Alder keeps the gun pointed at Henry. “What’s their plan?”
Henry furrows his brow and shakes his head. “They don’t tell me shit.”
Alder lifts his chin. “No? That’s funny, considering you cared enough to ask Donnie whatwewere doing.” He pauses, and somehow his glare turns even more lethal. “So what’s their plan?”
Henry swallows hard, and resignation seems to settle over him. “They’re waiting for you to move on the guns. If you do… they’ll use it to overtake you.”
And before I can process what that even means, a loud bang fills the air, and Henry falls to the dirt.
My ears ring from the deafening sound, and the only thing I can make out is my heartbeat as I stare at Henry’s lifeless body, slumped in the headlights as dust settles around him.
I’m vaguely aware of conversation happening around me, and it takes a few seconds before words start breaking through.
“Let Donnie know it’s done,” Alder says to Dom, as Trip crouches to cut the zip ties from Henry’s wrists. “Tell him an anonymous tip saw a Sons patch headed out this way. I’m sure his sergeant would appreciate a new, bigger target. Especially one that killed a Mountie.”
Cory’s hand lands on my back, and I turn to look at him.
He studies my face for a moment. “You good?”
I nod with an exhale. “Yeah.”
He nods as well, then claps my back before stepping towards the van.
My eyes track Alder as he walks away from Henry’s body with the same authority as always, like none of this cost him a thing.
But I know it did.
Engines start up around us as his gaze finds mine, but I barely hear them. Everything fades away as he steps closer, and I look into his dark eyes that hide the torture somewhere deep inside them.
He stands before me, but doesn’t say anything. He just lets me look at him as he waits to see if I’m going to walk with him, or run away.
My hands lift to slide under his cut, tracing over the leather of his holster and the metal of his gun. Then I lean in and press my lips to his, my heart hammering so hard I feel it in my fingertips.
He grabs my hips and pulls me flush against him, pushing his tongue past my lips in a move that feels like desperation. He holds me tight, as he gives me everything I want, and I offer him everything he needs.
Then he pulls back and pushes me towards his bike.
Engines roar behind us as Alder leads the Kings out of the quarry, and we make our way back to Fredericton, leaving Henry’s body behind in the dirt.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt more alive.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Quack!
Wingnut’s webbed feet slap against the floor as me, Cade, and the guys step inside the clubhouse, and Caz looks up with relief written all over his face.
“Hey, quick question,” he says, skirting past Wingnut and falling into step beside me. “Is your mom going to be back home anytime soon, or…?”
“She got home yesterday,” I say, looking him straight in the eye. “Why?”
He glances down at Wingnut. “So… can the duck go home now, too?”
I look down as Wingnut quickly lunges for Caz’s legs, and he hops out of the way with a grunt.
“No,” I say, then turn to Cade beside me, curling my hand around the back of his neck and dragging him in until my lips brush his ear.
“Go to my room,” I murmur. “And get ready for me to fuck that ass till morning.”
