Chapter 34
BLAIZE
Iloathed being emotional. It was a sign of weakness, giving my enemies the advantage.
Whoever this person was, tormenting me and bringing my people, innocent people, into the mix, was causing a rift.
Layla was a grave loss, weakening my defense.
I wished I could remain stoic and balanced, but the weight of this grief was undeniable.
Sin and Ranger were heartbroken and sulking around, but if they didn’t react like this, I would kick them so hard in the balls, they’d feel them in their throats.
Layla was their girl, the heart and soul that kept two of my best men afloat.
And now with her gone, they were not the same men.
Both of them were angry, seething with rage and waiting to find the person responsible.
Everyone else at the club lost a member of our dysfunctional family.
I would paint the streets red before letting my men have a turn for their revenge.
Grief was a bitch.
Forcing my men to be okay would be hypocrisy on my part.
Layla’s death was bringing back memories I’d much rather forget.
Seeing Layla’s mutilated body sent flashbacks of Olivia and Charlee racing through my mind like an unwanted replay.
And what made me sick was this asshole going after the innocent.
Instead of facing me, they went after the weak because they were scared.
The attack was over a month ago, and Fallon was still in a coma.
Hawke informed me that she was breathing on her own and her heart was beating irregularly, but she is alive.
He’d always been a grizzly of a man, but now he was living up to that title with his scruffy beard and disgruntled appearance.
His world was laid up in a hospital bed fighting to survive, and I knew he was miserable, knowing he couldn’t help her.
He had a village behind him, but I didn’t want someone to use this moment of weakness against him.
We were hoping she’d be awake before the funeral tomorrow, but even if she did wake up, she’d be too weak to go anywhere for a few weeks.
Damon still had no information for me, and it was pissing me off.
How was this fucker so clever and tricky that we still had no info on him?
He killed one of mine while gravely injuring another, yet he didn’t leave a single trail behind him.
Eli would have left more of a calling card.
They knew before I knew about my feelings for Kadence.
That fiery woman was like an inferno—intense, strong, and gorgeous.
Her pull was inevitable, and my heart was done.
Someone was trying to use her to send a message, but I wouldn’t let any part of my life hurt her.
I already did enough of that. This relationship was new.
It felt odd dating again, but it also felt natural with Kadence; like she was meant to fix the gaping hole in my chest with love and reassurance.
Everyone wanted answers, and I had nothing for them.
I needed to find answers to give Sin and Ranger closure.
They had to mourn the loss of their girl, the Reapers had to mourn a joyful soul gone, and my girls lost a friend who would do anything for them.
Kadence’s first friend in Westhaven was Layla.
Layla helped her when Kadence had nightmares. She was there for her.
Layla deserved justice. She would have justice.
Nothing would bring her back and I couldn’t ease the heartache my men are feeling, but I could give her peace. Once I found her killer, I would make them suffer. They took an angel who walked the Earth, and I would give her killer hell. They would regret taking a precious soul from us.
Uncertainty was gnawing at my core, making my bones ache.
I needed answers, I needed to know who was trying to destroy my foundation and who was jeopardizing everything I’d built—all in the name of the man who stole everything from me.
This anguish was a familiar feeling because it was almost exactly how I felt after losing my family, just without the gut-wrenching heartbreak and brain numbness.
This was a personal vendetta to destroy everything I fixed.
I would make sure this person had a fate worse than death.
An easy death would be merciful, so I’d make them suffer.