Page 101 of Empire of Savages

He looked at me with regret in his eyes. “Please, son, this is the last act of power I have. Please respect it.”

“You can be a nomad instead,” Eli said. “Base yourself in Columbus.”

“I don’t want to base my-fucking-self in Columbus. This is my home. This city. This chapter.”

“And you’ll have a chapter against you too soon. What do you think Kaash is going to do with this information?” Eli said. “He wanted you gone. After a number of attempts to kill you, exiling you—separating youfrom Rixon—is the best he can hope for.”

Hands shaking, I pulled out my tobacco pouch and started to roll a cigarette. I knew what they were both saying was right. Being a nomad was better than being exiled completely, but if I accepted, I knew I could never return to Detroit. If Alex chose not to come with me, that would be it. I would’ve lost everything. All of it would’ve been for nothing.

Eli turned to me. “It’s probably better if you leave while everyone is in Church. Get out clean. Ride south and don’t stop until you get to the clubhouse. Everyone else is leaving tomorrow afternoon so we’ll see you late tomorrow night.”

“Please, Nick. I can’t lose you, too,” Rixon pleaded.

It was those words that finally spurred me into action. Standing, I looked at my president and said, “Only because I respect the hell out of you, Rixon.”

With that, I stuffed my tobacco pouch back into my jacket pocket, nodded to Eli, and left the room. Inside my bedroom, I packed whatever I could fit into a rucksack, making sure to stuff Dimitri’s dog tags into the front pocket. With one last look at myroom, I headed out and left the clubhouse, sliding onto the back of my bike, and took off into the night.

Chapter 36

Alex

“You ready to be released later thismorning?” Ronda, my nurse, asked me, flicking through my chart and adding her initials to a page.

“Definitely ready,” I replied, smoothing the blankets down across my chest. I’d been kept in a little longer on account of my shortness of breath, but now I was ready to go home. My thoughts stuttered to a stop at that word.

Home.

I didn’t have one anymore.

My garage had been burned down by a psychotic ex’s bodyguard.

My apartment was gone.

My business was gone.

Sucking in a deep breath, I willed away the tears threatening to fall.

“You all right?”

I looked up at Ronda. “Fine. Just thinking about the fire. It was scary.”

Resting her warm hand on mine, she gave it a squeeze. “It was a traumatic event, honey. If you need to speak to someone, I can recommend some people.”

“I’m fine.” My reply was automatic—the same one I used after I was raped. I had eventually sought out help for that, and I was sure I would again for this… when I was ready. “I’ll be fine.”

She patted my hand again and replaced my chart into the slot at the end of the bed.

“You got someone to get you later?”

“My best friend is coming.”

“Good,” Ronda replied. “Well, my shift is done so good luck, Alex. Remember what I said about talking to someone.”

“I will,” I replied solemnly. “Thank you, Ronda.”

With a nod, she left me with my thoughts, which quickly drifted to Nick and his revelation. He had known who I was. This whole time, he had known that I was my father’s daughter.

He had had every opportunity to get his revenge. We were alone together countless times. I was vulnerable with him. I told him things about my life, about my past. He could’ve easily hurt me. He could’ve killed me quickly. He could’ve given me up to my father’s enemies and hurt him that way.

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