Page 74 of Devil's Vengeance

To his credit, Patriot actually looked pale. Maybe he was finally realizing who he was messing with. But it was too late to back out. Croy didn’t make idle threats. He tried once to be the bigger man and give another crew the chance to hand over the responsible parties. He wasn’t so patient now.

Croy turned without a backward glance, heading for the door. Reaperand Brewer flanked him, with me and Clink in the rear. We made it to the door before Patriot shouted at him.

“Why not let them handle it between themselves? Right here and now.”

When I glanced over my shoulder, Trick slinked in from the back, his normal smarmy smirk gone. He knew what would happen if it was just me and him. His prez making the suggestion wasn’t what he planned.

Croy didn’t even turn around. “It’s too late for that. I’m coming for your crew, Patriot. We’ll see each other again soon.”

MARIAH

After Chase left, I thought about going straight upstairs, but I knew I’d just work myself up until he got back. I worried about why they were dragging him away without notice. To distract myself, I went to join Bear, who was watching the officers drag Chase away with a deep frown on his face. When I was close enough, he jerked his chin at the door they’d disappeared through.

“Where they goin’?”

I shook my head. “No clue. They didn’t stop to explain. They just told him he was coming with them and to leave me here. He asked me to stay with you.”

Bear grunted in acknowledgment, tipping his head toward the stool next to him. He checked his phone, frowning at it, before tucking it away.

“That asshole come back today?”

“No,” I grumbled. I almost wanted him to just so Chase could deal with him and he’d leave me alone. But he probably wasn’t going to get close while Chase was still around. Which left only that stupid plan that made no freaking sense. I sighed heavily.

“What?” Bear asked, eyeing me with a frown.

I wrinkled my nose. “Croy has a plan for drawing Trick out. I think it's too dangerous. But I’m having trouble coming up with something else.”

Someone snorted, dragging my attention to them. I recognized the man, but I couldn’t place his name. He was the one who lived next door to Chaseand thanked me for not spilling the drama to Nevada. He was ignoring the party in general, making himself something to eat from the limited contents of the fridge.

“Got somethin’ to say, Lewis?” Bear growled.

Lewis? That wasn’t a road name. Was he a prospect? But the prospects were busy cleaning and taking care of the clubhouse. None of them were sitting around making a sandwich. Who even was this guy?

Lewis didn’t even look up. “Nothing. I just think it's funny that she thinks coming up with a new plan will change anything. Croy doesn’t change his mind. She can either go along with the plan or let Chase take the fall. He’ll be the one who suffers if she refuses.”

My stomach dropped and I gaped at him. “I never agreed to be part of this. Why would they punish him?”

Lewis finally looked up, hazel eyes locked on me. “Because when you fuck with your crew, even with good intentions, you pay the price. His problems started all this. He’s going to be the one to fix it. And if any of the plans fall through, he’ll be the one to pay for it.”

I wanted to shout at them that it wasn’t his fault. He didn’t ask for Trick to show up here and attack his crew. He was going to handle it himself. It was Trick who dragged the crews into it. But I’d be yelling at the wrong people. Bear didn’t have any more say in how things went than Chase did. And if Lewis was a prospect, then he had even less say. It was Croy and the other officers who were putting all the blame on Chase. I knew I wouldn’t be able to convince them to change their mind, but if I could come up with a better plan, maybe they would listen to reason. Nevada would have.

That made me feel guilty the minute it crossed my mind. Nevada was gone. And if I hadn’t called the cops, he might’ve survived. Riley might’ve gotten to him sooner and he might not have bled out. I couldn’t be using him in any argument because I shouldered part of the blame for his death.

“What kind of plan did Croy come up with?” Bear asked. His question forced me out of my shame spiral and I looked up at him with a frown.

“He didn’t tell you?”

The look Bear gave me said that was a stupid question. I threw my hands up in exasperation.

“I don’t know the dynamics. Cut me some slack,” I huffed beforeexplaining, “Croy wants to draw Trick out using me as bait. He wants Chase to leave me alone at the library without any protection. I think it's too risky. Children come to the library every day. He’s putting them and so many other innocent people at risk just to catch this guy.”

Lewis made a face. “That won’t work. He won’t be stupid enough to come during the day. Right?”

I shrugged. “He showed up to threaten me yesterday. But that’s why I wanted another plan. Something with less of a chance of innocents getting hurt. If I have to be a part of this, I don’t want to be responsible for more lives lost.” I already had a hand in Nevada’s death by calling the cops and stalling him getting help. I didn’t want any more people dying because of me.

CHAPTER 45

CHASE

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