“WE GO IN. Get it done. And leave. No small talk. Don’t make eye contact with anyone but him,” I told Dale once we arrived at the back of the jail. Tyler was still in the infirmary but we had been advised he would be brought out into the mess hall while Dale did what he had to do. This wasn’t the usual way we handled things. But when a fucker like Tyler messed with one of our own, we took them out. Dale took out Zane Birtch for Coby and Brogan. Now he would take out Tyler for his woman.
Thanks to Brogan’s step brother, Greyson hooked us up from the inside. He had one of his boys who was currently behind bars pull some strings. Because of who Greyson was, they did everything they could to get recognized by him. Members of puppet clubs from all over the state would suck his dick if he let them.
“Something’s wrong,” Henley mumbled to Lian.
“You always think something’s wrong,” Lian threw back at him.
“Nah, man, this shit isn’t right.” Henley gave himself a shake. “Fuck. I need to get laid.”
“How can you think about pussy at a time like this?” Lian smacked his arm.
“I always think about pussy.” Henley glared at his best friend. “Especially one who’s warming the bed we left her in.”
“You guys good?” I barked, not needing their distraction.
“Yeah,” they grumbled in unison.
“Dale.” I turned back to our brother and cupped his nape, leaning my forehead against his. “I know you’ve been through shit but remember why we’re here.”
“I know,” he said, his voice calm and even.
That made me nervous. “Are you good?” I asked him, giving his neck a squeeze.
“Yup.” He pulled away. Leaning his head from side to side, a slight crack reverberated into the open air.
“Say it again,” I demanded.
“Go in and get out.” His eyes narrowed. “I have a woman to go home to now. We all do. We need to be safe and quick.”
“Yes.” I glanced at both Henley and Lian. “You got our backs, right?”
They looked at each other before turning back to us.
“You bet your fucking ass we do.” Lian shook his arms out. “I’ve been itching for a good fight.”
Henley pointed at him. “Careful. This fucker loves a good rumble. He gets off on this shit.”
Lian only grinned.
Little did they know that so did I. I always loved a good fight. I enjoyed feeling the bones break beneath my touch.
“Let’s all come out alive,” I told them. “I don’t want to die before my shit with Creena is just starting to get good.”
“So fucking true, my man.” Henley hopped from foot to foot, leaning his head from side to side. “I’m ready.”
My gaze flicked to the black SUV sitting in the parking lot. Knowing Coby and Brogan were in it, along with Greyson and some guys from his club sitting around the building, I felt better. A little bit. Not enough, but it would have to do.
All of us knew this wouldn’t go over well in the biker community. No matter what Tyler did, there would be people attempting to avenge him.
I knuckle rapped the door. “You good?” I asked Dale.
He nodded once. “I have to avenge my girl.”
My heart jumped. Knowing how he felt, I only nodded back.
The guard who owed Greyson a favor let us in the back. We quickly made our way down a long dark hallway. The closer we got to the end, the louder the voices became. I hadn’t been in a jail in years. Only having visited a couple of times due to some old friends making poor choices and all, I had never actually been in on the inside.
“You got my back?” Dale asked, stepping in front of me.
“I do.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s just say, I know how you feel.”
He grunted. “That’s a story for another time I imagine.”
“Yes. Over a shit ton of alcohol too.”
“Sounds like a date,” he muttered.
Once we reached the end of the hall, a guard on the other side of the secured door unlocked it and pointed down another hall.
“The mess hall’s in there,” he told us. “Get in and get out. My ass is on the line and if you stay longer than allowed, you don’t know me.”
“Understood.” I held up my hand to Lian and Henley, stopping them from following us.
They stayed back, waiting and watching while Dale and I went ahead. Knowing this was something Dale had to do on his own, I let him step in front of me. I nodded once to the guard standing outside a double set of doors.
He opened them, revealing around thirty men who would make Satan himself weep with fear. Gang members, murderers, rapists, all in for different reasons but in this room for one sole purpose. To see Tyler get his. Most of them had no idea who the hell he was. Most didn’t care. They were in it for the fight. The blood. The scent of death permeating through the air as my brother took away from Tyler the very thing that touched his girlfriend. His soul.
Maxine was strong but not strong enough. She should have killed him when she had the chance but it wasn’t how she was wired. So, us being good guys and all would finish the job for her.
“Mmmm … fresh meat,” someone said, the underlining hint of lust slipping from his tongue.
Dale growled beside me.
“Leave it alone,” I told him. “We’re not here for them. They don’t give a shit about us. They want blood.”
“I shouldn’t be here,” Dale finally confessed.
“Little late for that now, brother,” I said, glancing back at Henley and Lian standing at the double set of doors.
“I know.” Dale blew out a slow breath, his mouth turning up into an evil grin.
I followed his gaze. Tyler sat in a wheelchair across the room, surrounded by several men. It looked like they were playing poker or some other card game. It could have been Go Fish for all I knew.
“Maybe I should let him finish his game first.” Dale rubbed his chin. “Nah.” He took a step toward the bastard who tried to take his girl from him. A man who had also destroyed a part of Jay. A man who, with the help of Tina Birtch and who the fuck knew who else, ruined so many young lives.
“Remember what he’s done. Use that. Let it fuel you,” I said low enough for only Dale to hear.
He nodded.
“Tyler, Tyler, Tyler,” he tsked, shaking his head while he walked up to the guy Max had put in a wheelchair. “Looking a little limp, I see. How are the legs?”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Tyler growled, placing his cards on the table in front of him. “Did you do something stupid enough to finally land your ass in jail?” His gaze flicked to mine. “Where you all belong.”
Dale laughed, pointing at him. “He’s a funny guy.” He turned back to Tyler. “Your ass should have been thrown in this place years ago. Let’s see—” Dale tapped his chin. “Probably since the first time you hit Jay. You’re lucky it was only your dick that was blown off.”
Laughter sounded throughout the room.
Tyler’s gaze hardened. “Fuck you.”
“No.” Dale rested his hands on the table, leaning toward Tyler. “Fuck. You.”
“How did your girl look after I beat her ass? I bet those purple bruises looked hot as fuck against her pale skin.” Tyler smirked, rubbing his jaw.
A hard growl left Dale, his shoulders pulled back taught and stiff. “How does it feel pissing into a bag? I bet a paid whore couldn’t even get you up.”
Tyler’s jaw clenched, his gaze flicking to somewhere over Dale’s shoulder.
While Dale was egging Tyler on, something out of the corner caught my eye. A smaller guy, maybe a buck fifty at the most, was shifty on his feet. His gaze kept moving back and forth, his hands rubbing his neck and pulling at his clothes. He was nervous and strung the fuck out. A couple other guys stepped up behind him and that was when I saw it. The scrawny fucker had a shiv and was heading right for Dale.
Before I could comprehend what I was doing, I was on him. With my fist cracking against his jaw, I brought my knee up and bounced his face off of it. All hell broke loose at that point. The guards yelled, demanding for us to get out of there but the inmates blocked the entrance to our freedom.
Lian and Henley came rushing in, fighting off anyone they could to help Dale and me get out of there.
Fists flew. Guys were shanked by handmade knives. But all I could focus on was getting us to safety
“It’s done,” Dale said, running up to me.
I glanced over at Tyler who was now sporting a nice slit across his throat. Blood poured from the gaping wound, the life finally leaving the bastard. Although Dale had avenged Max and every other person Tyler had hurt, it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.