Numb (King's Harlots MC Book 5)

  “This is for attacking me.” I cocked the gun and pulled the trigger. The blast rang out, the sound piercing my ears.

  The bullet hit Tyler’s knee cap, shattering the bone.

  He screamed out, falling to the floor. “You fucking bitch.”

  I took a step closer, the release from shooting him giving me the strength I needed all along. I didn’t want to kill him but I wanted him to suffer. I wanted him to beg for his life like the girls and boys had that his organization had taken. “This is for all of those girls and boys that you and those sick bastards stole.” I shot him in his other knee.

  “You fucking whore,” he screamed. “I’ll get you for this.”

  “Words words. All I hear is blah blah blah.”

  The banging on the door continued, Jay’s demands for me to let her in washing over me. But I couldn’t. I needed to avenge her. Her sister. Everyone.

  I wasn’t sure where this new-found strength was coming from but after all the shit I had been through, I embraced it. “And this is for my best friend.” I aimed the gun at his crotch and pulled the trigger one final time before I collapsed to the floor.

  MY HANDS GRIPPED Charles’ throat.

  After I had stolen his gun, I shot the two bastards who worked with him. Watching them fall to the ground in a bundled heap forced me to give into that darkness I had tried to ignore.

  I squeezed Charles’ neck. I took him by surprise, breaking out of my binds and knocking the chair over. An insurmountable rush of adrenaline soared through me.

  Charles gasped, choking for the air I stole from him.

  “Death would be too easy for you,” I growled, the rage from everything that had happened over the past couple of months, finally taking full control. “Was it one of your men who shot me?”

  Charles grinned. “The Organization will always be here. You can’t end us.”

  I forced his head back. “Tell me what Tyler has to do with this.”

  Charles choked, his eyes bugging out of his head. His hands gripped my arms, his nails scratching into my skin. His fingers ripped the flesh from my bones causing a slice of agony to sear right through me but the pain piercing through my veins only made me squeeze harder.

  “He’s the boss,” Charles croaked out.

  The new revelation all made sense now.

  Charles kicked his legs out from beneath me but I was stronger. That driving force to end him for all the shit he had done influenced my actions.

  “Kill me,” he begged, his voice strained by the restricted airflow into his lungs.

  I grinned, leaning down to his ear. “I’m sorry. What was that?”

  “Kill me, you bastard,” he begged.

  I loosened my hold on his neck. “Nah. Maybe I should let my friend loose on you. I hear Brogan killed Tina. But if it were me, I would have shaved off her skin and fed it to her.”

  “You’re a sick fuck. Tina was a bitch whore who got what she deserved.”

  I stared down at him, briefly surprised by his words. “Jealous?”

  Charles chuckled. “Not one fucking bit. Her and Zane have caused enough shit for this organization.”

  “Had.” My grin grew. “I enjoyed watching Zane’s life leave his eyes.”

  “He’s dead.” Charles paled. “You killed him.”

  “Ding ding, motherfucker.” I slapped his cheek before gripping his jaw. “I should have made him suffer too.”

  Charles laughed. “The bastard was a pussy. The real threat was Tina and Tyler. Those two together could destroy the fucking world.”

  My heart jumped in my throat. “They were together.”

  “You bet your fucking ass they were.” Charles laughed even harder. “Tina was a sick fuck, sleeping with her brother and Tyler. But I wasn’t paid to care. We all ignored it.”

  Shit. That was new information none of us knew about. It all made sense now.

  “You didn’t know. Fuck, this is good. You should probably kill me before Tyler breaks your girlfriend.”

  A tremor of brutal rage soared through me. I yelled out, tightening my hold on Charles’ neck and squeezed.

  He never stood a chance.

  When his neck popped, I squeezed even harder. A bone protruded from his throat, blood spattering my hands. This was too slow. I pulled the switch from my boot, flipped it open and jammed it into the side of his neck.

  Blood sputtered from his mouth, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

  I leaned down to his ear. “Your boys should have checked everywhere for weapons,” I told him, pushing the blade deeper into the artery.

  But it wasn’t enough. I enjoyed feeling the life leave his body. A body that had caused damage for many innocent victims. This was for them. This was for every girl, every boy, every single person he hurt. This was for taking Asher and Meeka months ago. For working with people that caused my best friend to fuck someone else to keep his girl safe.

  I squeezed Charles’ neck until there was nothing left. Until he was no longer writhing and squirming beneath me. I stabbed and then squeezed some more. And only then did I feel at peace. One down. Who the fuck knew how many to go. But Tyler would die at my fingertips for different reasons.

  I rose from Charles’ body and made my way back to Max’s house.

  With each step I took, the fury surrounded me. It enveloped my skin and gave me the strength I needed to avenge her.

  When I left the room Charles held me in, I realized we were back at the same house he had held Asher and Meeka captive. He wasn’t the brightest motherfucker.

  I patted my pockets, letting out a curse that Charles had taken my phone. He was smart about that at least. I hated fighting a pussy. If you were going to hit me, at least own it.

  I charged further down the hall, keeping my head low and the pistol high. Two large fuckers came into view as I rounded a corner and shots rang out before they even stood a chance. My heart stuttered, a flush of heat washing over my skin. I lived for this. Watching the two men fall to the floor in a bundled heap of dying limbs sent a course of euphoria through my soul. If it were anyone else, I may have felt some sort of guilt but when it came to anyone that had to do with taking these girls and boys, they deserved everything they got.

  Rummaging through the pockets of the fallen men, I grinned when I came across a burner phone and quickly called Coby.

  “Yeah,” came his barked reply.

  “Coby.” I breathed a relief at the sound of my best friend’s voice.

  “Dale? Where the hell are you and what number are you calling from?”

  “I need your help,” I said, leaving the confines of the large house.

  “Tell me.”

  I explained everything and demanded for someone, any of them, head over to Max’s house and save her before Tyler ripped through her.

  “Jay’s already there.”

  “What?” My eyes widened. “No, he’ll hurt her too.” I would never forgive myself if something happened to her and her baby.

  “Fuck.” Coby let out another string of curses. “I’m calling Angel now on Brogan’s phone. Tyler has lost his shit.”

  “I’m going to kill him,” I warned Coby.

  “Not if … what … what the hell are you talking about, little one?” he asked Brogan.

  “Jay said Max kicked her out. I’m heading there now,” I heard Brogan say in the background.

  “What the fuck is going on?” I demanded. “Someone pick me the fuck up and get me the hell out of here.”

  “I’m on my way.” Coby hung up.

  “Fuck,” I yelled. If something more happened to Max because of Tyler, I would skin him alive. I would kill everyone he was close to and make him watch. I would end the very existence he didn’t deserve to have.

  “WHERE THE FUCK is she?” I shouted, slamming my fist into the wall of Max’s bedroom.

  “Dale, geeze, calm the hell down.” Angel came toward me. “I’m trying to get ahold of Jay but you need to chill the fuck out.” r />
  “Shit.” I swung my fist for the wall again when Coby stood in front of me. Pulling my hand back suddenly so I wouldn’t hit him, it wasn’t fast enough and my fist connected with his hand.

  His eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. “Let it out but don’t you dare hurt yourself over this shit. Max wouldn’t want that.”

  “Where is she?” I demanded, shaking out my arms and started pacing back and forth. There was a shit ton of blood on the floor of her room and that only made me lose it. I didn’t know what had happened but if I found out it was Max’s blood on the floor, I would end Tyler before his life even began.

  After Coby picked me up from Charles’ compound, Brogan’s stepbrother’s club showed up. They cleaned up the mess, not even asking questions about what had happened.

  “She’s at the hospital,” Angel finally said, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Take me there.” I barged out of the room.

  “Come with me.” Coby grabbed my shoulders, spinning me around to meet his face. “But first, you need to calm down.”

  “Coby.” I shoved from his grip but his hold on my shoulders only tightened.

  “Listen to me.” Coby clapped a hand on the side of my neck. “Dale.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t blame her. For whatever happened, do not let her think you’re upset with her over this. I know you two went your separate ways but she needs you right now.”

  A breath left me on a whoosh. “I would never blame her.”

  “Dale,” Coby barked, shaking me. “Promise me.”

  “Fuck, man, of course. None of this shit is her fault. I don’t give a fuck that she doesn’t want to be with me. I won’t leave her side until I know she’s healed. I love her.”

  Coby’s face softened. “It’s about fucking time you said those words. Now let’s get you to your woman. But first” —he pointed at me— “you need to change.”

  ***

  (Max)

  My hands were curled into fists on my lap. I picked at my robe, wishing I could pick apart every inch of Tyler that had touched me. Shooting him did nothing to please me. It only made me feel like a horrible human being. Although he deserved everything he got, I wasn’t like my sisters or Vice-One. I couldn’t hurt someone and move on like nothing had happened.

  After the doctor and nurses finished checking me out to make sure I was okay, an older policeman entered the hospital room.

  I laughed, shaking my head at the irony of it all.

  “What’s so funny, Miss Stanton?” he asked, his eyes burning into the side of my head.

  “I just think it’s funny they send a man to check on a woman who was abused. By a man.” My gaze snapped to his. “Makes complete sense if you ask me.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “We don’t have many female officers in these here parts.”

  “Of course not.” I jumped off the bed, my muscles protesting at the movement but I breathed through the onslaught of pain. “Listen, how about we save you the paperwork? Tyler attacked me. I defended myself. And I’m fine.”

  “Tyler’s in surgery,” the officer said.

  “And I hope he dies on the fucking table.” As soon as those words left my mouth, a loud voice came from the hallway.

  “Where the fuck is she?”

  Dale.

  My heart stuttered, my knees buckling beneath me.

  “Let’s get you back up on the bed.” The officer gently grabbed my arm and helped me onto the bed.

  After everything that had happened, I forgot I would have to face Dale and … Jay. I swallowed hard.

  “Max.” Dale barged into the room, his wide eyes landing on me. “Kitten.”

  A dark bruise was forming on his cheek while his bottom lip had a split in it. I wanted to ask what happened and how he escaped Charles but, instead, I held my arms out and waited.

  He pushed past the officer and barreled into me, wrapping his body around mine.

  This was what I was made for. My thumping heart silenced in my ears. The love I had for this man gave me the sense of calm I needed since Tyler had attacked me. He tried everything in his power to break me. Maybe he succeeded. Either way, this man holding me would put all those broken pieces back together.

  Dale brushed his nose into the crook of my neck and inhaled. His big body became relaxed while the rest of him held strong. He leaned back and cupped my cheeks. His eyes moved back and forth over my face.

  “I’m fine,” I said, placing my palms over his hands. “I promise.”

  His jaw twitched. “Tell me you’ll put him away,” he said to the officer but kept his gaze locked with mine.

  “We will put him away,” the officer answered, a hint of amusement lacing his words.

  I turned to him. “Good. Because if you don’t …”

  “You’ll take matters into your own hands?” the officer asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “She won’t have to.” Dale cupped my nape, that small touch pouring strength into my soul.

  “It seems” —the officer checked his notepad— “your girl here left quite an impression. The fucker will probably be pissing into a bag for the rest of his life.”

  “Excuse me?” Dale turned me to face him. “What did you do, kitten?”

  “I channeled my inner Brogan.” I shrugged. “It was no big deal.” But it was. My body was shaking, my heart pounded in my ears. I could feel the impending panic attack trying to hit me square in the chest. I wasn’t like my sisters. I couldn’t kill and move on. I couldn’t even maim. I realized then that I had only joined the club for something to do and so people would stop looking at me like a weak member of the opposite sex.

  “Yeah.” Dale kissed my forehead. “It’s a huge fucking deal. Especially when you’re sitting here trying to control a panic attack.”

  I frowned. “How did you know?”

  “Years of experience, baby. And my brothers won’t admit it, but we’ve all had one.”

  “I’ll leave you two be but I just have one question,” the officer said, clearing his throat. “Why did Tyler do it?”

  “To fuck with my head,” I told him. The officer didn’t need to know anymore.

  “No other reason?” the officer flipped through his notes. “There has to be another reason as to why—”

  “There isn’t. When it comes to a man like Tyler, he doesn’t need a reason. He’s sick and twisted.” I shivered. “He was trying to get to my sister through me.”

  “All right.” The officer pointed his pen in my direction. “Don’t leave town,” he muttered, leaving the room.

  “You really cut off Tyler’s dick?” Dale asked, sitting on the bed beside me.

  “No.” I scrubbed a hand down my face. “I shot it. And both of his knees.”

  Dale whistled. “That’s my girl.”

  “After Jay showed up and got me free, I couldn’t stop myself. I did it for the shit he had done to her. And the others. And … for what he did to me.”

  “He …” Dale swallowed hard. “He raped you.”

  “At first I thought he did. I hurt everywhere.” I grabbed Dale’s hand, holding it in my lap. “But he didn’t. I tried telling you but he shut off the video. He only wanted you to think he did. But he left marks on me. He burned and whipped me, Dale. I need to prepare you for what you could see.”

  Dale held my hands firm in his. “As long as you’re okay, that’s all I care about.”

  “He’s forever etched into my skin,” I whispered, fresh tears welling in my eyes.

  Dale pinched my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “No matter what he did or what marks he left on your body, none of it is your fault. Do you understand me?”

  “I should have fought harder.”

  “No,” Dale snapped. “You listen to me and you listen good.”

  I went to look away when his grip on my jaw tightened.

  “Look at me,” Dale demanded. Only when I met his gaze did he continue. “None of this is your fault. You didn’t ask for
him to attack you. You did what you could to survive. You shot him, Max. Not a lot of people would have the balls to do even that.”

  “I want him to die,” I confessed, my cheeks heating at my outburst.

  “You’re not the only one,” Dale kissed my forehead. “You feel guilty for thinking that.”

  “Yes,” I let out a slow breath. “I’m not like all of you. I’m in this club for show.” I shrugged. “I don’t even ride the bike Jay bought me. I suck at being a biker.”

  “Hey.” He pulled me toward him. “I heard you shoved Jay out of the room so she wouldn’t get hurt and you took care of Tyler. That’s pretty fucking badass if you ask me.”

  My cheeks heated. “She would have done the same if the roles were reversed.”

  “Yeah.” Dale inched closer. “She would have.”

  I glanced down at his mouth, my tongue licking along my bottom lip. I shivered, looking away. “I’m sorry.” I knew what Brogan and Coby had been through. I didn’t know every dark and dirty detail but I knew it had put a strain on their relationship even though it hadn’t been Coby’s fault. Although I never had sex with Tyler, he still saw and touched me. It might not have been between my legs but it was enough to still make me feel violated.

  “Baby.” Dale took a deep breath. “I don’t blame you. For anything. I’m proud of you for standing up to him and for taking him down all on your own. I understand how hard it must have been.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. You’re right. You’re not like your sisters.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “You’re a good girl. My good girl. You try to be like them but you’re not. And that’s why I love you.”

  My heart gave a start. “You do? You really love me?” I didn’t want to ask. I didn’t want to show any sign of doubt that I didn’t believe him. I tried hard to take everything he had given me over the past couple of weeks but the hurtful words we had said to each other, still hung over my head.

  Dale leaned back and brushed the back of his hand down my cheek.

  My eyes fluttered closed at the soft touch.

  “I know it’s hard to believe me but I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. I will burn this motherfucking world down until Tyler gets what he rightfully deserves.”