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“Then tell the Kings so they can stay alert, watch each other’s backs,” Celeste says softly. Her bright green eyes turn more concerned for her husband’s safety despite her reassuring words. “You know that Colt and RJ won’t let anything happen to Jordan, which means Remy, Bear, and the others won’t let anyone lay a hand on him, either.”
While that is some comfort, it’s not enough. Yes, the Savage Kings can be vicious when they need to be. They’re bad asses who don’t take any shit from anyone. But they have never met a monster like this before. I’m certain of that. Nobody is as bad ashim,not even my father, who has managed to keep him on a short leash.
God, my father.
Does he already know where I am?
No, because if he did, Dante Salvato wouldn’t kill a man to send me a message. He would stroll right into town, guns blazing, to drag me back home.
“Whoever killed that man is an evil monster, Maddie. It’s not your fault he was murdered,” Celeste says. “It won’t be your fault if he goes after anyone else, either. The best thing to do is to let the Savage Kings find him and make sure he can’t kill or hurt anyone else ever again.”
There’s a punch of guilt to my gut stealing my breath at the thought. I try to rub it away with my palm. Despite how bad he is, I don’t actually want him dead. Even if he is an evil monster.
I hate myself for feeling that way. Especially when Jordan could get hurt.
If I had to make a choice between the two, it would be an easy one, though.
I would die before letting anyone hurt Jordan.
Jordan
Once all the Savage Kings are gathered at the meeting table later that afternoon in the back of RJ’s shop, Greer and Remy fill the others in on what’s happened.
“My surveillance cameras were ripped out without showing a face,” Greer grumbles. “I’ll have to go through hours, fuckingdays, of footage from the days before to see if anyone unfamiliar was in the bar or parking lot.”
“The victim has been identified as Earnest Ingram, forty-nine-years-old and a Clayton resident,” Remy, our club president, informs us. “Isaac, do you or any of the Devil Hounds know him?”
The oldest member of our club leans back in his chair, stroking his salt and pepper beard. “Yeah, I’ve heard of him,” Isaac, the president of our Clayton chapter says. His other members nod their heads as well. “All I know about Earnest is that he’s a long-haul truck driver. Word around town is that he works for some drug lord up in New York or New Jersey. He doesn’t have any family or many friends that I know of, so I doubt anyone will even grieve him.”
“Could that be why someone killed him?” Hugo asks. “Because nobody would look too hard for his killer?”
“Maybe,” Remy agrees. “But why go to all the trouble of dumping the body in Greer’s bar?” Shaking his head, he adds, “Reece is looking into things as well, doing his hacker magic. Torin or Chase Fury will let us know if they find out anything. The same goes for Rick Little, our contact at the SandersonCounty Sheriff’s office. Until then, everyone needs to be vigilant, especially with our wives and those with little ones.”
“Should we get our families out of town until this shit is resolved?” Colt, one of the four pretty blond Fulton brothers and my current stepfather, asks.
“Let’s hope it was a fucked-up fluke we got pulled into and sit tight for now, see how it unfolds,” Remy remarks. “Unless anyone thinks we should go ahead and take extra precautions?” He eyes me steadily. “Do we need to send our families down to Emerald Isle for a vacation now?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly. “Whatever you think is best.”
“Then we keep an eye out. Anyone who wants to send their wives or kids can let me know. I won’t make that decision for everyone. Avery has firearm training,” he says, referring to his former federal agent wife. Grinning, he adds, “Even if I asked her to leave town, she probably wouldn’t.”
“I doubt Josie would either,” Colt replies. “Not while me and Jordan are here.”
“Well, I’m sure as shit not taking any chances,” Isaac says. “My wife, my toddler, my daughters and my mother are leaving before the sun goes down and not coming back until the fucker responsible is caught.”
“I don’t blame you,” Bear says to his father-in-law. “But if I were you, I would pose it as a question to Lyla rather than an order. Maybe mention that Holly could use her and your mom’s help with baby Ethan.”
“Fine,” Isaac mutters. “But she is leaving town, even if I have to haul her out over my shoulder.”
“I’ll carry her if it comes to that, old man,” Bear teases him.
And I’m glad that someone can find humor in the situation because I sure as shit cannot.
Remy adjourns the meeting a moment later but calls me over before I can leave the meeting room with the others. Not that I’m surprised.
“Has Maddie said anything more to you?”
“No. Not yet.”
