Page 67 of Hell & Back

“My God. What does all that mean?”

She couldn’t believe she was saying this out loud. “It means he’s going to have to fuck someone to relieve the pain. Probably sooner rather than later and if not me, who? He says he’s scared to be around me, that he doesn’t trust himself not to hurt me. Iknowhe would never hurt me. Never.”

“Hurt you like when you’re having sex?”

“Yes.”

“Do you really think he would cheat on you?” They both turned at the sound of something metal hitting the garage floor. Bellamy shook her head, a half grin on her face.

“No. Never. Not unless he was forced to by this damn drug.” She fisted her hands on the table. “I’m just so angry. Angry at Crockett for doing this to him. Angry that Darren doesn’t trust himself enough to let me and Tuck get him through this. Angry because he’s eventually going to have to fuck someone.And angry because although I understand that he needs to find release with someone, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.” She rubbed her face and said, “Damn it. It should be me.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Bellamy covered Kylie’s fists with her hands. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you guys.”

“I want to confront Darren so bad, but Tuck’s worried that his pride can’t take the hit. I’m trying so hard to give him the time he says he needs, but I’m about to snap and take matters into my own hands.”

Bellamy gave Kylie’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Maybe you should.”

TUCK

Tuck rounded the front of Bellamy’s car to get to the other half of the garage. The place where Race’s truck used to sit but was now filled with motorcycle parts. “Whatcha got here?” he grinned. There was a makeshift work table made of sawhorses and a sheet of plywood. The engine was on a stand at one end and a variety of parts and a carburetor strew around it. Fenders in need of paint and a torn leather seat leaned up against the wall.

“A 2003 Low Rider.” Race scratched the back of his neck. “Ran into this guy I went to school with and we got to talking about the club and bikes when he told me his uncle had a bike he was wanting to sell. Said it was an older bike and it needed some work. If I was interested, he’d take me over to check it out. I went and looked at it and the guy was right. It’s going to need some work. The uncle had been sick for a while and left it sitting in the backyard out in the open for several years. Thought it would be a great fixer upper project for me and Derrick.” He shoved hishands in his front pockets and rocked back on his heels. “He’s already in love with it.”

Tuck looked at the bike and rubbed his jaw. It was going to take a little work, but he could see it finished in his mind. Derrick was one lucky kid to have a dad who would buy him a bike and teach him how to fix it up.

“How did Eve take the news that you got Derrick a bike?” Eve was Race’s ex and mother to his first three kids.

Race grinned. “She wasn’t crazy about it, but after Derrick talked to her, she calmed down enough to listen to what he had to say. He told her he was looking forward to working on it with me and going on rides together.”

“He’s good.” Tuck could imagine after hearing that it would have been hard for Eve to deny her son memories like that with his dad.

“Yeah, he is. Kinda scary sometimes. Liza’s worse, though.” Race picked up the carburetor, turning it this way and that. “She called me after they talked. She wasn’t happy that I made the decision to get him a bike without consulting her.”

“He’s your kid, too.”

“Yeah.” Race set the carburetor down and wiped the grease from his fingers on a shop towel. “I think she’s more afraid he’s going to end up with the Sons than actually riding a bike.”

“Still blaming the club for the two of you breaking up?” Tuck leaned a hip against the makeshift workstation.

“She says she’s over it, but I think it will always be in the back of her mind. Especially if Derrick voices any thoughts about joining the Sons.”

Tuck thought it was a shame that Eve’s view of the club was less than stellar, but he could understand why she thought that. From what he’d seen of Derrick at family hog roasts, the kid already had the bug concerning joining the club. It was in the way his eyes lit up whenever he heard some of the brotherstelling stories about past escapades. Right now all he was seeing was the upside to it all and that was probably a good thing. Once he realized there was always another club out there determined to take over the Sons’ territory and what it entailed to ensure it didn’t happen, it would lose a little of the luster. Unfortunately for Eve, he didn’t think even that would keep Derrick from becoming a Sons of Redemption brother.

“What color is he wanting to paint it?” Tuck crossed his arms over his chest and his legs at the ankles.

“Black.” Race smiled. “And he wants the chrome shiny.”

Tuck could relate. His bike was midnight blue with bright yellow detailing on the tank and shiny chrome of his own. He couldn’t wait until his leg wasn’t as stiff so he could ride it again. He was getting antsy riding around in his truck or Darren’s car all the time. If it wasn’t for Kylie being pregnant and needing someone with her at all times until the Phantoms were taken care of, he’d be on it.

“How’s Darren doing? Have you talked to him since he came home?” Race bent at the waist and leaned his elbows on the workstation across from Tuck.

“Both Kylie and I have tried calling. He won’t answer. We’ve both tried texting and all we get is short replies.” He hadn’t admitted it to Kylie, but he wasn’t going to give Darren much time before he tracked him down and laid things out.

“Have you talked to Bacon?”

“Yeah.” Tuck scratched the back of his head then explained what they were supposed to expect.

“So he has to have sex or his dick feels like it’s going to explode? And he can’t get himself off?”

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