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Skeletons of Society

Page 70

by Marie Maravilla

I let out a guttural roar, slamming my fist beside her head. Drywall coated her already messed up hair as she stood awkwardly now that I was only holding her by one hand.

“I know damn well a club brother didn’t do that,” I seethed.

By this time, all the noise drew others to the hallway, all bearing witness to my rage. I saw Dex approach from the corner of my eye, but he didn’t intervene.

“While another club brother wouldn’t hurt a woman. I have no issue causing you pain until you tell me what the fuck you did to Ryan. That’s who did that to you, right?” I asked, fighting to speak calmly.

Another whimper left her mouth as she looked around at the brothers, waiting for someone to come to her aid.

“Don’t wanna talk? Then tell me which brother hit you, Lolli.” I raised my voice and gestured to the crowd behind us. “Tell us all who hit you like you’re saying.”

Her one good eye widened. “Gunner…”

She’d used that excuse before there were other ears to hear it, but now, she’d have to name a brother if she continued with this lie. Her body began to physically shake, but I couldn’t drum up an ounce of sympathy for her.

Not when I knew she had something to do with Ryan being missing. I saw the burner my baby left behind with a single line of unsent text typed out on the screen.

Mario has people watching from within the Skeletons. I’m sure you can find the one I left for you. I’m sorry. Te quiero.

Those were the only words Ryan left behind. But I could piece together enough of what was going on by the messages she’d deleted. She probably didn’t anticipate me looking in her deleted file. Or maybe she did. The woman was cunning and seemed to think quickly on her feet. Leaving the burner behind certainly felt planned.

My fingers dug into Lolli’s jaw, forcing her to make eye contact. All semblance of restraint was disappearing, and the predator being kept at bay was pacing the cage to get out. I wanted her to see that in my eyes. A large hand landed on my shoulder, attempting to ground me. I turned and met Dex’s questioning gaze. A million unspoken words were written upon his face. But I knew his most pressing question, and I gave him one quick but sure nod.

Yes, I was going to see this through. I was going to go rogue.

His gaze lingered a moment longer before turning to Lolli.

“I suggest you tell him what he wants to know. Because you are standing between him and the woman he loves, and believe me when I say he’s willing to give up everything to keep her,” Dex stated. His tone was icy.

A sob left Lolli’s lips. “She’s at Lotería. Mario told me I needed to make sure Ryan got the messages and went to Lotería without anyone following. He said she would follow directions since he had her best friend or some shit like that.”

Dex’s entire body went rigid at the mention of Nikki.

“What the fuck did you just say?” The low growl was terrifying, and it wasn’t directed at me. Tears and snot ran down Lolli’s face, making her look pathetic.

“He’s selling her best friend. Said that’s the way he would take back control of Ryan,” she sobbed, her words barely decipherable.

Another presence appeared at my side. Pres’s arrival made Lolli’s skin turn ashen. His deep voice rang out, silencing everyone.

“Why do you even know Mario, Lolli? Where did you meet him?” Pres asked, his tone menacing.

The panic-stricken look on her face told us everything we needed to know. She’d been working with the Reapers too.

“Gunner, you and Dex do what you need to do. We’ll take care of Lolli here.” Pres turned to face me. “You let me know what you need from me and the Skeletons.”

I gave a quick nod before stalking off to my room. A million scenarios about how this would go down and the aftermath of these decisions ran through my head. I didn’t have to look behind me to know Dex had stalked after me, ready to act in whatever way I decided.

The door slammed into the wall as I charged into my room, on the warpath to gather what I needed. Coherent thoughts escaped me. My brain was like an oil slick; anything remotely useful was refusing to stick. The only mental picture I could form was Ryan strapped to the chair Spinner had been strapped to. His bloody and broken face was replaced with hers.

I dug my fists into my eye sockets, trying to physically remove the vision. A guttural yell sounded, and it took me a minute to realize it was coming from me.

“Fuck!” I cried out, sending the contents on my dresser crashing to the ground. “I know this fucker. I know what he’s capable of. The psychotic tendencies of his brain. Mario’s obsession with Ryan may have saved her before, but now…”

My body shuddered when I thought about what he would do to her now that he felt she wasn’t his. The punishments he would put her through—was putting her through.

“Brother. You need to get your shit together. Now. Save your fucking breakdown for another time.”

I peeled my eyelids open and stared down the giant man I called my brother. He was right, of course. And fuck, I’d never had an issue with this before.