The girl I’ve needed like I’ve never needed anything. I knew in my bones—in my heart. And that mass of meat and blood hasn’t beat for anything in years. I knew she was meant to be mine.
I’ve chased every high in my life, tried almost every drug, accepted every dare, and fucked my way across the country. But nothing comes close to the rush I get when Emery looks at me. She doesn’t just see me or hear me; she makes me feel alive.
Emery is too good for a man like me, but here she is, and I’m keeping her. I’m keeping them both. End of story. I’ll burn my patch before I send them back to Zane.
I glance over at Steel, finding a hint of doubt lingering in his eyes. I fucking hate it, even if I understand it.
Chaos makes his way over to me while Ghost updates Steel, Legacy, Havoc, and Venom.
Venom is technically second in command to the six of us ranked members, but there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be alongside us someday, which is why Steel invited him here for this.
“You look ready to draw blood.” Chaos grins when he reaches me, assessing the guy in the center of the room.
He’s conscious long enough to spot the smile on Chaos’s face, draining the color from his cheeks. I’m sure Chaos’s amusement is terrifying, but it’s the least of this guy’s problems.
He had his eyes on my girl—my family.
I’m not stopping until I bleed him dry.
Steel tips his chin up from across the room, finally ready to get started. “The floor’s yours today.”
“Lucky you.” Chaos tilts his head at the man in the center. “Not so lucky for him.”
I grab a knife off the table of instruments, spinning it in my fingers and waiting for it to level me, but it doesn’t, so I walk over to the man in the middle of the room.
“Name?”
He grins, and I wait for him to ignore the question like they usually do. So it surprises me when he answers. “Julian.”
He came here prepared to die if he’s giving up information that easily. He’s disposable, and he knows it. That can either work in our favor or against us.
“Why were you outside our compound?” I press the blade to his throat, and he grins.
“Taking in the view.”
Pulling back on the knife, I slam my fist into his face, breaking his nose. “You think this is funny?”
He spits a wad of blood onto the floor. “If you knew what’s coming for you, then you would too.”
“Oh yeah? And what is that?”
“Rick Zane.” Julian meets my gaze. “He’ll come for her, and when he does, you’ll pay.”
“So he knows where she is then?” I figured as much, but it helps to hear it.
“Of course he knows where she is. He was surprised she slipped out, but he’ll deal with that mess in-house.” Julian’s grin is pure evil. “You can do whatever you want; it won’t stop him from getting her back one way or another. You can’t stop him.”
“Seems like all we do is stop him lately.” I lean in, pressing the blade down on one of Julian’s knuckles with enough pressure to cut skin. “First, we closed his strip club, which we both know was more than that. Then we took out his lackeys, the Iron Sinners. Next, we’ll dismantle his empire. And when we’re done, his head will be on a fucking pike.”
Julian grins up at me, blood pooling between his teeth. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with. But your girl does, and she’ll wise up if she gives a shit about you. She’ll go back on her own if she knows what’s good for her and that fucking kid.”
I shove the blade through Julian’s finger, and his laugh turns to a scream as it falls to the ground.
“Myfucking kid.” I move to the next finger, cutting that one off as well. “And he’s not getting to either of them.”
Julian wheezes as he fights through the pain, but it’s not enough. Nothing is enough to sate this rage barreling through me.
He needs to be hurting like I am. Like this beast in my chest, clawing to get out.
