“Go relax in the office. We’re about to get to the good stuff,” Andy ordered.
She sent Esme a glare as she sauntered towards the office, her blonde hair swaying against the back of her black dress.
“Remove his gag,” Andy ordered.
The same man that dragged her into the warehouse ripped the gag out of Prettyboy’s mouth.
“Let her go! She doesn’t know anything about our business,” Prettyboy snarled.
“Sorry, no can do.”
Prettyboy yanked against his restraints, some of his dark hair falling into his eyes.
“This is fuckin’ ridiculous. Let us go, Andy. You don't want to take this step. You know my club and Ox’s will come down on you like the wrath of God,” Axel said through gritted teeth.
“Maybe they will, maybe they won’t.”
Even though Andy acted like he didn't care, Esme could see that Axel’s words were getting to him. She could see his facade breaking slowly.
“This isn’t going to end well,” Esme said.
She was still breathing hard, trying to fight through the pain zinging through her body like a bolt of lightning. Andy shrugged again.
“You should have taken us up on our offer, Axel. Now I’m going to kill you and take your territory. Once your men get here, they’ll get the option to either join my ranks or die like their previous leader.”
Axel choked on a laugh.
“They’ll kill you first! They’d never join you.”
“We’ll see, won’t we? But, not before one of you bites the dust.”
Andy was holding his gun out in front of him and Esme was trying to keep her eyes open so she could see exactly what was happening, but no one expected for Andy to slice through her bindings with a bowie knife.
She flinched away from his touch, trying to escape the blade of his knife, but he caught her by the hair at the nape of her neck.
“I’ve got a better idea! Come here, sweetheart!"
As he wrestled her out of her chair she tried with all of her might to escape his harsh hold, but he was too strong.
"Men!"
Andy motioned for the three men standing in the room to move back. They all raised their guns at the same time.
“I’m going to give you this gun, Esme and you’re going to make a choice of your own.”
Esme had no idea what he meant, but she didn't have much time to guess. He lifted her hand and put the gun in her palm. She looked at the weapon, tightened her grip on it.
“Don’t get any ideas. You have two choices. Kill Axel or kill your old man.”
What?
No!
“What?! That’s crazy! Why would I do that?,” Esme cried.
Andy waved a hand and suddenly two of the men aiming their weapons at Axel and Prettyboy stepped forward.
“Because if you don’t do it, I’ll kill both of them and slaughter the rest of their crews before I take over both of their territories,” Andy said.
Yet, Esme had to believe that he couldn't actually do that. There was no way Ox or Axel would let that happen. The rest of their crews were probably doing the best they could to figure out where they were.
They had to know they were missing by now, they’d been gone for hours.
Esme heard the the other guns in the room being cocked and her shaking hands lifted the gun resting in her sweaty palm slightly.
“This is fuckin’ insane, Andy! You have to know you just signed your own death warrant!”
Axel’s angry tone met her ears, but she could see that even he questioned what was happening.
“You shut me and my club out like we were trash, Axel. All we wanted was an alliance.”
“You know exactly why I won’t ever sign off on an alliance with you!,” Axel roared.
Andy glanced at Esme.
“But, does she know?”
Axel’s eyes widened and he shook his head.
“No. Leave her out of this! Damn it, put the gun down, Esme.”
Prettyboy’s gaze caught hers and he nodded.
Slowly, she lowered the gun, but she was still racking her brain to figure out how in the hell she could shoot three men before one of them shot her.
Think, Esme.
Think!
“You didn’t tell anyone the truth about Christopher Wilder, did you?”
Esme’s eyes narrowed and she rested her finger on the trigger of the weapon in her hand when Axel’s pleading eyes met hers.
“What’s he talkin’ about?,” Prettyboy asked.
“Nothing!”
“Tell his old lady the truth Axel! Tell her what really happened to her old man the night of his accident,” Andy sneered.
Esme felt the whole world tip on its axis as his words settled in her ears.
“What-what does he mean?,” She asked.
Axel’s jaw ticked as he glared at Andy behind her.
“Esme, listen to me please! You don’t want to hear this!”
“Tell me what he’s talking about.”
Axel sighed before he dipped his head and looked at the ground.
His cut was splattered with blood and his long hair was plastered against his bloody face, but she knew he’d been through worse.
Prettyboy was so close to her now she could practically hear him breathing, and even though she wanted to shoot the fucker behind her and free him, she held still.
Something in her gut told her to wait.
“Chris was a traitor. Tango caught him working behind our backs with these fuckers,” Axel said.
Traitor.
Traitor…
The word rolled around inside of her head like a loose marble, and Esme was positive her chest was about to collapse in on itself from the weight of the truth.
Christopher was a good man.
He loved her.
“What really happened to him?”
“Don’t make him say it, beautiful. You know what he’s saying,” Prettyboy ground out.
“Don’t tell me what to do!,” She cried.
The gun in her hand felt heavy and the overwhelming sense of impending doom was ready to swallow her whole, but she had to hear it from him.
“Did you kill him?”
Axel was full of anguish when he looked up at her.
“Yes.”
Chapter 27
Esme buried her hands in her hair as she took a step back.
This can’t be happening.
This is not happening.
“It wasn’t supposed to go down like that. We met, alone, so we could talk about what he was doing. He got defensive, pulled his gun. We fought, Esme. I kept telling him that we could work it out, but he was adamant that he didn't want to do that! I tried to reason with him. I swear to you, I didn't mean for that to happen when I got there. I was willing to let it go for the sake of the club if it meant that you’d be safe,” He explained.
Esme pressed a trembling hand to her mouth.
“So, what? You shot him?”
Axel shook his head as he glanced between her and Prettyboy.
Esme couldn't even look at Prettyboy while she waited to hear the devastating truth from Axel.
“He came at me one last time, and we ended up on the ground. He hit his head, Esme. I didn't mean for him to get hurt, I just- I wanted him to listen to reason! If someone found out what he'd done, they could bring it to the table and then I’d have to kill him. You know how this works, baby.”
Esme choked on a sob as she shook her head.
“That should make your choice easier, little girl. Axel killed your old man!”
Andy’s voice had her spine stiffening as she cried.
She could hear the gloating in his tone as he smiled in her direction, but he didn't deny what Axel was saying.
"Is he telling the truth?," She asked.
Andy was still grinning in her direction when he said, "Yeah, he's telling the truth. We were gonna take over Axel's club from the inside, but Tango blew that plan right out
of the water."
My God, Chris was a traitor.
The worst kind, too, because I know for a fact that Axel saved him from living on the streets.
"I should have known..."
“No! Esme, look at me. Look at me, damn it!”
She dropped her hands so she could see into Axel’s face.
“You know I would never hurt you. I loved Chris like a brother, and I wanted what was best for him, but he’d started sampling the product. He was snorting coke all the time, Esme-”
“No! He wasn’t, I would know!,” She argued.
Axel’s eyes were filled with pity as he shook his head.
“Baby, yes he was.”
“He’s telling you the truth,” Prettyboy said.
She looked at him.
“You knew about this?”
She was afraid that he'd say yes and that she would have to feel his betrayal for the first time.
“No. I didn’t know that he was a traitor, but I’ve seen him snort coke myself, Esme.”
Esme’s head was spinning. Logically, she knew that Axel wasn’t a liar. He’d always been honest with her, about everything, but this?
This was way beyond a lie.
“How could you keep this from me? You said you loved me! You don’t hurt someone if you love them,” She said.
“Esme, how could I tell you? I didn't want to ruin your memory of him. What he did to the club had nothing to do with the way he treated you. He loved you,” Axel argued.
Shit!
What he’s saying makes sense.
Esme had no idea what to do, but she did know what she couldn't do. She couldn’t kill either one of them.
No matter what Andy said there was no guarantee that he’d let them go or leave their clubs alone, and Esme couldn't fight a room full of armed men. Even if she was as good a shot as she needed to be to pull that off, they were already aimed and ready to fire.
She’d lose them both…
“Shoot me, Esme.”
Prettyboy’s voice was filled with pain as he looked up at her.
“No!”
Axel’s voice was loud in the silent room.
“If she shoots me, you let Axel go.”
“That’s the deal.”
Prettyboy’s green eyes met hers, and she could see the tears welling up behind his dark lashes.
“Axel will figure this out. Ox won’t let anything happen to the rest of the club, Esme. Axel will take care of you. He’s done a damn good job. He’s your family,” Prettyboy said.
She searched his face, looking for any weakness, but she didn't find any.
Esme choked on her own tears.
“You’re my family.”
Prettyboy smiled sadly, one tear slipping down his scarred cheek.
“You gave me a taste of one, yeah. I love you. I’m so proud of you, beautiful. But, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let you shoot the man who’s been there from the start.”
“Fuck, Prettyboy no!”
I can’t do this.
“Yes, Axel. It’s the only way. One of us has to go, and it’s gotta be me. They won't let us out of here otherwise. You have an entire club to run, and I know you and Ox will get revenge. I trust you to take care of Esme. You’ll get her through this,” Prettyboy said hotly.
What he said was true; they were outnumbered, outgunned, and killing Axel wouldn't solve anything…
Neither will killing my old man!
How can he even ask me to do this?
Esme thought her tears would strangle her as she stepped towards him.
His jade eyes were back on her as he nodded jerkily towards the gun.
“Lift your hand, baby.”
“No!”
“Yes, Esme! This is an order. You don't defy your old man, and you know that. Right now this is club business. Raise your fuckin’ hand,” He demanded.
“Better do as he says, Esmeralda. Otherwise I’ll let Marcus do it for you,” Andy said.
The man standing behind Prettyboy pressed his gun against the back of his skull.
“Why are you making me do this? Why?!,” She cried.
Andy laughed sadistically as he shrugged.
“It’s fun for me. What can I say? I like to have my cake and eat it too.”
Esme was crying so hard she could barely see through her own tears, but she knew that what Prttyboy said made sense. She was trying to stall for as long as she could, but Andy was already bouncing from foot to foot.
“Esme, don’t do this. We’ll figure something out!,” Axel argued.
Esme was so confused from everything she’d just found out about Chris. She didn't know who to trust, she had no idea what to do.
I can’t kill him.
I won’t kill him.
Prettyboy heaved a breath as he said , “It’s time, beautiful.”
“But, I love you,” She said softly.
Prettyboy’s jaw tensed and his bottom lip trembled for the barest of seconds.
“I love you, too.”
Esme had one hand pressed against her chest as she slowly raised the gun, her aim pointed to right between his eyes. Her hand was shaking so badly she knew she’d never get a clean shot off.
She thought about closing her eyes, but that wouldn't work. She had no choice but to look him in the eyes and do it.
The moonlight was bright over head, so bright that she stopped to look up, and her eyes met Limit’s. She blinked, wondering if she was seeing things, but he was still there when she opened her eyes again.
He was gone in a flash, but she knew that if he was outside, the rest of the club wasn't far behind. There was only one more thing she could do to stall.
With a deep shuddering breath, she turned the gun on herself.
“What if I just blow my own brains out? Then no one wins,” She said.
Andy, Axel, and Prettyboy all shouted at the same time.
“NO!”
“Put the fuckin’ gun down!”
“You stupid bitch!”
While it was true that Axel had lied to her and that her dead husband was apparently someone she didn't know at all. She’d never be able to shoot the love of her life or Axel.
Prettyboy was too important to her, and once this shit was all over, she was going to ream his ass for ever thinking she’d follow an order like that one.
Prettyboy was a stupid, kind, brave man and she'd be fucking lost without him.
She'd rather shoot herself in the head then ever hurt him.
“Put the gun down, you dumb cunt!”
Esme made a show of cocking it.
Andy was obviously wary of getting too close to her, she could tell. He was tip-toeing around her chair, his arms out as if that alone could stop her if she really wanted to shoot herself.
Maybe he thought she’d shoot him too, but she couldn't do that.
Not until she knew that the rest of the club was there, not until she knew Prettyboy and Axel would be safe.
I don’t care about me as long as they’re okay.
Stay calm and check to see if Limit is still on the roof!
As she discreetly glanced towards the skylight again, she caught sight of Limit perched on his belly, aiming a high powered rifle towards the man standing behind Prettyboy. Once she got Limit’s attention she tried as hard as she could to make him understand that if he shot the man behind Prettyboy, she’d shoot the man behind Axel.
Andy didn't have a gun, so it would solve the entire equation in one go.
“Come on, Esme. Put the gun down,” Prettyboy said gently.
He looked scared out of his mind and if he was, then good, because she’d been terrified when he'd ordered her to kill him.
Limit waved a finger at her, signaling for her to move over, so she did.
It was the longest four seconds of her life. From the time she stepped aside until the moment the skylight shattered all around them like fucking glass confetti. Esme didn't hesitate before she fired three sho
ts into the man standing behind Axel, and he hit the floor the same time the man behind Prettyboy did. Her screams ripped through the air when she realized what she’d just done, but there wasn’t time to dwell on it.
Bodies entered the warehouse like ants on a hill, and through the crowd, she searched for the one man who’d caused the entire mess: Andy.
As the chaos ensued, she caught a glimpse of Andy trying his best to run away, but through the rush of adrenaline urging her to move, she aimed his own gun at him.
You can do this, Esme.
Be like Rayna.
Just shoot-
Her finger caressed the trigger twice, shooting him in the spine.
Andy fell to the floor immediately, his blood coating the cement floor, but Esme had to check to see if he was dead. She couldn't leave it to chance that he could come after her or Prettyboy again.
Make sure he’s dead.
I have to make sure he can’t find me ever again.
Tasha was screaming at the top of her lungs, and Esme thought about killing her too, but she figured she’d leave that to someone else. Her hands were still shaking fiercely as she stepped towards Andy’s lifeless body, her eyes wet with tears.
The floor was sticky with his warm blood and it clung to her bare feet as she stood before him.
I killed someone, I killed someone, I killed someone…
Andy was groaning from his spot on the ground, and when he turned to look up at her, Esme raised the gun.
“Go ahead, you biker whore! You’re gonna get yours, you just watch! You’re gonna pay for this-”
“How’s your cake taste now?,” She whimpered.
Esme pulled the trigger and gasped when his head fell back against the pavement.
It’s over.
It’s fucking over.
The urge to vomit was strong enough to make her wince, but she ignored it as best she could. Esme was shaking so hard that she dropped the gun to the floor beside his head. She started to step backwards but his blood was slick, and she suddenly found herself scrambling on her hands and knees to get away from his body.
She lifted her palms and saw the ruby red liquid clinging to her skin.
I’m a murderer.
“I killed him,” She whispered brokenly.
Strong hands helped her to her feet again, and when she turned, she saw Fury watching her with worried eyes.
“Shit, are you okay?,” Fury asked.
Envy (Seven Deadlies MC Book 1) Page 18
