Page 23 of Wild Card
“There were a lot of 'em with belly rings,” I point out, wondering if Byron’s got over what happened earlier yet. Maybe now he’s had some time to think about things, he’s understanding my logic.
The side glance he gives me a few seconds later tells me that he ain’t.
The place ain’t as busy as it was earlier, and since I got no reason to stick around, I decide to get back to the bar. I wannaknow how Ruby’s friend took the news about her brother, and be there for Ruby if it didn’t go well.
“Well, it’s been fun, but I got somewhere I need to be.” I finish my beer and start making my way to the door.
“Wait!” Byron’s voice bellows after me. “Where do ya think you're going?”
“To the bar, you told Earl I’d help out... remember?”
“I want you to stay clear of that Saunders girl; you’ve caused enough damage. I got a call from Derek Porter; his boy’s gonna be okay. But you messed up. Stop thinkin’ with ya dick.”
“Him and the girl are over. What she does now ain’t got shit to do with him,” I tell him, recalling the way Ruby gripped me tight as she rode the back of my bike. I never thought I’d see the day that I’d want a female on my saddle.
“Brett ain’t gonna let her go that easy. This is the Porter family. They always get what they want.” Hack laughs to himself, while Byron raises his shoulder and knocks back his whiskey.
“Then do somethin’ about it. Make a fuckin’ stand. The club should be who’s runnin’ this town.”
“You got a real loose fuckin’ tongue, Wild Card,” Prez warns. “Especially considering you know fuck all.” He stands up and comes toward me.
“You were sent here to do a job, now instead of chasin’ skirt, get out there and do it.” He gestures his head to the door, and I show no fear or fucks as I turn my back and leave.
I’ve never been one to do as I’m told, so I head straight back to the bar. It’s lookin’ busy, but Ruby’s coping, and when she sees me, she immediately gets a guilty look on her face.
“I much prefer it when you're blushin’,” I tell her, heading straight over so I can put my hands on her. It’s hard to believe that I’ve only known the girl for a few days. I can’t seem to get enough of her, and I actually think I missed her while I’ve been gone.
“Ash.” She looks at me as if I’m committing a sin and forces my arm away when I wrap it around her waist. I watch the way her eyes glance around the room to remind me that we’re not alone, and all I can do is smile. There ain’t a single look this girl has that I don’t like. Embarrassment just became my new favorite.
“Are you okay?” I check. She seems different to how she was when I left her, so I’m figuring things didn’t go well with Esmé.
“I’m fine, and I’m glad you're back. I need you to watch the bar until Earl’s home.” She starts untying her apron, then places it on the counter.
“You got somewhere you need to be?” I ask, laughing at how hasty she’s being, and when that guilty look spreads all the way to her eyes, I get the feeling I ain’t gonna like her answer.
“Ash, I don’t wanna get into this here… but what happened earlier was wrong,” she whispers so no one else around can hear.
“What part of it, baby?” I whisper right back at her. Doing my best to tease her playful side back out. She can deny it all she wants, but leaving that place with me earlier gave her a rush.
“All of it!” she hisses. “I shouldn’t have left Brett the way I did. I shouldn’t have let you kiss me, and I definitely should not have gotten on the back of your bike. Wendy’s already told half of town that she saw us together.”
I try to hide the grin on my face because she looks irresistible when she’s all flustered.
“Come on, darlin’, I thought riding the bike was your favorite part.” I go to rest my hand on her hip, but she backs away.
“I’m going to see Brett.” She rushes her words out, like she’s been holding them in for far too long, proving that my intuition was correct. I don’t like the fuckin’ answer.
“You'rewhat?” I have to be sure I heard her right.
“Esmé called. Brett was released from the hospital half an hour ago. I’m heading to the house to see if he's okay and sort out this mess,” she tells me, and I scrub my hand over my face while I try and figure this out.
“I get that you didn’t want him dead, Ruby. I kinda understand that you wanted me to leave his brains intact. But you wanna go to that jerk's house so you can check he’s okay?” I wait for her to make all this make sense.
“Listen, Ash, I appreciate your concern for me. But I can handle my own problems, and I need to fix this one.”
“I already fixed it. That low-life prick ain’t gonna touch you again.” I feel the frown of confusion on my face as I stare back at her.
“I love him,” she tells me, and it ain’t just her words that shock me; the way they sting does, too.
