Page 92 of Ethan's Sky

My gut sinks.I told her those very words.

“If that dope dealing bastard Chase hadn’t found a way into our lives, things would be very different for her, but he did. She was forever changed that night. A child should never have to face such things. He took what innocence she had left,” he growls. “At least I have the satisfaction of knowing he’ll never get to her again. He took a life from her, one she dreamed about, she so desperately wanted to have. It broke something in her to let it all go. To leave everyone behind. Don’t let them take anything else from her. I hope someday she’ll realize she wasn’t at fault and forgive herself. My greatest dream is for her to allow herself to feel loved and be happy.”

“A man named Spider came to me a while back wanting me to run an unmarked load for his boss. Didn’t tell me who he was working for. Offered to pay me cash under the table. I didn’t know what the cargo was, I didn’t ask. I turned him down and kept walking.”

“He has a Devil’s Tattoo on his forearm. I know what happened all those years ago with Maggie and that precious baby. I remember how angry Elizabeth was when Ghost came home with his leg all mangled up after arun,he made for the club the same night Maggie was killed. I also remember Caleb going to jail the very same night, for a confrontation that went bad. So, I hope you’ll understand why I didn’t come to y’all about this.”

George plays with the button on the cuff of his flannel shirt. When he looks up at the camera again, he says, “I couldn’t have you going off to war when it would leave my baby girl unprotected. She can’t lose you.Any of you.You’re all the family she’s going to have left on this Earth. You can’t be stupid and go looking for trouble until you have all the facts…and people who will have your backs. It’s why I called Vincenzo and made a deal with him. He’s sworn to protect Skyler with whatever resources he has. Which means you now his resources at your disposal. In return, I had to do something for him. I weighed the cost. I understand the ramifications of my choices. But Skyler is worth whatever happens to me. I know she won’t believe it, but I know what I’m doing. What I’m walking into.

“The Spider kid, he came back to the harbor where I was set to pick up a load for West. He had a video of Skyler walking out of Eli’s repair shop. Then another of her coming out of the Bare Trap. And another of her pulling out of Eli’s clubhouse.” He growls. His breathing is ragged. George is struggling with his emotions. Everything he’s feeling is written all over his face.

“He was having her followed. That’s why I moved her into Vincenzo’s apartment building. Hopefully, we’ll have talked about all of this before anything bad happens to me, and Sky will already be acclimating to being back in Oak Ridge and being accepted back by y’all.”

Shots fired!

I feel sick to my stomach with how shitty I’ve treated Skyler. Since the moment she showed up at the clubhouse, I’ve been a colossal dick to her. Trying to convince her she has nothing here. No family. No friends. Pushing her to leave. Calling her a whore. Blaming her for her father’s death.

“This Devil asshole found her. Knew who she was to me. Threatened to kidnap her. He described how he would drug her, rape her, and then turn her into a strung-out money-making whore for their club if I didn’t do this haul for him.” He speaks through clenched teeth. “I can’t let that happen. I won’t.”

He’s silent for a few minutes before speaking again. His eyes are red rimmed, glassy. George is one of the strongest men I know, and he’s breaking down in front of my eyes on the screen.

“I need you to know I didn’t betray the Kings. I am protecting my daughter. Gabe you promised me you would watch out for her and keep the Devil’s from ever finding out what she did. Whatwedid. I don’t know if they know, or if they’re using her to force me to do the drop off. They’ve threatened me into doing this one run and have promised if I continue to work for them, they’ll leave Skyler alone. They’ll hold her for safe keeping.Motherfuckers.”

“She knows what she’s supposed to do. We’ve gone over the Skyfall protocol enough times, she’ll be ready. She’ll do what she has to survive. But you know her heart. How she feels about bringing trouble to the Kings, especially now Ethan is a patched member. She’d do anything to keepher boyfrom losing anymore of his family. Stubborn child. Just like her mother. Always putting others before her own safety and well-being. But you were her family first. Ghost, you understand what I’m saying.”

“If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black.” Ghost sys under his breath. “Goddamn fool.”

George’s words hit me like a punch to the chest. “Especially now Ethan’s a patched member.”

Skyler knew I would be at the clubhouse when she came back. Xander said she had followed my fighting career.

Then it’s her words twisting my heart,“I never stopped.”

Glancing around the room, everyone’s eyes are on the George’s video except Cash and Hawk who are both glaring at me. Cash seems angry with me. Skyler probably told him everything about our conversation outside O’Malley’s.

I wouldn’t blame him for wanting to throttle me.Hell, I want to kick my own ass for the things I said to her.

Hawk, however, looks guilty.

What the hell?

“When you get this, tell Eli I appreciate him taking her in and watching over her all these years. I know I’ll never be able to repay him for all he’s done. Or you and your men either, Gabe. Skyler’s lucky to have all of you. I hope she can work past her pain and amends can be made so she can find her way back to the happy life she once dreamed of as a girl. Either way, I need you to keep your promise to me. “

“There’s one more thing you need to know, Vincenzo is working with someone outside his organization to put an end to the sex trafficking ring, but the Devil’s aren’t the ones in charge. They’re working for someone else. Someone who has a farther reach.”

There’s frantic knocking on the door.

“Hawk. Pause.”

“Pres! Open up! We’ve got problems!” Declan opens the door, and no sooner as he steps in does Blake blurt out, “The Devils are at Magpie’s and so are Jayde and Skyler! Austin needs back-up. Now!”

“Let’s go!”

We all file out to our bikes and hit the road.

Minutes later, we pull up to the front of Magpie’s. Patsy and Misty are fussing over Austin who appears to have been beaten and stabbed.

“It doesn’t look to be too bad, but he should get checked out,” Patsy says through her tears. Misty is holding onto Austin’s hand, tears streaming down her face. Frank comes through the swinging door from the kitchen and nods his head at Gabe.

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