you’re just letting your emotions guide you which is what puts people, namely you and me, in danger.”
“It’s my niece who’s been missing for three years, oh and has a gang of killer bikers out for her blood. Of course my emotions are involved!” She folded her arms and said nothing else. She held on to the back of the bike—instead of me—the entire ride back to Steel City.
As soon as we arrived back at the clubhouse, she tried to storm off, but I reached for her. “Let me go.”
