Chapter 37 Rebel #2
I don’t correct Owen about the husband thing. As far as I’m concerned, Summer’s my everything. The Hearts including me tonight and claiming me as their brother is a bonus. I’ve accomplished my reason for coming to Devil’s Bend.
“I warned you.” My knuckles connect with his eye socket.
“Oh-ho.” Storm laughs. “Now he’s got one to match Violet.”
“Good arm, Hollywood,” Owen says with gruff respect.
I crouch in front of Duke. I have violent déjà vu of being carted away twice in handcuffs. I should’ve ended Alec’s life the first time. I should’ve destroyed him so we wouldn’t be worried about whether he’s lurking in the shadows waiting for his next chance to attack.
But my life would be behind bars. And my heart wouldn’t reside with a gorgeous redhead and our two unborn children.
Rogue would be a different man than the one he’s become with Ivy at his side. Dizzy wouldn’t have found us. We would never have learned about West.
God alone knows how Riot would have been changed if I’d killed Alec that night when I found him on top of Ro.
“I really want to hurt you for what you put Summer through.”
He gulps. “I don’t know what she told you, but everyone knows she’s a liar.”
“No, she’s not.” I study my hands as I run my thumb over my knuckles.
“I’m the mayor. She was chased out of town years ago. No one is going to side with her against me. And I will never admit it was anything more than what she wanted.”
“You will. You’ll confess to what you and your pals did to Summer back in high school.
You’re going to tell everyone how you followed that up by slandering and bullying her.
” The people around here are going to learn their beloved mayor isn’t a good guy like they think.
“And you’ll confess to killing the goat. ”
A bewildered look glazes his face. “What goat?”
“Goat?” Storm’s brow gathers low over his eyes as he turns to Owen.
Owen catches on quicker. “Are you telling me this fucker had something to do with Stains’ disappearance, Hollywood?”
It was nice bonding with them while it lasted.
The rumble of the truck’s engine turns into a quieter idle, indicating that Jett has made it to the top of the driveway.
“You want her gone because people might realize they got it wrong about you,” I say. “You killed the goat to scare her.”
“I didn’t know she was here,” Duke says.
“Now, that’s not true.” I crack my knuckles. “You sent her a welcome home card. Told her to leave.”
He sucks in a sharp breath and freezes.
“What card?” Storm asks.
“No wonder she’s been so unhappy about being home,” Owen folds his arms over his chest. “Looks like I pegged you wrong, Hollywood.”
I wrap my hand around Duke’s throat and wait until he looks at me. “You threatened my woman. And I have had enough of assholes coming for the people I care about. I’m all out of morals, and I’m not afraid to do time for her. Understand?”
He nods.
“Did you send her a card or not?” I already know he did. It was one of those cards that record sounds, according to Summer, and she was adamant it was him because the idiot also wrote in it. But I want to hear it from him.
“She shouldn’t be here.” His lip curls up in an ugly manner. “Nobody wants her here.”
“You thought you’d help her decide to leave.”
“I didn’t do anything but tell her the truth.”
“Did you threaten her?” I make a fist, but refrain from plowing it into his face again. I need information more than the satisfaction of watching his lights go out.
“It was more of a warning.” The corners of his mouth tip up. He catches it but not before I do. “People around here have long memories.”
Ignoring his pitiful threat I say, “Tell me about the goat. Did you kill it yourself? Or did you talk one of your friends into doing the dirty work for you?”
“I’m telling you I don’t know anything about a damn goat.”
“I don’t believe you.”
His brows pull down over his muddied gaze. “I swear I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The goat was stabbed multiple times. You slit its throat.”
“You killed my goat.” Owen roars, starting forward. He stops when I put a hand up to halt him. “You hurt my sister, you hit Violet, and you killed my goat.”
Duke looks up at Owen. “I promise I don’t know anything about your damn goat.”
If not him, then who?
“We need to go.” Jett comes running in. “He’s got company on the way.”
“Yup.” Owen pivots and heads for his gun. “I need to check on Violet anyway.”
“Stay away from her,” Duke demands.
Owen turns to stone.
“That’s not going to happen,” Storm says.
Jett chuckles darkly. “How about… you’ll stay away from Violet if you know what’s good for you.”
“Fuck you,” Duke spits another wad of blood on the floor.
“You’re done hurting women, Duke.” Owen picks up his gun. “Or the next time I have to sort you out you’ll have bullet holes in you.”
Fucking hell.
“You might want to clean up before your friends get here. Wash the blood off your chin,” I tell Duke.
“Yeah, right.” Duke wipes at his face. “I’m going to have you arrested for assault. All of you.”
I scratch the side of my head, like I haven’t thought through our actions tonight to their conclusion.
“If you do, Summer’s going to tell her story to whichever media outlets will listen.
This backwoods town might be on your side, but the whole world won’t be.
Do you want to find out how they’ll judge you? ”
“I’ll do you one better, Hollywood.” Owen smirks. “Count the Hearts in this room tonight, Duke.”
Duke’s gaze skips across the three brothers.
“Why don’t you go ahead and have us arrested. There are still three of us willing to do what needs to be done.”
Summer’s brothers are unhinged. The lot of them. Is there a possibility they intended to get rid of me in the pit?
“Don’t think too hard about it, Hollywood.” Owen claps me on the back on his way past with his shotgun braced on his shoulder. “We gotta go.”
I stalk out of there behind them.
Did Summer know they were this eager to take justice into their own hands? Is that why she begged them not to do anything?
We pile into the truck and fly down the dirt road, dust rising like the apocalypse behind us.
“I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you guys don’t hate me as much as you did this morning,” I say.
“More thankful than you think, considering you didn’t tell me about my goat,” Owen mutters.
I settle into the backseat. “I already figured you might kill me when you found out. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“That was smart of you,” Owen falls quiet for a long moment before he says, “If Duke didn’t kill Stains, then who the hell did?”