Blue eyes, so like my own, bore down on me. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
“Screamer,” Shuffle clarifies and shifts to look at the biker next to Ember. “Get his fucking ass out here.”
“I don’t answer to you,” the man says.
Shuffle lunges at him, and all hell breaks loose. Fists fly, bodies crash to the floor, and blood spurts from wounds. It all happens so fast that I barely have time to step away from the fray.
As I’m backing up, I hit something solid. I whip around and see Screamer. He’s flushed with rage and coiled tighter than a rattler ready to strike.
“Go to my room,” he orders just before diving into the mix.
CHAPTER 20
SCREAMER
It’s time to put my game face on.
Pain radiates through my jaw,and my knuckles are raw, but I ignore it. When I heard the commotion from church, my blood ran cold as I raced into the common area. Then I saw the fighting, and Roxie standing there so close to the mayhem, and I broke.
“Screamer, stop!”
Her pleas penetrate the haze in my mind, and my fist freezes mid-air. Unfortunately, Shuffle takes that opportunity to land a solid blow to my face. My skin splits open on my cheek, and he throws another punch.
“Shuffle!” Roxie screams.
Her brother and I roll around on the floor, trading jabs. We’re so caught up in pummeling each other that Roxie’s nearness doesn’t register. And when she grabs the back of her brother’s shirt to try and pull him off me, he doesn’t realize it’s her until it’s too late.
Shuffle throws his head back to dislodge her, catching her in the chest. She stumbles backward, falling to her ass on the floor and hitting her head.
“Ouch,” she shrieks.
I immediately shove Shuffle away from me and scramble to her side. “Jesus, are you okay?”
Her eyes seem unfocused, but she manages to nod. “I’m?—”
“Get away from her!” Shuffle demands, and I jump to my feet and whirl on him.
My chest heaves, and my fists clench. “I’m gonna fucking kill you for hurting her,” I snarl.
“Fuck you,” he barks. “I told you that she’s off-limits.”
He reaches for my cut, but Roxie slides between us. I hadn’t even realized she got up.
“Both of you, stop!” She pushes on my chest, and I take a step back. She does the same to her brother, but he’s not as cooperative. “Ryan, stop.”
“I’ve got a dead brother on the side of the road,” Shuffle begins. “And you’re here with him. Jesus, Rox, you were engaged to be married not that long ago. What the hell is wrong with you?”
I growl, intent on setting him straight, but Roxie beats me to the punch.
“What’s wrong with me?” she snaps. “God, Ryan, you’re such an asshole. You’re right… Saint is dead. And yes, I came here. But I did it for you!”
He rears back as if slapped. “Whaddya mean you did it for me?”
“Maybe you two should take this somewhere more private,” Crow suggests, and that’s when I notice that the rest of the fighting has ceased, and all eyes are on me, Roxie, and Shuffle.
“No, that’s okay,” Roxie states. “If he wants answers, he’s gonna get answers.” She keeps her gaze level on her brother. “You want to know the truth, Ry? Will that make you happy?”
