Sins and Scars (Sinners Book 1) (18 page)

“I get you’re fucking pissed, but going in blind will only get you killed. I’m trying to protect you.” He puts his hand on my shoulder and I shrug it off.
 

“Yeah fuckin’ right. You are only here because I begged you. You wouldn’t have fuckin’ cared otherwise. You’ve been probably waiting for me to fuck up so you can come and clean up my mess.” I walk over to my chair and sink down into it.
 

My eyes flit back over to the picture of Harlyn and my heart aches. Rubbing my hand over my chest, I look up to see my brother’s curious eyes.
 

“I’ve never seen you this hung up on a girl, even in high school.” Dropping my hand, I look over at the door before turning my attention back to him.
 

“She’s it for me. After this, I know she isn’t going to take me back, but I need to know that she will be safe. That no one will ever hurt her again.” He takes a seat across from me and puts his elbows on his knees.
 

“What do you mean? She was taken from here, isn’t she your ol’ lady?”

“She was. She left a year and a half ago after I gutted a man in front of her. I had one of my men drag her ass back here for her protection when threats were made against her by Flint, the president of the Fighting Rebels. I thought I had her in my grasp again, but I fucked it all up already.” I put my head in my hands and I rub my face.
 

“I don’t get why you even bother with an ol’ lady. You are the president of an MC. You can get any pussy you damn well please, and you’re hooked on some bitch’s pussy?” Before I can say anything back to him his phone rings.
 

“What do you got?” he grunts out a few answers that I can’t make out. I check my phone and it’s blank. Fuck, I just want to know that she’s okay.
 

“No. Get my uncle on the phone.” He growls. My eyes meet his and I try to get a read on him but I can’t. His expression is stone and he looks pissed. “What the fuck is going on Viktor? I told you that I needed it done today and you sent my men somewhere else.” He listens to what Viktor is saying and I can’t be jealous that he’s dealing with that bullshit and I’m not.
 

“Get them where they belong now. I have shit I’m dealing with. I’ll deal with the rest when I get back.” He bites out.

He pulls his phone away from his head and hits another button to do, who the fuck knows what. “Give me something.” He demands.
 
He listens for a second before he gets up, and motions for me to follow him. “Where is there a map?” I walk him towards church where we have a map of the town hanging behind my chair with all our territory outlined.
 

He makes his way over to it and puts his finger on a spot before he continues to talk to whoever the fuck is on the other line. Romeo comes up beside me and just watches for a second.
 

“Didn’t know you had a brother.” He states. We both watch what he’s doing on the map and I don’t even bother to reply. “You guys look almost like you could be twins.”

“Yeah, I know. We heard it all the time growing up.” I watch Nikolai circle a spot on the map a few times before he hangs up and walk over to us. “What do you have Niko?”

“Got word on where they have the girls. They have it fucking secured like Fort fuckin’ Knox. We need a plan for attack. There is no fuckin’ way we are just walking through the front door.” He eyes Romeo, but he doesn’t say anything else.
 

“I’ll give myself up for them.” I state. They both look at me and shake their heads.
 

“You have no fucking clue if he even wants you.” Romeo states. Instead of listening to him, I grab my phone and dial the number I got from Trent. It rings four times before I hear him pick up.

“Well, well. I see you figured out that you can’t get into this place.” I hear Harlyn scream out in the background. Closing my eyes, I force the monster in me to stop trying to break free. I need to stay level headed until I can get Harlyn to safety.
 

“I’ll take their place.” I say through gritted teeth.
 

“Now, now. I am really looking forward to having a party with your ol’ lady, Stavros. Nice touch, inking her skin with your name. The other bitch belongs to one of your men right? That kid I left behind is one of theirs?”
 

“Leave her the fuck out of it. You want someone, come and get me. You leave them alone. They didn’t do shit. They’re innocent.” Niko comes up behind me and puts his hand on my shoulder. His grip on my shoulder tightens the angrier I get, and it somehow calms me enough to keep dealing with this bastard.
 

“I’ll let this other bitch go in exchange for you, but I rather keep this pretty little thing that you claimed as your own.” The blood drains from my face and I know what he’s going to do. He’ll have me watch what he does to her. Clenching my hands, I tell him the only deal I’m making.
 

“You can have me for them. That’s the only thing I’ll give you. I don’t care if I live or die, but you won’t hurt a hair on either of their heads.”

“As much as I want you to die a slow painful death, I’m not sure I want just you. I rather make her watch as I bleed the life out of you. She will stay safe for as long as you stay alive.” I look at Romeo and Niko and they both shake their heads at me.
 

Before I can let them change my mind, I answer him. “Deal.” They both give me dirty looks, but I don’t let them affect me. “One of my men is coming with me on the trade to get her back safely.”
 

“Fine. One wrong move and I’ll shoot her on the spot.” He hangs up without another word.
 

Pocketing my phone, I turn to face them and they both have masks of anger covering their faces. “I don’t give a fuck what either of you says. I’ll die for her.” Niko walks over to the wall and punches it. Romeo looks between us, but doesn’t say anything. He knows that my mind is made up, and there is no way he’ll change it now.
 

“You a fucking idiot Stav. How the fuck does one girl mean this fucking much to you. You’re fuckin’ throwing the rest of your life away for some bitch.” He shakes his head and walks out of church. I look over at Romeo and although I know he doesn’t disagree with my brother's statement, he doesn’t say anything either.
 

“I need you to find a way to save her. I owe it to her to make sure she stays alive, Romeo. Please.” He looks at me for a hard minute before he nods and reaches his hand out towards me. Grabbing it, I pull him into a hug and whisper in his ear. “I owe you a shit load. I’ll never be able to repay you. You’ve been my best friend and right hand for far longer than I deserved. Thank you.” He pulls away and claps me on the back one last time before he walks out too.
 

Sinking into my chair, I look out at the table and try to not focus on what I just did. My phone beeps with a message and when I check it, it has a time and place. Tapping my hand on the table, I get up and make my way out towards the guys.
 

Everyone is already standing around since I’m sure they know about my plan. Sometimes these guys are worse than gossipy bitches. All eyes are on me when I walk up. Nikolai is standing at the bar with a glass of what looks like bourbon. His eyes meet mine and they don’t look as pissed as before.
 

“I’m sure you’ve all heard that I’m trading places with Trix. Flint agreed that he won’t kill Harlyn as long as he has me, and I stay alive. Do me a favor boys and save her.” E comes up to me and pulls me into a hug that has his ol’ lady storming off with a pissed off expression.
 

“Thank you.” His voice breaks and I know for sure that he feels something about Trix. Now I just hope he doesn’t let this second chance pass him by.
 

“Don’t thank me. Just do right by her.” He nods when I pull away and I walk over to Nikolai.
 

“I know you don’t agree brother, but I can’t not do anything. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and enemies over the years - I have to save her. She was right. My sins are the ones that are going to destroy us. I just hope that she only walks away with scars. My death won’t be in vain if she lives. Don’t let her fend for herself.” I don’t wait for his reply.
 

I walk over to Romeo and put my hand around the back of his neck and pull him in so I can say one last thing to him. “I want you to take my place. The men respect you, and I know that you’ll do right by them.” He nods and I turn to walk towards the door.
 

“Dex.” I call out. He appears to my left and I motion for him to follow me out towards the bikes. One last look around the room, I see the shock and anger written all over their faces. They have no fuckin’ clue how much I owe to them. I wouldn’t be half the man I am without these fuckers. They’ve carried me through so many shitty times.
 

“Hopefully I’ll see you guys soon.” I turn to look at Nikolai and Romeo once more before I walk out the door and follow Dex to our bikes.
 

“Make sure you get Trix back home to her little boy.” He nods and starts his engine. Starting mine, I look back at everything I’ve built over the years.
 

We take off into the night and when we pull into the lot at the address, I see a van start to make their way towards us. I hear Dex grab his gun and click the safety.
 

The van stops and I see them get out along with a bruised Trix. When her eyes meet mine, I try to be reassuring. Tears fill her eyes and I make my way towards them. “Let her go.” I bark out. He pushes her towards me and I grab her, pulling her into my body. “Dex will take you back. How’s my girl?” her lips trembles and she holds tightly to me. I walk over to Dex's bike and check her over.

“They busted open her lip. Other than that I think she’s okay. Please get her back.” She whimpers, as I hand her off to Dex and I motion for him to get the fuck out of here.
 

I watch them speed off before anyone can go after them, and then I turn to face Flint. “You got me. Now what?” I taunt. I know he isn’t going to go easy on me, but part of me doesn’t care. I’ll answer for all my sins if I have to. I just hope like fuckin’ hell they save Harlyn.
 

“You have no idea what I plan on doing to you.” He grins. He starts to walk towards me and I tense up. He tries to punch me and I put my fist into his stomach. He hunches over, and two of his men take me to the ground. My chin hits the ground hard and I know I’ll probably have a fat lip, but I don’t even care.
 

“Maybe I’ll even make you watch as I gut your girl.” He grins and I fight to get free of his men. A knee to my back keeps me in place even though I try like fucking hell to get to him again. When I get free, I’ll be sure to shove a knife in his throat.

“Get him in the van.” I feel a prick in the side of my neck and everything starts to fade to black.

Waking up, I try to lift my head up, but I can’t. My whole body feels heavy and I can barely keep my eyes open. My head sways side to side a bit and I finally see a little bit of movement to my left. “Harlyn.” I rasp out.
 

A whimper comes from her and when I try to look in that direction, I can’t. My head lolls back towards the ground and my eyes shut. “Stav.” I can hear her sweet, scared voice, but the darkness is pulling me towards it again. I can’t do anything but listen to her soft cries.
 
“Stav, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. Maybe then we wouldn’t be here in this mess.” Her soft cries turn into sobs and I want so fuckin’ bad to go to her, but my body just won’t fuckin’ work.

Fighting like hell to open my eyes, I’m finally able to turn my head enough to see her chained to a wall to my left. Her clothes are dirty and she has dried blood on her mouth. “Don’t be sorry babe.” I whisper hoarsely. “I don’t regret a minute with you. Good or bad.”
 

I try to move my hands, but I’m tied to something. “What am I tied to?” I ask her. She sniffles a few times before she gets out the words.