Page 14 of Riot

“I need clean-up.”No need to waste time with explanations yet.There would be plenty of time for that.

“He come after them?”Knuckles was vague while still getting his meaning across.We were both on burners, but old habits die hard.

“Looks that way.If you could pick up a couple bags of garbage it would help me out.Also need a cage and someone to haul my bike.”

“Be there in twenty.”

I used the time waiting on Knuckles to move both bodies to the bathroom and into the walk-in shower.Surprisingly, though I’d caved in the one guy’s skull, there wasn’t as much blood as I’d feared.He had blood from his ears, nose, mouth, and eyes, but his skull had caved in on itself, not breaking much of the skin.There was still a small stain, but it should be manageable.I hoped.

Christ, I was in so much trouble!Now that I wasn’t focusing on a task, I was starting to feel the drop after a fight.All the emotions I’d learned to suppress until the crisis was over came rushing at me with a vengeance.I’d nearly lost Violet before I had the chance to get to know her.I’d claimed her in my heart and had failed to protect her.That stark realization hit me to my core.I’d failed at so many things in my life, but I absolutely could not fail at this.Protecting these two people was the purpose I needed in my life.I hadn’t been able to protect the person in my life who’d mattered to me most before I’d gone to prison.This time, no matter what it took, no matter what I had to sacrifice, I absolutely would not fail to protect the people I loved again.

I checked my watch.Knuckles would be here any minute.The need to check on Violet and Caleb and assess their injuries was too strong to avoid any longer.I walked into my room with slow, deliberate steps.Both mother and son met my gaze.Violet looked relieved before she swallowed and ducked her head.Caleb gave me a slow nod, never letting go of his mother.

“Are either of you hurt?”I knew I needed to be gentle, but it was damned hard.Not because I didn’t want to be careful, but because I didn’t know how to be gentle.

“I’m fine,” Caleb answered as he pointed to my side where the cut I’d gotten now burned like fire.“You’re bleeding.”

“Just a scratch.I’m fine.”I’d get Pain to stitch me up when we got back.

“I can get a towel to hold over it if you want.”

“No.”I winced at my abrupt tone.“Thanks though.”Hopefully it was enough not to get the kid’s back up.“I’m more worried about you and your mom.”

“He wasn’t trying to hurt me.But Mom got pretty banged up.”

“She was already banged up,” I muttered.“When I get my hands on that bastard, there’s gonna be a reckoning.”

“I’m not hurt.I promise.”Violet’s voice was surprisingly steady.It was almost like the more stressed she got, the more detached she became.I had to wonder if it was a defense tactic.To protect herself and anyone who might try to help her.

“I’ve got help coming.You know you can’t stay here any longer.Right?”Again, I tried to be gentle, but she didn’t have a choice in this matter.

“I don’t have anywhere else for us to go.”She looked up at me with resigned sadness.“He’s going to win.Isn’t he?”

“No, Mom!”

“Not a fuckin’ chance.”

Caleb and I spoke over top of each other.I could see the panic in her face now.While she’d worked hard to keep her head, the adrenaline drop was starting to shake her control.

Caleb had a tight grip on both his mother’s hands.“We’re not going back to him, Mom.I won’t let that happen.”I watched the fierce determination in the kid’s eyes, the way he placed himself between his mother and anything that might hurt her.It was like looking in a Goddamn mirror.I ached for the kid.As well as for my younger self.

A knock at the door interrupted us.I checked the peephole to find Gunnar and Oktober outside as expected.I undid the locks and let the two men inside.

Gunner and I shook hands before Oktober pulled me into a hug.“Haven’t got to talk to you since you got here, but it’s good to see you.”

“Good to see you, too.”We clapped each other on the back a couple times.

“Prez said you had a couple sacks of garbage to take out?”Gunnar took off his backpack and pulled out two black tarps still in their packaging.“Cleaning company this hotel uses is on our payroll.I’ll take care of the scrub down after me and Oktober deal with the trash.”

“I owe you one, man.”I wasn’t too proud to admit I needed help.

“Riot, this is part of being in Kiss of Death.”Gunnar gave him an incredulous look.“Did you think Knuckles was gonna send you off with a smile and a princess wave into something like this?”

“Like what?Like a situation where Violet and Caleb get attacked?There’s no way Knuckles could have known that was going to happen.I’m doing my community service.”I stepped closer, trying to keep my voice for the three of us alone.“I’m sure Knuckles never meant for me to kill two guys.I doubt he’s gonna be happy about what I did.”

“Everything Knuckles does is for a reason,” Gunnar said.“This community service gig wasn’t dropped in your lap by accident.Knuckles wanted you with Violet and her kid to protect them from this Harrington guy.If that means you have to kill, we clean up the mess and make sure nothin’ comes back to you or the club.”

“What about my parole?”

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