“That kid couldn’t have a better dad,” Piston butts in. That his sentiment is shared is shown by brothers slapping their fists on the table in support.
“And the idiot bitch thought giving him a home in the MDMC was better?” Stalker observes.
Though I’m not condoning her reasoning, I tell them, “Candyman persuaded her they were choirboys.”
There are the predictable snorts of derision.
Prez gets to the heart of the matter. “What do you want to do with her, Freak?”
Now isn’t that the six-million-dollar question? I knew it was coming, but I’m still not prepared.
When my lips stay clamped shut, Saint takes it upon himself to lay out some home truths. “If we let her free, she’s a loose cannon. She might go back to the MDMC?—”
I interrupt him. “Not likely. She knows Candyman isn’t her brother, and anyway, even if he was, he’s no longer breathing. Him hurting her got her a quick education about what that club is like. But,” I sigh, “she’s fuckin’ desperate. She wanted to get back with me…”
“What the fuck?” Tempest snarls.
“After kidnapping Ace? No fuckin’ way,” Paint growls.
I hold up my hands. “Obviously I turned her down.” I pause to receive the relieved chin lifts that come my way. “But she saw me kill two men. While she’s not currently holding that against me, if she’s cut loose that could change. I fuckin’ never want her near Ace again.”
“What if she promises to get lost and never return? We could threaten her with the wrath of the Kings. Explain there’s nowhere she could go and be safe from us, we’ve got chapters all over.” Words’ measured suggestion would be possible if Toni was anything other than who she is.
I sigh deeply. “Toni is all about family, and I don’t think she’d stop trying to get Ace, he’s her only living blood relative. And she’s seen and heard too much about us. She could dob us in to the Feds.”
Bullseye sighs as he accepts the inevitable. “So she’ll find herself experiencing the facilities that Words offers.” As Wordsruns the town’s funeral home, his words don’t need further explanation.
The table is silent. If we were pronouncing the death sentence on a man who’d wronged us, there would be cheering and celebration. But none of us like the thought of killing a woman. Even Bronwyn’s despicable mom had been left to walk even though she was the epitome of evil.
Toni had wronged me deeply. And she could prove a danger to the club. Closing my eyes briefly, I shake my head. I can’t see any other alternative. I’m worried about Ace’s reaction, but maybe he doesn’t need to know, he can simply be told she’s left. Slowly I raise my chin, and stare straight at Prez. “If it has to be done, I don’t want any fuss about it, no torture, no pain. Just a bullet to the back of her head when she’s least expecting it.”
Prez catches my eye. “It’s either that, or you keep her close, Freak. There’s no other way we can trust her. The ball’s in your court.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
FREAK
Ienter the room where Toni is being kept. There’s a tray showing that refreshments have been delivered to her. She’s freshly showered and changed, and, as per my earlier instructions, her broken arm has been set and is now in a cast. I’ll have to thank Bronwyn later.
She was sleeping, and she stirs at my approach and awakes. “Freak,” she exclaims. “I’d hoped to see you earlier.”
I wave in her general direction. “You’ve been cared for.”
“A bit belated, but yes. Though I had to suffer for hours before anyone came.” Her twisted expression shows that hadn’t impressed her. Changing tack fast, she eagerly asks, “Can I see Ace?”
My eyes reach for the heavens, then come back down. “He doesn’t want to see you. What do you think he’s going to do? Forgive you for lying to him? Kidnapping him? Taking him away from the only parent he has?” I’m on a roll now and can’t stop. “Have you any idea how scared he was? He had no way to contact me, no hope of rescue, and then you tried to force him to betray the only family he’s ever known.”
Her jaw has dropped while I’ve been talking. Ignoring my first questions, she latches onto the last. “That wasn’t me, it was Candy. I had no idea that was why he wanted him. I just thought as my stepbrother, or so I believed, he was concerned. If what he told me had been the truth, Ace would have been his nephew too.” Her bottom lip quivers. “Candy hurt me, Freak. Do you really think I’d have condoned taking Ace there if I knew what was going to happen?”
“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly. “But I do think you’d have taken Ace away from me any way that you could.”
“Because I thought I was doing the right thing by him,” she insists.
“On that we’ll have to differ.” My tone is icy.
Fuck me, I didn’t come here to argue, but that’s what we seem to be doing.
“If you let me explain, talk to him…” Her hands wring together, her broken arm not seeming to cause too much of an issue.
