“I hate that you know that, Mom.”
“I know you do, baby. Are you okay?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know, Mom. I promised her I would keep her safe, and the first time I left her alone, he pounced. He was waiting for his opening.”
“She’s unharmed, Rhys. You did keep her safe. She’s going to be okay, especially knowing she’s here with you.”
“The people that Blake works for, they took her friend. I need to get to the bottom of it, but I don’t want to leave her. I have to be here when she wakes up.”
“It’s more important that you protect her loved ones. I won’t leave her side, and she’ll understand. Trust me, she’ll understand.”
“But—”
“—No. Go. They need you. I’m right here. You were always enough for me, my baby boy, but I’ve been waiting to have a daughter. Now let me be here for her. When she wakes up, she’s going to want to know about her friend, and she’s going to look to you for answers. So you better have them.”
“I love you, Mom. Thank you.”
With one last longing look at Bristol, knowing if I walk back over to her, I won’t leave, I turn and shut the door behind me. I take a moment to breathe, rolling my shoulders back and cracking my neck side to side. Time to do whatever it takes to take care of this.
I find Chaos standing at the bar with Malice, Wrath, and Rolo in a heated conversation.
“Where is he?”
“Basement of the garage.”
“I’m ready. Let’s go.”
The five of us leave the main clubhouse, taking a short walk to our massive garage that has a basement with a drain system specifically installed for times like these. I take the steps one at a time, readying myself for dealing with him while not killing him. I’m so fucking tempted.
“He doesn’t die. No matter what, we keep him alive.”
“For how long?” Malice asks.
“As long as possible. I promised Bristol I wouldn’t kill him.”
“But I can then, right?”
“He doesn’t die today, Mal.”
“K. Got it. I can keep him alive. I know all the sweet spots. Just gotta stay away from those arteries. Once I sever one of those—squirt! Goes everywhere.”
“Good plan.”
We find Blake tied to a chair in the center of the room, the drain directly below him. His head is hung low, a light directly above him, illuminating him like a spotlight.
We walk in, fanning out around him. Chaos smacks the back of his head hard, causing him to stir awake. “Wake the fuck up. Time to talk.”
“Fuck you guys! Do you have any idea who I am?”
“Oh, you’re a huge fucking headache. We know exactly who you are. The accountant behind the fucking puzzle of finances you fucked with to cover up some heavy players human trafficking exploits.”
Blake’s eyebrows shoot up to his forehead as he looks around the room, taking in all of us one by one. I hope right about now, he’s understanding just how well and truly fucked he is.
“Where is Kira?”
“Fuck you!”
“I don’t have time for this bullshit. Malice, have at ’em.” Malice claps his hands together excitedly, doing a little bounce on the balls of his feet. He goes over to the far table, picking out some pliers and returning with a sardonic expression.
