I had trusted this fucker. I had trusted him so much that I’d left Darby with him. I’d leftmy girl… fuck…notmy girl…
But she was.
Even if I tried to ignore it, I knew she was mine.
And I’d put her in danger because I had trusted this motherfucker…for years. We’d come up together, sat out in the gatehouse for years together. This betrayal was worse than I could have ever imagined. I’d trusted him. He knew about my life, my past…and still…he’d wormed his way in. I fucking hated that, most of all.
Blaze looked up at me and a sick, twisted smile pulled at his lips. “Finally…”
“Why?” I asked him, my voice deeper than I imagined it would be, broken from the unshed emotion clogging inside.
“You know…you were the greatest victory to win over. Fury was easy. He was friends with everyone, hadn’t had anything bad happen to him, so he never really doubted anything. Because of that, I think it was easier for you to see me as a friend. It took time…but eventually, you trusted me.”
“I don’t take lightly to betrayal, Joshua.”
“Maybe not, but I saw a way to keep you looking the other way. There came a time when you doubted me…it was right after Razor. You didn’t look at me the same way…I thought I fucked up and I needed to dangle the carrot for you to get distracted. When I learned that the guys had Darby and were keeping her safe from the Destructive Sons, I knew I had to find a way to distract you. I convinced Ace that you were the perfect one to watch over her. I knew her little bubbly sunshine personality would seep into your cold, dark heart. Turns out I was right.”
I hated that he was right. That he could read me so effortlessly. After he found Razor’s body, I felt like something was off. He went off on his own a lot more and spent time away from the clubhouse. He didn’t act like he was grieving, and that was offputting. I knew everyone grieved in their own way so I didn’t want to raise it unless I was sure…and then I was put on babysitting duty.
The fucker played us all.
“Your little game fucked up when you got called up to look after her, didn’t it?” I sneered. “She knew who you were and now you’re going to die for your betrayal.”
“Kill me…I don’t care…but let me ask you this…if you all are here…who’s watching sweet and innocent little Darby Rose?” he asked, his grin bloody and cruel. “I guess putting me on babysitting detail wasn’t such a great idea, after all. I knew exactly how to get in and out of that house, I know the codes, the secret cameras. I know everything and now…so does he.”
Fear shot through my body like a bullet. The way he was laughing told me he wasn’t bluffing. Of course, he had all those codes because he was one of us.
Darby.
I looked to Ace.
“Go…call Wolf.”
I headed out of the shed just as I heard Hawk proclaim, “Chains, he’s yours.”
The boys all followed me out of the shed as the cries of Blaze echoed through the night. Wolf answered on the second ring.
“Yo.”
“Where you at?”
“Ah, just heading your way now,” he said. “Got held up in Ballingarry.”
“How close are you to Tullaroan?”
“About five minutes, why?”
“Can you head to the safe house? I think Darby and Shona are in trouble.”
Savage was heading to his bike as were Viper and Fury. The rest would stay here and protect the clubhouse. I could barely think straight as I told Wolf what the deal was. He told me to ride hard and fast. Riagan wasn’t someone to mess with.
I jumped on my bike and followed behind Viper and Savage, Fury was beside me. My mind was on Darby. She hadn’t wanted me to come here tonight, hadn’t wanted to be apart from me, and yet I’d told her I would see her later.
Hatred coiled around my heart for Blaze and for not trusting Darby’s gut to keep her safe. If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself.
Ever.
We were gaining on the safe house, and all looked good around the perimeter. No bikes, cars or anything of a show of force to get her out. Wolf was at the door, turning to shrug his shoulders when we pulled up.
