A scream came from behind me, and I whipped around to see Crash also had his phone out, and Mama was sobbing on the floor.
Please, God. Please tell me he’s bitch slapped her onto her ass, and he hasn’t just found out about his best friend like this. Please.
My answer came when Crash kicked the back door open and went running to the front. We all froze for a second before we gave chase, gathering on the steps of the house as Crash ran over to his friend, falling to his knees sobbing.
Zach’s head was on a stick, his eyes wide, frozen in horror as he saw his murderer coming for him. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth, and his cheek had been marked with an R on either side.
Rough Riders.
Shit.
Chapter 46
Rachel
“No!” Crash screamed, running towards the head. I stayed on the steps, pulling Bee behind me and shoving her towards the house. “Take her in!” I snapped at Rooster, not wanting her to see anything that was taking place out here.
“Is that my Uncle Zach?” She sobbed, tears springing to her eyes.
My heart lurched into my throat at how terrified her little voice sounded. She fisted the bottom of my shirt, needing me close, and I did everything I could to shield her from what was in front of me.
“Mummy?” she sobbed, her body beginning to shake.
“It’s okay, Darling. It’s okay. Are you fucking deaf or something? Take her fucking in! Now!” I barked, slapping Rooster around the face. He jerked back, but my slap had the desired effect. He snapped out of his stunned silence and scooped Bee into his arms, shielding her face by pushing her head into his shoulder.
She didn’t fight him. Her arms went around his neck, and the terrified sob that left her shattered my soul. I knew it would haunt me for the rest of my life.
She didn’t deserve this. None of this. And now that Zach had been murdered, this would only be the beginning.
I spun back around to see Dante flying down the steps after his dad, yelling at him the entire time. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see any more, and yet able to visualise it perfectly. There was no ridding that image from my mind. There was no forgetting the terrified look forever frozen on Zach’s face.
“Crash! Crash, come away!” Dante shouted, and I opened my eyes to see him pulling at his dad’s arm.
“It’s Zach. They fucking killed Zach!” He sobbed, sounding angry and full of disbelief.
I cringed as Crash kicked the stick that had been staked into the ground, causing Zach’s head to roll across the pavement, closer to us.
“They fucking killed him, Dante! My best fucking friend! And those cunts murdered him!”
“It’s done!” Dante yelled as Crash stormed towards his motorbike, refusing to listen to reason.
I knew he would happily storm into the Rough Rider’s territory alone if he wasn’t stopped. He would take down who he was able to take down and would happily lose his life in the process. So long as he was able to unleash some of the rage he was feeling, he wouldn’t care about the consequences. I knew this because I had experienced it.
The angry look on Crash’s face was the exact same emotion I had felt when I had murdered Alex. It was the need to put right every wrong. The need to harm those who had caused you harm.
I ran down the steps towards them, wanting to give Dante backup, knowing I would be able to offer Crash a fresh perspective, only to have Vienna grab my arm and hold me back.
“Don’t,” he warned, his voice low and deep.
“Get off me,” I hissed, snatching my arm out of his grip. “With the mood Crash is in, they’ll end up killing each other.”
“Or he’ll end up hurting you, and Dante will be left with no choice but to kill him. And what do you think will happen then?” He shot me a look as though I was stupid, and I felt myself shrivel up inside. “Dante would not survive killing the president, regardless of what his motives were. You’ll shut up, and you’ll stay on these steps.”
“Vienna…” I breathed, forcing my voice to remain calm. “I’ve never had to speak to you like this before but grab me like that again and I promise you, you’ll live to regret it.”
He gave me a smile. But not his usual smile. Not the one that made me melt inside and just want to hug my hair buddy. No, this was the smile of the killer. The man he kept hidden. The man who had risen through the ranks of the Devil’s. The man who was the next Vice President.
And it might have worked on any woman other than me. But I had already dealt with the current Vice President. I pinned himto the spot with a nasty look of my own and threw my head back.
