Chapter 31
Thirty-One
Charlie
“Your uncle has a gang?” I asked, staring at Jo as I struggled to process everything that had happened.
The bar had been cleared out and closed for the day as we sat at one of the tables in the middle of the room and talked while Ashley fixed dinner.
A few tarps were laid on the floor, which didn’t take a genius to know it was where the bodies had been before Jo got rid of them.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s not really a gang.
It’s more like a club of misfits, if you will.
Guys who are more loyal to him than anything I’ve ever seen and downright ruthless.
But the thing with my uncle is that he’s vicious on his own.
He’s never needed anyone to do his dirty work for him. ”
“So why does he have them?”
She shrugged and looked around the room before meeting my eyes again.
“Some men thrive on power. While he doesn’t need anyone to do his dirty work, that doesn’t stop him from letting them.
At first, it started with just a few guys, but it’s grown a lot over the years.
He’s not only one of the most respected men in town, but the most feared.
And honestly, the respect only comes because people are so afraid of him. ”
“Out of all the people in the world my stupid husband could have gotten involved with, your uncle just had to be one of them.”
“Most likely it’s not him but one of his guys.
While it’s not a gang, there’s a structure to everything my uncle does, and only a few guys report directly to him.
Each of his guys has their own goons that report to them, and so on.
Like I said, it’s grown quite a bit since I left.
If the two that came in here earlier didn’t have the dragon tattoos, I wouldn’t have even known they were connected to him. ”
“Is it possible that they’re not? Maybe it’s a common tattoo design?” There was so much hope in my voice, but it quickly deflated when her face fell and she shook her head.
She turned to the side, tugging the back of her shirt down as she pulled her hair to the side to reveal the same dragon tattoo on her shoulder.
“You’re a part of it,” I whispered, fear washing over me as flashbacks from my nightmare rushed to the surface, and I flinched away from her.
“I was,” she corrected, fixing her shirt to cover it. “I left when I was seventeen and haven’t looked back.”
“Was it your uncle who tried to kill you for leaving?” I asked, my stomach clenching as I dreaded her answer.
“No.” She swallowed hard and turned away from me, letting me get a glimpse of the scar on her neck. “That would be my ex-husband.”
A heavy silence fell between us as Ashley and Axel joined us at the table, and we started eating.
*********************************************
By the time Axel and I went upstairs to call it a night, I was exhausted.
But unfortunately, no matter how tired I felt, my mind hadn’t stopped obsessing over what had happened.
Not only did they find me, but constant worry consumed my mind as I thought about when they would come back to finish what the first guys hadn’t been able to.
I took a long, hot shower while Axel closed up downstairs.
A handful of people who I didn’t know well had come by earlier and helped him board up the windows.
I didn’t bother to ask why since we all knew the bad guys had found me and would eventually be back.
There weren’t many entrances in and out of the bar, but Axel had secured each one to make sure no one got in tonight while we were sleeping.
Little did he know, I wasn’t planning on staying.
I had almost all of my stuff packed in my duffel bag when he came into the room, wearing a deep frown when he noticed it.
“What are you doing?” He stood in front of the stairs, arms folded over his chest as he blocked my way out. I pulled the strap over my head and shifted the bag to the side of my stomach.
“We both know that I need to leave,” I explained with a soft sigh. “They’ve already found me here, which means they’ll come back for me. I can’t stay here and put everyone in town in danger. It’s best that I go now and get a head start.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“I beg to differ. I appreciate your concern and your generosity, but I’ve already taken too much. We’re all better off if I leave.”
“Says who?”
“Says me,” I said with more conviction than I’d ever felt.
“None of this would have happened today if it weren’t for me.
I’m the one who brought those guys to your bar.
I’m the one they were here for. It’s my fault they’re dead, and it will be my fault when innocent people get hurt because of me. Please, Axel. Just let me go.”
I stepped closer to him and raised my eyebrows, begging him to move.
“No.”
The air rushed out of my lungs as I exhaled heavily. Tears stung my eyes as I tried to blink past them. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart. I had to get out of there before it was too late.
“Axel,” I begged. “Please.”
He unfolded his arms and took the last step between us until he was standing so close I could smell the soft scent of his detergent. His hands gently grabbed my hips and held me in place so I couldn’t slip past him.
“Charlie, I know you’re scared and that you think running will help. But trust me. It won’t. Yes, they found you here, but I promise you I will not let anything happen to you. Do you understand me?”
I nodded and tried to look away before I fell apart in front of him.
“Even if you could leave, there wouldn’t be anywhere safe for you to go.
There’s nowhere safer than right here with me.
Because Charlie, I would go to the end of the earth to protect you.
I would give my life before I would let them take yours or hurt your sweet baby.
But I can’t do that if you leave. So please, stay. Let me help you.”
I lowered my head as the tears rolled down my cheeks. He pulled me against his chest after gently removing my duffel bag and tossing it behind me on the bed. Strong arms wrapped around me, holding me in the most comforting embrace I had ever felt.
“It’s going to be okay, Charlie. I promise you that I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He placed a kiss on the top of my head and refused to let go.