I need Kaia to know she’s safe.
Withme.
“Good evening! May I see you invitation?” The guy on the desk welcoming the guests smiles, but it dies when his eyes lift from his guest list to the three leather-clad bikers standing over him.
“Don’t have one.”
“I—I’m sorry but without one, I can’t allow you inside.”
I lean over, my palms flat on his desk until I’m towering over him. The poor guy shrinks in his seat and I almost feel sorry for him. “You don’tallowanything.”
“Kill, no trouble tonight,” Ryan Eaton warns. He’s one of the town’s police officers, and Allie’s partner before she was suspended. He’s a decent guy and a pretty good cop, but with Collins at the helm, Eaton’s just another one of his lap dogs.
“Here’s my invitation.” I flip him the bird and make for the door.
He places his hand flat on my chest, halting me. “Kill, I can’t allow you in.”
I glare down at the hand on my chest, before meeting his eyes. “Kaia’s in trouble. Not you or anyone else is gonna fucking stop me,” I say before shoving my way past him, Jett and Drew close behind me.
The three of us head inside. The room is decked out in ice blue, silver and white, but I really couldn’t give a fuck. My eyes dart around the room, searching for Kaia but I can’t see her. Spotting Sof sat at the bar sipping her cocktail, I push my way through the crowded room towards her.
“Sof?” She turns when I call her name. “Where is she?”
“She went to the bathroom. I offered to go with her but she insisted she was fine on her own.”
“How long has she been gone?”
“I dunno, a while?”
“And her ex? Where’s he?”
She lifts up onto her toes, her eyes scanning the room. “I can’t see him.”
“Fuck!” I push my way through the crowd and my eyes meet with Mayor Watson’s glare. He’s talking with a man I don’t recognise, his wife looking about as interested in his conversation as someone finds watching paint dry.
As much as the idea of wrapping my hands around his thick neck and squeezing until he can’t breathe is inviting, I drag my eyes away and continue towards the restrooms when a voice has my ears pricking up.
“…think I’ll let you humiliate me?” I hear.
“Get your hands off me!” Kaia shouts.
I turn the corner just as Kaia’s palm connects with her ex’s cheek. He’s got her pinned up against the wall, boxing her in.
“You won’t letmebetween your legs but you’ll give it up for some filthy biker? Yeah, I’ve heard all about your relationship with that criminal. Fuckingwhore!” he spits. The back of his hand strikes Kaia’s face, knocking her to the ground. He crouches over her, taking a handful of her hair in his fist and she whimpers in pain as he drags her closer.
She cowers away from him, bracing herself for another hit, but it won’t come.
I was angry before. Now I’m out for blood.
My boots eat up the floor as I come up behind him. “Hey, asshole.”
He releases her hair and spins around just as my bootconnects with his face like I’m kicking a soccer ball.Hard.
I hear something snap as his head is thrust backwards, blood spraying from his mouth. He collapses to the ground, his nose crooked and bloodied, his lip split, and with any luck a few missing teeth.
I reach for Kaia, helping her to her feet. I cup her face in my hands, my thumb dusting over the angry red mark across her cheek, my jaw clenching at the sight. “You okay, butterfly?”
Tears brim in her eyes as she gives me the smallest nod.
