Free X Marks the Spot (Executioners MC Book 1) by Kimmie Easley

“I paid my bail and the judge ordered Jo to be my personal babysitter.”
    Snickers and laughter filled the room, with a few exceptions. Ruth put an arm on Pop’s shoulder. His face downturned. Jessa scowled. And from the corner, the cheap redhead that I had seen at Ronin’s side Sunday night looked as if she was shooting daggers from her dilated, bloodshot eyes.
    Good times.
    ***
    “Yeah, so that went well.” I rummaged through the kitchen, finally grabbing a sleeve of crackers and a beer.
    “It could have gone worse, I guess.” Ronin grabbed the bottle, twisted off the cap, and handed it back to me.
    “So, you don’t actually live here?” I asked, surprised. Why the hell would anyone want to live at that damn clubhouse when there were a handful of perfectly good apartments going unused?
    He shook his head. “It’s all for staging. I guess I’m a perfect example. When the heat’s on your back, it helps keep the law out of the clubhouse. Not always, but it helps. Ruth comes by and stocks the groceries, toilet paper, shit like that to make it look lived in.”
    I glanced around the apartment, observing what a great job my stepmother had done of giving the illusion of being occupied. She always did have an eye for detail. “Not a bad plan.”
    Ronin stepped in closer. With one hand, he tipped my chin up to meet his face. “Careful, darlin. You almost got caught straddling the fence there.”
    I took one, large step backwards. “Not a chance.” My heart hammered in my tingling chest. I pulled the cell phone from my bag. “I need to make a call.”
    “Checking in with the boyfriend?”
    “Not checking in, just calling to tell him I miss him. He must be worried by now. And it’s private, so if you don’t mind?” I got ready to close the door to the bedroom that I quickly claimed as mine.
    He stood in the hallway with both hands in the air. “Yeah, cool. Don’t wanna get in the way of true love.”
    I eased down on the bed and stared at my phone. The thought of having to talk to Brad made a sharp pain thump in my forehead. I couldn’t figure out why I was faking a relationship. I was only calling to put in for a leave of absence.
    Not that I wanted Ronin to know that. He was such a smug son of a bitch. I willed my fingers to hit the call button.
    “Well, you just couldn’t stay away, could you?”
    I rolled my eyes. Music and the sound of clinking glasses filled the background. He was at the bar, probably already well on his way to a threesome and a fucker of a headache.
    “Yeah, it’s not like that.”
    “Aw, don’t tell me you’re still pissed. It was just a little tiff. You took a personal day. Take another. Go to a spa, you’ll be back to your old self in no time.”
    What a condescending bastard .
    “Brad, I’m not calling because of us. It’s work.” A female voice giggled on the other end of the phone. “Are you even listening to me?”
    “Oh, huh? Sorry, helping a friend with a personal matter. What’d you say?”
    Frustration knotted in my neck. “Yeah, I bet. I said I’m calling about work. I need to take a leave of absence.”
    His tone instantly changed. His playful banter grew cold. “This better not have anything to do with us.”
    “Shit. Seriously? Grow up. I need to take some personal time.”
    “How long?”
    “I don’t know yet. Possibly a month or two. Look, I know it’s an inconvenience. I love my job, but this really can’t be helped. Can you just work with me on this, please?”
    “I’ll let Mr. Carrington know. You better check in on a regular basis and keep me updated. Don’t make me out to be a dumbass, Jolene.”
    “Of course not,” I replied, thinking he does that all on his own.
    “Fine. I expect to hear from you within a week.”
    “Not a problem, and …”
    Click
    “Ughhh.” I rolled over and buried my face in a pillow. The man was infuriating. I drew a blank when attempting to remember what I ever saw in him. What a jackass.
    I checked my