37. Finn
Finn
The last thing I remembered was being dragged outside by Keno and Link.
“Finn, stop. You’ll kill him,” Keno muttered roughly in my ear.
I stopped fighting them. The need to tear back inside, to finish him, still burned through me, but I let them drag me out.
The cold night air hit my face, cutting through the red mist that had taken over, though the anger still buzzed hard in my veins.
Once we were outside, they loosened their grip but stayed close, like they expected me to snap again. I dropped to my knees, gasping for air, my eyes locked on my hands.
Blood covered my knuckles and the skin was split, already swelling. The pain hadn’t fully registered yet, but I knew just by looking at least a couple of them were broken.
Keno walked off, but Link stayed beside me, silent, steady, a presence keeping me grounded. A minute later, Keno reappeared with a prospect, dragging Kate’s mother between them.
“You’re a fucking monster,” she screamed, spitting at me.
Before I could even react, Riot had her by the throat, slamming her back against the wall.
“He’s the monster?” Riot snarled, his voice low and deadly. “How about you and your husband, huh? Beating on your daughter while you stood there and did nothing? Or how about kidnapping your own grandson, your flesh and blood, and trying to ransom him?”
He yanked her forward before shoving her back into the wall, not letting go as she choked and spluttered.
“Finn isn’t even their blood,” he went on, his grip tightening, “and he’s done more for those two in the last couple months than you’ve done in her whole life.”
She clawed at his arm, but it did nothing.
“You don’t deserve to be left breathing,” Riot growled, “but we’ll let the police deal with you.”
He shoved her back into the prospect’s arms, who dragged her down to beside the suited man.
Blood was streaked down the front of his expensive shirt, but he still looked smug somehow, like he thought he was untouchable.
Link suddenly went still beside me and his eyes narrowed hard on the man’s face. “No fucking way.”
Reaper glanced over. “What?”
Link stepped forward slowly, recognition darkening his expression.
“That’s Jasper.”
I recognized the name immediately. Honey’s stalker. The guy Link had been digging into for weeks.
Riot swore quietly under his breath. “You’re kidding me.”
Link shook his head once, eyes still locked on the man. “Nope. Same guy.”
Something cold settled in my gut as my eyes shifted to the van where Kate sat holding Noah.
Riot’s jaw tightened. “He wasn’t after Honey,” he said grimly.
“He was trying to get close to the club.”
Jasper smiled like he knew we’d figured it out.
“You don’t know who I am,” he snapped. “You’ll pay for this.”
Reaper stepped up beside us with Riot, speaking low, and I finally forced my head up and found Kate. She was in the car, visible through the cracked window, her eyes locked on mine.
I could see Noah’s head snuggled under her chin and some of the anger ebbed away. They were both safe.
“Police are on their way. The bastard called them before Spider could grab him,” Riot was saying. “We need to move.”
“I’ll stay,” I said hoarsely, pushing myself to my feet. “Make sure they don’t get away.”
Riot glanced at me. “They’ll want to talk to Kate, too.”
I glanced back at her. The fear was still there, buried under the exhaustion.
“I’ll tell them she’ll be at the station first thing,” I said. “She’s been through enough tonight.”
Reaper nodded once. “I’ll call Marc. See if he can make sure she’s not hounded.”
Kate pushed the car door open before anyone could stop her and stepped out carefully, favouring one leg.
“Kate,” I started, but she was already moving towards me.
She reached me and rose onto her toes, pressing a soft, desperate kiss to my lips.
“I’ve got you,” I murmured against her mouth, my forehead resting against hers. “Both of you. You’ll never be alone again. I swear it.”
Her hand came up to my face, trembling slightly.
“Caleb told me to find Reaper,” she whispered, “but maybe what he really gave me was you.”
My heart grew two sizes as I took in the love in her eyes.
“Yeah,” I said. “Maybe he did.”
Sirens cut through the night, growing louder.
“Time to go,” Reaper called.
Kate shook her head, clutching Noah closer. “I’m not running.”
I frowned. “Kate?—”
“I’m not living like that anymore,” she said, her voice firm, though I could see the tremor in her hands. “I’ll give my statement. I’ll face it. But”—she looked at Reaper—“can you take Noah back? To Lucy?”
Reaper nodded without hesitation. “He’ll be safe.”
She pressed a kiss to Noah’s head before handing him over, her hands lingering for a second longer than needed before she let go.
Every instinct in me screamed to force her to go with them, to keep them both together, but I understood. It was her taking back control, making her own choices.
The bikes started up one by one, engines roaring to life as the Dead Knights pulled away into the night, following the car with Reaper driving and Noah safely in the back.
Leaving just me, Kate, and one prospect lingering in the shadows, watching in case something went wrong.
The sirens were close, and I could see the lights through the tree-lined drive.
Kate turned into me, and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her tight against my chest.