“Lindsey,” he said.
“I’m Jane,” Aunt Jane said. She touched his bulky arm. “Can I get you anything?”
“Where’s King?” I asked, ignoring my dear aunt’s raging hormones.
“That’s why I’m here.”
“Is he in jail again?”
“No. Not this time.”
“Okay. Good.” I flickered a quick smile.
But Knox just shook his head.
“We should get going right now,” Knox said.
“Get going?” I asked. “Where? Why? What happened?”
Knox walked toward me and reached for me. I swatted his big hand away and showed him my small fist. I knew if I dared to hit him it would hurt me worse than him. The guys in the Reap weren’t human to me. They were all built out of steel muscle, sex, and violence.
“Okay, fine,” Knox said. “I don’t want to scare you, but I fucking will.”
“What do you mean scare her?” Aunt Jane asked. “She’s pregnant for Christ’s sake. You can’t stress her out.”
“I’m fucking trying not to,” Knox growled. He looked me dead in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Lindsey. Okay?”
“What are you sorry for?” I asked.
“King was shot… twice…”
40
(King) *A LITTLE BIT AGO*
ANDERSON POPPED up out of nowhere like a goddamn Jack-in-the-box. He did so with a gun in his hand and his eyes wide. I could see the satisfaction spread across his face when he saw Uncle Jakey. And that was mixed with a shit ton of hate.
“Don’t you fuckers move,” Anderson said. “At all.”
“What the hell is this?” Uncle Jakey asked.
“This is your nightmare,” Anderson said. “Years of bullshit leading to this.”
Anderson rushed forward.
I took a step back, trying to make it seem like I was going to run.
“Don’t fucking move, Kingston!” Anderson yelled. “I’ll pump you full of bullets.”
I froze. I showed my hands.
“First things first,” Anderson said. “All weapons on the floor. Right now.”
“Fuck yourself,” Uncle Jakey said.
“I can press one button and have a team here,” Anderson said.
“Then do it,” Uncle Jakey said.
“You don’t want that,” Anderson said. “This is you and me. This is your club coming to its final end. This is your own member selling your ass out.”
I felt my blood run cold.
Uncle Jakey looked at me. He played it all off. “You motherfucker. You talked to him? Is this how you got out?”
“Signed all the papers,” Anderson said. “Think about that, Jakey. You piece of shit.”
“Holy fuck,” I said.
“Weapons! Now!” Anderson yelled, his voice booming through the building.
We all had to listen to him.
I put my gun down. Uncle Jakey was packing two. Even the man in the suit had a gun on him. My head was spinning and my heart was racing.
“So here’s what we do,” Anderson said. “I’m taking Jakey in personally. The rest of you can burn in hell when my team shows up.”
“You’re not even supposed to be here,” Uncle Jakey said. “You think I don’t keep tabs on you?”
“Your own guy sold you out,” Anderson said. “What do you think of that?”
“He told me everything,” Uncle Jakey growled. “You piece of shit.”
Anderson looked at me. “You’re going to burn in prison. I’ll keep you alive for the rest of my life. I’ll make it so miserable…”
“I’ll go without a fight,” Uncle Jakey said. “As long as my club stands.”
“What?” I asked.
“Say that again,” Anderson said.
“You’re right,” Uncle Jakey said. “My time is up. I’ve had my chance at this game. It’s over for me.”
“So if I have nobody else with me,” Anderson said, “what makes you think I’m taking you in.”
“You’re going to kill me,” Uncle Jakey said. “Why not? I fucked your wife, right?”
I raised an eyebrow. That was news to me.
“Ex-wife,” Anderson said.
“She wasn’t your ex when she was swallowing my cock and touching herself.”
Anderson’s face burned red. He jumped at Uncle Jakey and swung, cracking him in the jaw. I expected Uncle Jakey to fight back but he didn’t. He took the punch.
“Fuck,” Anderson growled as he shook his hand.
“Call your team,” I said. “This bullshit is done, Anderson. You set everyone up. You have no credibility to be here. You have nothing.”
I stepped forward and Anderson pointed his gun at me. I walked right to it. The gun to my heart. One pull of a trigger and it was all over for me. I’d never get to see Linds again. I’d never get to kiss her. I’d never get to see her belly grow swollen and meet my baby.
“Fuck you, Kingston,” Anderson said.
“Then do it. Fuck me. Right now. Fuck me by pulling that trigger.”
Uncle Jakey cut in, throwing his hands at Anderson, moving him out of the way. “I’m done with this. I give up. You win, Anderson.”
“No,” I said.
“Shut up, King,” Uncle Jakey said.
Anderson took out a set of cuffs and slapped them over Uncle Jakey’s wrists. “Just think about all you’ve done. The crimes, Jakey. The murder. The beatings. The carjackings. The bombings.”