jumping into Puck’s vehicle. They hauled ass away from the clubhouse toward the storage shed to pick up Smokey’s SUV.
In less than twenty minutes, they were on the road, headlights off, making their way back to Pinewood Springs.
Smokey was fuming. “Who the fuck called the badges? That shithole isn’t in a residential area.”
“One of the club whores, for sure,” Throttle said. “We were fighting with the assholes, and I saw this slut running off with her phone. I tried to go after her, but I was busy with a jerk trying to cut me.”
“How did the prospects know about the badges?” Tank asked.
“Heard it on the scanner,” Throttle said. “Shit, that was close.”
“Yeah, but now we got witnesses,” Smokey said.
“The assholes are stupid, but they’re not stupid enough to snitch. After showing them what we’re about, they won’t want to die a snitch’s death,” Throttle replied.
“But the bitches?” Tank said. “They may turn. We’re gonna have to convince ’em it’s not in their best interest to talk or make deals with the badges.”
“Did you waste Skeet?” Animal asked.
Smokey clenched his jaw. “No. I beat the shit outta him, but then I saw the prospects coming.”
Animal laughed. “Don’t sweat it, bro. There’ll be a next time.”
“Yeah, there always is.”
“Those pussies were weaker than shit,” Tank said. “I set off one Molotov, and they ran like a bunch of girls. What a bunch of pansies. No wonder we beat their asses so easily. I’m pissed about the bitches, though. I should’ve checked them for phones and taken them away, but I was too busy kicking disrespectful asses.”
Animal looked worried. “Do you think they took videos? That seems to be the thing to do.”
“I didn’t see anyone holding a cell phone, but who knows? We just gotta make sure the sluts understand we don’t tolerate snitches. At. All,” Tank said.
As the men talked about how they showed the Rising Order what happened when they didn’t respect the Insurgents MC, Smokey settled back in the seat, making sure not to exceed the speed limit. He and the others all had blood smeared on their faces, hands, and clothes, and they didn’t need any trouble with the badges. The women could talk, and if that happened, they’d have to be sure their alibis were airtight. It was sloppy not to have searched the girls. Banger and Hawk aren’t gonna like this. We’re all in for an ass-chewing, especially Rock, and the brothers inside the house.
Several hours later, Smokey pulled into the Insurgent’s lot, in desperate need of a shower. His clothes, as well as the other brothers’, would be burned, and the SUVs would be detailed several times.
By the time he showered and took care of things, it would be well past three in the morning. It crossed his mind to head over to Ashley’s, but she would ask too many questions, and he wasn’t up for it. She was new to his world, so he had to slowly introduce her to it. In time, she would know what club business meant, and how it would feel to worry about him when he’d disappear for days at a time.
Sighing, he slowly climbed the stairs to his room.
19
Ashley glanced at her phone to see if Smokey had called while she was in the shower. Disappointment filled her as she looked at the screen. She hadn’t heard from him since he left
the previous afternoon. Not even a text. Nothing. So what? It was a fun weekend. Inhaling deeply, she slowly exhaled, refusing to let Smokey’s actions—or lack of—bring her down.
After giving herself a pep talk, she took a parting glance in the mirror and walked out of the room.
While stuffing her yoga clothes into a paisley tote bag, she went over the events of the weekend in her head. Since the day before, that was all she’d been doing while pretending to watch TV or read a magazine. She still couldn’t believe Smokey had spent the past two days with her. Whenever she thought about it, her stomach fluttered and her body ached. She never would have imagined any man having such an effect on her, but somehow, he did, in a delightful and nasty way.
A small laugh slipped through her lips as she turned on the coffee machine. The shot of caffeine from a morning cup of coffee with cream always energized her. Draining the cup, she set it in the dishwasher before picking up her briefcase and heading out to the garage.