An imaginary light bulb goes off above my head when I suddenly understand why he’s called Bates.
I laugh. “The name makes sense now. Fun fact, for future reference. If you walk into a room and see someone’s hands around my neck, someone you claim is your old lady, YOU PULL THEM OFF before you start asking questions. Or did I misunderstand something? Does your protection only mean other Carnage members? That I’m supposed to allow you guys to treat me like a piece of shit because you’ve claimed me?” I sneer. “If that’s true, I have news for you boys, and it’s all bad.”
“She’s deflecting. Tell them what you told me,” Bates demands, walking toward me again, but Priest moves, blocking him from touching me.
I rock back and forth on my feet, too agitated to stay still, and tell Priest and Saint what I told Bates before he went loco. “I told him not to underestimate women after that little fiasco with the woman downstairs. He brushed it off, so I pointed out that I walked into Carnage, and the only thing the prospect did was check out my body. He made no attempt to see if I was armed,” I explain, making Priest and Saint look at each other before turning back to me.
“Bates said something along the lines of ‘we big strong men aren’t scared of feeble little women’, or words to that effect. This was when I pointed out that if a rival club knew your views, it would be pretty fucking easy to send in an armed woman to take out either one or all of the presidents,” I answer, gesturing to them wildly.
“And did you come here to take us out?” Priest asks sharply.
“Oh my fucking god!” I throw my hands up in the air, exasperated. “Yes, Priest, I made up the whole story about having a stalker. I’m actually with a rival gang, and I thought the best way to succeed in my assassination attempt would be to tell you the flaw in your safety precautions.” I jab my finger at him before turning my scowl back to Bates. “I’m supposed to be safe here, but I’m not if anyone can walk through the gates with a weapon. Not that it matters now.” I laugh bitterly. “It seems I’m not safe here, regardless.”
I’m breathing heavily by the end of my tirade as I watch them with narrowed eyes to see what happens next.
“Wait, so let me get this straight. Reign told you she walked in without being checked and why that was a bad call, and you pinned her against the door because you assumed that meant she came here to kill you?” Saint questions, looking like he’s making sure he has the correct information.
Bates doesn’t answer. He looks away, which is an answer in itself. Saint laughs incredulously. “Holy fuck, Bates. You’re lucky she didn’t rip off your dick.”
Priest steps away from me, looking me over before frowning at Bates.
“He’s right. I get why you went there, but even so, that’s a hell of a jump,” he says quietly, clearly forgetting that he suspected me moments ago.
“Whatever, how was I supposed to know if she was armed or not, and this wasn’t all just a con?” Bates snaps, unwilling to back down.
“You could have fucking asked,” I yell at him.
“Oh, and you would have just offered up this answer freely?” he asks with an edge to his voice.
“Well, yeah, because I am not an asshole like you. I saw a flaw and pointed it out. FYI, pinning me against the door didn’t do you any favors. It just shows me you are an idiot and a bully.”
“Reign,” Saint warns, but I interrupt him.
“Fuck you. Next time, Bates, just ask. You’re lucky I didn’t come to kill you. You pinned me to the door like a big strong man,” I mock as I step toward him so we’re toe to toe.
“But you failed to notice this weak inferior little girl has a gun in her boot. I could have killed you so many times already, it’s a fucking joke.”
Priest pulls me toward him so my back is to Bates, which I don’t like one little bit, but Priest doesn’t care as he squats down and unlaces both my boots, before slipping his hand inside them and pulling out my gun.
“You wanna explain that?” Bates purrs dangerously from behind me.
“I don’t want to explain dick to you, Bates. In fact, nothing would make me happier