Page 106 of Sling’s Awakening

Heads turn down as we walk through the lobby, making sure not to look our way. We pay Detective Anderson enough for everyone here to not remember seeing us if a problem comes up. The only reason Mountain and I were arrested is because he was out of communication which we need to have words about eventually. Right now I’m concerned about my girl.

The hot and humid summer air blasts me in the face as I push open the front door and hold it open for Blake. God, sometimes it’s hard to breathe here.

I wrap my arm around Blake’s shoulders as we walk through the parking lot toward my bike, pulling her in close to me. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask her once we’re standing next to my bike, my tone low and full of concern.

She’s still lightly shaking, the events of what just happened still running through her body.

“Yeah,” Blake says as she looks at me, her eyes betraying her.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I just want to get out of here, okay?” she pleads. “Can we go home?”

I study her for a moment before agreeing, “Yeah, toots. Let’s go home.”

I mount my bike and hold my hand out for her to balance on while she gets on. She takes it, her soft skin clashing with mine as she swings her leg over and scooches in, pressing her tits against my back. Her arms wrap tightly around my waist. Only then do I feel her body settle.

I take off for the first time with my woman on the back of my bike. The wind is blowing through our hair, getting rid of all our problems except one.

The one that’s about to be six feet under.

I pull into Blake’s drive instead of mine. I want her to be where she feels most comfortable and her place feels more like home.

She doesn’t know it yet but I need to leave her for a while. It kills me but we’ll both sleep easier after it’s done.

I cut the engine on my bike and stay still as Blake slowly climbs off and heads to her front door. I trail behind her and wait as she unlocks the door and lets us in.

The air feels heavy and I don’t know how to fix it. In my life, shit like this happens all the time. You roll with the punches, and when the time is right, you give it back as good as you got it. My girl isn’t used to that. At least not yet. And if I have anything to do about it, nothing like this will ever happen to her personally again. Me? I can’t promise as much, but it’ll add ten years to my life knowing she’s at our home safe.

“Why don’t you go take a shower?” I suggest as I pull her in for a hug and kiss the top of her head. “I’ll make you some of that nasty tea you like and you can relax. I know how much you want to wash away the filth of the fucking jail.”

Blake lets out a humorless laugh against my chest. “I can’t relax. I need to go get my car and bag from the club. Hopefully Russ’s shitty ass didn’t have it towed.”

My eye twitches, and my jaw hardens at the mention of his name. It takes everything in my power to keep my voice even. “Mountain has your car and bag. He’s going to drop it off tonight. I want you to relax.”

I hold my breath as I wait for her to argue with me, but it doesn’t come.

Her shoulders sag in my arms. “Okay,” she says, sounding as tired as she looks.

I crouch down and sneak an arm under her knees before sweeping her off her feet. Blake rests her cheek against my chest as I carry her down the hall to her bathroom. I flip the light switch and set her down on the countertop, leaving her only long enough to turn the shower on. I make sure the water temperature is as hot as it will go, just the way I know my girl likes it.

I move back toward her as steam slowly begins to filter into the air and place my hands on her knees, gently squeezing them. “Now, toots, tell me how you’re really doing.”

“I’m sad,” she answers, her voice cracking as she raises her head, her eyes meeting mine with tears in them.

He’s going to pay for those too.

“I feel like I’ve given my life to something only to be stabbed in the back a million times. I’ve never done anything to him,” Blake continues. Tears are streaming down her face now.

I lean in and kiss a tear away. “You know what? Fuck that guy. He didn’t deserve you, and I promise he’s going to get what’s coming to him.”

Blake wipes the other side of her face with the back of her hand. “Karma is a bitch,” she eventually agrees.

It is, but sometimes that bitch needs to die.

“Shower, babe.” I tap her knee as I press a slow kiss to her lips. “I’ll make your tea.”

She nods as I step away and she hops down from the bathroom counter. I exit the room as she begins to strip. I sense she needs this time to herself, and I need the time to rally my brothers without her hearing.