Page 32 of Towles

“I’ll fucking kill everyone in county,” he said, referring to the county jail. He climbed on his bike and revved the engine. He looked at me, and our eyes met. Were the eyes really the window to the soul? I believed they were as Ethan and I stared at each other. Ethan turned off his bike and calmly climbed off. “Sorry. I can’t catch a fucking break.”

Beast and the other members backed off when Ethan walked toward me. Everyone went back inside, leaving us alone. Ethan sat on the table next to me. He smelled fucking amazing. I put my hand on his knee, and he placed his hand on mine.

“What happened?” I asked gently. “It’s not going to bother me, no matter what.”

“My sister. She flew in and went straight to Manning’s office. She blew up at him, and he tossed her in jail. Can you believe that shit?” His pulse quickened against my hand, and I leaned against his shoulder. His pulse slowed. “I fucking hate feeling this rage inside me. It’s eating away any good I have left. This fucking sheriff is trying to make me do something I’ll regret.”

I looked up into the eyes of the man who taught me everything would be okay. That when life punches, you punch back harder. You don’t fall down and quit. You push through and come out the other side much better off. “It’s okay to hurt, Ethan. Nobody can handle all the shit you’ve had to deal with in such a short amount of time. Be as pissed as you want.”

He put his arm around me, and I felt swallowed up by his presence. There was no world right then—just Ethan and me. “You have two skeletons on your arm, making out. You getting inked now?” He smiled, and I could feel the anger inside him dissipate. “Trixie talk you into that? Don’t let anyone here pressure you to do something you don’t want.”

“Gulley thought it would be a good look,” I said, almost whispering. “What do you think?”

“I think you need more ink. Maybe a she werewolf breaking chains.”

I giggled. Ethan didn’t laugh. “Why?”

“There’s a badass inside you just waiting to break loose. Everyone has that badass inside, but few people know how to let it loose.” He kissed me. “You’re breaking those chains now.”

“I’ll have Gulley start working on it.” I got up and started toward my car.

“Where you headed?” Ethan asked. He stood and walked behind me.

“We need to go get your sister. We can’t all fit on your bike.” I tried to hand him my car keys, and he stopped.

“I don’t do cars.” He climbed on his bike. “She can ride back with you.”

Ethan followed me from the club, and ten minutes later, we were at county.

“You gotta take it easy in there,” I said. “Doesn’t do your sister any good if we’re in the cell next to her.”

“I’m good,” Ethan said, and I believed him. “I just hope they haven’t skipped the judicial system and sent Rose on to prison. She’s a handful.”

We went inside, and Manning got up from his desk and entered his office. He could see the entire lobby through his office window. He took a deep breath and sighed, dreading what waited. “You and your sister must have been twins,” Manning said to Ethan. “She’s a damn handful.”

Ethan laughed. Manning didn’t find the humor in that or anything else. He needed to make a midnight trip to the club’s whore house.

“You take her ass out of here, and don’t let me see her again.” Manning walked down the hall to the cells. We tagged along with smiles on our faces. “I have to deal with her again, and she’s going to Marcum Asylum. She can live in a padded room.”

When we entered holding, Ethan said, "What’s up, Sis? How’s it on the inside?”

“Get me out of here, Ethan.” She crossed her arms and gave him a stare I used to give the boys in high school. None were brave enough to ask me out after experiencing the stare.

Rose and Ethan were obviously siblings. She was beautiful, with long, flowing brunette hair, green eyes that were deep and dark, and an attitude that said he had better get her out of there.

Manning opened the door. “Do what you need and get the hell out of my town.”

“Rose,” Ethan said. He put a large hand around her arm and escorted her out of holding. Manning stopped me from leaving.

“Why are you doing this, April? Go back to Paul and leave this cluster fuck of a club.” Manning closed the cell door with a clang meant to remind me where I could end up.

“You think Paul is a good man?” I scoffed. “If that’s what you believe, then you are no better than him.”

“I don’t.” He walked me to the door and through the lobby. Ethan and Rose were already outside. “Ethan is a criminal in a biker gang. Paul is a much better choice. He’s not going to get you locked up.”

“Did he tell you to say that?” I asked. “The man has no shame. The next time you see him, tell him I said to fuck off. I’m tired of his shit, Manning.”

Manning remained in the building when I went outside. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I married Paul. I know what I’m getting into with Ethan.

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