“Reaper, you don’t have to tell them that,” Ivy calls out from the doors to the kitchen, eyes glaring inher ol’ man’s direction. “We know the rules. We’re not stupid.”
Reaper shoots a glare in her direction. “Didn’t say you were, but I ain’t takin’ chances, Precious.”
Considering that she’s pregnant and the two of them have dealt with enough in the time they’ve been together, including raising a set of twins, everyone knows not to step between the two of them. Though it’s not often Ivy would go toe-to-toe with Reaper, not in front of a crowd.
The moment Ivy disappears behind the door to the kitchen, Reaper releases a heavy sigh. “Woman’s gonna be the death of me.” Shaking his head, Reaper runs a hand over his face. “Let’s get this shit done.”
Finally.
“I swear I don’t know anything,” Jon cries. He’s been crying like a little bitch since the moment we stepped into the cabin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I swear if you let me go, I won’t say anything. I promise.”
“Jon, I gotta admit, I don’t believe in coincidences,” I tell him, stepping around him and slapping a hand on his shoulder. I’d been fighting back the urge to kill himalready, but I need answers first. And he’s going to give them to me. Tombstone was ready to fuck him up. Had already gotten his hands on him. Same with the others.
Because Ember’s my ol’ lady, though, they’ve given me the honor of tormenting Jon into giving us those answers we need.
“Tell me what the real reason you showed up here was? Someone send you?” I demand, squeezing his shoulder where I’d already done damage by ripping into it.
“I didn’t do anything. I just wanted to see Ember. That’s all.” Jon screams when I dig deeper. His body tilts to the side slightly under the weight of my hand.
“How did you even know she was at the clubhouse? She hadn’t told you. Hadn’t even spoken to you in order for you to know that?” It’s a question that’s been bugging me all week.
“I’m telling you I didn’t do anything,” Jon cries and pleads for me to stop.
“Not ‘til you tell the truth.” Digging deeper into his shoulders, I sink the claws I’d put on my fingers earlier into the bone.
The claws were something I had specially made just for me. They were metal, sharp enough to cut through flesh and bone. I wanted them before I was even given my road name. I was called Cerberus for a reason. I will do what it takes to protect those whoneed protecting. I might not have three heads, but I was just as dangerous as the myth let on regarding the dog who guarded the underworld for the dead. No one else touched the claws because they all knew a little secret about them. They stayed dipped in snake venom until I used them.
We kept antivenom around in case we needed it, but that was mostly for me.
“Tell me why my woman was shot right after you left the clubhouse, and I might let you go,” I tell him, and release my claws from his shoulders.
There’s no way I’m gonna let this bastard go. He’s a punk ass that helped in Ember’s shooting. I fucking know it. Deep down, I know he’s involved. I just have to get him to admit it.
“I’m telling you I didn’t?—”
“Stop fuckin’ lyin’,” I roar and slash the claws along his face.
Jon screams out in pain while I take in the blood seeping down the side of his face. The large claw marks opened his skin, making him look like he’d been attacked by a large predator, which he did. Me.
“Tell him what he wants to know, and we’ll make your death quick. You don’t he keeps this up and it’ll take that much longer,” Reaper growls from behind me.
“I’m kinda enjoying the show, Prez,” Styxx remarks, chuckling darkly.
“Think we all are,” Angel grunts.
“I’ve already told you,” Jon whimpers.
“Don’t lie,” I snarl, leaning into him, hands on his legs, claws digging into his flesh. “Wanna know a secret about these claws?” I ask, raising one for him to see before replanting it in his leg. “They’re coated in snake venom, so even if I did let you go, you’ll be dead before they figure out which antivenom to give you. I’m sure the venom is already working into your bloodstream. You want to let it torture you more, keep lying to me. You want to put an end to it? Tell us what you know.”
Jon’s eyes widened, and he shook his head, dropping it in defeat. “I had no choice. He’s my brother. I had to do what he asked me to do. I didn’t know she was going to be shot.”
Now we’re getting somewhere.
“Who’s your brother? Who shot my woman?” I demand.
“Jacks, he’s Samir’s right-hand man. They came to me and told me that I needed to do this for them. All I was told to do was get Ember out of the clubhouse. They said she was hooked up with you and?—”
I didn’t listen to another word he said. Jerkingupright, I slash one of my claws through his throat, ending his miserable life. I heard what I needed to confirm what we know. Samir, Dead Eyes, whatever he wants to be called, was behind this. He threatened to make her pay the price, and she nearly did.
