“There’s nothing wrong with that, is there, my man?” Shade bent down, kissing his son’s soft cheek before closing the door and turning to his wife. “You need me to follow you to work and pack him in for you?”
“No,” Lily said exasperatedly. “I can manage. I’ll take him into the store, and then Rachel can watch him when I go back to the car to get his bag. Satisfied? I carried enough that I can leave it there and bring it home once a week to refill.”
“Good. I won’t have that little fucker staring at me all the time,” Shade said, glaring balefully at Elmo as Lily placed the bag in the backseat before getting in behind the wheel.
Shade bent down, kissing her mouth. “Drive careful.”
“I will. I’ll see you tonight. Evie and King want to keep him tonight. I think they’re worried about the Friday parties corrupting him.” she teased.
“Angel, if my son takes after me, then the Friday parties are going to be the least of our worries.” Shade stood.
“If our son takes after you, he’ll be fine. I can’t think of a better man I would want him to be like.”
Shade had to look away from Lily to blink several times before saying gruffly, “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now I have to get to work. I’m late.”
Shade laughed, shutting the car door. “Later.”
Lily waved as she pulled out onto the road to town while Shade stood still, staring until the car was out of sight.
“Ready?” Viper asked, coming out of the factory followed by the rest of The Last Riders.
“Yes.”
*
The brothers formed their circle in the clearing as the brothers from Ohio who had asked to attend out of respect for Razer pulled into the hidden area. The original members waited as they walked the mile to the clearing.
Shade stared at the harsh expression on Razer’s face. His friend had waited patiently for this day to avenge his wife.
When the brothers from Ohio took their places, Cash untied the man who had been bound to a tree. Cash jerked him forward mercilessly, pushing him into the circle before removing his blindfold and untying his hands, uncaring about the scream of pain coming from his infected hand. Viper had refused to give him any relief other than making sure he wouldn’t die of blood poisoning before they could kill him.
Saul Cornett stared defiantly, arrogantly believing God was going to save him.
Viper took a step forward. “Saul Cornett, you have been found guilty of crimes against The Last Riders, and your judgment is death.” Viper’s cold voice was loud enough for all the brothers to hear.
“Razer and Shade, he tried to kill your wives. Razer, he tried to kill you. I determined Razer has the right to go first, but Shade holds Razer’s IOU, and he’s using it to go first.” Viper stared at Shade in disapproval.
Shade kept his face impassive as Viper stepped back so he could take his place in the circle. Shade ignored Razer’s angry glare as he stepped forward, staring into Saul’s eyes.
Raising his fist, he smashed it into Saul’s face. The old man then held his face as blood gushed from his broken nose.
“That’s for Lily. I wanted you to feel that before Razer killed you, because there’s not going to be anything left of you when it’s my turn.” Shade stepped back into the circle.
“I give Razer my turn!” Shade yelled.
Razer stared back in surprise before his eyes narrowed on Saul. Stepping forward, hatred blazed from his face as he spat on Saul.
“I’ve seen the marks on my wife’s body. You made her stand on fucking nails when she was just a little kid, you sadistic bastard. Is that why you stayed overseas, because they let you beat the crap out of their kids? Times were changing too fast for you here, with the sheriff watching every move, weren’t they?”
Saul’s eyes went to Knox who stood in the circle, wearing his uniform.
“I bet you thought the new sheriff would let you slide back in, but you had to take your time to accomplish that, and Brooke gave you the perfect opportunity. Tell her Shade said hi when you see her in Hell!” Razer held his hand out to Viper who handed him a large stick. Shade saw that nails had been hammered at one end until the points came out the other side.
Razer walked behind Saul, swinging the stick at him like a baseball bat, striking him on the back. Saul fell to the ground, crying out and begging for mercy, but Razer ignored him, swinging the bat over and over until his back was covered in blood.
“I need a doctor!” Saul screamed. “Help!”
“You need a fucking doctor after you convinced a woman to die in agony instead of taking a pain pill? Where was your compassion, you fucking asshole? Get his damn shoes off!” Razer yelled.
Shade stepped forward, pulling the man’s tennis shoes and socks off before stepping back.
Razer brought the stick down on his feet repeatedly, only stopping when they were a bloody mess and Saul was unconscious.
“Throw some water on him,” Viper ordered.