Chapter Thirty
Leaving my security team to clean up the aftermath, the brothers and I were on our bikes and heading to the clubhouse within seconds of me reading Kev’s text.
There was no time to even call him back.
I knew we just needed to get there and get there fast.
As I pulled into the compound, my brothers at my back, I took in the scene. There was a body on the ground close to my truck, it wasn’t moving and the blood that stained the ground around him was obvious. Hadley was sitting against the tire of the truck, holding her head in her hands as Kev crouched next to her. I pulled up my bike, kicking out the stand and throwing my body off as I rushed to her side.
“Baby,” I whispered, skidding to my knees in front of her and pulled her hands into mine as I fought to get her hazy eyes to concentrate on me.
“She passed out,” Kev told me, pushing to his feet. “Other than that, we’re okay.”
“You need to go find Meyah,” Hadley hummed. “Told her to run and hide.”
I flicked my head to where my brothers crowded behind me, my eyes searched until I found Ham, the only other person I knew would find Meyah and keep her calm while I dealt with my woman. “Ham, get Meyah, she’s hiding in the clubhouse somewhere,” I snapped.
He didn’t waste a second, rushing to the doorway, his voice calling out desperately for my niece.
“Leo, I’m okay. Go to Meyah,” Hadley protested as I took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
I spotted Blizzard out of the corner of my eye, pulling what looked like a body from the bushes next to the open gates. “It’s Neil!” he called out and more of my brothers rushed to help him. “He’s breathing, a gash to the head.”
“Where are the girls and the kids?” Op asked, clear tension in his features.
“Chelsea and Rose took the girls to Blizzard’s place,” Kev answered.
“Good. Camo, get this body inside before someone shows up,” Optimus ordered as he stomped toward us. “Let’s get inside and you two can tell us what the fuck happened.”
I hefted Hadley into my arms, carrying her bridal style into the clubhouse and laying her down on the nearest sofa.
“I’m fine, just a little dizzy,” she told me, patting my hand in comfort.
Soft sobs drew our attention and we both looked over to see Ham carrying Meyah down the stairs, her legs and arms wrapped around him like a monkey as he whispered softly in her ear.
“Meyah.” Her body went stiff at the sound of my voice and she fought to get loose. When Ham finally placed her on her feet, my brothers stepped away as she ran at me, throwing her body against mine and sobbing into my chest.
“It’s all right, girl. Nothing’s going to hurt you,” I soothed softly, holding her tightly and rubbing a hand up and down her back.
Kev started to explain what went down, Allen showing up waving a gun around and demanding he needed money to pay his debts. Then how Hadley had stood in front of Meyah and refused to let him take her while she slipped Kev’s gun from his back.
Meyah shook in my arms and anger filled my veins.
“Mother-fucker!” Blizzard cursed, throwing his fist at the wall in rage. “I should have put this asshole down. I knew he was dirty.”
Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder as he heaved, trying to control his breath.
His eyes met mine. “I’m sorry, brother. This should have never been put on Hadley or Meyah.”
“Blizzard, it’s fine,” Hadley said, forcing herself into a sitting position. “It’s not your fault.”
He didn’t reply, his eyes continuing to burn into mine, full of apologies and regret.
“What’s done is done,” I answered simply, no malice toward my brother.
Hadley was right, this wasn’t his fault. Desperation makes men do crazy things, and Allen clearly was in a place that he knew he couldn’t escape. He took a risk, and it ended his life. No one was hurt, thankfully.
But Meyah was distraught, clearly frightened by her experience and I didn’t blame her.