She’d been through hell. She deserved every bit of happiness she got. I would never forget the horror in her eyes or the bruises covering her skin when Cameron rescued her from the trafficking ring we were trying to dismantle.

  It’d made me sick to my stomach to see her like that.

  “Carmen is becoming an issue,” he told me, referring to the deputy chief of police. She was responsible for Abbie being kidnapped and Trent, her partner at the time, being murdered. I knew Cameron had been itching for revenge, but he’d been patient.

  Guessed his patience had run out.

  “Becoming an issue… I thought she already was an issue?” I asked.

  Cameron scowled at me. “Stop being a brat for like two seconds, Ace.” I rolled my eyes. “She tried sending Abbie out on another ‘call’,” he put air quotes around the word, “but Abbie called me. I went to the site before her—found an unmarked black SUV.”

  “Unmarked—as in, the police force?” I asked.

  Cameron nodded. “They left when I rolled up. Plate was missing. Looked like Jeffrey Richards was driving.” He was another officer on our radar. “I want to bring it to the table, but if there’s not a unanimous vote for taking them out, I’m going to do this on my own.”

  I scoffed, shaking my head. “Like hell you are. I’ll help.”

  He flashed me a quick grin. “I figured you would.”

  I grabbed my tablet and Apple pencil again, looking back down at my drawing. “Talk to Shaw. Bring it to the table. But you have my vote. The quicker we eliminate some of these fuckers…” I trailed off, erasing a line and correcting it, “the quicker the ring comes down and we can get our hands on Johnny Dorman.” Johnny Dorman was the major player. Sure, there were congressmen, police officers, and even some local officials involved in this shit show, but Dorman was the key to ending it all.

  “Thanks, kid.”

  I waved him off. “Go away so I can finish this sketch before Shaw kicks my ass.”

  Cameron snorted but quietly left the room, leaving me alone once again. I huffed as I stared down at the drawing—a fucking lion with flowers.

  Seriously… I hated drawing shit I had no interest in.

  “We need to call a vote,” Shaw began, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on the table. He laced his fingers together and pressed them to his chin, clearing his throat. “Cameron wants to take out Carmen and Jeffrey.” Arlo looked displeased. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, frowning at Cameron. Taking out officers was a risky move, and Arlo was such a Daddy, even if he didn’t realize it. He just wanted to wrap each of us in bubble wrap and coddle us.

  “Why?” Arlo asked. “Do you know the heat that could bring on all of us, Cameron? Frankie is due any day now. We don’t need the heat.”

  “I’m doing this with or without the support of the club,” Cameron told him, his tone bored. He flicked his gaze to me as he leaned back in his leather chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “And Ace has agreed to help me.”

  Arlo shot me a dark look. I just arched a brow at him. “What?” I snapped. “Maybe, before you go getting all Daddy on everyone, you should hear why he wants to make this move now.”

  “Stop being a fucking brat,” Arlo told me.

  I rolled my eyes. Konrad smacked the table, bringing all of us back to attention. “Cameron, please share with the class.”

  I snorted and rolled my eyes. Konrad shot me a dark look. I just shot him a sickly-sweet smile. He heaved a tired sigh before looking back at Cameron.

  “Carmen tried sending Abbie out on a call last night—one not called in through the radio. Just like last time. Abbie called me, and I went to check it out.” He clenched his jaw, anger burning in his eyes. “They used a police car this time. Unmarked. No plate. Jeffrey was driving. When he saw me, he left. I have no doubt in my mind they tried targeting Abbie and her partner again.”

  “Fuck,” Arlo muttered, running a hand over his face before he slumped in his seat a little.

  “I told Cameron I’d bring it to the table,” Shaw said, looking around at all of us. “I’d like him to have the support of the club in case he needs back up. All in favor?”

  I raised my hand. Jax raised his. Konrad lifted his, and so did Shaw. Cameron looked at Arlo, arching a brow. “What’s it going to be, brother? Just remember, with or without the club, this is happening.”

  Arlo sighed and lifted his hand. Shaw nodded, looking at Cameron. “This is your call. Your planning. Just let me know the logistics so I can be prepared.”

  Cameron nodded. Shaw banged his gavel on the table, and we all pushed back, standing from our seats. Cameron pointed a finger at me. “You, with me,” he ordered.

  “You could ask,” I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest.

  He glared at me. “Ace…” Exasperation laced his tone.

  I rolled my eyes. “Fine. God, you’re a fucking asshole. I don’t know why Abbie puts up with you.”

  He winked at me as he opened the chapel door. “It’s this good dick.”

  I made a gagging sound behind him, and he laughed.

  Rolling my shoulders, I pulled the binoculars back up to my face, watching as Carmen pulled into her driveway. She slid out of her car in her uniform, like she didn’t have a target on her back. Like nothing could touch her.

  I scoffed. “Dumb bitch,” I muttered.

  “What?” Cameron hissed through my earpiece.

  “Nothing.” I sighed. “You in position? She’s unlocking her door now.”

  “Going in,” Cameron quietly announced a moment later. “Ready, little devil?” I rolled my eyes.

  Yeah, he’d dragged Abbie along, though she seemed all too happy to take out her boss and her coworker herself. She still woke up from nightmares and flashbacks. Just the other day, she’d drank herself sick over Trent’s grave. Cameron had sat with her the entire time, and when they’d come home, he had to carry her inside because she was too drunk to walk.

  She had a long road of healing ahead of her, but hopefully, this would bring her some closure.

  I scanned the area again, listening to Cameron and Abbie move through Carmen’s house. A moment later, a shriek met my ears, and a crash followed. Cameron laughed, the sound chilling my blood. “You thought you’d get away with it, didn’t you?” he taunted. “Get ready to meet your maker, Rigby,” he said, calling Carmen by her last name. “Little devil, you ready to do the honors?”

  “Rot in hell,” Abbie hissed. A wet, gurgling sound reached my ears, and I knew the job had been done.

  I hopped down from the tree I’d been perched in, stretching my muscles. “Truck ready?” I asked as I made my way through the tree line and to the backyard.

  “Yep,” Cameron said. “Just open the hatch so we can get her heavy ass inside. They don’t make y’all do some fitness shit?” Cameron grunted. “Jesus fuck, she’s heavy.”

  I snorted. “No, Cam,” Abbie retorted, sounding annoyed. “Can you stop bitching so we can get her out?”

  “I’m not bitching,” he muttered, sounding chastised. Only Abbie was capable of making him settle. It was… weird. “I’m just stating facts.”

  “Jesus Christ,” she wheezed, annoyance lacing her tone.

  A minute later, they appeared, dragging Carmen out on a blanket. Her body thumped down each step of her porch, and Abbie grimaced in disgust. When Cameron made it to me, I helped him lift Carmen’s heavy body into the back of the SUV. Sweat was glistening on my skin by the time we had her inside, and I leaned against the side of the truck, wheezing.

  “Fuck, I’m out of shape,” I panted.

  Cameron leaned next to me, nodding, sweat running down his temple. “Same.”

  Abbie rolled her eyes, all fucking chipper. “Let’s go. We don’t have all night.”

  I scoffed. “Who died and made you boss?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Let’s go, Ace. Cameron, stop being a little bitch.”

  He huffed. “I’ll show you a little bitch,” he muttered, smacking her ass hard enough to make her yelp. He snickered and slid into the driver’s seat. I climbed into the back and snatched a bottle of water from the floorboard, guzzling it down.

  And to think we still had one more body to go.

  “I have to what?” I seethed, glaring at Cameron and Abbie. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I just disposed of Lughan and Mark!” Lughan was a doctor that tried kidnapping Frankie, and Mark was Frankie’s baby daddy. Both of them had tried selling her into sex trafficking. Hadn’t worked out well for them. “How is this fair?”

  Cameron shrugged. “Shaw’s orders. Abbie has to go to work in a couple of hours, so she needs to get what little shut-eye she can.” He tossed me the keys. I moved aside, letting them smack the SUV and drop to the ground. He scowled at me. “You want me to get Shaw so you can take it up with him?”

  “Fuck you,” I sneered. “You owe me for this. I agreed to help take them out. Not clean up your fucking mess.”

  Cameron shrugged at me. “Tough, kid.”

  “I hope your dick goes limp tonight so neither of you can get off,” I snapped, my fists clenching.

  Abbie’s jaw dropped open at my crudeness. I shot them two middle fingers before snatching the keys off the ground and storming to the SUV, sliding into the driver’s seat. After sliding the seat forward so I could reach the pedals, I turned the engine over, blasting the headlights in Cameron and Abbie’s faces because fuck them.

  My burner went off, and I grabbed it from my pocket.

  Arlo: Frankie is giving birth. She wants you here.

  I sighed, thunking my head against the steering wheel. I’d promised to be there. Fuck, Arlo and Frankie were even naming me the godfather of their baby. But here I fucking was, disposing of two police officers instead of being there for Frankie like I’d promised.

  I was so excited for Frankie’s baby to be born. In the past few months, I’d become obsessed with everything to do with the little one. While I couldn’t stand touching other parts of Frankie, not even her hand, I’d been obsessed with cradling her belly and feeling the baby kick and hit my palms.

  It was soothing. And it was just an innocent little baby. Someone unharmed by this world, and someone who couldn’t hurt me.

  Ignoring Arlo’s text, I opened up a thread with Frankie.

  Ace: I have to take care of something. Club orders. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I promise. You’re strong. You’ve got this. Bring my munckin into the world.

  With that, I tossed my phone into the passenger seat and backed up, turning the SUV toward the gates so I could get this shit over with.

  I tossed the axe aside, sweat dripping off my skin despite the frigid, below-freezing temps I was currently working in. Grunting, I tossed Jeffrey’s body parts into the river far below, blood soaking my hands and clothes. Carmen had been handled first, so I was thankfully fucking done. I wanted a hot shower and comfy, clean clothes. And a bed—definitely needed a bed. I was exhausted.

  Cameron and Abbie owed me huge for this shit.

  Leaning down, I snatched up the axe, tossing it over my shoulder before I began making my way back to the SUV, which was parked behind a bunch of trees, well-hidden from anyone who might be passing by, and it was far from any hiking trails. I had a bit of a treacherous walk through the woods and down rocky terrain, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t done before.

  I blinked, my vision suddenly wavering, and my stomach rumbled. Goddammit. I patted my pockets, cursing when I realized I’d forgotten to grab my protein bar. And the fucking SUV was a damn near ten-minute walk from me. I’d expended too much energy dragging Carmen and Jeffrey up the hill to the cliff overlooking the river I needed. And now, I had nothing to replenish myself. I hadn’t had near enough to eat today.

  Shit.

  Maybe I could make it. Then, I could call for someone to come get me while I rested for a little while.

  I stepped forward again, and my foot sank into a hole. Cursing, I dropped the axe, losing my balance. Thunder rumbled overhead as I fell back, yelping in surprise. My head smacked against a rock, and pain exploded through my skull before everything went black and vomit rushed up my esophagus.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Gunner

  Icrept around the bushes, bow in hand as my eyes tracked the deer just ahead of me. She was a good-sized doe—would sustain me for a few weeks, at least. Which meant I wouldn’t have to buy overpriced meat from the grocery store. Silently, my gaze locked on her shoulder, I raised my bow⁠—

  And a water droplet fell into my eye. Jesus fucking Christ.

  Muttering a curse, I lowered my bow and swiped at my eyes, listening as the doe scampered off, spooked by my annoyance. It’d rained hard as fuck last night, which made this morning prime hunting time. But damn, I’d been hunting for a couple of hours now, and it was cold, and my shoulders were wet from the constant dripping of water from the trees.

  Sighing, I moved out of the trees and set my bow down, reaching for my pack so I could drink some water. I glanced around, listening to the river rushing below at the edge of the cliff. This place was beautiful and was one of the biggest reasons I bought this land and built my cabin on it. It was peaceful—just the sound of nature all around. No random loud noises. Nothing to trigger my PTSD.

  Usually.

  A low groan reached my ears, and I spun around, blinking in surprise at the boy laying on his back, his clothes drenched, his lips blue. Blood stained the rock his head was laying on, and his purple hair was damp, water droplets running across his face in rivulets.

  “Fuck,” I growled, rushing forward. I’d seen him the night before dragging two bodies up the mountain, but I’d minded my own business. People dropped bodies over the cliff all the time. As a previous soldier who’d done my own fair share of violence and had dropped more bodies than I cared to count or remember, I had no right to judge. Especially since I didn’t know the why behind it all.

  Besides, interfering would only bring trouble I wasn’t interested in being involved in. Better to keep my head down, my mouth shut, and mind my own business. I’d learned that from a young age. My mom had never been in the picture, and my dad had been involved in some shady shit until he got arrested when I was sixteen.

  Head down. Mouth shut. That was the motto I lived by.

  I dropped to my knees beside the boy and pressed my fingers against his pulse. A sigh of relief spilled past my lips when I felt his slow and steady pulse drumming beneath my fingertips, but he was damn near at hypothermic levels, if he wasn’t already. His fingers were too cold, and it looked like blood had stopped flowing to them a while ago.

  Shit. I needed to get him to the cabin so I could get him warm and dry. From there, I would determine if he needed a hospital, or if I could manage helping him on my own.

  Slinging my bow over my back, I grabbed the boy’s axe, which was laying beside him, hooking it through the strap on my backpack. No doubt, he’d used it last night to dissect whoever he’d been disposing of. I didn’t want to leave it there in fear someone else would come across it—especially someone who might turn it into law enforcement. Something about this boy already had me ready to do anything to protect him—and maybe it was because he was just so small and looked so fragile. But I wouldn’t risk his freedom.

  Slowly and very carefully, I lifted the boy into my arms. He was super light and easy to carry, even while he was unconscious and hanging in my arms like dead weight. His purple hair dripped over my arm as I quickly made my way through the woods toward my cabin, heading down the mountain a bit. It didn’t take long before the water from his soaked hair began to bleed through my coat, turning my arm cold.

  Pushing open the front door of my cabin, I stepped inside, toeing off my boots before carrying him up the stairs to my loft. Not caring about him potentially ruining my sheets, I gently deposited him on the bed before stripping him out of his wet clothes. I kept my gaze on his face, avoiding his body. I wanted to look—Jesus fuck, did I want to look at this beautiful boy and drink him in—but I wouldn’t. If I got the chance to see him naked—and fuck, I really hoped I did—I wanted him to be conscious. Wanted to see his skin flush as I raked my eyes over him.

  Wanted him to consent.

  I quickly dressed him in a pair of my sweatpants, which were big on him, but I was able to tighten the string enough to make them rest on his hips. Then, I pulled one of my long sleeve shirts over his head before lifting him up again⁠—

  Blood.

  “Shit,” I breathed, quickly bringing him forward to rest against my chest so I could inspect the back of his head. Sure enough, he was still bleeding—not a lot but enough to concern me. Parting his hair, I gently felt around his scalp. He moaned in pain, but when I leaned back to look at him, his eyes were still shut, and he was still unconscious.

  But his subconscious was still aware of what was happening to him and of his pain levels. That was all I needed to know he would be okay. I could get him through this.

  Gently laying him back down, I went into my bathroom and got what I needed to patch up his head. Once that was done, I draped a towel over one of my pillows and then laid him down, covering him up with the comforter. Grabbing my electric blanket from the closet, I plugged it in and draped that over him, too. And just for good measure, I plugged in an old heater and turned it on low, aiming it toward the bed.

  I brushed my hand over his forehead, frowning down at him. He was so… little. My heart clenched in my chest. “You’re gonna be okay, boy,” I murmured. “I’m gonna take good care of you. I promise.”

  I didn’t get an answer—not that I expected one. His long, dark lashes didn’t even flutter. But that was okay. If he wasn’t making progress within the next few hours, I’d venture off the mountain and take him to the hospital.

  I just hoped it didn’t come to that.

 

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