Page 250 of Misrule
Of all the people she expected to see, Creighton and Duke would’ve been the last two she’d guessed. Her son had gotten taller since the last time she’d seen him. But seeing her boy with two of the vilest men she’d ever known sent tears to her eyes. Being with them meant he was against her.
“I have a fine son,” Creighton announced, smiling.
At one time, she thought he’d been so handsome when he strolled into the office where she’d worked part-time as a receptionist. Within weeks of meeting, he’d proposed to her. A year later they’d married, and ten months after that Duke was born.
“Pity you’re his mother,” Creighton finished, glaring at her. Coming closer, he slapped her across the face.
For a moment, Roxy thought she saw anger flash across Duke’s face, but it must’ve been a trick of her wooziness and pain.
“What kind of a stupid bitch are you?” Creighton demanded. “Leavingevidenceof my dealings in your house where your low-class, miserable daughters could find them and tell my son.” He straightened to his full height, then sidled a glare at Duke. “Who then took it upon himself to confront me?”
“You tried to have MeMe killed, Dad!” Duke said. “That’s why I confronted you.”
Unable to talk, Roxy grunted through her gag, shocked at the news.
“There were two bikers who saved her. Mortician and another dude,” Duke said.
“And made two of my men disappear,” Creighton said. He walked to Duke and turned so they faced each other. The same type of blow he gave to Roxy, he hit Duke with.
Roxy kicked her legs, trying to get words out, while Duke grabbed his jaw.
“Because of you, I’ve been living a nervous existence for months,” Creighton continued, pacing in front of Roxanne. “So Amfinger and I devised a little plan. Frame Knox Harrington. Humiliate him. Maybe, find a few bogus charges to add in if I found the right prosecutor. His life ruined. Your life ruined. Yet knowing you still had information that could destroy me didn’t sit right. I realized I had to neutralize the threat. Get rid of you, and that old biddy you call a mother wouldn’t last long after your death. Or, if she lingered for more than a week or two, take care of her as well. I have special plans for Alexia and Carissa. Bailey, though, will present a problem because of her husband.”
Through her haze, Roxy thought she heard the rumble of motorcycles. Again, it must’ve been merely her imagination. The guys couldn’t rescue her because they wouldn’t be able to find her. Her purse with the tracking device and her phone with the tracking app were gone.
Blearily, she watched Joyner hand Creighton a gun. He aimed it at her head.
“Dad!” Duke cried, situating himself in front of Roxy. “I can’t allow you to kill my mama. I’ve done everything you told me to do! Let her live for me.”
A moment of silence before the report of a gun. Duke crumpled to the floor.
Tears rushing to her eyes, Roxy screamed, the sound muted because of the material in her mouth.
Creighton raised the gun again. Before he fired, the door was kicked in. Outlaw shot the gun out of Creighton’s hand, while Mortician fired on Joyner, blowing one side of his face away.
Val, Johnnie, and Digger parted ways to allow Knox to rush through. He slid to a halt at first glance of her, the hand holding the gun slackening at his side. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. She felt bloody, beaten, and swollen. If she saw herself, she’d probably stare like that, too.
“Roxy, baby,” Knox cried, “who did this to you?”
“Duke, you little motherfucker,” Mortician yelled.
Knox pulled the gag from Roxy’s mouth.
“Don’t hurt him,” she screamed. “Creighton shot him. Duke was trying to protect me!”
“Protect you from being shot?” Knox asked in a strangely calm voice.
“Yes!”
He stared at her, then focused on Creighton. “You were going to kill her?”
“Not going to,” Creighton snarled. “Iwill. I’m going to dance in her blood.”
“No, the fuck you not, son,” Mortician growled, going for his gun again.
Knox still held the weapon. Before Mortician drew, Knox aimed at Creighton’s head and opened fire.
He stood still and silent for a long moment, then clenched his jaw, shoved the gun into his waistband, and rushed to Roxy. Once he freed her, he lifted her into his arms and carried her away. Still not speaking a word.
