23. Savage
SAVAGE
“Dad knows about Dalton.”
“I heard. Hell, I heard every word. We all did.” We were standing at the two-way mirror, watching as Wrath tortured Keshawn.
He’d been at it for a while, but so far, Keshawn had been pretty tight-lipped.
Rooster, on the other hand, had plenty to say.
“I’ll admit it—I was wrong about wanting to be there when he found out about the kid.
That shit was too fucking intense for my liking.
Hell, I thought Cotton was about to lose it. ”
“He was, but thankfully, Londyn was able to get him to settle down and actually listen.”
“So, everything’s good now?”
“No, but we’re getting there.” I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. “Mom’s on her way over. I’m sure she’s gonna have a lot to say about it, too, but I figured it was best to rip the band-aid all at once.”
“Probably right about that. I’m sure Cass is gonna freak out at first, but she’ll be fine. Your sisters are another story.”
“Ugh,” I groaned. “I don’t even wanna think about them right now.”
“Ah, I wouldn’t think it’d be all that bad. Darby will be cool about it, but I’m not so sure about Susana. She liked Londyn a lot, so she’s liable to kick your ass.” A smirk crossed his face as she said, “Now, that would be a sight to see.”
“What is it with you wanting me to get my ass kicked?” I asked, sounding and feeling a bit wounded. “I don’t get it. What the fuck did I ever do to you?”
“Nothing.” He chuckled under his breath. “I just think it would be fun to watch.”
“Fuck you, Roost.”
“Ah, come on, brother. You know I’m just fucking with you.”
I didn’t respond.
There was no point. Rooster was just being Rooster, so I turned my attention back to the two-way mirror.
Wrath was still going at it and was giving Keshawn all kinds of hell.
He’d even broken out a fucking Skil Saw and was using it to slice lines into his bicep and thigh—each cut a little deeper than the last. Between cries, Keshawn shouted, “You’re gonna regret this shit.
They’re coming for you, and all you motherfuckers are gonna burn. ”
“Then, where are they? They gotta know you’re here.”
“They’re already here. They’re just waiting for the right time.”
“I think you’re full of shit. I think they’ve left you to the wolves, and now, you’re the one who’s gonna pay.”
Wrath pressed the saw into his thigh, causing him to bellow out in pain once again. Clearly bothered by the display, Rooster stepped away from the mirror and shook his head. “You gotta give it to him. The motherfucker has got some balls.”
“Yeah,” Q agreed. “He certainly does.”
Keshawn’s tortured cries were penetrating the hallway as Wrath continued to work him over, and a mischievous smile crossed his face as Rooster motioned his head towards the door. “Well, he had some. Now, I’m not so sure.”
“He’s been at it for hours.” Q shook his head. “I can’t believe he hasn’t gotten more out of him.”
“I got a feeling it won’t be long before he’s singing like a canary.
I mean, come on. He looks like he’s been through a fucking meat grinder.
” A pained expression crossed Rooster’s face as he continued, “Hell, I would’ve started spilling it the second I saw Wrath coming at me with a that Skil Saw, but this guy’s trying to play hero and isn’t giving up his crew. ”
Q was quick to reply, “He doesn’t want to be the rat.”
“I was thinking the same fucking thing, and I can’t blame him. I wouldn’t talk either.”
The screams continued as Maverick and Torch walked up. Maverick stared through the two-way glass as he asked, “Is he getting anywhere?”
“Not really. He’s just confirming shit we already knew.”
Bones had been gathering intel on the Stingers and had already compiled a great deal of information.
He’d found the names of over half of their members and located their hangout.
We were hoping that Wrath could help us find out when and where the gang met.
He was asking all the right questions, and then he took a turn I wasn’t expecting. “Why were you following the girl?”
“I was doing what I was told to do. That’s it.”
“And what were you told to do?”
“I was supposed to find someone you cared about so we could use ‘em against you.”
“And how were you planning to do that with the girl?”
“Probably beat her up and give her a good fucking... Give the kid one, too.” Keshawn looked directly into the two-way glass as he said, “Then, we’d send her back to ya with a cunt full of come and...”
Overcome with rage, I withdrew my weapon and charged past my brothers. I opened the door and stalked over to Keshawn, placing the barrel of my gun at the center of his head, “Shut your goddamn mouth, you piece of shit motherfucker! I’ll kill you for even thinking about touching her.”
“Oh, I thought about it,” he snickered, taunting me. “I’m still thinking about it. Nothing better than some tight, white puss...”
That was it.
I couldn’t listen to another word, so I pulled the trigger, sending blood and skull fragments across the back wall.
I was still standing there, glaring down at Keshawn’s lifeless body, when Wrath approached me and roared, “What the fuck, brother? I still hadn’t gotten the information I needed to get out of him. ”
“We’ll have to get what you need from Bones.”
“But we got no way of knowing if he’s got the means to find it.”
“Then, we’ll have to figure it out,” I argued.
I’d fucked up. I knew that. Hell, all the brothers knew.
Outraged with myself, I stormed back out into the hall and slammed the door behind me.
I took a step forward, and with all the rage I had boiling up inside me, I drew a fist and slammed it into the fucking wall.
It wasn’t one of my finer moments. It hurt like a sonofabitch, but it wasn’t broken.
But thankfully, it helped distract me from all the foul things Keshawn had said about Londyn—at least, for a brief moment. Concerned, Torch stepped over to me and said, “You best get some ice on that.”
“I’m fine.”
“Suit yourself, but in a couple of hours, that’s gonna hurt like a bitch.”
“I’m good.”
I was doing my best to shake it off when Maverick stepped over to me. I could tell by his expression that he wasn’t pleased with me, and I couldn’t blame him. I’d lost my cool, and it could cost the club. “I’m sorry, Prez. I shouldn’t have gone in there.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
“I know, and that shit’s on me. But fuck. Him saying all that shit got under my skin.”
“Which was exactly what he was trying to do. You let him win today. Don’t let that shit happen again.”
“I won’t.”
“This isn’t all on him, Prez,” Rooster interrupted. “We shouldn’t even be dealing with this asshole! He’s here because of fucking Bruton. He’s the one who should be dealing with this bullshit. Not us!”
“You’ve got a point there.” Maverick took out his phone and started dialing. Seconds later, he said, “We need you at the clubhouse.”
There was a brief pause, then Maverick snapped, “You’ve got an hour. Not a minute more.”
He hung up the phone then turned his attention to me. “He’s coming. Go take a few minutes to cool off and get some ice on that hand.”
Maverick wasn’t asking. He was telling, so I nodded and started down the hall.
I tried not to think of Keshawn and all the shit he’d said about Londyn, but with each step, I found myself getting more and more riled.
I couldn’t help myself. I loved Londyn. I loved her more than I ever thought possible, and the mere thought of something happening to her had me tangled up in knots.
It was the knot in my stomach that had me charging down to the family room to find her.
I needed to hold her, to touch her, and see for myself that she was really okay.
When I walked in, she was sitting in one of the recliners, talking to my mother.
She looked happy, which made that knot wrench even tighter.
I took a step inside, then asked, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just need a minute.”
When she got up and started towards me, I turned to Mom and said, “We won’t be long.”
“It’s fine. Take your time, but when you get back, I want a word with you.”
“I figured you would.”
When Londyn made it over to me, I reached out and took her hand.
I led her down the hall to the bar, and as I’d hoped, the place was empty.
I could’ve taken her to my room, but it was getting late, and it wouldn’t be long before Dalton would need to get to bed.
Besides, most of the guys were either out in the shop with Maverick, keeping an eye on things with Wrath and our guest, or were waiting on standby at home or in their rooms.
At that moment, I didn’t care where they were as long as they were out of sight. I walked over and locked the back door, then made my way back over to her. I took her hand again and led her over to a dark corner. Confusion marked her face as she asked, “Is everything okay?”
“No, but it will be soon enough.”
“What’s going on? Why are you being like this?”
“I need something from you.”
“Alright, I’ll bite.” Her eyes locked on mine as she asked, “What do you need from me?”
I lowered my mouth to her ear and whispered, “I need to fuck you, Londyn. I need to fuck you right here and right now.” A spark of desire flashed through her eyes as I whispered, “Tell me you need it, too.”
“Yes, Malcomb.”
“Yes, what?”
“I need it, too.”
“That’s my girl.”
Before giving her a chance to reply, I lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. Her lips parted in surprise as I backed her up against the counter. My tongue swept across her open lips before delving deeper into her mouth.
The kiss was urgent, and I was consumed with need.
She gasped into my mouth when my hands grabbed her ass, pulling her hips closer to mine.
There was no doubt that she could feel my throbbing erection through my jeans.
My mouth trailed down the curve of her neck while my hands roamed urgently over her body.