Even when I tried to hide it or run from these emotions, I was falling in love with a spunky, bratty, blue-haired woman who captivated me. And now, they wanted to take her away from me. It wouldn’t be easy. Not only would I fight to save her, but Kadence had a spark inside her. She wasn’t the same person I met months ago. She was stronger, braver, and had the same courage as any of my men.
Drew’s Jeep was at Hunter’s. Annika and Drew were still having issues because of what he was doing with Holy Trinity. When I dealt with Everly and her boyfriend, I would deal with whatever Drew was doing. It was affecting Hunter, too, even if she wouldn’t fully admit it.
I stormed into Hunter’s house, and she was lounging on her couch in a tank top and tiny, black, biker shorts. She looked cozy. “Goddamn it, Blaize. Can’t I have a day off?”
“Everly attacked Kadence.”
The smirk dropped off her face. “What?”
“She hit her in the back of the head and pushed her into the ocean. She knew I would save Kadence instead of chasing after her. Kadence is okay. I want Everly dead.”
She nodded. “I can see if I can get her to meet with me.”
I cocked my brow. “You think she will?”
“I could fib. Tell her I am tired of you and your shit, and I want her. She was in love with me,too.”
Too. Hunter admitted it. “Hunter, you don’t have to do it.”
“She hurt Kadence. I’ll text her and set up a meeting somewhere. She’ll probably want to meet at a warehouse or her old house.”
CHAPTER 73
BLAIZE
Everly responded to Hunter and said they could meet. It felt too easy. Itwastoo easy. We would be walking into a trap, but Everly would think Hunter would go alone. With how soon this was after the attack on Kadence, Everly would think Hunter would be the hero, but I would be with her.
There was an old warehouse they would go to when Hunter wanted to do a CNC scene with Everly, and that's where she agreed to meet us at. I stayed behind Hunter in the shadows so she wouldn’t get spooked quickly. Everly would pay for this bullshit even if I had to put a bullet between her eyes instead of tormenting her like I wanted, too.
I wanted to go back home to my girl and stop fighting a ghost. Everly and her partner would both pay for the pain they caused, but I was tired of dealing with it. I was tired of the pain, of the hurt they were causing. Everything was fine until they decided to do this. Now I wanted my town, my life to go back to the way it was with a few added things. I wanted my happiness without the looming threat of someone trying to take it away from me.
“Everly? Where are you?”
Clank.
Clank
Clank.
It sounded like a pipe on an iron gate before her laughter filled the room. “Did you think I was naïve,Daddy?” Everly’s voice taunted. Fuck. She knew. “Did you think I was actually in love?” Her laugh was bitter, and I saw the way it stabbed Hunter. “You were easy to use. Does Blaize know how broken you really are?”
Her fingers clenched. “Where the fuck are you?”
“Anger to deflect. Have you tried therapy?” Fuck. I knew this wasn’t a good idea. “Behind the mask you wear, you’re nothing but a weak, broken girl. Isn’t that right,Emily?”
Everly cackled, and I knew I needed to get her out of here. Without her release, Hunter didn’t need to be triggered. “Hunter.”
“Is Blaize gonna save you now? You never could save yourself.” Things were about to get out of hand if I didn’t get Hunter to come with me. “Blaize. Blaize. Blaize. Enjoy your moment of happiness, bitch, and try not to blow up.”
The smell of gas hit me, and I grabbed Hunter. She was silent. Everly’s words got to her, but I didn’t have time to snap her out of it before I got us out. We were barely out of the front door when the warehouse exploded, sending Hunter and I flying across the road.
I felt screaming pain in my head and on my side, but I didn’t lose consciousness as I looked at the setting sky. My head was spinning as I tried to focus on my surroundings.Yep, that gave me a concussion.Doc would get sick of dealing with my shit and quit when I showed up to the clubhouse bruised and concussed.
My ears were ringing when I finally snapped back to reality. I groaned, pulling myself up as I reached for Hunter. My hand didn’t immediately find her, but we went flying so she could be several feet away from me. I called her name, but she didn’tanswer—not even a groan. My eyes snapped to hers, and she was unconscious with a deep gash on her forehead.
“Goddamn it,” I hissed, crawling towards her. I checked her pulse, and she was alive and still breathing, but she was losing a lot of blood with road rash on her arms and shoulder blades. “You’re going to make me lug your ass to Doc, aren't you?” We were fifteen minutes from the clubhouse.
I kickedin the door to the clubhouse with a panting huff, alerting my men. Cross immediately rushed to me and grabbed Hunter’s still unconscious form. She hit her head hard enough to knock her ass out well. When Cross had her I stumbled, but Ranger grabbed me and kept me steady.
