Page 110 of Paladin's Hell

Chapter 35

Jayden

Earlier

I love seeing Shooter, a familiar face from home. Pal and him have always been close. It’s a shame, though, that him sleeping on the floor of our bedroom last night obviously meant I wasn’t going to have a repeat performance of my amazing experience the night before. Truly making love with Pal had been incredible. A far better first time than I could ever have hoped. Everything between us had just been so easy. Fun. Just what I needed. There had been nothing to trigger bad memories from my past.

Now it’s morning, and Pal and Shooter clearly have plans.

“You two going for a ride?”

Pal shoves a piece of toast in his mouth and swigs down his coffee. While Shooter snorts with laughter, making my eyes narrow, Pal simply tells me, “Club business.”

“Always hated that.” Jeannie pauses before opening yet another pack of bacon. “But you can’t do anything about it, girl, best you get used to it from the start.”

“Why’s Shooter going with you?” I try to weasel it out of him, tackling it from another direction. “He’s here for a visit.”

“He’s a Satan’s Devil too, Jay. You know this.” That he says nothing else suggests Shooter’s been roped into Colorado business.

I toss my hair back over my shoulder, my eyes blazing. Looking around, I see Taser, Mace and Pyro all looking amused. Runt’s sniggering into his coffee. Before I get told my place in stronger terms, I huff. “Well I guess I’ll see you later.”

“No goodbye kiss, Doll?”

Before I act on my impulse and slap him to wipe that smarmy look off his face, I turn on my heels and start walking away. Before I’m out of the kitchen, Pal reaches me, his hand grabbing hold of my shoulder, he pulls me back against his chest. “I’d tell you if I could, Doll, but I can’t. What you don’t know…”

“…can’t hurt me.” I finish, still annoyed. But I do turn my head when he nuzzles my neck, and my lips do meet his but only briefly. “I’ll see you later.”

Of course, Paladin and Shooter didn’t give me any idea of where they were going. I’m not even an old lady yet, but already I detest the words club business. I was the one who’d suggested Pal contact his brothers in Tucson, that Shooter’s here as a result of that is obvious. He’s come to watch Pal’s back. Which means what they’re doing might be dangerous. Doesn’t Pal know how much I worry about him? Surely he must.

I go up to our room, busying myself putting Shooter’s blankets and pillow away. I’ve no idea how long he’ll be staying. I like him, it’s great to see someone from home, on the other hand, I want to continue to explore Pal and my new relationship. It’s like something’s been turned on inside me. I’ve started to feel horny all the time. He doesn’t even need to be here, as soon as I start thinking of him, I want him. I wonder if he knows what a monster he’s created. Does he think of me too?

The small room’s tidy, I can at least walk across the floor now without tripping over Shooter’s saddlebags. Lounging on the bed, I pick up the Kindle that Ella had given to me as a going away present. My lips curve as I remember her saying that I won’t have to sneak read her books anymore. Then I frown, realising how much I miss her.

No point moping, things are what they are. Making an effort to put regret for a situation which can’t be changed behind me, I open the cover. Great! One of the books I pre-ordered has been delivered. I download it, then start to read. It’s by one of my favourite authors, she has me hooked by the end of the first page.

So much so, when a knock sounds at the door, I don’t hear it. Until the knock comes again.

“Jay? You in there?” A male voice hisses.

The door’s locked, of course, to keep Bitch out. I go and open it. “Taser?” What’s he want? I just want to get back to my book. He’d interrupted at a crucial point.

“Jay.” Something about the way he says my name sounds wrong. “Jay, there’s been an accident.”

Book forgotten, my hand covers my mouth. “Pal?” I ask around my fingers, hoping to hell it’s not him.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, Jay. He’s come off his bike. He’s badly injured. Come. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“Oh my God, no. Shooter?”

“Shooter’s fine. He’s with him. Come, quickly, there…” his worried eyes meet mine, “there might not be much time, Jay.”

No!This can’t be happening. Not now we’ve taken that step. Not now I’ve admitted to myself, if not expressed it in words to him, how much I love him.

“Hurry, Jay.”

Automatically I slide my arms into the sleeve of my jacket that Taser’s picked up from the chair and is holding out. I close the door, not bothering to lock it. What does it matter if Bitch gets in when my man might be dying? My heart’s beating so fast I think it’s going to leap out of my chest. I turn to walk down the corridor.

“This way,” Taser grabs my arm. “We’ll go down the fire escape, it’s faster.”

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