“That thing is a car, dammit.”
“Fuckin’ cage, more like.”
There did seem to be a lot of motorbikes, or ‘rides’ parked up already, and I recognised some of the men gathering around the firepit area. I’d seen them that awful night with the pervs, and although that wasn’t a night any of us wanted to remember, I nodded at a few who clearly remembered me.
Has-Been was over beside Rocket, talking quietly to him, while he was wearing just a t-shirt, jeans, and boots, cracking his knuckles as he prepared to fight. Oh my god. What if something happened to him?
Caroline was getting quieter by the second, as the noise levels started to rise around us, so I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled for Harley.
“HARLEY! I’ve got your little lady here!”
“V!”
I grinned at her, and faked taking a bow as most of the bikers turned to look at me, and Harley stepped out from among them.
“No, oh hell no. You’re not watching this!” He wrapped an arm around Caroline’s shoulders and led her in the directionof the lounge, while I paused and watched the men amassing. There was a guy there with Reacher that I hadn’t seen before. He looked similarly older, and had a large rucksack at his feet. I caught sight of a familiar symbol on it, stepping forward. First aid. Ah. He was here to patch them up afterward.
“V! Babe, get over here!”
I bristled a little at being called over like a fucking pet, but I wanted to see him, so I headed in Rocket’s direction, pausing to flip Grease off. He laughed, leaning down to say something to that little redhead he was with, and she grinned at me. At least they were in good spirits. Like Rocket, he’d shed his cut, and was stretching his neck and rolling his shoulders.
Around me, the spectators held beers, and various other drinks, and two were off to one side, taking money from others as they stopped by.
“Wanna place a bet, love?”
I frowned at the man, the one with the tattooed head. I remembered seeing him at the perv massacre too, but I’d never spoken to him before.
“Bet?”
He grinned. “Who goes down first, or taps out. No sense in missing out on a little fun.”
I reached into my sleeve pocket, which was zipped up, and always held an emergency twenty. I handed it to him, and pointed at my apparent man.
“On him to win.”
He and the guy with him started to laugh, but he took the money, and the other shook his head slowly.
“Grease has special training, love. Rocket will be lucky to walk away from this. Sure you wanna throw your money away?”
“Get fucked,” I hissed at him, because movie star handsome or not, he was also a dick.
“I like her.”
I made my way to Rocket, checking him over as he grinned at me. He looked like he was about to have his best fucking day, and that was insane, right? He also looked like he was already sporting the beginnings of a small bruise on his jaw.
“Are you out of your mind? They say he has special training or something!”
Has-Been laughed, slapping Rocket’s shoulder.
“My boy here isn’t a weakling. Mafia guy or not, Grease isn’t unstoppable.” Mafia? What the fuck did he just say? His face dropped, and he glanced over my shoulder, grimacing at whoever he stared at.
“Shit. I didn’t say that. Fuck me. I’m going to grab a beer. Listen, man,” he turned back to Rocket, “you stay mobile, don’t take your eyes off him, and mess up that dumb fucking hair of his, yeah?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The thrill of thewhole fucking night was getting to me. I was finally gonna get to wipe that smug grin off that cunt’s face, but more importantly, I had a woman here supporting me. He had Jamie, the former cop he’d corrupted, but me? I had V, the toughest fucking woman I’d met. I think she could even take Tori in a fight, and why was my mind going there?
“Mafia?” V hissed at me, darting a concerned look at Grease, who was smirking right back like he could see she was worried for me.
