“I just had a sit down with my brothers, discussing how to end you. The only suggestion that excited me was selling you into a trafficking ring, but that quickly died. You’d get yourself out of it and then we’d be back to square one. Lucky for you, I think they’re gonna wanna put a bullet between your eyes and put you in the earth.” She doesn’t even flinch. I continue, “Ifit was up to me, I’d carve Ford’s name onto your skin. There wouldn’t be an inch of you left without his name on you. A death by a thousand cuts in Ford’s name would satisfy me as I’d watch you bleed out so fuckin’ slowly.”
Now she flinches and I smirk. “So if it helps you come to terms with the end of your life looming, take it.”
“I thought your brother was the one to watch, but I was wrong, wasn’t I?”
“If you had done your homework, you would’ve known that out of the two of us, Leo would be the safer option. But I think that’s why you wanted him to make a deal with you so bad. You thought he’d be more amenable.”
“It doesn’t matter what I thought. You’ve taken everything from me.”
“I could say you should’ve seen this coming, but what’s the point. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be dead. We’ll go on while you rot.”
“What makes you think that you won’t meet an end like this one day?”
“Oh, I expect it. But unlike you, I won’t let that day be until I allow it. Sloppiness won’t be a mistake I make. Don’t worry, sweetheart, like I said, the brothers will probably vote in a bullet, and it’ll be quick for you.”
Making sure she’s looking at me, I add, “If there will be any last words you’re gonna wanna spew, make sure you know what they are, I won’t give you the chance to think when the time comes.”
“Your coldness will take you far, but we’ll see if you follow through.”
I laugh. “Don’t doubt me, darlin’. You can’t afford any mistakes in your short time left on this earth.”
I let myself out and lock the door behind me. It strikes me that this doesn’t have to be rushed. Maybe the satisfaction I seek will come from taking this slowly.
1
Luca
Resting my head against the door, my hand on the knob, I inhale deeply and open my bedroom door. I don’t know what the fuck I’m hoping to expect. My wife isn’t acting anything like I expected. Both Pope and Ricky dead within a matter of a few short days. Both my wife’s family. I expected to lose her to her grief. I expected a shit load of tears, sadness mixed with anger. That’s what I’m used to when we lose someone in the club. The sadness is there, for sure, but she’s working through it and I’m guessing it’s for the sake of our son.
The only time I’ve seen her break down in sobs of tears was on the way back to the city after the funerals. She read a letter from Pope and that was it. Her grief assaulted her and wouldn’t let go for the rest of that night. She woke the next morning and carried on, not letting herself break again.
I find her lying on the bed watching River sleep. I shrug out of my cut and slip out of my boots. I climb on the bed and lie behind her, pulling her against me without disturbing River.
“What are you thinking?” I ask her.
“It hit me today that River’s never going to know my dad. He’ll never call him grandpa. I know he still has your dad, and he’ll have one grandpa, but…”
“I get it, babe. As much as you’ll tell River about him, about Pope, it won’t be the same.”
It’s been a while since the funerals and while she’s getting on with life, it’s not the same and hasn’t been since I got the call about Ricky being shot dead in Harlow. Myles and Emma’s wedding helped take her mind off the grief for a few hours and it was like I had my Tor back. But then the shadow of the events in Harlow returned. I wasn’t there and can’t speak for their actions, but I know as well as anyone in the club, a brother will face death with their chin held high for their son. Ricky was unlucky being hit but he died for his son. When I think about being in the same situation with River, my decision wouldn’t be any different. And if it were my brother that was taken, I would’ve made the same call as Mason. I wouldn’t have been able to listen to orders when his life was hanging on the line.
“I spoke to my mom last night, she’s focusing on Emma and Aspen. Both pregnant with twins. She’s got plenty to keep her occupied.”
I snort. “Rather them than us. They’re fucked.”
Usually Tor would laugh, but not today. “It’s nice. Loads of cousins for River.”
“Babe, I didn’t…”
“I know.” She sighs and gently rolls around to face me. “I feel… so lost yet not. I don’t know how to come to terms with it all,” she admits.
“You don’t need to deal. You don’t need to understand it.”
“The only thing I know for sure is that it hurts so much.”
Sliding my hand around the back of her head, I pull her to me and press my lips to her forehead.
“If I could I’d take every bit of pain from you. I want to so bad.”
