Page 102 of Brandishing Beginnings

“Yeah.” I agreed.

“Let’s go face the music,” Nico said, sighing softly.

I could only nod, as I slowly dismounted from my bike.

As we walked into the kitchen, we were greeted with the tell-tale sound of someone throwing up in the hallway bathroom. “Shit,” Jason swore, then headed quickly in that direction.

I looked around the kitchen space, seeing Maya’s medical bag open on the counter. Next to it, was an empty saline IV bag—like she’d used it. My eyebrows furrowed together as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. Why would she need a saline bag?

My muddled thoughts couldn’t keep up, as there was a banging on the front door. “Police! Open up!” a male voice shouted.

“Fuck,” Nico said.

I barely had time to look over at the door, before Nico was opening it to show two uniformed officers standing there. “NicolaiGage,” one of the officers spoke up, his voice deep. “We have a warrant for your arrest.”

Maya and Jason choose that moment to walk out of the hallway bathroom and into the living room. Her face was pale and she was dressed in blue hospital scrubs. She cried out, reaching for Nico as the uniformed officer roughly turned him around and cuffed him on the front porch.

Jason had to wrap his arms around Maya as she tried to run to Nico. He held her back, picking her up off the ground as she began kicking and screaming Nico’s name.

Nico’s face was solemn as he watched Jason drag Maya away, before the officers cuffed him and dragged him out of the house.

I stood frozen, watching as my life descended into chaos around me.

I had fucked up.

Maya

Marcos:

He was framed. Hillcrest planted evidence.

Anotherfuckingtextmessagefrom Marcos. Another morning alone after everything went to complete and utter hell. I stared around the empty living room, after rereading the text from Marcos for the hundredth time. Him and Jason had left immediately after Nico had been arrested.

They promised to call, to keep me updated, to come fucking home as soon as they could.

They hadn’t though. Three hours later andall I had gotten was a text.

A fucking text that Dax Hillcrest had planted evidence to frame Nico. Just days after Hillcrest had shot both Marcos and Jason. After he sent his whore of a girlfriend into my men’s clubhouse to make a point.

He was fucking everywhere. He could and would do anything to get to us.

Get to me.

I wasn’t safe. My boys weren’t safe as long as I was here. For whatever reason, Dax had it out for me. It had to be more than just witnessing him murder the mayor. He was growing obsessive in his pursuits.

I couldn’t stay here. I had to leave.

Decision made, I headed upstairs and quickly pulled out my suitcases. I would pack as much as I could, as fast as I could. It wasn’t the first time I had to move quickly. I learned a couple tricks after moving out of my parents’ house two years ago. I could do this just as quickly on my own.

Jason

I groaned as Nico climbed off the back of my bike, finally able to stretch out. It was hard riding with a dude behind me. But Iwas grateful to have my brother back. Our lawyer had worked his magic and at least gotten Nico out on bond for the time being. He wouldn’t be able to go far, but he was home.

Maya would be happy about that.

“Fucking hell,” Nico groaned. “You couldn’t have gotten a fucking car to pick me up in? Could have taken Maya’s car.”

“She’s at work,” Marcos grunted.

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