It’s quiet while Zane and I stare at each other, neither of us willing to break eye contact first. Finn evidently breaks the silence saying, “That big mother fucker is my buddy, Lucas. We grew up together, always had each other's backs. Kinda like you and Zane. He’ll help.”
Zane breaks eye contact, running his hands through his hair. “Go fucking get him.”
“Z, you’re not alone here,” I whisper.
“I know, sorry, brother. We just need to kill these fuckers.”
“We’re gonna,” Riley says.
Alex passes me a joint as he says, “It’s a solid plan. If they don’t burn alive, we’ll shoot them. The element of surprise is on our side.”
He’s right. They expected the ambush today, but the fire at Club Kingsley will be a surprise. This afternoon we weren’t prepared for them, but tonight we will be. Nothing will stand in our way.
We talked to Lucas and I feel confident leaving him in charge. Finn vouches for him and that means something around here. I once again said goodbye to Ivy, who told me she has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. I’m glad because she hasn’t seen a doctor here yet and she needs to.
We are now at Club Kingsley and I watch Zane because I know it’s bringing back more bad memories. Burning it down might just be the best idea for more than one reason.
“Alright, we are set. Zane, light this fucker up,” Alex says, coming from around the building.
Zane looks at me and I nod. “Alex and Finn head over to their club house but stay under the radar. As soon as they leave, burn that piece of shit to the ground.”
They leave and I grab Zane’s shoulder. “Brother, let all the fucking bad memories burn with this building.”
He doesn’t say anything, but I know he heard me. He’s more stubborn than I am and that’s saying a lot. “Time to end this shit,” he says, tossing a match.
We watch as the flames start to climb the building. It’s impressive watching the yellow and orange fire licking the building, but when it hits the accelerants, it’s stunning. The explosions causing huge fireballs high in the sky, will have the attention of more than just the Raging Devils.
“Get ready,” I yell over the crackling of the fire.
We rush to the hill that we spent a lot of time waiting on Kingsley. It’s the perfect vantage point and completely out of sight.
“Brooks better be alright,” Zane whispers to me, staring straight ahead.
“He’s gonna be. It’ll take time to recover, but he’ll be fine,” I say, glancing at him. “Ivy goes to the doctor in the morning.”
He finally turns his attention to me with a grin on his face. “No shit.”
“Nope. I need this shit over. I need to focus on her and the baby.”
His grin gets bigger and I shake my head. “You love her?”
I focus back on the burning building. The fire is burning so hot I can feel the heat when the breeze comes our way. They better get here soon, or the fire department is going to beat them to it.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I do,” I finally reply.
Before anything else is said we hear the sound of bikes. I know without a doubt it is the Raging Devils. They pull up and jump off their bikes. I glance over at Zane and he nods. He looks to Porter and Riley. We silently know that when we have a shot to take it.
“Mother fuckers!” Hawk screams. “They’re dead.”
They can’t get close to the building, so they are closer to us than I thought. It only works in our advantage.
“We burn down both Souls and kill them all,” Bane agrees.
Same plan as us. We need to finish this now before innocent lives are at risk. “I’ve got Bane, you get Hawk,” I whisper to Zane.
I lift my gun and without waiting for Zane to say a word I take my shot. I hit him right in the side of the head and smile when I see him fall to the ground. Zane’s shot hits Hawk in the chest and as he grabs his chest, he fires two more to make sure he’s dead.
“Fuck yes,” Riley says with a laugh.
“Where the fuck are Damon and Casper?” I say, jumping up.
Riley, Porter, and Zane continue to fire shots at the others who are rushing toward Hawk and Bane, paying no attention to me. My heart pounds as I realize they aren’t here. They stayed behind.
“Fuck!”
Chapter 12
Ivy
I reach over and realize I’m still alone. I sigh as I sit up in the cold, empty bed. I’ve become used to having Kace next to me. It’s bad enough I feel alone, but the fear is worse than that. They never came back last night and that scares the shit out of me. I talked with Harper most of the night and she told me I need to trust that they know what they are doing. I’m trying to believe that, but it’s hard. The thought that they could be out there hurt, or dead is what kept me up most of the night.
As much as I want to stay and find out what the fuck is going on, I can’t. I need to shower and get ready for my doctor appointment. I really was hoping that Kace would go with me, but I guess doing things alone is something I’m just going to have to accept. He’ll always have something more important for the club that needs attention. The realization hurts, but I made a promise to myself that I would stop focusing on the negative. I know Kace cares for me and I know in my heart that he will do whatever is necessary to protect me.
I get undressed as the shower heats up. Once the water is running over me, I start to relax just a little. I think back to the other night when Kace and I had sex. He took control making sure my focus was on him and not the chaos in my mind. It was hot and worked well. I wish he was here to stop the chaos now.
I step out of the shower and dry off. After putting on my black panties and bra, I step into my jeans and off the shoulder black shirt. I’ll admit as I blow dry my hair, I feel a bit of excitement about going to the doctor today. I didn’t tell Kace but when I made the appointment they told me I’d be getting an ultrasound. I’ll be able to see the baby for the first time. I wanted to surprise him if he came with me, but I’ll have to surprise him later when I get back. I’m hoping it will be the start of the good things happening.
Once my hair is dry, I pull it up into a high ponytail. The highlights I had done in California are fading a bit, but I’ll touch them up soon. I focus on putting some light makeup on. Just a bit of mascara and lip gloss. I stand back to look at myself and smile. I might have the weight of the world on my shoulders, but you’d never know looking at me.
I grab my purse and phone, checking to make sure I didn’t miss a call or text from Kace. Seeing I haven’t, I shove it in my purse. I make my way from the back and the noise of all the people is overwhelming. I’m used to my quiet mornings, relaxing with a cup of coffee. That’s far from what will be happening here, but I need the coffee.
“Look who’s finally awake,” Harper says, wrapping her slender arm around my shoulder.
I glance at her, rolling my eyes. “I hardly slept. Have you heard anything?”
“No, but that’s probably good news. Don’t worry.”
Don’t worry. Like she can just say the words and I’ll suddenly stop. I don’t say that though, I just nod and look around. “Any coffee?”
“Yeah, sit down and I’ll have them bring some over.”
I notice an empty table and sit down, resting my chin on my hands. Enzo’s wife Nora, Brooks’ new girlfriend Maren, and Zane’s mom Adalyn sit down with me.
“How are you feeling?” Adalyn asks. Her warm eyes touch mine as she gives me a small smile.
“I’m starting to feel better. The morning sickness seems to be letting up,” I say, folding my hands on the table.
“I was so sick with Zane for the first few weeks. It took all my might just to get out of bed every day.” She looks off in the distance and I see the worry flash across her face. “He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she whispers.
Nora squeezes her hand, giving her a reassuring smile. “You’ll tell him that again for the millionth
time shortly,” she says.
“How’s Brooks?” I ask Maren.
“I spoke with him earlier and he’s on some good pain medicine. We’re going to head up to the hospital shortly. He’ll be having surgery in a few hours.”
I nod as I bite my lip. I’m not exactly sure what to talk about. I want to ask them how they’ve handled this all these years. I want to ask how they had the motivation to get up and do their hair and makeup to perfection. I want to ask if they worry the way I am. I don’t need to though, because after Harper places my coffee in front of me, she pulls up a chair and says, “You know Ivy, this is Maren’s first time dealing with this shit. You two probably are feeling the same.”
I hadn’t even thought of that, but it’s true. “It’s kinda crazy, huh?” I say, taking a sip of my coffee.
She laughs as she looks around. “That’s a fucking understatement.”
“Ivy, you saw how everything happened last time. It should give you comfort,” Nora says.
“It was different last time,” I reply, biting my lip.
Nora looks at Harper who smiles. “She wasn’t with Kace during all that shit. She wanted to fuck him, but they were both too damn stubborn. I think her focus was mainly on her pussy not the shit happening,” Harper says, laughing.
I dip my head as I feel my cheeks heating up. Harper is right. I was too pissed and horny to concern myself when he walked out the door. It’s different when your heart is in it.
Everyone is laughing as I shake my head. “I’m pregnant and emotional,” I say.
“There will always be something happening in your life that they’ll miss out on. The club will always come first,” Adalyn says.
“The club comes first, but we are part of the club. We are just as important,” Harper hisses.
“The club will destroy anything you love,” Adalyn whispers.
Harper jumps up, but Nora grabs her arm. “Adalyn, enough of your bullshit. Until Axel died you were as hard core as anyone. You lived and breathed for this club. Your grief is what makes you believe all is evil with this club. For fuck sake, you have no problem taking advantage of the protection they all still give you.”
Adalyn slowly gets up out of her chair and walks into the bathroom without a word. I glance at Harper, who is shaking her head. Nora lifts her shoulders like it’s no big deal and Maren looks as confused as me.
“She’ll be fine. She forgets where she came from sometimes,” Nora says.
“Yeah and thanks for that because now I’m gonna have to listen to her crying to Zane about it all. I love her, but she’s getting worse with holding the club accountable for everything,” Harper says with a sigh.
“If you aren’t a hundred percent behind the club, there’s no reason to be here. The guys know the life they are signing up for when they patch in. Their ladies understand the deal when they commit to being with them. We are a fucking family, and you die for family. I’d die for any one of you,” Nora says, finishing off her coffee.
I glance at the clock and jump up. “Shit, I’m gonna be late. I’ll meet you all at the hospital when I’m done.”
They all wish me luck as I rush away and out the door. Once I’m in my car and on my way, I think of what Nora said. It’s the truth. A hard reality that I’ve decided to accept. If I want to be with Kace, I must accept with the club. I think I’ve been without family for so long that I forgot what it was like to have one. When Nora said she’d die for any one of us, it suddenly made me realize how much love is involved with the club. It’s not just fights and killing. It’s laughter, friendship, family, and love. I get it now.
I can’t keep the smile off my face as I walk into the doctor’s office.
As I walk out to my car, I can’t stop looking at the ultrasound picture. I’m about thirteen weeks and the heartbeat is loud and strong. I asked if she could tell the sex, but she said it was too early. I smile as I reach my car, running my finger along the ultrasound. A little piece of me and a little piece of Kace. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt so happy.
“Hey, Ivy.”
I turn to the strange voice and it all goes black.
The smell of stale cigarettes, dirt, and beer assault me. I snap my eyes open and immediately regret it. The pain I feel causes me to close them. My head is pounding and hurts like hell. I try to move and reluctantly open my eyes when I can’t. Panic sets in when I realize I’m bound to a chair. My hands are zip tied behind me and my ankles are each zip tied to each leg of the chair. I look around the dark room, the only bit of light coming in from between two pieces of plywood covering a window. The walls are crumbling, there are only rafters above me, the floor is a combination of broken tile and more plywood. There’s a disgusting bed that looks like the sheets and blanket have just been pulled out of the mud. A small table with two chairs sits in the corner. It’s filled with overflowing ashtrays, empty beer bottles that are knocked over, and pill bottles.
My stomach turns and I try to loosen my hands. I can feel the zip tie digging into my skin and tears fill my eyes. Fear I have never felt wraps itself around my throat as I try to keep quiet. I’m alone and I have an unsettling feeling that it’s better that I am.
The pain in my head is making me nauseous and not being able to move makes me feel claustrophobic. I swallow over and over to try to keep myself from being sick. Who the fuck would do this to me?
“Well looks like someone finally woke up,” a deep voice says.
I snap my head toward the sound and instinctively try to pull my hand forward to cover my mouth. All the pain and nerves get the best of me and I lean as far forward as I can as I lose my fight to keep from being sick.
“Oh fuck, are you kidding me?” the man groans.
I turn my head toward him as I cough on the disgusting taste in my mouth. “Who the hell are you? What do you want?”
He doesn’t bother to clean up my vomit or even offer me water to rinse my mouth. He pulls a chair over, turning it backwards and straddles it. “The names Damon and I already have what I want,” he says with a sickening laugh.
He’s huge. I’ve never seen someone as muscular as him. I thought Kace was big, but this guy has him beat. His eyes rack over me and it sends a chill over my body. When his eyes collide with mine, I see evil staring back.
“Please let me go,” I beg, choking back tears.
He laughs as he tosses the chair behind him, stepping closer to me. He pulls a knife out from his waistband and my heart stops in my chest. The cold metal presses under my chin, giving me no choice but to stare right in his wicked eyes. The blade is flat under my chin, but the point is just barely hitting my throat. One quick move and he’ll end my life.
“I like a girl who begs. This will be more fun than I expected,” he whispers. A sickening grin spreading across his hardened face. “The Shattered Souls killed my president and vice president. They will all die, but first I owe Kace a little revenge. Killing the cunt that he’s fucking will have to do.”
I can’t see straight as the tears flow. “Please, I’m pregnant,” I cry.
He jumps back as his eyes widen. He points the knife at me with a huge smile on his face. “Holy fuck, two for one. This is better than I even thought.” I try fighting against the zip ties so hard I can feel the blood as they break the skin. “Relax Ivy, it’s going to be slow and painful. You aren’t going to die today.” He grabs onto my shoulders, so his face is right in mine. “But you are going to die, you both are. Kace wanted to prove he was a man, let’s see how he handles the death of his cunt and kid.”
Chapter 13
Kace
“We should’ve just let them burn with the building,” Riley says, lighting a cigarette.
“You really are a fucking idiot,” I say, walking away from where we just buried Hawk and Bane. There were a few other guys with them that we killed too, but I have no fucking idea who they were.
Zane steps up next to me, handing me a smoke. “We need to find Damon and Casper
.”
“No shit,” I say, squeezing the back of my neck.
“We’ll head to the hospital to check on Brooks and figure out a plan,” he says.
I feel good knowing Hawk and Bane are dead, but Damon is a crazy motherfucker. I’m sure they know what happened by now. Which means Damon and Casper are in charge. We need to kill them before they retaliate.
As we ride to the hospital, I can't help the small smile that hits my face. I’m ready to see my girl and find out how her appointment went. Harper told Zane earlier that they were all going to the hospital to be with Maren. I feel better knowing they are with Enzo, not some guy we don’t know much about.
We park outside the hospital and head inside. Zane asks at the desk where we can wait, and the woman looks like she’s going to shit herself looking around at us. I laugh walking up to the desk. “You’re good darlin’, we just need to check on a friend.” She nods and points us toward the elevators.
“Damn, she was ready to drop to her knees so I could slide my cock in her mouth,” Riley says, laughing.
“Oh yeah, that’s what you got out of her reaction?” I ask.
“Fuck yeah.”
“How the fuck are you still alive? I mean it fucking amazes me that you even know how to feed yourself,” I say, shaking my head. Everyone laughs as Riley flips me off.
The elevator opens and we step out. A short trip down an empty hallway leads us to the waiting room. I fucking hate hospitals. It reminds me of death or near death.
“Oh, thank fuck,” Harper says, rushing towards Zane. He catches her and slams his mouth to hers. Nora is sitting with Enzo. Adalyn and Maren are sitting together, holding holds. Gillian surprises me by sprinting to Riley. He grabs her and they share an unexpected intimate hug. I look around and notice Ivy isn’t here.
“Where’s Ivy?”
Everyone looks at me and then looks around like maybe I’m missing her. Harper is the one that speaks up. “She hasn’t been here. I tried calling but it went to voicemail. I’m guessing she went back to Souls to take a nap.”
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