Page 120 of Dagger

Elise

I stared unseeingly out of the window, my heart aching because I was leaving John and the only place I’d felt safe in years.

The view of the mountains from the 191 was stunning, but I couldn’t take it in because my throat burned with distaste, not aimed at John like usual, but aimed at myself.

I didn’t put up a fight about leaving, like Cara had, because I didn’t want John or any of the brothers to think bad of me or assume I was being a pain in the ass. But by not standing up for myself, I’d yet again let a man decide my fate. John may have thought he knew what was best for me, but nobody knew what I needed more than I did.

So why the hell was I allowing the same crap to happen?

I closed my eyes.

Shit.

There was no way I could leave. I’d have rather stayed and took my chances at the clubhouse than abandon the ship when they needed me the most. It wasn’t who I was; I stayed with Robert for years so I could take him down. I stuck it out for the greater good, so why was I leaving the only man who deserved for me to stay?

Decision made, I turned right to look at Sophie, taking her hand. “I’m not going. I’ll see you off at the airport, but I’ve decided to go back to the clubhouse with Shotgun.”

Her eyes met mine, and she dipped her chin. “I got a bad feeling the second we drove away.” Sophie craned her neck to speak to Kennedy, who sat behind us with the kids, “I’m not going either.”

Kennedy sighed, her eyes darting between me and Sophie, “Well then, I guess that means we’re all staying. If we don’t go, Cara won’t go, and Layla’s too damned scared to go to a strange place on her lonesome.” She opened her purse and dug out her cell phone. “Better message Cara.”

“Put that fuckin’ phone down,” Shotgun snapped from the driver’s seat. “We’re not turnin’ around. You’ve been told to go, so fuckin’ go.”

My mouth fell open at the anger in Shotgun’s voice, and a wave of unease washed over me.

I couldn’t say I knew Shot well, but I’d never witnessed him speaking that way to an ol’ lady before. He didn’t give me the time of day, but I always assumed it was because he didn’t mix well.

Now I knew it was because he was a dick.

“Don’t speak to me like that, Shot,” Kennedy told him icily.

“Shut the fuck up,” he muttered.

“Love how you’re brave when my ol’ man’s not here to witness your bullshit,” she shot back.

He glanced behind his shoulder at her, his face red with anger, and roared, “Will you shut the fuck up before I do it for you?”

We all stared at Shotgun, so shocked that we ignored the buzz of Sophie’s cell phone as a notification came in.

“You better get that,” Kennedy suggested, her stare narrowing as she kept it on Shot.

“Right,” Soph muttered, going into her purse to retrieve her cell before her stare lifted again. “Are you okay, Shotgun?”

He ignored her, muttering to himself under his breath, and the ugly feeling in my belly intensified, making it clench with nerves.

Sophie let out a tiny squeak and grabbed my hand tightly, turning her phone to allow me to see the message, all color draining from her face.

Cara: Cash on phone. Shot suspected of betraying club. Reno and Maze briefed. Hang tight! Boys are on the way. Stay cool, and don’t let him suspect anything!!!!!!!!

Sophie directed the screen toward Kennedy, and I watched her face pale. She leaned forward to take the cell phone and showed it to Kai, whispering something in his ear.

He looked up at his mom, his lip curling, and uttered, “Dad will sort it,” under his breath before murmuring something to Kady, whose eyes darted to Kennedy. Kai slid his arm around his sister, and I heard him mutter, “It’s okay, Kady. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

My throat heated, and my eyes drifted toward Shotgun.

What the hell was going on? What betrayal was he guilty of?

I started at the back of his head and breathed deeply, trying to calm my pounding heart.

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