Page 40 of Pushing Styxx
“I’m right here,mo chathú,” I tell her, not breaking eye contact. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got you.”
Behind Ronald, I notice movement. Reaperand two others have circled, using Ronald’s fixation on me as a distraction.
Good.
We need all the advantages we can get.
“That’s never gonna happen,” I growl, taking a step forward, my gun still trained on him. “You and your buddy are not getting out of this. There’s no way out of this park except through us.”
Ronald’s eyes dart around frantically, like a cornered animal. “Then she dies,” he screams, pressing the knife harder against Hope’s throat.
I see Hope’s eyes widen in pain, but then something changes in her expression. She catches my gaze and gives me the slightest nod. Before I can process what she’s about to do, she slams her elbow back into Ronald’s gut with all her strength.
The knife slips, cutting her shoulder instead of her throat as she twists away. I don’t hesitate. The moment I have a clear shot, I pull the trigger.
The bullet hits Ronald in the shoulder, spinning him around. Hope stumbles forward, and I rush to catch her before she falls.
“Motherfucker,” Ronald shouts, stumbling.
I’m not worried about him right now. My focus is on my woman and making sure she’s okay. “Mo chathú, you’re okay. I’ve got you.”
Hope nods and shoves her face into my chest.
“I need you to get in the truck and wait for me. Can you do that?” I ask. I don’t want to leave her, but I need to finish this.
Again, Hope nods.
“Thank you, baby.” I press a kiss to the top of her head and lead her to the truck. I open the door, scoop her up, and plant her in the seat, grabbing a towel from the back. “Press this to your neck and shoulder.”
I didn’t like to see the fresh blood leaking from her, but I knew the cuts weren’t bad. We’d be able to fix her up at the clubhouse. Stella would at least.
Closing the door, I turn my attention back to my brothers, who had both Ronald and Atkins contained.
I stalk back toward the two men, rage still coursing through my system like fire. Both are on their knees now, my brothers keeping their guns trained on them. The Atkins guy is shaking,his face pale as he stares at the ground. But Ronald—that piece of shit is glaring at me, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
“You’re dead,” Atkins says, speaking up for the first time. “All of you. You have no clue who you’re dealing with.”
“You think we haven’t looked into you after you showed at Keeper’s Temptation with this fuckwad?” I snarl, looking him dead in the eye. “We know who your boss is. You’re no more than a lowlife to him. He won’t give a shit if you die.”
“We should get these two back to the clubhouse, deal with them there,” Reaper grunts.
I nod, knowing he’s right. Their bodies will be dealt with there. Right where the girls ride their racing bikes.
“You can’t kill me. People will be looking,” Ronald sputters.
“We can and will,” Reaper snarls, kicking Ronald in the back, sending him to the ground. “You fucked with the wrong family.”
“Pratt won’t like this,” Atkins shouts. “He will come after both girls.”
“He won’t do shit when he can’t find either of you,” Scythe sneers.
I chuckle darkly, stepping closer to Atkins, getting right in his face. “Pratt? That supposed to scare me? Let me tell you something about your boss. He’s smart enough to know when to cut his losses. Unlike you two dumb fucks.”
I look back at Hope in my truck, still pressing the towel to her neck. My heart clenches at the sight of her blood, fueling the rage inside me. I turn back to Ronald, who’s still on the ground where Reaper put him.
“You put a knife to my woman’s throat,” I say, my voice deadly calm. “You threatened my family. There’s no coming back from that.”
I squat down and grab dear old Ron by the throat. “You’re a sick fuck. Going for little boys to get your fix. Using your own fuckin’ nieces to get what you want. Do you have a clue as towhat we do to men like you? What we do to those who hurtthe women in my club? What I do to protect what’s mine?”
