Chapter 6
ETHAN
Even though it’s a hot summer’s evening outside, the damp chill of the warehouse seeps into my bones. I’m sitting, tied to a chair, in front of Lord Hanbury and surrounded by his henchmen, their eyes glinting with malice in the dim light.
The police, if that’s what they really were, disappeared shortly after they delivered me here. I can feel the bruises blooming beneath my skin from the beating Lord Hanbury’s men have already given me, but I refuse to show any weakness in the face of their brutality.
"Why are you doing this?" I demand, my voice a low growl of defiance. "What do you want from me? You have Emily back, even though I suspect she was safer with me."
Lord Hanbury sneers, his expression cold and calculating.
“What did you do to my daughter? Did you touch her? Rape her?”
“I didn’t touch her, and she’s as pure now as she was when I first saw her. She does understand the world a little bit better than she did, though. I think you’ll find she won’t allow herself to be pushed around quite so much anymore.”
He laughs. “Emily will do as she’s told.”
He motions for his henchmen to hit me again. A punch comes to the side of my face, and a ringing sound reverberates through my head. Considering they’re hired muscle, they hit like little girls. If they got into a fight with my club, they’d soon know what a real beating is like. Not that I intend to tell them that right now. I’d prefer it if I could still walk tomorrow, and I don’t want to have to spend the next few days in a hospital bed.
Another of the men punches me in the stomach.
“Have you ever thought about asking Emily what she wants? It seems to me she’s craving freedom and the chance to get to understand the world a bit better. Have you or your wife ever let her make one decision for herself? Allowed her to select the clothes she’s going to wear or the food she eats? She’s an intelligent woman. She might surprise you with the choices she makes.”
I know I’m probably not going to get through to Lord Hanbury, but I want to stand up for Emily.
“My daughter doesn’t need to choose what to do. She just needs to do it!”
Something, or someone, moves in the shadows of the warehouse. I turn my head in its direction, and Lord Hanbury does the same.
“I’ve heard enough, Hanbury.” A deep voice comes from the darkness, and a man steps into view. “She’s still pure. I suggest you beat her to knock the ideas out of her head that this fool’s put in it.”
The man who’s appeared from the shadows is tall and a similar size and body weight to me. He looks at least ten years older than me, though, and his hair is graying at the sides. He’s wearing a dark pinstripe suit with a navy tie and white shirt, and he oozes money right down to his Gucci shoes. But his face captures my attention the most. His features look cruel, and his eyes appear almost black with the evil in their depths.
“I’m satisfied, Hanbury. The marriage will go ahead as planned.”
Marriage?
The man is carrying a briefcase, and as he speaks, he steps forward and throws it on the floor in front of me.
“Meet the Earl of Selsey,” Lord Hanbury addresses me. “He will be Emily’s husband within the month. That’s always been the plan until you came along and put it in jeopardy.”
“You haven’t got the balls to be with a girl like Emily,” the Earl sneers at me. “After getting her on a bike like that, a real man would have fucked her until she was red raw.” The disgust is evident on his face.
I laugh.
“Do you want to untie me and say that again?” I respond. “You don’t have the balls, because you know I’d beat the shit out of you for being the sick fuck you are.”
“You’ll be the only one getting a beating today. I need to look good for my wedding,” the Earl sneers.
As he finishes speaking, he waves a hand in the air, and the henchmen set about punching me again. I don’t give them the satisfaction of looking away or crying out in pain. I stare the Earl down, daring him to do his worst. This man will never get his hands on Emily. I won’t allow it.
Eventually, the beating stops, and the Earl signals for the briefcase to be opened.
"You are to leave Emily alone," he orders. "There’s half a million in this case. It’s yours if you agree to disappear and never darken her doorstep again."
I scoff, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.
"And what makes you think I'll roll over and obey your orders?"
The Earl’s eyes narrow, a dangerous glint flashing in their depths.
"Because if you don't, I'll make sure you regret it. I'll destroy everything you care about, starting with your precious club."
I clench my fists at my sides, the urge to lash out at him almost overwhelming.
“Is that all she’s worth to you? Half a million,” I challenge.
“And so, his true colors are finally revealed.” The Earl looks toward Emily’s father, a smug expression on his face. “I told you this would be about money, Hanbury. He’s the lowest of the low. An opportunist who’s after all he can get.”
“There will be another half a million deposited into your bank account when you leave here. I think that should be more than adequate to guarantee you’ll stay away from my daughter,” Lord Hanbury adds.
"Fine," I growl through gritted teeth. "You win. This was all about money. A million will set me up for life. I always fancied moving to America.” My voice sounds resigned as I agree to the deal, but it’s all an act
“Untie him,” Lord Hanbury orders.
Once my hands are free, it takes a lot of self-control not to unleash the fury bubbling inside me. But I know violence will only escalate the situation further, and I can't risk putting my brothers in harm's way. If I intend to outwit the Earl, I need to remain calm and think sensibly.
With one final glare at the two men who hold Emily’s fate in their hands, I snatch up the bag of money and make my exit.
I can feel the eyes of my brothers on me as I walk back into the clubhouse. With my face badly bruised and my lip bloodied, their expressions are a mixture of concern and confusion.
Without a word, I hand over the money as well as my jacket and president’s patch to Rush. I know I can no longer lead these men. I have a new purpose now. I need to focus all my attention on Emily, and I can’t afford to put the club and its members in danger while I’m doing it. I believe Lord Hanbury and the Earl are more than capable of carrying out their threats, and I can’t risk the lives of my brothers or the club itself by remaining President.
"I'm leaving," I announce, my voice heavy with resignation. "For now, at least. But I will be back, eventually. Rush, take this money and use it to improve things around here. Jake can invest some of it. I’ll send more over later."
“Is it blood money?” Rush asks.
“Of a sort.”
“Anything to do with the girl?”
I nod yes.
There's a murmur of protest from the crowd, but I silence them with a wave of my hand. "I love this club, but I need to have something more in my life," I tell them, my voice firm. "I’ve found someone special, and she’s worth fighting for."
“We’re always here for you. The club will be in safe hands,” Rush assures me, and there’s no part of me that doubts what he says. He wraps me in a big embrace, and we clap each other on the back. “Your father would be so proud of you.”
With that, I walk out the clubhouse, mount my bike, and roar off into the night, leaving behind the only family I've ever known.
I will return to the club, but now I need to focus on finding a way to save the woman I’ve fallen in love with.