Free SOULLESS (Black Thorns, #2) by Franca Storm

Kent situation.
    I walk outta my room and make my way down the hall, hating that I gotta take it slow and stop to press my hand to the wall to steady myself every few steps. I reach the small set of stairs and take ‘em even slower. Last thing I need is to trip up and end up in a heap at the bottom. That’ll make me look like a prissy bitch in front of the boys.
    Argh! I gotta be strong and these drugs ain’t making that easy!
    It takes me forever just to make it to the common lounge area.
    It shocks me how quiet it is.
    There ain’t no one on the couches or at the pool tables. What time is it then? Are they all in bed?
    Quiet laughter and talkin’ catches my attention.
    Well, they ain’t all in bed then.
    It’s coming from the bar.
    As I get closer, I see the source over on the far side.
    What the fuck?
    It’s Smiter, Rox and…Runner?
    That ain’t a combination I ever expected to see—not without blood being spilled and shit. And there ain’t none of that. Looks like they’re all good. Joking ‘round.
    As I walk over, my whole focus goes to Rox.
    That killer smile on her face.
    It’s been too long since I’ve seen that.
    And right then, the anger that’s been simmering within me burns out.
    She must sense my eyes on her, cuz she turns her head towards me suddenly.
    I feel my stomach clench when that stunning smile fades as she looks my way. She looks…scared? She’s scared of me? That ain’t acceptable. Ah, hell. It comes back to me then, the shit I said to her, cuz of the whole thing with Kent. Need to clear that up ASAP.
    “Ax, what you doing outta bed?” Runner asks, getting to his feet and coming over to me.
    Smiter does the same and, before I know it, the two of ‘em are reaching for me.
    “Hands off,” I tell ‘em. “I’m good.”
    “Well, you can’t drink with that shit in your system,” Runner tells me as he walks back to his stool.
    “Shoulda never shot me up with it in the first place!”
    “Made you sleep for once,” Smiter cuts in.
    He’s right. As usual. I did need the rest. I ain’t slept well for a long time.
    “What time is it?”
    Smiter lifts his left arm and glances at his watch. “Just after four.”
    “Why you up so late?” The club’s on lockdown. I remember texting Grit ‘bout doing it before I passed out in Runner’s truck on the way up here. So, there ain’t no pussy parties happening, which is what usually has us all up all night.
    “Us?” Smiter says, gesturing between him and Rox. “Movie marathon. Him?” He points at Runner. “Got bored jerking it and headed on down here.”
    “More like his dick finally went limp,” Rox says.
    Both Smiter and Runner burst out laughing.
    For a second, I think the girl I knew is back. That comment had a lot of bite to it; something she used to have in spades. But as I watch her wrap her arm ‘round Runner and pull him into her so brazenly, I realize she’s smashed. A problem, cuz she don’t drink—has a bad history with it. So there’s a real issue here if she’s drinking now. Shit.
    Runner’s eyes dart to mine, looking real uncomfortable that she’s touching him in front of me.
    “Time for bed, Rox,” I tell her.
    “Not yet,” she says, laying her head against Runner’s chest.
    “Weren’t a request, babe. Get your ass off that stool now .”
    “I don’t like you as president,” she tells me in a drunken slur. “You’re bossier than ever. A real buzz kill.”
    I scrub my hand over my face. “Ain’t in the mood to fight with you.”
    “Ax, we’ll take care of her,” Runner tells me, clearly tryin’ to diffuse the situation before I lose my temper. He knows me well.
    He dunno her, though.
    “She shouldn’t be drinking,” I tell him.
    I see by the look on his face that he gets it right away. He’s been through some real bad shit with substance abuse, so if anyone’s gonna get it, it’s him.
    “You don’t know that anymore, Neil. We haven’t been together for a long time. You don’t