Page 67 of Ethan's Sky

“Son of a bitch!”

“Fucking hell!”

The room erupts in curses and grumbling. The harming of women and children is against our code of honor. That kind of shit doesn’t fly with the Kings.

“How many more were there?” Cash asks, his voice sounding strained as he speaks. We’re all feeling anger, and total disgust for the one responsible. They’ll die at our hands without question. We won’t let this slide.

“Honestly, we don’t know.” Is Mack’s reply. “There’s no pattern to show they’re working in one specific area. They move around from coast to coast according to what the agent told us. Girls have reportedly gone missing in several areas over the last decade or more. The cops are trying to narrow it down, but it may take some time.”

“So, what? You think this fucker approached George to drive his truck full of women and kids somewhere, and George double crossed them by delivering their merchandise to Parisi instead? Why would Parisi care enough to get involved? What’s his piece in all this?” Jake’s question is aimed at Gabe.

“Parisi doesn’t deal in skin trade. He may have gentlemen’s clubs that offer certain services, but those businesses are legit. To the same extent Glitz and Tass is, how about that. He wouldn’t condone anyone selling women or children into slavery. He doesn’t deal drugs. Doesn’t even allow the people who work for him to use anything stronger than a fucking joint,ifhe even allows that.” Gabe chuckles. “Parisi’s main revenue is made through more legal means, outside his gun trade business. But I’m not going to call him on that shit. We still have a few of our own backdoor gun deals when the situation calls for it.”

“I still think we need to have a sit down with him.” Mack says. “I’d like to know what he knows. He may have more intel on who exactly we’re dealing with. If this guy in Mountain Heights is officially a member of the Devil’s Order or if her a rogue piece of shit working with someone else.”

“Yeah, I hear ya.” Gabe says, stroking his beard.

“Cash, you stick close to Skyler. If you’ve got something else going on, I want a prospect on her. Might not hurt to keep one on her even when you are around. We still aren’t sure if this guy is still affiliated with the Devil’s Order, possibly a nomad, or if he’s got himself a new boss. Until we know for sure, everyone, watch your backs. Everyone rides in pairs. We clear?” There’s a ruckus of “yes sir” and “Got you, Pres” at Gabe’s command.

My stomach turns. My chest feels tight. Flashes of photos the cops showed me of Emily’s body. Everything she went through the night she died. My blood runs cold. The emotions of that night all come back to the surface.

I’ve got to get out of here.

“Hawk, Xander, find out who this son of a bitch is.”

“On it, Pres.”

“You got it.”

Hawk must sense my impending meltdown because he’s quick to get Gabe’s attention.

“Pres.”

I hear Gabe calling my name. Know he’s talking to me, but I can’t respond. Trapped in my nightmares. The anguish. The tears. The feeling of failing Emily and my mother. The fierce hatred for Skyler for leaving me to face it all alone.

“Ethan!” He shouts, dragging me from my mental hell.

“Yeah.”

“You good?”

“Just need some air.” Understanding and a sadness that mirrors my own stare back at me. Gabe tells us all to take a ten-minute break slamming the gavel down and I run like the devil himself is on my ass and get the hell out of there.

13

SKYLER

I don’t want to be here. As a matter of fact, I told Cash I needed to get to the Pearl to rehearse a new set the me and the girls have been wanting to work on for this weekend. I’ve been out of sorts since leaving Ethan standing there with his pants still undone, as he watched me run out on him last night.

I was so convinced if I let myself have him one time, I could heal the hurt in my heart and finally let him go.

I am such a fool.

I cried myself to sleep. Hating myself for giving into my need for him. I know better than to let my weaknesses get the better of me. I’ve fought off the need for him every single time I watched him fight. I wanted to go to him, tell him everything and make shit right between us. But I never did it.

He never even knew I was there.

Like last night. I was right there with him, and he had no clue. To him, I was Scarlet, his fantasy girl come true. The fuck of a lifetime.It was for me at least.It was probably one of many to him.

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