Now, as their eyes bounce between me and the intruder, I can almosttastethe storm brewing within them. The air feels electrically charged, as the tension yet again rises between us and an army of questions bubbles to the surface. My face focuses once again on the only person in this room who doesn’t live here, as I can’t stand to look any of them in the eye. There’s no way I can handle the fear they all carry right now, whether of me or for me is still undetermined.
My glock is still poised to hit ourguestbetween the eyes, and although I know that I could end this whole thing quickly by pulling the trigger, I’m alsoveryaware of how I’m being viewed right now. Opting for the slower route, I’m about to ask who the fuck they are when Ryder’s voice overtakes mine and is shouting from behind me.
“Kelsie. What theFUCKare you doing in my house?!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ryder
There are only a handful of times where I can say that if I had the option to go back and change my actions, I would. Things where I truly and deeply regret the stupidity of myself.
The first was when I stole Mom’s car to take the guys and Bear for a late-night ice-cream run. She woke from the sound of the car turning on and was waiting for us when we returned. I was grounded for a month and received a belt to my ass cheek.
The second is not telling our girl how I felt back when we were kids. Back when everything was innocent and before all this mess happened.
The third you may ask? Well, the third thing I regret and probably the one I feel the most irritation about, is ever hooking up with a Ring Girl. Specifically,thisRing Girl.
“Kelsie, seriously. What the fuck are you doing here, and why the hell are you in Mik’s room? On top of that, how the fuck did you get in my house?!” I thunder, stalking my way over to her.
“RyRy baby! I missed you! We haven’t spent any time together lately and I heard you have another woman hanging around. So, I had to come and make sure my baby was safe, but she’s clearly deranged! Swinging a gun at me like some… some… somefreak!” Kelsie whines, feigning a pout and batting her lashes at me.
I glance back at my family, catching the looks they’re exchanging including when Mik looks at Max. Arching her brow, she mouths “RyRy?!” to which his mouth flattens into a thin line and he just shrugs.Great, I just get the girl and this one has to show up and fuck it up.I know the guys have all harbored harsh feelings for Kelsie. They’ve never failed to let me knowexactlywhat they’ve thought of her over the years, whenever she’s been around. Which, if I’m honest, is only about five or six times in the last three years.
Five or six times too many…clearly.
“Kelsie, for the last fucking time. We. Are. Not. Together. You’re not ‘with me,’ you’re not ‘my girlfriend,’ and I definitely don’t need you to ‘look out for my safety.’ You’re a Ring Bitch, a quick fuck, nothing more than a release. You mean nothing to me. Now, get thefuckout of my woman’s room and out of my god damn house before I call the cops.” Glaring at her with a gaze that has made opponents tremble, she still doesn’t seem phased by my words. Like she’s living in her own little version of delulu land.
“Awe, RyRy! I get it. You’ve had a long flight and are a wittle bit gwumpy,” she coos pinching my cheek in the process. “I won’t take it personally. I’ll just come back tomorrow once you’ve gotten some rest, my sweepy wittle fighter.”
Is this really happening? Everyone else is seeing this too, right?
Grabbing her bag, she swings it over her shoulder, and leans up, pressing a kiss to my cheek before sneering at Mik. Bear sneers back, the fuckinggunin her hand waving lazily in Kelsie’s direction, which has the delusional woman hustling ass to get out of the room. With a small yip, she sways her hips dramatically and practically runs out of the room and down the hall.
The back of my hand flies against my cheek, rubbing at the sticky spot now lingering on it from whatever vile concoction she’s smeared against her lips. Kade saunters up beside me, slapping his hand against my shoulder and squeezing.
“You’re paying to have the locks changed, Brother.”
I press the heels of my hands into my eyes and groan dramatically. This isnotwhat I was expecting when we finally found Bear and made it home again. Sleep, yes. Sex, hopefully. Psycho Ring Girls breaking and entering, throwing a claim on me and my woman whipping a fuckinggunout of nowhere.
Definitely not.
“Kelsie aside. Can we return to the elephant in the fucking room?” I mutter, finally turning to look at everyone again. “Angel, since when do you carry a gun? How the fuck do you even know how to use that and where the hell have you been keeping it hidden?!”
Every single question spews out of me in rapid fire, my mind trying to get it all out as it struggles to wrap itself around these new revelations. I’m not against firearms, nor would I say I’m for them either. In fact, I’ve never really had an opinion about them, they were just another item that I’ve come across in my line of work. But knowing Mik not only has one, but is very clearly comfortable with it, gives me an unpleasant feeling.
My stomach has not stopped twisting and turning like the spin cycle on a washing machine since I saw her pull fuckingknivesout of her bag in the car.Knives!Combine my tummy issue with the now pounding headache Kelsie has left me with, not even a dark, silent room could get rid of the tiny construction crew jackhammering against my lobes.
Bear stabs me with her gaze, jaw clenched and a face made of steel. There’s something behind those glowing greens I’ve fallen in love with, something lurking and waiting to pounce. She firmly closes her eyes, as if stamping down theemotion and when they open to connect with mine again, it’s like night and day. Her face is still hard, but the softness has returned to her features. Leaving them with a more nonchalant feel, rather than the black fire that had been residing there before.
“Long time. People. It won’t be hidden anymore, if I tell you where,” she replies after clearing her throat. Her arms cross over her chest, hip popping out and grip still firm on the weapon. This pose of hers does nothing in way of helping me get answers, as her cleavage pushes higher, breasts on full display, and I can practically feel myself starting to drool.
“Why would you feel the need to carry weapons, Mik?” Zane asks, pulling her attention off me and thankfully my growing dick.I’m a fucking goner when it comes to fighting with her.
“We’ve already been through this. I told you I wouldn’t leave without you again, but I wasn’t joking when I said there are things I won’t be telling you. I may be here physically, but I’ll be damned if I don’t ensure you guys are safe.Everyway I know how. Now, can we just drop it? I’m starving, I need a shower and some of us have locks to change.”
She storms past the lot of us, heading straight for her bathroom and the promise of a hot, steamy shower. Just before she closes the door, her head pops out, catching all of us again.
“Oh, and the next time I tell you to stay in the car. Stay in the fucking car.” She points to each of us before pulling her torso back into the room and locking the door.I guess she doesn’t want company either then.
