“If you go to prison for life, that’s the same as dead.” He snagged my chin and planted his soft lips over mine.
Oh, shit.Warmth rushed through me and tingled in my gut. This was a hell of a reward for doing something stupid. Moaning, I slid my arms around him and opened my mouth a bit, hoping to tempt him into tangling his tongue with mine.
King chuckled. “Let’s fucking go, you morons. I have a plan in the works for this fucker, something really good, and I can’t have you fucking it up, PD. As fun as it would be to drill him full of holes and leave him out to rot, it won’t expose any of his dirtydealings. Destiny wants his legacy to turn to mold and rabid dog farts. I concur.”
Will stepped back and he was unsteady. I grabbed his shoulders, then slid my arm across them. I had no idea what was going on with us yet, but I knew I couldn’t stand to see him injured again.
“What about those cops who hurt Will?”
“Will is right here and Will can do something about them,” he grumbled.
King grabbed the collar of my shirt and tugged me forward before he whirled around and led the way down the street, the grand marshal of the miscreant parade.
“You’re right, Will. And I’ve had an idea I’ve wanted to try for a while that would be goddamned hilarious, but we need a foggy night for it. Let’s hang tight. You’re okay, right?” King asked me, turning just enough to glance at my face as we walked under a streetlight.
“I’m alive.” I laughed, a big boisterous sound that broke the night, and he grinned.
“Hell yeah, you are.” He patted my shoulder, and Will tightened his arm around me.
“You’ll laugh when he tells you about his plan,” Will said, giving me a grin I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense!”
King snorted.
7
ROOK
I didn’t expect PD to get on the back of my bike, but he did without hesitation, and I hated how warm that made me feel on the inside. I didn’t think too many of our brothers would do the same. His arms wound around me, and I took a deep breath as I focused on the road rather than the tightness that came with his grip. He could’ve held on to the back of the bike, but instead he choseme. A thousand thoughts assaulted my already tired brain.
After Dallas had given me the meds and the pain had lessened enough for me to walk, I’d gone directly into action, especially after King had gotten the call from River that the policehadn’ttaken PD to the station. All the horrible images of the things they could be doing to him had filled my head and sent me into a panic. Funnily enough, it was Josh who had calmed me down.
“Breathe,” he murmured as he crouched in front of me, stroking my hair. “Focus on me. PD will be okay. He’s strong.”
Right after, Destiny had contacted us to tell us about his call from PD, and rage had filled me instead. Why would he risk himself for something we should be doing together? PD was oneof the calmest people I knew, and for him to promise revenge and try to exact it, the police really must’ve pissed him off.
As I turned the bike in at the junkyard and clubhouse, riding past the metal fence, all my concern bubbled into a deeper emotion that left me hurt and furious at PD. He was willing to risk prison, a place very far away from me, for this retaliation. I could’ve lost him.
I stopped the bike near the line of motorcycles already beside the clubhouse and turned it off. The navy blue siding on the massive two-story building looked good, or at least, the bit lit up beside the front door did. Not too long ago, Barber’s punishment for being a dickhead one night had been to power wash it. The blacked-out windows looked like holes, but there wasn’t much to be done about that. Once PD slid free, I did the same before I turned to him and jabbed his solid chest with a finger.
“What the fuck was that?” I growled. I was on the verge of losing my shit or maybe I’d already passed that point.
PD frowned. “He hurt you, Will. Those fucking pigs hurt you.”
I laughed. “So, your great idea was what? Go and kick his head in?” I cursed under my breath and ran a hand through my hair, ignoring the twinge that came from my ribs. “Fuck, PD. You would’ve been sent to prison, and he’d be a fucking martyr, a reason for the Feds to take us all down.”
I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I spun on my heel, ignoring the pain that struck me with the action, and stormed into the clubhouse, nearly knocking the front door off the hinges as I went. I stalked into the barroom, where more than a few of our brothers were gathered. They eyed me carefully, aware of where we’d been and how we’d gone to get PD back. Clearly, they were wary of my mood. I didn’t blame them.
I fell onto a stool at the bar, anger fizzling out to helplessness as Josh slid a beer in front of me. He didn’t ask how I was doingand I was fucking thankful. I didn’t want to answer any more questions tonight.
It didn’t take long before PD slid onto the seat next to mine, his eyebrows furrowed, a slight pout to his mouth. That tempting bottom lip of his stuck out. I didn’t stare for too long because then I’d forgive him too fast. What was wrong with me lately? I hated everything, was furious at everyone, yet also was a shell of a man. Empty.
“I’m sorry,” PD whispered after he waved his hand at Josh to signal he didn’t want a drink.
In the light of the room, he looked different. Bruised. I hadn’t realized how dirty and battered he was in the dark, but now he was visible for me to see every wound on his handsome face. I hated the purple tinges scattered indiscriminately on his skin. The bruising wasn’t only on his face but along his arms, too.
I reached out to touch his wrist, curling my fingers around it, and he froze. “What did they do to you?”
