Journey (Soulless Kings MC: Marble Falls, TX #2)

17. Journey

CHAPTER 17

JOURNEY

I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.

“You about done?”

I glance up at Screamer, who’s wiping the grease from his hands with a rag. We both work for a local mechanic, and our specialty is motorcycles. I’m finishing up a Harley Softail, but apparently, I’m not going fast enough for him.

“Should be in a few minutes,” I tell him. “Just want to double-check everything before signing off on completion.”

“Well, there’s a woman out front, and she’s asking for you.”

I lift my head so fast I’m surprised I don’t get whiplash. “A woman?”

Screamer smirks. “Judging by the level of rage and disgust in her expression, I’m guessing she’s some chick you fucked and ducked.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “This can’t be good.”

“Definitely not. Be glad Jared isn’t here today,” he says, referring to our boss. “I’ve got a feeling there’s about to be a big scene.”

After setting my tools down, I rise to my feet and stretch, buying myself a few seconds before I come face to face with someone who apparently hates me.

When I step into the front of the shop, my stomach drops.

“Wren?”

“Wait,” Screamer says as he steps up next to me. “This is Wren?”

Wren stares at me with fury as I respond, and I notice she’s holding a brown paper bag close to her chest. “Uh, yeah, this is Wren.”

Screamer throws his head back and laughs. “I was right. There’s definitely gonna be a fucking scene.”

“Walk away, Screamer,” I order.

“Aw, c’mon, Jou?—”

“Walk. Away,” I bark.

“Buzzkill,” he mutters as he returns to the shop area.

“I gotta say, I’m surprised to see you,” I comment when Wren and I are alone.

“Really?” she lashes out. “You leave this in my home, and you thought I’d let it slide.”

Wren sets the bag on the counter and gently slides it toward me. Her movements are so slow and in complete contraction with the malice in her tone. I look in the bag, and my own rage surfaces.

“Where’d you get that?” I demand.

“Like you don’t know,” she snaps. “It was in my nightstand, right where you left it.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I reach behind my back and pull my own gun from my waistband to show her. “I’ve got my piece. There’s no way I’d have left it behind.”

“You didn’t leave anything behind. You broke into my apartment and put it right where he told you to.”

“Where who told me to?”

“Don’t play dumb, Journey.”

I take a few steps back, lean against the wall, and cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not playing dumb, Wren. I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

She rolls her eyes. “And I suppose you’re gonna tell me that you didn’t leave me the flowers and note.”

“What flowers and note?”

Wren throws her arms up and begins to pace. I keep a close eye on her every step, watching for any indication that anyone other than Wren is present. I don’t know what specific triggers she has for a switch, and I’m not at all sure I want to find out when she’s this pissed.

“And then there’s the matter of your little visit to Dr. Young,” she shouts, no longer trying to keep her voice down. “What is wrong with you?”

Well, shit. I knew that was gonna come back to bite me in the ass.

“Listen, I won’t deny that,” I say. “And I’m sorry. But you didn’t leave me much choice.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I want nothing to do with you?”

No. It didn’t.

Instead of voicing my thought, I push off the wall and walk around the counter. I block her from pacing, but when she flinches, I take a step back.

“What are you doing?” she demands.

“Do you want nothing to do with me?” I ask.

That gets her attention, and she halts. “What?”

“Do you want nothing to do with me?” I repeat. “It’s a simple question, Wren.”

“I…” She shakes her head. “I don’t know.”

“If you really want me to back off, I will,” I tell her honestly while simultaneously hoping like hell she doesn’t.

“You will?”

“Of course. I’d never force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“But the flowers? And the note?”

“Yeah, about those… I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“And the gun?”

“Nope.”

“But my dad…”

I stiffen. “What’s he got to do with this?”

“He called me and said Uncle Craig left it. I haven’t seen Uncle Craig in years, and there’s no way either of them know where I live, so I assumed he meant you.” She locks eyes with me. “You’re working for him, aren’t you?”

“Wren, I’ve never met your dad. All I know about him is what I’ve read about his crimes.”

She sighs, her shoulders slumping. “But I… I’m so confused.”

“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” I suggest. “Tell me about the flowers and note.”

And she does. It takes everything in me not to punch holes in the walls as she speaks. I hate that there’s someone out there who made her question my intentions, someone who is a real danger to her.

“And then last night, my dad called and told me about the gun,” she says, finishing her explanation.

Nothing makes sense, but I’m not sure that she could explain it any better than she has. She clearly had assumptions that were very wrong about it all.

“I promise you, I had nothing to do with any of it,” I tell her. “I’d never do anything to hurt you, Wren. Quite the opposite. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”

Before I know what’s happening, Wren has me shoved against the front window of the shop, her fingers wrapped as far around my throat as they’ll go.

“Wren doesn’t need your fucking protection.”