They all glanced over at Gavin, who was sitting against the wall between Ace and Lucas, with the puppy whining in his lap. He could sense that something was wrong and kept licking Gavin’s hand as he slowly caressed his fur.
Next to Ace stood Blade, casually flipping his favorite blade in his hand, while Caden stood protectively on the other side of Lucas, arms crossed against his chest, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.
Gavin sat in the center, seemingly unaware of the dangerous crew standing guard around him.
“The Valentine Killer, to be exact,” Marcus added, watching as his crew began to whisper around him. “Tonight, we received a message that appears to indicatethat the killer is in town and has been watching us for quite some time.”
Nikolai stepped forward, his fists clenched in anger. “If he has, he’s a dead man. No one threatens my family and gets away with it,” Nikolai growled in a thick Russian accent. His accent always grew thicker the angrier he seemed to get.
“That’s why I asked you all here tonight. First, to make sure that everyone was safe and aware of the situation; second, to come up with a plan to hunt down this psychopath and take him out once and for all.”
Marcus had given up on trying to capture and arrest this piece of shit. This was personal now, and the only way to ensure that his family remained safe was to take the bastard out and eliminate the threat indefinitely.
“We’re with you, boss,” Blade added, nodding his head at his brother-in-law. He was always ready for a fight when it came to family.
“What do you need, boss?” Damian, one of the Viper crew members and a worker at the bar, asked, tucking his hands under his armpits and waiting for his boss to give them instructions.
“Tonight, you’re all going to sleep here, then tomorrow morning, we’re going to come up with a plan.” Marcus looked over at Nikolai and Midas. “You guys make sure that the house is secure. Double-check every door, window, and outside security light. Take Caden if you need an extra set of hands. Ace, start thinking of what we mightneed. We can’t all stay here forever, so whatever solution you can think of, I’m open to suggestions.”
Marcus looked over at Gavin, who now sat with his arms wrapped around his knees, holding them close to his chest as he sat on the floor rocking slowly. The puppy stared up at him, waiting patiently for his favorite person to do something with him.
The guy had been through so much these past few weeks. His once safe space had now been violated. Marcus made a pledge right there to never again leave the boy’s side.
He was going to find a way to draw out this motherfucker, then end his life, one way or another.
But tonight, they were going to lock down the place, then worry about things in the morning.
Heart beating in his chest, Marcus walked over to the terrified man he had once tossed into his trunk to protect him and scooped him up into his arms.
“Puppy, come,” Marcus ordered, carrying Gavin bodyguard-style down the hallway and into his bedroom.
“I’ll stand guard at the door,” Nikolai announced from the doorway like his own private security.
Marcus nodded without turning as he gently placed Gavin on the bed. He scooped up the puppy and dropped him into the boy’s open arms.
Behind him, Nikolai closed his bedroom door.
Feeling an overwhelming need to stand guard and protect what he loved, Marcus slid into the bed andwrapped his massive body around the boy—and the puppy–protecting them both and making sure they knew they were safe and could let their guard down while they slept.
Marcus would stay awake, watching and listening, making sure everyone under his roof was safe and protected.
No one, no matter how crazy or psychotic they might be, would dare break into a house filled with armed, angry bikers just looking to get into a scrap.
21
MARCUS
Light crept into the room as the early morning sun slowly rose over the horizon. Marcus watched the beams as they slowly moved across the ceiling, tracking time as it gradually ticked by.
He wasn’t sure what time it was, probably five or six in the morning. He hadn’t slept, just listened to the noises around him, ready to pounce if any should become a threat.
But no threats came. Perhaps it was just enough for Marcus and his crew to know that the Valentine Killer was out there to keep the psychotic killer happily away.
Killers got off on that sort of thing, didn’t they?Causing fear and panic, watching as their prey slowly unraveled… waiting… wondering… counting the minutes until that deadly blow might come. If it would come?
But Marcus was no victim. He didn’t allow people togain power over him. He faced dangers head-on and reveled in the pain that his revenge brought out.
No. Marcus was not scared. He was simply waiting. Thinking through strategies and options, moving pieces on the chessboard of violence to see which outcomes he liked the best.
