Page 16 of Jaded Red

Can I be that guy for her?

Can I give her all she deserves?

Will she still want me after she finds out what I’ve done?

I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do want to at least try. It’s the first time since Tanya died that I want to see where this goes. I want to be the man Nadia deserves. I turn around and peer up at the tattoo shop looming above me. With my mind made up, I make my way into the shop. Tiny and Dagger wait outside with shit-eating grins on their faces having heard the call between Aftermath and me.

The bell above me jingles and Calypso comes out of the back with her Ol’ Man, Farris, hot on her heels. She is the first Royal Harlot to be tied down and he is the first cop turned outlaw welcomed into our folds. Farris’s clothes are disheveled and his face is burning as red as mine. I know what those two were doing before I walked in. To save both of them and myself the embarrassment, I don’t say a word.

“Red, what can I do for you?” Calypso asks.

“I need a tattoo,” I answer, taking a seat in the chair. I give her the idea I have in my head and for the next couple of hours, Calypso works her magic, inking my skin. Tiny and Dagger have come in and out a few times, watching the progress on my chest, just above my heart, next to the purple butterfly tattoo.

Once we’re done, I pay Calypso and the three of us ride back to the Clubhouse. As we get closer, I spot two SUV’s tailing us. My heart starts hammering in my chest, wondering who this is. The three of us speed up and the two SUV’s do the same. I take a hairpin right-hand turn and the SUVs are still on our asses. The closer they get, the more nervous I am. I hit the Bluetooth button on my bike and the call connects to Capone.

“Red, what’s happening?” Capone asks as soon as he’s on the line. I’m our tech guy and since I’m not at the Clubhouse, Capone and the rest of the brothers are blind.

“Prez, we have two SUV’s hot and heavy on our asses. Tiny, Dagger and I have been trying to shake them but it’s no use.” I shout over the wind whipping through me. A loud thunk rings out, followed by a few pops and Tiny’s bike wobbles. “Shit, we’re under fire, Prez.”

“Where are you?” Capone asks. I can hear bikes start up in the background.

I swerve all over the road, Tiny and Dagger do the same, to make us smaller targets. “We’re about ten minutes south of the Clubhouse.”

“We’ll be there. And Red, stay safe.” Capone ends the call and I speed up. Hoping beyond hope Capone and the rest of the brothers will make it to us. More shots ring out and I check my mirrors. Tiny is leaning over his bike trying to stay upright. Red-hot anger penetrates my body and I unholster my gun from my cut. I look back, aim and fire. I hit a tire on one SUV and it skids out of control, rolling end over end. These motherfuckers just messed with the wrong club. I fire off a few more rounds but miss when Tiny loses control of his bike. I watch in horror as he skids off the road, through the field and comes to a stop at the edge of a drop off.

Screaming, I drop gears and spin my bike around. Dagger does the same and we take off, heading right for Tiny. The bumps and jolts are doing damage to my bike, but I really don’t give a fuck. Tiny is in trouble and he needs my help. The one remaining SUV takes off down the road, not bothering us anymore. I skid to a stop and don’t bother to put my kickstand down when I reach Tiny. The sounds of other Harleys vibrate the air around me as I reach him. Tiny isn’t moving and his big body is covered in blood. I gently turn him over and put pressure ona gunshot to his shoulder with my hands. His jeans are torn and bloody, along with his arms. The helmet saved his head and his leather cut saved his body from the skid.

“Shit, Tiny. Hang on, help is coming.” I keep talking to him, offering him some form of comfort until another set of hands comes into my line of vision.

“Red, I’ve got this.” Derange soothes and pulls my hand away from Tiny’s shoulder. I stand up with the help from Aftermath. His forehead is wrinkled with worry and anger is radiating through his body.

I know how he feels. This is all my fault. If I didn’t take off because my ass was hurt, Tiny wouldn’t be here right now. But I always find a way to fuck things up.

Derange, Dagger and Blayze have Tiny loaded up into one of the cages Trigger’s prospect, Pretty Boy, brought and I watch as they drive toward the Clubhouse. Capone, Torch, and Seth check the overturned SUV. They shake their heads and come back our way. I don’t say a word and neither does Aftermath. What happened here tonight never should have happened. It’s my job to keep my brothers and their families safe. I will scrub and scour every inch of every place until I find out who did this and no one will stop me.

Vengeance is a bitch, and these assholes just messed with the wrong Royal Bastard.

Chapter Nine

Nadia

Kensi, Aftermath and I made it back to the Clubhouse a few hours later. Aftermath carried my bags into the room and left Kensi and me alone. Completely exhausted but still needing to take a shower, Kensi helps me into the bathroom and turns the shower on for me. I didn’t see Matt or my brother when we walked through and I remember they were together when I was rescued.

“Kensi?”

“Yes, Nadia?”

I hesitate to ask the question on the tip of my tongue, but curiosity wins out. “What can you tell me about Matt?”

Kensi’s brow scrunches, thinking hard. “Matt? Do you mean, Red?” I nod my head. “He is the Royal Bastards’ Tech guy. He has mad computer skills, but he is very shy and everything makes him blush. I don’t know much more about him than that. He pretty much keeps to himself and stays holed up in his communications room.”

“Why is he called Red?” It’s a strange road name but who am I to judge? Kensi raises an eyebrow at my question and realization dawns on me. I thought his blush was cute at first andwhen we became more intimate, I found it attractive for some reason. “Oh. All the time?”

Kensi nods her head, “Yes, all the time. Aftermath and I could be giving each other a hug and Red would blush.” She shrugs her shoulders like it’s no big deal.

“What’s his story?”

“That I couldn’t tell you because, like I said, he stays to himself and never opened up to me about his past.”

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