“Who said it?” Gaige asked.
“He’s going to fucking die,” Landon said.
“I don’t care,” Miller boomed. “I want answers right now.”
“Listen, buddy,” Erik said, “we need you to tell us who did this. So we can catch him. Okay?”
The old man nodded. His hands squeezed at the knife.
“Can… you… can you take this… it burns…”
“No,” Erik said. “Leave it there. Look at me. My name is Erik. Tell me who did this.”
“Hurry,” Gaige said. “He’s going.”
“Shut up,” Erik growled.
“Broke in… took the handle off…”
“Not good enough,” Miller said.
“Keep talking to me,” Erik said to the old man.
“Said I had to deliver… I… threw a little box… there was a gate…”
“We know that part,” Gaige said. “Tell us who.”
“I didn’t want…”
“Fuck,” Miller said. He lifted his foot and put it on the end of the knife.
The old man let out a cry and blood seeped from the sides of his mouth.
“Christ,” Erik yelled. “What are you doing?”
“Tell us who fucking did it,” Miller said. “Or I’ll kill you myself.”
The old man’s eyes widened as his head shook. Either from fear or from his impending death. Probably both.
“Hurry, buddy,” Erik said.
“No name,” the old man whispered. His eyes started to shut.
“Wake the fuck up,” Gaige yelled and shook the man.
“Shit,” Miller said.
Erik hated what he had to do next but he slapped the man in the face. His eyes popped open and he looked at Erik.
“His… eye… the eye…”
“Tell me about the eye,” Erik said.
The old man’s mouth opened. He started to gurgle on his own blood. Erik turned his head and the blood leaked out.
“Tell me,” Erik yelled.
“His… eye… there was a line… like your face…”
The old man’s eyes shut and that was it.
He was gone.
His body lost all life. Even when Miller stepped on the knife and it slid with a wet squish deeper into the man’s gut, he didn’t move.
“Dead,” Landon said.
“Fuck,” Erik said. He fell back on his ass and let out a breath.
Gaige stood and grabbed a chair. He lifted it and slammed it down, sending pieces scattering all around.
“I can’t fucking believe this,” Gaige said. “I don’t get this fucking shit.”
“Calm down,” Miller said. “Let’s go into the kitchen and talk this out.”
Landon put a hand out and Erik took it. Landon helped him up and then they walked to the kitchen.
“Go with what we know,” Miller said.
“Means this guy or group could be close,” Erik said. “He came in, forced this guy to fuck with us, all for this diversion. This dead end.”
“That’s all it is,” Gaige said. “A dead fucking end.”
“Then we leave and go with what we have,” Miller said.
“Which is what?” Landon asked.
Miller didn’t respond. He took out his cell and walked back into the garage. Erik knew he was calling the chief to report the murder. Erik was relieved that Kaity wasn’t wrong. Then again, it bothered the hell out of him that she could read a plate like that and remember it.
Something was off.
Something was off about everything.
sixteen.
Kaity finished her shower and stepped out, shivering. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself. She walked to the mirror and wiped it with her hand. She forced her hands through her hair, wishing she had a brush. She also wished she had a change of clothes and a purpose in life.
When Kaity opened the bathroom door, two women were sitting on Erik’s bed.
Her heart stopped for a second, wondering if these were two other whores that Erik had fucked. Or maybe they were waiting for Erik, to have a wild, biker threesome.
It made Kaity angry.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“I’m Emily.”
“I’m Avery.” the other woman said. “And these are clothes for you.”
Emily. Avery.
“We’re with the MC,” Emily said. “I’m with Gaige.”
“I’m with Landon,” Avery said. “Sorry to bust in like this. We saw you around and figured you could use some fresh clothes.”
“Yeah, I could. Thanks.”
Emily reached down and picked up Kaity's jeans from the floor. She touched the rips and tear from the bullet. “What happened to you?”
“Got shot at,” Kaity said.