Page 48 of Catch a King (Five Kings 1)

Axel looks up in fear and she says gently, “He wanted you to live without fear and accepted it all you know. He loved you, his big brother and his best friend. He would never leave you with the burden of the Dragon’s. He wanted you to break free and realize your own dreams.”

She turns to me and says softly, “You are the most like him, Sawyer. You have a strong sense of justice and will always put your family first. He wanted you to see the world, discover the man inside you outside the club, and he prayed you would find peace and be happy one day. Billy had found peace. He felt guilty after Saskia died and he felt so guilty about our relationship. He hated that he was happy and his family were not. He hated that his wife died of drug addiction and he failed to help her and he hated the way the club was going and all the bad things going on there. It was destroying him. So, if you’ve come here for Billy’s secrets, there they are. He was struggling to do the right thing, but that is all. He wasn’t involved in anything that would order a hit on him, so if you want revenge for his death, you need to look closer to home because word on the street is, it was an inside job and if he was trying to tell you anything with his last breath, it was the name of the only person who could help you.”

She leans back and the fierceness in her eyes causes me to smile inside. If I was worried about Rose, I needn’t be. She’s a strong fighter, a warrior who takes no shit, and her niece is cut from the same mold.

However, it’s the look in Slade’s eyes that worries me the most as he growls, “We need to leave, now.”

Chapter 38

Millie

Ican’t believe I didn’t see this coming. If I felt a failure before, it’s nothing to how I feel now. Avery carries on setting her trap and while she’s distracted, I work like hell to free my hands. It hurts as my skin grazes the rope, and it burns as I struggle to save my family.

She yells across, “You know, it’s nothing personal, honey. Just business, you understand, don’t you? I’m sure it will be quick and you won’t feel a thing.”

She laughs like a maniac. “I doubt we’ve got long. They should be on their way by now and by my reckoning, should be here within the next couple of hours. Maybe grab some sleep, you never know, you may sleep through your death. I always wanted to die in my sleep. Best way if you ask me.”

She heads my way and I stop wrestling with the rope and to my surprise, she unfastens the gag and smiles “Now, maybe we can have a chat while I work. So much better than talking to myself.”

“You know, you won’t get away with this, they’ll come for you because there are too many of them. Ryder will have outlined the mission and the rest will track you down and it won’t be pretty. Give it up now and you will escape with your life.”

Avery giggles. “You think I’m worried about them coming for me? I have bigger, more powerful friends than the Reapers protecting my back. You know, you’re a smart girl, or at least I thought you were. Stop and ask yourself how a girl like me from nowhere could engineer this whole thing on my lonesome. That story I spun about sleeping with the guy in Vegas was partially true. I did sleep with a guy with money; more money than the federal reserves as it happens. Unfortunately for you, he’s mighty pissed with the Reapers and wants them gone. So, while your closest friends are saving you, that place they call home will be blown sky high with the rest of them in it. So, get one thing straight, I win.”

She turns away and looks around her with satisfaction. “Ok, I must be going now, it’s been so much fun but I’m afraid I must leave you to your death. Once those Reapers come calling, I will call my cell and it will set off an explosion that will take you all with it. You see, I will use your phone and replace the battery that I swiped from it earlier and call my phone and set off the explosion. It pays to have experts as friends, and they have made this easy on me by giving me the simplest way to finish the job with no comeback on me.

She heads over to a chair in the center of the room and fiddles with her phone as she sets it up. While she’s distracted, I resume my struggle and almost cry out as I scrape my hand free. Quickly, I lean down and untie my feet and while she’s concentrating, I seize my chance and grab the chair I was sitting on and swing it back, bringing it down on her back.

I’m unsteady on my feet, which makes me stumble, giving her time to jump up and come at me with a scream. I duck out of the way as she swings for me and I try to remember my training. However, no training can prepare you for staring down the barrel of a gun because that’s exactly what’s happening now as she pulls a pistol from her jacket and levels it at my head.

“Good try, honey, but I’m way smarter than you. Now, on your knees.”

I have to do as she says because from the look in her eye, she means business and as I sink to my knees, I try to come up with a plan.

She sighs heavily as she points the gun at my head. “Nice try, but not good enough. Now, on your feet, we’re moving out.”

“No.”

“Did you hear me, I said we’re leaving, move.”

She waves the gun at me and I say with determination.

“I’m not leaving.”

“Are you simple, girl? I’m offering you a chance here, you may, god forbid, escape. This is your chance.”

“I’m not leaving.” She shakes her head as if she’s talking to an idiot. “Have it your way, but I’m not hanging around.”

“Then leave.”

I think I hold my breath as she senses a trap and her eyes narrow. “Ok, I’ll leave, but make one move and I’ll blow your fucking brains out.”

“No, you won’t.”

My heart is beating so hard I think I may pass out again as she growls, “Fine, have it your way.”

She makes to leave and says angrily, “If you even move an inch, I’ll shoot.”

“Then you would die too.”

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