“Heneeds to be stopped,” I declare.I’ve been wanting it from the minute we got stuck in that mansion whilst it was on fire.
Luke glances over at me.“Why do you think I didn’t get her to mention seeing Black?This shit needs to end, and it needs to end without it blowing back on any of us.He’s gone after all the women in your lives, our friends, our businesses, and our lives.We’ve played this safe because of the people around us, but it hasn’t helped.”
Jaxon moves away from the fireplace.“Then we all agree.Black needs to die.”
“Yeah, and you aren’t doing it alone,” is announced from the door.
“Fuck!”I growl.
Max Carter, followed by Maverick, Mason, Malik, and Myles, walks in.Maverick crosses his arms over his chest, glancing around the room.“Before any of you fuckers say this isn’t our business, I’ll remind you my daughter is involved in this mess and she’s been through enough.”
“And my son,” Max declares.
“And then there’s Liam,” Myles adds.
“We don’t take kindly to someone fucking around with our family,” Maverick growls.“And this girl...Lily says she’s a child.She’s sweet and scared of her own shadow.”
“We’ve got this handled,” Jaxon warns.
Maverick leans forward, and even sitting down, my back against the wall, I lean back because that motherfucker scares the shit out of me.“Yeah?Then why are you still stringing this fucking mess along?I’ll remind you, my daughter is linked to this.I do not want to get a phone call to say Black has killed her or fuckingrapedher.Because again, I’ll remind you, she has already been through hell.”
“You don’t think I’m fucking scared of that myself?”Jaxon roars.“You don’t think I lie awake at night, worried about the same thing?Or that my mum or sister could get hurt?I didn’t fucking ask for this.I didn’t want any of this.I wanted to be a better man for Lily.I didn’t want her visiting me in a prison.Fuck!”
“Then let us help,” Malik barks.“We aren’t here to place blame on you.The blame goes to one person.”
“You have families,” Luke states the obvious.“And no offence, but I would rather Hayden didn’t kick my arse because her father got arrested.”
Max snorts.“Like I’d be the one caught.”
Myles nods in agreement, glancing from Max to Luke.“He’d pin the blame on me.Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“They got it thrown out of court, didn’t they,” Max retorts, sounding offended.
“Because they couldn’t prove which one of us it was.It was a technicality.”
Max shrugs, but then moves his focus to Jaxon.“We want a better future for our kids.We always have.And whether we like it or not, you guys are part of our family, which means we’re tied to this shit.Liam died for this, and we want revenge.”
Luke clears his throat.“You do know he’s alive and kicking?”
Max rolls his eyes.“No shit, Sherlock.But that night, he died once too many.He’s lucky to be breathing.And I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but he means something to us.He’s family.I named my fucking son after him.”
“You did hear us when we said we were going to kill him, right?”Isaac announces quietly, most likely worried one of them will snap at him.
“His blood wouldn’t be the only blood we’ve had on our hands.”Maverick shrugs.
“Lily needs you,” Jaxon whispers, head bowed.“It’s too risky.”
“Hate to say it, but she needs you more,” Maverick admits, and I hear the pain in the words.
Max smacks his hands together.“Then that’s settled.We are going to get this fucker, lock him up, have our fun, and then feed him to your pigs.”
Maverick slaps Jaxon on the shoulder.“See you at dinner.Don’t forget the beer.”
“Oh, and one more thing: you get any of our kids involved, you’ll be the ones hanging from a hook and it will be us beating the shit out of you,” Max shoots back.
They leave just as quickly as they arrived.I stare around the room.“I’ll never admit I said this, but those fuckers scare me.”
Luke glances over at me.“Hayden still scares me the most.”
