Rock Chick Revenge (Rock Chick #5)(134)

“I’ll explain it later,” Jules interrupted her.

“But –” May went on.

“May, I’ll explain it later,” Jules repeated.

May looked from Jules, to me, back to Jules.

“You’re keepin’ somethin’ from me,” she accused.

“I’ll explain later,” Jules said again.

“Hon, you better explain later,” May snapped, really not happy to be out of the loop but she said no more and moved away.

Jules and I watched May retreat then Jules turned to me. “It isn’t that I don’t want her to know, I just want to be further along before I tell her. I don’t want her to get all excited and then... it’s just that, I have a history of... if I lose it, I just want Vance and me...” Jules stopped and looked away.

I grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.

She looked back at me and said quietly, “Thank you for keeping it a secret. There aren’t many of those in this tribe.”

I’d noticed that.

Instead of answering, I pulled on her hand to bring her closer and I hugged her. I hugged her because I was happy for her and Vance. I hugged her because she obviously didn’t think I was a screaming dork for my freak out the day before. Lastly, I hugged her because she was proof that Luke had good taste in women and he had settled on me which said a lot about both of us.

“Is there gonna be lots of huggin’ and carryin’ on or we gonna get this shit done?” Tex boomed from somewhere close.

I sighed. So did Jules.

We broke our hug and I looked at Tex.

“Let’s get this shit done,” I said.

* * * * *

Indy Ally, Tod and Stevie went to go talk to Brody, a friend of theirs and an employee of Lee’s. Apparently he was a computer genius and Lee’s hacker. They were going to pump him for any information he had on the Noah Investigation.

Jet, Roxie, Daisy and Smithie went to get provisions including stun guns, Tasers, pepper spray and handcuffs.

May and Jules went to Jules’s house where we were all going to meet later.

Shirleen, Tex, Duke, Sissy and I went to my house so I could get my Range Rover.

We trooped in my front door, Duke first. He stopped dead barely clearing the doorway from the entrance hall to the living room.

Shirleen slammed into his back, I slammed into Shirleen’s back, Sissy slammed into me and Tex boomed, “What the f**k?” from the rear.

“What the f**k is right,” Duke growled, staring into my living room.

I looked around everyone in front of me and saw through the doorway that Uncle Vito was sitting in my armchair.

Shit.

What was Uncle Vito doing there? I did not need this.

Time to run interference.

“Hey Uncle Vito,” I called, pushing my way through even though Shirleen tried, and failed, to hold me back.

Duke was more successful. His arm wrapped around my upper chest and he hauled me back against his body.

That’s when things got worse.

See, first I forgot for a second (don’t ask me how), about my face. Second, I didn’t know that Ren was standing by the fireplace nor did I know that Dom was lounging full out on my couch.

The Zano Family took one look at me and the air in the room went electric.

“Get her outta here,” Duke rumbled, feeling the air and pushing me backwards.

Uncle Vito slowly stood and Dom came out of his lounge as Shirleen yanked me back. Unfortunately, Sissy was pushing forward. There was general confusion as we were bumped and shoved but the confusion got sorted out quickly when Ren and Dom entered the equation.

Ren caught my arm and pulled me out of the fray and fully into the living room. Dom caught Sissy and pulled her in.

I was more worried about Dom getting to Sissy. I was even more worried when the electricity ratcheted up to radioactivity when Dom got a look at the fading purple marks under Sissy’s eyes.

“Dominic,” Uncle Vito said in a low, warning tone as Dom prepared to go berserk.

“Look at me,” I heard Ren order.

Oops.

I forgot Ren had hold of me. I looked at him, just had a chance to notice we had nearly identical cut lips (for some reason his looked sexier which I found pretty f**king unfair) when the radioactivity in the room became highly unstable.

“I’m gonna f**kin’ kill him,” Ren whispered.

“Lorenzo.” Now Uncle Vito was saying Ren’s name in a low, warning tone.

“We been at this half an hour and already things are out-of-control,” Duke grumbled.

I ignored Duke and focused on Ren. “It’s okay, Ren. Everything’s fine.”

Ren’s hands came to either side of my neck and his thumb gently pressed into the underside of my chin. His eyes were on the tear on my lip and his face was tight.

“I’m gonna f**kin’ kill him,” he repeated.

“Really, it’s okay,” I said. “Luke’s looking for Noah. We’re looking for Noah –”

Oops again.

Clearly I’d made an incorrect assumption because Ren’s head gave a jerk, his eyes came to mine and they narrowed. I’d surprised him.

“Stark didn’t do that to you?” Ren asked.

It was my turn to have my head jerk.

“Of course not,” I snapped, sounding exasperated.