Chapter 12 Cash #2
But the violence that lived inside me only flared to life, pulsing through my body and surging into my hands.
Pulling out my hunting knife, I whirled around, and I grabbed the guard by the shoulder and jerked him forward.
It didn’t take much. It was pure instinct.
Driving the knife deep into his gut and ripping it to the side.
Something too close to satisfaction twisted through me as I opened him up, the fucker’s eyes going wide as he realized he’d met his end. That I possessed his last breath, and he wouldn’t have the chance to do harm again.
Blood poured out of his belly, and I shoved the knife a fraction deeper, my teeth gritted as he choked and gargled over his spit before he dropped to his knees. I tore the blade free, and he slumped all the way forward.
I stood, eyes scanning the space, aggression speeding through my nerves, all too ready to take the next motherfucker down.
“Cash, we have to split. Let’s go,” Kane urged just loud enough to break through the chaos that took me whole.
I hesitated, wanting to race toward the building to incite the type of mayhem I thirsted for.
“Fuck, man, we’ve got to get out of here before that piece of shit you just left face down is discovered.”
I finally gave and turned around.
Elena’s eyes were as big as saucers. Roiling with horror as she gaped at me with ragged breaths jutting from her lungs.
No question, she recognized the monster that I was. Saw right to the depraved depths of me.
I shoved myself back through the narrow opening just as Theo came hustling up. “Shit, that was not part of the plan, but you did it well, brother.”
Of course Theo would praise me like I was some kind of saint when it was twisted, sick glee that rolled through my consciousness that it’d come to violence.
“But this is goin’ to get ugly,” he added. “We need to get the hell out of here before things really go to shit.”
“Yup, we need to roll and do it quickly.” Kane snapped his head toward the dense forest.
All four of us ducked through the line of trees and hit the trail. Kane kept hold of Elena, and she staggered along a step behind him, constantly tossing her attention over her shoulder in fear that someone was going to catch up to us.
Theo and I maintained the rear in case someone actually did.
Harsh breaths panted from our lungs as we moved through the cover of trees, traversing the uneven terrain up the side of a hill. Branches whipped across our faces while we navigated over the exposed rocks and roots that fought to hold us back.
In the distance, we could hear shouts and the barking of a dog.
“Shit. Sounds like Cash’s handiwork has been discovered. We’ve gotta roll,” Theo prompted, and we sprinted the rest of the way up the hill to the large tree where we left our bikes.
I jumped onto mine and kicked it over, revved it hard as I shouted at Elena, “Get on.”
She didn’t hesitate.
The shock had worn off and the disaster we were in had become clear.
No doubt, she wasn’t a total stranger to violence being the sister of the Crimson Crows president. Would at least know a modicum of his brutality.
She hopped on and I peeled out, yanking back on the throttle, the back tire slipping and sliding on the soft earth as I tore up the dirt lane.
Theo and Kane were right behind.
We kept our headlights off as we raced back through the woods toward an obscure back road. A road there was little chance Kent and his men even knew about.
My plan was almost foolproof except for the part that Elena was gone and one of his guards was dead.
He’d know Silas was responsible, and it’d only be a matter of time before he came for revenge.
Chances were, we’d started a war.
The only saving grace was Kent valued money above all else. A single guard down wasn’t going to cause him to lose any sleep.
He’d bide his time. Make a plan. Try to bend Silas to his will. Doubted he wanted him dead. He just wanted him under his thumb.
Five minutes later, we hit the deserted road, flicked on our headlights, and flew for town.
We made the forty-five-minute trip in thirty, and we slowed as we dipped into the valley and hit the main drag of Moonlit Ridge.
The town was long past sleeping, the night long, even the bars locked up for the night.
Theo made a left to head for where The Sanctuary was located on the far north side of the lake.
Kane and I eased along Culberry Street, passing by the darkened windows of the trendy shops and restaurants. My attention caught for a fraction of a second on River of Ink, the tattoo shop River owned, wondering idly if he was going to mind adding another tattoo to the rest.
Another body in the ground. Another flame. Pretty soon, I’d be completely overcome.
Kane’s headlight dipped out as he made a right into the parking lot of the club, before he followed the lane that led to his house tucked about half a mile back on his property.
I increased my speed when we hit the winding road at the opposite side of town and headed up that side of the mountain.
My grip trembled on the handlebars. Body vibrating with an energy I couldn’t quite process.
Elena hung tight, though I could feel the ravaging of her heart. Her fear palpable as she put her trust in a stranger.
I kept glancing behind me, making sure no one was following, before I slowed at the nearly hidden lane that led through the woods to my cabin.
The bike jerked and bobbed as we made our way over the rugged terrain, then my heart was doing something very fucking stupid when I caught sight of my cabin tucked beneath the trees, knowing Daisy was within its walls waiting on me.
Silas pushed from the wall of the garage where he’d been standing, disbelief filling his features as he tried to process who was on the back of my bike.
A moment of confusion.
Then he came running.
Hitting the brake, I pulled to a stop, and Elena jumped off and threw herself into her brother’s arms.
Sobs ripped out of her as she sagged against him as he held her up.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he murmured, though he sent me a glare from over her shoulder.
What the fuck?
I killed the engine and swung off my bike.
His attention dipped to the blood that soaked the front of my shirt.
“Told you I was supposed to head this. That blood should be on me,” he said.
“You know we couldn’t risk you causing a scene. Had to make a call.”
“This is going to put your crew in deep shit.”
“Doubt he knows we’re involved, but we’re here for you, no matter what.”
He shifted to loop his arm around Elena’s waist. Wavering between anger and relief. “Thank you, brother.”
“Get her out of here and to safety,” was my only response.
“We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Elena peered over at me, torn between gratitude and fear before Silas turned to guide her to his bike. He kicked it over and she climbed on, and a few seconds later, his taillight disappeared into the woods.
My spirit screamed as I turned back to my house.
Throat closing off as I tramped up the steps.
I turned off the alarm, worked through the locks, then stepped through the door, reengaging everything on the other side.
I was covered in blood.
No surprise there.
And still, I was the fool who couldn’t do anything but slowly ease to my bedroom door.
My heart hammered at my ribs, fingers just trailing the wood. Wondering what would happen if I turned the knob.
What I’d feel if I gazed at her sleeping in my bed. All that hair strewn around her and peace on her face.
I got myself together before I did something utterly stupid, and I forced myself to move, ripping my shirt over my head as I hit the living room. I tossed the soiled fabric into the embers that barely glowed in the hearth.
Watched it be consumed before I moved down the hall.
Could hear the faint whine of Duke on the other side of the children’s door, letting me know he was there, but I got the sense he wasn’t going anywhere.
He had a new job to do.
With a perplexed shake of my head, I moved into the guest bathroom, locked the door behind me, and peeled off the rest of my clothes.
Then I stepped into the shower.
Closed my eyes beneath the spray and was taken back.
Back to the time when I thought I’d forever be her protector.
Back to the time before I destroyed everything.