Page 4 of Rush
This is bad. This is exactly what I can't let happen.
I ride back to the clubhouse and when Bozo asks where I've been, I tell him I had errands to run.
It's a lie.
Wednesday night, there's another gathering at the clubhouse. Everly shows up around eight.
I'm in the garage working on my bike when I hear her voice in the main room. I wipe my hands on a rag and walk inside.
She's with the old ladies again, Gráinne's showing her something on her phone and they're both laughing.
I go to the bar and order water, then I position myself where I can see the whole room.
Tank walks over. "You're hovering."
"I'm doing my job."
"Your job is to make sure she's safe, not stare at her all night."
"I'm not staring."
"Bullshit." He takes a drink of his beer. "You need to be careful, brother."
"I know what I'm doing."
"Do you? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're one step away from doing something stupid."
I don't answer because he's right.
An hour later, Everly heads to the bathroom. I track her movement across the room.
She's gone for maybe three minutes. When she comes out, some drunk asshole stumbles into her. He's new—some friend of a prospect—and he puts his hands on her to steady himself.
I'm across the room in seconds.
I grab him by the back of his collar and pull him off her. My other hand is already cocked back, ready to break his jaw.
"Rush." Everly's voice cuts through the red haze. "I'm fine."
I look at her. Her eyes are wide but not scared, just surprised.
The guy I'm holding tries to pull away. "What the fuck, man?"
I let him go but I don't step back. I just stare at him until he gets the message and walks away fast.
My heart's pounding and my hands are shaking—not from adrenaline, from something else.
For a second, I wasn't in the clubhouse. I was back in juvie, watching someone get jumped in the showers; hearing the wet sound of fists on flesh; feeling the concrete wall against my back while I decided if I was going to step in or let it happen.
I locked that shit down years ago but it's still there, just under the surface, waiting.
"Hey." Everly's standing closer now. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
"You sure? Because you look like you're about to murder someone."
"I'm fine."
