Page 46 of Wild Side
Once they’re out of earshot, I shift my attention to Bullet, who arches a brow. “Deals on deals, brother,” I murmur.
Bullet chuckles. “Let’s get this one put to bed so I can get to my own. This old man is tired as fuck.”
Halo opens his mouth, but Bullet gives me a nod. Taking my knife out of the sheath at my hip, I move toward him and slice it across his throat. He makes a gurgling sound as Sable parts her lips to scream, but Shocker moves faster than I’ve seen the man move in years and wraps his hand around her mouth.
Halo drops to the floor. The conversation is finished. I was willing to accept him just being thrown out of the club, mainlybecause it would ruin him mentally, and I knew that, but whatever Shocker said to Bullet cemented his fate.
“He’d have been like a thorn. If you’re reasonable with unreasonable people, it never works out. We’ve got too many babies around our clubhouse right now to chance a man scorned like that. He would have been far too desperate, and I’ve seen desperate men do some really fucked-up shit.”
Shocker isn’t wrong.
“Prospect,” Bullet calls out. “Get a couple guys. Clean this shit up,” he says, waving his hand around.
The prospect behind the bar hurries over, his phone to his ear, no doubt calling another prospect. Taking a step backward, I wipe the bloody blade of the knife on my jeans before I slide it back in the sheath.
“And what do we do with her?” I tip my head in Sable’s direction.
“I’m open to suggestions,” Bullet says. “Quick ones, because I wasn’t joking that I wanted to go home to my family.”
“Send her ass back home,” Lightning mutters. “She’s not going to do a goddamn thing, is she?” he asks, his gaze focused on Sable.
She shakes her head with Shocker’s palm still wrapped around her mouth. He slowly releases his grasp on her and takes a step backward. She steps forward, her eyes wide as she looks up at me.
“You’re a monster,” she hisses. “All of you are.”
“Why?” I ask. “Because you thought you were gonna be queen? You ain’t shit, little girl,” I grind out. “And Zadie doesn’t exist to you, not now, not ever again. Get the fuck out and never come back.
“Fuck you,” she grinds out.
I tilt my head to the side with a snort. “I’m pretty sure you’re talking out of turn here, bitch. Want to rephrase that?”
Her eyes slide to the side, then shift back to meet mine. “I’ll get on the plane. I’ll go back to California. You’ll never hear from or see me again,” she whispers.
“How about I take you to the airport?” a voice says from behind me.
I know exactly who that voice belongs to. It’s my brother. I don’t bother checking. I don’t need to. He walks past me and stops in front of her, turning his head to look back at me. He jerks his chin, wraps his arm around Sable, and walks her out of the bar.
ZADIE
Goose and I move into the bedroom. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I hug myself as I think about what’s going to happen. There is no love lost for my father. He’s made his bed, and he’s going to lie in it, just like me.
He’s been in this world since he was seventeen years old. He knows the rules better than anyone else probably, which means he knows the consequences as well. As much as I want to feel bad for what he’s done, he didn’t feel bad when his hand was wrapped around my throat while I had another life inside me.
I need to worry about that, about my baby. I need to focus on that. Not on whatever is happening out there. So, in order to keep my mind off things, I shift my attention to him, to Goose.
“I know you don’t want to hear it, but thank you,” I murmur.
“I don’t want to hear it?” He swings his gaze to meet mine.
I shrug a shoulder, my gaze focused on his. I can’t look away from him. He looks so much like Maverick, like Chase, but he’s also so different. Nodding once, I let out a heavy breath, straightening my shoulders.
“That I’m appreciative of what you did. I’ve never defied or tested my father before. I haven’t ever known what he was capable of when it came to me. I’m glad I didn’t, but at the same time, I’m glad that I know now.”
Goose chuckles and runs his fingers through his hair. “You’re right,” he states. “I don’t want to hear it.” Lowering my head, I look down at my feet when he continues speaking. “Because you’re family, babe. So there’s not a fucking reason I need thanks for protecting you.”
“Family?” I ask.
I feel his fingers slip beneath my chin before he applies pressure and tilts my head back. My eyes connect with his, and he gives me a smile. I’m not sure it’s a genuine smile, but I decide not to dissect him.
