Chapter 23 #2
Panic bubbled up as my anxiety increased.
No one was down this hallway at the moment.
The back door wasn’t far. They could snatch us up and carry us out the back, and no one would know it.
Well, fuck that. I’d fight and scream every step.
I clenched my fists, preparing to throw punches.
Over the past few years living in Bristol, I’ve been free to take self-defense classes at the local gym.
All three shifted their weight to move. However, they froze when a menacing male voice spoke from behind them. A sense of partial relief washed through me, but I kept my guard up. We weren’t safe yet.
“I suggest that if you want to leave here breathing, you don’t take another step toward them. If you do, well, this floor has seen blood before. It cleans up nicely,” Mayhem said.
My brothers and dad pivoted just enough to see who was behind them, letting Astrid and me see too. There stood Mayhem and Shadow. Their faces shouted, “Fuck around, find out” as clearly as words would.
“This doesn’t concern you. It’s a family matter,” Dad stated.
I saw, even at an angle, the way his eyes barely flickered to their cuts and back up.
“Everything to do with the taller one concerns me. She’s my old lady,” Mayhem said.
“Then take her. We’re going somewhere quieter to talk to my sister,” Rome added dismissively.
“No, you’re not. Everything to do with Aubrielle concerns me. She’s mine,” Shadow said coldly. I swear the temperature dropped ten degrees due to how icy his tone was.
“We’re her family. You can’t tell us what we can and can’t do with her. And no one gave her permission to have a boyfriend or whatever you are,” Jace finally spoke.
“I knew she was doing more than stripping. I told you, Dad. She’s whoring herself out. God knows how many she’s screwing. She’s been shorting us,” Rome snapped.
Like a rattlesnake, Mayhem and Shadow lunged toward them. At the same time, Maniac’s voice came from behind Astrid and me, seconds before arms encircled us, yanking us away from the scuffle. A blur rushed past us, jumping into the fray.
The blur belonged to Crusher. He grabbed Jace.
Mayhem had a hold of Dad, leaving Shadow to deal with Rome.
My oldest brother was pinned to the wall by his throat.
Dad had one arm pinned up high behind his back.
His agonized expression showed how painful it was.
Jace cowered before the intimidating stare of the club’s six-foot-four-inch sergeant-at-arms. Rome was the tallest in my family.
He hit five feet ten. Jace and Dad were an inch shorter. They were all looked down upon.
“Hang on, there’s no need to get ugly. We only want to talk to my daughter. My son had no right to speak to her that way.” Dad’s placating voice made me want to scream. He turned his attitude on and off at will, though usually it was on.
“Your daughter has nothing to say to you. You have no say in her life. Those days are over. She’s my old lady.
That makes the Iron Punishers her family.
The days of you forcing her to do as you order and taking her money are over.
Go back to Big Stone Gap. If you don’t leave or you contact her again, you won’t like what happens,” Shadow snarled.
The silence stretched out. Rome wheezed, barely able to draw enough air into his lungs to remain conscious.
Shadow still had him by the throat. Jace stared at them like a frightened rabbit.
Dad kept scanning from one to the next, saying nothing.
I saw his expression change to a calculating one moments before he spoke again.
“I think we should sit down and talk. I have a lucrative business proposition for your club. Things got out of hand tonight. We got off on the wrong foot.”
“We have nothing to talk about. You need to leave. Now,” Reaper’s voice joined, then I saw him. He’d come from the main floor. Riot and Ratchet flanked him.
Seeing they were outnumbered almost three to one, even my family members weren’t that stupid. I’d glanced behind to find Maniac behind me. Gravel was behind Astrid.
“Shadow, let him go. He’s about to expire, and I don’t want to dispose of a body tonight. As for the Carter family, you’ll leave,” Reaper demanded.
“Alright, okay, we’ll go. But think about it. I meant what I said. We could make a lot of money together. The situation got out of hand. We never meant that. And Rome’s accusations toward my beloved Aubrielle will be addressed.” Dad glared at Rome, who was busy sputtering as he rubbed his neck.
“Dad,” he protested hoarsely.
“Shut the fuck up, Rome,” Dad snapped, effectively shutting him down.
“Crusher, Maniac, why don’t you show these fellas outside and make sure they get safely off the property? I’d hate for them to have an accident,” Reaper stated, emitting his dangerous vibe.
As my family was hustled past us and out the back door, I watched.
The glare shot my way by Rome promised retribution.
I fought not to let him see me shiver or my fear show.
As soon as they were near the door, Maniac pushed me towards Shadow before escorting my family out, as Mayhem took Astrid into his arms.
“Are you okay? Did they touch you?” my man asked me. His hands were running up and down my arms.
“No, I wasn’t touched. Neither of us was. How did you know they were here?” I asked.
“We didn’t at first. Bianca heard voices and peeked out of the dressing room. When she saw them, she texted me. We decided to divide up and come in from two directions,” Mayhem explained.
“We should go into the office and talk about this. No need to let everyone hear our business,” Reaper suggested.
“Good idea. Ratchet, Riot, let the others know we’re fine and that we’ll be out soon. Keep your eyes peeled in case the Carters try to sneak back or something,” Mayhem ordered.
Since they were working at the moment, it was his place to issue the demand.
Both nodded and disappeared back to the front.
Mayhem led the way to his office. After unlocking it and hustling us inside, the door was closed.
Astrid and I sat in the chairs. The men remained standing or leaning against the desk.
I felt shaky. I knew it was my adrenaline fading. Shadow was standing behind my chair, with his hands on my shoulders. He rubbed them.
“Alright, tell us what happened and what was said,” Reaper demanded.
Astrid, with my help, told them what had been said before the guys came. At that point, Mayhem and Shadow picked up sharing the details. Silence greeted us once everyone was finished.
Reaper was frowning in concentration. Checking over my head, I saw Shadow was scowling. Mayhem wasn’t much better.
“Okay, we need to talk to the rest of the club tomorrow. Your family would have to be stupid to return tonight, but we’ll make sure to be on our guard when we return to the compound.
Now that they know the Punishers are involved, we’ll be extra careful.
Ladies, I know this was upsetting. We can call it and return home now if you want,” Reaper offered.
“It’s up to Elle. I’m good to stay if she is, unless you guys want to leave,” Astrid replied calmly.
“I’m the same. I know the couples are having their night out. We can stay. When we do leave, we should do it as one or two large groups. I wouldn’t put it past my family to lurk and try something on a small group.”
There was a brief debate, and then the decision was finally made. We’d stay for a bit longer, then head home. I seriously considered, when we returned to the booths, whether to have a whiskey. I hated dealing with my family. God, I wanted to be free of them for good.