Not my problem.
“Eat and then we leave,” Erik said.
“Erik,” Kaity whispered. “Can’t we talk?”
Erik grabbed his leather cut and put it on. He shook his head. There was no talking. There was no more bullshit.
“Ten minutes,” he said as he stood at the door. “If not, I send Blaine in with a couple other guys and they take you out of here.”
“Erik…”
But he was already gone.
Erik left the room and went down the hallway with his hands in fists and his heart feeling like it was going to just quit. At the corner of the hall, Erik stopped and pulled his gun out. He put it to his chin and turned around. If he shot now, he’d spray his brains all over the hallway to the main part of the clubhouse.
Do it, man. Just fucking do it.
“Yo, brother.”
Erik put the gun down and turned. Blaine stood with a mug in his left hand. With his right hand he slapped himself in the face a few times.
“Blaine,” Erik said.
“Miller wants to talk,” Blaine said. “Heard Gaige and Nate saying something about information. Might be good for us.”
“Yeah,” Erik said. “I’ll be there soon. Have to take care of something on my own first. I’ll be back soon though, bro. And this shit is fucking getting settled once and for all. I’m done waiting.”
“Whoa, whoa,” Blaine said.
He put an arm out and Erik grabbed it. He twisted and Blaine’s coffee mug went flying through the air. Erik put Blaine’s face to the wall.
“I’m not fucking around,” Erik growled.
Blaine turned and broke the hold. He grabbed Erik by the throat, surprising him. He walked Erik to a wall and pressed harder. Erik gagged for a second and then Blaine started to lift him. All air was cut from Erik’s body.
“You want to fucking die, man?” Blaine asked. “Then die. You really want this?”
Erik nodded. “Yyyeeesss…”
“Good,” Blaine said. “I’m sick of your fucking shit here. Got it? You think we all don’t want the same, bro? You think we all don’t get it? Fuck you, Erik. Fuck you, brother.”
“Kkkiilllmmeee…”
Erik watched Blaine’s lip curl and his eyes widen. If there was one guy who had the balls and insane mind to kill someone in the club, it was Blaine. Maybe that’s why Erik had been poking at him for so long. To get to this moment.
Erik felt himself getting dizzy. The room spun, his body desperate for air.
“Blaine!” a voice yelled.
“Nnnooo…,” Erik said.
It came to deaf ears.
A fist connected with Blaine’s face, sending him spinning, releasing his hold on Erik’s throat. Both men fell to the ground.
“What the fuck is this?” Gaige boomed.
“Just talking,” Blaine said as he wiped blood from his lip.
“Erik?” Gaige asked.
“Nothing,” Erik said.
He held his throat. He tried to stand and stumbled. Gaige grabbed him and Erik threw an elbow, almost hitting Gaige.
“Fuck,” Gaige yelled and jumped back. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“I have to do something,” Erik said. “Personal. Then I’ll be back.”
“You don’t ride alone,” Gaige said.
“Like fuck I won’t.”
“I’ll go,” Blaine said.
“No,” Gaige said. “I’m going. My orders. Blaine stay here. Gather everyone else up.”
Erik stood almost nose to nose with Gaige. VP or not, Erik wasn’t in the mood to take shit.
“I’m not giving up on you,” Gaige said. “And I’m not going to kill you. I’ll ride right with you into the fire, brother. If that’s where we need to go, let’s go.”
Erik walked into Gaige. He thought about throwing a punch but instead let out a breath.
“I’m leaving in ten minutes,” Erik said. “Taking Kaity to get her fucking car. It has to be fixed by now. I want to ask those two assholes if they remember anything else about the car auction. I can’t wait around anymore, Gaige.”
“We’re not,” Gaige said. “We never have been. Time is just…”
“Fucked,” Blaine called out. “It’s all fucked.”
Erik looked back at Blaine. Blaine nodded and smiled. All was right between them now. They were brothers, their bond deep for the MC.
Erik nodded back at Blaine. “Yeah, it’s all fucked.”
Erik stepped forward and one of his heavy boots stepped on a piece of Blaine’s coffee mug. It made it pop sound and Erik kept walking.
Ten minutes later, Erik sat on his motorcycle. Gaige was next to him. Their engines were fired up, rumbling into the beautiful morning.