Page 36 of Chaos Claimed

Don’t cuss him out. Don’t take the bait.

The music resumed, but a lot of the men still watched them. Percy inched backward, pressing his back into Santiago’s chest. His mate curled an arm around Percy. “You good?”

Percy looked at Suero. The guy was being a shit, but there was something in his eyes that pulled at Percy. “Yeah, we’re good. My long-lost brother was just telling me about some cookies my mom was baking for…us.” He stopped himself from being petty and saying “me.”

Despite how badly he wanted to throw hands over his mom.

With a roll of his eyes, Percy reached for his phone as it buzzed in his back pocket. His mom was calling. Seriously, did she have some kind of sixth sense that alerted her whenever she became the topic of conversation?

"Hello?" he answered, but the cacophony of blaring music and boisterous chatter from the crowd around him drowned out her words. “Hang on, Mom.”

He weaved his way toward the door, keeping the phone pressed to his ear. His hip bumped a table and he cursed, then winced when he remembered his mom was on the other end.

Finally, he made it outside. The cool air greeted him, a welcome break from the stifling heat in the tavern. He took a deep breath. “All right, I can hear you now. What did you say?”

“Jacob,” she said in a low, hoarse voice. “Need you.”

Percy’s world spun violently, his heart pounding, his grip on his phone so tight his fingers cramped with pain. “Where is he now?” he demanded.

Silence. Not a sound came from her side of the call, just an eerie quiet.

“Mom!” He raced back inside, bumping into men as he made a beeline for Santiago, who was in conversation with Suero.

Santiago’s massive frame absorbed Percy’s impact as he stumbled into him, pointing urgently at his phone. “My mom. She groaned Jacob’s name and said she needed me!” Percy was on the verge of tears, desperate to reach her.

Suero was out the door, his face a lethal mask of rage.

Matias killed the music and stepped out from behind the bar. “We ride.”

The bar erupted into motion, men abandoning their seats and rushing toward the exit, engines roaring to life seconds later.

Santiago seized Percy’s hand then they sprinted outside, all the while Percy praying for his mother’s safety.

And that Jacob was found. He was fed up with his father tormenting his mother. If Jacob harmed a single hair on Macey’s head, Percy was going to kill him.

* * * *

Santiago swore under his breath as he noticed the swirling lights in his side mirrors. No way in hell was he going to stop for whatever bullshit Deputy Gilmore wanted to stir up. The son of a bitch would have to give chase, because Santiago was determined to reach Macey.

The police car attempted to overtake him, but Santiago accelerated, maneuvering around a cement truck pouring concrete at the intersection. He took a series of turns down different streets, which added a few minutes to his time, but he’d successfully shaken off Gilmore.

By the time he pulled into his driveway, his entire pack had arrived. Percy was off the motorcycle in seconds, racing toward the front door. Suero emerged, blocking Percy from entering.

“Get the fuck out of my way!” He tried again, only for Suero to block him once more.

“You can’t go in there,” Suero said gruffly, but Santiago heard the pain in the man’s voice.

God, no.

“She’s my mom!” Percy shoved at Suero’s chest again and again. “Get out of my way!”

Santiago rushed the steps, grabbing his mate around his waist. “Listen to him, cariño.”

“Why?” Percy shouted, then stiffened. “No, no, no!” He tore himself away from Santiago, stumbled down the steps, then braced his hands on his knees as he swayed. Then he vomited, collapsing onto his hands and knees, and began to sob.

“She’s not dead,” Suero said. “You just don’t need to see her like…that.”

Santiago rushed inside then froze. Fuck! Macey lay on the living room floor, clothes torn, her face battered to the point you couldn’t even tell it was her. Splattered blood stained the walls and floors, furniture was overturned, with stuff broken all around.

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