Bouncer by Kim Jones Page 0,16

on her—my anger building with every passing second. She’d disrespected me. Stole from my brothers. Lied to them.

Lied to me.

Deceiving me was her greatest transgression of all. I just couldn’t shake it. But it still didn’t stop me from the feeling of regret that nearly suffocated me at the sight of her.

I’m the reason she spent the last three days and nights outside, in a tent, during record low temps. I’m the reason she’s sick. I don’t even know if she’s been to the doctor. I never even thought to ask. I was too busy questioning her. Making her stand there when it was clear she was dead on her feet. Pushing her to the point of tears and then forcing her to walk a half mile through the woods back to the clubhouse.

I look down at her and frown. I don’t like how pale she looks. Or how she continues to stumble even when I slow my pace. Her hand in mine has lost its grip and I have to tighten my hold to keep the connection.

“If I carried you we’d get there quicker and you could rest sooner.”

“If you’d have left me alone I’d already be resting.”

Brat.

When we finally make it, we enter the clubhouse through a side door, hoping to eliminate any attention from the rest of the club. We aren’t successful. Nearly the entire club sits in the main room, eyes turned on us as we ease around the corner.

I feel Apple stiffen beside me. “Did I mention I have shitty luck?”

Apparently, we both do. Because Jinx gets up from his seat, long strides getting him to Apple’s side in seconds.

“What happened? Here, let me—”

“I’ve got it.” I cut him off. Not just because I’ve got it, but because I need to leave little room for questions. “I’m taking her to my room.”

“Apple, are you okay?” he asks over my shoulder as I maneuver around him and toward the hall leading to my room.

“Not even a little. If he dismembers my body, one of you motherfuckers better at least get me a Dateline or 48 Hours special,” Apple calls over her shoulder, her voice worn and raspy.

I don’t waste time getting us behind the closed door of my room.

“Really? Dismemberment?”

“You look capable.”

I push through the door of the bathroom, flipping on the light. “Sit.” I point to the closed lid of the toilet, beyond amazed when she actually fucking does it.

I pull back the curtain and grimace. I’m not sure what nasty motherfucker’s been in here, but there’s a black ring around the side of the tub and sand on the floor of it. I grip the back of my neck, looking over at Apple.

Her eyes are half-lidded. The little skin I can see is pale. She sits with her arms wrapped around her middle, unaware of the dilemma I’m faced with.

“Where’s the cleaning supplies?”

“Under the sink, behind the toiletries.” She answers, her eyes drawn in confusion.

I don’t bother explaining. I just squat before the sink and open the cabinets, spotting a couple of bottles of cleaner and some rags in the back of the cabinet.

It’s been a long time since I put down roots anywhere. I live between the clubhouse and cheap hotels. So, it’s also been a while since I’ve had to scrub a bathroom. Since my military days. But I do it. I spray the cleaner and quickly scrub the ring from the tub, rinsing it out thoroughly before plugging it off and filling it with clean, warm water.

I turn my attention back to Apple. Her hair has fallen over her face and I push it behind her ear. She looks up at me through long, dark lashes.

“Get this shit off.” I tug on the arm of the trash bag sized sweatshirt she wears. I remember the way she felt the other night, the body under this, and I can’t figure out why she wears clothes that are three times too big.

She slaps my hand away. “Uh, I’m not taking my clothes off in front of you.”

My eyes lock with hers. “You can use my knee as a fucking post for that little pussy, but you’re suddenly too shy to take off your clothes?”

She gasps and my eyes drop briefly to her mouth. “Y-you know?”

“Yes.” My short answer does little to settle her nerves. But it’s all she’s getting—right now. We will have this conversation. She will tell me everything, starting with what happened that night and ending with why she kept her