Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Joey
Iwas covered in Emmanuel’s blood. Fuck, there’d been so damn much of it that it was a miracle the man was still alive when we’d gotten him to the emergency room.
I’d been prepared to begin making deals with hospital administrators to keep this under wraps, but apparently, Miguel had already been ten steps ahead of me.
When Ink and I had gotten Emmanuel to the hospital, a team of doctors and nurses were already there waiting, and Miguel had already struck deals and put money into the right people’s pockets to keep this quiet and out of law enforcement’s ears.
I stepped out of the bathroom after washing my hands and cleaning what blood I could off my arms. Wasn’t anything I could do about my shirt, but I did get the blood off my cut by using a damp paper towel.
When I walked into the ER waiting room, Alejandro and Elaina were standing with Ink and Miguel, and Ink was quietly relaying what we’d been told to Alejandro.
When Elaina noticed me, she tilted her chin up the slightest bit. Her eyes were swollen and red-rimmed from all the crying she’d done, but her eyes were dry now, and she was giving the world both of her middle fingers once more. Always our strong, sweet girl.
“That’s my girl,” I murmured as I drew near.
Reaching out, I drew her into my arms. Her hand stayed clasped in Alejandro’s, but she sank into my embrace, allowing me to take the world off her shoulders for a few moments so she could just be.
I pressed my lips to the top of her head, taking a moment to inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo as I did so.
“You good, sweet girl?” I asked softly.
She nodded, her nose brushing my chest as she did so. “I’ll be okay.” She looked up at me. “Doctor told Ink they’re optimistic about Emmanuel. That…” She drew in a deep breath. “It helps.”
My lips tilted up into a small smile for her benefit because I really didn’t feel much like smiling at all.
I was blood thirsty and the need for revenge was slithering through my veins like poison.
I wanted to slaughter Yeller Giddons and every other mother fucker in that trafficking ring for not only daring to come into my territory without my permission and crossing me, but for even daring to bring danger near this woman.
She was mine and Alejandro’s. Fucking ours. Two moves had been made.
The third move was the charm, and that would be my move, without or without Alejandro’s support.
She slowly moved back from me and tipped her head back to meet my eyes. “I want them dead for this,” she said quietly. I arched a brow in surprise at the vehemence in her voice. “Promise me, Joey.”
I cupped her cheek and stroked my thumb beneath her eye, my jaw clenching. Her gaze never wavered from mine, and a moment later, Alejandro stepped up behind her, his hands landing on her hips. Finally, I nodded once at her. “You have my word,” I swore.
“To?” Alejandro asked, watching me calmly. And a little cautiously. Guess he hadn’t forgotten how much of a loose cannon I could be.
I lifted my eyes from Elaina’s pretty face to his handsome one. “She wants blood,” I calmly told him, keeping my voice low. “And blood she’ll get.”
He hummed and inclined his head to me. “As soon as Emmanuel is out of surgery and awake, we will reconvene at your clubhouse. Warn River. We’re about to roll into action.
” I nodded and dropped my hand from Elaina’s face, taking a step back so I could go outside and make the phone call.
“And Joey?” I arched a brow at him, waiting for him to spit out whatever he had to say. “Everything rolls into action.”
My gut swooped. I didn’t miss the meaning behind his words. He was done waiting around for me. He was taking everything he wanted—the blood of Yeller Giddons, the souls of every person involved in trafficking women and children, and me.
“Understood,” I rumbled. Then, turning on my heel, I headed for the exit so I could call River.
My heart was racing at the thought of Alejandro claiming me as his.
I was nervous as hell. I’d never been with a man, nor had I ever been interested in one.
But there was something about Alejandro that called to me.
And his promise to make me one of his priorities… I couldn’t deny that I loved the sound of that. For so, so fucking long I’d put myself second to everyone—my little sister, the club, Adelaide…
For once, someone was promising to put me first. And I wanted that. I wanted it desperately.
Deciding to deal with my conflicting emotions and my fears later, I dialed River’s burner number. He answered on the second ring. “Joey,” he greeted.
I looked out at the sky just as rain poured down, perfectly reflecting the somber mood we were all in. “It’s time,” I warned him. “Be prepared for church when we get back. You’ll want to pull the rest of your club down here.”
“They’ll be here by morning,” he promised, then promptly hung up.
War was here, and there was no avoiding it.
But for Elaina? I’d burn this entire fucking world to the ground, and then, I’d watch her dance in the ashes of my destruction.