Page 56 of Shattered Pieces

“To see Diesel. We got told to stay here,” I mumbled, his eyes narrowing.

“He shouldn’t be driving around alone.”

“He’ll be quick. I know you’re in a blood-thirsty mood, but can you teach me some fighting tricks? If I can’t have a gun, I should at least be able to throw a good hit,” I stated, and he rolled his eyes.

“You do throw a good hit. I lied when I said you didn’t. You’d be better off learning defense.”

“I’m game.”

“Fine, but you’ll definitely get hit if you don’t block,” he smirked, making me wonder if this was a bad idea after all.

CHAPTER TEN

DIESEL

Iwondered what normal people did when their emotions became too much. Did they just yell until they felt better? Cry it out?

What feeling did they have instead of the nagging desperation to numb it all with getting high?

The Shed had been quiet today, most of the guys out on jobs while Skeeter locked himself in the office, and I’d returned from a gun trade deal with Brick and Samuel at the same time Skeeter and Caden arrived.

I wasn’t even aware Skeeter had left the Shed.

Skeeter’s lip was bleeding and he had bruises forming on his face. My guess was Marco, but then again, Skeeter was picking fights with literally anyone at this point. He’d fight a streetlight if it looked at him sideways right now.

“Devils?” Samuel asked dryly, saying what I was thinking, but Skeeter scoffed as we all made our way into the Shed.

“Gilbert.”

“That little fucker tried to fight you?”

“Ty needed a reminder smack too. Mouthy bastard,” he muttered, getting a grumble of agreement from Caden. This was getting ridiculous.

“What for now?” I asked, my stomach dropping when he replied.

“Acting like it’s my fault Aurora got shivved yesterday.”

Asking questions would have gotten me punched too, but thankfully, Brick asked for me.

“I take it she’s fine?”

“Guess so. Ty was asking me to put protection on her,” he answered, giving me a firm look. “You need to go home to bed. You haven’t been sleeping and I don’t like the idea of you having my back in a shootout right now. You’re not alert enough. If you need help, get some meds, man.”

I couldn’t take sleeping pills and he fucking knew it.

“I’m fine. You need me for that meeting with Hendricks tonight,” I argued, but he just scowled.

“No, I need you to go home. Brick, you can head off too, you’ve been here for over twenty-four hours. I’ll take some of the others tonight, it’s fine.”

“I won’t argue. Thanks, boss,” Brick replied, giving me a nudge. “C’mon, you’re asleep on your feet.”

I wasn’t. I was well past the point of being exhausted. I’d napped once in three days, but I was so wired on my emotions that it was like I’d been given a shot of adrenaline. Knowing Rory had been shivved only made it ten times worse because I couldn’t get answers.

If I could contact Hunter though, he might know.

“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I finally said, deciding going home to call Hunter was a way better idea than going to see Hendricks, and Skeeter seemed relieved at my acceptance.

I headed outside to my truck, waving to Brick as he drove off, and I fought myself to stick to the speed limit, sending Hunter a text.