Chapter Thirty-Six #3
Alex’s face shifts into a mask of cold fury and I relish the sight, I’m hungering for another outlet. Exhaustion is weighing on me but with the surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins at the prospect of taking on the infamous Butcher, it vanishes.
“I’m going to give you a piece of advice, kid.
” I lock my jaw at him calling me a fucking kid.
“We can be allies or enemies and believe me, I’m someone you want on your side.
I could have wiped you out weeks ago and saved myself the trouble.
I could have taken Steven Kellar down with a flick of my wrist and lost no sleep.
I allowed you all to have your war and only stepped in when you lost control of it—”
“I didn’t lose shit!”
“I gave you the chance to fix this mess because of him.” He flicks his gaze to Cas briefly, then back to me.
“You think you are untouchable, powerful beyond measure and hey, maybe in the little town you grew up in, you are. But I am nationwide, my reach is farther and greater than yours will ever be.”
“Did you want to measure my cock too?” I spit.
His eyes darken, he takes a step forward and I see the other two shift subtly, ready to strike if their master calls for it, but even with a broken leg and riddled with fractures, Cas draws in closer to me, ready to fight if he needs to.
“I became who I am for the same reason you became who you are.”
Anger instantly engulfs me. “You don’t know a fucking thing—”
“Her name was Ellie—Elenor Denver.” I hear Cas suck in a sharp inhale beside me.
“She was my beacon, my lighthouse, my fucking home and she was taken from me.” I listen intently to his story, needing to hear it not only for future leverage but because…
he may be the only person who knows what the fuck I went through.
“You aren’t the only one to find a home, a second chance if you will, between the legs of your enemy's sister.” I stiffen. “Tatum’s brother murdered my sister.”
I jerk in surprise, I didn’t expect that shit to come out of his mouth.
“I kidnapped Tate, locked her up at my home, planned to torture her and make her suffer for the crimes of not only her brother but her father as well. I wanted them all to fucking pay. They destroyed the one thing in this world that held any beauty to me. Ellie was the only person I cared about and she was gone. There was nothing holding me back anymore, so I gave into my beast. I became what everyone expected me to be. My parents—our parents turned their backs on me and blamed me for the death of my sister.”
“What?” Alex ignores Cas as he continues.
“In the absence of courage, fear takes root.” His words land with a force.
“I was untouchable. I had the Denver Kings and waged war on anyone who so much as looked at me wrong. I was sent to prison for a crime I didn’t commit.
Fiona may have had a hand in that but it was Tate’s father who orchestrated it.
My girl had no idea about any of this, didn’t even know who her father or brother were until they found her and tried to use her against me.
I hurt my Bambi more than I ever should have, she could have turned her back and ran.
She stayed. Even when she nearly died and woke up in hospital alone. ”
“We aren’t the same, Butcher,” I grit out.
“We are the same side of the coin, Devlin. Cut from the same cloth. Vengeance is easy, it’s controllable and men like us need to be in control.”
“Your point?” I snap, he’s too close to the truth. I can’t fucking let this asshole see that.
“If you aren’t ready to let go and change who you are and the life that you lead, step the fuck aside because you are blocking her from someone who can truly love her and give her the life she deserves.”
White hot fury erupts inside me. I push forward until we are chest to chest and snarl in his face. “Carnage tries to touch my girl and I’ll slaughter the motherfucker,” I vow.
“I’ll say this once and once only, you lay a single finger on him and the next time you see me create art it will be on you.”
“He touches her again and I’ll bring the wrath of the entire Devlin Cosa Nostra down on all of you.”
Alex takes a step back and eyes me for a moment before he speaks.
“Make your choice, I won’t hold Carn back if he goes after her.
” Alex turns and heads toward the exit, but pauses halfway with Halo and Omen on either side of him and turns back to face us.
He reaches into his pocket and withdraws an envelope then hands it to Halo.
I realize then it’s not just one but two letters.
Halo brings them to me. I stare at his outstretched hand for a second before grabbing them. He doesn’t release it straightaway.
“Only I get to torture my twin. Fuck around and find out what the Kings are really capable of.” He releases them as I snarl at the son of a bitch.
“Choose what you want. Make the right choice. I’ll be in touch,” Alex says, then stalks out of the warehouse, leaving Cas and I alone.