Ethan's Sky (King's Of Fury MC Book 1)

26. Ethan

26

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“They’re not in there, Ethan.” Blake calls from behind the bar in the common room. I move past the sanctuary to where he’s stocking bottles and glasses.

“You said Gabe wanted to see me.”

“Basement.” I’m jogging down the stairs feeling almost fucking giddy to get my shot at this son of a bitch, Devil. He had the audacity to accost my woman, and I want to know why. With Skyler holding fast to her secrets, I can only hope to get some type of clarity from this fucker.

A loud scream rents the air as I turn the corner to find the man in question, stripped to his underwear, hanging from the large meat hook mounted to the ceiling. His hands bound, tied up above his head with rope, burning red lacerations into his skin. His ankles are shackled to the floor, attached to a metal ring.

Mack and Jake are taking turns punching the asshole in the ribs. Jake chose standard brass knuckles insuring the blunt, bruising sting as his fists make each connection with our captive. Mack has chosen to go with something a little more sinister. His brass has spikes. Short, half inch curved metal spikes on each knuckle, leaving holes and bloody tears after each blow.

Declan’s perched against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, watching silently as Jake and Mack take turns meting out punishment.

“Fuuuuck. You started the party without me?” I whine.

Declan chuckles. “Mack was eager to get acquainted with our guest after his daughter ran into his arms shaking and terrified because of this piece of excrement.”

“Wow. Look at you, pulling out the fancy words, Dec.” Hawk shoves Declan’s arm playfully. “Though I’m not sure the fuckwad deserves such manners.”

“What do we know?” I ask Dec.

Mack walks to the table up against the wall beside us. His tool chest of sorts. He has knives of all lengths and types splayed out on a black cloth amongst other tools. Hammers. Saws. Chisels. Pliers. A car battery. He lays his spiked brass knuckles on the table and picks up a scalpel, turning it in his hand. The glint of the metal flashing so our guest can see.

“Got any new toys, Mack?” Jameson is sitting on a chair turned backward, his arms crossed over the back where his chin rests. If I didn’t know him, I’d think he looked bored. He’s the contemplative one of the bunch. Where Mack likes to torment and torture, to mete out punishment in what he calls a ‘just manner’. Jameson likes to make masterpieces out of his victims. Carvings and bullet holes are his favorite artistic mediums.

“I didn’t have time to stop by my locker and pick them up. I’ll try to remember before we pick up his friend. I have a new Karambit I’m sure you’ll find especially attractive. It cuts through flesh like fucking butter.”

A whimper is heard from the beaten bag of bones behind him.

“Where’s Xander?”

“Pres sent him to install a new alarm system and cameras at Skyler’s place in case anyone else tries to come after her.”

“Good plan.” I’m ecstatic to hear about the new system. Unfortunately, I don’t plan on her staying in that house for much longer. I have every intention of having Skyler sleeping beside me in my bed, in my apartment above the gym. She needs a fulltime bodyguard, and I have a business to run. As my woman, her safety is my responsibility, which means where I go, she goes. She won’t like it, in fact, she’ll hate it, but I have a plan for that too.

“Arthur Clines. Devil’s Order scum.” Jake calls. “Allow me to introduce you to my brothers.” Jake swings his arms out circling the room.

“He the one who stabbed the prospect?” I ask.

“No. He’s the fucker who accosted Skyler and Jayde in Magpie’s. As you can see, her father and brother don’t seem to take too kindly to their girl being upset.” Declan looks smug, and somewhat pleased with what we’re witnessing.

“Do we know what he wanted with them?”

“Not them.” Declan says. “Skyler. Jayde was there to pick up food, saw Skyler needed an out so she tried to give her one, getting herself caught up in the middle of it all.”

That’s going to earn her one hell of a punishment if I know Mack. Putting herself in harm’s way is unacceptable no matter the reason.

“Did he say what he wanted with Sky?”

“Not yet. Mack needed to calm down a bit before asking questions.”

“This is calm?” I point to the bloodied, bruise, mess of a meat sack hanging half-awake on the hook.

Declan shrugs…”-ish.”

“He’s breathing. And he can still talk. For now.” Mack says as if offended by my being disgruntled at his work.

“You couldn’t ask as you hit him?”

“The fuck?” Arthur spats. No one says anything at Arthur’s outburst. Ghost cocks a brow at me from behind our captive. Over his shoulder I see the needle Ghost just pushed into the asshole’s neck.

Arthur’s head bounces slowly as he starts rambling. “No. I didn’t touch your guy. Spider did. I was sent to distract the girl and scare her a bit.”

Arthur starts thrashing as best he can, being tied up and hung from the ceiling. Eventually his body relaxes again, his head lulling to the side.

Gabe taps his cheek a few times. “Arthur? Arthur? Can you hear me?”

“I…can…hear you fiiiiine.” His words are slow and slurred. His eyes drooping as if he could fall asleep.

“Scare Skyler how? Exactly, what were your orders?” Mack asks.

“You might’ve given him too much.” Jake shucks his chin at Ghost, who shrugs him off.

“The fuck did you give him anyway?” Hawk asks, looking around the room. We aren’t into drugs, but the occasional truth serum can be fun.

Hmm. That could help Sky open up.

Nah., I need to earn her trust. I doubt she’d be quick to forgive me if she found out I used the serum on her.

“A dose of his own medicine.” It’s Jake who answers. “Pop found a vile and a full syringe of shit in Arthur’s jacket pocket. He was planning on using it to subdue the girls and load them into a van they had parked out behind Magpie’s. Isn’t that right Arthur?”

“He was going to drug my woman?” It comes out as a snarl. Pictures of Skyler, drugged, beaten and raped flash through my mind. I lunge for the bastard.

Declan’s big arms grab me from behind halting my movement, while Jake moves to block my path to the soon to be dead man swingin’ from the ceiling.

“Not yet, brother.” Jake says, low, raising a brow at me. “Protocol.”

I accept his promise with a nod. I’ll get my shot after Pres gets what he wants. Declan releases me.

Every head turns to me.

“You claiming Skyler?” Hawk asks amused.

“Yes.”

“We’ll discuss this later.” Ghost glares at me. If he thinks I’m backing down or changing my mind, he’s lost his.

“Nothing to discuss. She’s always been mine. We’re figuring a few things out.”

“Yeah, like how to surgically remove Ethan’s head from his ass.” Cash, who’s been silent this whole time chooses now to speak up.

Just fucking perfect.

“Look here, motherfucker.” Gabe’s shouting puts a sudden halt to my rant.

“Focus! Jesus Christ! Like a bunch of fucking teenagers!” Gabe scrubs his hand down his face then points at me. “You wanna claim her properly? You bring that shit to the table. But she needs to agree to it.”

“We were discussing matters upstairs when you sent the prospect for me.”

“Damn Pres. You cock blocked Ethan too? This is becoming a real pattern and I gotta tell you, I’m becoming concerned. Maybe you should start getting some on the regular so you’re not so inclined to block the rest of us.”

“Shut up, Hawk!” Mack, Jake, Jameson, and Declan shout in unison. Gabe sends a deadly glare his way.

“She return your claim?” Gabe’s attention turns back to me, his head tilted to the side watching me.

“Like I said, we were discussing it, but we didn’t get to finish talking things out. There’s a lot of ground to cover for the last six years.” Gabe nods several times. “She’s still keeping secrets. Scared.” Gabe nods his head, with a contemplative look. “I want this son of a bitch, Pres. He was going to drug Skyler and do God knows what to her. After all we’ve been through. I deserve this opportunity.”

I’m not talking about killing the fucker in front of me. I know Gabe understands what I’m saying. Me and Skyler lost six long years of what would’ve been our life together. We lost our baby. And although I still don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle, I know the Devil’s Order had a part to play in all we lost. We deserve to have our chance together to make things right between us. And hopefully between me and the club.

“You’ll have your turn.” I step back, giving a minute nod. “We need information first.” Gabe’s right. This dickhead is about to squeal like a fucking pig…one way or another. The thought of his screams makes my lips curve upwards.

Gabe stands, walking up to the hanging body, giving him a push with his finger, making sure to poke one of the holes in his ribs. Arthur scream in pain as her swings back and forth. Gabe’s doing it for our amusement. Well, mostly Hawk’s, I think. He always gets a kick out of making human pinatas out of stupid motherfuckers like this one.

“Arthur?” Gabe calls to him again. He’s relaxed, as relaxed as one can be hanging from a ceiling in his underwear pumped full of drugs, I guess.

“What’s so funny Arthur?” Gabe moves in closer, grabbing Arthur’s chin, forcing him to look at Gabe’s face. Arthur blinks as if trying to focus his vision. He smiles wide and laughs again.

“Spider knew you would come.” He chuckles. “He’s bringing the others. He wants the girl, but the president wants…yoooouuuu.” He sings the last word as he smiles at Gabe.

“Me?” Gabe hold his composure, looking around the room with amusement. “I’m flattered.”

“Who’s your President? What does he want our Pres for?” Jameson stands, moving his chair out of the way, and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Viper wants payback!” Arthur slurs. “Spider brings you to Viper. Viper kills them all. Spider gets to keep the girl as his reward.” Arthur’s eyes are closing, his breathing slowed.

“Arthur!” Gabe shouts.

“Hmm.”

“What were your orders? What did Spider want you to do?”

“Talk to her about her old man. Get her to trust me. Ask her… about his brother… Chase… Then … distract her.”

“Whose brother, Chase?” Jake looks to Gabe confused. While Gabe, Ghost, and Mack all look…concerned. Shit.

They know.

Of course, they know. They helped get Sky out of Oak Ridge, but there’s something more. A sense of knowing passes between them.

“I killed him, Ethan. I killed Chase.” Skyler’s words come back in a rush making my mind swirl.

“Spider’s brother. Prospect. Fucked up shipment. Spider arrested. Boss was piiiiisssed.” Arthur chuckles, repeating himself. “Piiiiiisssed.”

“How does Spider know about Skyler?”

“He told Chase…he told him…kill her…Chase dis-dis—gone. No body.” Arthur sings, “Girl gone. Chase gone. Girl gone. Chase gone. Piiiiisssed.” He laughs.

“And then what, Arthur? What were you going to do next? After you talked to the girl?”

Cash nonchalantly moves between Arthur and Ghost.

“Snnnatch!” He draws the word out giggling, as his eyes get heavier. Ghost lunges at the same time I do for the bastard, only Ghost is stopped by Cash while Gabe and Mack block my passage.

“Let me go.” I grit between clenched teeth. Gabe’s hand comes up to silence me.

“Just wait a minute. We’re not done here.” Gabe nods to Hawk, and he slowly moves from his spot with the precision of a predator stocking his prey. Most wouldn’t know it with Hawk’s jester like personality, but he’s one twisted motherfucker. His demeanor can be very off-putting to some, and charming to others. Either way, Hawk’s often underestimated.

Big mistake.

“He’s fucking lit.” Hawk chuckles. “You’re feeling pretty good aren’t ya man?”

“Spider planned to kidnap Skyler?” Jameson looks at the man contemplatively. The question is, is he contemplating the answers or deciding whether this asshole dies quick or slow?

I don’t fucking care as long as it’s painful.

“Spider owes the boss man. Girl owes Spider. It’s a win-n-n-n-wi-nnnn.”

Hawk moves closer, sliding something off the edge of Mack’s table I can’t quite see from here. He places one hand on Arthur’s shoulder, his other hand, tucked behind his own back. I follow suit, pulling my gun from the back of my jeans, lowering it to my side out of view, taking a tentative step forward.

No one blocks my path this time.

“Who’s the boss? Viper?” Hawk leans in, his brows furrowed, but his disarming smile is still in place.

Arthur’s eyes light up, his grin matching Hawk’s. “Spider owes boss man. Girl owes Spider.” He laughs. Spittle flies from his mouth. Hawk turns his head, wiping his face on his sleeve.

“What about you, Arthur? What did the boss promise you?”

“Moneeeyyy… Spider owes boss man. Girl owes Spider.” He smiles wide, his eyes becoming enlarged as if he’s picturing what he’s saying.

“He’s not going to give us anything more.” Mack tells Gabe who then give Hawk and I the nod of approval.

Hawk’s arm swings from around his back thrusting up in Arthur’s ribcage at the same time I dislodge a bullet from my gun into Arthur’s skull.

“Fuck!” Gabe barks. We all go silent. Blood and sweat drip down Arthur’s body and circle the drain below his feet.

“Does anyone know what hell he was talking about? Does any of this make sense?” I’m searching the room, but no one says anything. The room is quiet as we all stare at one another, confused.

“Pres?”

“Church! Now!”

We leave Colt to clean up the mess and dispose of Arthur’s body. Benefits of having a clubhouse on a farmland. Pigs will eat anything.

We make our way into the clubhouse on our way to the sanctuary. Blake comes running up looking a bit nervous.

“Uh, Pres. Vincenzo Parisi is at the gate asking to speak with you.”

What the hell is he doing here?

“Well, shit. This can’t be good.” Hawk mumbles. All eyes turn to glare at him. “What?” He shrugs. “You were all thinking it. I just said it out loud.”

He’s not wrong.

“Let him in. Put him in the common room while we get cleaned up.” Gabe orders.

What the fuck now?

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