Page 146 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“And we’ll be on it again after leaving the property half an hour from now,” Cowboy added.

“That’s right. We’re your worst nightmare. We’re ghosts,” Doc said.

“You stupid idiots,” Adkin said. “There are traffic cameras all over.”

“If only they hadn’t been hacked and disabled,” Dare said. “But we’re just lowly bikers. What do we know?”

Fear fell over Adkin’s face like a curtain. “My…my phone is tracked. I’ve been gone too long. My wife will worry. The police will probably show up here any minute.”

“That could have worked in your favor,” Doc said, glancing at Hyde.

“If we hadn’t left your phone in your car at the park after we tossed you in the van,” Hyde said.

“Did I forget to mention that your wife will be getting a text from you soon telling her that you got a flat and that she needs to come get you at the park?” Doc asked. “She won’t find you, of course. But she’ll find pictures of you and Ana in some very precarious positions.”

“You son of a bitch,” Adkin fumed. “You won’t get away with this.”

“Here’s the thing, Marv. After tonight, nobody’s going to give a shit what you say. They’re going to be too riveted to their televisions and smartphones as your cushy little life falls apart piece by fucking piece. But in case you get the urge to try to bring our names into this, you should know that we’re well connected, too. If any of our names are mentioned, you won’t last a day in prison. I did mention you’re going to prison, didn’t I?”

“It was implied,” Cowboy said.

“Right.” Doc set a dark stare on Adkin. “You do remember the ranch that you threatened to close down helps previously incarcerated individuals, don’t you, Marv? The thing is, all of those guys we’ve helped over the years are still buddies with the lifers they knew in prison. You know about lifers, don’t you? They have nothing left to lose, and they’re very appreciative of the work we’ve done to help their buddies. They won’t take kindly to any of us being bad-mouthed.”

“You son of a bit—” Adkin threw a punch, clocking Doc in the jaw.

He never saw the uppercut coming as Doc’s fist connected with the underside of his jaw, sending him flying into the snow on his back. Doc was on him in seconds, seeing red, his fists flying, anger roaring out with every lightning-fast punch. “For Juliette and our son.” Crack. “For the years you stole from us.” Crack. “For Hazel…”

With every punch, he saw Juliette’s blue eyes, dripping with tears after learning the truth of what her father had done. He saw Lucas’s tortured face when he found out he’d been lied to, and he saw years of his own emotional torment spent trying to fill the big black hole Adkin’s deceit had caused in his own fucking heart.

What he didn’t see until Rebel and Dare tore him from his rage-induced fury was the blood pouring from the prick’s mouth and nose, his head lolling from side to side, crimson seeping through the snow.

“It’s over, Doc,” Dare gritted out. “He’s done.”

Doc fought to get free. “Not done enough.”

Cowboy stepped in front of him. “You’ve got a family waiting on you. Pull your shit together, and let the Feds have him.”

Doc ground his back teeth, knowing he was right, but fuck if that made it any easier to diffuse his rage and walk away from the fucker who hurt Juliette.

“Let him squirm in prison, mate,” Taz said. “Somebody’ll make him his bitch.”

“He’ll be paying for his sins forever,” Rebel said.

Cowboy’s eyes narrowed, holding Doc’s stare. “How about we avoid you paying for yours?”

“Mine’s not a sin. It’s fucking retribution.” He yanked his arms free.

“One phone call, and you’ll have that.” Cowboy stepped closer. “You want more blood on your hands, you’re gonna have to go through me.”

“Think of your family, mate,” Taz said.

“You want your boy visiting you in prison?” Dare asked.

Doc stared them all down, wanting nothing more than to take Adkin’s last breath, but he wasn’t a stupid man. He wanted the motherfucker to suffer. “I’m not doing shit. That fucker’s not worth it. Tie him up.”

As Cowboy and Dare cable-tied Adkin’s wrists and ankles, Doc pulled out his phone and called Reggie. “It’s done. Give us ten minutes. Then he’s all yours.”

DOC TOOK THE long way home, needing to cool down and get his head on straight before going back to the ranch.