Page 20 of Wolf.e
I guess gunshots and things blowing up are normal around here?
I mentally scold myself for allowing myself to come.
“Have another drink,” Layla says, handing me something fruity looking.
“Breathe. It’s just a daiquiri. Remi makes the best ones in the entire town.” She sends a friendly wink and smile to the redheaded woman behind the bar as “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes begins to play over the speakers.
I look around at the party in full swing, outside dramatics long forgotten. I try my best to force my body to return to its normal pace. My heart has been beating rapidly and I’ve been clammy for the better part of a half hour. Less than a month ago, I was watchingThe Real Housewiveson my sofa in Atlanta eating ice cream. I take a sip of the daiquiri that goes down super easy and actuallyisreally good.
When the lyricsHounds of Hellplay through the speaker, the whole crowd sings along.
I shake my head as I look around, resigning myself to soak up some of the energy of the rowdy, carefree crowd. There’s no question I’m in some sort of alternate universe here.
Screw it. I take another sip. If I have to stay here all night long, I might have another six of these daiquiris. It certainly seems easier than coping with the danger lurking everywhere I turn.
Chapter 9
Gabriel
I watch as Rick, our club’s resident doctor, wraps the piece of shit DOS prospect’s hand. I don’t need this fucker bleeding all over the place.
“Knock me out…” he whines around his gag.Pussy.
“It’s just a couple fingers.” I clap him on the back and lean forward. “You have eight more. Wait until it’s your kneecaps. You’ll be ready to die then,” I add.
He starts to hit his head against the interior wall of the van—trying to knock himself out, I presume.
I roll my eyes. “Jesus Christ, that won’t work, dipshit.” I turn to Rick. “Got something to help put the baby here to sleep? I don’t want to worry about him for the rest of the night. I’ve had a fuck of a long day already.”
“Will do.” Rick nods, heading to his medical bag.
“This all has to happen the fucking night before my wedding?” Ax asks as he approaches, acting appropriately annoyed. I know he secretly lives for this shit. He stops to tuckhis gun into his holster at his back. “The rest of the perimeter is secure. I have no idea how this fucker got in…but you’re going to tell us, aren’t you?” he adds before grabbing the intruder by the hair. “There could’ve been women or kids out here, you motherfucker.” He bounces his head off the side of the van wall.
I shake my head. Exactly what the dipshit wants.
“We’re going to get the answers we want out of him…but not until tomorrow,” I say, mostly just pissed off that he is pulling me away from my little fixation I was just starting to get to know.
I turn to my prisoner. “You spend the night dreaming of how loyal you plan to be for a club you don’t even belong to yet.”
He whimpers behind his makeshift gag.
“And don’t worry. Tomorrow, you’ll have some company. You play your cards right, maybe you’ll live.” I let him in on the little secret we’re bringing in a friend for him.
“Wolfe,” Ax says from beside me. “Kai is already getting what you want, and the party’s back on.”
I nod.
“No outsiders leave here until tomorrow, if brothers want to leave that’s fine, but anyone who can’t protect themselves stays,” I announce, not chancing anyone getting hurt on the way out. My mind specifically goes to the woman I just pushed behind Mason in the hallway. I blink and shake it off.
“It’ll be easier to see what’s what and scope our surrounding woods in the light of day,” I add.
“That’s going to be at least fifty people,” Ax says.
“It’s fine. We have the space,” I say casually with a shrug. “Tell Kai to start letting people know.”
I look toward the back of the van.
“You’re here for the night; as soon as he starts to stir, give him another,” I say to Rick as he injects the prospect. “He can stay asleep straight through until after the wedding. This is a tomorrow night problem.”
