“You really should listen, R.J. After all, I hold the ace.”
“What’s that?” I asked, just a little too cocky.
Max gestured behind me and I heard movement, turning around in time to see Cara’s shocked face as our eyes met. Fuck!
“Put down your weapons or she dies. The choice is yours.”
Obeying immediately, Valan and I set down our guns. I didn’t pay any attention to the men that yanked me to the set of chairs or the fists that punched my gut, strapping my body down. Several blows hit my face and head. I didn’t flinch. Didn’t do a goddamn thing but focus my gaze on the terrified look in Cara’s eyes.
“It’s okay,” I managed to say when I was finally left alone.
Her green eyes held tears, blinking them back as she tried to step forward and one of Max’s goons stopped her. “R.J.!”
Maxwell laughed as Devlin moved forward. He lifted his gun, pulling back the trigger.
The gun discharged.
Holding Cara’s gaze, I prepared to meet death and knew that this time, I wasn’t escaping my fate.
Edge
“YOU’RE BEING RELEASED.”
The RICO agent looked pissed as he opened the doors to our cells and Mack and I stepped out, wide grins on both of our faces.
“Isn’t that interesting?” I asked, looking up at my old man.
“Very. Guess they didn’t find anything on the RRMC.”
Chuckling, we both walked from the row of cells and out into the main hall. Sidney stood with his briefcase and nodded a greeting.
“Mack. Peter. A pleasure as always.”
The smug expression on his face proved the guy was worth every penny we paid him.
“Good to see you,” Mack answered, shaking his hand.
I was about to congratulate Sidney on his success when my brother Bryce emerged from one of the interrogation rooms. He looked my way and lifted his chin. Confused, I didn’t understand why he was here. There was no reason to pick him up. He wasn’t considered RRMC, at least not to the Feds. Sheriff Daly knew of his connection, but that shit wasn’t common knowledge.
“I had to, Edge.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I demanded, moving closer to my brother. Gripping his shoulder, I didn’t understand what he was saying until the same righteous prick who released me and Mack produced a pair of handcuffs and pulled Bryce’s hands behind his back. “What the fuck?”
“Don’t,” he cautioned. “I made the right choice. You’ll see. Tell the club I’m loyal.”
I was prepared to fight until I saw the pleading look in his eyes. “Bryce.”
“You just kiss that baby boy for me when he’s born. Tell him Uncle Bryce can’t wait to meet him.”
Swallowing hard, I had to shove down the surge of emotion that tried to surface with his words. What did he give up? What did Bryce sacrifice in order to set me free?
He didn’t really care about Mack. This choice was made for me alone, to allow my freedom so I could be with Rae. Hugging my brother hard, I didn’t release him for a few seconds.
“Love you, brother.”
He lifted his chin in response as the RICO agent hauled him away and I had to watch him disappear into the jail. There was no way I was letting Bryce take the fall for our club.
Turning my head, my fierce gaze landed on Mack. “This doesn’t end here.”