“How do you know?” Ryder asks, weariness in his voice.
“Because he’s a Viper. Vipers don’t die,” she states. It’s the same thing we have said for years, and it’s like something clicks into place. How easily she slipped into our lives and became the center of our world. It will never be easy—fuck, I’m glad it won’t be, easy is boring—but having her in my arms makes all the blood, all the pain and power games, worth it.
And when Garrett groans and opens his eyes, clashing with Roxy’s gaze, it’s clear that without her…we are nothing. What started as a business deal has grown into something much more than we could have ever imagined. A life. A home.
Love.
The very things none of us knew we needed, including Little Bird, but now we have them together, and we are never letting that go. Or her.
I would chase her to the ends of this earth and drag her back, kicking and screaming…actually, that would be fun.
“The fuck you all look so morbid for,” Garrett rasps, then coughs.
We all share a look before bursting into laughter.
Vipers never die.
Vipers never fall…unless it’s for a tattooed, foul-mouthed bar owner.
Chapter Fifty-Six
KENZO
“She’s finally asleep,” I tell them, watching our girl.
We moved Garrett to his room early this morning, and Roxy followed after he freaked out and punched D when he couldn’t see her. Now they are curled up together, snoring. Good, they need sleep. I do too, so even though it pains me, I let Ryder and Diesel sort out the arrangements for funerals of the men we lost, including Roxy’s friend Sam.
I also let them deal with the rest of the Triad. I have more important things to do, like hold my girl. Sometimes being the boss’s brother and also being injured has its advantages. As they grumble and get off to work, I slip into bed with Garrett and Roxy, pushing up against her back and burying my face into her neck and hair.
“Fuck you doing?” she mutters, making me chuckle.
“I gotta heal, darling, your body helps,” I tease.
“Fucking cheese ball,” she mutters, even as she wiggles closer to me, causing me to groan. “I’m injured, not dead, don’t temp me with that fucking ass.”
She laughs, and Garrett groans. “Shut the fuck up, or I’ll throw you out.”
“Me?” Roxy giggles, and he growls and drags her closer, even as he moans in pain.
“No, that fucking idiot. I don’t have enough blood left for a hard-on, so shut up.” We both laugh, and I snuggle closer again, just smelling my girl. I can smell hints of blood and sweat, but underneath it is all her.
“Shush, injured people trying to sleep,” I mutter.
They laugh, making Garrett groan. “I fucking hate being injured.”
“Me too.” I sigh.
“I could kiss it all better,” she offers, and we both turn rigid against her.
“I love being injured,” I correct, and Garrett nods silently.
“My new favourite thing. I think I’ll let D hurt me every now and again,” he mutters.
“Men.” She sighs. “Now shut the fuck up. I’m tired after saving your asses. By the way, you all owe me lots and lots of orgasms for that shit show of the last few days.”
Grinning, I kiss her neck, making her shiver in need, even as she yawns. “Anything you say, darling.”
“So bossy,” Garrett mutters.
“Assholes,” she snaps, and then sighs. “Hate you.”
“Hate you too,” Garrett replies.
“Hate you more,” I add, and she snorts but snuggles closer, both of them going quiet as they drift off. Who knew this is where we would end up? I thought our lives were perfect until Roxy came along and showed me just how empty and meaningless they were.
No, I can’t imagine them any other way without her in the middle. It might be strange, and others might never understand it, but we have never been one to follow the rules. We make our own, and Roxy? Roxy is ours.
Forever.
RYDER
While my brothers and girl are resting, I make arrangements. I sort the funerals, and I reimburse their families, making sure they never have to worry. I contact clean-up and the police. I release a statement, acting saddened by the tragic massacre that took place in our city. I play the good leader.
And businessman.
Then, I strip off my suit and head down to the basement and to D. He has the third and final member of the Triad strung up in chains. He has already been busy keeping the man occupied, of course, until I enter.
“How awful it must feel knowing your whole family is dead.” I sigh as I step into the room, grinning as I meet his scared, angry eyes. “Don’t worry, you will soon join them.”
“You fucking snakes,” he spits, his accent pronounced more than normal.
“Very true.” I grin as I strip off my shirt and step towards him. Diesel laughs.
“Oh, you’re in trouble now,” he taunts, circling him as I step before the man. “You should have never come for my family, you should have rolled over and accepted the deal. You’re a fool.”
“I thought it would be easy,” he whispers, defeated, the man has nothing else to live for. I’ve taken everything he loves.
“You thought wrong. Never back a Viper into a corner, we always strike back harder,” I tell him, as I pick up a screwdriver and hold it to the light. “I have to make an example of you. Your brothers, I’m afraid, were all disposed of, but I still have you.”
He swallows and tilts his head back, his eyes tired, his age bearing down on him now. “We were never going to win, were we?”
I smirk at that. “No, never.”
He nods. “Will you kill our families?”
“Maybe.” I shrug. I don’t tell him I’ve already had them deported and set up wherever they wanted to go with new identities and money to live out their lives. I don’t kill innocents unless I have to. They didn’t know, and their blood ties are severed. I feel repaid, and the threat is gone, so they are safe from us. Unless they ever come at us again. They have been warned to never speak our names or step foot in this country.
I have a feeling we will never see or hear from them again.
“Let’s begin, shall we?” I ask, and he nods, his spirit broken, his honour gone. He failed—they lost and we won. Now it’s time to show everyone what happens to traitors, so they think twice about coming at us.
No one will hurt my family again, I will ensure it. Spill the blood now, save it later down the line. Especially now that Roxxane is here, my protective instincts are higher than ever. It’s going to be harder to protect her because she’s unpredictable and wild, but when I saw her tonight…when she truly became one of us, it was magnificent.
Poetry in motion.
She was not just a Viper tonight, she was the Viper.
She was ours.
And we protect what is ours. Always.
I start at his feet, working my way up his body. Diesel has to help. We break his ankles, toes, kneecaps, ribs, fingers, and nose. Then we skin him alive, which is harder than it sounds. The number one we cut from the rest to be kept as a show of strength, and when we’re done, we are both covered in blood and he’s dead.