Page 114 of The Echo of Violence

“I think I got that when you bashed the other car off the road.”

When the bikes round the curve, I relax, recognizing Kaz as the rider in front. “Looks like the cavalry has arrived.”

“Splinter must have gotten a hold of them.” She mutters something about favorites as I unlock the doors and climb out.

I keep my gun handy for a minute, just in case, as the bikes all stop and the riders dismount. Kaz and Wizz head straight for Mercy. I watch as they wrap their arms around her before I find myself caught up in an embrace too.

I look up and see Knight staring down at me in concern. “What happened?”

The rest of the brothers gather around, so I move closer to Mercy and her guys so everyone can hear. “We were returning from viewing the property when a silver Ford Focus started flashing its lights and beeping its horn at us. I think they were trying to get us to pull over. Like that shit was going to happen with two women in the car in the middle of nowhere. When they realized it wasn’t going to happen, they started ramming us.”

“Who the fuck are they?”

“It was just a driver, from what I could see. White male. Sorry, I know it’s not much, but my priority was getting Mercy to safety.”

“No, you did well. Scope said you drove them into the ravine?” Wizz asks, looking around.

I point to the spot behind my car where it went over. “The guy was hitting us, so I hit back. Apparently, I don’t know my own strength.”

A few of the guys start laughing as they move to look down into the deep ravine.

“You got any rope in the back of your car?” Knight asks me, loosening his arms a little.

“Probably. Nico likes me to be prepared for the apocalypse, so there’s a little bit of everything in there.”

I toss him the keys before turning back to Mercy and her guys. Kaz lets her go and walks to me, placing his hand on the back of my head before he kisses my forehead.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I’m happy my voice comes out and sounds less shaky than I feel. All I could think about was Mercy and the baby. Now the adrenaline is wearing off and the shakes are setting in.

“Got it. I’m going to rig this up to the back of your car and lower one of the guys down to take a look.” Knight walks over to me and tugs me out of Kaz’s arms. “Mine.”

“Relax, Knight. I was just thanking her for looking after my woman.”

“Thank her with your words, not your lips.”

Mercy starts giggling, which sets me off. Knight lets me go, and I move to stand beside her as the guys get to work, tying off the rope and sending someone down. I look over when I hear shouting—the brothers pulling and tugging the rope until Menace’s head pops up over the edge, and he pulls himself up and dusts himself off, taking his cell phone out and showing it to Wizz and Kaz. Both shake their heads, so he walks over to me and Mercy.

“The guy’s dead. His neck is broken, and his body is wedged halfway out his windshield.”

“Lovely.”

“Either of you recognize him?”

Mercy looks first and shakes her head. “He doesn’t look very old. Did he ever prospect for us?”

“None of the guys recognize him, but he could have prospected for Carnage. You might have seen him there. I’ll send Orion a photo and see if anyone there remembers him.”

He hands me the cell. I stare at the face and know I’ve seen him somewhere before. The sound of the trunk of my car banging closed brings the memory to the surface. “Benjamin Evans. Arrested for DUI, assaulting a police officer, and possessing a Class-A substance. He never showed up for his court date. Me, Nico, and Rex were sent in to apprehend him.”

“And did you?” Knight asks, moving to wrap his arm around me as the others gather close.

I nod. “Me and Toto took him down. He was hiding out at his mom’s place. Last I heard, he got eighteen months.”

“Call Nico and see if he can find out anything,” Knight tells me, and I nod automatically, my mind trying to piece everything together, but I just don’t understand.

“He came for me,” I snap, my anger sparking. “Why? Eighteen months is nothing compared to a life sentence. He was not some grand mastermind. He cried like a bitch when he was cuffed.”

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