Page 43 of Unruly Defender
I try to kick and scream but Banjo places the gun against my forehead and says, “Maxton and Rush might think you’re worth more alive, but make no mistake, I have a trigger-happy finger and would love to see you headbutt a bullet.Now calm down and be a good cunt.We’re all going to take a little drive together.”
“Not all of us, Banjo,” Maxton chuckles and aims his gun toward my boat, fires once and makes the whole thing instantly blow up in flames.
“Nooooooo!”I scream with my whole heart.
This can’t be happening.I just found the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with.There’s no coming back from being in a sea of flames.My whole boat is gone.I couldn’t care less about the boat, but Henley is irreplaceable.I feel as if my heart was just ripped out of my chest and I can’t breathe.
Another cry rips from my mouth and Maxton smacks a flat hand across my face, making me taste my own blood.I don’t care about the blood or the taste.I don’t even care if Banjo tries to make me headbutt a damn bullet, I want them to feel the pain coursing through my body.
Both assholes are smiling at the sky-high flames as I simultaneously kick Maxton and give Banjo a shove.Neither of them are expecting me to lash out as they stumble back.I try to think of what to do next when suddenly Henley launches out from the water, grabs Maxton by his leg and takes him back into the water with him.
They disappear underneath the surface together.I rush over to see what’s happening but Banjo grabs me, wraps his arm around my neck, and aims his gun at the place Henley and Maxton just disappeared into.
He fires off two rounds and I elbow the idiot in the stomach.“Stop it, you could shoot either one, you idiot.”
“I don’t fucking care, it’s Henley.If he’s still alive then Maxton is dead by now.Don’t you fucking get it?It’s the whole reason Rush put him in jail, because no one could get close enough to kill the fucker.His defense is always up at every turn, the asshole has eyes in his fucking back and can fight like a motherfucker.”
There’s a grunt and a snap and Banjo’s body falls away from behind me.There’s a splash and when I turn, I see Banjo’s body disappear underneath the water.Henley kicks the gun that fell onto the dock into the water and holds out his hand for me to take.
“We need to get out of here,” he grunts, water dripping everywhere.
I don’t think twice, grab his hand and follow him as he drags me to my car.He opens the trunk and kicks off his boots and throws them in the back along with his clothes until he’s only wearing his boxers.I take out Finn’s blanket I have on the backseat and give it a shake before folding it and placing it onto the passenger seat.
I get in behind the wheel and head for the clubhouse.There are no words exchanged but our fingers are laced and resting on my thigh.I need to feel him close, make sure he’s still alive and here with me.
Yates comes rushing out of the clubhouse once we’re opening the trunk.Henley grabs his stuff and grumbles, “Don’t fucking ask.”
Yates looks stunned for a moment and glances at me, mouthing silently, “What happened?”
“Maxton and Banjo set my damn boat on fire and tried to kill Henley along with it.They made a mistake, though, and it proves how brainless they are when even Banjo told me how Rush put Henley in prison because no one could get close enough to kill him.But I guess we’re lucky they’re brainless because those idiots smacked him on the head with their gun instead of shooting him.They knocked Henley out and then left him on the boat and set fire to it as they dragged me off.I mean seriously, if they know Henley is the all-time greatest Unruly Defender...make sure he’s dead or he’ll make sure he’s the last one to strike.You can’t give that man an inch because as long as he’s breathing, he will keep fighting for what he believes is the right thing to do,” I tell Yates angrily.
“So, Maxton and Banjo are...”he trails off and raises his eyebrow at me in a request for me to finish the sentence.
“Swimming with the fishes,” I snap.“Fish food.History.Another item crossed off the to-do list.Whatever.”
I turn to head into the clubhouse but Henley is standing in the doorway wearing a huge proud smile as he’s watching me intently.
I put my hands on my hips and glare at him.“What are you smiling about?Go take a shower and put on some clothes because Clemente is coming over and we’re not done handling things yet.”
“My woman is bloodthirsty and I like it.”Henley grins.
I huff out a breath and murmur, “Well, you go and watch your boat being swallowed by flames, thinking the person you saw yourself spending the rest of your life with go up in a ball of fire instead, see how your state of mind can fart out sunshine and roses because all I can think of is getting even and wiping those fuckers off the face of the Earth.”
Henley slowly shakes his head.“My circumstances might have been different, and I’ve had a twisted time-out and walked back into this life with my mind set on revenge.Yet all I was thinking when I hit the water a few seconds before the boat was swallowed by flames was the fact that my only reason for living was you.I had to live and fight for you.Yes, justice needs to prevail, but fuck...not if it costs me my life or yours, Gracy.My heart might be beating on its own but you’re the one holding it.”
Yates whistles low.“That’s some romantic shit right there.I need to remember that when I get myself an old lady.”
“I hope I’ll be there to ruin the moment like you’re butting into ours,” I growl.
Yates raises his eyebrows and glances at Henley.“Your woman stays vicious when danger has been thrown her way.”
“You have no idea,” Henley says proudly.“Now, as she ordered, I need a shower and a fresh set of clothes.”He turns on his heels and heads into the clubhouse, leaving me and Yates to follow him.
Yates heads for the bar and pours me a glass of rosé and places it in front of me.“Here you go, sweets, you’ve earned it.”
I don’t even care what time it is, it’s wine o’clock in my book because I need it to take the edge off.Yates glances over my shoulder and walks away from the bar.I follow his movement and see he’s opening the gates with a remote to let a limo inside.A moment later Clemente strolls into the clubhouse.
Yates smacks him on the back.“If there ever was any doubt, there’s none now.Your sister here has the thirst for blood running through her veins and from the stuff I’ve heard?She’s handling it like a damn pro.You should be fucking proud.Hell, I’m proud.”
