Read Online Dirty For Me (Motor City Royals) by Jackie Ashenden - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jackie Ashenden
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feet.”
Zee could feel his own grin happening. They’d all been gutted when the shit had gone down with Rachel, and Gideon had done his damnedest to help Levi. He’d gotten him the best lawyer he could find on legal aid, but of course, there was no escaping the fact that Levi had killed a guy.
The incident had struck close to home for Zee and, at the time, he’d debated about whether or not just to leave Royal Road altogether. It had felt too much like what he’d just escaped from, the seedy, violent world of big-time crime that his father had ruled with an iron fist. And it wasn’t what Madison had wanted for him. She’d told him he was better than merely being Joshua Chase’s son, heir to violence and murder. She’d told him he was a good man, that he should want more for himself.
And he’d believed her. He had to, because, fuck, her death had to mean something.
In the end though, despite what had happened with Levi, Zee had decided to stay in Royal. Gideon had taken him in, given him a job, given him a new start and he couldn’t just up and leave. No, none of them knew what Zee had left behind, that Ezekiel wasn’t even his real name, but he couldn’t leave without explanation. Not only did he owe Madison, he owed Gideon, too.
So he’d stayed and now, here he was, eight years later, and he had the kind of life that at last he could be proud of. That Madison would have been proud of. He had a job, his own place—hell, he had his own fucking building. He kept the darkness inside him nicely controlled. He was giving back to the community and he had big plans for the future, plans that included expanding his gym, getting that teen program up and running, training and teaching kids. Hiring more staff. Getting a proper business going.
Royal Road need more shit like that. There were already lots of revitalization projects happening, projects that were injecting new life and hope into a neighborhood that had suffered a lot when the auto industry had gone bust. Things were starting to get good here and as far as Zee was concerned, they were going to stay good.
Now that Levi was coming home, things would be even better.
Except, of course, that at some point he was going to have to tell Gideon he was quitting the garage. Which he wasn’t looking forward to. But shit, he couldn’t stay at Black’s, not when he wanted to concentrate on his plans for the gym.
“How was he?” Zee asked.
“Seemed okay. Looking forward to getting out.” Gideon gave Zee a narrow glance. “You get that pretty little thing you gave a ride to last night home safely?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Good.” Gideon’s gaze was vaguely assessing. “What the hell was she doing hanging around your classes anyway?”
“Like I said, she was with a friend of hers.”
“Bit fucking strange to come down this end of town just to hang around and watch.”
And just like that, Zee’s good mood began to dissipate. Christ, and he thought he was the paranoid one. “It’s no big deal. I get all sorts at the classes.”
“Don’t normally take them home though.” The other man’s dark eyes narrowed, his big body going still in his chair.
Zee stared at him. “Is there a problem, Gideon?”
Zoe snorted. “And here I thought we were going to be talking about how great it was that Levi will be home soon.”
Gideon glanced at her, and there was a moment’s heavy silence. Then he sighed and the strange tension faded. “There’s no problem.” He leaned forward in his chair, his hands between his knees. “Truth is, I’m worried about Levi. I don’t think he is okay.”
“Like how?” The worried crease was back between Zoe’s brows.
Slowly, Gideon shook his head. “He doesn’t smile like he used to, doesn’t laugh. He’s changed. And I get the impression that he’s pretty fucking angry.”
“Not surprised,” Zee said. “Eight years of time will do that to you.” He’d seen the ex-cons his father had used for various
Zee could feel his own grin happening. They’d all been gutted when the shit had gone down with Rachel, and Gideon had done his damnedest to help Levi. He’d gotten him the best lawyer he could find on legal aid, but of course, there was no escaping the fact that Levi had killed a guy.
The incident had struck close to home for Zee and, at the time, he’d debated about whether or not just to leave Royal Road altogether. It had felt too much like what he’d just escaped from, the seedy, violent world of big-time crime that his father had ruled with an iron fist. And it wasn’t what Madison had wanted for him. She’d told him he was better than merely being Joshua Chase’s son, heir to violence and murder. She’d told him he was a good man, that he should want more for himself.
And he’d believed her. He had to, because, fuck, her death had to mean something.
In the end though, despite what had happened with Levi, Zee had decided to stay in Royal. Gideon had taken him in, given him a job, given him a new start and he couldn’t just up and leave. No, none of them knew what Zee had left behind, that Ezekiel wasn’t even his real name, but he couldn’t leave without explanation. Not only did he owe Madison, he owed Gideon, too.
So he’d stayed and now, here he was, eight years later, and he had the kind of life that at last he could be proud of. That Madison would have been proud of. He had a job, his own place—hell, he had his own fucking building. He kept the darkness inside him nicely controlled. He was giving back to the community and he had big plans for the future, plans that included expanding his gym, getting that teen program up and running, training and teaching kids. Hiring more staff. Getting a proper business going.
Royal Road need more shit like that. There were already lots of revitalization projects happening, projects that were injecting new life and hope into a neighborhood that had suffered a lot when the auto industry had gone bust. Things were starting to get good here and as far as Zee was concerned, they were going to stay good.
Now that Levi was coming home, things would be even better.
Except, of course, that at some point he was going to have to tell Gideon he was quitting the garage. Which he wasn’t looking forward to. But shit, he couldn’t stay at Black’s, not when he wanted to concentrate on his plans for the gym.
“How was he?” Zee asked.
“Seemed okay. Looking forward to getting out.” Gideon gave Zee a narrow glance. “You get that pretty little thing you gave a ride to last night home safely?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Good.” Gideon’s gaze was vaguely assessing. “What the hell was she doing hanging around your classes anyway?”
“Like I said, she was with a friend of hers.”
“Bit fucking strange to come down this end of town just to hang around and watch.”
And just like that, Zee’s good mood began to dissipate. Christ, and he thought he was the paranoid one. “It’s no big deal. I get all sorts at the classes.”
“Don’t normally take them home though.” The other man’s dark eyes narrowed, his big body going still in his chair.
Zee stared at him. “Is there a problem, Gideon?”
Zoe snorted. “And here I thought we were going to be talking about how great it was that Levi will be home soon.”
Gideon glanced at her, and there was a moment’s heavy silence. Then he sighed and the strange tension faded. “There’s no problem.” He leaned forward in his chair, his hands between his knees. “Truth is, I’m worried about Levi. I don’t think he is okay.”
“Like how?” The worried crease was back between Zoe’s brows.
Slowly, Gideon shook his head. “He doesn’t smile like he used to, doesn’t laugh. He’s changed. And I get the impression that he’s pretty fucking angry.”
“Not surprised,” Zee said. “Eight years of time will do that to you.” He’d seen the ex-cons his father had used for various
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