Give Me War - Kate McCarthy Page 0,33
me still with his hand tight on my bicep, his grip bruising as he waits, watching as Grudge speaks to them. And when a warm morning breeze picks up, flicking hair across my face that I can’t brush away, Atomic reaches up and brushes it away. I flinch from the touch. “Get your hands off me,” I growl hoarsely.
All heads turn my way, but I only have eyes for Jared. I know the instant he sees me. His gaze runs over me and fury takes over his expression, so bright and hot it’s a wonder he doesn’t combust. He stands between Travis and Mitch and I know it’s strategic because when he springs forward they both grab him at the same time, holding him back.
“Evie!” he yells.
“I’m okay!” I call back. But I’m totally not, and the croak in my voice makes it obvious, not to mention my appearance. I can feel the blood on my face and neck. It’s all over my clothes, Renny’s too, which probably makes it look worse. My hair is matted and my left eye feels puffy and hot but not even that can detract from the explosive vest strapped to my body and the biker beside me holding the remote, my life entirely in his hands.
Jared rips free of his brothers and lunges at Grudge, his right arm already swinging. It’s a hit that’s reckless and powered with rage, and it goes wild as the biker ducks. “You sonofabitch!” he roars.
Travis and Mitch react quickly, grabbing him and locking him down. His chin dips for a moment, his chest rising and falling with every breath, his expression pained.
Anger builds. Anger at myself. I did this. As soon as those bikers pulled in I should have hauled ass out of that beach parking lot like my butt was on fire. Instead I allowed myself to get thrown by my need to rip Renny’s face off over a past that should have been dead and buried.
“I’m sorry,” I try telling him from across the yard, but my voice is too thin. What little sound comes out catches on the wind and drifts away.
I turn my head to the biker at my side. If they want a war, I’ll give them a fucking war. “You think they’re outnumbered,” I tell him, referring to the Valentines, “and that you have the upper hand. But you’re forgetting something really important.”
His tone is snide. “Oh yeah, what?”
“The Valentines are smarter than all of you combined.” I know they wouldn’t have rocked up here without a plan. I have to believe that. But I’m the only leverage the Vipers have. Take me out of the equation and they won’t even need a plan because the bikers will have nothing. “They’ll have you behind bars for this for the rest of your life, or better yet,” I lean in, eyes narrowing, “dead.”
In one quick move, I turn sideways, thrusting my knee upwards with force and perfect accuracy. Atomic jerks with an, “oof,” and his hand falls from my arm. Taking advantage of his lax stance, I grab for the remote with both cuffed hands. I leap down all three stairs like a goddamn gazelle and slam straight into Goliath.
“Fucking shit,” I growl.
I go for the knee move again but he’s prepared. He swings behind me and anchors his entire arm around my throat. It presses on my windpipe, restricting air.
“The remote!” I hear someone yell through my struggle to breathe. It’s Mac.
I toss the device in her direction. It flies up through the air and a hand reaches out and catches it. Grudge. He curls his fingers around it with a triumphant expression.
God, why can’t I catch a freaking break?
“Agree to the demands, Valentines,” he tells them, and as if on cue, the entire contingent of Vipers move into place, a collective threat of doom.
“Why?” Mitch asks, arms folded and head cocked, appearing unbothered by the clear fact that we are so totally fucked right now. Mirrored aviators cover his eyes, hiding his expression, but his jaw is clenched tighter than the damn lid on a jar of Nutella. “If we step down, there’ll be others there ready to step in and take our place. All this little gathering proves,” he tells him, sweeping an arm out to take in the biker posse, “is just how weak the Vipers really are. You think you can take us out if we don’t lay down for you?”
“Make the call,” I hear Jared mutter to