Losing Me, Finding You(39)

Kent's already snapping his fingers.

“I like the way you think, Sparks. Do what you need to do to prepare.”

“So that's it?” Kimmi says, still looking at me and only me. “We're just gonna charge in there at dusk and try to frame another gang? Pardon my French, but that plan sounds kind of … ” Kimmi twirls her black nailed finger around for a moment. “Fucked up. Austin,” she pleads, leaning in as Kent starts to fade into the shadows. He's real good at that, like one of Batman's arch nemeses you've never heard of. Mel stays, but she looks bored, like she isn't even listening anymore.

“Make it happen,” Kent says, turning around and walking away dismissively, like he could care less about the most important operation that goes on in this group. “I've got some other shit to take care of. If you need anything, come find me.” He knows we don't need shit. He gives the orders and we follow them.

I let Kent go, and I don't argue. Why? Who the hell would argue to spend more time with Kent Diamond? Yeah, not even Melissa Diamond, his f*cking wife. The blonde bitch yawns and plants her hands on her skinny ass hips. We work a certain way, me and Kimmi. Well, we used to until Kent demanded we take Mel under our wings and teach her the ropes. And he decided to wait until we got into this weird ass little town before he decided to say anything about that. I look at Mel and I know, just friggin' know, that she's going to screw this up.

“Has Mireya ever told you about her time with Tray?” I say, and I can't help but notice the way Mel's smile burns across her face like acid. God, I hate that little cunt.

“Mireya hates my guts,” Kimmi says matter-of-factly. “She wouldn't tell me shit. Now start explaining why my ass is out here and not back in my room with Margot.” I smile gently. Kimmi is going to like Amy Cross a whole lot. I'm probably going to have to beat her off with a stick.

My smile fades.

“Did you know that Mireya was married to that *?” Kimmi's nose wrinkles up, and she tugs on her left earring nervously.

“Mireya Sawyer? The Mireya Sawyer? The girl who built her own bike from the ground up while we were on the road? That girl?” I grin, can't help it. Mireya's one of my best friends. Still, I owe her a serious talk about what she did to Amy. I still can't figure out why she'd do something like that. We've never been a couple, just friends with good times. Why the hell is she jealous all of a sudden? Why this time, with this girl?

“She married him when she was fifteen,” Melissa chimes in, running her finger down Kimmi's bare arm. Kimmi jerks away with a growl. She's like Gaine and won't mess with Diamond either. Kent might seem calm, but we've all seen him in his rages. Nobody but Beck wants to risk him finding Mel in their bed. Anyway, I think Kimmi would rather kill Melissa than sleep with her. I couldn't agree more.

“Okay, so this is like a get back at your ex thing?” she asks me. “Is that what this is all about?” Kimmi looks disgusted.

The smile slides off my face, and she pauses. Kimmi and I have known each other since I was eighteen and stupid. She knows when I'm serious about something.

“No, Kimmi. This is more than that. This about vengeance against the wicked.”



Chapter 30

I wait in Austin's room with butterflies in my stomach and pangs of guilt in my heart. I thought briefly about … finishing myself, but I couldn't bring myself to relax enough to do it.

The bed is rumpled and smells like perfume, and I'm pretty sure that it isn't Austin's which in turn makes me wonder who was here last night. I mean, I know he isn't mine and he doesn't owe me anything, but the thought of Austin in this bed with another woman bothers me so much that I strip the whole thing down and call the front desk for new linens.

I ring my hands while I wait, pacing back and forth in front of the TV and staring at the phone on the nightstand. Should I call my family? Should I call Christy? The pressure in my head gets so bad that by the time the linens arrive, I've already got my purse on my shoulder and am debating heading downstairs for a glass of wine in the lobby restaurant. Austin told me not to leave, but then, he also didn't tell me he had perfume and God knows what else all over his bed.

I wrench the door open and find two men waiting for me. One of them is wearing a uniform and has a pile of white sheets in his hands. The other is tattooed and pierced with dark hair and bruises all over his face. I step back for the hotel employee and keep my eyes glued on the face of the other man.

“Well, hello there,” he says as I listen to the crinkle of fabric behind me and wait for the employee to take the sheets away. “I was looking for Austin, but maybe I came at a bad time?” The stranger gives me a once over that I do not like, checking me out from head to toe, taking in my rumpled appearance with a crooked smile.

“He's with Kent,” I say simply, repeating Austin's words. The man's heavy brows wrinkle and he rubs a hand over his stubbly chin. He's got on a tight black shirt and leather pants with chains on them. If I hadn't seen Austin first, I'd probably have found him attractive. As of now, I've gotten spoiled, and I can't stop thinking of the sandy haired stranger and his searing kisses.

“Ah, okay,” he says, putting his hand on the doorframe. “Did he say when he was going to be back?” I shrug and step aside as the employee bustles past with the offensive laundry.