they made their deal, betrayed the club, and answered for it didn’t change the fact that the Black Market Railroad was still operating in Nevada and my territory. I wasn’t going to let that continue.
This was going to be bloody before it was all over.
“Don’t forget that Solonik fuckin’ attacked the Crossroads. He might be dead, but that shit hasn’t been resolved either,” Bodie added.
“Patriot is still in the hospital and he needs to know. Naomi isn’t safe.” Rael scrubbed his hand down his face. “Neither is my Nylah.”
“This is fucked-up.”
“Those poor girls.”
“Not in our state, Grim. No fuckin’ way.”
My brothers were pissed. I could see their Reapers ready to break free.
“We need eyes on all of the Scorpion compounds and warehouses. They’re spread wide on purpose which means we need to be smart,” Wraith advised. “The Scorpions are out for vengeance. It’s only a matter of time and after today we know Razr is now working with Resnikov.”
Mammoth agreed. “You’re right.”
“If Razr wasn’t in prison we’d be having a chat. Not sure who is in charge and calling the shots for him, so we need to figure that out. Need some new Intel on their club and its businesses. Razr is probably trying to control it all but he’s not on the streets.”
Nods were repeated around the table.
“I’ve got to go to Trish. Can’t wait any longer. Church at noon tomorrow.”
Rising to my feet, I slammed down the gavel and dropped it, stomping from the room as I made my way to my angel and the news that I knew would break her heart.
I hadn’t stopped pacing since the second I arrived. Hours trickled by at a snail’s pace. When I heard Grim and the others finally return, I knew it was bad when he didn’t come here first. My hope had diminished over the length of the day. If Stefanie was alive, he would have called. I’d bitten my nails down to the nubs, tears drying up after I cried for most of the night before when I received the frantic phone call from my aunt. I was almost numb now.
The door opened and Grim entered. His sad and anxious expression told me all I needed to know. My hand flew to my mouth and I let out a wail of disbelief. Knees weakening, I almost hit the floor, but he darted forward and caught me.
“I’m so sorry, angel.”
He let me cry, holding tight as I wept for so long my head ached and my throat stung. Taking a tissue, he wiped my nose and then dabbed at the corners of my eyes.
“Do I want to know what happened?” I finally asked with a sniffle.
He kissed my forehead. “No.”
Tears shimmered in my eyes and threatened to overflow again as I gripped his shirt. “I can’t do this. I can’t lose someone else that I love again. I can’t, Grim.”
“I know, baby. Trust me, I know.”
Sobs tore free from my chest anew and all I could think about was Suraya and now Stefanie. Two bright and beautiful lives snuffed out. It wasn’t even the MC. I kept trying to blame the Royal Bastards and the club for everything, but the truth was, there was a lot of fuckin’ evil in this world. It infiltrated every single crack and crevice, spread to every city, oozing with hate and a thirst for blood.
There wasn’t a way to avoid it. Foolishly, I thought I could.
I had been wrong.
“Hold me,” I begged and Grim nodded.
We moved to the bed and he pulled back the comforter, tugging off my shoes and then his own boots, followed by his cut. His gun and phone went to the nightstand and it was so normal and familiar that fresh tears dripped down my cheeks. I missed him. I missed us.
Once I was in his arms, his embrace stayed tight all night.
“I’ll make this right, Trish. I promise.”
I didn’t know how he would do it. A part of me didn’t care. I just wanted the asshole who hurt Stef to die. “Make him suffer,” I whispered through my tears. “Give him hell.”
I kind of knew what that meant now. After seeing what Grim and his club could become, I had a feeling they could dish out punishment and retribution like no other.
“You know I will.”
For the moment, that was good enough.
***
“Give them hell.”
Trish’s words echoed in my head. Men who would become that kind of monster and harm women and children were a special breed of heinous that