Tongue (Ruthless Kings MC #8) - K.L. Savage Page 0,25
trying to figure out where a leak is in the ceiling. It’s ruining what I’m working on. It’s pissing me off, and I can’t kill it, so it’s frustrating,” I huff, scratching the back of my head as Reaper stares at me in concern. “What?” I ask as my fingers get tangled in my hair, which reminds me that I need to cut it. Daphne likes short hair.
Sarah lays her hand in the middle of my chest, and her eyes well as she pushes me further into the bedroom. Reaper follows behind her and shuts the doors.
“Sa-Sarah,” I stutter, then hit the side of my head with my fist when I hear it. I’m becoming weaker by the second. I’m useless. I’m worthless. I’m a fucking idiot.
“Stop it. Don’t.” She takes my hands, knowing what I’m thinking about myself. “You aren’t any of those things, Tongue.”
I’m nervous with Reaper here. He doesn’t see me as weak like Sarah does. I’m his enforcer. A droplet of water drips on my hand, and I point to it. “See, look. It’s coming from somewhere.”
“Tongue, look at me,” Sarah says, cupping my face in her hands. She wipes her thumbs across my cheeks and pulls her hands away, showing me water. “It isn’t a leak. The water is coming from you. You’re crying.” A single tear drips down her cheek. “Tongue, what’s wrong? You never cry. I’ve never seen you cry.”
“I’m not crying,” I say. “I don’t cry. I haven’t cried since…” Since the night I killed Uncle Jeremy.
“Tongue, you are.” Reaper slaps a hand on my shoulder, and I yank away from him.
“I’m not. I don’t cry. I’m an enforcer. I kill.” I lift my fingers to my face and stumble away from Sarah when I feel the droplets. The back of my knees hit the bed, and I sit down, staring at my hands as if they belong to someone else.
I don’t understand why I’m crying. I don’t feel any different. Maybe it’s a mistake. A fluke.
“You’re human,” Reaper says. “Tongue, you’re human. I think it’s time to talk about what’s going on. You haven’t been yourself.”
“You don’t know anything about me,” I say darkly. “The only person who gives a real damn about me is Sarah.”
“That isn’t true. How can you say that?” Reaper asks, hooking his fingers through his belt loops as he stands like a stranger near the bedroom door. He’s in a place that’s out of his comfort zone. He’s in my space, and that leaves people more uncomfortable than not.
“Please, leave.” I rub my temples when my head starts to hurt. “The both of you.”
“Tongue, I’m here for you. Reaper came to find me when he said you came in and seemed upset.”
“I’m getting treated like a child. Everyone thinks less of me. Just please … get out.”
“Tongue—”
“I said get out!” I roar, standing to my feet. I’m tired. My insides are shredded apart, and even the best of killers need a damn break. “Get me when you need me like you usually do.” I open the door to show them the way out, and Sarah’s bottom lip trembles. I hate that I hurt her. Sarah means the world to me, but I have so much going on in my mind that I need time by myself.
“I always need you,” she whispers, her voice broken and weak. “You’re my best friend. I don’t know why Reaper is here, but he isn’t here with me. I came to check on you; he followed.”
“Then you can leave,” I tell Prez, not caring if it earns me a scar. I have plenty of them. I can add his to the collection.
Reaper glances away and crosses his arm before rubbing a hand over his mouth.
I shake my head and stare at him in disbelief. “You came in here because you do need me.” An ironic laugh leaves my chest. “Fucking knew it.”
“Mercy is here. We have problems. I need my best enforcer. I’m sorry I’m asking at a bad time.”
No one ever needs me for anything else.
What if I say no?
“He can go after he talks to me. Even the best, even the strongest, most savage men need to talk. Can’t you see he needs me, Reaper? I can’t believe you right now. You have plenty of other members you can use,” Sarah argues in my defense.
“None like Tongue.”
Yeah, there never is.
“You’re sleeping on the couch, Jesse,” Sarah hisses as she stomps out of my room, vanishing down the hall where