Page 9 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

“Goddamn it. I know you’re serious when you use my real name,” she sighed. “How about I come in for backup?”

A slow grin tugged at my lips. “Nah. Stay where you at.” My voice dropped an octave. “I got this. Besides... I ain’t about to let the woman I care about be touched anymore.”

“Won’t you let me be your Bonnie to your Clyde?” she asked with a crooked grin. “Hell, it’s three of them niggas in there. They probably need they ass whooped as a group.”

I shot her a look. “Rain...”

“What? I’m just saying. If we jump ‘em together, we can be home before dinner.”

I couldn’t help but shake my head. “You think this shit funny?”

“Nah.” She smirked. “But if you get your ass whooped, I’m definitely laughing on the ride to the hospital.”

“You got jokes.”

“I got hands too. Quit acting like I’m made of glass.”

“I said I got it.” My tone left no room for argument. “Trust me. When I get back, you can cuss me out all you want. But right now? Be a good girl and let me handle my business.”

“I ain’t your dog.”

“Nah... but you sure do know how to listen.”

“The hell I do.”

“You do eventually.”

“You got me confused with one of your little girlfriends.”

I chuckled. “I don’t have girlfriends.”

“Damn. That’s tragic.”

“For them.”

“You done?”

“Nah.”

I gently peeled my fingers off my tattoo-covered arm. “Stay your hardheaded ass in this truck.”

“And if I don’t?”

I smirked. “Just stay here, Rain.”

“Fine. But if you get your ass whooped, I’m telling everybody you tripped over a barstool.”

I laughed as I shut the truck door. “Love you too, Rain.”

When I stepped out of the car and walked into the bar, I spotted Gao sitting at the end of the counter, sipping on a beer like he didn’t have a care in the world. The second he looked up and recognized me, his mouth started to open. He never got the chance to say a damn word. I stormed over, grabbed the back of his shirt in a vise-like grip, and hurled his ass clean over the bar. He crashed into the shelves behind the counter, sending liquor bottles and glass shattering in every direction.

The loud crash echoed throughout the bar, immediately drawing Rudy from the back. The second he stepped into the room, his eyes locked onto Gao, who was sprawled across the floor behind the counter. Unlike his homeboy, Rudy was ready. He reached to his hip, pulled out a knife, and started circling me, looking for an opening. When he lunged, I jumped back just enough for the blade to whistle past my chest. He slashed again. This time, I stepped inside his reach and drove a stiff jab straight into his nose. Blood exploded instantly. Before he could recover, I cracked him across the temple with another punch. He stumbled backward, dazed, but never let go of the knife.

When he tried to slash me again, I slipped to the side, knocked the blade clean out of his hand, and sent it skidding across the floor. Before he could react, I drove a vicious uppercut into his jaw. His head snapped back, and he crashed flat onto the floor with blood gushing from his mouth. I walked over and started stomping his ass over and over until he curled up, trying to protect himself, while Gao stayed crumpled behind the counter, groaning through the broken glass, too scared to jump back into the fight.

Although I wanted to make an example out of those punk bitches, I wasn’t about to waste all my energy on a couple of clowns. They were nothing more than Titan’s lapdogs, taking orders from the man who was really responsible. If anybody was gonna feel my wrath, it was him.

Stepping over Rudy’s battered body, I headed toward the back of the bar. A closed door caught my attention, and I figured it had to be Titan’s office. Without breaking stride, I drove my boot into it. The door flew open and slammed against the wall with a deafening bang. The first thing I saw was Titan sitting comfortably behind his desk. Standing in front of him was a woman wearing nothing but a bra, scrambling to cover herself after my unexpected entrance. My presence left her petrified while Titan looked up at me with pure irritation written across his face. A slow grin spread across my face.