Rock and Ruin each lifted their chin in greeting, and the three of them headed out the main doors. Ruin was lighting a cigarette before the door even shut behind them. The sound of music blasting on the other side of the clubhouse told Malice some of the guys were working in the garage, and that was verified when there were some choice words yelled about a Harley engine.
“Everything a go for heading back to River Run tonight?” Ruin asked and moved over to one of the picnic tables off to the side.
Malice nodded. “Yeah, as long as the cargo is all set, and we don’t have issues with these protesting people Marx keeps talking about.” He didn’t particular like referring to the women as cargo, but with all the shit happening in Fairview right now there might be prying eyes and open ears.
“It’s set, just packing up some more shit, but I told them to carry light as whatever they need will be provided to them once we get back to Colorado.”
Malice nodded again and leaned against the wall of the building. All he could think about was Adrianna, and what would happen to her once they left Fairview and her behind.
“Malice, man, did you hear me?” Ruin said from around his cigarette.
“What?” He could use a joint right now, something to help ease this wild tension he felt inside, but it was fucking early for all that.
Ruin inhaled deeply from his cigarette, held the smoke in, and then exhaled. “Just making sure you heard me and the shit I said about the girls?”
Malice scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, I heard. I just got other things on my mind.”
Rock grunted out something unintelligible, and turned to look at Malice.
“What?” Malice wasn’t about to listen to Rock’s bullshit either.
The other biker shrugged and moved over to sit beside Ruin on the table. “Nothing. Just wondering what’s the word on that woman, and if that is what you have been focusing on lately.”
“Lately? What the fuck are you talking about? We just picked her up last night.” Malice knew he sounded defensive as hell.
Rock braced his arms on his thighs and stared at Malice. Rock lifted his hands in surrender. “Hey, not trying to bust your balls, man.”
Malice didn’t want to talk about it, because he was already feeling testy as it was because of Adrianna. “There is no word on her. I’m going to take her to the bank to get her money, and she’ll be on her way.” There was this awkward moment of silence, and he shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets. “If you two have something to say, spit it the fuck out.” He knew they had more on their mind by the way they looked at him, and then at each other.
“Nothing,” Ruin said. “No, that’s a damn lie.” Ruin chuckled, but it was this deep sound that didn’t hold any amusement. “I mean, you got pretty fucking territorial when Marx suggested she give it up to a john.”
The sound that came from Malice had Ruin and Rock both knitting their brows. “I wasn’t acting like anything. I was just pissed because it was suggested she do that shit after what had happened to her.”
Rock nodded. “Yeah, that wouldn’t have been my suggestion, but this is Marx’s place, and we also need to remember that, Malice.”
“Yeah, I didn’t forget, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to stand up for a woman that was clearly hurt,” Malice gritted out.
“Whoa, man, there is no need for this testy shit.” Ruin held up a hand, and all amusement fled his expression.
“Besides, we both know Marx wouldn’t have followed through with actually asking her if she wanted to sell her body. He may have a sick and fucked-up sense of humor, but he wouldn’t further hurt a woman. He takes care of his girls just as well as we take care of ours,” Rock said. “I mean he asked us to take them back to River Run so they will be safe.”
Malice knew as much, but that wouldn’t have changed how he acted anyway. The need to say something when that had been brought up had been fierce and strong, and if he had it to do over all over again he would have done it the exact same way. “The conversation regarding Adrianna is over.”
Rock cocked a brow and lifted his hands in surrender. “Consider it ended.”
They all stood there for a few moments, and although there was this heavy silence among them, it was all on Malice’s end. The door beside him opened, and he looked over to see Adrianna walking out. The only thing that looked different about her was that she had put her long dark hair in a ponytail. His fingers itched as if they had a mind of their own to push away the stray piece of her bangs that blew across her forehead. She stopped, not seeing him right away, and the scent of her filled his nose. It was that same light floral aroma that had his pulse increasing, his cock hardening, and a slew of filthy fucking things slamming into his head.