Page 34 of Daughters of Chaos

Another round of howling laughter comes from the fuckers by the van. "Oh, yeah?" Dom taunts. "Are they yours then? Or does your Prez keep the pretty ones for himself?"

Ew.

Guess it's a good thing he doesn't know who I am.I have a feeling he's got big beef with Viper, and if he knew I was Viper's kid, who knows what he'd do?

Dom cranes his neck around Stitch, looking past me as he sets his sights on Lace's petite form. His lips form into a cruel smile. "I bet that sweet one back there ain't as innocent as she looks. I bet she's awful wild in the sack."

He knows what he's doing, knows what buttons to push to drive Stitch over the edge. The next thing I register is all hell breaking loose. Stitch takes a swing at Dom, setting off the restof his crew. All of them pounce, throwing swings as Stitch and his brother hold them off.

I push Lace out of the way, urging her toward her car and away from the mayhem. Tossing my shit in her backseat, I tell her to call Bear and head straight for the clubhouse. As soon as she's gone, I run back to the guys.

In no time, several more of Viper's crew speed into the parking lot to join the fray. I hang back, watching as the men exchange blow after blow. A small crowd is starting to form, and it's only a matter of time before the police will be called if they haven't been already.

Viper's crew starts to overwhelm Dom and his men. He sees it, too, and like an animal backed into a corner, he does something desperate. I see him whip something out of his jacket pocket. It glints silver in the sunshine.

I realize what he's about to do, but before I can scream to warn the guys, he strikes, plunging his knife into the side of Tweak's abdomen. As he pulls back, blood starts pouring from Tweak's torso.

Someone in the crowd screams, and sirens sound in the distance. Dom and his gang pile into their van, peeling out of the lot seconds later. I'm frozen in place. I've never seen someone get stabbed before.

I didn't run with the friendliest people back in New Mexico. Many had records, nearly all liked to fight, and a few had scars from gunshots and stab wounds, but I'd neverseenit happen. Never watched as blood drained from their bodies and the life slowly faded from their eyes until now.

I snap back to reality as Stitch and some of the others carry Tweak my way. He's passed out and clammy, no doubt in shock, but still alive. They've stopped the bleeding for now, but he needs a doctor fast.

"Raven, where's your car? We need to get Tweak to Doc now," Stitch tells me.

I shake myself out of my stupor, leading them quickly to my car. Once Tweak and Stitch are inside, I hit the gas. "Head to Viper's," Stitch tells me, holding pressure on his brother's wound.

"What? He needs a hospital."

Stitch shakes his head. "They ask too many questions at hospitals. Doc's already on his way to Viper's."

I take my eyes off the road to glance at my backseat. Tweak is still breathing, but he looks like death warmed over. "He needs surgery. He needs a hospital," I argue.

"Doc's gonna fix him up enough so we can get him to a hospital out of town. Just get us to Viper's house now!" He takes a shaky breath before adding quietly, "Please."

Against my better judgment, I follow his command, racing to the clubhouse. As soon as I stop in front of the house, Bear, Viper, Hammer, and Doc race outside to collect Tweak.

It's madness inside the clubhouse as Doc starts working on Tweak on top of the dining room table. He's pale and clammy, still passed out from the blood loss, but alive for now.

The rest of the guys show up covered in wounds of their own. The evidence of the brawl is painted on their skin—busted lips and cheeks, black eyes, scrapes, and bruises. There's no hiding it, and to my horror, I see Phoenix enter the living room from the kitchen.

I had no idea she was here. She wasn't supposed to be. She shouldn't see this.

Her eyes are wide with terror at the scene in front of her. It's too late, though. I can't shield her from this. She'll have lots of questions, and I don't have a clue what the hell I'm going to tell her.

"What happened?" she asks as Lace clings to her side, tears rolling down her face.

I say nothing, grasping at straws for some explanation for what led to this that won't destroy my sister's bubble of happiness in our new life here.

"Is he—" Lace asks quietly, staring at Tweak. "Is he dying?"

"Doc's gonna try to prevent that," I tell her, hoping like hell he succeeds.

She looks around the room, frantically searching. "Stitch? Where is he? Is he—"

"He's fine," I say, noting the relief that washes over her.

As soon as the words leave my lips, Stitch appears from the bathroom with hands full of gauze and bandages. He passes them off to Doc and the others before checking over Lace, making sure she's okay. His shirt is still stained with his brother's blood, turning the once-white cotton red.

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