In the distance, I can already hear the sirens. Thankfully, we’re already on the road before the lights hit. Hex will clear the feeds, and anyone who risks being a witness has also seen the patch on our back. They’ll know better than to say anything.
Reaching the Outlaw Sinner's territory takes the longest out of this entire venture. We know where their clubhouse is, and the moment we cross the line, the air in the van shifts.
Devil's playing with his gun to have an excuse in his hands while Trouble keeps his grip on the wheel tight.
"We're not here to spill blood." Saying the words out loud like I need to remind myself, I watch as we roll up to the outside of a worn-down bar.
Slowing to a stop, Trouble lays on the horn long enough to gain attention. The two assholes that come out already start off great with their hands already resting at their hip. One of themhas their nose nice and bandaged. Oh, good. That's going to make this so much easier.
"God, look at them." Devil pokes his head between us. "Can't they ever look happy to see us?"
Rolling my eyes, I'm shoving my door open to step out. Not willing to risk asking for his help in case another familiar face makes them more hostile, I drag out Johnny by myself. He's already woken up, muffling what I guess is probably pleas for mercy. Dragging him to the front of the van, I drop him like a heavy sack before bending back to stretch out my lower muscles.
"Happy fucking birthday." Giving them a pinched smile, I wave toward their present and look at the familiar face of the man who'd left my ribs sore. "I kept my word. Now, I need you to give me yours." My smile melts away. "Leave the mother and her daughter alone."
I try not to threaten them, but it's impossible to pretend I'm not bothered. I can feel the hatred seething behind my eyes.
The two of them look at me before looking down at Johnny. Then, without a word, the bar opens again, and two more bodies step out. Already outnumbered, my fingers twitch as they come toward me. Gritting my teeth, I watch them get a good look at Johnny before nodding, scooping him up to take him to who-the-fuck-cares where.
Broken nose then approaches, his scowl much deeper than mine. He looks me up and down, like he's sizing me up. Maybe he lost a few memories when I clocked him, who knows.
"Pretty face like hers? It'll be hard to forget." His eyes crinkle in amusement at my sudden growl, and he gives me a second to decide if I'm going to let my anger be what gives him the excuse to pull out whatever he's packing. When I just clench my fists, he clicks his tongue and jerks his chin. "She's one of yours, so she's not welcome back. Now, take your little crew and get the fuck out."
I want to argue, to demand he let her live her normal life, but he's acknowledged something much bigger. Something irreversible. Whether Penny wants it or not, the two of them are now considered a piece of Steelwood.
In this piece of shit's eyes, she's a threat.
Trouble honks at me when I can't make up my mind, and I curse under my breath. Making my way back inside, he doesn't waste time peeling off before we're chased out.
"You think they could've offered a little thanks for our hard work?"
Trouble swats at Devil's face, motioning him to sit down. "You barely did anything."
While they go back and forth, I settle on the fact that I'm going to have to break the bad news to Penny when I get back. It'll be up to her if I've made this better or worse. Whatever the outcome is, I'm going to have to accept it.
eleven
Penny
Ithink I can admit that Steelwood isn't as bad as I originally thought. They're not just a bunch of criminals running around and killing people just because they're in the mood for it.
The way they treat Leliah, I can see they're just regular people wrapped up in leather.
Cassia helps with dinner, happily cooking up chicken nuggets for Leliah. While she's drowning her pieces in dressing, the woman is watching me more than her.
"Ace didn't ever mention having an old lady, but I've got to say... It's going to be really nice having more women around. Not just ones passing by, but ones that actually hang out, you know?"
Not knowing what an 'old lady' is in her context, I'm too stuck on the rest of her statement to ask.
Is she assuming I'm going to be around now? Did Ace say something to them?
Does he... want to keep me around?
"I feel very out of place." Admitting the truth softly, heat creeps against my cheeks at her snort.
"Wait until Ace gets you a vest of your own. Heck, we might even be able to get this little lady some leather." Cassia's eyes brighten at the idea, and she swiftly grabs her phone, probably to look something up online that matches what she's thinking.
As I turned my gaze toward Leliah, she appeared quite happy, evident from the curve of her lips. She's probably loving all the spoiling she's gotten in the last couple of hours. Plus, she's not used to having so many people around her to entertain her. Strangers or not, they're radiating friendliness.
