9. Riot
nine
Riot
Cash’s grip on my shoulder tightens as we continue to listen to the bullshit that spews from our fathers’ mouths. If this was an Olympic sport, they would take home the gold medal, but it’s not, and we aren’t falling for the “it was all a test” excuse they seem to be sticking with. Honestly, it’s sort of pathetic if you think about it. These grown-ass men, ones who have been ruling the Hellfire Society and other unsavory aspects of this area, have resorted to weak excuses on how they couldn’t manage to kill off their own sons properly. It would be entertaining if I were watching from the outside, but I’m not, and it’s us it is happening to.
If it weren’t for Cash and Arsen next to me, I would be slamming my blades down each and every one of these pompous assholes throats before whisking Ali up into my arms and getting us both the hell out of here. But alas, I was never the one good at politics like the other two, so now I have to sit here while my woman, no, my wife, is forced to dance for these pricks. I’m not entirely complaining because Ali looks hot as fuck in the hot pink thing they call an outfit, but still. No man wants to see their woman being humiliated or stared at like a piece of meat, but Ali is taking it like a goddess. Literally, she holds her head high and sways her hips but always keeps her eyes focused on one of us.
Because she knows who she really belongs to.
At least that’s what I tell myself as I glare at the bastards sitting across from us, licking their lips like a damn feral dog wanting for a bone. That bone being my wife. I snarl at the younger fucker as he scoots to the edge of his seat, eyeing Ali up and down. I can practically see the desire dripping off the prick, which only makes me more irritated, but it’s what he does next that has me jumping to my feet, dragging Cash along with me as he curses. I watch as this Ethan fucker reaches forward and grabs Ali, yanking her back and against his chest, his hands sliding up her body as a look of disgust and horror flashes across her face.
“Wait, brother. It’s not time to act yet,” Cash grinds out in a low tone, his grip on my shoulder tightening to the point of pain with my body still not healed. I want to retort that now is as good of a time as any to kill them all for the simple disrespect toward our woman, but as I watch Ethan lick Ali’s cheek, I see it. The change in Ali’s demeanor. It’s like she completely shuts down all emotion, and I can’t be prouder. This is the woman I saw two weeks ago and knew would be my perfect match.
Then we get to witness all her perfect glory as she raises her right foot and slams it down on the dumbass’s foot before spinning around and bringing her knee up and straight into the fool’s balls. Ethan screams out before dropping to the floor, holding his hopefully broken dick as I burst out into a manic laugh. Cash and Arsen following suit.
He should have known better than to touch what doesn’t belong to you. It’s a golden rule after all. But while I was reveling in our woman’s perfection, I forgot where we were. One second Ali is grinning ear to ear, the next she goes stumbling to the ground as the sound of skin hitting skin echoes in the suddenly quiet room. My laughter cuts off as I watch Richard sneer down at Ali, cursing her, while from the corner of my eye I see our fathers whispering to each other. I should be more concerned with them, but I can’t take my eyes off Ali as she slowly slips out of her heels before climbing to her feet. Blood drips down her chin, turning my vision just as red. This fucker is a dead man breathing.
Once Ali is fully on her feet, she glares at Richard before spitting a mouthful of blood at his feet. The glare suddenly turns into a feral grin as she speaks four simple words. “Hello, Father. Miss me?”
I was expecting a lot of things to be said. Curses, calling of names, or even an insult like he hit like a girl, but ‘Hello father’ was not one of them. The man in question stumbles back a step, eyes widening in shock before whispering her name. “Alison?” Huh, I can’t picture her as an Alison. No, wife sounds much better to me.
“What’s wrong, Richard? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she taunts, glancing down and sneering at Ethan. Which now only makes me want to rage more because that means… “I always knew you were a sick fuck, brother, but this is a new low. Especially for the Black family.” Ethan groans from the floor but doesn’t say anything else.
My father chuckles. “Well, this is an interesting turn of events.” This has everyone turning in his direction. As if they knew this was how everything would play out, we wait for them to show their next hand.
Richard must finally snap out of his shock because he takes a step towards Ali. “I always knew you were a whore. Good for nothing but spreading your legs just like your mother. You should have been here years ago, but you had to go and be an ungrateful little bitch and run away. I was going to get a pretty little penny for you.” Ali holds her ground, refusing to budge as Richard tries to intimidate her. Useless, our woman is a warrior, but his words have an effect on me. The way he openly admits to trying to sell his teenage daughter, calling her a whore so casually, has every last thread of resistance snapping. Cash must also realize it because he drops his hold, and like a racehorse, I’m off. I propel myself forward and toward the asshole who dared speak to Ali that way, slipping the blade I had loose down my sleeve and into my hand.
I have every intention of killing Richard Black right here and right now, but Ali’s head snaps in my direction. Her eyes widen, but she’s not looking at me; no she’s looking behind me. This has me spinning around, ready to stab someone, but my eyes catch James Grant pulling out a pistol from his back as he turns towards Cash. “Son, I’m afraid these festivities have come to an end.”
Everything for the next minute happens in slow motion. Cash’s eyes widen before going for his gun. Arsen moves next, turning and shoving Cash and himself to the ground right as James pulls the trigger. Henry and William go for their only weapons as the screaming starts. Men and women who weren’t a part of our little meeting dive for cover. Some still naked with dicks and tits still on display, as everyone scrambles to get out of the line of fire. More tactical-looking men, like the ones outside, come rushing in. Cash returns fire, causing our fathers to duck for cover next.
A small hand grabs my arm and yanks me behind a chair as I come face to face with Ali. She wastes no time ripping off my muzzle and slamming her lips down on mine. For just a second, I soak her in, her taste just as sweet as I remember, before forcing myself to pull away.
“What took you so long, Husband?” she asks, peeking around the chair before glancing back at me with a strange look. It could be because of the dopey smile painting my face from her calling my husband.
“I like to take my time, Wife.” She smirks, knowing damn well what I’m really talking about. It’s my turn to peek around the chair to see Cash and Arsen pinned behind a table, our fathers behind some chairs, and armed men still moving in our direction. I glance down at Ali. “Wanna play a game?” I ask, pulling out the knives I have sheathed to my stomach.
“Who’s the better killer?” she asks, tilting her head in question while faking innocence, but I see the spark of excitement shining in her green eyes. I give her a tiny nod as I hear the gunfire stall for a moment.
“Yes, baby. Who’s the better killer?” I hand her some blades before pulling out my own guns. Knowing our fathers, their goons will be armed to the T, so guns until I can get close enough to kill them with my bare hands. With one last passionate yet too short kiss, I get in position. “Stay put until I can clear a path,” I tell her. Ali opens her mouth, no doubt to object before I cut her off. “Here.” I quickly slip off my jacket and hand it to her. It will swamp her, but it’s better protection than what she’s wearing. She glares at me for a second before slipping it on, taking in a deep breath as if trying to inhale my scent as she does. “You ready now?” I ask, her cheeks flushing pink at being caught.
I knew she wouldn’t run from me. She’s just as addicted as I am now.
But then I’m back to business. We can have playtime later. “Let me take out some of the guns before you show your kind of crazy.”
Her bottom lip pushes out in a little pout, making me want to bite it as her shoulders finally slump in defeat. “Fine. But these don’t count towards your total. That would be cheating.” I smirk but nod. Peeking around the chair once more, I spot a small group moving in toward my brothers. We can’t have that, so while the room is in an odd lull, I make my move.
Standing to my full height, I stretch my neck, the pop audible before calling out, “Ready or not, here I come.”
Time to have some fun.