Read Online SOULLESS (Black Thorns, #2) by Franca Storm - Free Book Online Page A

cigarette and looking out at the courtyard full of bikes at the Black Thorns clubhouse.
    By the time we arrived here an hour ago, Neil was asleep. Apparently, Runner had given him a really strong painkiller, both to take away his pain and to force him to rest. He knows Neil well, understanding that he wouldn’t rest at a time like this unless he was forced to. And he needs to. Not just because of the gunshot wound, but also because he looked exhausted. The moment he showed up at my work celebration, I saw it. There were prominent dark circles beneath his bloodshot eyes. I could tell that it wasn’t just physical exhaustion—a lot of it is mental. He’s tired of the life he’s living. He’s had enough. His temper was even shorter than usual, which is another sign.
    Things are a mess.
    This is not how I imagined it at all—him coming back into my life.
    Malcolm saw to that.
    A stray tear escapes me and rolls down my cheek as I recall how Neil couldn’t even look at me after he found out I’d been involved with Malcolm.
    For a brief moment, when Neil and I were together in that alley, I stupidly thought that there was a chance for us. It felt just like it had when we’d been together before.
    But that was just sex after all.
    I was being completely naïve.
    Of course it wouldn’t be simple.
    It’s us.
    The universe is always trying to tear us apart. And this time it’s done so in the form of Malcolm.
    I know how possessive Neil is, so I really don’t know if he’ll be able to move past this.
    Shit. I had no idea they knew one another. The first I’d heard of it was tonight.
    Now, the one thing I want and the one thing I never thought I’d be able to have, may not want me anymore.
    And here I am at his clubhouse. His territory. And he can’t even stand being around me.
    How is this going to work? Maybe I should just go to my dad’s safe house. He said he’s going to stick around for a couple of days, until Neil is up and about again and they’re able to meet about Malcolm’s threat. At least I can take comfort in the fact that I’m not completely alone here with Neil hating me right now. My dad is here.
    A few months back, I wouldn’t have cared. In fact, I came here not giving a fuck about walking into their clubhouse, or giving a crap about what any of them might throw at me. I could take anything back then. No one could intimidate me, or make me feel ill at ease. I was in control. I’m pretty sure some of the boys were actually scared of me.
    But now?
    Now, I don’t feel in control in any way.
    I’m not myself.
    I feel weak.
    I think that’s why my dad has decided to stick around at the clubhouse really. I mean, he could’ve gone off to one of his safe houses and come back later when Neil was feeling better. But, no, he’s staying in one of their spare rooms.
    He’s watching my back.
    I also have Smiter. He and I were close before me and Neil ended things. We’d developed a good friendship. But his loyalty is to the club at the end of the day—to Neil. The man who hates me right now.
    While my dad’s loyalty is only to me.
    So, I’m glad he’s staying.
    I rub my eyes, trying to force myself to stop crying. I can’t believe I’m actually crying like this. I just can’t seem to get a grip. Shit.
    “You all right?”
    I gasp, completely caught off guard by the sudden voice.
    I pull my hands away and see Runner standing in front of me.
    “What?” I ask, at a loss.
    His expression is soft and his words are gentle as he asks, “Why you crying, darlin’?”
    I shake my head, not knowing how the hell to even begin to explain it.
    “Tonight was a lot to take. Too much shit went down. You want me to get Smiter over here and see ‘bout getting a doctor up here? You might be in shock.”
    He has to talk to Smiter, because he’s the Sergeant-at-Arms—the club’s head of security. Right now the club’s on lockdown. So, they can’t just have people coming in and out. Smiter would have to find