“Don’t move, motherfucker.” I know that voice. I peak from under the pillow and Riggs winks at me. Relief floods me, then hell breaks loose. Vinn rushes in with Diesel followed by Chains. Vinn grabs Ryan and forces him to his knees while Diesel growls protectively by Vinn’s side. Chains takes the key from Ryan's hand and unlocks the cuff at my ankle.
“Don’t hurt him,” I find myself saying and all eyes fall to me. “It’s not his fault. He isn’t well.”
“Not our problem,” snaps Riggs. “End him,” he adds, looking at Vinn. Vinn holds his gun to Ryan’s head as I scramble from the bed and grip Riggs’ kutte.
“Please, listen for once. I’ll get him help. He’s grieving and lost, but we can help him.” I can see Riggs wavering. “He doesn’t need to die. I’m fine. The baby is fine.” Riggs looks to Vinn, who shrugs. “Killing isn’t always the answer,” I add. “And I have to take some responsibility for everything, I messed him around so much, I made everything worse.”
Riggs sighs heavily. “Fine. Get him up and out of my face before I change my mind.” Vinn shoves Ryan towards one of his men and they take him out the room. Riggs holds me before him and assesses me with his eyes. “You scared the shit outta me.”
“You didn’t kill Chains,” I say, smiling back at Chains, who looks bruised and battered.
“Yet,” they both say together. I roll my eyes.
Chapter Nineteen
Leia
Mum fusses the second I get through the door. Between sobs, she takes me upstairs to shower and change. When I’ve dressed and get back to my room, Gia, Anna, Raven, and Eva have joined Mum. “I didn’t know you all cared so much.” I smile as I’m wrapped in hugs.
“We’re so pleased you’re okay,” says Gia. “We were out of our minds with worry. What the hell happened?”
I fill them in on Ryan’s house of horrors. Mum sobs harder. “That’s madness,” she mutters.
“He isn’t well,” I say in his defence.
“Blade took him to a secure unit to be assessed,” adds Anna. “And his mum is back in the care home. Chains is footing the bill for that.”
I smile weakly. “Chains is still around. Is that a good sign?” I ask.
The girls glance at each other and I brace myself for the bad news. “Riggs is taking his patch,” says Anna.
“No!” I snap. “The club’s all he’s got.”
“I’ve tried talking to him. He doesn’t want to hear it,” says Anna. “We’re still sorting things out ourselves, so I can’t push him as much as I’d like to on the subject.”
I squeeze her hand gently. I’m pleased she’s here and that my niece is safe. Maybe now she and Riggs will sort things out for good. After all, they have a living, breathing connection now.
I stomp down to Riggs’ office, where I find him and Cree laughing about something and drinking bourbon. “Just cos you’ve had a rough few days doesn’t mean you can come here without knocking,” says Riggs with a grin.
“You’re taking his patch?” I snap.
Riggs’ face hardens. “I can’t trust him, Leia.”
I feel Chains approach me from behind. Riggs’ face confirms it. I feel his arms wrap around my waist and he buries his face into my neck. Riggs stands. “Are you kidding me?” he growls.
“Baby, I missed you,” Chains mutters into my hair. I close my eyes, enjoying the feel of being safe in his strong arms. “I’ll never leave your side again.”
“Right in front of my face?” yells Riggs.
“Do you want me to hide it again? Make your mind up,” mutters Chains.
“You’re pushing your luck,” growls Riggs.
“I’m claiming what's mine!” says Chains. He gently pulls me to stand behind him. “I took your beatings. Fuck, I don’t know if I’ll ever walk straight again, but it’s done now. The only way you’ll ever get me away from her is to kill me.”
Riggs marches forward and pushes his gun to my head. “We’ve been here before. This time there’s no Vinn to stop me,” he growls.
I whimper and Chains squeezes my hand in reassurance. He pushes his head onto the muzzle of the gun. “Then why are we still talking about it?” he hisses.
“Please,” I whisper, tears falling down my face. “Riggs, I love him.”
“I wanted what was best for you, Leia. Years protecting you from assholes like him,” Riggs spits out.
“And look what happened. I met a psychopath who wanted to cut my baby out early to replace one he lost. You know Chains. You know he’s good. He’ll take care of me.”
“I’ve seen him treat women like shit,” snaps Riggs. “Remember, brother?” He glares at Chains and pushes the gun harder into his forehead. “The sex parties, the fuckin’ any skank that came near you. You tell me you love her but where the fuck have you been these last few months? Claiming other women as your own while leaving her here, alone!”
“We all have a past,” I argue. I make a mental note to bring up the sex parties with Chains another time.
“Some more than others,” snaps Riggs.
“It’s in my past. Just like yours,” says Chains. “When we were in the Forces, we all did that shit, not just me. And as for the last few months, I was trying to do the right thing and move on. I didn’t know about the baby.”
“She’s my sister,” says Riggs, and it comes out sounding pained. “My little sister.”
“I know,” mutters Chains. “And I’ll love her and protect her forever. I promise.”
Blade steps into the office. “I’m bringing it to church,” he says and Riggs glares at him. “Taking his patch is wrong and the brothers should have a say on it.” Then he leaves and we hear him calling the brothers to church.
“Motherfucker,” snarls Riggs, putting the gun back in his waistband. “He’s lost his god damn mind.”
Chains
“Calling church like he’s the fuckin’ president. What the hell is this bullshit about?” mutters Riggs, heading for church. I follow on with Cree.
The guys fill the room, but I remain by the door. “Thanks for coming,” begins Blade, and Riggs sniggers.
“Thanks for coming,” Riggs mocks. “That’s how you’re kicking this off?”
Blades coughs nervously. “I might be outta line,” he begins and Riggs laughs louder. “But I wanna do what's right.” He glances around the room and his eyes land on me. “Chains fucked up.”
“Oh, hell no,” growls Riggs. “We ain’t discussing this.”
“We are,” says Blade. “And you can either stay and take your vote or you can walk outta here and lose your right to vote. But we’re voting on this—it’s club business.” Riggs sits down heavily in his chair. “Riggs wants to take his patch, but I don’t think he should make that decision without consulting us all. He’s too close to the reason. We all know that Chains wants to claim Leia. He’s doing the right thing now and standing by her, and by the looks of things, she wants that too. I think he deserves to have the chance to put shit right around here. He’s a good enforcer and that's never been in doubt,” says Blade.