Page 54 of Kaz
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
Riot opened his mouth, but one look from Kaz and he snapped it shut again, red tinting his cheeks, but if it was embarrassment or anger, he couldn’t tell.
“Whatever happens to Spencer is on you. He chose you over himself, and it’s about fucking time the two of you learned to do that too, or you won’t be Kings for much longer.”
He turned on his heels and stalked off, knowing that if he had to look at their stupid faces for much longer, he was going to throw his fists at them.
Someone stepped into his path, and adrenaline kicked back into gear until amber eyes met his. He squeezed his eyes shut, his jaw clenched tight as he drew in a deep breath, trying and failing to release some of the tension in his body.
“Spence will be alright,” Emma said, the blood covering her shirt making him wince. “The only thing they have on him is his cut.”
Sometimes, that was enough, but he understood what she was trying to say. He doubted the cops would be able to connect Spencer to the gunfire or explosion. He knew the guy was smart enough to have ditched his gun before getting himself arrested.
“It shouldn’t have been him,” Kaz muttered, turning his head to run his gaze over his brothers and sisters. Most looked alright, though a bit distraught because of Spencer and Maddox. The latter was sitting up, and from the exasperated look on Talon’s face, he was being a pain. Maddox was probably still claiming he was fine, which any idiot could tell he wasn’t. He would be, but that leg wasn’t going to be great for a while.
“Who should it have been, then?”
He looked back at Emma, unsurprised to find her watching him with her head cocked to the side and her hands on her hips. She pursed her lips, then said, “You?”
“You know the answer to that.”
Emma dropped her head back with a loud sigh, then shook her head and stepped forward, her hand on Kaz’s shoulder bringing with it a wave of warmth.
“Go home. I’ll get Maddox ready for transport, and Wilder’s gonna get us a cage to bring him home in. I don’t want him on a bike with that leg.”
“He’s gonna fight you on that,” Kaz said, the corners of his mouth twitching.
Emma sighed, her eyes twinkling. “Oh, don’t I know it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Miles
HE WAS seething. Absolutely fucking seething. He wanted to yell at Kaz and try to force him to see what he was doing to them by remaining silent. Secrets and lies had torn them apart last time. He’d thought they were beyond that now. He’d thought… thought they were past it. Or, at least, were on the same side. Clearly, they weren’t.
He was taking his anger out on the old rickety shed out back, using a sledgehammer to tear down the walls. He’d been at it for a while now, and his shoulders were protesting heavily. He put the sledgehammer down and ran his arm across his face.
He needed a shower.
He needed answers.
He needed… he didn’t even know what. Just something. Anything from Kaz that made him believe they could get through this. That Kaz was willing to try.
A sigh pushed past his lips, and his shoulders slumped. He was spent. The only thing he’d succeed in was fucking up this teardown if he kept going.
He reluctantly headed inside, hating the quiet because it only proved how alone he truly was here. He stepped through the door to Kaz’s room and hesitated, gaze running over the bed with the rumpled sheets, the clothes on the floor.
He squeezed his eyes closed, fighting to keep his composure because he knew if he didn’t, he might just shatter right then and there.
He undressed quickly and walked into the bathroom. He turned on the water, waiting for it to heat up before he stepped under the spray. He scrubbed off the grime and sweat, his thoughts whirling. How was he supposed to trust Kaz when he was keeping secrets from him? Kaz had already hurt him more than anyone. He didn’t understand why Kaz needed to keep anything about the club a secret. He already knew more than most. It was fucking ridiculous.
He rested his forehead against the shower tiles, the water beating down his back. Not knowing what was going on, not knowing if his sister or Kaz were in danger, was eating him up inside. He knew the life they led was dangerous, but his dads had never truly let them see it. His imagination was making up for the holes in the narrative, and it wasn’t pretty. All he saw was Emma choking on her own blood, Kaz lying in a pool of blood, his eyes unseeing. It was the sound of gunshots, the screams, the pleading… all he saw was his parents, dead on the kitchen floor, so much red everywhere. He’d never forget the smell or how it clung to him. Sweet and coppery. The blood and the gunshot residue.
He straightened and shook his head, trying to shake off the memories and fear clinging to him. He turned the water off and grabbed a towel to dry himself off.
The rumble of motorcycles had his pulse picking up. He clenched his teeth and reached for his clothes. He found a clean pair of jeans and tugged them on. He grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it over his head, grimacing when he caught his reflection in the mirror. He looked as haggard as he felt. He put his work boots back on and headed down the hallway. He could hear voices downstairs and wasn’t surprised to find everyone filing inside and spreading out to drop down on the couches.
“He’s in the garage,” Wilder said, stopping in front of Miles with a careful smile on his lips.
