I didn’t reach for it immediately. She didn’t need to know about this side of me. The one that almost relished killing a man. That female loved me more than I knew I deserved, and I didn’t want to give her another reason to question that love.
Muttering a curse, I snatched the phone from my friend and club president and lifted it to my ear. “This isn’t the time, Wil
—”
“There was something I forgot to tell you at dinner.” Her voice came out a little shaky, kind of nervous.
My eyes narrowed and I moved away from the table. “What?”
She hesitated and I could picture her biting her lip. Fuck, just that small image and my dick hardened painfully. I scrubbed a hand over my head, feeling the beginnings of stubble. “I didn’t just have a flat tire earlier. There was a screwdriver sticking out of it.”
“Someone fucking shanked your tire?” I’d meant to keep my voice low, but it came out more like a bellow in my agitation. Bash, Trigger, Tanner, and Raider turned to frown at me. My uncle lifted a brow in inquiry but I turned away, not able to explain anything to him yet. “Why didn’t you tell me that when it happened, Willa?”
“Because I knew you would react just like this. Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to ruin Raven and Lexa’s plans for my birthday. I was going to tell you when we got home, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime tonight.” She blew out a long breath. “I didn’t know what you were dealing with tonight, and I wanted to tell you in case it was the same person.”
“This isn’t the same person,” I bit out. “I’m pretty sure I know who did your tire. I’ll deal with him later.” Fuck, I wanted to deal with him now. That little prick was dead if he thought he could play games with my female.
First that stunt at Paradise City, and now Willa’s car? Yeah, I was going to be paying Kevin Samson a visit very soon.
“Stay at Raven’s house tonight. I don’t want you going back to the apartment alone. Someone will be there soon to stay with you and Lexa.”
“Are… Are you mad at me?” Willa whispered.
“I want to be, but no. I’m not mad at you, baby.” I lowered my voice so that it didn’t sound as harsh as it had been the last few minutes. “Go to bed, Willa. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I love you, James. Be safe.”
“Love you, baby.” I quickly ended the call and handed the phone back to Bash, who gave a questioning look. Shrugging, I thrust my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “We can talk about it later. For now, just know that I’m about to kill a motherfucker who likes to cause trouble.”
“Awesome,” Matt laughed from across the room. He stuffed a handful of popcorn into his mouth and chewed with his mouth open. It could be said that Bash’s cousin was a little twisted when it came to dealing out punishments. He liked to be front and center, with snacks. Like this shit was a fucking movie or something. “Let’s set that shit up for a main event.”
“Shut up, idiot,” Tanner grumbled from his seat by the window. “Fuck, you are so twisted in the head. I can’t believe we share the same mother.”
Matt chuckled and stuffed more popcorn into his mouth. “We don’t. You’re adopted.”
Tanner jumped up from his chair, fist clenched at his sides. “You—”
“Enough,” Trigger snapped and stepped in between the two. “Shut the hell up, both of you. I’m not in the mood for your shit. Zip your traps and park it, before I end the both of you and put the rest of us out of our misery.”
Neither brother said another word. Tanner retook his seat and Matt went to lean against the wall on the other side of the room. Trigger was normally a calm man. His sniper days had given him the patience of a saint. That he was upset enough to be bothered by Matt and Tanner’s normal bickering told me that he was not in a good place presently.
Bash shot me a raised brow look and I shook my head. I had no clue what was going on with our sharpshooter. I didn’t even think that Trigger really knew Gracie. Hadn’t they just met earlier that day?
“I gotta take a piss,” Harley croaked from the table. We’d tied him to the table with some duct tape that had been in the office. He was almost mummified with the shit. I should have saved a piece for his mouth.
“So piss,” I snarled. “Not letting you up until Hawk gets back.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt Gracie. I just got carried away. She liked me until Hawk showed up.” His voice was appealing, pleading. “I won’t do it again.”
“You think Hawk just showed up and Gracie picked him over you?” Bash demanded. “She’s been sleeping in the same bed with him for months now. It wasn’t a spur of the moment decision, dumbass. Hawk is going to wife that female one day.”
I watched Harley closely. His face twisted in pain, then rage, and lastly fear. Why hadn’t I noticed how mental this fucker was before now? He’d only met Gracie a few hours ago, yet he seemed to have came to the conclusion that she had been into him. And hadn’t he realized that Hawk had found an ol’ lady? Didn’t he notice that Hawk wasn’t screwing around with his few select sheep?
“Has Raven said anything about how Gracie is?” Trigger asked in a rougher than usual voice. “Is she gonna be okay?”
“I haven’t heard anything since they took her for a CT scan. Raven said it was just a precaution, though, I guess to make sure nothing was bleeding or swelling. Hawk was driving the staff crazy so she couldn’t text me too much. She had to help keep him calm down before they called the cops and had him kicked out.” That had been three hours ago. Hawk must have been going out of his mind.
“I’d be the same way if it was Willa,” I admitted, running a hand over my head again, wishing it was her silky fingers stroking over it instead.