Ride Or Die (Hell's Tribe MC Series) [Book 5]

Chapter 21: Brother Shit

Happy Wednesday everyone!! I hope you enjoy chapter 21.

~Carter~   

The moment I heard Dean say that Rhett was waiting outside was the same moment I felt my heart drop. I hadn't seen Rhett since that night at the frat house and I'd preferred it that way if I was being honest. Things were beyond awkward considering the fact that I'd run out on him mid-sex and in tears. Tori, Sloan, and Corrine had practically been begging me to hang out with them and give the full story, but I had been putting some distance between us too. I hadn't done it on purpose, but since I had been spending so much time with Bucky, I'd unconsciously put them on the back burner. But now that Rhett had shown up here like this, I knew it was bound to get back to them and they would want to hear the details as soon as possible. 

I nervously waited at the front counter, not able to fight the urge to look at the back door every five seconds. I couldn't help but suddenly feel nervous about Rhett's presence here, especially considering the way he'd remained out back and had Dean call Bucky out. 

It was a strange approach and definitely meant that it wasn't business as usual between the two. 

After only a few minutes, my thoughts were proven correct when I saw Bucky coming through the back door, holding his bloody nose. His shoulders were tense, his face red, and his fists clenched.

"Oh my god!" I shrieked. I had to fight every instinct in my body that desperately wanted to run over to him, but with so many other eyes around, I knew I had to play this off as normal as possible. 

"What the fuck happened to you?" Dean asked, gesturing to Bucky as he walked in. 

He waved Dean off, strolling down the hallway as if he wasn't gushing blood from his nose. 

"Just some brother shit," Bucky replied. 

Oh no. That could not be good. 

"I have four brothers and I can confirm that none of them have come to my place of work, punched me in the face, and then left," Jessie piped in. 

"Seriously," Cooper agreed. "What the hell, bro?" 

I narrowed my eyes, trying my best to gauge Bucky's mood. I had been getting to know him very well these last couple of weeks, but even if I hadn't, it didn't take a genius to figure out that he was both nervous and on edge. His breathing had quickened, he was stumbling over his words, and he was biting his bottom lip. 

Tell-tale signs that something bad had happened and he was shitting his pants. 

"A little disagreement—nothing to worry about," Bucky attempted. "I'm gonna clean myself up and head out early." 

I remained silent, while all three of the guys just nodded. They let him be for now, but I could see by the way Jessie narrowed his eyes that he knew it was bullshit. Jessie was smart enough to know that something else was going on here, something bigger than just a dumb fight between brothers. 

I just hoped this fight had nothing to do with me, but that would only be wishful thinking. 

I wanted to talk to Bucky before he left because I needed to know what happened. By the time I got home, he would probably be at the clubhouse and unable to talk, and by the time he got back, Cash would be home and I wouldn't be able to talk. 

It was now or never. I just needed to get past  Dean, Jessie, and Cooper without making it too obvious. 

I waited a few moments, spinning around on my office chair a few times before letting out a loud breath. Jessie was cleaning up his station for the night, Dean was working on a sketch, and Cooper was working on his last client. They were all occupied, and now was my perfect chance.