Page 157 of Reckless Vengeance

I headed over to Skeeter while Josie was busy, giving him a quick rundown on everything about Max before intending on leaving, but Josie stopped us.

“Boys! You can’t just go out there. You need to stay with us tonight,” she fussed, and I gave her a grin.

“It’s sweet of you to offer, really, but we can handle ourselves.”

“You’re not going after them, right? Let the cops do their job,” she warned, and I chuckled.

“I’m heading home, not out on a revenge mission. I’m sorry about your house.”

“Thank you for keeping Rory safe,” she answered, reaching out to take my hand in both of hers, giving it a squeeze. “Skeeter told me you covered her. Most men wouldn’t.”

“No offense, but most of the men you know aren’t real men, they’re monsters,” I said lightly, patting her hand with mine. “Be careful. Skeet will keep you guys safe, but if you need more people, I’ll come back to keep an eye out too.”

She nodded, letting me go and watching us leave, and I winced as I eyed the van. It was shot to shit, and one of the tires was flat.

“Leave it tonight. I’ll drive,” Marco said as he jiggled his car keys, and I wasn’t going to argue with him.

I glanced back at the house, finding Rory staring back at me from her bedroom window. She didn’t look annoyed or happy, it was something like confusion.

I waved, climbing into the car so we could head back to Mount Mercer, and I hoped like hell that the Soldiers didn’t return tonight. I was going to sleep fully dressed just in case I had to bail out of bed and get back to her though.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

RORY

Monday at school was mayhem. The drive-by and Tyler’s house burning down was all over the news, especially since there had been a few people hiding in bushes outside when the gunfire started. They’d been trying to get photos of us to sell, their bodies being found later in the night.

I hated to say it, but hopefully it would make other people want to avoid the house and leave us alone.

Josie almost hadn’t let us go to school, but she decided it was probably safer than being at home when she had to be at the office that day.

Tyler was a mess today, and he’d definitely taken pills of some kind from the way he was acting. I would have been a bit of a hypocrite if I’d scolded him considering I'd done lines for breakfast.

I’d slept like shit, so the powder had made me feel more alert. Not sleeping on Saturday night, and only getting power naps since wasn’t exactly great when I needed to be keeping an eye out for trouble.

Lukas was more than happy for the drive-by and the fire to be the talk of the school, it overrode the gossip about him and Jensen, and Caden was being his usual charming self, making sure his position at the top of the food chain remained intact.

A shooter had surrendered to the police today, some random junkie that we all knew couldn't have handled the damn recoil on the gun, let alone aimed it, but the cops seemed satisfied with his statement.

Hunter didn’t believe it either, apparently, since he was sitting on his black Kawasaki on the sidewalk in front of the Mustang in the school parking lot at the end of the day. Marco was with him, sprawled back across his red Ducati, appearing to be napping.

I was glad the Mustang had been at Slash’s or it probably would have been shot to shit, but I was definitely happy to have picked it up on the way to school this morning.

People talked loudly among each other as I approached, the gossip too damn good at seeing a rival crew waiting for me. Especially when people knew the Devils and Psychos didn’t like each other.

“Hey, Pretty Boy. You waiting for me?” I asked as I stopped in front of his bike, and I could see the grin in his eyes despite not seeing his mouth.

“Who else would I be waiting for?”

“Maybe you’ve gotten the taste for academy pussy?”

“Doubtful. These girls probably only want to fuck missionary with the lights off.”

“Maybe that’s what I like? You’re setting yourself up for disappointment, Rivera.”

“I’ve seen what you like,” he said dryly, pulling his helmet off and ruffling his hair. “Where’s your fan club?”

“They’re coming. Why are you here?” I asked as he offered me a cigarette, which I happily took.