Part 6 (1/2)

”You just screwed us, that's what.” s.h.i.+loh whined.

”How?” She shouted.

My silent laughter shook my body. ”The men think that's the dumbest show on the planet. The women think it's romantic. It's just something that's been a contention around here.”

”I hate that show. I don't see how twenty women can become friends when they're all vying for the same freakin' man. I mean, who in the h.e.l.l would want to share her man with that many women? Then again, the same goes for The Bachelorette. That s.h.i.+t wouldn't fly with a man that really wanted you.” Baylee informed the group.

”That's what the men think. The women disagree.” I agreed.

”You're supposed to agree with the women, no matter what.” Allison pouted.

Allison was a cute little thing. She was older, as was Dave, her husband. Dave didn't belong to the MC, but he did come to many of the parties. He and his wife married when they were young, seventeen. From there, he went on to join the fire department, and was the longest standing member. Allison stayed home with the children, and even now, eight years after the children moved out of their house to start lives of their own, she stayed home. They were there even before his own father was. Before the club's particular chapter was, too.

”I'm sorry, I just can't. There's no way I could kiss a man that'd just kissed another woman. Let alone respect him. Seems to me that a man, a real man, wouldn't want to share his woman. My best friend from college and I came up with an idea to patent a show called 'The Alphas' that had a bunch of alpha males on a show vying for a woman's attention. It'd play out just about how the Bachelorette would play out, only instead of trying to be pansies; they'd just beat the ever-loving s.h.i.+t out of each other. They'd host the show on The Outdoor Channel. Ya know, so real men would actually watch it.” Baylee exclaimed.

Masculine chuckles and feminine peals of laughter filled the air; I even found myself laughing. That would be fun to watch.

”What does the woman do? Does she just sit back and watch the magic happen? Whoever comes out the winner gets the woman? Kind of like a modern day bride compet.i.tion?” Dave asked.

Baylee's lips pursed. ”Yeah, except instead of doing compet.i.tions and placing in an event, like caber tossing or something, they just have bouts. Maybe a sanctioned fight where a referee is there and can stop the person right before he kills the other man. Then, they all fight each other, no weapons or anything, just their bodies, until there's one winner. In the end, the winner gets the woman, and she doesn't get to decide if she wants him or not. He does. He can also decide if he doesn't want anything to do with her, and can give her the boot.”

”But wouldn't it defeat the purpose if he gave her the old heave ho?” Winter snickered.

Winter was well on her way to drunk. She must've been drinking out of Dave's punch, because that s.h.i.+t was laced with vodka out the a.s.s. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I texted Jack, and left it open on my thigh waiting for the reply that I knew would come quickly.

The conversation continued around them. Everyone was contemplating the merits of 'Alphas' and whether it would sell.

”Why wouldn't it sell? People pay Pay-Per-View all the freaking time. What makes this any different?” Baylee asked s.h.i.+loh, when my sister was adamant about it not selling.

”Well....” s.h.i.+loh hiccupped, but couldn't come up with a good answer. ”I guess you're right. Why do you both have to be so freakin' smart all the d.a.m.n time.”

s.h.i.+loh was drunk, too. f.u.c.kin' great. My sister got chatty and argumentative when she was drunk. That was how my girlfriend in high school found out my name was Sue and told the entire f.u.c.king town. I'd gotten in more fights in high school about my G.o.dd.a.m.n name than I had when I was active in the Marines.

My phone vibrated on my leg.

Jack- Baylee can drive. Or s.h.i.+loh. We'll come for the extra car tomorrow. Business tonight. New bird to pick up.

New bird was code for a woman that was escaping an abusive relations.h.i.+p.

On the side, Free did under cover charity work that removed women from dangerous situations. They used their knowledge and know how to make those women feel safe again. They accomplished it, too. They got them new names, places to live, and erased their old selves.

The Dixie Wardens had even helped a time or two in the past year.

That meant that option was out. They had other things they needed to concentrate on besides their drunk wives.

”I can't drive her car; it's too big and new.” Baylee apologized.

I looked down at her to see her staring at the message on his phone, studiously avoiding eye contact.

Confused, I raised my brows at her. ”You drive an ambulance for work.” Sebastian stated.

She was shaking her head before I even finished the sentence. ”I don't.” She looked around nervously.

Something told me that there was more to this conversation than what was on the surface; I decided to wait until we weren't at a party before I brought up the real reason.

”I'll drive everyone home. This'll be my last.” I declared before upending the bottle that was still sitting on the back of the bench.

”I can call my brother....” She offered.

I shook my head. I didn't want her brother knowing where I lived; nor did I want him to know that his sister had been to my place. I didn't want that big b.a.s.t.a.r.d interfering. I knew it wouldn't last, but I needed to get my foot in the door before I took on Luke.

”It's not a big deal. She's my sister. I'll take you home.” I stated, booking no room for an argument.

She scrunched up her nose at my statement, but surprisingly didn't argue. ”Want to go for a swim?” I asked.

She turned and surveyed the water. ”Believe it or not, I don't know how to swim. But I'll go up to my chest or so, if you want.”

I stared at her, dumfounded. I didn't know one single person that didn't know how to swim. h.e.l.l, even my three year old knew how to swim. ”You have a pool!”

Yes, that was the one intelligent thing I'd managed to get out.

My exclamation stopped the conversation going on around me, making it to where everyone was now listening to our conversation. Baylee's face flamed in embarra.s.sment, and I felt like a pile of s.h.i.+t for saying that loud.

Coming to a decision, I stood, pulling Baylee right along with me. ”Let's go get changed. I'll help you.”

She came with all the enthusiasm of a four-year-old being sent to her room.

I caught the bag Winter threw at me as we pa.s.sed, wondering what the h.e.l.l she had in it to make it weigh fifty f.u.c.king pounds.

It was when we were in the house and making our way down the hall that I turned and flattened her to the wall with my body. ”What's wrong?”

She turned her face away, letting her hair fall down and cover her eyes. ”Nothing.”

”When a girl says 'nothing' it means something. I know. I have a sister. Now, tell me what's up.” I said as I ran my hand down her arm in soothing strokes.

”You've just touched on every single one of my sore spots in about an hour's time. It's not really that big of a deal, it's just...sad.” She grudgingly replied.

I watched her face, watched the emotions play over it. ”Will you tell me?” I rasped.

Instead of answering, she lifted her hands and placed them on my ribs, right underneath my armpits, and my brain short-circuited. The questions that were on the tip of my tongue were now gone, replaced by a burning need to feel this woman's skin. Feel her hands running along my skin. My eyes connected with hers, and they stared.

I didn't know how long we stood like that. Seconds. Minutes. All I knew was that I would absolutely f.u.c.k her against the wall if I didn't get myself under control.

Leaning back reluctantly, I raised the hand that still had a death grip on her bag and placed it against her stomach. Her hands clutched at it desperately, still in the same spell I'd been in moments earlier while looking into her eyes.

I cleared my throat, and took another agonizing step back. I felt like my body was attached to her somehow, and stepping back from her was something that neither my mind, nor my body, wanted to do.