I watched the outlaw ride away and had no idea what to do next.
Trouble was everywhere… the worst, however, in my heart.
chapter seventeen.
(duke)
Of all the things going on, the one thought that plagued was why had I kissed Belle? There was no need to kiss her. Shit, all I needed to know was whether she was involved with the land deal with the Hell Five or not.
I made my way back into Daurian only to receive a phone call that something was going down.
Ivan was at the clubhouse. With a prospect taken as a hostage.
It was the last thing I needed to hear and deal with.
I gunned my ride back to the clubhouse and sure enough, Ivan and Peter were standing in the lot with Trev and Jasper. Another huge looking man had one of our prospects by the throat, a gun pointed at him.
When I finally got off my ride, Ivan had taken out his big handgun.
Trent pushed his way between Trev and Jasper, doing his job to protect the Prez and VP.
I was right there with him.
“What is this?” I asked.
“You,” Ivan said, looking right at me. “We shoot you. We tell you to get blood money. What do you do? You bar fight and fuck country girl.”
“What?” I asked.
“What the fuck is he talking about?” Jasper asked.
“You know what I talk about,” Ivan said. Spit was in the corner of his mouth.
“Ivan, look at me,” Trev said. “We’re going to get your money. We already offered to give you the money out of our share. Take it. What the fuck do I care? We’re dealing with our business our way. We took on the Hell Five bar to prove a point. We have them rattled.”
“Who the fuck is this country girl?” Trent asked.
That’s when it hit me.
Belle.
Ivan and his cronies were following me?
I stepped forward and Peter was right there, hand out, hitting my chest.
“Touch me again and I’ll break your arm,” I said to Peter.
“Get the money,” Ivan said. “My money. No more fucking around.”
“What’s changed your mind here?” Trev asked. “You didn’t seem to mind before. You seemed to trust us.”
“No trust,” Ivan said. “It’s dead.”
“Too convenient,” Peter said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“You lose money,” Peter said. “You tell us you were attacked. Fair enough. We kill our own man for you. Then you, right there you” - Peter poked a finger to my chest - “you are in bed with someone getting land with the money stolen.”
“We fucking know the truth!” Ivan bellowed.
“Jesus Christ,” I said. “That’s not…”
“Enough,” Peter said.
He made a quick fist and threw a punch at me. Right to my lip, splitting it open. I stepped back but wasn’t going to take that shit. I lunged at Peter and clocked him in the jaw.
Then I had the entire MC on top of me, trying to keep me away.
The melee only ended when Ivan’s gun boomed.
I ended up on my ass, just sitting there with Peter standing feet away.
He pointed at me. “We will find all truth.”
“Why don’t you let us talk this out?” Jasper asked.
“No more,” Ivan said. “When we come back, it’s all over.”
They turned to walk away and that’s when I caught sight of the prospect. Ivan shot him. That was the gunshot. Right through the chest.
“Fuck!” I screamed.
I started to lean forward but then felt hands grab the back of my leather cut. Next thing I knew I was hoisted up into the air by both Trev and Jasper. Trent then grabbed me and threw me into a motorcycle and I knocked the damn thing over. I lunged forward at Trent, ready for a goddamn fight, when Kye jumped into the picture.
I was inches from hitting him.
He shook his head at me.
“It’s time,” he whispered. “Tell them everything you know.”
“Tell us what?” Jasper asked.
“Fuck this,” Trev said. “I don’t play these games.”
Trev - the Prez - ripped out a gun and put it right under my chin.
chapter eighteen.
(belle)
“That was scary,” Maggie said.
“Scary?” I asked. “What my brother did is scary.”
I turned and saw Jim approaching the door. He had a folder in his hand. He stepped out onto