Staring across the bar, Butch looked at his reflection.
You’re a rat. You’ve got to come clean. There’s no way for you to keep The Savage Brothers a secret and get away with it.
Running a hand down his face, Butch jumped as his cell phone went off.
Seeing Danny’s name on the screen, he started to feel sick. Leaving the club, he took the call.
“What?” he asked.
“I want to know what the word is. Gonzalez has left Piston County. I’ve got my sources, and yet I’ve not heard your call as to why he’s on the move.”
Closing his eyes, Butch had to think quickly as he made to respond.
“He’s coming to the clubhouse. The wedding tomorrow, it’s all happening, and Gonzalez is coming to the after party at the clubhouse.” The lies kept melding together making it impossible to keep up.
“Are you sure about that?” Danny asked.
“Yes, I’m sure. Shit’s going down tomorrow, and you’re going to get what you want. Revenge, it’s what you’ve always wanted, right?”
“Yes, you’re right.” Danny sounded happy. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Hanging up the phone, Butch went to his room to find Cheryl pulling a nightshirt over her head.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s all happening tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“You’re going to have to be there, but Eva’s promised to take Matthew with her.”
Cheryl nodded. “There’s nothing we can do. You know what you’re doing, right?” she asked.
He didn’t have the first f**king clue what he was doing. “I f**ked up,” he said.
“Come clean to Tiny before this turns to shit,” she said, sitting on the end of the bed.
He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry for putting us through this.”
“You made a mistake. Come clean to your crew, and it’ll be fine.”
“I told the Savage Brothers a lie,” he said.
Butch explained what he’d done.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“I’m going to deal with what I’ve done.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, baby.”
“Butch, promise me you won’t go in there fighting.”
“I promise.” The lie was another easy word for him to say. There was nothing else he could do. The wheels had been set in motion. All he could do was keep on with the initial plan.
****
Lexie paced the main floor the club. It was late, and her kids were getting restless.
“Are you okay?” Phoebe asked.
Was she okay?
No, I’m not okay. My husband is out there on a killing spree, and I’m stuck here waiting. Judi’s in the hospital in a coma, and there’s nothing I can do to stop what’s going to happen.
Instead of saying everything that was plaguing her, she nodded. “I’m fine. Everything is fine.” She offered a smile that she didn’t at all feel. Her life was not what she wanted it to be. In fact, her life was fast turning into something she’d never wanted it to be.
When pacing couldn’t calm her thoughts, she took a seat on the edge of the far bench.
“I know this is difficult,” Phoebe said.
“I know you do, honey. I know you’ve been through this a lot more than I have. Listening to you talk about everything you’ve gone through doesn’t make me feel better. Vincent was addicted to drugs, and you pulled him out of it. I respect everything you’ve done.”
“But this is different,” Phoebe said, finishing her thoughts.
“Yes, this is different. We can’t stop what’s going on. There’s a man out there who killed my sister. He killed Jerry and Ashley and made sure someone beat up Judi. She’s lying in a coma because of the damage done to her. Ripper won’t leave her side. I know you’ve been through a lot, but it’s not like this.” Sitting down wasn’t helping Lexie’s nerves. Getting back to her feet she started to pace.
Simon was watching her. His inquisitive little mind already knew something was up, and she couldn’t stop him. Sitting back down, she blew out a breath and made sure to calm her nerves down.
“I’ve got to be calm.”
“You’re a wonderful mother, Lexie. Simon, he’s the kind of boy who spots everything. You shouldn’t worry about it.”
“But I do worry about it. He’s my son.” She placed a hand to her heart. Simon was born to Kayla, but within weeks of her sister giving birth, Kayla had given him to her.
Lexie had done everything in her power to care for the young boy. She loved him like he was her own son, and as far as she was concerned, no one else would ever replace him.
“It’s these moments that test all of us.”
Glancing around the room, she saw Sasha was tense where she’d been put. Her guide dog had her head resting on Sasha’s lap trying to comfort her.
“Shit, I’m probably panicking her. Give me a moment,” she said.
Leaving Phoebe’s side, she took a seat in front of Sasha.
“Hey, honey. How are you holding up?” Lexie asked.
“I think I’m doing much better than you.” Sasha didn’t move her hand away from her dog. “At least I can’t see the tension, but I feel it.”
“I don’t know if that’s good or not,” Lexie said. “I’m going to touch your hand.”
Pussy had been such a good man to Sasha, giving her more independence than she’d had in the whole of her life since her blindness. Sasha’s mother, Penny, was still in rehab overcoming her pill and alcohol addiction.
“Okay,” Sasha said.
Touching her hand, Lexie grasped her palm within her hands. She noticed how Sasha was shaking.
“Pussy’s told me it’s going to be okay. I’m to trust him because he won’t let anything happen to me.” The trust and absolute faith in Sasha’s voice made Lexie smile. She had felt that way with Devil. Then bad shit started to happen, and now she always had her doubts. She was tired of having doubts.
“I know he won’t let anything happen to you. I’ve never seen Pussy in love with anyone else before. You’re his entire world.” She wasn’t lying. The only person she’d ever seen Pussy happy with was Sasha.
“Thank you.”
The door to the clubhouse opened revealing Devil. He looked ready to do business. “We’re leaving in ten minutes,” Devil said. He walked off to his office.