Maddox gives the two guys on either side of him a signal, and they move forward as one, weapons trained on their target. Within seconds, Jason is flat on his face, and I watch them subdue him with more force than necessary before he’s dragged kicking and screaming from the building.
“Took you long enough,” I bark, as Maddox pulls his balaclava over his face and gives me a shit-eating grin. “I made it in time, didn’t I?”
“Define in time,” I snap. “That dirty motherfucker was two seconds away from raping my woman, so she might disagree with you on that.”
My buddy’s smile falls, and his expression turns apologetic as he aims a quick glance at Charlie, who’s dragging herself back into the corner.
“I got here as soon as I could,” Mads tells me in a regretful tone, and I give him a sharp nod in return.
“Get me the fuck down. I need to check on Charlie.”
“Spencer’s already with her,” he assures me before he gets out his fixed blade and begins cutting through the rope holding mecaptive. I have to fight to stay on my feet and work on getting the remainder of my bindings off as I stagger over to Charlie, who’s already sipping a bottle of water, a warm blanket draped around her hunched shoulders. Spencer kneels before her with his medical kit, asking questions while he takes her blood pressure.
“Are you okay?” I ask, waiting for her to meet my gaze.
“I’m good.” She tries so hard to put on a brave face, but the slight tremor to her voice doesn’t go unnoticed.
“He didn’t…” I break off as my own voice waivers, unable to ask the question I need an answer to. She shakes her head no, and I want to sag to my knees as relief floods me. She stretches an arm out, and I don’t hesitate, taking her hand and giving her a reassuring squeeze as the young medic works to make sure her injuries are only superficial.
When I’m satisfied she’ll be alright, I get to my feet and order Spencer to stay with her.
“Do as he says. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I tell her before I gesture for Maddox to follow me outside.
“Wait, Cole. Don’t leave, please.” Her pleading tone makes me hesitate, but I have to eliminate the threat before I can relax. I can’t let him live. He was going to force himself on Charlie. The woman who has single-handedly managed to revive my heart. He was going to kill me and break her spirit, until only a shell of theincredible, fiery girl I came to love remained. He has to die. It’s now or never, because once the local PD catches wind of what happened here, I won’t be able to do what needs to be done.
I have to set my battered butterfly free so she can mend her broken wings and soar, whether it’s with or without me. Dropping to my knees in front of her, I lay a hand on her unmarked cheek, trying to push down the fury her bruised face incites long enough to bring some gentleness into my voice.
“You’re safe. His guys are dead, and trained assets surround the building. No one is getting in here unless they allow them access. I’ll be back in less than fifteen minutes, but he has to be dealt with or else you’ll never be able to live a full life. Tell me you understand.”
I hate the sight of her tears, and I wipe the evidence off her face with the pad of my thumb. She stares into my eyes like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she breaks our connection, her blunt nails digging into my forearm so hard it’s almost painful. Then, something like acceptance settles on her features, and she gives me a single nod. I lean in and press my lips to hers, lingering there for a few silent beats while I thank God she’s still here. That I found her before history had a chance to repeat itself. Then I pull back, flash her a tight smile, and walk out the back door.
I hear Jason before I see him, as he flip-flops between throwing insults and attempting to strike a deal that might save his life. He’s on his knees, surrounded by four of Maddox’s guys, who’ve all ditched the masks, so it’s easy to make out their bemused expressions.
Tommy and Mitch are grinning at each other as they listen to the wiry biker spew profanities, rifles loosely hanging across their chests. Graham has a scowl on his face while he watches us approach, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen this motherfucker smile, so his dark expression is almost comforting. Will stands off to the side, casually leaning against a tree trunk while he pulls on a cigarette. How this guy has the type of endurance needed to do his job, while he poisons his lungs with this shit is beyond me. I was there when Mads first told him to quit. That his nasty habit would get him sooner or later if he kept feeding it. His answer? ‘I doubt I’ll see the tail end of thirty, and I’m pretty sure lung cancer isn’t the way I go out, so let me have my vice and get off my back.’
When we draw to a halt in front of them, Maddox flicks his chin toward the building at our back. “Go deal with the mess inside. Cole and I can takeit from here.”
“You got it, boss,” Tommy says, giving me a firm slap to the back that has me wincing as he passes me by. Will takes a last drag from his cancer stick and drops the butt to the ground, grinding the heel of his combat boot into it before he follows suit.
Less than thirty seconds later, we’re alone, and Mads hands me my sidearm. I take it and we hold eye contact for a long, silent moment. “You need me here for this or do you want some alone time with this asshole?”
I glance down at the man who’s made Charlie’s life a living hell for the past decade. The one who glares back at me in cold fury. He’s putting on a good front, but I can see the fear creeping in. He knows his time is up, and he’s trying hard not to cry like the little bitch he is.
“I’d like to have a private moment with this rat, if you don’t mind. I’ve asked for it earlier, but my request was denied. You see, little Jason over here only feels like a real man when he’s up against someone weaker than himself, or when he has his boyfriends at his beck and call. Fortunately for you, I don’t need backup.”
Jason scoffs. “That’s real brave of you, talking tough with a gun in your hand while I got nothing.”
“As opposed to me being tied up and worked over by your goons? Doesn’t feel quite as satisfying on the shitty end of the stick, does it?”
Mads chuckles beside me. “I’ll go check on your girl and see what needs doing inside. Take your time, but try to keep the mess to a minimum, or I’ll never hear the end of it. It’s hard to find people who don’t bitch about the job they’re being paid to do these days.”
Jason’s eyes flicker with the first genuine hint of panic, and Maddox flashes him a wink before he walks off, leaving Jason to settle his gaze on the real threat.
“Just get it over with, alright? I know I’m not getting out of here alive, but for the sake of the woman in there, make it quick. I don’t think she’d like the thought of me suffering. She did love me once, you know?”
I tilt my head, gun hanging loosely at my side, as I take him in one last time. It always strikes me as funny that the most powerful people in this world usually look the most unassuming. Old men with beer guts. Sickly looking assholes on the brink of death. Or in this case, lanky dudes with questionable dental hygiene. Jason rose to power because of who his daddy was. He got lucky, and without his club, he is nothing. Just another rodent that needs exterminating, and I’m only too happy to rid the world of him. But first, it’s time for a little payback. The corner of my mouth curls into a cruel smile.
“Just goes to show that you don’t know that woman in there at all. You never bothered to get to know her. If you did, you’dunderstand that she doesn’t give a flying fuck about you anymore. She doesn’t care whether I kill you fast or torture you to death nice and slow, as long as the outcome is the same. She’ll fucking thrive in a world where you no longer exist. You took her unborn child,” I growl, fists clenching at my sides. “Her chance to be a loving mother. To have something good in her life. Something that would’ve made all the shit you’ve put her through bearable. And now it’s time for you to feel what it’s like to be helpless. To fear for your life and beg for mercy, only to be granted none. It’s time for you to pay for your sins,” I tell him before I toss the gun to the side and step forward.
