Page 21 of Legacy of Smoke
“I’m leaving.” I told both the neighbor and Poppy on repeat as I hopped on one foot to get my boots on. “Don’t call the cops. I’m leaving.”
“That’s right. And don’t come back, asshole!” Lily yelled it loud enough at least three more neighbors peeked out their doors or windows to see what was going on.
As I rode past, boots untied and still trying to get my coat on, their stares followed me, taking note of the colors on my back and the two women I’d left behind.
I was fucking screwed.
Instead of hiding or running, I hauled ass to the junkyard and locked the bike down in front of the club. Jackson’s bike was still warm where I held my hand by the block, so I knew he wouldn’t be balls deep in some hanger. I straightened my too-small vest, retied my boot, and strode in a beeline straight upstairs to face the music.
“You fucked Poppy.” He had a stiletto in his fingers and twirled it under a fingernail to dig the dirt out. It was an exercise in finesse and a clear intimidation tactic.
“I did, but I swear on my bike, on my cut, and on my life, I never touched Lily.”
Jackson sent me an unamused look. Finally, he set the knife down. “Lily’s fucking nuts. No big. Poppy however.” He shook his head. Paused, and then started shaking it again. “Pinner is going to call a hit on you.”
“I know.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed the space between his brows, staving off a headache. Then he dropped his hand to the desk and looked me in the eye. “You know what? Fuck it.”
“Fuck it?” Did that mean I was out? Would I even have a job? Was he going to let me hang in the breeze? I was a dead man, if that was the case.
He nodded sharply. “Yeah. Fuck it. We’re Destroyers. Fuck it.” He leaned back in his chair and rocked as he studied me. “She’s single. She was willing, right?”
I nodded.
“Fuck it. How was she?”
“No.” I warned him off with that and a raised finger.
He shrugged and started laughing. “I had to try. I mean, Pinner’s kid? I hope like hell it was the best sex you ever had, because it is probably going to be your last.”
“Very funny.”
He sobered. “I’m serious. Yeah, you fucked up. But I’m not going to kick your ass for it. Pinner can do it, if he can find you. It’s been nice knowing you.” He stood up and held out his hand as if I was supposed to shake it.
“What the hell are you doing? I’m staying.” An idea bloomed in that low sleep haze that dogged my tracks since busting a nut inside Poppy’s sweet pussy. “I’m staying, I’m going to keep fucking Poppy, and one of these days, she’ll be my old lady.”
Jackson held his breath for a full five seconds before he doubled over laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Wolf limped in, a little rough around the edges.
“Dude is a fucking walking dead man and he’s cracking jokes.” Jackson pointed at me and kept laughing so hard he wheezed. I’d never seen him like this.
“What did you do?”
Jackson interjected before I could explain. “He fucked Pinner’s kid.”
“Lily?”
Jackson smiled a Cheshire grin and his eyes lit up. “Nope. Poppy.”
“The fuck you say.” Wolf took a step back and his left hand fisted.
“She’ll be my old lady.” I tried. I really tried to convey the anguish in my heart.
His jaw dropped open. Slowly, his fingers unclenched. Then his chest started shaking. His shoulders shook, and he tried to deny what he was hearing. “You’ll be dead first.” The dam broke, and he joined Jackson, both of them laughing at my expense.
“Hey, what gives? I’m the funny one, remember?”
