I doubt there’s much you could do that would make my son mad.
Rowdy’s words ring in my mind, and I find comfort in them even if they are utter bullshit.
“You were wrong,” I say. “We were both wrong.” Sobs wrack my body, and I drop to my knees. “I miss you, Pop, so damn much. You’d know exactly what to do right now. I know you would.”
The rumble of an engine reaches my ears, and hope fills my chest. Maybe Lyric came to bring me home. I don’t even question why it’s a car engine I’m hearing and not his Harley because it doesn’t matter how he got here, just that he came.
I settle on my ass in the grass and pull my knees to my chest, waiting for him. Footsteps draw closer, and my heart skips a beat with nervousness.
“Lyric, I’m so damn sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I say when the footsteps stop just behind me.
There’s no response, and I chance a glance over my shoulder. My eyes widen when I see that it’s not Lyric standing there.
“Not who you were expecting?” Peach taunts.
Before I can say or do anything, she lifts her foot and kicks me in the head, knocking me out cold.
“This better work.”
I do my best to take in my surroundings without alerting my captors that I’m awake. Nothing is familiar, so I remain still and listen to their conversation.
“It will, sugar,” Peach replies. “Lyric will come running to rescue her, and that’s when you make your move.”
“You mean that’s whenwemakeourmove,” the man says. “With Lyric out of the way, I’ll be able to take over the Kings of Anarchy, and you’ll rule beside me.”
What? He’s fucking delusional.
“That’ll never happen,” I snap, no longer caring if they know I’m conscious. “Even if you eliminate Lyric, which, let’s face it, isn’t likely, the rest of the club isn’t going to step aside and welcome you with open arms.”
“They’re all gonna be too caught up in their grief to give a damn,” Peach says. “I mean, first they lose Rowdy, and now they’re gonna have to say goodbye to Lyric and you. It’s…” She pauses for what I assume is dramatic effect, but then she laughs maniacally. “So damn tragic.”
A large hand grips my bicep and hauls me to my feet. I’m spun around, and I suck in a breath when Cray Cray’s dark eyes bore into mine.
“Maybe I should take what I want from you,” he taunts. “Ya know, in case you’re right, and I don’t get what I want when all is said and done.”
Bile rises up the back of my throat, and I force myself to swallow it down. “If you even try, I’ll chop your dick off.”
“With what?” he counters.
I frantically dart my eyes around the room in search of a weapon, anything that would allow me to do exactly as I threatened.
“If you could see the disappointment on your face,” Peach says. “Priceless.”
“You won’t get away with this.”
“Hear that, Peach?” Cray Cray asks. “Somehow, she thinks being a stupid cunt will save her.” Letting go of my arm, he backhands me across the face. “Newsflash, bitch… it won’t.”
Before I can recover from his blow, he throws a right hook, sending me careening into the wall. Pain radiates through my skull, and my vision blurs, but I fight to stay conscious.
“Save some for me, sugar,” Peach says, and I follow her feet as she crosses the room toward me. “I’ve got a lotta rage to work through.”
“Have at it,” Cray Cray states.
I try to block the punches Peach throws but fail. When she’s not hitting me in the face, she’s kicking me, and I eventually collapse to the floor. Between the two of them, I’m beaten bloody.
Reaching down, Cray Cray tears my shirt away from my body before yanking down my pants. He goes to remove my underwear, and I squeeze my eyes shut, but nothing happens.
“Rape her, and I’m out,” Peach threatens, and for once, I’m grateful that she’s here.
