Page 76 of Riding Hard

Fucking perfect.

CHAPTER

SIXTY-ONE

JULIETTE

Looking around the clubhouse, I let out a heavy sigh. This is my first day back to work since everything went down, and I know I’ve been through a lot, but I feel completely and totally exhausted—like down-to-my-bones exhausted. I’m pretty sure I could curl into a little ball on the sofa in the corner and sleep for a year.

“You doin’ okay?” a woman’s voice calls out.

Turning my head, I look over to a woman who is standing just a few feet away from me. I don’t know her name, but I’ve seen her around here when I’m cleaning, and once for a party—she was naked and straddling one of the guys.

I tried not to look.

I know from talking with Alex and Elodie that it’s why they’re here. What they’re for. Their job is to be available to the guys. I’m still not comfortable with the idea, but I try not to think about it. Everyone seems to accept it as a normal thing, so I try not to judge, but I can’t deny that there’s some judging going on.

“I’m fine,” I lie.

She hums, shaking her head. “You’re not fine. You know he’s been torn up since this shit went down.”

She’s talking about Slade. There’s nobody else she would be referring to. I’m not sure how the hell I’m supposed to respond to her, though. So I don’t. I stare at her, wondering what she’s trying to accomplish here with me.

Then she continues, and my stomach twists at her words. I’m fairly certain that she’s attempting to assert her dominance and importance. “He’s been here every night, upset as all hell about what happened.”

And there it is.

She wants me to ask her how she knows. She wants me to prod her for information. She wants to tell me she’s the one who’s been comforting him. She wants to make me jealous, or maybe she wants me to just leave him so she can have him all to herself.

What she doesn’t realize is that I’m not someone who is going to play games, and I don’t think Slade is either.

“Loot’s just a whole mess, girlie.” She smiles. It’s a facade.

She’s watching and waiting for me to break in front of her. I won’t. I’ve been through a lot harder things than some mean girl trying to make me feel like shit, or self-conscious, or whatever it is she’s trying to do.

I don’t need to be reminded of the fact that Slade has been coming down here every night, claiming he needs to meet with his men or whatever other excuses he’s given me, only to come home around four in the morning before he passes out for a couple of hours, then gets up and takes Cade to school.

He’s been making me a coffee and a little something to eat before he leaves, and then comes home and cleans it up before I can even get out of bed. He’s been beyond caring and considerate the last week.

I’ve been in complete denial, refusing to even think about what he’s been doing while down here. I want to live in my own bubble where I focus on my healing and Slade is just being my supportive man.

“I mean, if you don’t mind, I don’t mind because he’s always been special to me. But I thought that since I’m a girl’s girl, I would let you know.”

“What are you so graciously letting me know?” I ask.

I don’t even know her name, and I don’t care to know it, either. But she’s standing here acting like she’s the cock of the walk and the big bitch of the clubhouse. Arching a brow, I wait for her to answer me, knowing it’s going to be some kind of bullshit.

“That I can take care of him physically, babe. I got him and you.”

The rage that consumes me is something that I don’t think I’ve ever felt before. Victor hurt me and caused me physical and emotional pain, but this is different. She isn’t hurting me. She’s pissing me the fuck off—is what she’s doing.

I open my mouth to tell her that, but instead of my voice coming out, a deep voice speaks over me. I recognize it, and it comes from the side of the hallway. I didn’t even know he was here.

“Rocky,” Slade calls out.

Turning my head to the side, I watch as he walks out of the hallway and into the bar area, the common room. Sucking in a breath, I fight my wince at the expression he’s wearing on his face.

This woman’s eyes widen. I’m guessing her name is Rocky. I wouldn’t know because in all her nastiness, she didn’t introduce herself to me, not that I care about who and what she is. I’ve already got her figured out, but I’m curious to hear what Slade has to say.