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“That’s bullshit.” I stomped my foot on the gravel, which hurt because I was barefoot, which made me madder.
Then I spun to face Alex. “Do you see what I deal with? ‘It’s for your own good, Joy. But I won’t tell you what.’ It’s so annoying.”
Alex held up both hands in surrender. “He’s just looking out for you, sis.”
Just looking out for me, my ass. Drew was controlling. Ever since he left the Renegades, something had changed, and it was suddenly like he thought I couldn’t take care of myself anymore.
He was wrong.
“I don’t need you two keeping things from me. Whatever is going on, I can handle the truth. Don’t you think it’s more dangerous to keep me in the dark? How am I supposed to be diligent if I don’t know what to be diligent about?” It made no damn sense. “I grew up in the club too, you know. I know how things work.”
I knew to keep my mouth shut around outsiders. I’d known since I was old enough to understand that the club got involved in stuff that wasn’t always legs. I wasn’t stupid, and it pissed me off that my own brother didn’t think he could trust me.
Drew clenched his jaw, but he didn’t say anything. No surprise there.
Blowing out a breath, I shoved my hair back from my face. “Look. I know you didn’t come over here just to piss me off, so what do you want?”
The sun had almost set and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my night being irritated by my brothers, regardless of how happy I was that Alex was home.
Denali’s eyes went past me to my new neighbor. “We came over to talk to Nightmare.”
My back went ramrod straight. “I see.”
I wouldn’t admit it, but hearing that my brothers hadn’t come to see me, that Alex had been in town long enough to find Drew and ride over here, and the first person he wanted to talk to was a man he’d met thirty seconds ago…
It hurt.
A lot.
“Okay.” I nodded. “Well, I’ll let you boys do your thing then.”
“Joy—” Alex started.
“No, it’s fine.” I forced a smile. I was used to being blown off; what was one more time? “You’re home for a few months.” I motioned to Denali who’d let the tidbit drop earlier. “So, we’ve got time. I’m going to bed. Some of us have to be up at two for work.”
Chapter Four
Nightmare
“You hurt her feelings,” I said, pointing out the obvious.
I didn’t know why I even cared. It wasn’t like she was mine.
And yet, I hated seeing the hurt on her face.
Her brothers lifted their heads to the top of the steps as Joy quietly pulled the door closed behind her.
Denali sighed. “She’s tough. She’ll be okay.”
That had my lips turning down.
I didn’t like how easily they dismissed their sister's feelings.
Joy was a sweet girl who cared about everybody, whether they deserved it or not—I was proof of that—and she did a hell of a lot for the club.
Every time someone came up worth celebrating, Denali volunteered her to feed the masses.
Did she ever complain?
