Page 37 of Aftershock's Fury

The drive takes us to the southern part of Anchorage, in Bear Valley, where Aaronov has a house, pretending he’s not the leader of a criminal drug syndicate and gang. Tonight, I’m going to show the Black Devils why I’m really called Aftershock. I lookinto my bag on the floor with an evil grin. These fuckers won’t know what hit them.

“Shock, I have everything needed to make it look like a gas leak, but you need to control yourself,” Loki says from the back.

He’s the cleaner and chemist of our group. I have several mixtures he’s made for me. Growing up, my father was hard-pressed to keep us in line. Loki would make it, and I’d detonate it. I have a way with these things. It’s as if the chemicals are telling me how to place them and where. When I was in the military, I served in the engineers’ unit and also received extensive training in explosives ordinance demolition.

“I have both vehicles connected to this call.” Vortex’s voice fills the car. “First, GB is stable. He’s at the hospital, and they’re prepping him for surgery. The other prospects are awake with no side effects. The vet said Fezzik is okay too. Kodiak, Miner has your house locked down with your girl and kid.”

“Enough with the niceties. Why did Goat betray us?” I bark.

“Aaronov is his son.”

“What the fuck?” we all exclaim.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

HARLOWE

Icome awake but know not to let them on to that fact. Realizing I’m alone, I roll over and push myself up. I’m in a room in a house, but I don’t know more beyond that. The window is covered, blocking any view outside.

I scan the mostly bare room and move toward the closet. The bar is still there. Seph taught me a lot during those two months she had me in hiding, including how to turn everything into a weapon.

I return to the bed and arrange the blankets to make it look like I’m still out cold. Then I study the door, noticing a recessed corner between it and the wall. The perfect hiding spot to get the jump on whoever steps inside.

Just as I settle into my spot to wait, the handle jiggles. A man enters and moves toward the bed. It’s not Goat or Aaronov. I rear back and swing the closet pole with everything I have, hitting him in the back of his neck. The pole cracks, and the guy falls to the floor. I don’t have time to check for a pulse. I need to get out of here. I pat him down, retrieving a gun and knife from him before moving to the doorway.

I sneak through the house, realizing it’s a really nice place. I don’t know exactly where, but when I glance out the window, I see we’re high up on a hillside or mountain overlooking Anchorage. Turnagain Arm stretches out in the distance. I hold the gun out in front of me, ready.

I come to a stop when I hear Goat and Aaronov arguing. “I have more men coming. Don’t worry.”

“You don’t understand. Aftershock will not only kill us for taking her, but Kodiak will try too also. They won’t stop until they get her back. Get your buyers on the phone, and get her out of here now.”

“No, don’t tell me what to do. I’m tired of you bossing me around.”

I step into the room and fire the gun at Aaronov first, hitting him in the shoulder. Then I rush up behind Goat and slam the gun against the back of his head, near the base of his skull, like Seph taught me to do. He collapses, and I watch as Aaronov reaches for his gun. I shoot him again, nicking his other shoulder.

I walk over to him and kick the gun away while I draw the knife from the back of my jeans. “You should’ve killed me.” I lean down and press the knife to his throat.

I’m prepared to slice, but I can’t. Something inside me rebels at the thought.

“Fuck it.”

I stand up and shoot him in the leg. It won’t kill him, but at least he won’t be able to follow me.

I head toward the door with both guns in hand. As I step outside, two vehicles pull up. I tense, ready to run, until I spot Crue sitting in the front seat. He jumps out and rushes over.

“Starlight,” he says, his voice rougher than usual, and I know he’s close to losing it.

“I’m okay. They didn’t hurt me.” I look up at him, forgetting they hit me in the face.

“The fuck they didn’t.” He leans down and presses a gentle kiss to the bruise.

Rylan walks over after he and Gunny finish checking the house.

“Come here,” my brother says, and I step out of Crue’s arms and into his. “You have one dead, one unconscious, and one shot three times.”

“He kept twitching. But we need to go. They have more soldiers coming.”

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