Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Believe me,” I mutter. “If Dax didn’t offer this deal, I would have fuckin’ killed Bennett and made sure I put a huge hole in their fuckin’ operation.”
Zariah blinks, and then turns and walks toward the door. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Smart woman,” I murmur.
She disappears.
I glance down at my bloodied hands.
I hope this is fucking worth it.
“I’M NOT DOIN’ IT,” Cohen growls the next evening at Church. “I will not stand in front of that dirty motherfucker and admit defeat.”
“It’s not admittin’ defeat, Cohen,” Mykel growls, finally out of the hospital but still going really slow with his everyday business. “It’s doin’ the smart thing. Alarick is right on this one, it’s about makin’ the best choice for right now.”
“The best choice is killin’ that cop, bringin’ their operation down, and bein’ done with this,” Cohen snaps.
“And riskin’ the lives of two innocent people because of pride?” Mykel snaps back.
“King ain’t my fuckin’ problem. He chose to get involved in this shit, that’s on him.”
I exhale and stand, putting my hands on the table. “This is happening, it is fuckin’ so ordered. You obey, or you suffer the consequences, Cohen. You do not want to cross me on this one.”
Cohen stands and glares at me. “You’re makin’ a fuckin’ mistake, but I’m not goin’ to go against the club. I’m not stupid. I am, however, goin’ on a long fuckin’ ride after this away from you motherfuckers.”
He turns and walks out, slamming the door so loudly the building echoes. I release the breath that was sitting angrily in my chest at the idea of having to take him on again. But, being smart is part of Cohen’s better traits. He’s not a stupid man and he’s not going to risk his life, or his respect with the club by not following orders.
Still the idea that he’s fucking disappointed in me bothers me. He’s my best friend, and I respect the hell out of him. But he’s angry about all of this. He’s angry at me, at King, and he feels let down by the fact that he wasn’t told any of this.
Can’t change that now.
“Everyone else on board?” I ask the remaining table of people.
The older members all nod their approval.
“Yeah,” Kendric and Samson say at the same time.
Bohdi nods.
Mykel gives me a supportive look.
“Good,” I say, slapping the table with my hand. “Then let’s fuckin’ do this shit.”
I STEP FORWARD, MY entire club behind me, and Dax walks forward with five of his men, all holding machine guns. They’re not coming unarmed; they don’t trust us. That’s fucking fine, because we’re all carrying, too. I don’t trust him either.
Standing next to him is King, battered and bruised, but alive. He’s standing, hands cuffed behind his back, staring at the club with a look of complete love in his eyes. Pride, pure pride. This club was his whole fucking world, just like it’s my whole fucking world now. I know exactly how it feels to look at them and feel that.
“Got to admit.” Dax grins. “Didn’t think you’d do it.”
I glare at him. “I’m not a fuckin’ stupid man, Dax. You should know that by now.”
“Your pride is greater than your mind, though. Isn’t it, Alarick?”
I grit my teeth but say nothing. He’s not going to bait me, not right now. My club is relying on me to keep this safe, and that is exactly what I’m going to give them. I’m here to make a fucking point, not let them all down any further.
“Are we going to get on with this, or would you rather sit around and have a chat?”
Dax’s grin gets bigger.
He loves every fucking second of this.
“I’ll hand over what you need, once I’ve heard you and your entire club confirm that you’re going to back down.”
“You’re getting off on this, aren’t you?”
He nods, slowly. “Oh, you have no idea. What’s it going to be, Alarick?”
“How do I know the moment I say it, you’re not going to shoot him?”
“Well, it’s simple. You don’t. But you’re going to have to trust that your pathetic little fucking club isn’t enough for me to risk everything for. You back off, we back off, and everyone goes on with their lives. Believe me, it’s not the option I would rather, but it’s the option I’m going with. I’m sure you can understand that?”
He’s right.
I know he’s going to give me this, because the operation he’s got running, is so much bigger than the club. He’s right about that. And he’s going to do anything he can to protect it, including calling a truce this time around.
“Very well,” I say and then look back to the guys. I know it’s going to kill them to do this, but they do it because they do what I ask and they’re fucking loyal. At the same time, all of us say the following statement, “We, the King’s Descendants, will officially step down and stop looking into your operation. We will no longer cause any problems, or distractions, and will go on with our lives in exchange for King and Cova.”