“Yeah. That was Rea. She had a baby—your baby. Came as real fucking shock to me when she ended up on my doorstep since it was my damn name on her birth certificate.”
Gavin rolled his eyes. “If you’re trying to pawn it off on me, I’m not taking responsibility for some brat?—”
My vision went red. Without thinking, I was out of my chair, my palm striking him square in the solar plexus. Gavin gasped, doubling over, his eyes bulging as I grabbed his collar, pulling him halfway out of the chair to face me directly. Fury churned in my gut, my grip bruising as I stared into his wide, startled eyes.
“That little girl is fucking perfect,” I growled low and deadly. “You’re not getting anywhere near her. You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as she does.”
I saw it then—the slight flicker of cunning in Gavin’s eyes. His mind spun rapidly, sensing an angle to exploit. He thought Isa was leverage—something he could use to save himself.
My grip tightened further, nearly cutting off his air as my voice turned colder and even more dangerous. “Don’t even think about it. You lost any rights the second you put her in harm’s way. Isa is mine—my daughter—and there’s not a damn fucking thing you can do about it.” One corner of my mouth hitched up in a humorless smile. “Even got a DNA match.She’s mine.”
Gavin’s jaw clenched, anger flashing across his expression before fear took its place, realizing I meant every single fucking word.
I shoved him back into his chair, which would have tipped over if King’s boot hadn’t caught it.
“Fine!” Gavin snapped with a slight wheeze from having his throat constricted. “You got what you want. She’s yours. Now can I go? I don’t need your self-righteous crap when?—”
“We know about Division Nine.” My tone was like a blade slicing through his bullshit. “You’ve put a fucking target on my back, my woman, and my daughter.”
He scowled at me, shifting nervously in his seat, but still trying to maintain his careless attitude. “I didn’t drag you into this?—”
“You used my fucking name, asshole,” I cut him off. “Time for you to man up for once and get them off our fucking radar.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do,” he muttered, his tone sulky once again.
“You have two choices here, Gavin. And to be crystal fucking clear, these aren’t suggestions. They’re your only fucking options.”
I stepped back, my breathing hard but controlled, letting the silence stretch so the gravity of the situation would sink into him. He stared back at me, his defiance gone, replaced by the dawning realization that he had no cards left to play.
I knew my expression was unforgiving and stone cold—exactly the ruthless bastard Gavin had forced me to become whenever he stepped too far out of line.
“Your first choice,” I began slowly, my voice hard and unyielding, “is to keep running. You can try your luck and pray that Division Nine never catches you. But believe me, they will. And when they do, they won’t just kill you outright. They’re gonna make damn sure you pay with blood first.” My eyesnarrowed, my tone becoming icier. “When that happens, the Hounds won’t protect you. And neither will I. I’m done cleaning up after your messes.”
Gavin sputtered, his face twisting in disbelief and outrage. “You can’t fucking mean that, Griff. You’d actually let them kill me?”
I didn’t even blink—just stared at him with unyielding resolve. Letting my silence drive home my point.
King stepped forward then, his voice dark and commanding. “Cross doesn’t have a fucking choice, Gavin, not on this. I won’t let him intervene. And unlike you, he understands loyalty and has principles he won’t break. He wouldn’t disobey his president, and he sure as hell won’t do anything to put his family at risk.” King’s voice hardened further. “That includes the club, his brothers, and every single one of our families. Something you clearly don’t fucking understand.”
Gavin’s face reddened with anger, his spoiled entitlement surfacing as he glared around the room. “You can’t just do this to me! Mom and Dad would never forgive Griffin if he stood aside while I’m hunted down and killed.”
My jaw clenched hard, eyes flashing dangerously. “I already told them everything, Gavin.” My voice was deceptively calm despite the anger boiling beneath my skin. “And yeah, it fucking hurt them, but they understood. You’re right about one thing, though. They don’t want you dead. That’s exactly why they’re praying you’ll take option two.” I stepped closer, towering over him. “Just to be clear, our parents are the only fucking reason you’re even being given the second choice.”
Gavin swallowed hard, the first glimmer of genuine fear finally breaking through his arrogance. “And what’s option two?”
“You disappear.” There was no room for argument or negotiation in my tone. “You vanish, permanently. The Houndswill handle everything.” My eyes bored into his. “We’ll get you plastic surgery, alter your face just enough to avoid recognition. Wizard will wipe all records of Gavin Reid ever existing. You’ll be given a new identity, a fresh start—far away from us and Riverstone.”
I moved even closer, until my face was inches from his. “But this isn’t a fucking free pass. Option two comes with conditions. Nonnegotiable, ironclad conditions.”
Gavin stiffened, his jaw set stubbornly, but his gaze flickered nervously. “What conditions?”
“First, you’re signing over all rights to Isa. She’s my daughter now, legally and in every other way. Ash already has the paperwork prepared. But I’m not leaving one fucking this to chance when it comes to my little girl.”
Ash pushed a document toward my brother, setting it firmly on the table.
Gavin hesitated, eyes dropping to the paperwork briefly before snapping back to my face, anger flaring. “And?”
“Second, you’re never coming back,” I growled, the words heavy with finality. “Not ever. You leave this place behind for good. But most importantly”—my voice hardened further, becoming a low, dangerous rumble—“you willnevercontact Hannah or Isa.Ever.If you even think about it, the new life we’re offering will vanish, and you’ll be right back to option one, facing down Division Nine on your own.”
