Page 147 of Injustice and Absolution

I don’t want to have to take out anyone who doesn’t deserve to die, but I won’t let that get in the way of what must be done. I saw Ethan and another woman who fits the description of Josie in a heated discussion on the sidewalk earlier. I’m hoping they’re both still inside when we get in there so we can take them both out, now, and be done with this.

Finally, much later than I was anticipating, the lights from the purple and yellow signs on the front and side of the building turn off, and I type out a text to Cyber.

After I made my appointment for a night with Delilah, I had him hack the site and take it down. He was also able to get into Drew’s computer at the club as well as at home. He planted a virus that multiplied every time Drew or any other user tried to access the dark site or any of his hidden cameras. There’s one final task I need him to complete for me now.

Kill the cameras.

He’s taking out both Spotlight’s interior and exterior cameras as well as looping the nearby CCTV cameras so they won’t catch any new activity until I send word that we’ve successfully completed our mission. Within five minutes, I get a response from him.

Done. Your move.

Firing off another text—this time to my brothers surrounding the building—I tell them to get into place.

Stick to the shadows, but move quickly.

Leaving my own cover, I cross the darkened street, stopping in the shadow beneath the awning over the front door of the club. Atticus, Toga, and Chubbs join me. Draven, Saxon, and Crew should be approaching the rear door now too.

I pull my crowbar from inside my cut then place the curved end at the seam between the front doors of Spotlight. It takes a couple pulls, but I’m able to get the metal to bend just enough that the door falls open with ease.

Atticus and Toga pull their guns, and Atticus enters the club first, clearing the room for Toga and me. Gripping the crowbar tightly in one fist, with the other, I pull my gun from the waistband of my jeans. Stepping through the doorway, I take sight of the club. I recognize every square inch of it from the videos that motherfucker took of Delilah.

They replay in my head, torturing me.

I look at the stage, and all I see is him fucking her at the end of it. I see her stripping night after night, her face devoid of any emotion, like a zombie.

As I scan the space, I catch sight of the door to the champagne room. The same room where he made her hump her body for those men when she didn’t want to. Forcing her to relive feelings she hasn’t felt in years. Feelings she never should have been subjected to at all.

My eyes land on Draven’s at the other end of the hallway that connects the front of the house with the back. At the same time, I hear heightened voices arguing from a room on the left side of the hallway. Nodding to it, the two groups of us slowly converge on the open door.

“...just feel like we should be looking for him.”The woman’s concerned voice becomes clear the closer I get.

“He’s fucking gone, Josie. We move forward like we discussed.”

“How do we do that, Ethan? We don’t need any more heat on us. Did you forget what it was like after Paul? We’re lucky Drew had dirt on the police commissioner or we never would have gotten away with killing him.”

I knew Drew had something to do with the death of the previous owner.

“The motorcycle club is behind this... I’m certain of it. I say we go to the cops with the information we have. Tell them Drew found out they’re responsible for the disappearance of that guy, and that’s why they killed him. Get the attention off of Spotlight—off of us—and onto the Royal Bastards before they figure any of this out.”

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that.” I step into the office, pointing my gun at the bouncer.

Draven joins me, his gun drawn on Josie.

She stands, backing up until she’s next to Ethan, both of them on the other side of the office. Ethan rises from the chair behind the desk, and I watch his movements like a hawk.

“Walk to me with your hands behind your head.” I cock my gun in the direction I want them to go, taking my eyes off of Ethan for a second.

It gives him the opportunity to reach behind him, but before he can pull out what I’m assuming is a gun, I fire, blasting a hole into the wall next to his head.

“The next one won’t miss. Hands. Behind. Your. Head.”

With a snarl, he does as he’s told. I can’t wait to wipe the look off his face.

“I’m only going to say this one more time. Over here, now.”

Josie moves quickly, her frightened eyes wide.

“Draven, Atticus, escort this worthless cunt into the other room.”

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