Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,129

in the woods," he said, getting right to the point and I stilled.

"What kind of problem?" Damn, I could have used a cigarette right about now. I didn't know why, but I only ever craved them when I had to interact with this motherfucker.

I hopelessly pushed my fingers into my pockets as if I might miraculously find a pack and looked up as the brush of Tatum's fingers in my hair drew my attention from my search.

She perched on the arm of the couch and slowly stroked her fingers through the dark strands until she'd teased the elastic from it and surprisingly, it alleviated my need to light up as I concentrated on what Liam had to say.

"It turns out that those men you butchered weren't just hired thugs," he said. "They were employed by a mutual friend of ours who has been looking for them with rather a lot of determination."

"Are you saying the clean up wasn't good enough to hide us?" I sneered, knowing it would piss him off for me to suggest that but not giving a crap about it. If his men were incompetent then I wasn't going to sugar coat it.

"Of course not. But the problem is that they know those men were after Donovan Rivers. And one of the men, a guy called Mortez, was apparently a fairly important cog in their operation."

"Just spit it out, old man, I don't see the need for the riddles," I growled as Tatum continued to play with my hair.

"Watch your tone with me, lad," Liam growled and I mentally cursed myself and him.

"I just need to understand what all of this means for me, Grandpa," I added placatingly while hating the fact that I had to make that much effort.

"Well, it turns out that the men were sent by the leader of Royaume D’élite," Liam said casually. "And as you know, a lot of our business dealings are held via that club. I don't want to ruin our working relationship with them. So, I've decided to come clean and offer up a prize valuable enough to clear the debt we now owe them."

A cold, hard knot seemed to tie itself in place in my gut even as he began blathering on about it being the best move for the family and making comments about me having my fun already, because I knew that this wasn't good. Not good at all.

"What prize?" I growled, my gaze flicking to Tatum as she watched me while chewing her bottom lip like she could tell what a bad turn this conversation had taken just from my body language alone.

"Don't worry, I have that all sorted out," he assured me. "All I need you to do is to show up at the club tomorrow to make a formal apology. And bring your little toy, too. Everyone likes to see a pretty face like hers during tense times."

My hand landed on Tatum's knee and I gripped hard enough to bruise, but I didn't care. I needed to feel her there beside me, be sure of the fact that she was solidly present at my side.

"I've already sent Niall to collect the two of you, so it might be worth getting an overnight bag together."

"But-" The line went dead before my protests could even form on my lips and I crushed the phone in my fist as I leapt to my feet and launched it across the room where it skidded across the carpet into a corner.

"Kyan?" Tatum gasped as I began pacing, my mind whirling with all of the possible ways this could work out.

It was clear that this wasn't up for negotiation. Liam had already decided that the price he was going to pay for this debt was the life of the girl I loved. And I knew they'd accept. She was one of the most stunning girls I'd ever seen. Couple that with the fact that she was Donovan Rivers' daughter and I knew exactly what they'd do with her once they had her too. They were going to keep her as a toy for sale in that fucking place. Auction her flesh off to whatever dirty old bastard wanted to fuck the daughter of the man who'd released the Hades Virus into the world and then do it again the next night. And the next. And the next.

"Fuck!" I roared as I paced more frantically, my mind whirling. Niall was already on his way. He'd do whatever the fuck he