Rush (Carolina Bad Boys, #5)(39)

When the goons lowered their weapons, one by one, so did Bo. “Good choice.” He sneered. “I should fucking rip your throats out, but lucky for you I don’t get high off death anymore.”

He continued to lay down the law in a steely, brooks-no-shit tone, telling the dickholes to stay away from Ronnie, out of South Carolina, and off his radar, or he’d end all their lives singlehandedly.

I believed him.

They did, too.

Even Walker looked impressed.

When we regrouped at the fence, Tucker whistled for the man-eating dogs. “Baby! Queenie! Lady! Cleopatra!”

Jesus Christ. Talk about a dog and pony show.

“You already named them?” I asked as the four formerly foaming-at-the-mouth canines answered his call like he kept Beggin’ Strips hidden in his pockets.

“You’re taking them with?” Hunter skinned back his hair in his hands, watching with a frown.

“Yeah. They’re cute. Bringing them home to Chucktown.” The barrel-bellied man leaned over to rub their collective muzzles.

Starting up the hillside, Hunter mentioned, “You know what’s not cute? I think you almost singed my pubes with that explosion back there, Tonto.”

“Look at it this way. You won’t have to manscape that shit again.” Brodie sniggered.

“Dude. I’m a man. I don’t fucking manscape.” Hunter looked insulted.

“What if JB asked you too?” Boomer cut in.

Brodie was all over that, grinning like a jackass-in-a-box. “Why? Did Rayce ask you?”

“Hell no. I’m a man, and she likes it. Just making conversation.”

“About my pubes?” Hunter squinted at big man Boomer.

“You fucking started it.”

The stupid jokes alleviated the tension of the past twenty-four hours, but by the time we reached the bikes and Bo’s Hummer, the mood went seriously south.

No one could smile, considering what Ronnie had gone through. We didn’t know if she’d been hit, abused, or . . . worse, raped.

We circled around, our backs turned, while Bo helped her dress in clean clothes he’d brought for her. And we all pretended we couldn’t hear Bo’s quiet gentle words as he stroked her bright red hair, trying to make sure shock didn’t set in.

I had nothing but respect for the man. Nothing but total admiration for Doc Ronnie. And my emotions were anything but amused when he lifted her into the SUV with all of us watching, silent and somber.

I wanted to get back home to Shy immediately as my heart climbed up into my throat.





Chapter Twenty


Bad Juju





BY THE TIME WE returned to the hotel we’d checked into earlier and parted company with Bo and Ronnie at the elevators, the lady doc looked a lot more than shell-shocked even though she braved a smile.

We’d spend the night here—let Bo take care of her—then peel out for Charleston in the morning.

The mood still hadn’t lightened much when the rest of the guys and I reconvened at the bar later. Hunter and Walker had patched up Coletrane, and he was a shade of pale I’d never seen before.

Almost funny, he looked ready to sick up from getting stitched up, considering he was a tattoo artist and covered in ink and piercings. But not funny enough to make a joke.

Shit had been real at Iron Nails.

Never been so glad to see the back of an MC before.

Assholes.

We downed a few drinks before heading to our rooms. I shared with Tail, only hoping he didn’t try to dutch oven me sometime during the night.

“You texting your girl?” He looked over from his bed after we’d each done whatever in the bathroom and bedded down.

I curled my palm around the phone, shooting off another message to Shy. “Yeah.”

“Send her a kiss from me.”

“Dude. I’m gonna send you a knee to the groin.” I removed a hand from the screen of my phone long enough to flip him the bird.

“Damn. This is good. Handsome finally tied down.” He chuckled, folding a pillow in half behind his head. “You snore?”

“Yeah. Like a freight train. You should probably sleep in the lobby.”

“So you can sext Shiloh in private? Hell no. I live to torture my brothers.” He reached over to turn off the light beside his bed, then roughly added, “That was some shit with the doc though, huh?”

I slid my phone off. “Yeah. First Ashe then JB and Rayce. Now Ronnie. Jesus. Our women seem to get caught in the middle of all the bad juju.”

“Well, you make sure to keep that sweet girl of yours safe, right?”

I blinked at Tail, but he’d rolled over. “Will do.”

“And remember I got your back, bro.”

“Double that.” Here I thought we were having a sentimental moment, but seconds later the fucker was already snoring.

****

Bo treated us to one last surprise the following morning. With his lady finally legally clean and free from her nightmare past, he decided to take her home to her family in Santa Fe. To visit her folks and siblings she hadn’t been able to contact for nine years.

We stood by the lobby doors, all the Retribution MC dudes, seeing the couple off for their flight.

Ronnie hugged and thanked each and every one of us. Bo stood beside her, doing the same with back slaps and fist bumps and gruff words.