“What’s happening this weekend?” Cyn asked walking out of the dressing room with her own mountain of clothes in her arms. “Operation Snake in the Grass.”
“What?” Cyn and I asked at the same time.
“Alright, alright. I need to think of a new name. Operation Panty Raid?” “Are we going to act like thirteen-year-old boys and raid the cheerleader’s panty drawers?” Cyn asked, even more, confused now.
“What?! No. Do you two have no imagination at all?” Meg threw her hands up in the air, annoyed with Cyn and me.
“Dude, I have no idea what you are talking about. Just spit it out without all this code name shit,” Cyn said as she threw her pile of discarded clothes on top of Meg’s. “Troy and Marley want to hook up, but they don’t want the club knowing, specifically Gravel. That’s where you and I come in and create a diversion,” Meg explained.
“Was that so hard to say? All this cloak and dagger shit makes you even loonier than you normally are. I’m gonna go pay,” Cyn said, grabbing two shirts off the top of the pile and headed to the checkout.
“Geez, she has to be PMSing.” Meg shook her head as she watched Cyn walk away.
“Shut up, Meg. I’m gonna go see if Marley is done. We need to head back if we are going to make it in time for work.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Meg called as I made my way to Marley. I threw my hand up in the air but didn’t say anything. Sometimes with Meg, you just needed to let her be herself and let her say whatever she wanted. It was easier that way. There were four stalls for changing and only one had the door shut. I knocked on the door and prayed for Marley to be naked when she opened the door.
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Marley
“Just a sec,” I called as I pulled my shirt over my head. After I finally got my heart beating at a normal pace, I had decided just to get the black dress and nothing else. Money was tight, and I didn’t need to be blowing all my tips on clothes. If I really thought about it, I didn’t need the black dress either, but I have plans to make this dress worth every penny when Troy came over.
I grabbed all my discarded clothes and made quick work of hanging them all back on the hangers and opened the door to see Troy standing there.
“Hi,” I gulped out, surprised to see him.
“Meg and Cyn are paying and then we need to head back.” I looked Troy up and down and saw no evidence of our encounter having any effect on him. When I had walked back into the dressing room and looked at myself in the mirror, my cheeks were stained red, and my pulse was beating a mile a minute. I had a split second thought of pulling Troy into the dressing room with me and see if he really wasn’t affected or just a good actor.
“Let’s go! I wanna hit the pretzel place before we leave. Hustle!” Meg called. There goes that idea. “I’ll just hang these up and then check out. Five minutes tops, promise,” I said, trying to sneak past Troy, who was standing right in my way. “Go hang those up and I’ll hold onto this for you.” Troy grabbed the dress I had draped over my arm and headed out of the dressing room without a backward glance. I made quick work of hanging up all the clothes I didn’t want and looked around for Troy, but couldn’t find him. I headed to the front of the store and saw him standing with Meg and Cyn waiting for me. “Where’s the dress?”
“Right here,” Troy said, handing me a plastic shopping bag.
“You bought my dress?” I asked dumbly as I grabbed the bag from him and looked inside. Yup, sure as shit, there was the dress laying folded inside. “Yeah. Let’s go. Meg’s hungry and when she doesn’t eat, she gets hangry.” Troy grabbed the bag out of my hand and headed for the exit.
“Stop. You can’t buy me clothes.”
“I can, and I did.” Troy grabbed my hand and tried pulling me to the door. I dug my heels in and refused to budge.
“No. Take it back or let me pay you,” I insisted.
“Oh, how cute. Rigid and I had this same fight over groceries,” Cyn said, looking all sappy as she watched Troy try to pull me out of the store.
“And then remember the motorcycle boots he insisted on buying for you. You attempted to fight him, but in the end, he won,” Meg added.
“Yup. I can’t remember King ever insisting on buying you something, though.” Cyn crossed her arms, thinking.
“That’s because every time he says he’ll pay, I let him pay. That’s something you two need to learn. If he says he’ll pay, go with it,” Meg said, staring me down. “That’s because King is your boyfriend. Troy is just, well, Troy,” I sputtered. “Yup, that’s right, I’m Troy. Let’s go. You can pay me back later for the dress,” Troy said as he tugged one last time on my arm and I gave in. “Just let me give you the money now,” I insisted.
“It’s not money you’re going to pay me back with.”
“Oh, now this sounds good,” Meg said to Cyn as we walked out of the store and towards the pretzel place.
“Troy, I thought no one was going to know,” I said worriedly glancing behind us.
“They’re gonna help us. Don’t worry. Their alliance is to me, not Gravel,” Troy said, trying to reassure me.
I didn’t say anything more because I guess he was right in a sense, but who’s to say King or Rigid wouldn’t find out and tell Gravel. I might have just agreed to be Troy’s hook up without really thinking about it. Shit.
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Chapter 8
Marley
“Bandit!” I called into the backyard. Troy had dropped me off at my house after grabbing pretzels at the mall and said he would be back after work to pick up Bandit after I insisted he stay with me while Troy worked. There was no sense in Troy taking Bandit home when he could stay with me.
It was past eleven o’clock, and I was basically on pins and needles waiting for Troy to get off work and come over. I was going to wear the dress tonight, but I had decided against it thinking it would look like I was trying too hard, so I had settled on my cute, but sexy pajamas.
I heard a motorcycle roar by and rolled my eyes. Every hour, on the hour, someone from the club would drive by, checking up on me. Ridiculous. I had called Gravel the third time I had heard and seen them drive by, but Gravel insisted it was for my own protection. I had no idea if they were going to continue their drive-bys through the night or not. It looked like the night I had planned with Troy might not go the way we had hoped.
Hearing a truck pull in the driveway, Bandit bolted past me, around the house headed for Troy. Bandit may have liked staying with me, but I could tell he had missed Troy.
As I rounded the house, I saw Troy’s truck door open, and only Bandit’s back legs.
“Down boy. I’m happy to see you too,” Troy said as he climbed out of the truck.
“He missed you,” I said walking up to him.
“He just knows I’m the one who feeds him.” Troy kneeled next to Bandit and rubbed him behind his ears, and he groaned in appreciation.
“Our plans might have a slight hitch in them tonight.”
“I know. Meg told me after she talked to King that they had prospects drive by your house to make sure everything looked okay,” Troy said, standing up and brushing his pants off.
“Yup, like clockwork. They just drove by not even five minutes ago.” “So every hour they drive by?” Troy asked, stepping closer to me.
“Yeah.”
“So that means we’re good for an hour?”
“Give or take.”
“Not as much time as I’d like, but it does for now.” Troy took one step closer and wrapped his arms around me.
“Don’t tell me we’re going for an eight-second ride, cowboy,” I said, grabbing Troy’s baseball hat off his head and plopping it on my head backward.
“Oh no, Sunshine. I’m gonna take you for a ride, but it’s gonna be much longer than eight seconds.”
“Yeehaw,” I whispered right before Troy’s lips crashed down on mine. He spun me around, our lips still connected and lean
ed me against the side of his truck. “You taste better each time I kiss you,” he growled against my lips. I glided my hands up his arms and delved my fingers in his hair, gripping his head. Troy’s kisses were like a drug I couldn’t get enough of. Every time our lips touched I yearned for more.
Bandit started crying and pawing at my leg. “Bandit’s jealous,” I said in between kisses.
“Bandit had you all night to himself, it’s my turn now.”
“Think you’re both jealous of each other,” I laughed, tilting my head to the side as Troy rained kisses down my neck.
“If you would-” Bandit started going crazy barking and standing on his hind legs, trying to get in between Troy and me.
“I think there’s something wrong with him, Troy,”
“Yeah, he’s not the center of attention. Down, Bandit,” Troy ordered, holding his hand up. Bandit bit down on Troy’s sleeve and yanked his arm down.
“Troy, I think we-,” Gunfire blasted through the quiet night, and Troy tackled me to the ground and grabbed Bandit.
Three more gunshots rang out and then tires squealed as the car took off. “Stay here,” Troy ordered and then army crawled to the back of the truck. He got up on his knees and peeked behind the truck.
Bandit’s wet nose nudge my hand, and I jumped, scared. I wrapped my arm around his neck and cuddled him close to me. Troy and I had just been shot at. Holy fuck.
“Call King, although I’m sure with that much gunfire, someone already called the cops, and I’m sure Gravel is running down the road right now. Stay. Here.” Troy glanced back at me.
I nodded my head, letting him know I wasn’t going anywhere and then he disappeared behind the truck.
Bandit whined in my arms and rested his head on my leg.
“Where the hell is Marley?” I heard Gravel bellow at Troy.
I knew I should get up or at the very least say something, but I couldn’t. I was paralyzed.
“She’s behind the truck with Bandit. She’s okay,” Troy hollered back.
“Good, now tell me what the hell happened. I called King as soon as I heard the first shot, he should be here any minute.”
I lifted my hand to pet Bandit’s head, and I saw my handshake, but it was like I couldn’t even feel them. My heart was beating a mile a minute, and my breathing was short and shallow.
“Troy,” I shakily called. I had to get a grip, but I had no idea how to. We were just shot at. Someone just tried to kill Troy and I. “Troy!” I screamed, losing it. “I thought you said she was fine!” I heard Gravel yell as I wildly whipped my head back and forth looking for Troy.
Bandit whined again in my arms and rested his paw on my arm. Jesus Christ, even the dog was trying to comfort me.
Troy and Gravel ran around the side of the truck. Troy dropped to his knees next to me and cradled my head in his hands. “Shh, Sunshine, you’re fine,” Troy murmured.
“Someone just shot at us, Troy,” I said dumbly like Troy wasn’t there. “I know. We’re okay, though. So is Bandit. Nothing to worry about.” Troy stroked my cheek with his thumb, wiping away the tears I didn’t even know I was crying.
“No, we’re not! Someone tried to kill us!” I shrieked, my panic going into overdrive.
“Shh, look at me, Marley.” I shook my head no, unable to calm down. “Marley, look at me right now,” Troy demanded, his voice stern.
My eyes whipped to his, and a cry escaped my lips.
“You’re okay. Don’t worry, Sunshine. Gravel’s here, and King and the rest of the guys will be here any minute. They’ll take care of everything. I promise.”
“You can’t promise everything will be okay, Troy. You don’t know that. Mark’s family is here, and they just tried to kill us. Nothing is okay with that,” I whispered. Troy wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I had never felt more scared but so safe. “I promise, Marley. With everything I have, nothing is going to happen to you.”
“Take her into the house. Ethel is on the way over. She’ll sit with her while we figure out what the hell is going on,” Gravel said as he shoved his phone in his pocket. I clung to Troy, not wanting him to let me go. “Stand up, Sunshine. Let’s get you in the house and not sitting on the ground.” Troy patted my back, and I pushed away from him. He brushed my hair out of my face and gave me a swift kiss on the forehead before he stood up and held his hand out to me.
I grabbed his hand, and he hoisted me up, sliding his arm around my waist. “I’m sorry,” I whispered as we walked up the porch steps.
“Nothing to be sorry about. Being shot at isn’t something someone should be able to brush off like it’s nothing.”
Opening the front door, Bandit bounded in ahead of us, and Troy’s hand slipped from my waist to the small of my back as he guided me into the living room towards the couch.
“Do you want me to stay with you until Ethel gets here?” Troy asked as I sat down on the edge of the sofa. I patted the cushion beside me and Bandit hopped up, plopping his butt down.
I heard the roar of motorcycles come down the street and pull into the driveway. The cavalry had arrived. “You should go outside and let everyone know what happened.
I’ll be okay until Ethel gets here.” I tried sounding like I was okay, but I knew that I was one breath away from having a breakdown.
I heard a car door slam and knew that Ethel was here. Thank God. I didn’t want to be a blubbering mess in front of Troy. I already looked like I had a screw loose when I lost it outside.
“She’s here. You can head outside.” I looked up at Troy whose gaze was trained on me.
“I’ll come back in as soon as I can, okay?” “Okay,” I whispered, nodding my head.
“Marley,” Ethel called as she walked in the front door.
Bandit’s ears perked up, and he leaned into me, trying to see past Troy, who was standing in front of me. “Hey, Ethel,” I called. “How are you holding up, sweetheart?”
“Oh, you know. Just a little ruckus.”
Ethel threw her head back and laughed. “I knew you were a fighter.” “I’ll be back. Take care of her for me, Ethel,” Troy said as he slipped out the front door.
“Don’t even have to ask, Troy. I’m here, and Meg is outside with Lo right now. Tell her to head on in and I’ll whip up some hot chocolate,” Ethel said as she pulled off her coat and draped it over the back of the recliner.
“Will do,” Troy shut the door behind him, and Ethel turned to look at me. “I think he’s gone, sweetheart. You can stop clasping your hands together so tight. Your knuckles are turning white, dear.” Ethel slipped her shoes off and walked over to me.
I looked down at my hands seeing that they were turning white. Unclasping them, I laid them on my knees and looked up at Ethel. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to lose it.”
“Let it out, hun. No shame in it. I’ve thankfully never been shot at before, so I can’t tell you how to feel.”
“Hey!” Meg yelled, poking her head in through the front door.
“He told you about the hot chocolate, I take it?” Ethel laughed.
“Uh, duh. He didn’t even have to finish his sentence before I was up the front steps. Need some help?” Meg walked in, shrugging her coat off and put it on top of Ethel’s.
“I got it. Why don’t you sit with Marley?”
“Can do,” Meg said, saluting Ethel. Ethel walked down the hall to the kitchen, shaking her head and chuckling at Meg.
“How ya hanging in there?” Meg plopped down on the other side of Bandit, and he laid his paw on her knee and nudged her hand with his nose.
“Um, you know…” I watched Meg’s hand as she patted Bandit, trying not to think about anything. When I started thinking about the fact I almost got shot, I started to lose my shit.
“You know Gravel got shot, right?” Meg leaned forward and pulled the coffee table closer to the couch and kicked her feet up.
“Yeah. He filled me in.”
“Well, I was there. So was Cyn. I�
��m not sure how Cyn handled it, but I can tell you for the next month after it had happened, I was so damn jumpy and attached to Lo. It got better, though.” Her gaze landed on me, and I could feel the compassion in her tone.
“I almost died,” I whispered. Meg nodded her head and clasped my hand. “Troy almost died because of me.” A lone tear ran down my cheek and dropped on my leg. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t ask for those assholes to come and shoot at you.” “I need to leave. I shouldn’t have come here. There’s no reason why you guys should be in danger because of me, you barely know me. I’m leaving.” I pushed away from the coffee table and stood up. I frantically looked around, trying to figure out where to start first.
“Ethel!” Meg called, but I ignored her. I decided packing my closet was the best place to start. Even though I had just bought furniture and everything I would have to leave it all behind again. I had no idea where I was going to go, but I knew I had to leave Rockton before anyone got hurt because of me.
I bounded up the stairs and threw open my bedroom door. Whipping open the closet door, I thanked God that I was such a procrastinator, and my empty cardboard boxes still sat on the floor. I tossed them out into the open and grabbed a handful of clothes and started ripping them off the hangers.
As I was grabbing the third handful of clothes, I heard yelling and talking coming from downstairs but couldn’t make out what they were saying. I’m sure they were all grateful that I was leaving, even though I’m sure they’ll protest me leaving.
“You packing up all your shit and leaving wasn’t part of our deal.”
I glanced up from my frantic packing and saw Troy leaning on the door frame. “Neither was us getting shot at.”
“You’re not leaving, Marley. I’m not going to let you run away, and I can damn sure bet you that your dad isn’t going to let you go. You need to let us help you.” “No. This is my mess, and I need to figure out how to fix it. I’m going back to California, and I’m going to talk to Mark’s family. There has to be a way that I can make this better.” I grabbed three pairs of shoes and tossed them on top of the overflowing box. “Tape. I need tape,” I babbled. “Tape fixes everything.” “Marley! Stop!” Troy yelled.
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