“Why do you sound mad?”
He blew out a breath that might have held some humor to it. “When men get hurt, we funnel it into anger. I hate that you’re hurting.”
“But that doesn’t mean you’re hurt,” I murmured.
“No, but it kills that I can’t sayIwill be the one to run with you or thatIwill get your ass to the gym when you don’t feel like it. And it isn’t because I don’t want to do that, because Iabsolutelywant to do that - it’s because we’ll be in different cities - at least for a little while.”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“So, after Beast and I take care of some things tonight, you want to go get drunk? Might be able to talk Beast into being our designated driver. Or do you want to hang here and tie one on?”
With a wan smile, I shook my head. “I can’t get drunk tonight. I have my last two finals on Thursday, and I plan to study in the morning. It’s a bitch to study with a hangover.”
He brushed his lips against my forehead. “Got it. Do you need to call anyone? Mutual friends? If you want to go to the gym, I’ll take you.”
I shook my head. “No, on the gym, but I should call our friends. They deserve to know.”
Chapter twelve
Bluffed
Rafferty
Alexandracalledseveralfriendsto let them know that Ines had passed away. Hearing Lex’s side of the conversations hurt, and I wished like hell I could make the calls for her, but I couldn’t. Every effort I made to soothe her felt ineffective, but something was better than nothing.
As I sat there with my arm around Alexandra’s shoulders, trying to comfort her, I’d lost track of how much time had passed since I spoke to Blood. Someone knocked at the door, and I cursed.
“Who do you think that could be?” she asked.
I let her go. “I’m about to find out.”
I opened the door to Beast and Tundra. Rather than open it any wider, I stepped out into the breezeway, pulling the door closed behind me. “Hey. You two must have sped the whole way.”
Beast cocked a brow. “No. The two of us were out in Middleburg when Blood called. We hit the lights just right. Is there a reason you aren’t letting us inside?”
I lowered my voice. “Her friend didn’t make it. We just found out a little over an hour ago. She’s been calling their friends to let them know.”
“Fuck,” Beast muttered.
“She lived here, too, right?” Tundra asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go inside.”
Beast earned his road name because he was too handsome - though he was very strong and well muscled, like a beast. He’d patched in with the Biloxi brothers, but transferred to Jacksonville later. He had two kids with his old lady - both boys. I had a feeling he’d always wanted a daughter because he had a soft spot for all the daughters of his Riot brothers.
“Alexandra, you holding up all right?” he asked, grabbing her hands.
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “One thing at a time, right?”
He hugged her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“Me, too, Beast.”
He let her go, and Tundra moved in to give her a bear hug. “You call us anytime if you need anything, you got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Tundra shot a look at Beast. “Sir.” He tipped his head toward me. “Hasheever called us ‘sir’?”
