Chapter 58 Bane
Bane
I listen to Army on the phone while Slade sleeps in the bedroom. I’m ready to lose my shit, but I force myself to listen.
Between Digits, Sam, and Len’s tech guru, the three of them had found some dirt on Randolph Vanderall.
It looks like Antwane wasn’t the only serial killer in the family, fueled by their narcissistic, self-obsessed, elitist views that their wealth and privilege entitle them to do whatever the fuck they want.
These two brothers—heirs to their family’s fortune and the country’s largest energy company—have a sick competition of who can rack up the greatest number of kills. And getting others to kill for them brings in extra points.
Having a ‘trained lapdog’—someone they’ve broken completely and molded into what they want—who will do as they want without question is the crème de la crème prize between these sadistic brothers.
But it’s not just a competition between the Vanderall brothers; they play this ‘game’ with others around the globe.
After Len’s tech guru stumbled upon this thread, Digits pulled it and went down the rabbit hole, discovering the scoreboard. Digits, the scary bastard I love more because of this, was successful in hacking into their chatroom.
In there, Randolph spoke freely. He doesn’t want Slade for retribution for killing his brother; he wants Slade so he can continue training her.
But it gets worse. Because there’s going to be an auction.
Once Slade’s training is complete, one of these other sick fucks wants to own her, use her for their own sick purposes of killing for entertainment.
Who the hell are these people? Are they products of their environment, suffered emotional neglect as children, or have abnormalities in their brains?
Or are they just filthy rich, entitled little fucks, bored with their lives and have no shred of humanity, like it appeared Antwane and Randolph were?
But what really has me wired to blow is that Len and her team’s grand idea is to use Slade as bait. Hence, Len getting Army to call me to pitch the absolutely insane idea to me.
“It’s confirmed that Randolph himself is in San Francisco now,” Army says. “Len and her team will ensure Slade is protected.”
“You can’t fucking guarantee that,” I snarl, trying to keep my voice low so as not to wake Slade. “No one can. Nothing is foolproof or failsafe.”
“The city is swarming with criminals hunting for Slade, ready to deliver her to Randolph. Some don’t believe she left the compound, and they’ve bombed the gates, trying to blow their way in.
They’re using weaponized drones. Others are hitting our businesses, trying to force us to hand her over. They want her, Bane.”
“They aren’t fucking getting her,” I say through clenched teeth. “And you implying that I should hand her over means you’re not the man I thought you were, Hayes Cartwright,” I grit out his birth name.
“I’m not implying or saying to hand Slade over.
” Army’s voice is hard as granite. “I’m saying to give Len’s plan serious thought, brother.
Len does nothing without thinking it through obsessively; her ultimate goal has always been to protect innocents from collateral damage.
This is what she does. She and this team bring down the bad guys and protect the good guys. ”
I’m silent as my heart hammers so hard and fast, it makes my chest hurt, and I can hardly breathe.
“You guys could run, Bane,” Army says softer. “But this will follow. Slade will always be hunted.” I feel sick, knowing this is the truth. “It needs to be shut down in a massive way, and in a way where Len and her team can control as many factors as humanly possible.”
I remain silent, and he sighs. “Give it some thought. I know this is the atomic shit sandwich.” I half-grunt a laugh at that. “But know that you can trust Len; I trust her with my life just as much as I trust you. Give Slade my best.”
“I will,” I finally say. “And protect yourselves. I’m sorry I’m not there to help protect the MC.”
“You’re where you need to be. Our allies, especially the Santoros and the Saints, are providing aid. Stay safe.”
He disconnects the call, and I look at the phone in my hand, wondering what the hell I’m going to do.
“The MC is under attack because of me,” a soft voice says.
My head snaps to the bedroom doorway where Slade stands wrapped in a sheet.
“Don’t lie to me, Bane.” She walks to me, and I’m struck again by how unbelievably strong and resilient she is.
She stares up at me, her beautiful green eyes filled with fire and life, flickering over my face, trying to read my mind.
“You have information about Randolph and what he wants me for,” she guesses.
I cup her cheek, my thumb rubbing over her lips. “My little warrior is a mind-reader now, too?”
She leans into my touch. “Tell me what you found out and what’s going on.”
It may be against my better judgment, but I can’t lie to her. So, I tell her everything Army told me.
She wraps the sheet tighter around her, but she remains steady, even though she’s visibly shaken by the full heinous reality of what she not only survived, but what is chasing her.
“I have to do it, Bane.”
“We don’t even know what the full plan is, Slade,” I grit, trying to remain in control.
“It doesn’t matter.” She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. Because whatever Len’s plan is, I need to do it.”
The need to destroy something and someone is very, very real. “That’s your guilt talking, and don’t try to fucking deny it. You view what Antwane did to those poor people as you being responsible. He fucked with your head—”
“Yes, he did,” she responds with fire. “And yes, I feel guilty; I’ll always feel guilty, especially for Number Thirteen and Fourteen’s deaths.” Her eyes shimmer like two bright emeralds with her unshed tears. “But that doesn’t diminish the fact that I need to do this.”
“No, you don’t!” I roar. “No. You. Fucking. Don’t!”
“Yes, I do,” she shouts back. “Because they’ll always come for me, Bane. I’ll never be safe. But more importantly, you’ll never be safe. No one will.”
Desperation fills every dark part of my heart and soul. “I’ll protect you.”
“They’ll kill you.” Her tears overflow. “If not Randolph or one of the criminals aiming to collect the contract, then one of the sick rich bastards who are part of this network.
“And if they kill you…I could never survive that, Bane. You’re my life force, the one who gives me the foundation to heal and come back from the black pits of hell. You’re my heart and my fucking everything. And I won’t let them have you. I won’t let them kill you.”
She grips my shoulders, and the sheet falls away. “Because I love you so fucking much, I can hardly breathe when you’re not with me, let alone if you were taken from me because of me.”
Her tears cascade over her beautiful face. “So, if I need to, I’ll run from you, any and every chance I get, because I can’t be responsible for one more death. I can’t be responsible for yours.” Her voice cracks, her face etched in pain. “I’ll never be able to survive if I’m responsible for yours.”
I wrap my arms around her, crushing her to me, knowing she will always try to leave me, if only to protect me, if this threat isn't dealt. I close my eyes, knowing we only have one option ahead of us.
We need to accept Len’s plan.
And pray like hell it works.
Because if it doesn’t, I don’t care if Len is Army’s friend, I’ll fucking end her and every one of her team before I rip the world to shreds and burn in hell while I do.