Page 220 of Under an Endless Moon

He gave River a limp nod, and River squeezed his shoulder again before he left Otto’s room and closed the door behind him.

A week had passed since Haddie had been killed.

A week of this detached torment.

It felt like he was floating outside his body. Outside of reality because he couldn’t process what was true.

The fact Haddie was gone, and he was the one who was wholly responsible for it.

He sat up from the bed, shoved his feet into his boots, and laced them up. His breaths were shallow when he went to his closet and opened the large gun safe hidden at the back. He took his rifle and three loaded magazines, fitted himself with his back holster and shoved the gun into it before pulling on a long jacket to conceal it.

Then he slipped out his window and carefully lowered himself to the grass below.

His attention darted all directions, checking that it was clear, before he slinked across the yard, ducking low as he hurried to his bike.

He wouldn’t wait for tomorrow.

Because this retribution was on him.

For Haddie.

For Raven.

For the two people he loved most and hadn’t been strong enough to protect.

He kicked the stand on his bike and pushed it down the street beneath a sheath of darkness, and when he was sure he was far enough away, he slung his leg over it and turned over the engine.

One destination in mind.

One he was sure was going to be his last.

He left his bike five hundred yards up the alley. He crept slow, keeping his footsteps quieted and his back against the dingy buildings as he made his way to the warehouse hidden in the sleaziest, most depraved part of the city.

Gideon and his crew were there every Thursday night. Unpacking the blocks of cocaine that were hidden in straw in the back of a truck, getting them ready for distribution.

Otto had gotten word that the Owls’ prez had given Gideon and his mob the clear. Found them not responsible, claiming they’d been on a run that night so there was no chance they were involved in Haddie’s death and Raven’s injury.

Otto knew it was bullshit.

A cover.

Same as he knew he’d never be loyal to that motherfucker again.

Cutter might deem them clean, but tonight, Otto was going to be the judge.

He made it to the chain-link fence that surrounded the whole perimeter. Dull lights droned from the sides of the building, and he could hear the distant voices rambling from within the building.

He gripped hold of the fence and hoisted himself over. He landed with a dull thud, and he crouched down, ensuring that no one had heard him before he stole forward. He hid himself behind a metal container.

Kneeling low, he peered out.

There was no movement, only the intermittent discordant bark of laughter.

That rage boiled. Climbing his throat and speeding through his veins.

They were laughing.

Fuckin’ laughing while his sister was dead in a grave. While Raven was lucky to be alive.

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