Page 62 of Dust to Dust

“Dowe, sir,” Gareth replied.

“Where the hell is he?”

“We’re not sure.”

“Find him,” I bit out.

Gareth nodded before rushing out of the room. I then turned my wrath on Terrance. “Who the fuck do you think you are coming into my club and hurting my dancers?”

At his garbled speech, Shane eased his foot back to allow him to speak. “Let me up right this instant, you mick bastard. Don’t you know who I am?”

“I know exactly who you are–you’re a piece of shit who assaults innocent women and expects his money and reputation to buy him out of situations.” A cruel smile curved on my lips. “Poor men and rich men bleed the very same color.”

His eyes bulged. “You lay one fucking finger on me, and I’ll take you and your brothers for everything you’re worth.”

Clenching my jaw, I gritted out, “Not if you’re dead.”

While a string of curses spilled from his mouth, I jerked my chin at Shane. He once again pressed his foot on his throat, silencing Terrance’s bullshit.

At that moment, Gareth reappeared with Dowe. “I’ll be right back,” I told Isla before I eased her out of my arms as gently as I possibly could. When I shot to my feet, Dowe began backing slowly up.

His cowardly action infuriated me. Grabbing him by the neck, I raised him up off his feet before slamming him up against the wall with one of my hands. “Where the fuck were you?”

“Had. to take.leak.”

Tightening my hands, I snarled, “What’s the fucking protocol?”

“Find. someone. Cover,” he choked.

“Once you took your piss, did you come straight back?” At the shake of his head, I spit in his crimson-splotched face. “You’re done.”

“Please. No,”

I stared menacingly into his face. “The only reason I won’t put you in the ground is because your father has been a loyal clan member all his life.” When Dowe started to look relieved, I shook my head. “Trust me when I say that when I’m done with you, you’ll wish I’d killed you.”

His dark eyes widened in fear. “Please.”

“That’s right. You’ll beg for death, but it’s not coming for you. As for this job and your place in this clan, you’re fucking done.”

Shoving away from him, I jabbed my finger at Gareth. “Get him the hell out of here. Chain him up in the basement until I get there.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dowe had the audacity to weep as he was dragged from the room. My attention once again reverted to Terrance. “Shane, take this piece of shit as well.”

Despite the gun on him, Terrance began thrashing on the floor beneath him. “You can’t do this!” he shouted.

I flashed him a shark-like grin. “Looks like I am.”

When he continued shouting and fighting against Shane, I pulled the gun from my jacket. As I strode up to him, he continued mouthing off. Turning the gun in my hand, I then smacked the base against his temple, knocking him out.

Before he could crumple to the floor, Shane threw him over his shoulder like he was a sack of potatoes. Once Dowe and Terrance were gone, I went back over to the couch and knelt in front of Isla.

“It’s time to get you to the ER to get checked out.”

“No hospitals,” she whispered.

“You have to have a doctor clear you.”

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