“After that, he didn’t give me anything else I wanted to hear. It was all rhetoric and nonsense. I was about to leave when he told me his daddy was the one who’d beaten him up. Naturally, given my past, that got my attention.” He took a breath, glanced at Angel, then plunged on. “Apparently, Angel had just escaped. But he was hoping his dad would forgive him after the prize he’d just scored.” Stunner found Suzie’s gaze and locked on to her. “An innocent little eleven-year-old. The boys were an added bonus, but he was most excited about the girl. The plan was to mold her into the perfect club whore.”
A tear dropped from Suzie’s eye. Then one from the other eye. Her whole body shuddered. Angel had her arms wrapped around her daughter but was no longer trying to get the younger woman to leave the room.
“I got inside that very night. I found where the children were being held but managed to keep out of their sight. Assuming I was able to help them, I didn’t want anyone identifying me with them so my cover would be intact. Any time Gremlin tried to get me to help with them, I found something else to do. I kept some of the men off them, but couldn’t keep everyone safe. Not and set the club up for a takeover. I’d never done anything like that before, and I was in way over my head. I knew I needed help but getting in touch with either Reaper or El Diablo was tricky. I managed, though. After working out all the angles, we were convinced the only way to stop the whole fuckin’ mess was to take them all down. Only, I had myself, Reaper, and El Diablo. Not nearly enough manpower.
“I knew there was no way any of the kids would last long enough for us to take over Kiss of Death. In fact, by that time, El Diablo had things in place for him to take over Black Reign. He just had to sit back and wait for things to move in his direction.
“So, I gave Cliff and Daniel the information they needed to get themselves and Suzie out of Nashville. I sent them to Bones because Bones had been one of El Diablo’s targets of clubs to take over. He loved the idea of Bones being closely affiliated with ExFil. In his mind, that gave him far greater access to goods and muscle than any other club in the country if he could take it over. While Kiss of Death or Black Reign were the easier targets, Bones was the one he wanted most.”
“Motherfuckin’ Goddamn!” Cain swore, knocking a chair to the floor. Suzie whimpered, wrapping her knees to her chest and rocking herself. “How fuckin’ compromised are we, you son of a bitch?” Stunner had never heard Cain so angry.
“You’re not. I came to Bones to make sure the kids were OK. I got Shadow to vouch for me so you’d let me in to prospect, and I was able to keep an eye on all three of them.”
“How did you know Shadow?”
“We grew up together in Oklahoma,” Shadow supplied. “I had no idea he was even still alive. He seemed broken when he came here, and I wanted him to have a second chance, Cain. He was always a good person. Even now, I can’t help but believe he had good intentions. Especially with Suzie.”
“Fuckin’ finish, Stunner. I want this over before we leave here tonight.”
“Not much else to say. I made a home here. Fell in love with Suzie pretty soon after I got here, though not romantically or sexually. That came later. I always kept in touch with El Diablo, but only enough to fulfill my end of our bargain. I always gave non-answers. It’s why I learned not to say much.”
“Go on.”
“After Magenta showed up and El Diablo established himself as her father, I had less and less contact with him. I wanted to break entirely, but I gave my word. If he needs me, I’m there. But only if it doesn’t interfere with or contradict my loyalties to ExFil, Bones, or Suzie. When I first met him, everyone knew if you were with him, it was for life. If I break clean, he’ll be the one to kill me. I’m not afraid of him. I’ve more than paid my debt to him. But if I’m dead, I can’t protect Suzie.” He found her again, but she turned her head. “No matter what, I’ll always protect her.”
“You’ve put me in a helluva position, Stunner. I can almost understand why you did it. What you should have done was fuckin’ come to me! I’d have helped you! As for Suzie, me and the rest of the club have her back. Ain’t nobody gettin’ through all of us. Not even fuckin’ El Diablo.”
Stunner nodded. “I hear you.” With a heavy heart, he shrugged out of his vest, handing his colors over to Cain. The other man snatched the vest from him without a word.
“I know there’s gotta be hell to pay,” Stunner said to Cain. “I accept whatever punishment you see fit for betrayal. Even death. Don’t give a fuck. I paid my debt to El Diablo, but I gave you the right to my life when I didn’t give you a full disclosure. The only thing I ask is that you let me get rid of this assassin hangin’ over me. I know you can protect Suzie, but there’s a soft hit on her as well.” He shook his head. “I can’t let this touch her any more than it already has. Let me get rid of this threat. Then my life is yours.”
Suzie made a sound, pulling herself together with a shuddering breath. Her father was about to pass judgement on Stunner. She had to know taking a patch away from a member was no small thing. She’d never witnessed it
