Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“You sonofabitch,” he seethes. “You’re taking my position in the club away from me?”
“No.” I pull my knife from the sheath on my belt and slice it through his leather cut. The vest falls away. "I'm taking the club from you."
Gaston lets out a wild growl.
“You’re banishing me because I put my hands on a nobody slut? You’re choosing her over me, your own goddamn brother?”
“You brought this on yourself.” I re-sheath my knife. “The Knights don’t rape.”
“You can’t do this to me.”
“I just did.”
“So what now? You going to leave me chained to the wall?”
“No, I’m throwing you out of the clubhouse.” I release the lock on his shackles and lean in real close so we’re eye level and he can see how serious I am. “And you should be thankful that’s all I’m doing to you. There’s a special place in hell for you, Gaston, and I’m not afraid to send you there sooner rather than later.”
He snarls at me. “All of this because of her?”
Yes.
“I’m giving you a chance to keep breathing. I suggest you don’t waste it. It’s time for you to get the fuck out of here.”
“And go where?” he asks, rubbing his wrists.
“I’m sure you know plenty of dark little holes you can crawl into.” My gaze meets his. “Maybe one of your associates will help you.”
His eyes narrow to slits. “You will pay for this.”
I step forward, towering over him. “I’ve been paying since the day you were born.”
He scoffs but his bravado is short lived when he realizes I am serious. He’s done with the club. He is now a Nameless Man. Men who have betrayed the club and whose names are never mentioned in the halls of the clubhouse again. The only time their name can be spoken is in Church.
“Fine, I’ll get my things.”
I push a hand into his chest to stop him. “We’ll send your things.”
“You’re not letting me into my home?”
“This isn’t your home.”
The muscles on his hollow cheeks tighten. My brother wants to murder me. Its written all over his face.
“Dodger would hate this,” he says.
“No.” I glare at him. “He’d do exactly the same.”
Gaston tilts his head. His eyes are gleaming. “Well, we won’t ever know about that since he disappeared now, will we?”
The way he says it.
Like he’s suggesting something.
Knows something.
“You got something to say about Dodger’s disappearance?”
“Do you?”
His eyes bulge when I grab him by the throat and squeeze my fingers around his windpipe. “You suggesting I know something?”
His face turning red, he tries to slap my hands away. But he’s no match for me, and I have half a mind to keep squeezing until there is no life left in him.
But that tiny morsel of humanity left in me reminds me he’s my brother, and I let him go.
He falls against the stone wall, coughing and spluttering as he tries to regain his breath.
“Get the fuck out of my clubhouse,” I growl.
Gaston snarls and sniffs, then spits blood at my feet. “This is my home.”
“Not anymore.”
Gaston’s gaze is full of murder. He wants to beat the life out of me. The desire burns like dark fire in his eyes.
But he’s not willing to pick that fight. Not yet. “I won’t forget this. Keep looking over your shoulder, Beast, because one day I’ll be there and I will have my revenge.”
“That’s something a coward would say.” I take a step backward and open my arms wide. “Why wait—take your best shot here and now. Do it.”
He’s tempted. But also a little afraid.
“I’m no match for you,” he admits.
I smirk. “No. You’re not. Just remember that.”
Hate is bright in his expression, and the silence between us is tight.
When I don’t say anything, he turns and disappears down the tunnel leading out to the cliff face.
Minutes later, his haunting voice echoes back through the tunnel.
“Goodbye…brother.”
But we both know this isn’t goodbye.
Not by a long shot.
CHAPTER 8
BEAST
“It’s done,” I say to the thirteen men sitting around the carved wooden table in Church. “A warning has been sent to anyone who thinks trafficking girls and women in St. Boniface is a sensible business decision.”
A murmur of agreement ripples around the table.
I think of the piece of shit I left dead and carved up on the railway tracks.
The Knights don’t take kindly to anyone coming into our town and ruining the lives of the town folk.
Even though the opinion of the town folk may be divided about us—some fear us, some revere us, while some outright hate us. But regardless of our haters, the Knights have always been the caretakers of this town and always will be.
Much to the disgust of our mayor. He’s one of our biggest haters. An ambitious suit who wants to bring more money into St. Boniface via development.
Unfortunately for him, we block any development where we can.