“It’s too late for that. If you wanted mercy, you shouldn’t have blown up my house and killed my pregnant wife.” I smiled with my face an inch away from his. “Don’t worry, it’ll all be over soon.”
His chest was covered in the Renegade Kings’ reaper. That was about to change.
Taking the soldering iron, I slowly branded Allie’s name over the intricate artwork. I watched as the black-inked skin bubbled up under each letter. Tears started to stream down my face as the E was finished.
The smell of burnt flesh overtook the small space as I stared at the blubbering sack of shit in front of me, and the high that had consumed me faded. No retaliation would bring Allie back. No amount of bloodshed would soothe my aching soul.
Demons crashed inside of me as I dropped to my knees. I wasn’t ashamed. Grief was part of life, and if I couldn’t break down in front of my men and show them I was human, how could I be a true leader? I was only one man—one man with a broken heart and a duty to my family and brotherhood.
Jett pulled me to my feet. “It’s done, brother. Go back to your daughter. We’ll finish up here.”
Taking out my Kimber Micro Crimson Carry, I shot Darren in the temple.
“Now it’s done.” I exhaled before turning for the stairs. “The lye is in the shed. Y’all know what to do.”
Rave walked up to me, resting his hand on my shoulder. “We got this, brother. Get outta here. You have a little one waiting for you.”
* * *
PullingEmerson out of the makeshift crib that was set up in the room where Piper was sleeping for the night, I went and sat on the couch in the lounge. Everyone was asleep in the back bedrooms and scattered around on the floor in sleeping bags. My entire family was under one roof, and that scared the shit out of me. Even with guards posted around the entire place and a state-of-the-art security system, I knew I would never rest easy again. There was too much to lose now that Emerson was in the world.
Staring down at her sweet face as she slept, I tutted to my daughter. “Daddy got the bad guy, sweetheart. I promise I will always protect you. As long as I live, you will always be safe.”
Daggers shot through me. How could I promise her that when I hadn’t been able to protect her mother? How was I going to be able to raise her on my own?
“Maccon?” Piper trotted into the room.
“What’re you doing up?” I whispered to her as she took a seat next to me.
“I went to check on the baby and she wasn’t in the crib. I nearly had a panic attack.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “How was your night?”
I leaned my head against hers. “Better now that I’m here with my girls.”
“She looks so peaceful in your arms.”
“I think she’s definitely going to be a daddy’s girl,” I teased.
“There’s no doubt about that one.” Piper stretched against me.
“Go back to bed. I’m going to sit up with her for a while.”
“All right. Get some rest. You’ve been going nonstop and you’re no good to anyone running on an empty tank.”
“Yes ma’am.”
She stuck her tongue out at me before hopping up from the couch. “Love ya.”
“Love you too, punk.”
Chapter 6
Maccon
A little over ten years later
Icracked my back as I got out of bed. With the Renegade Kings completely underground since the night we took out their leader, life had slowed down to a normal pace for us. We had lost a few good men over the years, all in the name of war. Ravage and Abel had both been taken. They were missed and their loss was felt on a daily basis, but the world kept turning anyway.
Staring at my weathered face and grayed beard in the mirror over my dresser, I hardly recognized myself. It had taken a while to make my rebuilt house feel like a home, but Emerson and Piper had both helped exponentially.