Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Fury
X anthe moves around the room like a ninja. She creeps around, checking my temperature, pulling the sheets over me, and just generally keeping a close eye on me, all while she thinks I’m sleeping. It’s easier to lie here with my eyes closed than see the pain in hers whenever she looks at me.
I want to remember, but it doesn’t matter how hard I try, I just can’t. Not her or us, anyway. I do remember the fight, or parts of it. I keep seeing Jo’s pleading eyes as she begs me to stop smashing my fist into Ripper’s face. I also remember she’s the fucking reason I’m here. She distracted me, probably on purpose to save her precious man. If only she knew the truth about him and everything he’d done.
The door opens, but I keep my eyes closed. Lying in this bed makes me feel weak and pathetic, and I don’t need to see my brothers looking at me with pity.
“How’s he doing?” It’s Axel.
“Fine,” Xanthe replies. It’s the same reply she always gives, with her voice filled with sadness.
“Has he remembered anything?”
She scoffs. “If he has, he hasn’t told me. But why would he? I’m just the nurse.” My heart twists at her bitter words.
“Hey, you know that’s not true, Xanth,” Axel says, his tone laced with sympathy.
“Oh yeah?” she asks with an unamused laugh. “So, why does he pretend to be asleep whenever I’m in here?” Fuck. My game’s up . The door opens and closes again, and I risk opening one eye to find Axel glaring at me. I shrug helplessly.
“She’s finding it hard,” he says.
“Me . . . too.”
“We’ve made a decision,” he continues. “We’re ending Donnie and Ripper tonight.” I growl in frustration, and Axel sighs. They’re mine to end. “I know you want this, brother, but we can’t keep them down there and risk them being found. Donnie’s already been there a week.” I turn my head away, done with this bullshit. “I know you’re frustrated, brother, but as long as they’re dead, what the fuck does it matter?”
It’s another hour before Xanthe returns to check me over. She’s checking my pulse when I grab her wrist. She startles, inhaling sharply. “Donnie,” I say, and she waits for me to continue. “I need . . . I want . . .” She continues to stare, and I’m getting pissed she’s not helping me. I glare hard, but she continues to stare until I sigh in frustration.
“If you want to say something, say it,” she snaps, and I arch a brow. Surely, that’s not professional knowing my history. She rolls her eyes. “If you think I’m going to talk for you, think again. You want something, you fucking ask me.” And then she continues to read my pulse.
I swallow, but as the words enter my head, they disappear just as quickly. “Fuck,” I yell, and she startles again then glares at me. “I want . . .” I growl, “to kill.”
She almost smiles, shutting it down before it gets too wide. “Who?”
“Donnie.”
“And how the hell do you plan to do that?” she asks, looking amused. It only annoys me more. “Besides, I thought Axel had taken care of him.”
“Base . . . ment.”
She glares at me. “What?” There’s no way I’m repeating it. “Basement? Donnie is in the basement?”
I nod and add, “Ripper.”
“You have to be shitting me,” she snaps. “Why the hell are they down there, so close?”
“Help me.”
She’s already shaking her head. “No.”
“Please.”
“Absolutely not, Reese.” Why does my heart swell whenever she says my real name like that? “You can just about walk to the bathroom without getting dizzy.”
“Help me,” I say more firmly.
“Let Axel deal with him.”
“Xanth,” I hiss, and this time, she smiles.
“You said my name.”
I press my thumb over her tattoo. “Fury’s property,” I whisper. “Xanthe May Hart.”
Her smile is the widest I’ve seen it. “That’s the biggest sentence you’ve said since you woke.”
“Help me,” I repeat.
She groans. “How?” I haven’t thought that far ahead, but she checks her watch. “The guys are in church. I could ask the women for help?”
I don’t like the idea of involving them, but I won’t make it that far without help, and Xanthe isn’t strong enough to get me down to the basement. I nod, and she takes a breath. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Xanthe
I find Duchess, Luna, and Tessa chatting in the bar. I head over sheepishly, unsure how they’ll react to my request. “How’s he doing?” asks Luna.
“Good. He’s saying a few more words.”
“That’s amazing news,” Duchess replies.
“Actually, it’s because of Fury that I’m here,” I say, and they all stare at me. “I have the biggest favour to ask.”
“Please let it be exciting. I am so bored,” says Tessa.
“Fury wants to go down to the basement.” They exchange wary looks. “He knows Donnie and Ripper are down there.”
“Are they?” asks Luna.
I shrug. “Apparently.”
“I wish they’d tell us stuff like that,” she complains. “What if I went down there and stumbled across them?”
“Why would you go into the basement?” asks Duchess.
“The thing is, this is sort of time critical,” I cut in. “Axel doesn’t know, and they’re all in church so . . .” I leave the sentence hanging.
Duchess is the first to stand. “I have a wheelchair,” she tells me. “We can get him as far as the steps in that.” I nod with a grin.
“I’m in. There’s not much else to do,” says Tessa.
“Great,” I say. “Meet me back upstairs.”
I find Fury standing, and I gasp. He shouldn’t be doing that without someone here in case he collapses, but he’s dressed in jeans and a shirt, and he already looks more like himself. I step closer, unable to stop staring at him. “I’ve got Duchess, Tessa, and Luna all in.”
“Thank . . . you.”
The door opens, and the three trail in. He takes one look at the wheelchair and shakes his head. “It’s easier for us,” I argue, “and quicker.”
“As long as the lift doesn’t get stuck. When was the last time that was used?” asked Luna.
“It works. I make the prospects check it all the time,” Duchess replies. “Now, if you want to do this before church is done, you better get your backside in the chair so we can go.”
He sighs before sitting in the chair. We take the lift and rush out the club before we’re spotted. One of the prospects is outside on the gate and he saunters over. “Good to see you, man,” he says to Fury.
“He needed some fresh air,” I lie, continuing to push him around the back of the clubhouse.
We get to the basement doors, and Luna holds up a set of keys. I frown, and she smiles. “Grizz left them beside the bed.”
She sets about trying various keys until the padlock clicks and opens. “Are you feeling okay to stand?” I ask Fury, and he nods, pushing to his feet but grabbing onto me for support.
Duchess moves the chair and takes his other arm. “What’s the plan here?” she asks.
“He wants to talk,” I lie, and Fury frowns at me. I didn’t tell them the truth because I didn’t think they’d help.
“Murder,” he says, and Duchess rolls her eyes.
“How the hell are you gonna do that in this state?” she asks.
He grins. “Watch.”
I turn back to Luna and Tessa. “If you help us get him down there, you can wait back up here. I don’t want to involve you in anything.”
Tessa scoffs. “Us old ladies stick together,” she says firmly. “You asked for our help, so we’re helping.”
I smile with gratitude. “Thank you.”
As we descend the steps one at a time, I screw my nose up at the damp stench. “It stinks down here,” I whisper.
“Death,” mutters Fury.
The first room we come to is empty, and Fury nods to the next. The cave-like doorways are low, and we bend to get through, finding Donnie tied to a chair. He’s not as scary with his dirty clothes, his swollen face, and his head lolling to one side.
“Shall we wake him?” Luna whispers. Fury nods, letting go of me to hold onto the wall. Luna steps closer, glancing back with worry before gently poking his shoulder.
Duchess laughs. “Give him a good shake.”
“I don’t want to touch him,” Luna hisses back. “Have you got a stick?”
I laugh, moving closer and grabbing Donnie’s hair. “Wake the fuck up,” I snap, and his eyes slowly open. “We brought you a visitor.” My voice is strong, unlike usual, and I’m almost impressed with myself as I turn his head towards Fury.
Donnie sneers. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” His voice is croaky from lack of water. I release his hair and step back.
Fury
I feel my chest swell with pride as Xanthe steps back, leaving room for me to step forward. “Are you hand delivering her to me?” he spits, looking Xanthe up and down.
I grip the knife tightly in my fist. “Mine,” I growl, ramming it into his neck with force. The pain in my head intensifies, but I don’t give in to it. I need this. I inhale the metallic aroma, feeling more like my old self. It’s only when his gurgling stops that I open my eyes again and stare into his lifeless orbs.
I retrieve my knife, wiping his blood on my jeans before gripping hold of the damp wall to keep my balance. “Are you okay?” Xanthe whispers softly as she places her hand to my chest and stares into my eyes.
“Ripper,” I mutter.
“Are you sure?” I nod once, and she exhales. “Okay.” She slips her hand into my bloodied one and leads me towards the next room.
Ripper is awake and ready, smiling wide as we file in like fucking amateurs. He hasn’t been down here long, his clothes still fresh, but he’s taken a beating. “Thought your Pres would be the one to end me,” he says.
“Surprise,” I mutter.
“It’s not even a fair fight,” he argues. “Me tied up, you . . . slow.”
My blood pumps faster, and I ball my fists in anger. “Was it a fair fight in the ring?” asks Xanthe. “Using your old lady to distract him?”
Ripper grins. “I’m so sad it’s going to end like this, Xanthe. I had my eye on you.”
She scoffs. “Like I’d give you a second look.”
“Oh, I wasn’t gonna get your consent,” he sneers. “Where’s the fun in that?”
That comment alone makes me realise the only place for the fucker is in the ground. I won’t risk Xanthe. As I plunge the knife into his thigh, he laughs. “Just thinking about her tight little cunt is making me hard,” he hisses, and I push the blade into his other thigh. “Bet she’s a screamer,” he continues, trying to push me into ending him quickly, but I won’t. The fucker had my child killed. He beat Jo in front of the rest of the club. Pieces of my memory return like a slideshow—Jo curled in a ball crying while he beat on her, and me lying in a bloody mess on the floor, unable to fight back to avoid the wrath of my other brothers. I stab the blade into his shoulder, and this time, he growls.
“Die . . . slow,” I hiss, stabbing his other shoulder before stepping back. His clothes are soaked in the blood pouring freely from his wounds. “Scum.”
“You fucked my old lady,” he yells angrily. “It should be you here.”
“You beat . . . her.”
“That’s my business,” he screams. “You don’t get involved in another man’s business.”
“She deserves . . . better.”
“She’s a fucking whore,” he shouts. “No wonder I beat her. After you left, I let my brothers fuck her too,” he yells, and my blood runs cold. “For every day you were gone, she endured punishment. Slow, long, punishment.”
“You’re a monster,” Xanthe whispers.
“No one makes me look a fool,” he shouts.
Xanthe takes my hand. “You’re doing that all by yourself,” she says, leading me from the basement, followed by the others.
Axel rounds the corner, along with Grizz, just as I’m collapsing into the wheelchair. He stops in his tracks, staring at the blood on my clothes. “What the fuck have you done?”
“Holy shit,” mutters Grizz.
“It was his kill,” says Xanthe confidently, and I almost smile at the way she jumps to my defence. Like a true old lady.
“Did you witness it?” Grizz asks Luna.
“I closed my eyes,” she says with a smirk.
“My office, now,” Axel barks, turning on his heel and storming back inside. Grizz grabs Luna by the hand and drags her off.
“I think we’re in trouble,” Xanthe whispers in amusement.
Axel is pacing his office when we get inside. I get out the wheelchair and move to the couch while Xanthe stands by the door. “My . . . fault,” I tell him.
“Oh, I know,” snaps Axel. “But you didn’t do it without her,” he adds, pointing to Xanthe. “To say you remember fuck all, you’re making the perfect bloody team.”
“He really should rest,” Xanthe cuts in.
Axel’s eyes narrow in on her. “I imagine a double murder takes it out a person.”
“Exactly,” she says brightly, ignoring his dangerously low tone. She heads for me, and Axel slams his hands on the desk, causing her to stop.
“You involved the women in club business,” he growls. “You went against what I said,” he adds.
Xanthe stares me in the eyes for a few seconds then something changes in her demeanour. She stands straighter and squares her shoulders while heading closer to the desk. I watch in astonishment as she places her hands on the edge and looks Axel dead in the eyes. “The women were very eager to help Fury get his revenge, so I don’t regret it. After all, they have their own minds and can think for themselves. They were free to leave at any point. I just needed help getting Fury up and down the steps. I think you’re pissed because Fury took matters into his own hands, but let’s face it, they were going to die anyway, right?” When he doesn’t answer, she nods. “That’s what I thought. They deserved to die at the hands of Fury, and if it helps him to feel better about everything, then I, for one, am one hundred percent behind him.”
My cock stirs, and I adjust myself to try to hide it. Fuck, she’s hot when she’s pissed. Even the Pres is stunned into silence. She turns on her heel, sending a smug smile my way before holding out her hand. I glance at Axel for permission, and he shrugs, clearly letting her attitude slide. We’re almost at the door when he says, “For the record, you make one hell of an old lady.”