Page 106 of Declan's Dove

Sadie is laughing, and grabbing Carter’s shoulder, she warns, “You better run and hide, Little Man. You just broke the cardinal rule. Never rat out your brothers.” She winks.

“Oh sh?—”

“Carter!”

“I’m just going to go play Pacman over there.” He takes off across the room, leaving me with and a still laughing Sadie.

“He’s a good kid. He’ll figure it out. The brothers will make sure of that,” she says, but there’s a sadness about her.

“Are you okay? You seem a little down,” I observe.

“Just tired. It’s been a long day. I still have some work to finish and some decisions to make.”

“Anything I can help with?” I offer.

“Wish you could, but this is something I have to do for myself,” she says. When I don’t respond, Sadie sighs, rubbing the back of her neck. “I’m thinking about leaving Oakridge for a little while. Get a change of scenery. Things are just … I don’t know.”

“I understand. Sometimes a change of scenery can be a good thing as long as you remember your way home from time to time.”

“When I find a place that feels like home, I will.” She turns, shoving her backpack higher on her shoulder and leaves out the door.

“What was that about?” Skyler asks as she and Avery sidle up beside me.

“Nothing. Sadie and I were just talking. How are you feeling? You look tired, babe.” Skyler laughs. “You know that’s just a nice way of saying I look like shit, right?”

I shove her shoulder. “You do not. I only meant you look like you should be sitting somewhere with your feet up and a good-looking man to rub them for you.”

“Oh, well, now you’re speaking my language. Where do I find me a good-looking man willing to rub my feet?”

“You rang.” Skyler turns to the voice and runs, or rather, waddles, to the sexy blond oozing charm and sex appeal, and hugs him. He lifts her off the ground and she squeals.

“Who is that?” I ask Avery.

“I think that’s Cash. He’s from the Mountain Heights chapter. I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard about him and seen pictures. He’s Skyler’s best friend and the bane to Ethan’s existence. Skyler’s words, not mine.”

“Oh, then this should be interesting.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Declan

“You good?” Pres asks Hawk. He’s been quietly observant since we all arrived. His usual laid back laugh-at-everything demeanor is all but gone. His shoulders are tense, his mouth pinched in a thin line. He looks like he’s ready to burst at any moment. Nothing like himself.

“I’m fine,” he answers. Hopefully, he can hold his shit together long enough to end this shit and we can all go get a few drinks in us and relax a little.

We head into the basement cell where Mack has not one, but two guests strung up from the ceiling. James Swanson is stripped to his underwear, his hands tied to the meat hook dangling from the ceiling. His shoulder is still bleeding, but not enough for my liking. His head hangs and his eyes are closed. Walking over to where he hangs, I dig my finger into the bullet hole and stretch the skin.

James screams, and it’s music to my fucking ears.

“Wakey, wakey, Sheriff,” I taunt.

“Fuck you. Fuck all of you. You have no idea who you’re fucking with.” He spits in my face.

Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out a handkerchief and wipe my face. Slowly, I remove my cut, draping it over the empty metal chair next to Mack, and shove the handkerchief back into my pocket. Eyeing the table of equipment Mack has laid out—the man loves his tormenting tools—I find a set of brass knuckles and slide them on. Flexing my fingers, checking the weight and feel of them against my hands.

“I think we’ll start old school, eh, Pres?”

Gabe nods. “He’s all yours, Dec. We’re just here for the show.” The others in the room chuckle. Everyone but Hawk.

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