Page 54 of Wicked Oath
I start to walk away when Zach says a simple word. “No.”
I turn back to him. “What did you just say?”
Zach steps forward. “Jacob can’t beat you in a fight. But I’m sure all of us can.” I look around at my group of men. Over twenty in total. My heart begins to beat faster, but I keep my face composed. “Now,” Zach continues. “Do you want to risk getting taken down, or do you want to go through with your original plan?”
“Are you threatening me?” I hiss.
“I suggest a deal. We take down one more of Donovan’s shipments. The biggest one yet. If we do that, we won’t bother you any longer about this. Hell, we’ll even forgive you for Finian’s death. If you don’t go through with this,I’mcoming for your spot as leader.”
I stare Zach down. A skinny, tall guy. Not much of an intimidating man, looks-wise, but he’s always been too smart for his own fucking good.
My men are mutinying.
This is definitely not fucking good.
I whip out my gun and point it at Zach. “Or I could just kill you right now.”
Zach shrugs despite the slight flicker of fear in his eyes. “Then that’s just one more of your men you killed by choosing your wife over us. Because that’s why you’re backing out now, isn’t it? Because you care for your wife, and you don’t want her to get hurt.”
“Don’t talk about my wife.”
“Hey, I was here the night you almost got your ass kicked. I saw her run after you into the locker rooms. She clearly cares for you. Might even love you. The question is—do you feel the same?”
I fire a bullet into the ground by Zach’s feet. A few men jerk back, but Zach stays still. “The next time you speak, I won’t miss.”
“Think about what I’m saying,” Zach continues. “Just one more hit, and we can be done. Can you do that for us? As your men, you owe us that at least.”
“I have been nothing but a good leader to all of you the past four years, and you all fucking know it. So when I say to follow my lead, I expect you to follow. My. Fucking. Lead.”
Jacob stands next to Zach and shakes his head. “I’m with Zach on this one. As a good leader who promised us money, we expect you to deliver on that money.”
I wave my gun at the rest of my men. “Are you all in agreement?”
Many of them pause, but a few nod, and then a couple more nod until finally, they’re all saying yes.
I growl and lower my gun. “Seriously? You’re all that fucking greedy?”
“Hey,” Zach says, “You’re the one who was full of greed. You want to hurt Donovan because he hurt your daddy.”
“That’s not greed. It was always about justice for me.”
Jacob snorts. “Keep telling yourself that, boss. But we all know you love power and just wanted more for yourself. But now that you’ve got a hot little body to keep you warm at night, you’re changing your mind. How pathetic is that? Pussy whipped.”
I stalk over to him and pistol-whip him in the head. Jacob slumps to the ground, and a few men look at him with concern. I shrug. “He’ll be all right. I just find him fucking annoying.” I turn to Zach. “If we do this last job, then that’s it. We go back to our normal business. No more interfering with Donovan.”
Zach nods once. “Deal.” He holds out his hand.
I shake it. Then I shoot him in the leg. Zach cries out as he falls to the ground and clutches his bleeding thigh.
“What the fuck?” Zach hisses as one of my guys kneels beside him and ties his leg to stop the bleeding.
“Did you really think you wouldn’t face the consequences? I’ve agreed to do one more job. But don’t think any of you get off scot-free for trying to mutiny against me. I’m still your boss. Remember that. Fucking respect that.”
Then I turn and walk away, smiling as I hear Zach crying behind me.
* * *
Once I get home,realizing what I agreed to hits me hard. After Olivia and I shared that moment in the locker room, I knew I had to give up my need for justice and let go of my hatred for Patrick if I wanted to keep her in my life.
