rest on her hips. “I’m Bam Bam’s Ol’ Lady. No one will come near us. Once we hit the stairs, we make a run for the kitchen. None of the guys will be in there. If any of the women are there, I’ll tell them to get out.”
My gaze meets hers. “I wish I could be as brave as you are, but what if I can’t do it? What if I start to panic and need to leave?”
Rowan holds her hand out for me to take. “Then we leave, and you try again until you accomplish it.”
“That’s what Kayla said.” I take a deep breath. “Okay.”
She holds her other hand out to Chapel and pulls us up from the bed. “Now, let’s go make a pizza.”
“Oh my god!” I’m laughing and breathing heavily as we bust through the kitchen.
“Did you see all of them staring at us?” Chapel’s laughter matches mine.
“Wasn’t that easy?” Rowan holds her stomach while the three of us try to calm our giggling fit.
We’re gathering ingredients for our pizza when we hear people talking outside through the open kitchen window. Rowan holds her finger over her mouth, telling us to remain silent. “That’s Bam and Demon,” she whispers.
“I feel guilty.”
Rowan’s eyes grow to the size of saucers. She asks quietly, “What does Bam feel guilty about?”
Chapel and I glance at each other, both shrugging our shoulders. It’s not like we would know. We remain silent as we continue to listen to the conversation outside.
“Why? We did what we had to do. He was never going to stop unless we stopped him, and that’s what we did.”
“But he was her brother. Whenever she comes home from her parents' house, it’s all she talks about because they won’t let it go. Their son was murdered, and they want answers.”
All three of our mouths gape open, and our eyes about pop out of our heads. We probably look completely crazy, leaning over the counter to hear better.
“What the fuck you wanna do, Brother? You gonna tell your Ol’ Lady and her parents that your club is the reason he’s dead? You really want to tell them I gutted that motherfucker? Would you really want to risk all of us? Risk this whole fuckin’ club because you feel guilty? You were asked before shit went down, and you said you were fine with it.”
I slap my hand over my mouth. Oh my god! They killed Rowan’s brother! Why would they do that? Does Storm kill people? What kind of man did Rowan marry? I knew the club was dangerous, but killing people? They’ve taken care of us and have been so nice to Chapel and me. How can they be like that and have this dark side too? My mind is racing a million miles a minute with a thousand questions and thoughts.
“You’re right. Fuck, man, the shit just gets to me sometimes.”
“Just keep your shit together and your mouth closed.”
I’ve never seen Rowan move so fast when she jumps onto the kitchen counter. “You lying piece of shit! How could you?” she screams at the top of her lungs.
“Fuck!” both men yell.
“What just happened?” Chapel asks with as much shock in her tone as I’m feeling. Chapel has one hand covering her mouth while the other is clutching the hair on the side of her head. She begins pacing. I’m stuck frozen in place, and I have no idea what to do.
Rowan slides off the kitchen counter. “They killed my brother!” She’s panting and bends over, holding onto her knees as she begins to hyperventilate.
The kitchen door bursts open. “Rowan.” Bam Bam’s voice is quiet and tender. He reaches for Rowan, but she stumbles away from him. “Rowan, let me explain.”
She stands up straight but holds onto the kitchen counter so tightly, her knuckles are turning white. “Explain what exactly? Explain that you’ve been lying to me all this time. Jesus Christ! You sit there and let me go on and on about him, and you say nothing.” She steps closer to her husband. With so much disdain in her tone, she seethes, “Not one goddamn word.”
“Let’s go home, and we can talk about it. I will explain everything, I promise.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She shakes her head and angrily wipes away the tears cascading down her cheeks. He reaches for her hand. “Don’t fucking touch me,” she snarls at her husband.
Bam Bam falls to his knees at her feet. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to