Page 55 of Klutch's Kryptonite

“Hold up,” Undertaker says. He walks over to a long cart and slides what looks like a piece of cardboard the size of a body from the rack.

“What’s that for?” I ask. I usually don’t stick around for this part. My job is to get information by whatever means are necessary. Cleaning up the bodies… not my job.

“To put the bodies on.” He carries the cardboard over to the metal furnace table and lays it down. “There.”

Yukon and Beast waste no time tossing Frankie and Johnny’s body onto the cardboard covered slab.

“Huh. You learn something new every day.”

Yukon nods in agreement. “Knowledge is power.”

Undertaker rolls the slab into the furnace and closes the door. With a flip of a switch the incinerator roars to life, flames licking at the inside walls. It takes hours for a body to burn completely, but when it’s done, there’s nothing left but ash.

As we watch the bodies go up in flames, I can’t help but think about Demi.

“You good, brother?” Yukon asks.

I nod, my mind is already racing ahead. The club will handle the Renegades, but I’ve got other priorities now. Demi needs me. She’s grieving, hurt, and probably scared out of her mind after what happened today.

And if the Renegades are as pissed as Johnny claimed, she might be a target. I need to keep her safe, no matter what.

“Let’s finish up here,” I say. “I need to get back to the clubhouse.”

Back to my woman.

She’s my priority now.

My kryptonite.

Chapter Sixteen

Demi

My world feels like it’s been shattered into a million pieces. Another sob tears from my chest as I struggle to catch my breath. “H-he-he’s gone.” The words come out stuttered and broken even to my own ears.

“I know, sweetie.” McKenna’s arms tighten around me, but her warmth does nothing to chase away the cold reality.

My dad is dead—gone. Frankie killed him.

I press my face harder against her shoulder, fists clenching at the fabric of her shirt. “Oh God, it hurts so bad.” Like someone has hollowed out my chest with a rusty spoon.

“Shh, it’s okay,” Kenny whispers into my hair, but her voice breaks on the last word. “I hope Klutch kills those bastards. I hope he makes them suffer.”

The fact that he’s probably doing exactly that makes me cry. Guilt crashes over me in waves. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have?—”

“Don’t you dare,” Kenny cuts me off, pulling back to look me in the eyes. Her face is fierce despite the dark purple bruise ather temple. “Those fuckers are getting what they deserve. They were going to rape us, Demi!”

The raw pain in her voice makes me pause. McKenna’s eyes shine with unshed tears, her bottom lip trembling. It hits me then that she’s barely holding it together. She nearly got assaulted too. Because of me. Because I dragged her into this mess.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her this time. “Kenny, I’m so sorry.”

“Stop apologizing,” she snaps, eyes narrowed. “It’s not your fault your dad got mixed up with those pigs.”

It was my fault. I was the one complaining about Rookie following me around everywhere. If we hadn't given him the slip, we would have finished our food under the watchful eye of the man Klutch trusted to protect me. We would have been safe.

Shifting on the gurney, I try to find a more comfortable position, and wince as pain shoots through my ribs. Every breath hurts, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

My mind is racing with a million questions that need answers. Why did Frankie kill my dad? What was he doing back at the apartment if my dad was already dead? Where is Klutch? What is he doing right now? Klutch… The look on his face when he saw me on the floor flashes through my mind. His eyes were cold—detached. And the way he brutally attacked Frankie and Johnny. It was like watching a stranger take over, someone dangerous and lethal.

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