Page 26

Twenty-One

He’s Gone

Blade

W e caught Jaws off guard, and it was an easy takedown.

The hard part was not annihilating Jaws on the way home.

He spewed so much shit about how he enjoyed watching Aaron bleed, and how good it felt when he felt Aaron’s bone crunch.

It took everything I had not to let loose and whale on him.

Demon held his cool, but War hit him so hard, Jaws was knocked out cold.

It was a good three hours of peace before he opened his eyes again. This time, he was more subdued.

In the quiet car, I asked Demon, “How can you be so calm?”

“Jaws knows he’s going to die. He wants his death to happen before Guard gets his hands on him,” Demon answered. It makes total sense, the way he was egging us on, asking for it. It was his way of avoiding what’s to come.

We ride mainly in silence, and it’s a long fucking ride back.

We’ve been gone far too long, and it’s the middle of the night when we drive through the gates and to the clubhouse.

Guard is standing out front, waiting for us.

He’s not alone: Owen, Ghost, Orion, and Risk are with him.

Demon and I drag Jaws out of the back. Jaws stands tall, even with his hands tied behind his back. He tries to intimidate Guard.

Guard walks right over to him. Jaws is a big man, but Guard is just as large. Jaws is older, with a beer gut, and looks his age. Unshaven and scruffy looks good on some men, but not on Jaws. He just looks dirty and old.

Guard gives the man with his hands tied behind his back a once-over, then gets nose to nose with Jaws. When Guard finally speaks, he keeps it simple. “You’re going to hurt, then you’ll be gone. No one, and I mean no one, touches a Pride brother without paying the price.”

“Fuck you,” Jaws spits out, his saliva spewing from his mouth. “Untie me, you asshole, then we’ll see who pays.”

There it is, that sinister grin that Guard rarely shows, and when he does, it’s the scariest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’m going to enjoy this.” His voice is eerily terrifying.

Without turning his head, he lifts a hand and signals for Ghost and Orion to come closer.

“Take our guest to his room. I’m sure he’ll find the accommodations completely unacceptable, but then again, I don’t care. ”

Guard and Orion take Jaws away. Guard has already moved on and has turned his attention to War, Demon, and me. “He’s practically unscathed. I’m pleasantly surprised.”

“Wasn’t easy. I wanted to choke him with my bare hands,” I murmur. Guard chuckles.

“He was looking for an easy out. We weren’t going to give it to him,” Demon responds. War rolls his eyes.

“How many times did you clock him?” Guard asks War with a sly grin.

His response is nothing more than a grunt.

“Tomorrow, we take care of Jaws. In the meantime, go home, get some sleep,” Guard says. The second the words are out of his mouth, I’m ready to leave. “Blade, a heads-up. Willow and Roscoe are at Emryn’s. She’s fine, but she needs you.”

My stomach clenches, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. I race to my bike and head over to my girl, not knowing what I’m in for.

Emryn

I was gone for a couple of hours, and when I came home, expecting to see Ryan and hopefully talk things through with him, he was gone.

His bag is gone, but that’s not all he took.

All my equipment is missing. I’d like to think I was robbed by some stranger, but this isn’t the first time some of my things have gone missing.

This time around, he wasn’t happy with the television and laptop.

He took my cameras and my means of making a living.

I burst into tears as soon as I realized what Ryan had done.

Willow held me for over an hour while I wept.

Sometime during my crying jag, she called Roscoe, and since then, they haven’t left my side.

Roscoe wanted to go after him, but I begged him not to.

He called Guard and filled him in. Guard asked for me and told me that it was my decision, but he assured me that they’d get my stuff back.

I hate myself for it, but I made the decision to let Ryan go, and with him, the ability to move forward with my business.

Willow is asleep in the spare room; Roscoe is in the living room keeping watch.

There’s no reason for it because Ryan took anything of value.

I curl myself into a ball and sob into the pillow.

Blade

T he light is on. I use my key to go in and find Roscoe on the couch, flipping through the channels, looking aggravated and tired. His eyes meet mine as soon as I enter.

“Where’s Emryn? What happened?” I ask. Not knowing is the worst, and I’ve been imagining all kinds of shit since Guard told me there was trouble.

“Lower your voice, man,” Roscoe mutters as he rises to his feet. “I think she’s asleep.” He drops his head, looking at the floor, then back to me. “Emmy was in shock, then came the tears. Fuck, it was hours until she settled. Then she started blaming herself, and it started all over again.”

“You’re talking, but I’m not getting the whole story,” I grit out. My instinct is to push past him and get the rest of the story from Emmy, but I hold off and wait for Roscoe to continue.

“Ryan was here when Willow showed up. He tried to talk her up. You know, trying to read her and see if she’d bite.

When she didn’t, he took off. I had him followed.

He was striking out everywhere. It was just like we planned.

We spread the word to be nice but wary toward Ryan, and that’s exactly what happened.

While Ryan was out, Willow and Emmy went to Hanna’s to hang out with some of the other ladies.

Ryan came back here, and I met the women at Hanna’s.

Only, when we got back, Ryan was gone and so was most of Emryn’s equipment.

Cameras and shit she needs for work,” he finishes, raking a hand through his hair.

“Fuck, man, I should have stayed on watch. I’ll make it good. I’ll buy Emryn all new stuff. I swear.”

“It’s not your fault. Ryan is responsible. Not you. How can a brother do that to his own sister? I don’t get it.” I walk toward the hall that leads to the bedroom.

“It’s her brother, and she loves him. She’s still hoping that the boy she knew growing up is going to come back to her,” Roscoe responds.

I stop and stare at him. “How many times is she going to take a hit before she gives up on him?”

“I don’t know.”

I turn and walk to the bedroom. Emryn stirs and rolls over to see me standing beside the bed. “He’s gone.” She sounds raw and hoarse, probably from crying. I crawl onto the bed and gather her into my arms.

“Baby.”

“He t-took everything. I h-have to cancel all my bookings.” She begins to sob, and through her tears, she adds, “I have to g-go back to w-work in an office.”

“Shh, baby. No, you won’t. I’ll take care of it.”

“You c-can’t,” she says, letting out a hiccup.

“Ryan has to learn he can’t fuck with you,” I insist.

Emmy cries harder, lifting her chin and meeting my gaze, her hands fisting into my jacket.

“Ryan’s lost. He’s my big brother. Promise me you won’t do anything.” I hesitate because this isn’t a promise I want to make and not one I’m sure I can keep. “Promise!” she cries out.

“Okay, Emmy. This time, and this time only, I promise.” Damn, that was hard to say, especially when I want to have Wildcard hunt Ryan down and pound my fist into his perfect model face.

Emmy slumps in my arms. She’s mentally and physically drained from her tears.

Eventually, her eyes close, and she falls asleep.

I gently place her head on the pillow and cover her with blankets.

I undress, all the while keeping an eye on Emmy to make sure she doesn’t wake up.

I made a promise, and I’ll keep it, but something must be done.

Emmy said, “He’s gone.” I’m thinking good riddance, but the only way he’ll stay gone is if he’s told he isn’t welcome.