Chapter Eleven
Cotton
The air in the secluded room felt thick, suffocating, not just from the dim lighting and shadows but from the betrayal that hung between us. Ryan’s betrayal. And though I wanted to see him bleed, a part of me couldn’t believe he’d stab his family in the back. Fury churned in my gut, competing with the hurt. We’d depended on him, trusted him. He’d spat on everything we stood for, and it was like a knife in the back.
After we’d found the evidence of everything he’d done, Fox hadn’t wanted to confine him immediately. Instead, he’d tried to use Ryan to pinpoint Tyler’s location using towers or something. Except it hadn’t worked.
Fox, Rocket, and I had him cornered. There was no way he’d get out of here until we were ready to let him go. I didn’t see that happening tonight. Or any other night. Ryan had fucked up. Giving him the benefit of the doubt might cost me everything, but I couldn’t stop asking myself why.
“Why’d you do it?” I demanded.
Ryan’s eyes went wide, and he tensed. The idiot was going to run. I hoped he did. We’d have him flat on his ass before he reached the door. He moved closer to Fox and shoved, knocking the older man off balance. He ran for the door, but Rocket reached out and grabbed him by the collar. Ryan came to a sudden stop and went sprawling on the floor.
“Try that shit again, and you’ll be bleeding from the nose,” Rocket said.
“Maybe it would help if we started with just one question,” Fox said. “Who turned you?”
He still remained silent. I wondered what it would take to get a reaction out of him.
“Why would you betray your club?” I asked. He opened his mouth, but before he said a word, I held up my hand. “And don’t try to feed me any bullshit. You trying to run already proved you’re guilty. Only men with something to hide get the hell out of Dodge. You’ve got something to lose, and now I want to know what that is.”
Fox walked over to Ryan and picked him up off the ground, then he slammed the piece of shit into a chair.
“You’ve got one chance to tell us what happened,” Fox said. “Why turn your back on the Hades Abyss? On the club that’s had your back how many times now? I know you’re a dumbass, but you didn’t think you’d get away with this shit, did you?”
Ryan swallowed hard, and his gaze flicked to the three of us. “I… Tyler offered me money.”
“You accepted money to betray your club?” Rocket asked. “How much?”
“It wasn’t like that. I wasn’t planning to. I didn’t go to him. He came to me. As much as it pains me to admit it, I needed the money. I had a good reason, but I won’t say what it is. I have my principles.”
“Principles?” I asked, taking a step closer. “You’re standing here admitting you took money from the man who hurt Lavinia. Everything that’s happened is because of you. How much information have you given him over the years? How involved is he with you? Better yet, how long have you been betraying us?”
Ryan shook his head. When he lifted his gaze to mine, I saw tears in his eyes. “Tyler came to me, said he needed help in getting his woman back. I figured he had a right to her if she was his. No different than if another member tried to poach Cotton’s woman. I didn’t know what all had happened between them, just that he said Cotton had taken someone who didn’t belong to him.”
“Except I didn’t take her, did I?” I snarled. “She came to me because she already knew I could protect her. Then she’d stayed because I made her mine.”
“Didn’t know that until it was too late! He’d already paid me. Even if I’d tried to give the money back, I knew he wouldn’t take it.” Ryan fell silent, and I thought he’d spewed all his secrets. Then he shuddered, and his shoulders drooped. “I met Tyler at a bar in town several years back. We kept in touch. When he asked me if there was a way to get to Lavinia, I still thought he’d just talk her into going with him. I never knew he was friends with you, not until recently.”
“What did you tell him?” I asked.
“He knew stuff. Said he’d been friends with you. I swear, Cotton, he knew things no one else would know. I asked a few questions and confirmed he’d been your buddy. When he offered me the money, I didn’t really think it through. He said you’d stolen his woman. I believed him at first.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “It was too late to change anything by the time I figured out what was really going on.”
“He doesn’t love her.” My words came out as a growl.
Ryan’s eyes went wide. “What?”
“You heard me. Tyler has no feelings for Lavinia. He’s only after her to hurt her. She escaped him, and now he wants to put her in her place. He’ll probably kill her if he gets his hands on her again. When I brought her here, she was covered in bruises.”
Ryan’s voice became more tremulous. “I swear, Cotton. I never knew. Thought he’d…” His breath hitched. “I thought he’d move on if she rejected him, and no one would get hurt. If I’d known…”
“Because money’s the only thing that matters, right?” I clenched my hands. I was seriously close to snapping. I wasn’t sure how much patience I had for this little shit. “Think I’d believe your lies now? About that cash?”
Ryan’s face had gone pale. His voice trembled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have any other reasons. Swear it. Never knew it would get anyone hurt. Didn’t think about how it might affect Lavinia. My only concern was the money Tyler offered. Said it was an easy way to put some cash in my pocket, and I took the deal without asking questions. Wasn’t much I had to do, and a whole lot of money in it for me.”
I glanced at Fox and Rocket. Anger simmered under the surface, and I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt it. Ryan had no idea how much trouble he’d created. I stared him down, and it took all my control not to punch the shit out of him. I’d leave that to Rocket and Fox. I trusted them to handle things. If I got my hands on him, it wouldn’t be pretty.
“You’ll pay for this shit. I promise you,” I said.
Rocket stepped close. “You realize all the bullshit you just fed us doesn’t add up, right?”
“I’m not lying!”
Rocket snorted. “Then explain you siding with a man who attacked this compound. Explain why you didn’t come clean the moment Fox told everyone Cotton had a woman. You’re full of shit, Ryan. It’s piling up so fast your eyes are turning brown.”
For a brief moment, I saw a flicker of anger in Ryan’s eyes before he masked it. Shit. Rocket had been right. He’d seen right through Ryan.
“Rocket, keep an eye on Ryan. Make sure he doesn’t try to run. I’ll talk to the others. Once we decide what to do with him, we’ll get back to you. If Lavinia had been lost to us or died, you’d already be bleeding out,” Fox said. “You know the saying. Money is the root of all evil. Your greed has cost you everything, Ryan. I don’t have patience for liars. You’ve betrayed the club. Your brothers. You. Are. Done.”
He emphasized every word.
Rocket gave a brief nod. He’d make sure Ryan paid for his sins when the time came. I trusted Rocket to handle this. The man had a sadistic streak I appreciated. At least when it came to betrayal or assholes who hurt women.
My breath sawed in and out of my lungs as I fought back my rage. My club. My old lady. My world. Ryan had risked it all for money. My hands itched to tear him apart. I’d promised Lavinia I’d come back to her. I’d keep that vow if it killed me. Ryan wasn’t going to get off easy, but he wouldn’t die today. Or at least not soon.
Fox stepped forward. His presence always came across as commanding. His eyes bored into Ryan, who squirmed and tried to back away some more. Rocket shook him a little and tightened his hold. Ryan wouldn’t get loose. I knew it for a fact. Unless Rocket stopped breathing, Ryan would be his captive. Rocket’s eye twitched and a vein bulged along his temple. His patience was wearing thin.
“You’re going to sit here and think about everything you’ve done,” Fox said. “When Cotton and I decide what to do with you, Rocket will let you know. If you think about running, I’ll remind you he’s a much better shot than me. Understand?”
“Yes.” Ryan’s voice shook. “Not like you didn’t tie me up.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time someone escaped,” Rocket said.
“I know you’ve pissed off Cotton. The rest of the club too once they hear what you’ve done.” Fox leaned a little closer. “And me. The only reason you’re still breathing is because it will be a bigger pain in the ass to get you out of here if you die right now.”
Ryan gulped.
I saw Fox’s nostrils flare and knew he was fighting to hold back his anger. He was a good man. An excellent leader. He’d do anything for this club, and I knew he’d go to war to keep my woman safe.
I forced myself to breathe. When the time came and we had to put Ryan down, I’d help dig the bastard’s grave. He’d betrayed me and the club. There was no forgiveness for what he’d done. I’d never look at him again and think of him as my friend. As far as I was concerned, I’d already buried Ryan. Even if he still walked the earth.
I trudged out of the room, my footsteps heavier than usual. Every muscle in my body clenched tight. My hands curled at my sides, and I wanted to gut Ryan where he stood.
I probably needed something to bring my blood pressure down. Since I wasn’t a doctor, I didn’t know what that would be. At the moment, all I wanted was to protect Lavinia, then kill Ryan and Tyler. That would be enough.
Fox met my gaze. “You good to go?”
I nodded and started to follow him out of the room. My emotions were still all over the place, and I needed to talk to some of the others. Maybe they could figure out what to do with him because my mind was blank.
I paused and glanced back at Ryan. Rocket gave him another shake, his eyes full of rage. I saw Fox’s hand tighten into a fist. If Rocket killed the asshole, no one would blame him. However, he had more patience than I did. If I’d been the one holding Ryan, we’d already have spilled some blood. Maybe taken some fingers. I wanted the man to hurt. So. Fucking. Bad.
Fox and I exchanged a look. We were united in this. He’d stood by me time and again. We’d take out Tyler together. I wasn’t certain what it would cost us. I’d do whatever it took to keep Lavinia and our child safe. I had a feeling I’d make some sacrifices before it was all over.
With one last look at Ryan, I pivoted on my heel and we left the room. I heard the door close behind me, but I didn’t glance back.