Page 47 of Devil Within

“He passed out again,” War told him.

Jade marched over to the hose and turned the water on, then sprayed Lawrence until he woke up. The man blubbered like a big baby, and Jade was tired of hearing it. He turned off the hose and grabbed a hammer. For the next couple of minutes, he hit Lawrence over various parts of his body. Knees. Shins. Collarbone. He broke as many bones as he could before he pulled out his hunting knife and came to stand in front of the blasphemer. Lawrence stared at him, his head leaning against his extended arm as if his neck muscles couldn't hold it up.

“She’s alive,” Jade told him. “And in a minute, you won’t be. I’m going to take your heart out, and while the blood is still warm, I’m going to feed it to any fucking animal I can find. That means your heart is going to pass through an animal’s rectum, in what I can only hope will be diarrhea. Oh, and I highly doubt that you’re gonna make it to the Pearly Gates.”

Then Jade thrust his blade into the underside of Lawrence’s jaw, toward the top of the brainstem, killing him instantly. After a moment or two, when the body stopped swaying, Ryder released the tension on the chains holding the body up. Jade stood over him and did exactly what he promised.

No one would ever find the asshole’s body. Nor the other fucker who had threatened Shiloh.

In time, no one would even remember their names.

****

One week later

Saint sat in church and stared down at the dealer’s phone in his hand as he waited for Nero. The data retrieved from it was troubling, and he knew the good doctor wasn’t going to take it well. He’d known Tobias Courtland, aka Nero, for over a decade. The man had saved his life one night. A debt Saint could never repay. While on a stupid, fucking beer run, he’d been ambushed by a wannabe street kid who had been tasked to kill someone as a trial-by-fire initiation into a gang. Saint would’ve fucking died if Nero hadn’t brained the juvenile delinquent to death.

A doctor, who had taken the Hippocratic Oath, had killed someone, but it turned out it wasn’t the first time he’d taken a life. Nero had his own way of helping people.

Just then, a knock sounded on the church door, pulling him out of his memories.

“Come in,” he said.

Nero entered.

“Close the door,” Saint instructed.

Following the order, Nero sat down and narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Snow finally unlocked the phone,” he replied.

“Okay,” Nero said. His brow creased in puzzlement.

“The pusher had been telling the truth that he didn’t know his supplier, but we were able to track that thread down,” Saint continued, staring Nero in the eye. “It’s Kedron.”

In an instant, Nero’s relaxed attitude disappeared. His body suddenly thrummed with tension. “Where is he?”

“Not sure yet,” Saint replied. “But we’ll find him.”

Nero stood. “You do that, but remember, he’s mine to kill.”

Saint nodded. “I know. His death belongs to you.”

Epilogue

Shiloh smoothed down an invisible line on her wedding dress. It wasn’t white. She refused to even consider wearing that color because she wasn’t a sacrificial virgin. Instead, her dress was deep red. Beautiful and bold, with black silk roses trailing down the full organza skirt. It was a vintage A-line dress with spaghetti straps, with the bodice laced up in front. The gorgeous dress made her feel sexy. Desirable. Behind her, Kira finished braiding her hair, weaving burgundy ribbon through the strands.

“That is so pretty,” Vette gushed.

“Thanks,” Kira replied, smiling.

“Shiloh, do you like the bouquet?” Vette asked. She’d been adding red and black roses to match her dress.

“I love it.” Shiloh beamed. “Thank you both so much. I can’t imagine my life without you both.”

Kira hugged her. “You’re my sister now. An old lady in the Sons of Sinn MC. We’re family now.”

Vette rushed over and threw her arms around both of them. “You’re both my family, too! I love you, guys.”