“Want to join us and stop moping around, Mad?” Gunnar asked, a cigar between his teeth. “I don’t know why you have your fucking panties in a bunch anyway. If I had a gorgeous woman in my bed, I’d run around grinning from ear to ear.”
“You know me. I want Vitiello’s head as a trophy on our club wall. I won’t be satisfied until that’s the case.”
This still held true. I wanted Vitiello dead. Unfortunately, that desire was at odds with my obsession for his daughter. Maybe it was for the best if Vitiello killed me, then I wouldn’t be faced with that impossible problem.
“You won’t have to wait much longer. Vitiello will cut his own dick off to save his daughter once we’ve all had a go at her,” Cody said with a snicker. Even more than in the past, I felt the urge to smash his stupid face in.
“Hey Gray, I need to talk to you.”
Gray shook his head. “I’m winning here. We can talk later.”
My patience snapped. Vitiello was probably already on the way here with every torture device ever invented on this planet. I stalked over to him and ripped the cards from his hands. “Fold.”
Gray protested then he shook his head. “What’s your fucking problem?”
“My problem is that you don’t follow orders. You’re below me in rank, don’t forget it.”
“For now,” he muttered, a slight slur in his voice. He must have drunk a lot to still be drunk the next morning. This kid drove me up the wall. Cody and Gunnar exchanged looks.
Gray got up. I chose to ignore his comment, even though it was probably true. His jealousy only ever showed when he was drunk. Earl would eventually favor Gray as his successor. He was his son after all. But nothing of that mattered anymore. After today, the main chapter of Tartarus MC would be dead and I was the nail in its coffin. Maybe the Nomads would come together to build a new chapter but I doubted they’d do it close to New York.
Gray followed me outside as I headed into the woods. I didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing us. “What’s so urgent that you ruin my Straight Flush?”
“I need you to head out now and grab a few things for me.”
“No can do. Dad called the entire club in for another meeting around lunch. That’s why we’re all up so early. He has something planned.”
My brows pulled together. Earl hadn’t mentioned it to me. “What is it?”
Gray shrugged. “He usually always shares shit with you, not me.”
I’d thought me celebrating with them last night had convinced Earl of my loyalty, but apparently, he was still suspicious of me. For good reason. “Whatever it is can wait. You need to go now.”
Gray narrowed his eyes, suddenly not appearing drunk anymore. “Why? What’s the matter?”
This discussion was wasting time we didn’t have. I grabbed Gray by the collar. “Listen to me for once and get your ass away from here.”
“What did you do?” he gritted out.
“Leave the clubhouse now.”
He jerked free of my grip. “I’m not running off no matter what.”
I might be able to live with myself if Vitiello killed my club brothers and even Earl, but I’d hate myself forever if Gray died. “Fuck, you moron, Vitiello knows our whereabouts. He’s probably already on the way to kill us all.”
Gray took a step back from me, horrified realization flashing across his face. “You told him?”
“I had to. Earl went too far. We all did. This was never meant to turn into a torture session of his daughter. Vitiello was supposed to pay not her.”
“You’re a traitor!”
He turned on his heel as if to rush back to the house and warn everyone. I didn’t want them all to die but if Gray warned them, Earl might kill Marcella and probably allow every brother to have a go at her before he did. I couldn’t allow it. I pulled out my gun and hit my half-brother over the head with the handle. He sagged to the ground. Grabbing him under his arms, I dragged him into the forest and hid him under a few twigs and leaves. With a little luck, he wouldn’t wake before everything was over. Then at least he would survive. That was all I could do.
I hurried back to the house and paused when I noticed the tattoo machine on the bar counter. “Who’s getting inked?” I asked into the round.
“The whore gets a tattoo she deserves, something really fitting,” Cody said with a nasty smile, obviously enjoying that he knew more than me. He put his cards down. “Full house!”
Gunnar groaned as he put his cards down and the others muttered curses as well.
“A tattoo was never mentioned before,” I said. I failed to mask my shock.
“What Vitiello did needs to be punished accordingly.”