“But I want to stay with you!” Gracie was crying. “Trigger had blood on his shirt, and Jack wasn’t running his mouth. Something’s wrong with them both.”
Hawk leaned in closer to her and lowered his voice. “Trigger has Uncle Chaz’s blood on him. He got shot in the gut. Uncle Jack isn’t running his mouth because there are about fifteen cops milling around here. Please, baby. Go back with Spider so I can concentrate on this shit right now and not have to worry about you.”
“Then I need to be here. Bates is trying to question everyone, and I need to make sure that you’re not arrested!”
“Jenkins will be here soon.”
“I want to stay with you,” she sobbed. “What if they come back? What if—?”
He shut her up with a quick, hard kiss. “Go, Gracie. Don’t do this to me now.”
Rory was oddly subdued as I fastened her seat belt and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I vowed. “Flick can clean up your face. Listen to Spider and Jet, and don’t leave the clubhouse unless they say otherwise.”
She nodded as she finally turned her eyes on me. There was fear in those green depths, but I saw the flash of fire. “Kill them all, Matt,” she whispered.
I kissed her lips then stepped back, not promising her with words, but my eyes said everything she needed to know. With a firm nod, she turned her gaze to the back of the seat where Willa was already safely strapped in. Spider gunned the engine, and I watched as they left, before going back inside to see if I could help.
The paramedics arrived, and Uncle Chaz was loaded up immediately. Trigger rode with him, but we all had a sick feeling in our stomachs. Gut wounds were dangerous. We could end up losing him tonight.
Lexa was bundled up into the back of another ambulance, and while Raven watched them work on her, everyone moved to flank Bash. We all stood there, waiting, ready to jump into action the minute he gave the order.
“Hawk, have Dutch bring Boomer to us. I can’t leave my family right now, but that fucker is still going to get what’s coming to him,” Bash ordered. “When you’re done with that, tell Jet to contact Vitucci and let him know about this latest attempt to take us out. Warn them that Enzo is still focused on us, but that idiot can’t focus on shit for more than two seconds. He could be going to hit Dante or Ciro next.”
“On it.”
“Matt.” I stood up a little straighter, ready to fulfill any command my cousin gave me. “Colt isn’t answering his phone. Take two men and go bring his ass back here.”
“Are you sure?” I muttered low enough so that only those closest to us could hear. “What if…?” I didn’t finish, but he knew what I was asking.
What if he hadn’t gotten it out of Kelli yet?
What if he was still in the process of getting it out of her?
What if I had to bring that bitch back too?
“Do what you have to do,” he instructed. “Follow Colt’s lead on that for the most part, but do what your gut tells you to do where that bitch is concerned.”
“What about Enzo?” Uncle Jack asked in his emotionless voice that was low and controlled.
“Bates showing up gave him enough of a head start that he’s probably back at Santino’s by now. But as soon as we are all under the same roof again, we will make a plan to deal with them all, Uncle Jack. I’m not willing to make a mistake with this motherfucker, but we can’t wait any longer to take care of this.”
The old man nodded his head. “Good. Good.” He turned his eyes on Hawk. “You take care of my grandbaby, boy.”
The command caught us all off guard. He knew Hawk would take care of Gracie, so what the fuck was he talking about?
Then the old man dropped to his knees, holding his chest. “Promise me,” he choked out as I moved to grab him and turn him onto his back.
“We need a medic over here!” Bash bellowed, catching everyone’s attention.
The EMT who was about to close the doors on Lexa and Raven rushed over, but when he started to check Uncle Jack over, the old man pushed the guy away. “Get the fuck off. I don’t need you, dumbass.” His desperate eyes went back to Hawk. “Promise me!” he whispered fiercely with the last of his strength.
Hawk fell to his knees beside him, his eyes glazed with emotion that was choking us all up now. Uncle Jack, like all th
e uncles, was a father to all of us. He had taken over attempting to keep Tanner’s and my noses clean when our own father passed away. “I promise.”
“Tell ’er… I love…’er…” he muttered weakly as he sucked in one last gasping breath.
“Uncle Jack.” Hawk tapped the old man’s cheek. “Open your fucking eyes, old man. You can tell her yourself. Don’t you fucking die.”