Page 15

Dante

“Listen,” I turned around as Noob entered the room.

He was my least favourite prospect. He reminded me a lot of Macbeth when we were younger.

Why he was even hanging around a motorcycle club was beyond me.

He had been here for two years before he declared himself a prospect.

I had done everything I could to avoid him for those two years.

Something about him gave me the creeps. Luckily, he couldn’t be patched in unless the vote was unanimous.

He had a lot of work to do if he wanted to be a full member in a few months.

He was on thin ice as far as I was concerned, which is why I had given him the simple task of taking Rachel her meal. Even that idiot couldn’t fuck that up.

“I know you’re sweet on her, but she’s got one hell of a smart mouth.”

I shrugged, turning back to the TV. I kind of enjoyed the thought of Rachel giving him a hard time. She seemed to have moved past the blank, irritating expression, and was now allowing her inner brat to shine through. I had seen a brief glimpse to know that Noob was out of his depth with her.

“You weren’t supposed to talk to her. All you had to do was take her the meal, wait for her to eat, and leave. It seemed fairly simple to me.”

“She was asleep.”

“Okay… and?” I flicked through the channels, my tone one of boredom. I didn’t even know why he was bothering me with this. Rachel either ate or she didn’t. It was as simple as that. If she hurt his feelings along the way, what did that have to do with me?

“So I had to wake her up.”

“You need words to nudge someone awake?”

“Have you ever spoken to her for more than a minute?”

I sighed and turned the TV off. “Where is this going?” I asked, turning towards him again.

What does a guy have to do to get a moment’s peace around here? Is everyone forgetting the fact that I was stabbed in the leg only hours ago?

“Simply put, she’s a fucking cunt.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, my voice like ice. “Repeat that. I don’t think I heard correctly. She’s a what?”

“N-no, I didn’t mean—”

“Oh,” I said, getting to my feet. “You didn’t mean she was a cunt? What did you mean, then?”

He took a step backwards as I rose from the seat. “I just meant… you see…”

“Ye-es?”

“Dante!” my mother snapped, coming into the room. “Are you playing nice?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I’m waiting for Noob here to let me know.”

“Bee is waiting for you,” she said, a warning note in her voice.

“You hear that?” I directed my question to Noob. “My kids waiting. That’s both the main girls in my life you’ve upset now. I suggest you hurry up and clear up this little confusion.”

My mother remained in the doorway, knowing better than to get involved in any of my business, but she did shoot a pitiful look towards Noob.

“I guess I’ll go read Bee her bedtime story,” she sighed. “It’s a good job she’s fucking homeschooled, staying up until this hour!” We heard her mumble as she walked away.

“Oh, would you look at that?” I slowly made my way towards Noob. “Now my mother’s mad at me. That’s three for three. Things aren’t looking too good for you now, are they?”

Noob swallowed heavily, backing up from my retreat. “I’m sorry, Dante. I spoke out of turn. I shouldn’t have called her a cunt.”

“No. No, you shouldn’t.”

“She kicked the plate out of my hand.”

“Did she?” I said flatly, still creeping towards him.

“She didn’t want it, Dante, I swear.” He put his hands up, warding me off. “She told me to go fuck myself.”

I was right in front of him now, towering over him as he cowered away from me. Just when I thought he was going to piss himself there and then, my face broke out into a grin, and I gave him a slap on his back.

“I’m just fucking with you, man. I’ll deal with her. Seems she might be harder to break than I had first thought.”

Noob laughed, both out of relief and fear.

But that was his mistake. Fear made him loosen his tongue, and he started talking a mile to the dozen.

“You’re telling me! She’s a good-looking lass.

You want to make sure she doesn’t go spreading her legs to any of the other guys.

They won’t all be as gentlemanly as me.” He gave me a returned slap to the arm, his hand lingering on me.

I froze, and the smile instantly fell from his face.

“She did what?” I said quietly, blinking once, my head cocked to the side.

His face paled, his hand falling from my arm as immediate tremors ran through him. “She… Dante, I swear to God, I didn’t encourage it. She took one look at me and started with her mouth. She was daring me to take her, saying I wouldn’t dare because of you and—”

My fist came out and connected with his jaw, knocking him to the floor.

I was on him in an instant, grabbing his shirt to lift his face close to mine as I crouched over him.

“You’ve got five seconds to tell me fucking everything.

When I’m done with you, I’ll go ask Rachel.

Need to make sure your story matches hers; you know?

And I swear to God, if I find out you laid a single finger on her, I will personally peel the skin from your back, and then drag you round hogtied to the bikes. ”