“There was one hard drive the cops never found. One that holds probably the most incriminating evidence on it, linked to the dark web and the site, Carnal Unicorn.”
Gasps float through the air at his words, and the mention of the online trafficking site that was shut down just after this place burnt to the ground rings a bell.
“Banes is the founder.” Smitty points his bloody knife towards Banes and Abbey’s mum and sister, and the old fucker doesn’t even look bothered.
“Some of my best work,” he mutters, and roars of anger erupt across the room, some of the loudest coming from my wife.
I sneak a glance at her to see her fury locked on him, Jols and JD holding her back just like they did before.
Fuck. I knew Carnal Unicorn had been linked to the cult churches, but I didn’t consider that Banes was the brains behind it all.
“When I realised the connection between Abbey and Banes, it was too easy.” Smitty verbally vomits all his secrets, fuelling the fire in the pit of my gut even more. “It all fell into my lap. I tried to get rid of Charity politely, butsomeonehad a hard-on for her straight away.”
“It’s Abbey! Not Charity!” she screeches from behind me, and Nate rolls his eyes.
“Whatever. You’ll always be a charity case to me!”
“Hey!” I lunge for him again, and the fucker dodges my attempt to stab his guts. “Show some fucking respect to my wife!”
Nate scoffs. “Pfft! She’s only your wife because of me. I ordered you to marry her thinking you wouldn’t, since you were still a broken fucking man over Kylie and your own kid. But you fucking did it. And it was never because you were forced.” He fakes a gag. “You wanted that shit. Sweet, innocent, barely legal pussy.”
I fucking lunge at him, a roar flying from my lips, and he dodges it at the last second, getting in a stab to my fucking hip.
I stagger, feeling the burn of it radiate up my torso and down my leg as blood rushes from the fresh wound.
“So when that backfired…” He continues to spill his secrets, and I let him. Even if he wins, he’s digging his own fucking grave right now. “I went to the Rebels, or at least, I sent Moore to them.” All eyes shift to Moore, and the fucker shrinks back, stepping into Big Joey’s chest, one of our loyal members who fucking holds him in place. “Our rivals were the perfect fucking plan, but noooo, you fuckers kept fighting them off.”
We continue to dance around each other as Smitty spews the information like it’s somehow going to save him, so I take it all in, trying not to let it get to me. I can’t let my emotions rule me in a fight for my life. I need to stay focused and strategic.
“What about Allen?” I snap. “Was he part of your fucking plan too?”
“Allen was a different story,” Smitty scoffs, swiping his knife awkwardly with his left hand and missing me. “He had his own agenda, which was fucking up my plans, but finding out Bobbi was alive is what put a spanner in the works.” He cackles. “In a good fucking way.”
When his eyes flick to the bag of cash by Tups’ feet, I understand what he means.
“Money?” I ask, and he nods proudly.
“The reward to hand your wife and the kid over to Banes went up. But you fucking kicked us off your land, remaining tight-fucking-lipped about what was happening. Even Lewy wouldn’t spill.” He shrugs, baring his teeth a little as he spits, “So I took matters into my own hands.”
He’s had it out for my wife for longer than I thought, and fuck if he hasn’t hidden it well.
His deceit just adds to the list of reasons why this has to happen.
This has to end now. I might die at the same time, but at least he will be gone too, and I know JD will make sure Banes gets what’s coming to him.
Smitty and I stare at each other, waiting for someone to make the next move, and he’s the one who finally gives in, swiping at me again.I lunge forward, my only focus to take him the fuck down, and the moment my knife pierces his skin, his knife plunges into me.
Pain bursts in my gut, but I focus my attack on his neck, driving the blade in over and over, slicing though the veins that course up the column, his blood painting us both as I plunge that fucking knife in so many times that I lose count.
I feel us falling. I hear the yelling and screaming, but all I see is Nate’s surprised expression as blood coughs past his lips, and the moment we hit the floor, my head bounces off the fucking concrete, sending me into a pitch-black vortex of nothingness.
30
Inearly trip over my own damn feet as I lurch in the direction of Ringo’s lifeless body, but I’m jerked back when roars erupt throughout the room, fists flying in every direction as club brothers turn on each other.
“What’s happening?” I cry over the yelling, and Jols’ frantic eyes dance over the scene surrounding us.
“They need guidance!” she yells so I can hear her. “That’s what’s happening.”
