Red reached behind her, grabbed a bottle half full of brown liquid and slammed it down on the bar in front of him. “You’re a real peach.” She flipped him off and stalked away.
The sudden realization he’d taken her down a few pegs because of the way she’d treated Joey had him screwing off the metal top faster than he could blink. He sipped straight from the source, intent on getting mind-blanking drunk. The relief of no thought beckoned and he happily answered the call.
“Shit man, you’re wrecked,” Gadget said.
“Not yet.” Moose held up the bottle. “Still got more of the good stuff to go.”
Gadget shook his head. “Going to be regretting that tomorrow. We have that charity ride tomorrow afternoon.”
“I can swing it.”
Moose shrugged.
“All right,” Gadget said.
Moose rolled his eyes and finished off the amber liquid, slamming the bottle down on the bar. He gripped the edge and eased himself up. The room swayed and the blissful numbness he’d intended kicked in. He stumbled through the room and into the hallway, keeping himself upright with one hand on the faded white wall. Damn, has my room always been so fucking far away? He turned the knob on his door and stumbled through the threshold, slamming the door shut with his foot. He staggered to the bed and collapsed face first. Oblivion swallowed him whole.
* * * * *
“You lying asshole!” Joey’s shrill scream pulled him from a dead sleep. He sat up, ready to kill someone. His eyes popped open and he groaned. “What?” He slurred the question out.
“Hey, lover, finally up?” A husky voice purred.
He glanced beside him and saw Red. “Bitch.” He wrapped a hand around her throat and shook. “You trying to come here and fuck up my shit!” Enraged, he shook her.
“Moose, stop. You’ll kill her,” Joey warned.
“This lying ass bitch would deserve what she got,” he growled.
Joey placed a hand on his back. “Please, baby, for me. Just set her down. I believe you. I know you didn’t do anything.”
“She disrespected me and you, came in here trying to stir up shit because no one wants her used-up ass.”
“I know, I know and she’ll pay, but not at your hands. I couldn’t take it.” Joey’s voice cracked as she pleaded.
Moose released Red, watching as she landed in a heap at his feet. “Get the fuck out of here and don’t come back. You know better that to pull shit like this.”
Red coughed, clutching her throat. “She’s not your old lady.”
“She’s my sweetheart, a higher rank than you’ll ever be.”
Red’s face crumpled. Tears rolled down her porcelain face. She’d gone downhill since Shooter found Juliette. Maybe she’d been hanging all her hopes on him.
“We got a problem?” Tiny said. His body appeared in the doorway.
“Red stepped out of line with my sweetheart. I want her gone,” Moose said.
“You know the rules, Red. You two good?” Tiny asked.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Moose said. Moose ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes, willing the splitting headache to recede. Fate had taken the choice out of his hands. Son of a bitch.
“Moose?”
The sound of her shaken voice drew his attention to the woman at his side. “Listen, I’m sorry you had to see that. I’d never put my hands on you like that.” He shook his head.
“Are you drunk?” Joey asked.
“Fucking trashed.” His lips twitched upward.