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I swivel to bear down on the men who line the doors and space around us. "Let that be a warning to anyone who even bears the thought. Before you think it, I know you. I will find you." I point at the broken man, bloodiest, streaks of red essence flowing down his skin. My voice is an angry roar. "That will be your fate. Yours and your family's."
The room is silent enough to hear a pin drop. Ryder walks up to me, and together, we leave the room. I return the gun to its place and nod at Ryder, who makes a call to bring the cars to the bar doors. We take the steps up to the ground floor of Alec's club, where we have a bunker underneath.
Alec meets my angry face and looks away. He takes a long look at Ryder and walks over, avoiding my right side. He knows that's my most powerful hook. I hide my grin, my shoulder loosening marginally. "Is he dead?"
"Yes. Xander dealt with him."
I point a finger at Alec. "Come to father's. We need to be there with him. Mother will need us with the news everywhere and on every bastard's lips."
I walk away, striding through the club with music so loud it rattles my bones. And this is still the middle of the fucking day, but it's so dark inside the path to the door is illuminated by strobes of dark light that sizzle red and blue and purple across the velvet of the club. These idiots would never believe what it is that they help hide.
When Ryder and I step outside, one of my men rushes to the door and has it open. Ryder rides gunshot, and I slip into the back seat, close my eyes, and exhale the rage out of my pores.
Men do not bring the rage to the house. Especially because my wife will be there. "Where's Mel?"
"Rosa has had her transported to the house," Ryder says.
"And where's my son?"
He has no ready answer.
The silence begins to stretch, and I snap out of my seat. "Where the fu..." I stop and swallow the swear. I will not dirty his name like that. "Where is my son?"
Ryder pulls his phone from his jacket pocket and calls Rosa. He barks out the question, then listens for a few seconds. His shoulders relax, and mine do too.
Ryder tips his head back to speak to me. "Daniel is picking him up at school."
"Send some more men,” I growl. I look outside the window at the people going back and forth. They have no idea the danger that floats, digs, and swirls around them, among them. All they think is that life glitters, and they only worry about trivial things like bad coffee.
I almost wish I had their life. That the very scent of danger doesn't mean my son must be pulled out of school, that he was still safely back with his mother, that I can protect him from the damp twirl of fire that is his father.
But I also love having him around. I'm greedy enough that his snuggling in my arms manages to still me. To bring peace in much the same way that holding Mel makes me someone else.
Someone who is hers. Not the monster with a fiery chest full of fire that combusts and burns, dragging along enemies that kill. That torture and maim.
We arrive at Father's thirty minutes later, and I'm relieved to see Romero at the door, his face tight. He nods inside and then greets.
"Where is she?"
"With your mother." He replies, then looks away.
I step through the open door, and Enzo closes the door behind me. "Good afternoon, Boss."
I spare him a nod and take the hallway, curving a single corner into the living room where Declan and Knox are seated on two separate sofas.
Knox watches me warily. "Everything's okay."
A mask flits across my face to hide the tug of pain and hurt I carry. It makes no sense how I can forgive Mel but not these men. "I never asked."
Declan smiles wryly and pushes to his feet. He's dressed as always in a three-piece suit, this one a light blue that somehow manages to look masculine on his bulky frame. He walks over, and I sink my feet into the Persian rug beneath us. "I'm sorry."
I tilt my head, then squeeze my fists at my side. "Are you now? What does that have to do with me?"
Knox walks over too, and they step closer in sync, crowding my space. "This really ain't the time for us to fight."
I inhale and exhale. Then I hurl off and punch Declan right in the stomach with my left fist. An "oof" of air escapes his lips, and his hand covers his stomach, but he doesn't show any reaction apart from that. Knox opens himself up to receive his, but I grin at him.
He blinks, as does Declan. They had done wrong by not telling me about my son but they were my brothers, it’s no good to hold it over their heads forever. "I'm done. You two hurt me. I understand you didn't mean to, but you did."
