He wrapped his fingers around her neck, cutting off her oxygen. “You were only ever a decent fuck, and you weren’t any good at that. You were easy, but I’ve had better.” He let her go, and she gasped for breath.
“Please, stop this. You’re making a mistake. I didn’t do this. I don’t know who that man is.” She turned toward Raven. “It was the day I went to the bank. I tried to tell you I had a weird experience. Please.”
“She’s lying,” Raven said. “She didn’t tell me anything about the bank trip.”
“You shouldn’t have done Creed’s dirty work, Ava. You’re going to wish you never met me.” He got to his feet. “Have your fun.”
Smokey left the basement.
He didn’t need to hurt Ava. His club would get her ready so he could make the final blow. Ava wasn’t going come out of this alive.
With her death certificate filed, he needed to go and make some arrangements at her house.
Leaving the clubhouse, he rode his bike to her place. His key still in his jacket pocket, he stepped inside and was hit with the hardest sense of betrayal.
In the back of his mind, he heard her laughter. The sweet sounds she’d made.
The truth was, he’d had every intention of keeping her. She’d gotten under his skin, and he’d even been thinking of a future with her. He should have known better than to make a deal with a woman. They were fucking toxic. No one was different.
Fueling his anger, he made his way up to the bedroom and started to pack a bag. He’d make it look like she was away on a trip or some shit. They’d dispose of her body, and no one would ever find a trace of her or link her to the club.
He’d packed a bag and was heading out of the house when Ugly Beast called.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Where the fuck are you?”
“At Ava’s house, why?” The boys had already gone and trashed her bakery. He hadn’t given the order, but he didn’t care.
She’d lied to their president and was working with their enemy. There was no way out of this.
“I need you back at the clubhouse now,” Ugly Beast said, hanging up.
Shaking his head, Smokey closed the door, He strapped the bag of clothes to his bike and took one last look, allowing himself to feel the betrayal. The hope of a future dying inside as he looked at the house.
Creed was going to pay.
That fucker thought he won, but Smokey was going to show him. Maybe he’d take her apart piece by piece and mail it to him.
Arriving back at the clubhouse, Ugly Beast was waiting for him.
“Where are the pictures?” Ugly Beast asked.
“I don’t have time for this.”
“For fuck’s sake. I’m trying to save your ass from making the biggest fucking mistake for your life. Where are they?”
“They’re on the floor of the basement.”
A feminine scream filled the air.
“Get Raven up here now. I’m in the church room.”
“I’m not your fucking minion,” Smokey said.
“And right now, you’re not behaving like the boss.” Ugly Beast shoved him. “Get the fuck in church. I’ll get Raven myself.”
Smokey was going to beat the living shit out of Ugly Beast. Maybe even leave him for dead.
He went and took his seat at the head of the table when Ugly Beast returned.
“What the fuck is this, Ugly? I’ve got shit to do,” Raven said.
Smokey noticed her knuckles were red with blood.
He didn’t care. Ava deserved it.
“Watch,” Ugly Beast said.
He hadn’t realized the TV had been brought into the room. Bored, Smokey watched, noticing Fort Clover’s bank and Main Street coming into view. He frowned as the bank door opened and Ava stepped out. She wasn’t watching where she was going, and Smokey tensed up even more when he caught sight of Creed. The fucker had been waiting for her and was dressed in a business suit.
Ugly Beast pressed the remote, and this was the camera inside the bank. It showed Ava waiting in line and then taking a brown envelope from the woman behind the desk.
“Ava’s not Creed’s accomplice,” Ugly Beast. “I don’t know who took those pictures, but it wasn’t her.”
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Raven said. “We can see it.”
“No!” Ugly Beast said. “Ava’s not like that. My wife made me realize it, which is why I decided to go to the source. Ava’s innocent, Smokey. She’s not an accomplice. Creed’s messing with your head, and looking at the way he worked her, he did this on purpose so you’d hurt her.”
“Fuck, I left those bitches alone with her.” Raven turned to leave, but Smokey was on his feet, charging out of the room and rushing toward the basement.
He was too late. The undeniable sound of bones breaking filled his ears.
He got to the basement. They’d pulled Ava from the chair. Two of the women held her down while the other brought the hammer down on her hand. Her hand was broken. The hammer was raised again.
“Stop!” His voice echoed around the room. The ramifications of what he’d done rushed through him.
“Get away from her,” he said.
The moment they were away, Ava curled up into a ball.
Smokey knew the club was at his back. Running a hand down his face, he couldn’t believe what he’d done. He went to her side, and as he tried to pull her into his arms, she screamed, trying to get away from him.
She was soaked with blood. “Don’t you touch me.”
“Ava, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s a trick. Leave me alone.”
He had no idea what to say.
“I want to go home. I won’t ever come near you again. I promise. I just want to go home. It’s safe there.”
His heart broke.
The woman with the sweet smile was gone. He’d broken the only good thing in his world.
Chapter Ten
Ava couldn’t recall exactly how she got out of hell, only that she somehow did. She couldn’t stop crying even as Hanson drove her to the hospital. He was the only one who hadn’t been close to her.
She had asked for Abriana, but she was still taking driving lessons.
Hanson looked nervous, and she ignored it, preferring to stare out the window. He’d been with her when she’d walked into the emergency room reception. Doctors and nurses had tried to separate them to get her to talk. She lied, blatantly. Falling down the stairs, and a bowling ball had fallen on her hand.
“How are you?” Hanson asked.
She turned her head to look at him. One eye was completely swollen shut. She had a hand crushed, a couple of bruised lips, a split lip, along with a stab wound in her thigh. Not to mention several cuts to her arms and back. When Raven had left, the club whores had really gone to town on her.
Ava had a feeling Raven had been holding back, but the woman could punch.
“Stupid question.”
“Just take me home.”
“Smokey didn’t mean it.”
“Don’t.” The last thing she wanted to hear was his name right now. He hadn’t lifted a single finger, but what he’d said had hurt in ways she didn’t think was possible. She knew he was a monster. Had accepted him for it, but she didn’t realize the level he’d go to. He hadn’t once considered her innocence. All he’d seen was her guilt, but she hadn’t had anything to do with any Creed.