His smirk could cut through ice. He leans over and tugs on one of River’s fingers playfully.
“You wanna see your daddy get knocked out, little man?”
I snort. “As if that would ever happen.”
He leans back in his chair and huffs, “If you’re giving him time, the rest of us need to know what he’s thinking. If it’s putting me on edge, it’ll be putting the others on edge too.” He arches his brow and states, “I’m surprised this isn’t puttingyouon edge.”
I wonder why it isn’t either. Perhaps it’s my faith in the club I’m building and the brothers that wears its patch. If we can’t hold down one woman in our own clubhouse, then we don’t deserve to call it ours.
But to keep the peace, keep the balance that my father was so good at treading, I say, “Track down Ford and we’ll see where his head’s at.”
Angel disappears and I rise from the chair, keeping my son firmly in my arms.
“Time to do business, son.”
By the time I walk into the bar, Angel has found Ford and we all head for the stairs. Reaching the top, I stop and turn.
“It’s time to deal with Effie.”
I don’t say anything else and pull out the key to her room from my pocket. She’s on her back and shoots up onto her ass as we enter. Her weary gaze lands on Ford and flits between me and Angel.
I draw my gun, and her eyes widen before she stammers out, “Y-you’re not going to s-shoot me in front of the baby, surely.”
“Of course I’m not gonna do that.” I pass the gun to Ford. “He’s gonna do it just after I take my son out. You think I’d let a gun shot damage his precious ears?”
A flash back to Tor in Mercy, blood pouring from her ears. Her screams reaching the fucking stars. That’s never happening to her again, or to my son.
Ford releases the safety and steps closer to Effie. She shuffles back, hoping to find somewhere bullet proof but all she finds is the wall.
“How long would you have left me locked up, alone, and waiting on food?” he asks her.
She graces him with the truth. “Months, years, I don’t know. You would’ve been there as long as it benefitted me.”
His shoulders rise with a deep breath. “I want nothing more than to put a bullet between your eyes, but that would be too easy for you. So…” He trails the gun down her cheek and across her lips. “You’re gonna stay in here for every day I spent under your lock and key. No one’s gonna talk to you, you’ll get food and water when I say you do, and you’re gonna find out just how lonely your own mind can be.” He puts the safety back on and unloads the clip. He places one bullet on the floor next to her. “And when you can’t stand it any longer, you’re gonna hand me this bullet and you’re gonna beg me to use it.”
He stands to full height, glares down at her, then leaves.
“I’d say it’s your lucky day, but that shit’s dark. Enjoy.”
Angel locks up after we’ve left her and pulls me back once Ford is out of sight.
“She had him for months. He can’t be serious keeping her here for that long.”
“You wanted to know where his head was at, and now you know. This is what he needs, this is what we’ll give him.”
“Luc…”
I cut him off, “If it was you, you’d want to do shit your own way. You can’t take that away from him.”
He has no more to add and I notice River has fallen asleep. I take him up and gently lay him in his crib.
There’s no argument to be had when it comes to a brother getting his vengeance.
8
Ford
Club parties have gotten bigger since I was kept as a prisoner. I recognise who belongs to the Dog’s Blood Crew and who has ventured in from the street. And Lost Souls stand out like the kings we are. Women are everywhere and the one currently sat on my lap as I nurse a beer, is running her nails through my hair. She’s beautiful in a tattooed, crazy in her eyes, kind of way. She told me her name but for the life of me, I can’t remember. She’s got more tattoos than Sparky from the Willow’s Peak chapter, though hers haven’t stretched and faded with age.
