“Well, well, well,” Ethan said as Blaine climbed off his motorcycle. “How convenient for the rest of you to show up.”
“Why’s that?” Blaine asked.
“We’ve got dead bodies,” Ethan said. “One shot between the eyes. One shot in the chest. Mother. Daughter.”
The words punched Blaine in the gut.
Just like Meghan and Janey…
Vin.
Ethan stared at Blaine. “Sound familiar?”
“I was out on a ride,” Blaine said.
“Where?”
“None of your goddamn business,” Blaine said.
“The way I see it…,” Ethan rubbed his chin. “I have almost a dozen open murder cases on my desk. All from the same part in Frelen. Part of me wants to call in some backup. But then I look weak in my new position.”
“I don’t care,” Blaine said.
He started to walk and Ethan grabbed Blaine’s arm. Blaine spun, fist tightened up.
“That’s right,” Ethan said. “Hit me. I would love to take you in.”
Think bigger.
Blaine fought against his urge to attack.
“Interesting, right?” Ethan asked. “I mean, the other murders were just drug shit. Deals gone bad. Money. Pussy. Booze. Whatever. I’m sure your crew has their hands covered in that blood. But these two… damn, Blaine. It seemed very familiar to me. I’ll say that again for you. One bullet through the head, of the mother. One bullet through the heart, of the daughter. And she was clutching her favorite stuffed…”
Blaine felt himself snap. He didn’t punch Ethan but he put Ethan against the SUV.
“You fuck,” Blaine growled.
“You look ready to snap, Blaine,” Ethan said. “Two murders that look awfully familiar. And then I got a call about someone else you know.”
“Who?”
“Your old partner. He’s been murdered.”
“What?” Blaine asked.
“Don’t look so surprised, Blaine. That’s out of my jurisdiction. What are you trying to prove here? You going outlaw on your outlaw friends?”
Blaine threw a fist forward and hit the window of Ethan’s SUV. His fist hit with a thud.
“Next one I won’t let miss,” Blaine said.
“I’m on to you,” Ethan said. “I’m going to tie you to everything. Then you’ll have to choose. Take the heat yourself or I take down the club.”
“Hey,” Miller yelled. “If you assholes have no warrants or reasons, get the fuck off my property.”
“We’re gone,” Ethan said. “Have a good day, Blaine. Don’t forget that image I painted for you.” Ethan touched his forehead and then his chest.
Blaine made a fist and knew he wasn’t going to hold back. He connected with Ethan’s jaw and sent him to the ground. He brought his foot back, wanting to shatter his face, but someone grabbed Blaine and pulled him back.
Guns were drawn but Ethan calmed his officers down.
He climbed to his feet and wiped blood off his jaw.
“I’ll be in touch, Blaine,” Ethan said.
Blaine broke away from the hold Gaige and Miller had on him.
“Blaine,” Miller said.
“No,” Blaine said. “I’ve proved everything I need to with this fucking club right now. You want to make things right? You want to do this? Then we attack like you said, Miller. We attacks the guns Vin is trying to buy. That’s the plan. If it puts us in bed with the cartel for a second, oh well. Vin will take us all down unless we fight back now.”
“Sounds like you have your vote in,” Gaige called out.
Blaine lifted his right hand, throwing the finger.
He made a line right to the clubhouse, right to the bar.
The first beer was cold and smooth. The first shot was fire. The second of each were slower and more potent.
Then Jessa appeared. She was with some of the other women.
She broke away and ran to Blaine. She dove right at him, hugging him.
“Nate told me,” she whispered. “What you had to do. I am…”
“I’m not in the mood for this,” Blaine said. “You should get a ride back to your office and work for a little while. Stay away from this.”
Blaine rushed away from Jessa. He realized what he had said to her.
First came pregnancy, then came love.
Now, Blaine had to get rid of her… to save her.
twenty-seven.
Jessa let Blaine go. Her urge was to chase him down and push him until he snapped. But she had him figured out. He was complicated. He was an asshole. But Jessa was willing to accept the challenge. The ride with Nate proved that she was winning him over. Not that she was really trying. It seemed everyone hated and loved Blaine the same way. Of all the things anyone could call the man, he was honest. Honest about himself, who he was, and honest in his actions.
Plus, he just had to kill his old partner.
Petey.
Jessa remembered Petey. He was older than Blaine but they were pretty close. Petey had a ton of problems in his life and it all finally caught up to him. He got into bed with Vin and now he was dead.
It took Jessa a few seconds to really collect that thought. Blaine’s hand that touched her stomach had killed a man. That was going to be her life, right? The hands that loved her body, the hands that brought her pleasure, the hands that would hold and protect their child… they would also be the hands that would kill.