Wolf
Casper and Specter had arrived two hours ago and had already managed to set up a meeting with the Sons of Vassago. We’d agreed to meet in a clearing down the highway after nightfall. Away from town and prying eyes. I stood behind the two men, along with Badger, Savage, Beau, and Demon. Saul Sanders came into view with three other men. I recognized one from the videos. The man he’d been fucking.
“What’s this about, Mr. VanHorne?” Saul asked as he stopped a few feet away. His gaze scanned over our group, lingering a moment on Specter. Was it my imagination or had he paled a little? “This isn’t your territory.”
Casper gave a humorless laugh. “My territory? Boy, who the fuck do you think you’re speaking to?”
Saul lifted his chin, but I noticed his hand trembled a little at his side. This fucker was seriously scared of Casper VanHorne. If the assassin weren’t on our side, I’d probably be the one ready to piss myself.
“The Sons of Vassago have had a foothold in this area for years,” Saul said.
“About that.” Casper took a step closer to him. “Do you see the men behind me? The Devil’s Fury?”
Saul nodded. “What of them? They’re a bunch of pussies.”
Savage laughed. It was a dark sound that made chills run down my spine as he stepped up beside Casper. “You think I’m a pussy?”
Saul straightened to his full height, which was still shorter than Casper and Savage by a few inches. “Yes. We’ve been here for years and you’ve done nothing.”
“You targeted one of their women,” Casper said. “Trashed their clinic. Killed the doctor helping them. I’m afraid I can’t look the other way.”
“Why do you care?” Saul asked.
Casper tipped his head to the side. “The man beside me is Savage. He’s an officer in the Devil’s Fury club, but more importantly, he’s claimed my granddaughter’s friend. One of the men behind me has ties to me as well. His woman is my granddaughter’s best friend. Both women are the daughters of the Dixie Reapers VP, and as most people know, my daughter is their President’s wife. So you see, the Devil’s Fury are my family.”
Saul glanced at us, his gaze lingering on Specter. “And him?”
Specter smile. “I’m just here for some fun. You like playing, right? I saw your video. Sloppy work. Don’t worry. I’ll be happy to show you how it’s done. Seems only fair since the Sons raped, tortured, and murdered my daughter.”
Saul definitely lost some color and motioned for his men to back up. “We didn’t realize our presence was a threat to your family, Mr. VanHorne. We will stop looking for the woman from the clinic.”
Specter moved closer, not making a fucking sound even as he stepped on leaves and twigs. “You’ll do more than that. You’ll move your pansy-ass cult. We don’t want you in this state. In fact, we don’t want you anywhere in the south, east, or mid-west. If we hear you’ve set up shop anywhere near any club we consider family or allies, we’ll both be coming for you.”
Saul’s hands shook and he looked ready to piss himself. “Mr. Specter, with all due respect, I was unaware your daughter had been taken by my brothers.”
Specter snarled. “I don’t give a shit if you knew. The result was the same.”
Saul turned to his men, only to discover they’d backed up so far he was left facing our group alone. And it seemed the big, bad man who could torture women wasn’t so tough when faced with a bunch of men.
“And if we don’t agree to your terms?” Saul asked.
Now that took some balls. He’d just told Specter and Casper to fuck off, just not in so many words. I grinned, pulling a knife from where I’d strapped it to my thigh. I had a gun with me, but I wanted to get up close and personal for this one. I wanted these fuckers to suffer. Looked like I’d get to blow off some steam after all. I heard each of my brothers arming themselves and knew we were going to have a bit of fun with these fuckers. And since they’d been given an out and not taken it, even the sick fucks they called family and friends wouldn’t be coming to settle the score. Not after they found out what we’d done to these assholes. I had no idea how Casper and Specter planned to make sure no other Sons came this way, but I knew they’d have something up their sleeves. Some way to guarantee this town, and our women, would be safe.
Casper let out a whistle and that was all it took. We advanced on the men, with Casper and Specter going for Saul. As much as I’d wanted him for myself, I focused on the others who were trying to escape. Beau had run around behind them and worked on herding them back toward us. Savage took the right flank and ran at them, ready to do some damage. Demon and I took the one in the middle. I sank my knife into the fucker’s gut as Demon slammed a set of brass knuckles into his jaw. Once we had him on the ground, Demon pounded the little shit, breaking as many bones as he could. The video I’d seen still fresh in my mind, I worked on exacting the same savagery on the asshole in front of me. I took his fingers. His ears. And any other parts I had access to.
Blood soaked the ground as all got justice for the sweet doc who’d lost her life, and all the others these bastards had tortured and killed. We made the men scream. Beg. It didn’t matter. We weren’t granting them any mercy. I watch as Beau pounded a guy so hard his face looked like raw hamburger, and his swings weren’t slowing even a little.
Casper and Specter had Saul on the ground. I noticed the glow of a phone screen and heard the little bitch sobbing as he spoke to someone on the other end of the line. The man on the ground in front of me had stopped breathing. Demon had moved on to get revenge on the others, and I stood to make my way over to Casper and Specter. I held back, not want to overstep. Instead, I decided to enjoy the show.
My blood pounded and adrenaline raced through me as I watched how brutal the two assassins were. I saw Badger filming the two of them and knew it would be a message to any other Sons of Vassago. They weren’t welcome here, and the same fate would befall any who dared step foot in our territory, or any other areas now under the protection of Casper and Specter.
When Saul had given his last gurgled breath, and the life had drained from his eyes, the other men were no longer recognizable as human, we all gathered in the center of the field.
“I’ll take care of the cleanup and delivery,” Specter said.
“Delivery?” Badger asked.
Specter nodded to the phone. “I’ll need that video footage, but I’ll also be sending a few pieces to some key figures in the Sons of Vassago. Not just stateside, but around the globe. It’s time to send a message. One they won’t forget.”
“Why are you doing this?” I asked. “I mean, helping us. You don’t have any connection to our club, and as far I know, you aren’t connected to Casper.”
“Like I told the asshole earlier, the Sons of Vassago are responsible for the murder of my daughter. She was thirteen, and I’d thought I’d hidden her well. Maybe too well. No one knew she was mine. I’ve been biding my time. When Casper told me what was going on here and that he needed help with the Sons, I knew it was my chance to get my revenge.” Specter stared at the remains of Saul Sanders. “This fucker wasn’t the one who hurt her, but I know who did. I’ll be paying them a visit in person.”
Casper eyed our small group. “Everyone go clean up and head home. I’ll stay with Specter until the cleanup is handled. Then we’ll crash at the compound tonight and head out first thing in the morning.”
Specter shook his head. “I’ll sleep on the plane. I have a jet on standby. I’m done waiting.”
Casper clapped him on the back and Badger motioned for us to head out. I wasn’t about to go home covered in blood and gore. Thankfully, we’d all stashed a set of clothes at the clubhouse in case things ended up getting a bit gruesome. Each of us showered and changed, had a beer to unwind after the massacre, and then went home.
I knew Glory would ask what had happened tonight. I’d made sure my shirt was identical to the one I’d left in. The blood-soaked one would be burned, along with the other clothes we’d removed. Nothing would be left but ash, and even that would be disposed of. Nothing would tie us to the night’s bloodshed. Our cuts had been soaked in blood so many times before. A little more wouldn’t change anything. They’d be cleaned by professionals. Hell, as good as Casper and Specter were, I doubted anyone would know those men had been killed in that field.
The lights were on when I pulled up outside the house. I’d known Glory would wait up for me. I took a breath and went inside, hoping she wouldn’t take one look and know what I’d done tonight. I should have known better.
She opened the door before I could even grip the knob, staring up at me with worry and relief. She threw her arms around me and breathed in deep, then stepped back, her brow furrowed. She looked up at my hair, touching the wet strands, and I cursed myself for not thinking to make sure it was dry first.
“What did you do?” she asked.
I went inside, shutting and locking the door behind me. “You really want to know?”
“Yes, I think I do.” She led me to the couch and sat, tugging me down next to her. “Are they gone? Did you kill them?”
“I took a shower, Glory. What do you think?”
She leaned against me. “I think you had to wash the blood off you. Thank you.”
I jerked my gaze toward her in surprise. “What?”
“Thank. You. Did I suddenly start speaking in tongues?”
“Smart-ass,” I muttered. “No, but why are you thanking me? I killed a man tonight, Glory, and watched as the others were slaughtered. Those men didn’t go easy. They suffered. We made sure of it.”
“Good.” She gave a slight nod. “Maybe they hurt as much as Amelia did. At any rate, you made sure they won’t be raping or killing anyone ever again. That doesn’t make you a bad man, Max. It makes you a hero.”
I kissed the top of her head and held her close. “You’re an odd one, Glory. But you’re mine.”
“Is it wrong I’m glad you killed them?” she asked.
“No. A little bloodthirsty maybe, but that just makes you perfect. A Devil’s Fury old lady should have some fire in her veins. You’re strong. Beautiful.” I paused and looked down at her. “Perfect. I didn’t think you’d be able to handle the darkness I hide inside me. Glory, I didn’t just slaughter that man. I liked it.”
I took a breath and looked away, trying to gather my thoughts. She reached up, her fingers brushing my chin, bringing my focus back to her. “Max, you don’t have to hide any part of yourself from me. I accept all of you.”
“Even the ugliness? There’s a monster locked down tight, Glory. I don’t let him out often, but tonight… he got a free pass. I liked the smell of the blood in the air. Got a thrill over hearing their screams as they begged for mercy. I… I’m a killer.”
She shook her head. “No, you’re a protector, Max. Sometimes that means getting your hands dirty, to make sure other people stay safe. You aren’t going to go off and kill a bunch of innocents. There’s a difference. Those men deserved what they got, and so much more. I’m not scared of you, or ashamed. I’m proud of you.”
I swallowed hard and held her tight. I didn’t know what I’d ever done to warrant having the love of a woman like Glory, but I’d thank the fates every day for sending her to me. She was the light to my darkness. An angel. I smiled faintly. Maybe an avenging angel since she’d been okay with me slaughtering that man. Although, could I really consider him a man with all the evil he’d done? I wasn’t sure he’d even had a soul.
That sobered me a moment. The men we’d killed tonight weren’t the only bastards out there who hurt women. And I needed to tell Glory I knew who’d hurt her. I’d let the decision be hers. I could burn the file, show it to her, or hold onto it for safekeeping. Whatever she decided, I’d stand by her.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I said.
“What?”
“It’s about the night you were attacked on campus.” She lifted her head to hold my gaze. “Lavender, Wire’s woman, is a hacker like her old man. She found the video the campus had hidden of what happened that night. I have the faces, names, and addresses of the men who hurt you. And I’m pretty sure I know which one is Sienna’s sperm donor.”
She pulled away and ran a hand through her hair. “Why are you telling me this? And why now? You had to know before tonight.”
“Outlaw gave me the file earlier. I’d planned to sit on it for a bit, but I decided after everything that happened tonight, we need a fresh start. How can we begin our lives with one more ominous cloud hanging over us?” I asked. “But I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”
“Are you asking if you can kill them?” she asked.
“Not exactly, but I’ll do it if you want me to.” I didn’t reach for her, even though I wanted to. I could tell she was sorting through her feelings and weighing her options.
“How many?” she asked softly.
“Three.” My throat felt tight as I watched the pain flicker in her eyes. “The school hid the evidence, which means someone there knew. All this time. It’s why they paid you off. They knew once you signed something and took the money, they’d be in the clear.”
Her hands fisted and her lips thinned. “I want them to pay. All of them. The school. The three boys who raped me.”
“Outlaw drained the three rapists’ accounts. He put the money into a money market under my name with the intention of Sienna having it later when she’s old enough for college or whatever she wants to do. Travel. Buy a place of her own.” I did reach for her then, pulling her into my arms. “Tell me what you want, beautiful, and I’ll make it happen. But after tonight, this is done. We don’t have to ever speak of it again. I’ll burn the damn file and we’ll move on.”
She nodded. “Make their lives hell. And if you find evidence they’ve hurt other women, I want them in jail.”
“Jail?”
Her eyes went dark as she stared at me. “Bad things happen in jail, right? I don’t care how it happens. I want them to suffer the way they’ve made me and other girls suffer. I doubt I was their only victim.”
“Consider it done,” I said. I pulled out my phone and messaged Outlaw with Glory’s wishes.
I’ll take care of it.
That was all I needed to know. I showed her the message from Outlaw and some of the fight drained from her. “The school… they need to pay too.”
“We’ll use the footage to make them toe the line. They don’t have to know it’s from you. It can be a concerned citizen who stumbled across it. We’ll figure it out. Or rather, the club will. Your only job from this point forward is to live a full and happy life.”
She kissed me, her lips soft against mine. “I found my happily-ever-after the night you claimed me. Anything else will just be a bonus.”
I stood and lifted Glory into my arms. I was done with the ugliness of the world tonight. I planned to spend the rest of my waking hours making love to the beautiful woman who’d captured my heart. An angel had been dropped in my lap, and I’d gladly spend the rest of my life making sure she, and our daughter, were happy and knew they were loved. Because they were my entire world. As long as I had them, I didn’t need anything or anyone else.