Chapter 20 #2
Sasha was Silas’ mother; they’d both been Death Raiders for years until Simon Stone, the leader of the Stone Riders, stole Sasha from them.
They’d been together for nearly five years, until Simon passed…
or so we assumed. Turned out, he was just being a devious, calculated prick.
A dying one, but not dead. Simon being Callie’s dad, and Sasha being Silas’s mom, had put the rest of us at the very awkward disadvantage of having Sunday brunch together each week.
I was invited because Callie and Simon considered me family.
We had a truce each time we gathered; there were no patches or clubs…
Except today, there’d be blood.
We made it around the house and to the back door when Simon met us.
He looked tired, his usual hazel eyes were dim, his skin pale and his hair lackluster.
His muscle mass was waning too; he nearly looked like a wraith standing in front of us with just a simple t-shirt, his leather cut, and blue jeans too loose on his hips.
“You have ten minutes. I told Sasha I wanted to walk through the greenhouse and check on the peppers we’re growing. Once she’s in there, I can usually keep her there for a while. Since no one else has arrived yet, I’m assuming Silas will just be on his phone, waiting.”
He still assumed his daughter and her friend would be arriving. We were tricking him too, told him we only wanted to scare Silas a little, our old leader had no idea what was actually in store for Sasha’s son.
We nodded and waited around the side of the house for a few more minutes until we saw Simon and Sasha walking toward the greenhouse.
Wes pulled up the footage for the camera on his cell and entered the house through the side door.
I pulled a Glock out from the waistband of my jeans and kept it pointed down.
Slowly making my way through the living room, clearing the dining room, I finally paused when we reached the foyer.
With his back to us, Silas was on the phone facing the door.
His black hair was slicked to the side like some villain from Peaky Blinders, and his Death Raider cut was layered over a black hoodie. I lifted my arms, aiming at him, and then pulled the hammer back, letting the click of the gun being armed fill the room.
The leader of the Death Raiders turned, lowering his phone.
I held out my hand for the device while keeping my gun on him.
He was about to lunge, but Wes was there, holding his phone up with the camera footage on it.
“I don’t think so.” The live feed played, showing Callie crossing her arms while talking to Natty.
Laura was there too, and all three women looked pissed.
There was no audio, so he had no idea what they were saying.
What it looked like though was that we were holding Natty hostage, especially because the girls decided to talk in the cellar.
Silas had creepy as fuck eyes that reminded me of a ghost, and right now, they were looking between Wes and me as though he wanted to rip our throats out.
His gaze slid to the window then back to us.
“Simon?”
“You threatened the Stone Riders, you stupid fuck, of course Simon,” I said, barely holding my anger in check.
I wanted to kill him, but Simon made me swear I wouldn’t.
The only way he agreed to help was to promise that we would only flex our strength, teach him not to ever roll up on our property like that again.
Simon’s eyes flicked to the screen.
“If you hurt her, I have ways of enacting revenge from the grave.”
“What is your fucked relationship with Natty? She acts like she doesn’t even know you. Are you stalking her or something?” I asked, stepping closer.
He merely glared at me.
“Let’s get him in the barn before Sasha comes back. We can’t get any blood in here.”
Wes pushed Silas forward, and he walked out through the front door and kept walking until we were inside the barn.
“You wanted an alliance, and instead of asking me why she was talking with Jameson King, you just attacked us. At our own club. You knew it would brew a war. What I want to know is why.” I pushed him one last step, until he was at least ten feet from us, and our weapons were on him again.
Silas crossed his arms, keeping his gaze on the exits.
“I told you that I would bring war to your doorstep on her behalf.”
Wes shook his head. “That’s not what you said, and you know it. What the fuck is your situation with her?”
“None of your concern. All you need to know is it’s my job to ensure she’s safe.”
Wes gave me a look, and I knew he was wondering the same thing. We needed to talk to Simon about the trade that happened for Natty all those years ago.
“You fucked up, Silas, because while you were protecting your girl, you took mine and put a gun to her head.”
I nodded toward Wes. He grabbed his cell phone and made it to where Silas could see what was happening.
The girls were all still talking. Natty looked caged off with her arms crossed, and Laura was throwing her hands around as though she was yelling. In the corner through the door, Giles could be seen holding a gun.
“Fair is fair, right?” Wes asked.
Silas ground his back molars together as he watched then glared at me.
“I didn’t hurt yours.”
Cutting the space between us, I got nose to nose with him and screamed, “You held a motherfucking gun to her lips, asshole. You scared her.”
Silas only scowled, acting completely unshaken.
Then with a sneer and a devilish smile, he said, “I would have gutted her in front of you if it meant you got the message to keep Natty safe.”
I lost it. The back of my pistol swiftly flew into his face hard. Then I did it again until a gash opened up in his brow and blood began to pour.
“So then you understand why this little alliance is over.” I hit him again, and now that he was on the ground, I kicked him. “And I plan on gutting you in front of Natty. Seems like she’ll be pleased, considering she doesn’t even give two shits about acknowledging your existence.”
Wes clicked his tongue. “Maybe we should take one of Natty’s fingers.
Make it to where she can’t bake those scones anymore…
or you know what?” He snapped his fingers like he just got a great idea.
“Hasn’t Rune been watching her and asking about her.
Perhaps we can allow him to take her as his old lady. ”
“Your club doesn’t work like that. You fucking wouldn’t.” Silas seethed.
I got in his face again. “Oh, we would, motherfucker. You didn’t just threaten my girl, you touched her.
Put her in your lap and held a gun to her head.
You have no idea what I’m going to fuck up for you.
You want Natty out of the club? Now you’re going to have to fight us for her.
You just completely fucked all your chances of having her safe and unharmed. ”
Silas lashed out, getting to his feet and pushing me in the chest. “Your club doesn’t fucking do this shit. It’s part of your code. It’s part of Simon’s code.”
I screamed in his face again. “That was before you touched what belongs to me. Simon was a fair leader. Wes was a balanced president, but me? I’m a motherfucking mad man, and when it comes to the people I love, I will not stop until you understand that you can’t touch what’s mine.”
I ran a shaky hand through my hair then more calmly explained, “I liked Natty too, but now I know she’s important to you. I want to hurt you, Silas. I want you to understand the fear I felt last night.”
Silas was finally showing some semblance of emotion. His pale face became flushed, and his jaw looked like it was two seconds from breaking.
“You bet on the kindness of our club. And you just fucking lost.”
I tossed a picture at him. I had it printed this morning, while I was waiting on Daisy in the club.
It was of Jameson and Natty talking, the two of them laughing and smiling.
They looked like a couple in the photo. I had a feeling it would enrage Silas, and sure enough, as he stared down at the image, rage painted his features in vibrant strokes.
He wasn’t just angry; he was devastated.
Interesting.
As we turned to leave, I thought I saw a single tear fall from his lash. But I was probably wrong. Our job was to intimidate him and ruin him, so if he was fucked up emotionally then good.
As long as it meant he understood that he could never touch Laura again.
Would we actually hurt Natty? Not a fucking chance, but he didn’t know that.
We were about to exit through the barn door when all the sudden Silas spoke up, still staring down at the picture.
“Wait.”
Wes and I turned toward him.
“You’re right. I led with anger and fucked up.
I shouldn’t have touched her. I’m sorry, Killian.
I didn’t know she was yours, but when the girls pushed her forward, I hoped she was important enough to get your attention.
I was angry…and I’m willing to offer you intel as a way to make things right, so that she stays safe with your club. ”
I knew the “she” was Natty. He seemed to have a difficult time saying her name for whatever reason.
“What sort of intel?” Wes asked, stepping closer.
Silas crumpled the photo in his hand and squeezed his fist.
“The kind that proves I’m still a worthy ally.”