CHAPTER 3
Dash
I secured the door and went back up to Phoenix’s office. Finding no one in there, I headed to the room where we have church. In there, I found Phoenix, Byte, Badger, Duke, Shaker, and Carbon. Carbon looked unsettled, very uncommon for our club’s enforcer. Byte was furiously typing away on his computer. Badger and Duke were sitting on either side of Phoenix who was clearly barely holding his shit together.
I took my designated seat and addressed the group, “She’s locked in the last cell on the right.” Despite how I acted toward the girl, I hated every second of having to drag her back inside and lock her up. I would never admit it to anyone, but I was damn impressed with the way she knocked me on my ass and then fought off Duke. I wondered where she learned to fight like that. It was obvious that she had been through some kind of training; her skills were far more advanced than mine.
Phoenix nodded and cruelly smiled, “Good.”
That pissed me off. He didn’t have to drag her down there kicking and screaming, then lock her away in a nasty cell while she sobbed on the floor.
I did.
I saw the fear in her eyes, not him.
I felt her shaking in my arms, not him.
Before I could think better of it, I stood from my chair, “You want to tell me why the fuck I had to lock that girl in a cell and leave her on the floor sobbing so hard she could barely breathe?”
Phoenix jumped to his feet, fists balled, “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to like that, boy?”
Oh, he wanted to play the always-respect-the-president card? I stepped closer to Phoenix. “I think I’m talking to a man who isn’t acting like the president I know,brother. You have never treated a woman like that. So tell me,Prez, what did she do to deserve this?”
Phoenix growled and started to move toward me. I stood my ground, didn’t even flinch. Badger and Duke jumped up quickly and got between us.
Badger, our club’s VP, took the lead, “Dash, sit the fuck down and show some respect.” He turned to Phoenix, “Phoenix, get your shit under control.” Quietly, he said, “I’m not sure what this is all about, but this ain’t like you. Take a step back and breathe, yeah?” Phoenix glared at him, but finally relented with a nod, and fell back into his chair.
A knock at the door helped break up some of the tension in the room. One of the prospects poked his head around the corner. “Carbon, your sister is here.”
Carbon lifted his chin, “Send her in.”
A beautiful woman with an expressionless face slowly entered the room. She found Carbon immediately and took quick steps toward him. She opened her mouth to speak, but Carbon cut her off, “Sit down, Reese. We need to ask you some questions.”
She paused and quickly glanced around the room. “Okay...”
Phoenix started before she ever made it to a chair, “How do you know Ember Blackburn?”
Something passed over Reese’s face, like something just dawned on her. She promptly answered, “I know her from school. We graduated together last week.”
Phoenix continued, “Did you ask your brother about help for her, not your friend’s mom?”
Reese held his gaze, “Yes, sir.”
“Why did you lie to him about that?”
I noticed a small tremble in Reese’s hand, but there was a fire in her eyes while she maintained eye contact, “I’m sorry, sir, but I won’t answer that question.”
Carbon slammed his fist onto the table and yelled, “Damn it, Reese! She is in a lot of shit and you will be, too, if you don’t tell us what the fuck is going on right the fuck now! I’m talking shit I can’t get you out of; shit I can’t save you from. Talk!!”
Reese flinched. A look of fear briefly washed over her face. The next second, as if it never happened, all traces of emotion were wiped away, her eyes suddenly looking vacant. Her voice was almost monotone when she spoke, “I don’t care what shit I’m in, Carbon. I won’t betray her trust. I won’t be the one who causes harm to come to her.”
Carbon got in her face, continuing to yell at her, “What the fuck do you think is coming to her now? It looks like she’s here to cause problems. She's locked in a cell right now. If you care so much about her, start fucking talking.”
Reese sat silently and stared at Carbon while he laid into her. Shockingly, it was Duke who rose from his chair and stalked toward them. He grabbed Carbon by the shoulder and yanked him back. “Enough, Carbon!”
Carbon shrugged his hand off and returned, “This is between me and my sister.”
The muscle in Duke’s jaw flexed, his tell that he was about to erupt. No one wanted to see our enforcer and our SAA go at it. That would be one hell of a fight to break up. Sensing the mounting tension, Badger quickly stepped between the two raging bulls. “Carbon, out. That’s an order.” Carbon huffed and glared at Badger before he obeyed and reluctantly left the room.
