“I’m going to stay on these steps, because it’s the right thing to do. However, I am warning you, touch me again, drag me about, use your size as an advantage, and I will gut you in your sleep and not even feel guilty.”
I stepped away from him, walking to where Kitty was standing, her hand clamped over her mouth in horror. For the first time, I felt a pang of sympathy for her. She was a class A bitch, but she didn’t deserve any of this. I linked my arm with hers and squeezed her arm. She threw herself at me, her arms wrapping around my waist and I wrapped mine around her shoulders in return, holding her tight as we watched her husband, and her son tear each other to shreds.
“I’ll kill them all,” Crash promised, snarling at his son, who blocked his path. “Dante, move.”
“No,” he said, pushing Crash back as he stepped in front of his motorbike.
“Fucking move!” Crash hissed, swinging at Dante. He easily dodged the fist and then ducked as another came flying his way.
“I’m not going to let you do anything stupid!” He barked, closing his hand around the next fist that came flying at him. I heard the crack from all the way over here, as Dante squeezed Crash’s hand, bending it backwards at the same time.
“I don’t want to snap this, but if this is what it’ll take to stop you getting on that fucking bike, I’ll do it!”
“As your President, I am ordering you to fucking move!”
“And as your son,” he barked, shoving Crash once more, letting go of his wrist. “I am ordering you to fucking stop and think about what you’re doing!”
“They killed my best friend!”
“And they killed the only uncle I’ve ever known! But I won’t let you walk into a death zone!”
“Fuck off, Dante!” He hissed, charging at Dante, wrapping his arms around his waist as he tackled him. Dante held his ground, his body tensing as he braced for the impact. The air left his lungs with a loud exhale, but he dug his feet in, refusing to be pushed backwards. Crash had anger on his side, but Dante had brute strength. Once Crash’s initial surge of power was done, Dante was easily able to manoeuvre him, getting him back on his feet.
“This is what they want.” Dante shoved him again, knocking him back and away from the bikes bit by bit. He was taking a beating as he did so, but at least he was getting his dad away from the machines that would take him to certain death. “They want us angry. They want us to not think things through. If you need to hit someone, then fucking hit me! But I won’t lose my dad over this, and I won’t let the club lose their president. We’ve already lost too much!”
Crash did as he was told. He swung at Dante, his fist connecting with Dante’s jaw. This time, Dante didn’t fight back. He allowed the fist to connect with a resounding crack. He knew his dad had to get his anger out somehow, and he was happy to be used as a punching bag, even if it made me physically sick to see the man I cared for having punch after punch rained down on him. Dante’s head snapped back as Crash hit him with another powerful punch, showing me for the first time just why he had been able to hold his position as club leader. Dante took it well, but the man could punch like a goddamn trained boxer. Like father, like son, Dante proved why he was the next in line. The fucking behemoth didn’t so much as flinch.
“Again,” Dante demanded, his hands pushing Crash’s shoulders as he took a step forward, forcing Crash backwards. He shoved Crash so hard he stumbled backwards, his face twisted in anger, an anger of such ferocity I shrunk backwards as he snarled at his dad. “Fucking hit me again.”
Crash hit him again. I hugged Mama tighter as I heard the crack and saw the blood on Dante’s face. His lips were split from Crash’s ring, and his nose was bleeding profusely. Crash’s fist came up and connected with Dante’s face once more, and still, he didn’t stumble. He took blow after blow, expertly moving Crash where he wanted him, without Crash ever suspecting a thing. He took every punch he had to offer, until Crash’s arms grew weak, his fists began to shake, and eventually, the tears came.
Dante didn’t hesitate for a second. The minute his dad broke, he grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his head onto his shoulder. His other hand came around to slap his dad’s shoulder, holding him tight against him as the tears fell.
“Everybody inside,” I said quietly. When no one listened, I gently pushed Mama away and turned on them like a wildanimal. “Inside!” I snarled, shooing them away. “Give the man some fucking privacy and let him grieve in peace. Lord knows this won’t be the last time.”
I muttered the last bit under my breath as I turned back around to watch Dante, but I knew I was right.
This could not be ignored. War was already here, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it.
The only thing I could do now was ensure me, Bee and the baby remained safe.
“Vienna,” I said quietly, knowing he hadn’t left.
“Oh, so you’re still talking to me?”
“Bite me. I’ll do it myself,” I hissed, moving to walk down the stairs.
“Hey, hey… I’m sorry. What do you need?”
“I want you to go down there and retrieve Zach’s head. Get it out of here. Take it somewhere else before Bee sees it or before the dogs get to it.”
“And what are you going to do once I leave you on your own?”
“Me?” I said with a hollow laugh. “I’m going to go comfort a little girl who is already suffering from terrible burns. I’m going to try to convince this terrified child that she’s safe, and no further harm is going to come to her or her loved ones. I’m going to give her the medicine that’s already overdue, and I’m going to let her cry, because she needs to know I am her safe space, and she can let it all go with me. When I’m done doing that, I’ll comfort her whilst she cries herself to sleep, because I know no amount of comforting is going to erase what’s happened here today. And then, when she’s cried herself to sleep, which is happening more and more fucking often these days, I’m going to do some crying of my own, knowing I’m failing at the one job I was assigned to do.”
“Rachel—” He began, only to be interrupted as Crash and Dante came towards us.
“Gather the lads,” Dante snapped. “I want Hacksaw, Shark, and you to join me and Crash.”
