Absolution (Road Kings MC And Underworlds 1)

Pulling his phone out, Hunter looked at it and shook his head. “He hasn’t said anything, but I’ll call him and make sure after I take Lena upstairs. She should probably see a doctor because she was knocked out, but I don’t trust anyone to look at her. Yet.”

“I’ve got a man who’ll come,” I told him, getting to my feet. “Contact Bruce while we take her upstairs to your sister and Walker, and once the bodies are out of here, I’ll get him to check her over.”

I didn’t know what state I’d find Nell in, but I needed to see her and make sure she was okay before I went to get Hendrix back.

And I’d be bringing him back alive. There were no doubts in my mind about that.

They’d caught us off guard today, but they forgot one key point: a better soldier fights when he has the motivation to kill without regret.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Nell

I felt numb as I sat in the panic room with Lena and Walker.

I didn’t know if Hendrix was okay, or even where he was, but I knew he’d be hungry.

A multitude of awful possibilities about what they could be doing with him hit me, breaking down the strength I’d scraped together.

I’d spent so long feeling out of control after they were born, then it’d moved to insecurity over whether I was doing the right thing for them both. I wish I’d taken time just to appreciate being able to hold them, watch them sleep… hear them breathing. Just to enjoy them.

“I’m so sorry,” Lena whispered for the hundredth time. “I was holding him, and the next thing, I was waking up with Jaeger standing there.”

“It’s not your fault. Even if I was the one holding Hendrix, I couldn’t change what’s happened,” I broke off, doing my best to swallow back the sob stuck in my throat. “Taras and our families will get Hendrix back, and we’ll all be okay.”

Burying her face in her hands, Lena’s body bucked with the sob she couldn’t hold back. She had to be in pain after what she’d been through, but she’d told them no when they’d offered her a doctor earlier.

She was punishing herself with pain, and when I looked down at the scratches from where I’d dug my nails into my wrist, I could understand it. The pain helped keep me grounded, and reminded me to keep my mind on what was happening, instead of giving in to the tears that wouldn’t fix anything.

I needed to feel it to breathe.

Another thing that kept me from going over, was the knowledge that Taras and our families would inflict pain on whoever did this.

The small amount I was feeling right now paled in comparison to what they’d go through. I didn’t envy the stain on the men's souls from doing it, but I’d be lying if I said I felt sorry for the ones who’d experience it.

It was ironic. My dad and Hunter had kept me out of the Club life for so long, but in the relatively short time I’d been part of it, I’d realized I had it in my blood.

They’d kept their Club names as far away from me as possible, too, hoping it wouldn’t make me into what I was naturally—a Road King, who was part of the Bratva underworld now.

And I had something I needed to do before it was too late. The Azarovs were involved in this somehow, and while Taras got Hendrix, I was going to make sure they experienced some of the hell I was feeling.

This was what I’d been training for without realizing it, and it’d get rid of another threat to my family.

Taking in a deep breath, I got to my feet and walked over to Lena, holding Walker out for her.

“I need you to take him and give me your gun, Lena.” The words sounded toneless and void of any emotions, and were a total contrast to the riot of them going on inside my brain.

Her whole body jerked at the sound of my voice, but then the words registered. “What?”

“Take him and give me your gun. I want to make sure I have enough bullets.”

Not asking me any more questions, she held the gun out, and then took Walker from me.

With one final kiss to the top of his sleeping head, I looked at my best friend and nodded once. “I’ll be back. There’s formula in the can over there, so he’ll be okay if he wakes up.”

And then I stood in front of the scanner and punched in the code to open the door.

Chapter Thirty

Taras

The difference between Bruce, who was a father and the president of the MC, and Blade, who was the President of the MC, was like night and day. One man did his work and had a family. The other one drew blood for his family and Club, with no mercy.