Chapter 21
ROSEMARY
“Something bad’s happened,” I murmur, glancing around the room while talking to Jade and Noelle. My stomach tightens with fear because it’s been hours since I saw Kevlar last. He left earlier with a few of his brothers and none of them have returned yet.
“I’m sure everything’s going to be okay,” Noelle utters softly, her attention mostly on Bride sitting at a table working on her schoolwork. “The guys are probably just trying to handle things quietly without us getting worried about it all.”
“You’re probably right,” Jade remarks, but I can see the nervousness in her eyes as she licks her lips. “If something were wrong, Viper would tell us, I’m sure of it.”
I nod, wanting to believe them both, but something inside me is screaming, and it has been since Kevlar left earlier to do whatever he left to do.
I wish he told me where he was going or what was happening.
“I still think something bad has happened.” The words barely leave my lips when the door opens and Aries, Wolf, Falcon, and Dutch step through.
That feeling in my stomach tightens when Kevlar doesn’t come in behind them.
Getting to my feet, I look directly at Aries. “Where’s Kevlar?”
Aries meets my gaze, his jaw ticking and his body tense. “Taking care of your shit,” he states and stalks away, leaving me speechless.
“What does that mean?” The question is no more than a whisper as I turn toward Viper and Cyprus. “What did Aries mean?”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Viper mutters. “I’ve got to talk with my brothers and see what’s happened.”
“No,” I snap, shaking my head. “I want to know what’s going on.
What’s happened to Kevlar? Where is he? What did Aries mean about taking care.
. .” Those words sink in deeper, and my eyes widen, my lips part, and my breath lodges itself in my throat.
“No. Please tell me he didn’t.” I turn toward the men who left with Kevlar. “He went to Dominic, didn’t he?”
“Sorry, babe, but I can’t tell you.” Wolf grimaces.
“Rosie, we’ll talk after the brothers meet and discuss what’s happened,” Viper growls, nostrils flaring, jaw tense. He looks ready to strike.
“Please, Viper,” I whisper, tears spilling down my cheeks. “I know he went to Dominic. I can see it in your eyes. Please, tell me what’s going on.”
Nausea has my stomach in knots. This can’t be happening. Not now.
“You’re gonna have to wait,” Viper remarks, turning toward his brothers. “Church now. Someone go get Aries.” He doesn’t give me a chance to say another word as he stalks away, his brothers following after him.
I stare after them, feeling as if my world were crumbling around me.
“What have you done, Kevlar?” I murmur the question to myself, not talking to anyone.
Everything seems so surreal. That’s why he wouldn’t tell me what was going on before he left.
I mean, I get club business is club business, but this is different. This involves me.
Spinning around, I straighten, ready to take on Viper and demand answers, but Jade steps in front of me. “Don’t,” she whispers. “Let them figure it out, and after Viper will fill us in on what’s going on. Don’t go up against him right now. He’ll only get more pissed than he already is.”
Ugh, I know she’s right, but I hate it. So very much hate it. Still, I’ll wait until he’s out of church, and then I’ll confront him about what’s going on with Kevlar and what’s going to happen to get him back.
No one ever said patience was one of my best qualities. It never has been.
The moment Viper and the others step from the room where they’ve been held up for what feels like forever but mostly was two hours, I step forward.
“Can someone please tell me what’s going on now?” I demand, giving Viper a pleading look.
“Come on, Rosie, we’ll talk in my office,” Viper grumbles and shakes his head. “Aries, you’re with us.”
“I’m coming too,” Jade declares, coming up next to me and taking my hand. “I’m not about to be left out of what’s going on.”
“Might as well get Noelle as well,” Cyprus mutters, none too pleased.
Silently, I follow behind him, Jade holding my hand the whole way.
Once in the office and the door closes behind us, Viper moves behind his desk, taking Jade with him.
He settles in the chair and sets her on his lap.
“Have a seat, Rosie,” he commands. Holding his gaze, I stare at him as I do so.
I need to know what’s going on, no matter the feeling I’m getting that it’s going to be worse than I expected.
The others take a seat, and I’m left with Aries standing behind me.
“The club met this morning and came up with a plan for how to deal with Dominic and the bullshit he’s trying to pull.
He’s claiming you’re his property, Rosie, and threatening to kill others to get you back,” Viper announces.
“Claims you have fourteen more fights that you have to win in order to get your freedom.”
This is true, or at least what I’d been told.
“During church, it was decided that each of us was going to do a match. Dominic agreed to the terms Kevlar gave him under the stipulations of two things. One of them being, Kevlar is to stay at the fight club until the night of the fight.”
My heart threatens to beat its way out of my chest at the news. “And the second?”
“The second being you are to be in attendance the night of the fight. You’re to watch each fight take place.”
My heart stops altogether as I cock my head slightly to stare over my shoulder up at Aries to see him looking near murderous. The accusing tone in his voice makes me feel all the smaller and belittled. It’s all my fault, all of this.
Slowly, I get to my feet, dropping my gaze, suddenly feeling like I’m going to throw up or pass out. Maybe both. More than that, I need to get away from everyone. “Excuse me.” I don’t wait around and give anyone a chance to say another word. Right now, I don’t think I could handle hearing more.
Kevlar agreed to stay behind. They all decided to fight for me. It’s too much. None of them should be involved. They should’ve just left me. I would have finished the fights. Fought them all and handled it all myself. Now they’re all going to go in the ring, and to win, they’ll have to take a life.
I barely make it to the door before Aries snags my arm.
“Don’t think you’re gonna do something stupid,” he snaps.
Sucking in a breath, I lift my gaze to his. “I’m not going to do anything stupid. I’m not an idiot. I know what’s at stake here. Kevlar’s in the lion’s den, and I can only imagine the hell he’s going to go through because of me. I don’t need you snapping at me.”
“Aries, brother, back off,” Cyprus grunts his command. “We’ve got more to talk about.”
“What more is there?” Noelle asks. “You guys just informed us all that you’re going to be fighting in death matches.”
I can all but taste her fury. Noelle is not one for anger, but right now, I know it’s directed in my direction. She doesn’t have to look at me for this to be confirmed, it’s in her voice.
“We’re going to fight and win,” Cyprus declares, his tone holding a note in it that tells me he believes exactly what he’s saying.
“You don’t know that,” I whisper, shaking my head. “None of you know what you’re up against with this.”
“Rosie, babe, we know exactly what we’re up against. We’ve done the research into it.
We’re fighters, and we’ll do what we’ve got to in order free you and end the fucker for thinking he could threaten us and get away with it,” Viper states sternly.
“Kevlar knew what he was doing and what he was agreeing to. So, you’re gonna stay safe, and on the night of fights, you’re gonna go.
When our brother sees you there, you’ll be his strength no matter the bullshit.
He’ll deal with what’s gonna happen. You get me? ”
I nod, fear threatening to choke me.
“Good,” he says and looks to Jade. “I know what’s happenin’ ain’t ideal.
It’s not something any of us want to do, but it’s got to be done.
We’re new to the area, and we can’t let the motherfucker get away with what he’s doing.
We do, and we might as well pack our shit and move.
This is our territory now, and we’re not about to let the bastard make us run scared. ”
“I get it,” Jade utters, moisture shimmering in her eyes, but the tears don’t fall. “If you don’t make a stand now, someone else can think they can strike against you.”
“Exactly, so don’t blame this shit on Rosie. She’s your family,” Viper grunts.
“Goes for you too, Noelle,” Cyprus states. “This has to happen.”
“One other thing,” Aries grunts, finally letting my arm go. “Zain will be here this afternoon. He’s friends with Alec Mahoney and had given us a message from the guy. Joshua is safe. Alec is aware of the situation, and his family is taking a little vacation.”
The fact that Alec knows this isn’t surprising, but a part of me wishes he didn’t.
With Zain coming, that’s just icing on the cake.
My man’s brother is coming, and he’s not here.
He’ll blame me for it, I’m sure of it. I’ll have to make sure to stay out of his sight until after this is all over.
I don’t think I could handle the shame of him knowing what’s going on and that I’m to blame.
I drop my gaze to the floor, my chest aching. If I could do something different, I would, but what Viper says makes sense. I suppose the only thing I can hope for is that the outcome is in our favor.