Page 97 of Army
Anger immediately punched his gut, and he clenched his hands in fists. “Don’t ever call Mia a bitch. I don’t know what the hell’s your problem, but don’t get in my face about my woman or I’ll beat the shit outta you.”
“Your woman?” Crow laughed dryly. “Buzz saw your woman competing in Tucson about a year and a half ago. A group of Satan’s Pistons were there cheering her on. After the fight, she went over and gave that sonofabitch Shark a big hug. Buzz later found out she’s his goddamn sister. So … why the hell are you fucking the enemy?”
A sudden coldness hit at his core and he turned away and faced the bar. “Buzz is full of shit. He came over and talked to me yesterday and never said a damn word about it. We even talked about Mia. He’s messing with you.”
Chains sidled up next to Army. “Buzz is straight on,” he said in a low voice. “I checked it out. Victor Decelles—a.k.a. Shark—is Mia Decelles’ brother. Sorry, dude.” Chains cupped his hand over Army’s bicep, but he jerked away as if a hot poker had burned his skin.
“I don’t believe this shit!” His mind spun around like an out-of-control carousel in a nightmare.
“Why the hell would I make this up?” Chains’ calm voice asked.
Army stood there dumbfounded as a thousand emotions rushed through him.It can’t be true. Something’s fucked up.“There are probably two fighters that have the same name.” But even as he said it, he knew the chances of that were infinitesimal.
“That go by the name Stiletto in the MMA circuit?” Chains asked.
The calm quiet in his voice was getting on Army’s nerves big time, but before he could reply, Steel and Paco walked in and came over to the trio.
Steel cleared his throat. “I’m guessing by the tension I’m feeling right now, you”—he looked at Army—“must’ve found out that we know fucking Shark is that fighter’s brother. Did you know?” He looked fixedly at Army. Several other members came into the room and walked over to where Army stood.
A frown wrinkled his forehead as he slowly shook his head and mumbled, “No.” He hadn’t quite absorbed the fact that Mia and Shark were siblings and that she never once mentioned it to him.
“She knows the layout of the club and most likely has already described it to Shark,” Skull said.
“I don’t think she did that. She told me that she rarely sees or speaks with any of her brothers,” Army replied in a monotone voice.
“Of course, she’d tell you that. She wanted to gain your trust,” Skull said.
Deeper wrinkling on his brow. “I don’t believe that.”
“Then why didn’t she tell you about Shark? Why the fuck wouldn’t she have mentioned that she had a dickhead brother who was president of a loser club?” Skull gritted.
“She came on to you to spy for Shark,” Muerto said.
“She didn’t come on to me at all. I pursued her. None of you knows what the fuck you’re talking about.” He scuffed the floor with his boot.
All eyes were on Army, and they flashed with contempt and anger, yet none of them knew Mia, but … did he? He scrubbed his face with his fist. “I never got the impression that she was involved in the biker world.” As soon as he said the words, a memory crawled forward from the corner of his mind: she knew the lingo and how the outlaw world worked.Fuck. His chest tightened even more, and it was like there was a vise around his heart, squeezing it harder and harder.I can’t believe she betrayed me. I have to talk to her.
“None of us blames you. She lied to you,” Eagle said.
The rumble of voices and Eagle’s words sliced through his thoughts.
“I’ll talk to her.”
“What the fuck?” Crow slammed his fist on the bar. “About what? Lying to you? She’s scum and should be thrown out like the trash she is.” Several members hooted and voiced their agreement.
When Army heard Crow’s words, his brain was on fire with the feeling to kill. “Don’t ever call Mia scum.” His voice was low and dark.
“Then bitch or cunt or—”
Army’s fist landed right on Crow’s mouth. The brother looked shocked for a split second then his nostrils flared and he swung a punch at Army, clipping him in the jaw. Army stumbled back but then regained his balance and went ballistic. Anger and heartbreak fueled him, and he went into boxer mode and used Crow’s face as a punching bag.
“Dude, stop. Fuck!” Eagle said as he tried to pull Army away from a stunned Crow.
Army kicked backwards and sent Eagle staggering back then resumed his assault on Crow. It took five brothers to pull him away from Crow whose face looked like raw ground beef.
“What the fuck’s wrong with you?” Steel yelled. “Crow deserved a punch or two, but you would’ve killed him. Over a chick who lied and deceived you?”
“Think with your fuckin’ brains, not your cock,” Paco added.
Army glanced over at Crow and his insides twisted when he saw what he’d done to him. A tornado of emotions swirled around inside him, and he jerked out of Diablo’s and Muerto’s hold, picked up a chair, and threw it toward the back wall. The club girls scattered out of the way before it hit the wall in a loud splintering crash. He grabbed his leather jacket off the back of the chair he’d sat on earlier that morning and stormed out. Fuming, he hopped on his bike and sped off in the direction of Durango.
