Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

DIABLO

"Brother, you're fucked," Reaper states once we're in the clear of London hearing anything.

"London holds a mean grudge," Liam says, nodding. "She finds out this has got to do with anything involving her, and she's going to lose her shit."

"Brace, my friend," Gray O'Neil snorts, shaking his head, "we know what she's capable of."

"We trained her," his brother finishes for him, smirking. "Prepare to get your ass kicked by that little thing."

"I can take care of myself," I mutter, knowing I can handle London. They might have trained her to defend herself, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let her use that shit against me. I know how to get to her that doesn't involve fighting with her.

Turning toward Liam, I meet his gaze. "Now, what did you need to share?"

Liam glances at Mark Jessup and nods.

For the next fifteen minutes, he fills us all in on the information they've gathered on the Scarlet Needles, including the name of the other organization, The Society of the Prime Genetics Council. Talk about some long-ass name for a group that mutilates genes. Word is the two have joined together to make things easier on them.

This isn't good news. This means once those of one group are done causing harm, they'll throw them to the other to finish the job.

"They managed to get London's name off a list for those who donate blood to the blood banks," Liam announces. "That's how they knew to target her. She's wanted not for the Scarlett Needles but for the genetic group. They'll make sure to bleed her every so often until they can't no more. They get their hands on her, they could destroy my daughter, and that isn't going to happen."

"We're not going to let them get their hands on her," I grind out through gritted teeth. There's no way I'm gonna let them get their hands on her. I'll make sure of it. Even if it means burning the world down around us to make sure it doesn't happen.

"She'll be protected," Reaper adds, nodding and looking to Liam. "We've got other things we've got to take care of. You all mind sticking around while we go and do that?"

I shouldn't be surprised he'd ask Liam to watch over the clubhouse while we're out.

Liam holds Reaper's gaze for a long moment and shifts to look at me before nodding. "Yeah, we'll stick around til y'all get back before heading to our hotel."

I open my mouth to say something when I spot London running in our direction, her hand clutching her phone and her face pale.

"What's wrong?" I ask when she makes it to me.

"I'm sorry," she utters, not meeting my gaze. "I know you guys didn't want me to hear, and I didn't, I swear. I just came from your room." I don't think I've seen her shaken up like this. I also know she doesn't lie.

"What happened?" I reach up, grip her chin between two fingers, and force her to meet my gaze. "What's got you upset?"

"I got a call from Tamara. She went by my place and said it looked like someone broke in," London murmurs. "She said the whole place is trashed."

"Not possible," Cyan O'Neil mutters, but I doubt London heard him.

"Reed, Gray, you two go check it out," Liam orders, coming up behind his daughter. "We'll take care of this. Don't you worry."

I pull London in my arms. "It's gonna be okay, Chiquita." It's not, but it will be for her. "You stay here with your dad. I'll go check everything out and let you know when I get back."

I thought she might argue and demand to go with me, but instead, she nods which doesn't sit right with me. Something else had to have happened, something she's not telling me.

However, right now, I don't have time to find out. I've got things to take care of. Important things that I need to be to do ensure she stays safe.

"You sure you wanna do this? Last chance to change your mind." Angel looks up from checking his gun to meet my gaze.

"I'm not gonna change my mind." This has been a long time coming.

"Then we best get it done and get back to the clubhouse," Reaper states.

As much as I would like to prolong this, I don't have the time. I have to get back to London. On the way out, we stopped by her apartment, and it hadn't been broken into. No one had been there. Inside, looked as it had the last time I'd been there with her. There was something off about that, and I didn't want anyone to say anything else to London yet. Not until I figured out what Tamara's game is. Why she called London and freaked her out by lying, saying someone had broken into her place.

"Let's get it done," I agree, nodding.

Together, we all move surrounding the little rundown house that's no more than a shack. It wasn't a pleasant place when I was a kid, and it looks worse now. The shutters were hanging, some of them having fallen years ago. The fence surrounding the entirety of it was overgrown with weeds and leaning, looking ready to collapse.

Stepping on the rickety porch, I watch my footing. Part of the damn thing was rotting away just like the rest of the damn place. Inside I can hear Wayne bitching at Teresa about how lousy of a lay she is. I didn't need to hear it, but it isn't something I hadn't heard before.

Beast taps my shoulder from his position right behind me. Him Reaper, Angel, and Styxx were going in with us, Thanatos and Ghost were setting everything up for when we were done inside. Hellhound, Tombstone, and the others went to the lawyer's house to do things in the same manner as what we're about to do.

On the count of three, I kick the door with enough force to splinter the damn thing.

"The hell is goin' . . ." Wayne shouts, only to stop when I step through the entryway.

"Damari," Teresa cries, tears welling in her eyes.

"What the hell you think you're doin' here?" Wayne steps forward. His step wavering, eyes glassy. He looks just as he did years back. Only difference is, I'm bigger than him and definitely don't look a damn thing like him.

Cocking my head slightly, I take both Teresa and Wayne in closely. Where with Teresa, I share similarities with her, I don't when it comes to Wayne. He might be five eight, five nine, and I'm six foot three. I have naturally tan skin, and his is pasty white. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out.

"Teresa, were you ever gonna say a word if you didn't know who the real father of your kid is?" I ask, slicing a glance her way. "Cause gotta say, I definitely don't look like him."

"You look just like your father," she cries, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Just like him."

I twist and look over my shoulder toward Beast. "She thinks I look like him."

"Brother, she's gotta be blind," Beast snorts, and his lip curls in disgust as he keeps his gaze locked on my parents.

"I didn't say him," Teresa whispers, visibly shaking.

"Shut the hell up, woman," Wayne shouts and backhands Teresa so she stumbles.

"Touch her again, Wayne, and you won't like what's gonna happen," I sneer. I might plan on killing her, but it doesn't mean I'm gonna let him keep doing what he's doing.

"What are you gonna do, boy." Wayne puffs out his chest and takes a step toward me, slapping a hand over his heart. "You brought men here with you. What, don't think you can take me on your own?"

"I don't need anyone to take your ass down." I step into space, give him a shove back, and he falls to the floor. "Stay down, I'll get to you in a minute."

I turn to Teresa and cock my head. "So, tell me what the hell you meant."

"I named you after him." She sobs, wraps her arms around herself, and shakes her head. "I wanted to give you the one thing I could of him."

I don't give a shit about any of this. "So what, you cared about a man that you claim is my dad, yet you're with this dickhead?"

"I had to."

I barely make out what she says as she falls to her knees, bending forward, pressing her forehead to the dirty ass floor, sobbing like that's going to save her now. Nothing will save her.

Pulling my knife from its stealth, I close the distance between her and me. I squat down behind her, gripping her hair and forcing her to lift her head. She cocks her head in my direction, tears shimmering in her eyes, a knowledge of what's to come. She knows she's about to die, and there's no wavering my decision.

"He'd have loved you, Damari. He would have."

"Doesn't matter if he would've or not," I tell her, reaching around with my blade, bringing it up to her throat. It goes through easily.

Her eyes hold mine until I finish and let her go. She collapses to the floor, blood pouring out beneath her. I don't feel anything as I straighten. Nothing. There's no remorse for killing her. Nor is there empathy for her. She might be free from her hell now, but being the one to end the bullshit life she had, it felt good. A part of me wonders what London would think if she knew I killed a woman tonight.

I shove the thought back. She isn't going to find out. I'm not telling her what I've done here. London needs to be protected from this part of my life, and I intend to make sure she stays innocent in it all.

Turning my attention to Wayne, I take in his dawning expression. If I'm willing to kill the woman who gave birth to me, I've no problem taking his life either.

"You can't kill me," Wayne blurts out.

"Who says I'm just gonna kill ya?" I ask, cocking a brow as Beast shoves Wayne into a chair.

Beast keeps Wayne still while Angel duct tapes his ass to a chair.Reaper moves in next, getting in Wayne's space, draws his fist back, and slams it into Wayne's jaw.

Wayne cries out, and his chair falls to the side.

"Beast, set him back up," Reaper orders, voice changing. Beast does as told, and Reaper gets in Wayne's face. "You think it makes you a man to hit women? Kids? Diablo was just a fuckin' kid, and you beat the shit out of him."

"He deserved it," Wayne shouts, fighting against the tape.

"Bullshit," Angel snarls.

Reaper slams another fist to Wayne's face. This time, Beast was ready and kept the chair from toppling. "You're going to burn for what you did to my brother."

He moves back, and Angel moves in, gripping Wayne's jaw as he leans in. "Wanna know a secret, Wayne? Reaper and I know who you are. We know the truth of what you did. We didn't for a long time, but we know what you did twenty-six years ago."

This is news to me. What do they know?

Reaper meets my gaze. "Didn't want to disrupt the life you finally had for yourself, brother," he states and glares at Wayne.

"What did he do?" I ask.

"He killed your dad," Angel answers, releasing Wayne's face only to slam his fist into the side of his head. "He took the life of our uncle. This fucker thought he'd have an in with an enemy if he killed a member of the club."

Head spinning, Angel's words play on repeat.

"Your dad is our dad's brother. He was a member of this club until the day Wayne here killed him. Nothing was done back then because no one knew exactly what happened. But we figured it out not long after meeting you."

"As Reaper said, we didn't want to disrupt a life you finally had," Angel states, finishing for Reaper.

That's why Reaper and Angel declared when I explained my plan they were going to be with me—retribution for a member of the club as well as blood.

Emotions I don't want to think about push through, and I move toward Wayne. Angel moves out of my way, and I take the bloody knife still in my hand and cut through the tape. Gripping Wayne's shirt, I jerk him up and slam my fist into his face. He would have fallen if I hadn't had a grip on his shirt. With a sucker punch to the stomach, I let him go to watch him crumple to the floor.

Wayne tries to curl in on himself, but it doesn't stop me from kicking him in the gut repeatedly. I want him to feel all the pain tenfold of what he caused me growing up before I killed him. I keep going until Beast pulls me back.

"It's time, brother," he remarks.

Nodding, I let out a heavy breath, and I kick Wayne to his back. I draw my gun and aim it at Wayne's face. I glance over my shoulder at Reaper and Angel and jerk my chin. I might not know what to think of them not telling me sooner, but they deserve this as well. Together, they step forward, guns aimed at Wayne as well. Together, the three of us pull the trigger, simultaneously putting three bullets in the bastard.

Once done, I look at them. "Anything else I should know? You knew Wayne wasn't nothing more than a S-O-B who beat me. How'd you know I was your uncle's kid?"

"‘Cause Teresa's right about one thing. You look just like him. When you're ready, we'll tell you about him and show you pictures," Reaper states.

"We didn't want to bring up a subject we knew you weren't ready for," Angel explains.

"I get it." I did. That doesn't mean it's not fucking with me.

"Come on, Thanatos and Ghost are ready to get shit done," Reaper urges me toward the door.

I nod and look between the two men. "I'm not pissed with you, but next time, just fuckin' tell me if shit comes up like this. I don't want to be taken by surprise again. I fuckin' well hate surprises."

"Won't be a next time," Angel agrees. "Now, let's get you back to the clubhouse to your woman. Let her comfort you."

"We still gotta find out what the fuck is up with her friend callin' and tellin' her that someone broke into the apartment," I remind them.

"Tomorrow, brother, we'll get on it. For tonight, just go to your woman. We'll deal with the rest tomorrow," Beast states, clasping a hand on my shoulder as we all make our way out of the house.

"I've already given the order to Cerberus and Azrael to go find the lying bitch. They're to bring her to the clubhouse when they find her," Reaper announces.

Good.

At least knowing we're already looking for her eases some of the tension inside me. The rest I intend to ease by touching my woman and having her hands on me. Only she can do when nothing else works. London has a way of putting to sleep the anger and rage that swirls inside me. She's the only one that, without a doubt, I know I need in my life besides my brothers.

The club is my family, but London, she's my life.