Page 57 of Dead Devil's Playground
"Technically I kicked him out, pun intended... Oliver was Silas's son," I tell them, the words tumbling out in a rush. "He orchestrated everything—the sabotage, Camden's betrayal, all of it. He's been playing us from the beginning."
"Not us," Hudson corrects, his voice stronger now. "Me. I should have seen it. Should have dug deeper."
I shake my head, sinking onto the couch beside him. "None of us saw it. He was good."
"Not good enough," Kai says with grim satisfaction. "Not anymore."
Rev shifts his weight, wincing slightly as he puts pressure on what must be an injured leg. "We need to sweep all the properties," he says, running a hand through his blood-matted hair. "Check every single employee, anyone who might have been working with Camden or Oliver—Silas—whatever the fuck his name was."
"Tomorrow," I say, suddenly overcome with bone-deep exhaustion and a fierce need to reclaim what's ours. "We can do all that tomorrow." I push myself up from the couch, my musclesprotesting every movement. "It's still Dead Devil's Night, and I should go back to the Playground."
I walk across the room to retrieve the SUV keys I dropped during my confrontation with Oliver.
Kai raises an eyebrow, his split lip twisting into something between a grimace and a smirk as he takes in my appearance. "You're still covered in blood, gorgeous."
I look down at myself, at the crimson stains drying on my skin, at Camden's blood splattered across my chest and face. I shrug, a cold smile spreading across my face. "What better time to make a statement than covered in the blood of our enemies?"
Chapter 23
Ry
Thedrivebacktothe Playground is a blur of neon signs and empty streets. My city looks different tonight—not just because of Dead Devil's Night, but because for the first time in years, I'm seeing it with absolute clarity.
The SUV hums beneath us, Rev driving while I sit in the back with Hudson's head in my lap. His breathing is labored but steady, his eyes occasionally fluttering open to meet mine before pain forces them closed again. Kai rides shotgun, constantly checking his phone as reports filter in from our people across the city.
"Status update on Oliver?" I ask, gently stroking Hudson's hair.
"Definitely dead this time," Kai confirms, not looking up from his phone. "Our clean-up crew confirms he's a very messy stain on the pavement. They're handling it."
"Good." The word comes out colder than I intended, but I can't bring myself to care. Oliver—Silas—whatever he called himself, deserved worse than the quick death I gave him.
"And Camden's body?" I continue, needing to tie up all loose ends.
"Disposed of," Rev answers, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. "No trace left."
I nod, satisfied. "Any other problems?"
"Not tonight," Kai says with a grim smile. "Word's spreading fast about what happened. Nobody's stupid enough to make a move now."
As we approach the Playground, I can see the club is still in full swing despite the earlier chaos. Lights pulse in the darkness, and the bass from the music vibrates through the car windows as we pull up to the VIP entrance.
"Are you sure about this?" Rev asks, turning to look at me. "We could just go back home, deal with it tomorrow."
I shake my head, determination hardening in my chest. "No more shadows. No more hiding. It's time they knew exactly who they're dealing with."
Hudson stirs in my lap, his eyes opening with effort. "I'm coming in too," he says, his voice rough with pain.
"You can barely stand," I argue, though I know it's futile.
He meets my gaze, unwavering despite his pallor. "I'll stand next to you or die trying."
I should protest more, but the truth is, I want them all with me for this. My men. My family. My strength.
The moment we enter the club, Stella's face is a masterpiece of horror. Her eyes widen to almost comical proportions as she takes in my blood-splattered appearance, her gaze darting between me and the three battered men flanking me like avenging angels.
"What the actual fuck?" she hisses, rushing toward us as we enter through the back entrance. "I've been trying to reach you for hours! The whole place went dark, people were panicking, and then—" She stops short, finally registering the full extent of our injuries. "Is that... is all that blood yours?"
"Not mine," I reply, the ghost of a smile playing on my lips. "Not theirs either. At least, not most of it."
