Page 144 of Beautifully Shattered
“Oh, thank fuck,” Jols sighs, but as JD steps out into the light, even from here we can see a dark trail of blood trickling down his chin. “Jesus.” Jols rushes down the steps, and I follow right behind her.
A bell clangs, and I spot Spud holding an old school handbell, ringing it over and over, drawing the attention from the club brothers huddled under the shelter, while Doxies start streaming out of a couple of the houses.
“What’s happening?” I ask, confused as everyone moves to gather at the front of the barn.
“He’s gonna kill him,” Jols snaps over her shoulder. “That’s what’s happening.”
“Wait… what?” I hurry to catch up to her. “Seriously?”
“Why else would he want an audience?”
I gulp, because shit.
Is she right?
Surely not.
Shoving through the crowd, Jols and I push to the front to find JD standing with Smitty on one side and Ringo on the other, with Spud, who has finally stopped ringing the bell, standing on Ringo’s other side.
My eyes lock onto Ringo’s. He’s staring right at me, his expression cold and unreadable, giving nothing away.
“Sorry about bringing you all out into the cold,” Smitty starts, before jabbing a finger at JD. “Butthisfucker just copped a knuckle sandwich. Anyone wanna guess why?”
When no one speaks, I open my big mouth.
“Because you wanted him to kiss your arse, and he told you to shove it, so you threw a tantrum?”
Smitty’s glare snaps to me instantly as a few snickers ripple through the crowd, and I hear Ringo mutter a curse as he shoots me a glare of his own.
“Good to see you again,Charity,” Smitty drawls, using that name on purpose to piss me off, which works, and I grit my teeth, hearing Jols snicker next to me.
“You asked for that,” she whispers.
“Whatever,” I mutter, watching Smitty’s gaze shift to Jols.
“When my stepdaughter started living with the club, you all were told the rules,” he snarls, his voice sounding a little unhinged. “Hands off. She’s off fucking limits!”
A shiver runs up my spine, and not from the cold. It’s the savage note in his tone that has me on edge, and I have to wonder if Jols was right. Is Smitty actually going to kill JD for touching her?
“This fucker must have been hard of hearing!” Smitty hisses, fisting JD’s cut and shoving him to the ground where he crashes to his knees.
Jols and I both gasp, and Ringo moves to step in, but Spud and Tups dart forward, grabbing him and holding him back.
I see red.
Myvision tunnels on my husband and the bastards daring to lay hands on him. I lunge forward, but Celina and Casey snatch me by the arms, keeping me back.
“It’ll be better for everyone if you don’t interfere,” Celina whispers in my ear, and I have half a mind to slap her, but freeze when Jols barrels past me.
“Stop this!” she snarls at her stepdad, who just shakes his head.
“Nope. He knew the rules.” His eyes drop to JD, still on his knees, but JD doesn’t look scared at all.
His eyes are glued to Jols, burning with fury that says he’s ready to die for her.
“Tell everyone what you told me in there,” Smitty snarls, and my heart thrashes wildly at knowing this was the wrong way to go about helping Jols.
We should have just kidnapped her and run.
