Page 6 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

The second I stepped inside, I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I tossed my keys onto the entryway table before making my way down the hallway to the bathroom. The fluorescent light flickered on as I looked at myself in the mirror. I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. Slowly, I reached up and brushed my fingertips across my swollen eye. Just as I did that, the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anybody. Hoping whoever it was would get the hint and leave, I stayed quiet. But then came three hard knocks.

“Rain!”

I knew that deep voice anywhere. It was my best friend, Crow. I closed my eyes and sighed. Of all the people I wanted to see me like this, he would be dead last.

“Go home, Crow,” I called through the door. “I’m good.”

“Bullshit,” he said calmly.

It was the same voice he’d used right before knocking a dude unconscious in high school for putting his hands on me.

“Open the damn door.”

“I ain’t opening shit.”

“I heard you got in a fight,” he revealed.

Damn, I should’ve known. Crow had spent years building relationships all over the city through his garage. Bartenders, mechanics, bikers, tow truck drivers... somebody always knew somebody. Word traveled fast, especially when my name was attached to it.

I unlocked the deadbolt and slowly pulled the door open. Crow filled the doorway. Fresh off work, he looked like sin wrapped in grease and leather. His fitted black T-shirt stretched across a broad chest and thick shoulders, the result of years spent rebuilding engines rather than lifting weights. Tattoos disappeared beneath the rolled sleeves hugging his muscular arms, while his worn leather cut hung open over faded jeans that fit him a little too damn well. His beard was neatly trimmed, his dark hair was slightly messy like he had run his fingers through it on the drive over, and the familiar scent of engine oil mixed with cedar cologne clung to him.

Most women would’ve gotten lost in those hazel eyes. Tonight, they weren’t warm. They were damn near black with rage. His gaze slowly traveled across my face, lingering on my busted lip before dropping to the bruises around my neck.

“That motherfucker,” he spoke through gritted teeth.

He didn’t have to say Titan’s name. We both knew exactly who he meant.

Without waiting for an invitation, Crow stepped inside and shut the door behind him. For the first time since walking out of Stone’s Bar, I realized I wasn’t the angriest person in the room. Crow didn’t say a word. He just stood there looking at me. His hazel eyes slowly swept over every bruise on my face before settling on the fingerprints circling my neck. The muscles in his jaw flexed as his hands curled into fists at his sides. I gave him a look that told him to leave it alone. Right away, he didn’t move or say anything more. The anger on his face was almost tangible. I knew the energy he was given wasn’t for me. It was for Titan. I wasn’t about to entertain the conversation. Instead, I turned and headed toward the kitchen. Of course, Crow followed. Opening the refrigerator, I grabbed a bottle of water and twisted the cap off before taking a long swing.

“Why the fuck didn’t you call me?”

I ignored him, but he kept talking. “You really thought I wasn’t gonna find out?”

“How did you?” I asked.

“Somebody from Stone’s called me before you even made it home.”

I leaned against the counter. “So?”

“So?” His voice rose. “That’s all the fuck you got?”

Crow was my best friend. I knew exactly how he would react. We had known each other since first grade. Back then, we had raced each other home from school, argued over whose bike was faster, and spent every summer getting into some kind of trouble.

Life had taken us down two completely different roads, but somehow we always found our way back to each other. No matter how crazy life became, Crow was always there. The reason I never told him about Titan attacking me at the cemetery wasn’t because I gave a damn about protecting that son of a bitch. Honestly, Titan could rot in hell. I was protecting Crow. Ever since we were kids, if somebody fucked with me, Crow took it personally. And knowing him, He’d be looking for Titan before the night was over. As much as I hated my sperm donor, that was one fight I needed to handle myself. Hoping to end the conversation, I walked into the living room, grabbed the remote, and turned on the television. I didn’t even make it to the menu when Crow stepped directly in front of the screen.

I sighed. “I should’ve known.”

“What?”

“You wasn’t gonna let me watch TV.”

“Damn right I ain’t.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

“What you want me to say?”

“The truth.”