He walked in and saw me, and he grabbed his gun and started shooting. I grabbed my throwing knives, the ones I’d taken from my dad, and I was about to throw one when Bish’s dad went down.
“The neighbor,” she said, and I nodded.
I waited for the police to come. I told them that he’d caught me vandalizing his car and that he’d tried to kill me. The police questioned the neighbor and he backed up my story. He told the police that Bish’s father came at me, shooting directly at me and that he’d saved me, because he didn’t think the crime fit what Bish’s father planned on punishing me with. The neighbor wasn’t charged, but I did time in juvie for vandalism and reckless endangerment.
She understood everything now, why I believed in signs, would live and die for them. Because Bish was an important person in my life, and he’d been preparation for another one. For her.
Her eyes shone with tears, for all of us. I finished out the story.
Once the police figured out that Bish and my parents knew nothing about it, they tried to place Bish in foster homes, but he kept running away back to my house and my parents. Finally, child protective services gave up.
Bish visited me in juvie as often as I could have visitors. For three years, I lived and breathed that place and finally, I was released.
“And then, the Chaos.”
I nodded. My mom died while I was away. When I came home, Dad wasn’t the same anymore. But Bish was there for me.
“I would fight for you, Mathias. I know Bish would. I know he does. But I need you to know that I’d do the same for you. For both of you.”
You already have.
Chapter Thirty-One
Yeah mama, this surely is a dream
Jessa
It was happening. I swear the earth vibrated under my feet and the sky darkened to full night as the rumble of cars and motorcycles filled my ears. I was panicked, my throat closing and the urge to run was strong, but I fought it.
I’d wanted to stay here. It was time for me to stand up for myself and stand behind Mathias. If he was going to fight for me, I’d do the same for him. For both of us.
I stood behind him now, near the warehouse where it had all started, a day after he’d fought for me, a day after he’d told me what he’d done for Bishop. There were other men here too, Caspar and Rebel and Hammer, and of course Bishop, because this was the moment of reckoning, when we’d find how out much damage revealing the fact that I was here had done.
Mathias told me the damage had been done well before that, but I couldn’t help the guilt I felt.
I watched his shoulders—squared—his body ready for whatever happened. I wanted him to reach back and grab my hand, but he didn’t. Instead, Keller got out of his car and the LoVs who’d followed him left their bikes and formed a line in front of us.
There were no supply trucks.
“Caspar, I thought we could come to terms on this,” Keller said after a long moment. “Instead, you parade the men who killed my son in front of me.”
“Twelve men against two seemed more than fair,” Caspar pointed out, and I thought back to that terrible, wonderful day. “Not sure what your terms are. Last we talked, you wanted something I wasn’t willin’ to give. That hasn’t changed.”
“What hasn’t changed is that that bitch’s mine,” Keller said with a jerk of his head in my direction.
“No one owns me,” I shot back before I could stop myself. I waited to be told to shut up, because that’s what happened when women spoke in my world. Instead, Tru put a hand on my shoulder and Mathias stared Keller down as he signed.
Bishop translated. Now that we’ve made that clear, there’s nothing left to say.
“Not that easy, mute.”
I stepped up next to Mathias in time to see him smile, and that smile made Keller shift before he could catch himself. Mathias’s smile unnerved a lot of people, because he’d throw it out when that would be the necessarily expected response. And Keller’s response reflected a small, subtle shift in power that made my stomach unclench a little.
Caspar stepped up past us. I was still scared of him, even though I saw how sweet he was to Tru. And seeing him now, I’d been right to be scared. It wasn’t only the scar and the icy eyes, but his whole demeanor. Caspar was the kind of man you knew was trouble, deep down.
Which made Mathias scarier—you didn’t see him coming.
All of the men circled around me, a protective shield, but no one told me not to speak.
LoV sneered, “When women open their mouths, we use ’em for one thing only.”
Bishop translated for Mathias. Funny, that’s what we say the LoVs are for.
He grabbed his crotch and smirked. The LoV lunged forward but no one on our side moved at all. I forced myself still, took my cues from the men. Tru’s hand held me steady too.
When the LoV was right in Mathias’s face, I realized it was the same man who’d been guarding me and leering at me for my two weeks in captivity. He’d constantly made lewd jokes, leered and watched me pee. And I’d heard him talking too, about how they should fuck me before Keller got me. How Keller’d never know if they gave me enough time to heal. How Keller was going to use me until I wasn’t fresh anymore and sell me anyway.
“You want to start a war over gash?”
I want to start a war because I like killing LoVs.
Bishop’s voice, Mathias’s hands, but everyone was staring at Mathias. He had a presence and Bishop had a way of speaking when translating for Mathias, letting Mathias’s presence take over. Because when Bishop spoke for himself, there was no mistaking his own presence.
The LoV growled and Mathias bared his teeth, ready to fight. Primed to. But his stance was relaxed—zero emotion—and almost a touch of amusement.
They had no idea how truly dangerous he was. I don’t think I did, not until this very minute. I should’ve been terrified but in reality, it thrilled me.
“You killed my men, then hid the evidence,” Keller said.
“We burned the bodies so the evil didn’t spread,” Bishop corrected.
If we were hiding, why invite you?
“Because you’re a dumb fucking mute.”
Again with Mathias’s amused look. He loved being underestimated.
Before anyone could react—or blink—Mathias had the LoV on his knees, two fingers on the man’s neck, pressing the man’s face close to his dick.
I could make you my bitch right now, Mathias signed and Bishop translated. But I don’t like you enough to let you do that.
The LoV’s eyes went wide and then he dropped back when Mathias let go of him. Mathias remained where he’d been and watched the man on the ground in front of him for a long moment before meeting Keller’s eyes.