“Get out.”
He walked backward toward the door, his eyes never leaving me for a second until he had disappeared. I held my aim there as I listened to his heavy footsteps move down the hall and the front door open and close.
The sound of a Harley started outside and took off at speed down the street, and only then did I let myself fall apart.
“Hadley?”
I startled and Skins grabbed my arm to steady me, a soft look in his eyes as he allowed me time to come around.
“Sorry,” I croaked, realizing that all the men were looking at me. “Yeah. He wanted me to go with him. He kept going on about him being king and me being his queen.”
I looked over to Leo, who frowned. “We need more info.”
Kit stepped forward. “Mansel might have some idea about the Shadow Syndicate. No gangs get by him unnoticed.”
I didn’t know who Mansel was, but Optimus nodded. “Get a hold of him now. We’ll finish this later.” Op banged his fist on the table and ordered everyone out.
I headed for my room, my stomach aching and turning. It was strange, but watching Simon walk out the door hadn’t exactly been upsetting. I was almost relieved, I guess. It’s a hard emotion to explain when you are just simply glad that things are over and done. Especially when, up to that point, there had never really been any sign that something was wrong.
At first, I wondered if drugs had gotten to him. Then I wondered if he’d been faking it, and this was his way of keeping me out of harm. But when Judge finally explained about how sometimes when people saw the benefits of the dark, they find it hard to return to the light. I understood.
He was never completely happy with his job. It didn’t give him the lifestyle he wanted. Not like he apparently had now.
I sighed, reaching out for my door handle. But before I could grasp it, a hand gripped my shoulder.
I didn’t turn.
I knew who it was.
“You wanna come for a ride?” he asked softly. His baritone filling the long empty hallway.
I pulled my hand back from the door and answered without even turning to face him, “Yes.”