Harm's Way: Riot MC Biloxi Karen Renee (top non fiction books of all time .txt) 📖

don’t need to do anything. It’s done. It’s over, Har.”

He squeezed her neck. “He needs to pay, Stephie.” He shook his head as a thought struck him. “Christ, I’m amazed Turk didn’t do anything about it.”

Her lips pressed together.

“You never told him, did you?”

She shook her head.

After a sharp exhale through his nose, he arched his brows. “Be interesting to see how he reacts.”

She pulled at his arm still holding her. “You can’t tell him! He and Beast and the others don’t need to know this shit, Michael.”

He smirked. “I like how you switch my name so easily, baby. Callin’ me Har when you know I’m in revenge mode, but using Michael when you’re trying to appeal to some other side of me.”

She pulled again and he loosened his grip to give her some space. Her eyes widened. “I don’t do it on purpose.”

He chuckled. “Didn’t say you do. Just find it interesting.”

Those hazel eyes looked up at him. “Please don’t tell your Jacksonville brothers.”

He pressed his lips together and sighed. “I want to say I won’t, but I can’t promise you that, Stephie. If that bastard is still in that area, they can round his ass up for me. And if I ask that of them, they need to know why. Hell, I want them to know why, so they’re just as fuckin’ angry as I am.”

She sighed quietly and looked down at his shirt.

He gave her a squeeze. “Look at me, baby. You do not need to be ashamed. They won’t assume you did this.”

“You did.”

His body stiffened.

She spoke fast. “You asked me if I let him film a sex tape, so you blamed me right off the bat. It’s knee-jerk. Doesn’t make it right, but I know —”

He ran his hand along the top of her head, down through her long brown hair. “You didn’t explain it right away, honey. Told me it was exactly what it sounded like. I shouldn’t have assumed anything, and let you finish. And I’m sorry I made an assumption. But believe me, when I tell Volt, he will have the full picture. That fucker took advantage of you, no two ways about it.”

She took in a breath and he felt her body quiver when it hitched. “Okay.”

He smiled. “Okay. You gotta be at work soon?”

“I don’t work today.”

His eyes widened. “It’s Sunday. How the hell are you supposed to make any fuckin’ money, Combes?”

She grinned. “I’m doin’ all right, Walcott. I got this fabulous roommate who doesn’t charge me rent.”

He swatted her ass. “Right. Get your bikini, woman. We’re goin’ to the beach.”

Her eyes lit up and he wanted to take her picture, but he basked in the warmth of her happiness instead.

HAR STOOD ON THE BLANKET toweling his hair dry and staring at Stephanie’s body in her purple bikini. She cleared her throat and he met her gaze. “Sorry, babe. Can’t help it. Hard to believe you’re so damn curvy when you’re actually half-fish.”

She threw her head back with laughter. Her eyes danced over his face. “I didn’t expect you to say that!”

He rubbed the towel across his chest. “I didn’t expect you to swim farther than me.”

“Glad I can surprise you. Are we heading back?”

He grinned. “If we don’t, I’m gonna get arrested for the cock-stand I got in my trunks, woman.”

She glanced at his groin and smiled that Mona Lisa smile of hers. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m really not.”

He wrapped the towel around his waist. “I know, and you’re gonna pay for that in the shower with me.”

She grinned. “I finally get to wrap my mouth around you.”

His dick swelled with her words. “Don’t get naughty in public—” He cut himself off hearing his words. “Sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Her eyes squinted. “What are you talking about?” Then the realization hit her. “Thank you, Michael. It was two years ago now; I’m... not entirely over it, but I’ve learned some coping mechanisms and stuff.”

He stooped to pick up the blanket and to hide his anger from her.

She shouldn’t have to learn fucking coping mechanisms. That was bullshit. And why this asshole would pay.

She grabbed the other end of the blanket from him and started folding.

They trudged through the sand to the parking lot.

“I have a question,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“When your mom came by, she asked how you were doing. Why wouldn’t she already know that? Do you guys not talk much?”

He busied himself with unlocking the truck and grabbing a t-shirt from the back. Tugging the shirt on, he said, “We don’t.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

He shook his head. “Get in the truck, Steph.”

“Okay, fine. We don’t have to talk about that, I’m sorry I asked.”

After a few minutes of the air going full-blast, he turned it down. He didn’t like talking about the shit with his family, but he also didn’t like keeping anything from Stephanie.

“Mom blames me for Corrina not being at family gatherings. She won’t be in the same room as me.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw her head twist his way. “What? That doesn’t make sense. She idolized you growing up.” She shook her head. “Well, really, Sammy, but still. How can she not be speaking to you?”

At a red light, he looked at her. “What do you mean she idolized Brute?”

She looked at him like he was dense. “Your mother knew I had a screaming crush on you, well, I damn sure knew a girl with a crush when I saw one, too. Even if she was a year or two older than me, she had it bad for Sammy. She was just shy or something about it.”

Damn. Shit.

Now he got it. Her anger had never been about him so much as about him getting Brute to do something she didn’t think he would ever do, if not for him.

“Fuck,” he hissed.

“What? Why won’t she talk to you?”

He took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled hard. His mouth opened, but he closed it thinking of ways