Chapter 76
Reaper
I keep my gun trained on the fucker in front of me. “Who the fuck are you?”
His smirk deepens and fuck do I want to wipe it off his fucking face. “I was sent here with a message,” he says, avoiding my question. “I’m assuming from that tacky vest and patch that you’re Reaper?”
I grind my molars and narrow my gaze on him. “What message? And why the fuck did you lead us on this fucking wild goose chase?”
He lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “Not sure why I had to come to this shit hole, but the Boss said that he’s tired of waiting around to get what he wants.”
My gaze narrows even further. He must be talking about Cox. Aside from her other stalker, Richard is the only other person I know that wants something from Lark.
“That fucker isn’t getting his hands on my woman or her properties.”
Even as I say that though, my mind is spinning.
I hope Smoke or Python is listening in on this shit and someone has eyes on my woman.
Shit. I don’t know how fucking far the range is on these communication devices?
Can they even hear our conversation? Almost as if I’d summoned them, the earpiece crackles in my ear.
“Don’t let him get under your skin. I’m right here with Lark and Mama Astrid in the townhouse. They’re both safe. Razor’s in here with me and Cannon and Atlas are walking the perimeter. Your Queen is safe.”
The knot in my chest loosens at Smoke’s words. I’m also glad as fuck that Lark, Emma, and Granny recently changed their wills and updated the paperwork on everything. There’s no way Richard-fucking-Cox will ever get his hands on their properties.
The little fucker smirks again. “We’ll see about that.
” He pauses and clears his throat, looking fucking smug as shit as he waves his hand in the air in a nonchalant way.
“As for Zac, well, he’s a means to an end.
We’re using him as much as he’s using us.
But in regards to Lark, she will sign over her rights to her land and properties or her, her family and friends, even your pathetic little gang will all pay the price.
Mr. Cox always gets what he wants and he will stop at nothing to get it. ”
He takes a step forward toward the door but stops when my brothers form a tighter circle around us.
His gaze sweeps the room and I grin darkly at the spark of panic in his eyes that he tries to hide.
I huff when his questioning gaze lands back on me and holster my gun, knowing the others have theirs all trained on him.
I step closer to him and the dark side of me is pleased when I see that panic growing in his eyes. “What, you thought we’d let you go after you gave us your pathetic little ‘message’?” I ask him as I start to walk slowly around him.
He audibly swallows as his gaze darts around, trying to find an escape route that doesn’t exist. He’s finally realizing he’s fucked.
And not in a good way.
“See, you, your cronies, Kelly, Richard, and even Zac think they can take whatever the fuck they want without consequences. You think Richard-fucking-Cox is gonna ‘save’ you? That you’re going to walk out of here scot-free and unharmed?”
I chuckle and as the others join in, beads of sweat start to form on the fucker’s forehead.
“No. Richard can’t save you here. He sent you on a suicide mission. He knew we’d never let you go. He sent you to your death.”
I stop in front of him and my dark grin widens at seeing that realization sink in. He must be pretty dumb to think he was going to get out of here unscathed. Or maybe that’s why Richard used him like this. A guinea pig. A rat. Someone to use and discard as he saw fit.
I tower over him by at least a foot and fuck do I love the sight of him scared and panicking in front of me. He deserves it and all that he has coming to him because of what him, his cronies, Kelly, and Richard have put my woman through these past few months.
“Well karmas come-a-knocking in the form of the Steel Archangels and we’ll show them the error of their ways. The error of your ways. Now, I think it’s time that we get you a bit more comfortable. After all, we have a long drive back to the clubhouse.”
Dark chuckles surround us, and this fucker’s so shocked by the turn of events that he doesn’t even fight when Punisher steps up behind him and zip ties his hands behind his back.
Punisher grunts in annoyance, probably upset that the fucker isn’t fighting back, which doesn’t bode well.
I can already tell he’s itching with pent up energy.
I just hope he’s able to keep his rage under control until we get the answers we need.
“What’s your name? Unless you want me to keep calling you ‘fucker’ all the time.”
He hesitates to answer me as he swallows thickly, his gaze continuing to bounce between all of us. “E-Elijah. Elijah Barnfield.”
“Got it. I’ll start digging into him,” Python says over the earpiece, and I nod.
“Well, then, Elijah. It’s time to find out just how hospitable our ‘pathetic little gang’ can be.”
An hour and a half later, we pull up to the clubhouse and the guys escort a significantly more bruised and bloodied Elijah inside. I follow behind them but then turn to Loki and tilt my head toward the stairs.
“I’m gonna check in on Lark, then I’ll be down.”
He gives me a chin lift before following after the others.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I stride down the hallway to our room and quietly unlock the door.
The band that’s been squeezing my chest ever since leaving her earlier tonight lessens at the sight of her curled up in bed and hugging my pillow to her chest. I must make a noise or something, because she stirs and rubs her eyes.
“Anthony?” she asks, her voice huskier than normal with sleep.
“Hey, Darlin’.”
I sit down on the bed beside her as she sits up, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her hair is tussled from sleep and fuck, do I wish I could stay here with her.
“Did you get Zac?”
Her face falls at my silence and she sighs.
“So it was a setup? A wild goose chase?”
Grimly, I nod, even though I’m proud of her for putting the pieces together so quickly. “Yeah, Darlin’, it was. But we’re gonna find out whatever we can from him.”
She frowns. “Who set us up?”
I hesitate. “We think Richard did, but we’ll find out after we talk to the asshole.”
She nods as she takes my hand in hers, running her fingers over my knuckles. “I take it this is going to be one of the times I can’t be down there with you?”
Sighing, I nod again. “Sorry, Darlin’. I’m not sure where this fucker fits into all of this, but I’ll tell you what I can afterward. As for the ones that kidnapped you, you will be able to be down there when Devil and the others get back. You deserve to get your answers and your pound of flesh.”
“What about Zac?”
“Smoke and Python are digging into it and scouring the cameras trying to find him.”
Her shoulders slump and she nods glumly as she traces lines on the back of my hand. A moment later she sits up, excitement shining in her eyes.
“Oh! Devil’s on his way back, though I assume you already know that.
He texted me to let us know that Sara’s coming back with him.
They boxed up all her stuff so that she doesn’t have to go back to that place.
Well, most of it was still in boxes so that helped speed up the whole packing process.
I don’t know if she’ll take the townhouse we prepped or if she’ll want to stay with Devil, but I’m glad they were able to get her out of there.
If she chooses to stay in the townhouse, we picked the last one since it’s the closest to Devil’s house and I figured he’d appreciate that. ”
I nod, already knowing all that. Well, except for which townhouse they reserved for Sara.
And I know Devil will appreciate it being close to his house.
He called me right before they left Sara’s house, and fuck, the relief and happiness in his voice…
I hadn’t heard him that happy in a long time.
After everything he’s been through, I’m glad things are finally going his way.
“Thank you, Darlin’. That means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to Devil, too. I gotta head downstairs to get some answers, so why don’t you get some sleep?”
She shakes her head and throws the covers off, revealing that she was fully dressed while sleeping.
She stands and I do as well. “Nope, I’m betting it won’t be too long until Devil and the others get here.
I’m sure Devil is going to want to get answers from those four assholes as well.
I don’t want Sara to be all alone in a new place.
You know what answers I want, Anthony, so I’m going to take a step back on this one, even though I desperately want to pound on those four.
So long as you guys make it hurt while you get your answers, then I’m okay with that.
I’d rather make sure Sara feels comfortable and safe here.
If she needs help getting things settled for the night, then we’ll make sure she’s taken care of while you guys go take care of business. ”
Well, fuck.
“Fuck, Darlin’. How did I get so fucking lucky to snag you as my woman?”
She smiles up at me and steps closer, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Easy. You stood up for me and I said yes when you asked. All three times. For being your woman, for being your Old Lady, and when you asked me to marry you.”
Going up on her toes she gives me a kiss that ends way too fucking quickly for my liking. Pulling back, she gives me a smirk as if she can tell what I’m thinking.
“Little minx,” I mumble as I adjust myself.
She giggles before stepping away and slipping on her cut. Then she grabs her winter coat.
Taking her hand, I lead her back downstairs. Nathan’s sitting at a table with three laptops surrounding him, but other than him, no one’s in the main room. Nathan looks up from the computers and tilts his head toward the door.