Of course, his boys had been alerted that he was in Twisted Bastards territory and the fight hadn’t lasted as long as he’d wanted.
He hadn’t gotten to kill Creed.
Instead, his aching ass was dragged right back home, to where he sat now, in the clubhouse, getting stitched up by the doc.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” Hunter asked.
“That’s your first mistake,” he said, laughing.
“Does it look like I’m laughing?”
“Does it look like I give a fuck?” Smokey asked. “I did what I had to do.”
“You go into their turf, you can guarantee retaliation.”
“We’ll be ready for them.”
Hunter growled and looked ready to punch him. Smokey was more than ready for another throwdown. Any of these bastards wanted to take a turn, he’d be right on them. As soon as the doc had stitched him up, he’d pop them right on open.
“Someone try to reason with him. I’m done trying. He’s not fucking listening to reason.” Hunter shook his head.
“I think it took balls,” Kinky said, who was nursing a bruised jaw.
“Thanks.”
“This because of what he made you do to your woman?” Doc asked.
“Be careful,” Smokey said. Ava wasn’t his woman and knowing that hurt.
He was struggling with not being able to hold her. He’d give anything to wake up with her in his arms. As it was, he just had to relive the memories of all the times he’d taken for granted.
He’d give anything to have Ava back in his arms. Anything.
Doc nodded and went back to finish stitching him up. The doc was leaving as Abriana and Ugly Beast came into the clubhouse.
Ugly Beast held his daughter against his chest, and it looked like little Bella had puked down the leather of his cut.
“Gross,” Smokey said.
Abriana stormed right up to him and glared. “You butchered her hair!”
Smokey looked past Abriana’s shoulder to Ugly Beast, who shrugged. “You asked for Abriana to go and see her. You were right. Out of all of us, she got into the door.”
“And we went to the salon. She hadn’t dealt with her hair, and it looked like a mess. My God, how could you do that to her?” Abriana looked toward the bar. “And you, I don’t like you at all right now.” Her words were directed at Raven.
“Join the club,” Raven said. “You can hate me all you want to, Abriana. It’s not going to change the fact that I already hate myself.”
“How is she?” Smokey asked.
Abriana laughed. “Well, she has less hair now. The stylist did some kind of short cut. It’s layered and comes around to beneath her neck.” She shook her head. “But she’s not in a good place. Her home is neat and tidy. It’s spotless. I don’t think she’s doing a lot all day. Her hand is bandaged up and she’s eating ice cream.”
“Tell him, Abriana,” Ugly Beast said.
Her shoulders slumped.
Alarm bells went off inside his head. “Tell me what?”
Abriana took a deep breath. “Ava’s meeting a, er, realtor.”
He tensed up. “What?”
“She’s considering selling. The bakery is empty. No equipment or ingredients. It’s completely empty.”
He looked toward Ugly Beast.
“I don’t think she’s going to stick around all that long,” Abriana said. “She’s alone, and I do think she’s lonely.”
Smokey got to his feet and grabbed his keys.
Hunter was on him. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
“I’ve got to go see Ava.”
“Not in your condition.”
“I’m not pregnant, and I’m not about to drop a brat. I’m going to go and see her.”
“No.”
Hunter stepped in front of him, holding up his hands.
“I mean it, Hunter. Step aside. You do not want to get in the way right now.” He waited and tensed his body, ready to strike.
“You’re not in a position to go. After what we did to her, do you really think she needs to see you like this?” Hunter asked.
“Today, you don’t get to be the voice of reason,” he said. He was done listening to anyone else. “Look, I made a judgment call. I fucked up. I’m owning my shit and I’m dealing with it. Ava can’t … I don’t want her to leave. She can’t leave.”
“Let her go,” Hunter said.
“No.” He growled the word loud and clear.
“And why the hell not?” Hunter asked.
“Because he’s in love with her,” Abriana said. “It’s why he can’t stand what he did, nor believe why he did it. He’s hurting because of what he did. He wants to make amends, but he can’t figure out how. You’re not going to win her over by being mean.”
Smokey snorted. “Why can’t you go back to being the scared little girl Ugly Beast took?”
“I grew up and found you guys. You’ve all taught me to stand up for myself. You’re my friend, Smokey. I may not like you very much right now, but I do care about you.”
“You love her?” Hunter asked.