Chapter 30
THIRTY
HARPER
We knew he’d try to double-cross us, but I have to say, in all our various calculations of scenarios, I can’t believe we overlooked this specific possibility.
No, we weren’t able to find Silas, but Domhnall hacked the prison’s security feed, and there was video footage of him getting discharged and walking out of the prison a free man.
Granted, it was odd he couldn’t be located on a single camera feed after that moment, and it’s not like Gatesville and surrounding areas didn’t have the occasional traffic cam.
We just thought it meant Silas was really good at disappearing.
But of course, we should have factored in that the Kings were also very good at disappearing people.
“Where is he now?” I ask, keeping my eyes on Senior, even as the pressure of Caleb’s hand tightens on my thigh. I pinch his thumb, hard.
It’s our signal.
Fuck. I should’ve known coming here to try to negotiate with an insane motherfucker wouldn’t go the way I wanted.
But we had to know what cards were in his deck.
And now we do.
He has my father, who wasn’t the deadbeat I assumed my entire childhood. His fate wasn’t his own—it was always being twisted by his Machiavellian fuck of a brother.
“If I sign, how do I know you’ll let him go?” I ask, trying to look cowed by his show of strength.
Under no circumstances do I glance toward Caleb, who I trust to be taking care of things as far as passing along the distress signal to our team.
Fuck negotiations.
It’s time to pull out.
We’ll retreat to the fortified mansion and regroup. I’ll happily lock myself inside with Bruiser forever if that’s what it takes to keep him safe from this maniac.
But right as I feel the shift from Isaak’s guard behind me—
Z suddenly limps forward from where he’s been perched, blank-faced by the bar.
I’ve been trying not to look at him or feel the complicated knot of rage and betrayal that lives in my chest whenever I think about him.
But now—
What the fuck is he doing?
As he moves toward our table, he lifts his phone up high enough for everyone to see. Even though we were all supposed to dump our phones at the door, along with any weapons.
“It’s live-streaming, Senior.” His voice cuts through the tension like a blade. “Every word you said. Every confession. It’s streaming to the FBI field office in San Antonio, to the DEA, to Texas Rangers, and to three different news stations.”
The room goes so quiet I can hear my own heartbeat thundering in my ears.
What the fuck, Z?!
“And it’s been recording for the last twenty minutes,” Z continues, his voice steady despite the fact that every King in the room is now staring at him with expressions ranging from shock to murderous fury. “Every move you make is being watched by law enforcement and the public.”
Senior’s face transforms. The predatory satisfaction drains away, replaced by something so cold and violent it makes my blood freeze.
It’s pure, distilled rage.
This is the face of a man who’s killed before without hesitation or remorse.
Oh shit.
No. Z. What have you done?
“You fucking rat.” The words come out quiet. Deadly.
Senior stands slowly, his chair scraping against the sticky floor. “After everything I did for you. Every opportunity I gave you. I pulled you out of that shithole trailer park and gave you a family. I gave you purpose. I made you somebody. And this is how you repay me?”
Z doesn’t flinch. “You didn’t give me purpose. You used me to hurt the one person who ever gave a shit about me. The one person who was my real family.”
His eyes find mine for just a second, and I see everything in that look—apology. Regret. Love. And resignation.
I don’t know if he knew about them taking Silas, but he knew from the second we all stepped in the door of this dive bar that this was how it would end. He planned for it.
“Harper was always my family,” Z says, turning back to Senior. “My real family. I just—I’m sorry I forgot what that meant.”
Rage turns Senior’s eyes black.
“She’s your only family, eh? Good thing females don’t count for shit when it comes to the non-fratricide clause for the land.”
Senior pulls out a contraband gun from his boot and whips it in my direction.
The next thing I know, I’m blown backward as the explosive noise of the gun firing sets the bar into chaos.