CHAPTER ELEVEN
– HEART –
Motherfucker. I’m guessing this is what it feels like to have your heart ripped out while you’re still breathing. Watching her get pulled into that van, fighting like hell to get her back, then seeing her roll out of a damn moving vehicle? Holy fuckin’ shit.
The worry didn’t fade until I had her checked by the doctor and tucked into bed. Hell, the doc just finished and doesn’t look worried, but I’m still on edge.
I point at Lina and grunt, “Stay put,” as I walk out of the bedroom to follow the doctor.
Closing the door behind me, I ask, “Are you sure she’s fine?”
The old man gives me one of his rare smiles. “Her skin isn’t, and it’s a good thing she had her helmet on when it happened, and if you take care of the road rash, she’ll be just fine.”
I take a slow breath and release it. “Thank you.”
“No need, the invoice will be in the mail.” He turns and walks out of the clubhouse.
Norie’s voice makes me jump when she asks, “Can I go in and check on her?”
Rubbing a hand over my face, I tell her, “Fuck, didn’t see you there. Sure. Tell her I’ll come by later.”
“You heard the doctor, Heart. She’s gonna be fine.” Norie touches my arm. “Fatal wants your help in the basement. Make the fucker suffer, even if Lina can’t feel pain...they did fucking hurt her.”
New determination fills my veins, and I give Norie a tight nod. “Stay with her until I’m done handling the fucker.”
“That goes without asking,” she softly tells me and I watch her slip into my room.
I notice Remus lingering down the hallway.
Snapping my fingers I tell him, “Make sure no one goes in my room.”
“You got it, VP,” Remus grunts.
He walks off to grab a chair, turns it to face the hallway, and drops his ass in it.
Feeling somewhat at ease to know my woman is cared for, I head for the basement.
Fatal is standing in front of the fucker who grabbed my woman.
The man is tied to a chair and isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Well, except to an early grave, but not before I get some damn answers.
Fatal has his arms crossed in front of his chest and his head slowly turns to me when I ask, “Did you get some answers yet? Heard anything from Sevrin?”
“Nothing yet. I did give him an update. He mentioned Karev is still tracking down a lead but will come by once he’s done. Sevrin and Levan went back to Lexmore Beach,” he grunts.
I grab a fistful of hair of the fucker sitting in the chair and stare at his face. “I don’t recognize him. Pretty sure he wasn’t at the forest yesterday, if he was I didn’t see him.”
“Well, he’s not saying shit yet, and I was very fucking persuasive,” Fatal grumbles.
I give my president a grin. “Pretty sure I’m more motivated than you to get me some answers.”
Taking one of my knives, I step forward to take the fucker’s hand. The fucker glares at me and I can tell he’s in pain already. He has more road rash than my woman. Good thing he can feel. I let the top of my knife glide over the raw skin.
“Why did you try to grab my old lady?” I ask.
The fucker presses his lips together, telling me without words he won’t be answering my question...yet.
I ram my knife through his hand, lodging it into the wooden armrest. “Just getting started, so you might as well save yourself a world of pain because I will get the answers I need.”
I know the fucker can hear me, even if he’s still screaming as I pull out my knife. Gripping his ear, I slice it off in one go and drop the bloody piece of flesh onto the floor.
Grabbing the other ear, I let him know, “You won’t be needing these since you already know the question I want the answer to.
Besides, those flaps are to amplify and you’ll hear fine with those holes still left in your head.
” I drop the other ear-shell and place my mouth at the wound beside his head and roar, “Fucking tell me.”
“He’s not going to tell you shit,” Karev states as he slowly walks toward me. “Go ahead and kill him already so I can fill you in on everything I found out.”
The fucker’s eyes widen and so does my grin. I know Karev is telling me the truth and it’s why I swing my knife and lodge it deep inside the fucker’s throat.
I don’t pull the weapon out, but tell Gael who is leaning against the wall, “I want my knife back.”
Fatal sighs and glances at Gael. “Let Wesson check the safest route to get rid of this fucker. Tell Swade to bring the van around, and get Quint, Lumos, and Tybal to help you get rid of the body. And make sure Tybal doesn’t pull the knife out until it’s safe to do so because I don’t want the fucker leaking all over the damn place. ”
“Blood doesn’t flow from the body if the heart isn’t pumping,” Gael states, earning him a glare from Prez. He clears his throat and mutters, “Will do, Prez,” and walks off.
“Church. Now,” Fatal snaps and stomps up the stairs.
Karev and I follow. Fatal slams the door shut once we’re all inside. I try to stay patient and it’s why I stalk over to my chair and take a seat. Karev pulls out the chair across from me and sits down, just like Fatal.
“Valentinius Calvania. He’s the one behind all of this,” Karev states.
Fatal and I share a look. The name sounds familiar, and if it is who I think he is? Fucking hell, talk about worst-case scenario.
“King of the underworld of Maryland him-fucking-self is tied to this shit. Like I said all along, I’m pretty sure my sister was targeted.” Karev shakes his head. “I knew starting a vintage store was a bad idea, but she did it anyway.”
I’m instantly pissed off at the fucker and feel the need to defend my old lady. “Her choice to start up a business, and for the record? People all around the world start businesses without a damn hitch. This shit isn’t on her. So, skip your judgmental shit and get to...”
“The Heart of things?” he sneers, turning the word into my name.
Jumping out of my chair, I’m about to drag the fucker over this table when Fatal calmly says, “Sit back down, Heart. Karev, stop yanking my VP’s chain, and keep sharing the information you found out.
There must be more than just Calvania’s link you found.
Besides, what the hell does that mafia fucker want with Lina? ”
My chest tightens at the thought of anyone wanting my old lady.
She’s mine. Less than a day and I’m fully committed.
Not because of love, not because I owe her shit, but I’m a simple man who protects what’s his.
I claimed her, I fucked her, and am definitely content with keeping her around.
Anyone who so much as threatens to ruin this will stop breathing.
Karev leans back in his chair. “I checked the places from the recent purchases and also went to Rob’s apartment. My guess is Rob was sent by Calvania to retrieve something. There was a case with expensive watches at Rob’s place. I’m pretty sure he somehow took it from Lina’s store.”
“Shame the fucker died, because I’d like to kill him myself, ripping her off,” I grumble.
“Good thing you didn’t because you don’t want Calvania’s attention. Rob was one of his men which automatically would put you on a hitlist. The guy you had downstairs? Also indirectly part of Calvania’s crew, which is why he didn’t give you any answers. Did he?” Karev raises one of his eyebrows.
“You interrupted me before I could get my answers,” I grit.
“Well, we don’t need them. What we do need is a cleanup.
Those fuckers in the forest still need to be dealt with.
I think there were two parties who are after the same thing.
A thing I haven’t found out what it is yet.
So, you guys will be handling the cleanup, and I’m going to arrange a meeting with Calvania. ”
This time I don’t say shit, knowing we got the better deal. Karev is putting his own life on the line just by reaching out to Calvania.
Fatal gets to his feet. “Keep us in the loop once you know more. We’ll swing by Lancer’s pawn shop and get ahold of Digby. We’ll get the other names involved from that fucker.”
Karev nods. “Keep in mind those fuckers might have simply been after the expensive watches Rob had at his place.”
“Makes sense,” I grunt. “Digby would have been able to move them fast with his father’s contacts.”
Karev turns to me. “I’d appreciate it if you could keep my sister safe this time. Which means keeping her skin on her damn bones.”
A snarl rips from me and I’m ready to rip the asshole’s head off.
Fatal punches Karev in the shoulder. “Stop pissing him off, asshole. I was there when it happened. No one could have protected her better.”
Karev glares at both of us, grinds his teeth and gives a tight nod. “Handle your side, and I’ll make sure Calvania backs down.”
He doesn’t give me another look and simply walks out of church. I do hope he doesn’t return any time soon, because if he does and keeps agitating me? I might do something Lina won’t easily forgive me for.