Page 75 of Unfulfilled Promises
Just the mention of the Syndicate sent chills down some people’s backs, but this group had battled with them for years and we were all still standing while most of them were dead or in jail. I glanced at Devlin, and our silent conversation spoke volumes. He wanted to interrogate Ricardo himself, and if the clenching and unclenching of Lucian’s fist was any indication, he was looking to get his revenge on someone he used to respect.
I decided to take the lead on this, knowing I was going to take a few swings on that fucker before he died. One for every time he scared, hurt, belittled, or caused pain to Regan. Then he could die and I wouldn’t give a fuck.
“We’re going to have a meeting with Dick Pickens to find out where his bastard son is. Sorry, Hannah. Then we’re going to end him and put all this bullshit behind us so we can live the lives we’ve all fought to have.”
“I’m coming with you,” Regan said, and I shook my head. Her eyes grew cold as she crossed her arms over her chest and replied, “Try and stop me.”
“Regan, you’ve had such a rough day already, and I think what Seth is saying is he doesn’t want you under any more stress than you’ve already experienced,” James reasoned.
She stood, and I didn’t stop her as she addressed the group. “I’m tired of being pushed to the side so the men can rush in and save the fucking day. I managed to survive almost two years within the Syndicate, and when Wren and I were taken, I killed John and got us to safety. Today, I was able to use the skills you all taught me to get myself out of danger until help arrived. I will not be told to stand down when this affects my life. So, if anyone has a problem with it, speak now or shut the fuck up and let me do what I need to do.”
“I like the new Regan. She’s not going to take anyone’s shit, and I’m here for it,” Grace interjected with a chuckle, and Regan turned back to look at me.
“What’s it gonna be, Johnson?”
The men watched me as I carefully stood and brushed my hand across her cheek. “I’ll follow you into battle today, tomorrow, and forever.”
She smiled up at me, and I kissed her quickly before looking at the group. “Let’s settle this, once and for all.”
Devlin, Lucian, Skid, James, Rhys, Hatchet, and Hawk stood, encouraging their women to retake their empty seats. Gunner, Needles, Jackal, Claw, and the prospects remained seated as Gunner announced, “The Death Hounds will stay behind and make sure the women are protected until you get back. Even though I know they’re capable of defending themselves,” he added, and Sadie smiled at him.
Those of us who were leaving began to walk off the patio and out the front door of the house, and Regan slipped her hand into mine as we walked out. Piling into three vehicles, we drove out of Lucian’s driveway and toward the warehouse Devlin and James used for . . . delicate situations. It was in Portstill, on theback edge of the Flats, and I’d seen the kind of fucked-up shit the madman did to people inside the innocuous-looking building.
James was driving the vehicle Regan and I were in, and Skid was in the passenger’s seat with his cut turned inside out since he was ‘in a cage’, whatever the fuck that meant. Devlin, Hatchet, and Rhys were in the car in front of us, and Lucian and Hawk were behind us. James kept glancing in the rear-view mirror, trying to convey some message or signal to me.
If it had anything to do with Regan not witnessing whatever was about to happen to Dick Pickens, then he could stop making strange faces at me and drive the car.
She wasn’t going to be deprived of a single second of the revenge she deserved. And if anyone tried to stop her, I was going to shoot them in the foot. It wouldn’t kill them, but it would make them stop their stupidity.
Regan’s revenge was happening, whether they liked it or not.
Chapter 35
Regan
We turned onto a bumpy dirt road, and I gave Seth a confused look. He patted my knee as we were jostled around the backseat, and a minute or two later, we pulled up to the back of what looked to be an abandoned warehouse.
I leaned forward as James pulled next to Devlin’s vehicle and put it in park. “Where are we?”
James turned around and explained, “Since you want to be a part of this, I’m going to tell you a few things that may . . . alter the way you look at all of us.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “If you mean how you, Devlin, and the rest of them ‘take care’ of people, then that’s old news. I want to know what this building is.”
Seth placed his hand on my shoulder, and I glanced at him as he asked, “How do you know that?”
I leaned back as Skid rotated in his seat so he could look into the backseat. Crossing my arms over my chest, I shook my head. “You guys think you have secrets about the blood on your hands when in reality, it’s a known secret. And news flash, dingbats, no one cares.”
“Seriously, Regan, how do you know this?” James inquired. He lowered his voice as he asked, “Did Sergey tell you?”
Exhaling, I looked out the window to see everyone waiting for us to get out of the car. I wanted to end this, find Waylon, and get on with my life. “I don’t understand why you’re so worried about who knows what. And, no, Sergey didn’t tell me. He wasn’tpsychic, just a nosy asshole.” I paused and turned to Seth. “Does it matter that I killed John?” He shook his head, so I turned to James. “We both have blood on our hands. All of us have blood on our hands. But the people we’ve killed warranted dying for the crimes they committed against others. There are some people who don’t deserve to continue to breathe the same air as good people.”
I shrugged, done with the conversation. James didn’t seem convinced, but I was done with the interrogation of Regan, ready to move to the interrogation of Ricardo. I grabbed the door handle and looked at the three men before I directly stated, “Stay here or come with me. Either way, I’m going inside.”
Pulling the handle, I opened the door as James finally turned the car off. I heard Seth chuckle from the backseat as he got out on his side. Skid was standing by the open passenger door, turning his cut around as I closed my door. He looked down at me as he turned to inspect his appearance in the reflective glass of the SUV.
“They’re just worried about you. Cut them a little slack. Seth isn’t going to let you be left out but go easy on James. He’s struggling with some revelations and deep guilt about what happened here in the Flats when you were a kid.”
Damn it. Now, I felt guilty about my snotty attitude, but I wasn’t delicate. I wasn’t broken. And I’m not a victim.
