Chapter 28
BLAIZE
Damon wanted me to meet him in Bellevue, and I couldn’t handle anything else happening right now.
I still needed to find who killed Layla and who shot Fallon.
I needed to find the person who wanted Kadence to take the fall.
Who attacked her on the pier. There was too much I needed to do without falling apart.
My people needed me to be strong—Kadence needed me to be strong.
When I arrived at the Outlaw’s clubhouse, Damon met me at the door. “Sorry to drag you out here. I wanted to keep you in the loop.”
I nodded as I stepped inside. “It’s fine. Do you have anything?”
“Maybe. Since it happened, I made sure the Bellevue police kept me updated with footage. This person is smart, but turns out they had a partner. I was curious at how they managed to shoot Fallon and kill Layla the way they did.”
A partner? “Do you have footage?”
He nodded. “Are you sure you want to watch it? It’s pretty graphic.”
“Play it.”
I didn’t want to see how Layla was killed, but I needed to know if there was anything to pinpoint me to who this person was. Now that I had to look for an accomplice, I needed to focus. Both figures were dressed in black with ski masks and dark glasses. There was nothing to indicate who they were.
“Is there anything else showing where they went?”
“A motorcycle. When they were done, one left to get a bike before picking the other one up and speeding off. I looked through all the footage, and I can’t find anything with them.”
There still weren’t any leads, but now we had two people to find. I didn’t like this game they were playing. I had to make sure Kadence and my people were safe when I didn’t know who wanted to hurt them. I could have a wolf hidden in the shadows of my club, waiting for the perfect time to attack.
“Thank you for working hard on finding who killed Layla and hurt Fallon.”
“Of course. It’s the least I can do. I gave you that folder that was a farce. How is your girl?”
When he learned Kadence was hurt because of what I did and later learned she had nothing to do with it, Damon felt guilty. He supported an eye for an eye and killing people who were guilty, but Kadence was innocent in this.
“She is doing better. Someone is trying to hurt her to get to me. I’m assuming he is the one who did it.”
“Tell her I’m sorry for accusing her before we had concrete proof. When I can find anything else, I’ll let you know. I’m going to find him and he will pay.”
“Thank you. Do you know if there is anything else going on with the other territories?”
I knew Jethro had issues, but I hadn’t heard from any of the other leaders. I had several territories, but the ones furthest from me were handled by their leaders. If they needed something, they called. I hardly go there due to the distance, but I might need to look into a trip.
“No, Jethro is still being a bitch about everything; but he doesn’t like you, so he’ll get over it.”
“If you hear anything, let me know. I need to get back to my girl.”
I texted Kadence, telling her I’ll be home soon, and then read Hunter’s text.
HUNTER
Your girl is a tease.
She wants to spar with me. *winky face*
ME
No. Where is she?
HUNTER
Drinking at the bar, laughing with Jax, and watching the girls. She’s safe.
I needed to keep her safe, and now she had a target on her back for loving me.
I got back to Hades after eight since I made pit stops to the closer territories to check in on everything.
Other than a few acts of vandalism that couldn’t be blamed on this person, they were well.
I needed to make it a habit of checking on the territories even when everything isn’t on fire.
Kadence was still on the floor, only she was dancing with some of the girls in the main room.
It was nice seeing her laugh again. There had been shadows in her eyes for the longest time, but now she was starting to look like Kadence again.
I walked to the bar and Jax smiled, grabbing a glass and filling it with whiskey as I sat and watched.
There was no point in bugging her when she was enjoying herself.
I might be…hell, I didn’t know what I was right now, but I was not the type to control my partner unless we’re in the bedroom.
I walked upstairs, removing my jacket as I walked into my office and then into my home.
It had been a long day, and I was ready for a shower and to crawl into my bed.
Tomorrow, I planned on taking Kadence to the cliffside on the outskirts of Westhaven bordering Windsor Valley.
I informed Conner as a courtesy that I’d be lingering on the border.
I was taking her to the place I found after I lost Olivia and Charlee.
The place where I contemplated killing myself and letting the ocean swallow me whole, returning me to my family.
No one knew about this place besides Hunter, and that was only because she was a pest. She’d never physically been there.
I didn’t know why I peeled myself from the cliff edge before, but something told me I needed to fight, to live for my family, even though I was positive from that point I would always be alone.
Slipping out of my clothes, I walked into my bathroom.
Steam filled the bathroom as I slipped into the shower.
I rested my hand on the white tile as the scalding water berated my body.
There was too much going on for me to handle alone, but I couldn’t afford to lose focus.
If my attention slipped, more people would die, and I refused to lose anyone else because someone was targeting me.
The glass shower door opened, and I felt soft hands caress my back before featherlike kisses scattered down my back.
I turned, pulling Kadence into my arms. She wrapped her hands around my neck and rested her head on my chest. I sank into her touch as we stayed silent.
She knew what I needed, and there was no point in opening my mouth and ruining it.