Chapter 33
Ipractically skid through the gates of the club with the rest of the brothers behind me and adrenaline pumping the blood through my veins. I saw how mad Saul was when he left the fundraiser, so I sent Vike and Ruckus after him. I don’t know what's gone down since then, but when Vike called me from the yard to say there were bikes parked there that he didn’t recognize, all I could hear were screams and gunshots. I’ve focused the whole ride back here on the fact those screams sounded like they were coming from Peyton.
I practically throw my bike on the ground when I see the three unknown bikes and I rush into the clubhouse. My body freezes in the doorway when I see what’s in front of me.
“What happened?” I ask, seeing Saul leaning over his sister and comforting her as she holds Griller’s head on her lap.
“He’s dead.” She breaks out in more tears.
“And Saul’s taken a nasty hit, he’s gonna need to see a real doctor,” Vike explains, though right now Saul seems more concerned with holding his sister.
“Peyton.” I see my girl looking shaken up to hell, covered in blood but in one piece and I thank the heavens as I move toward her and wrap my arms around her real tight.
“You okay?” I inhale her hair and hold her for a few seconds, before pulling back and assessing her for any damage.
“I’m fine,” she manages through shaky lips.
“What happened?” I look over to Ruckus who still looks stunned and when he moves his eyes toward Peyton I can see there's something that needs to be said. Something I ain’t gonna like.
“This is all her fault.” A female voice comes from behind me and Trinity stares at her, looking smug despite all the sadness in the room.
“The Reapers came to get her because she belongs to them.” I go to laugh at her latest attempt to cause drama but then I notice how Peyton closes her eyes and takes a long deep breath, I get a sick feeling that it might be true.
“Tell me she’s makin’ that up.” I grip the top of my girl’s arms so tight I must be hurtin’ her.
“Peyton. Tell me that ain’t fuckin’ true.” I keep my eyes fixed on her, waiting for her to tell me that this bitch is lying.
“I don’t belong to them. I belong to you.” She shakes her head, but before the relief settles I hear Ruckus speak up.
“Her brother’s one of ‘em. I let him go.”
“You let him what?” Dev steps past me and gets in Ruckus’s face. Up till now, I’d forgotten that everyone is behind me. So much has happened in such a small amount of time it’s hard to keep up with anything.
“I didn’t know what to do.” Ruckus shakes his head. “She was begging me not to kill him and I know how much you think of her. You?—”
“Step down, Dev.” I hold in my anger, staring at the girl in front of me who suddenly feels like a stranger.
“Raze, I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you but?—”
“You lied to me.” I frown, feeling betrayed and humiliated in front of all my brothers.
“No, I really did need your help. Something happened and I had to get out of Sacramento, my father used to be a Reaper too, but not anymore. He was the one who told me to come here.”
“Fuck.” I step away from her when it all starts to make sense.
“That’s how they knew we would be where we were on the run. It’s how they knew the clubhouse would be quiet today. You’ve been feeding ‘em information.” I look at her pretty, little face and can’t believe I let it blindside me.
“No, I would never…I love you, Raze, you know that.”
The rage swells inside me as I step into her face.
“I know fuck all about you,” I tell her wishing I could clasp my hands around her throat and fuckin’ choke her for the fool she’s made outta me.
“Raze, don’t do this, hear me out. Kane’s a good guy, he thinks I’m in danger here, he was trying to help me.”
“Kane?” I laugh cruelly, wondering what all the men surrounding me must be thinking of their leader now.
“My brother, he’s been trying to make amends for what our father did and he’s desperate to be one of them. I don’t know why. I see now how different they are to you guys. But if you could just–”
“Get outta my club.” I see how my order shocks her, and in all honesty, it shocks me too. They are words that I never expected to be saying to her. I fell hard and I fell fast. I thought that nothing in this world would be able to come between us, but now I see that Sinner was right. She never loved me. I’ve just been her protection.
Peyton doesn’t move, just stares at me like she’s waiting for me to realize what I’ve said and take it back.
I nod my head toward the door to remind her it’s there when I feel my anger starting to overcome me.
“No, Raze, I’m not leaving, we need to talk about this. There's so much you need to know and when I tell you, you’ll understand.”
“I understand just fine. Now get outta my club,” I repeat, taking her by the arm and dragging her toward the door. I vowed I would never let another woman break my heart, and I was barely back here a month before I failed.
“Raze, please!” she begs, looking so desperate and beautiful that I feel her scratching a scar into my heart. I wanna take her in my arms, wrap her up, and tell her everything’s okay, but I can’t. She’s betrayed me in the worst possible way.
“Griller’s dead because of you. Saul’s been shot, and we’re done.” I shake my head and watch her eyes fill up with tears.
“Raz–”
“Tell your brother if he ever comes here again, I’ll kill him.” I turn my back on her and storm toward the balcony door so I don’t have to face up to all the people I’ve let down.