Chapter Twenty-Two

Livia's house was dark, which meant her friend was out. Probably with Courtney. Part of her was glad she didn't have to explain anything that night. She certainly wasn't up for any kind of "I told you so." The other part wished her friend was there so she could have some comfort.

She walked up the dark driveway but before she reached the front door, a noise had her spinning around. The large, hulking shadow made her heart stop until she got a better look at the man.

"Dad?"

Her father halted in front of her. Larger than life and just as intimidating. She took a step back. Vincent Dobias always had a superior air about him but she figured that was only because of the leadership role he played in the congregation as the pastor. This man, however, was the liar and thief who had betrayed everything she believed in. The darkness bathed his face in long shadows, lending an almost demonic air about him. She now saw him for who he really was, and he sickened her.

"How did you find me?"

"Traced the number you called from. As soon as I saw the name, I remembered your friend from summer camp."

"Why are you here?"

"You had to take the folder, didn't you?" he asked casually, as if inquiring about the weather. Hid words sent a wave of fear coursing through her. "If you had only taken the money, I would've been okay with that. I'd have let you exile yourself. But you got greedy and took something you were never meant to find."

"You embezzled from the church. From the people."

He snorted. "That money did the church no good. I'm the one who brings the masses. Who collects the money. Who runs the show. Me. I deserve to be compensated for my time and effort."

"Don't lie to me. I've seen the bank accounts for the dummy corporations you put in my name."

"And if I don't get them returned to me, it'll be your name the police come gunning for. See how clever I am? Always thinking ahead."

Bile churned in her stomach. "I'm your daughter."

"That's what makes it even more tragic. My precious little girl fell victim to sin." He pulled out a gun from his pocket and aimed it at her. "Give me the account codes you changed, and you won't die tonight."

Adira lifted her chin. "You kill me and you'll never get those codes. Guess we're at an impasse because I know you won't risk that."

"I don't have to kill you," he said smugly.

He fired the gun and her body lurched backward as the bullet hit her shoulder. Intense searing pain consumed her body, causing her to cry out as she fell her to her knees. Blood poured down her torso and back, immediately drenching her shirt with the viscous serum.

"I'll just make it impossible for you to withstand the pain."

She spat at him. "I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood."

"Don't quote the fucking Bible to me."

Adira ignored him. Tears ran down her cheeks, the excruciating pain almost too much to bear. "Thou shalt not steal."

She was losing too much blood. A woozy feeling started blanketing her mind and she knew she had to do something or else she was going to be at the mercy of her father.

"What's the matter, daughter?" Vincent taunted. "Lightheaded?"

"You've underestimated me my whole life, but I'm not the fool you think I am. The best thing that could've happened to me was overhearing you tell Abel to find a side piece. Go to hell, Dad."

Just then the unmistakable sound of motorcycles reverberated around them, and she'd never been gladder to hear the throaty growl of a bike. Her father gave a low cuss under his breath and in the next instant was gone.

She stayed on her knees long enough to see Hunter and Ares pull up. They parked and dismounted, running up to her just as consciousness gave out.

"Adira!"

Strong arms caught her before her head hit the concrete.

****

Ares paced back and forth in the waiting room, slowly going out of his mind. Watching his woman fall, blood staining her chest, would haunt him for the rest of his life. Just because the bullet was high up on the shoulder didn't mean it was free of complications. Adira lost a lot of blood. Tissue damage, chipped bone … she was going to be in tremendous pain.

"I'm going to kill that son of a bitch," Hunter muttered. He slumped in the uncomfortable hospital, leg bouncing uncontrollably.

"Get in line," Ares replied.

Hunter snorted. Chase, Vivi, and Lincoln waited with them while Brim, Thorn, Ghost, and a dozen men hunted for Vincent Dobias. Ares had no doubt they'd find him, from whatever rock he'd crawled back under. Him and that bitch Lori. They were both going to suffer for their part in why Adira was now in surgery, getting the fucking bullet removed from her body.

"When she wakes up, we have to clear up the misunderstanding," Hunter said, leaning his head back. "She thinks we were trying to get rid of her."

"Yeah, I was there."

"She was going to leave us."

"Yeah, Hunter, I know ."

Hunter sighs. "What's taking so long? You don't think there's a complication, do you?"

"Stop." Ares pinched the bridge of his nose.

His cell phone buzzed and he pulled it from his pocket to check the message. Glancing at Hunter, he realized his best friend had also gotten the notification. Adira's father had been found. He now was chained up with that fucking bitch, Lori. Without an outlet to focus on, he thought of different ways both would suffer. Perhaps he'd rip Lori's tongue out. The cunt didn't need one to suck a dick. As for her father, he was looking forward to giving the man a royal ass kicking.

Hunter stood up. "Do we stay until she wakes up or do we deal with this?"

Chase laid a hand on his arm. "Go. Even when the surgery is over she'll be in recovery for a while and probably still knocked out from pain medicine."

"We'll stay with her," Vivi added. "She may not have a superpower, but she's one of us now."

"Thank you," Ares said. "If she's coherent, please let her know we're here for her."

Vivi nodded.

Then he and Hunter left the hospital, ready to hurt the two people who hurt their girl. Their bikes roared through the night, speeding quickly to where Brim had Vincent and Lori strung up. At the club, they dismounted and walked to one of the garages farther from the main clubhouse.

Ghost lifted his chin. "Is she out of surgery?"

"Not yet," Ares replied. "We decided to take care of these fuckers so we can concentrate on getting her better."

"Sounds like good plan." He nodded to the door. "Brim is in there, interrogating them."

"Thanks, brother."

He clasped Ghost on the shoulder before he and Hunter entered. Vincent Dobias was strung up by his arms, his weight pulling down on them until they had popped out of the joint. He seemed like he was out cold. Lori had a rag stuffed in her mouth, but her tear-swollen eyes tracked his movements.

"She was screaming like a banshee," Thorn reported. "Easiest way to shut her up."

"I had thoughts of cutting her tongue out," Ares said, watching how his words caused fear to fill Lori's eyes. That gave him a little satisfaction.

Thorn crossed his arms over his chest. "I like that idea. Don't need a tongue to service the guys."

"That's exactly what I thought!"

He grinned and Thorn returned it.

"Found the father in a motel next town over," Brim said as he walked from behind the two hanging. "Fucker obviously didn't know the Death Riders owned this area of Missouri."

Vincent tried talking to them, but the gag only muffled the words. Ares had no desire to hear the man speak.

"What're we gonna do with him?" Hunter asked.

"Fucker needs to die," Ares replied.

"Missing ministers will be noticed by a congregation," Thorn pointed out.

Brim looked at Ares and Hunter. "Adira is your girl. Her pain is your pain. It will be your decision on what punishment this man deserves."

Ares hated this man. His blackened soul was pure evil, and the reason Adira now suffered.

"I agree he needs to die."

"So do I," Hunter said. "But how is the question."

"I have an idea," Brim said and pulled out his cell phone, placing a call and putting it on speakerphone. "Lincoln, have you taken Adira's name off the embezzled funds?"

"Yeah, it's all done. Just waiting to see what you want me to do with it."

Brim glanced at him and Hunter. "I'd like to put it all in Vincent's name. You don't have to be subtle."

"Um. Okay."

"I need it done as quickly as possible."

"I'll text you as soon as it's done."

"Good."

He hung up. Ares raised an eyebrow.

"What're you thinking, Boss?"

"Greed is one of the seven deadly sins," Brim said in a cold voice. "Such a pious man. A minister of God, who is nothing more than a thief who'd frame his own daughter. And people wonder why I don't believe in religion."

"Praise the Lord!" Thorn yelled, his words echoing in the vacuous garage.

Brim flashed a smile. "I would think that a man like the good minister here might start to feel guilty about throwing his daughter under the bus."

"Guilt can make you do all sorts of things," Ares said.

"Even things you might not normally do," Hunter added.

"What do you think a man like him would do, to make up for his sins?" Brim asked.

"I have this feeling you're not talking about a miracle," Thorn quipped.

Brim shook his head. "Did you know that modern-day Christians no longer look at suicide as an unforgivable sin?"

Vincent thrashed around, screaming behind his gag.

"I'm thinking he doesn't like that idea," Thorn said.

"I think you're right," Brim said. He turned to Ares and Hunter. "What do you both think?"

Ares took a step closer to Vincent. He wanted to pound the guy until he was breathing out of a tube, but that wouldn't fit the narrative Brim was suggesting.

"Suicide is too fast, in my opinion," Hunter said. "But it fits his crime."

He and Ares studied each other. Over the years, they had developed an almost telepathic bond, and he knew exactly what Hunter was thinking.

"All right," Ares said, giving a nod of agreement. "We'll go with suicide."

"Hanging," Hunter added.

They both turned toward Brim, who gave them both a vicious smile. "What about the cunt?"

They looked at Lori, who was so scared urine ran down her leg.

"I think she needs to leave the club and get the fuck out of Missouri," Ares said.

Hunter grabbed her throat, careful not to step in the puddle at her feet. "Hear that, bitch? You're getting a second chance, so you better move far, far away. Understand?"

She nodded frantically.

"You show your face in Missouri again, you'll wish for death before I'm through with you."

"Get back to the hospital," Brim told them. "Be with your girl. Thorn and I will take care of these two."

"Thanks, Boss," Ares said before placing his hand on Hunter's shoulder. "Let's go."

As they left, Ares knew the next time they saw Vincent, he'd be hanging from somewhere high.