Rough Ride (Chaos #5)(9)

Or new with scars, so a new kind of new.

“That’s good,” he muttered, staring intently at me.

“So, well…” I hesitated because I didn’t want to say what I said next but I’d grown up around clubs, I knew the drill, and respect needed to be shown. “Do you all want something to drink or something?”

“We’re here to share that we’ve got your place sorted out,” Tyra spoke up.

“I…” That threw me. “Sorry?”

“Throttle’s still in the hospital,” Hop’s deep voice sounded and I looked to him. “He’s being released today into police custody.”

I’d heard about my ex-man, this coming from the police who were keeping me informed about my situation. Thus I knew, before the cops got to him, someone had carved into his face with a blade.

My guess, Hound. I’d heard rumors when he went to work he didn’t mess around.

I had mixed feelings about this.

As a human being, I did not condone slicing someone’s face with a knife.

As the woman who’d been strangled and beaten by her boyfriend only to be turned over to all his friends to have a go, it didn’t bother me all that much.

“Doesn’t matter,” Hop went on. “We figure you wouldn’t want to go back there so the boys went and got your shit, moved it into a new pad. It’s Chaos. We’ve had it secured. The women have sorted your things. So you’re good to move in whenever you’re healed up.”

As he finished, Tack walked to me, lifting his hand.

Dumbly, I lifted mine too and he dropped a key ring in it with a number of keys on it.

I stared at the keys in my palm as my mom asked, “How is it secured?”

“Security system,” Tack answered. “Doors, windows, garage. Direct dispatch callout if breached. When you go in, the garage door openers are on the kitchen counter.”

I looked to him then I turned to my mother.

The relief was practically glowing a golden aura around her body.

Damn.

“The system is top of the line and those Bounty boys broke their bond agreements so they won’t be let out prior to their hearing, and now most of them will be standing trial for more than just the runs they were making,” Tack continued. I looked back to him to see his attention directed at Mom. “Still, we’re not takin’ any chances,” his eyes came to me, “so we’ll continue to have a brother on you.”

Okay.

That wasn’t happening.

“That isn’t necessary,” I murmured.

“We’ll agree to disagree on that,” he returned firmly.

That meant: You’re moving into the space we’re offering you and accepting our protection and there will be no discussion on either.

I, however, was feeling a discussion was necessary.

“Mr. Allen—” I started.

“I’m Tack to you, darlin’,” he cut me off, now speaking gently. “Always have been, nothin’s changed that.”

I stared him right in the eye.

“Mr. Allen,” I repeated resolutely, watched his jewel-blue eyes flash and his mouth set tight but I didn’t care, and this time he didn’t interrupt me. “I’m sure you can imagine that I’m keen to move on from all that’s happened and I appreciate your concern. But if you’ll tell me where you took my stuff, Mom and I’ll go get it. I’m not Chaos’s problem anymore.”

“’Fraid at this point that’s not something that’s ever gonna change,” he replied. “Not that you’re a problem, sweetheart. Just that you’re ours and we take care of our own.”

That felt good but I couldn’t let it feel good.

So I didn’t.

“I appreciate your loyalty but what I’m trying to communicate is that I’m out.”

“Rosalie,” Hop said in a quiet tone, “you know, honey, once you’re in there’s never an out.”

I’d hoped for that…once.

I’d hoped to be a part of their family and never let go.

But I didn’t get it.

And now I didn’t want it.

(Okay, so I was just telling myself that but I hoped to get in that mindset in, say, five days to fifteen years.) “I’ve never been in,” I returned.

“Sweetheart.” It was now Tack who was giving me the quiet. “You’re Chaos and you know it. You know how you are. But I’m guessin’ you know how deep that goes now, am I right?”

“Because I put my neck out for you and nearly got it wrung?” I asked, watching some of the crazy-freaky-scary come back at a reminder of what happened to me.

“There’s that and there’s more, and I ’spect if you don’t know what that more is now, it won’t be long before you find out,” he answered.

That was definitely not going to happen.

I opened my mouth to share that when Tyra stepped forward.

“Kane, why don’t you and Hop step outside?” she suggested.

He turned his head toward his woman. “We’re not steppin’ outside.”

“Okay then.” She gave in immediately, but didn’t give up. “How about you back off?”

“Red—” he began.