Dylan POV
I’m done with being treated like something weak and useless.
That’s why I left the second Blaze pushed me out of church. I climbed onto the bigger bike, the one that still scares the shit out of me, and shoved down the anxiety clawing at my throat. I’m unsteady on it, my hands shaking on the grips, but I have to do this.
I can’t let this war happen. Not when it’s because of me. Not when people who don’t deserve it will get hurt.
As I pull up to the estate gates, the bike wobbles badly. I struggle to keep it upright, heart pounding. The gates open slowly and I ride in, parking right in front of the main house. I kill the engine, pull off my helmet, and walk up the stairs.
My father is already standing there, watching me with cold eyes.
“You’re not welcome here.”
“Yeah, I know.” I look around the familiar grounds. “I was wrong, okay. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I was wrong.”
“Do you think I believe that?”
“No. I don’t expect you to.”
“Then why bother?”
“Because I g-get it,” I say, forcing the words out. “I can’t take over. P-people won’t follow me. B-but this is my family.”
“Not while you’re gay.”
“I’m n-not.” The lie burns my throat. “I couldn’t tell you, b-but I lied. To them all. To get closer. To hear things.”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “What things?”
“A-about you. T-the clubs know. They’ve known for ages. And we’re working together.”
He sighs. “How do I know that’s true?”
I turn my phone toward him and hit play. It’s a recording of them talking about the clubs coming together. “T-this was weeks ago. I almost got caught, but I k-knew getting close to the guys would g-get me in. Get me a date. T-the easiest one was B-blaze.”
“Get in,” he mutters, turning and walking inside.
I follow him through to his office. He takes the phone and replays the recording multiple times. His eyes linger on the Cursed Kings.
“I’ve not seen these ones,” he says, gesturing.
“T-they aren’t from close, but still on the list of clubs you’re taking over.”
He hums and watches the recording again, eyes narrowed in thought.
I swallow hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. This is it. I have to sell this. I have to make him believe I’m back for good.
“I’m not working for them,” I say quietly, stepping closer to the desk. “I n-never was. Not really. I played along to get information, but I always planned to come back. This is where I belong. With you. With the family.”
My father looks up slowly, studying me like he’s trying to see through the lie.
“I f-fucked up,” I continue, letting my voice crack a little on purpose.
“I let Blaze get in my head. I thought… I thought maybe I could have something different. But I was wrong. They don’t trust me.
They never will. I’m too much of a risk to them.
And I realized I don’t want that life. I want this one. The one I was raised for.”
I pause, forcing myself to meet his eyes even though my stomach is twisting.
“I’m staying. I’m not going back. If you’ll have me… I’ll do whatever you need. Marry whoever you want. Be whoever you need me to be. Just… let me prove I’m still your son.”
The words taste like ash in my mouth, but I keep my face steady. I need him to believe me. I need him to trust me enough to let me stay close.
He leans back in his chair, fingers drumming on the desk as he watches me. The silence stretches so long I start to worry he can see right through me.
Finally, he speaks.
“We’ll see.”
That’s all he says. But it’s enough. For now.
I nod, trying to look relieved instead of sick to my stomach. “Thank you.”
He waves a hand toward the door. “Go. Get settled. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
I turn and leave his office, legs feeling like lead. The moment I’m out of sight, I lean against the wall and close my eyes, breathing hard.
I’m in.
But God… what the fuck am I doing?
I go to the room I used to stay in whenever I was here. I shower quickly and change into clothes I know he’d approve of, crisp shirt, dark trousers, nothing that looks like I’ve been living with bikers.
An hour later I walk downstairs and he immediately calls me into his office. I step in and see Lucas leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
“H-hey,” I stutter.
He just nods, watching me closely.
“I thought you said we’d talk tomorrow?” I ask.
“Yeah, well I’ve looked into it and it seems true. So, you get married tonight.”
What? My stomach drops but I force myself to nod. “Fine.”
“Once you marry Allana then we can move forward. Right now I have something for you. Something to prove your loyalty.”
He stands and I follow him down into the cellar. The smell of blood hits me the second we reach the bottom. I glance around, confused, until I spot her.
Red.
She’s tied to a chair, a bruise already forming under her eye. She’s not cowering though, she’s glaring, hard and defiant.
My heart sinks. “Red,” I whisper.
“What are you doing?” I turn to my father.
“Sending a nice message. They want to fuck with me? Fine. But I have no limits.”
“By kidnapping a woman?”
He shrugs. “You shouldn’t care. You want back in, right?”
I need his trust, but I won’t hurt her.
“Here’s the deal, Dylan. You hurt her enough to send a message. Prove to me you’re truly back, and you’re accepted.”
“I c-can’t hit a woman. Had you taken one of the guys, fine, but a woman?”
His eyes flick up. “Lucas.”
Lucas swings without hesitation. The sound of the punch makes me flinch. Red cries out around the gag in her mouth.
“Don’t stop. Not until the message is clear or Dylan takes over.”
My head shakes at Lucas but his fist swings again.
“I’ll do it!” I shout, pushing Lucas back. They both watch me, waiting. I won’t hit her as hard as him. I just need my father to step closer to Lucas. Then I can grab both guns.
I look at Red and whisper “sorry” before I hit her.
“Are you fucking serious?” My father steps forward. “What even was that? You’re not tapping a naughty child, Dylan. Fucking hit her.”
My mind and body won’t let me hit her hard. I try again but it’s still too soft. I hear him groan and take another step closer.
“If you don’t hurt her and make her fucking scream until her voice goes, Lucas takes over and you can get the hell out.”
My head shakes. “It’s not l-like I’ve done this before. Beating someone.”
“What, you’re that stupid you don’t know how to fucking do it?” He swings and punches me hard. My body hits the floor. “Use your fucking fist.” He grabs my collar and drags me back up.
How the fuck did they get Red? She looks at me and gives a small, resigned smile, like she’s already accepted what’s coming. Her head nods slightly, but I can’t do it. Even if I hit her with everything I have, it won’t be as bad as what Lucas or my father would do, but I still fucking can’t.
“Ten seconds. Then you watch as he breaks her.”
My eyes flick around desperately, looking for anything I can use. I hear my father’s deep sigh, and Lucas steps forward holding a bat. I don’t even think, I swing and hit her.
She cries out, blood running from her lip. Guilt crashes into me like a wave. “There. I’m doing it. So back the fuck off,” I snap.
“But you stopped again,” my father snarls, stepping closer.
“B-because you want a message! How is h-hitting her quickly for five minutes a message? A five-minute beat down and it’s over? Spread it out,” I snap, hoping he buys it.
“Don’t be so foolish,” Lucas snarls.
“N-not foolish!” I glare at him and turn back to my father. “Y-you told me that anything done quick is a sign of weakness. Of rushed work. That it w-won’t get a reaction. H-hours of torture spaced out is louder.”
He hums thoughtfully. “I was being nice, Dylan. Five minutes of hurting her, drop her off. But if you want to space it out for hours… so be it.” He laughs and leans into Red’s face. “Such a beautiful face. What a waste.”
The sudden sound of gunshots erupts from above.
I don’t think. I move.
I lunge forward and grab both their guns. I fire a shot into my father’s knee. He screams and drops. I swing the other gun toward Lucas.
“Move and I put a bullet in both your fucking heads.”
Turning, I look straight at my father, gun still pointed at his head.
“What are you doing, son?”
“Oh, now I’m your fucking son?” I keep the gun steady even though my hand is shaking. “You made me h-hate myself. You made me feel w-weak!”
He groans, clutching his bleeding knee as capos rush down the stairs. But my father snaps at them to drop their guns. Smart. One wrong move and he’s dead.
“I made mistakes,” he whispers.
“Mistakes? No. You lied. You used me. You said I was fucking weak!” I lean closer, voice rising. “How weak am I now, father? Well? Come on, tell me I’m weak. Tell me I c-can’t do this. That people will see me as a weakness. Go on!” I roar.
“Dylan, drop the guns,” Lucas snarls.
“Shut the f-fuck up.” I turn back to my father. “Dear old father here is going to fucking talk. How weak am I? Come on, say I’m f-fucking weak!”
He laughs, the fake doting father act completely gone. “You’re nothing,” he snarls. “Look at you, Dylan. You’re fucking pathetic! Yeah, you’re weak. And you’re disgusting. When I get hold of you, it’ll be you tied to that fucking chair begging me to stop.”
“You think you’re getting hold of me? You think t-this is a game? That I’m going to turn and walk out, leaving you alive?”
“You don’t have it in you. You’re not a man. You’re not even a fucking boy. How many times did you leave the gun because it was too scary? You won’t fucking shoot me.”
“Dylan.” I hear Blaze’s voice, but my eyes stay locked on my father.
“Yeah, that’s it. Run away. Go back to getting bent over by your friend. Walk away, Dylan. Go on. You can’t do it. You’re shaking. You’re fucking weak. Your mother should have cut you out of her the moment—”
The gun goes off.
I watch in slow motion as the bullet hits his head. The explosion of blood and brain matter splatters across the wall behind him.
“Leave Mum out of it!” I roar. “You have no fucking idea! I’m not weak! I’m n-not fucking weak!”
Arms wrap around me from behind, dragging me back, prying the guns from my hands. “Little Rabbit, breathe,” Blaze whispers, his breath hot against my neck.
“I’m not weak,” I gasp, staring at the blood running down the wall. My father’s body doesn’t move. Not even a twitch.
I want to laugh. I want to shake him awake and make him take it all back.
My body flies backward as a fist lands hard against my face. My head snaps to the side. I look up, expecting Lucas, only to see Knox. His fist flies forward again, but before it can connect, he’s thrown back. Blaze stands over me, breathing hard.“Don’t fucking touch him!”
“Look at Red! That’s his fucking fault!” Knox snarls, lunging forward, but the guys drag him back.
“She already said he stopped it! Fuck sake, Knox, stand down.” Ghost shoves him back. “She’d be fucking worse if it wasn’t for him.”
“She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him and his fucking family!” Knox shoves at him, trying to get past.
“Bullshit! He’s got nothing to do with it.
His father had this planned long before we met Dylan!
Even if Dylan was fucking dead this would’ve happened.
But guess what, Knox? You had no fucking idea she was missing, so she would be dead if it wasn’t for him.
” Blaze fights to get past the guys as they shout and shove at each other.
My eyes drift back to my father’s crumpled body on the floor. Even dead, he’s still causing chaos. It won’t stop. Our family is a fucking curse. Everything we touch turns to blood and ruin.
I watch the remaining capos. My eyes follow their subtle movements as they shift, inching closer to Red. I see Lucas move slightly. I understand it. I know exactly what it means.
My body moves before my mind catches up. I grab the gun from the floor, aim, and fire.
The shot rings out.
My body is slammed into the wall. “What the fuck, Dylan?” Blaze stares at me, eyes wide.
“He was communicating with the capo.”
“No he wasn’t, he was fucking quiet!”
I laugh bitterly. “You think they’re not trained to understand looks? Subtle movements? Notice how they’ve shifted to the left more? Closer to Red?”
Everyone turns and sees it.
“Fuck. Fine, but now what? Now who the fuck is going to take over? You killed the only other person.”
“Are you done swearing at me?”
“No! Someone has to take over, Dylan.”
“I know. And there’s someone who can.”
“Not you. You can’t!”
He still thinks I’m weak. “Don’t worry, I know I can’t. Too weak, right? I never fucking meant me.” I shove him off me.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Don’t worry. I know exactly what you meant. I know exactly what you and everyone else fucking thinks.” I push past him and walk upstairs. I ignore the bodies littered across the floor and head to the third floor.
Getting into the room, I move straight to the safe room. I can hear people following me but I don’t give a shit. I punch in the code, insert the key, and turn it.
As I step inside, Rachel screams. She looks up and sees me. “Dylan?”
I nod. “Call Dante. Get him here now.”
She looks at me through her tears, one hand rubbing her swollen stomach. “What did you do?”
“What needed to be done. Protected everyone. Call Dante.” Her hand shakes as she dials him, crying the whole time. After a moment she nods.
“He’s on his way.”
I look from Rachel to Alice and Emma. “Sorry if I scared you,” I whisper. They don’t know me enough. Seeing me once a month wasn’t enough to build anything real.
“Where’s Dad and Lucas?” Rachel asks, voice trembling.
“Not in front of the kids,” I mutter, stepping out with her following.
“Dylan?”
“I killed them. So when Dante gets here he has a choice to make.”
She stares at me in horror. “No.”
“He’s been in it long enough. He knows how the world works. If it’s not Dante, then it’s one of Father’s connections.”
“I’m about to have a baby in three weeks, Dylan! We can’t handle it!”
I nod. “Then pack up. Take Alice and Emma and leave. Because if no one takes over, this place is the first spot someone is going to step into and claim.”
She stares around the room, then behind me. I know Blaze and the others are there.
Five minutes later I hear rushed footsteps and Dante calling out for Rachel. He rushes in and pulls her into his arms. “Who the fuck attacked?”
“Me,” I say.
He turns and stares. “My dad and brother are dead. So if you’re not willing to step up, then pack up my sisters and leave.”
“Fuck sake, Dylan. People are going to want fucking bodies!”
“No they won’t. It was family. This wasn’t an outsider. It was a family fucking war, and they lost. No one needs to be taken down for it.”
He just stares at me.
“Your choice. If you need me, call.” I walk out, ignoring Blaze trying to get my attention. I climb onto the bike and pull on the helmet.
“Dylan.”
“No, Blaze. Just forget it.” I twist the throttle and ride out.