Mace’s Wraith by L.A. Day

Chapter Two

Fuck, Mace screamed inside his head. He had to get out of here. He needed to get her to a safe space so he could back the fuck up. Holding her, handling her lacy panties and picturing her in them was fucking with his head.

His best friend was dead but that didn’t stop his dick from responding to Scar. He realized that sex was a way of dealing with grief, but he didn’t think that was what this was, at least not fully. Even if it was, Scar wouldn’t be down. She’d be fuckin’ pissed and he couldn’t blame her. Her brother was gone.

Scar flipped her long, dark hair and he saw a single red rose tattoo on her shoulder. Its simplistic beauty fit her. She was stunningly beautiful but not flashy. She had a couple visible tats, but not many for an artist.

“Ready.” Her voice jarred him from his thoughts.

“Let’s go.” He pulled his burner from his pocket as he descended the stairs and hit the pre-programmed number. “Sup?” he asked Cowboy.

“All clear,” Cowboy returned.

“We’re about to hit it. Takin’ her truck. I’m leavin’ my bike out front. Trail us but not too close, and peel off at the county line.”

“Gotcha, Pres.”

“Watch your six, brother.” Mace disconnected the call and put the phone in his pocket.

“You still have your phone? I thought you turned it off,” she said in an accusing tone.

“It’s my burner. Can’t be traced.”

“You didn’t ask if we could take my truck.”

Mace spun to face her. “It’s safer than my bike. And just so we’re clear, I don’t ask. I told you, I’m in charge.”

“Excuse me?” She arched a delicate brow.

He wrapped a hand around her arm and hauled her to his chest. “I thought I made it clear, I give the orders.”

“I’m not one of the club girls,” she tossed back at him. “I mean, I know they’re at your beck and call.”

He let his eyes rake her form before meeting her gaze again. “Nah. You ain’t just one of the club girls, but you were born into the club. For a while I thought you didn’t belong, but I was wrong.”

“You were wrong about a lot of things.”

He tipped his head. “I’m seeing that.” Her shimmering blue eyes held his gaze, showing her mettle. She wasn’t the girl who he’d let go. His Scar had fire—and he liked it. She pulled back and he let her go for now. “Is your truck in the garage?”

“Yeah.”

He opened the door and looked around before waving her in. “Keys?”

“On the hook, but I can drive.”

“You ever been chased? Shot at?”

Scar frowned. “No, and I hope we aren’t today.”

Mace opened the door for her and threw her bag in the back seat before circling the truck. “I’m gonna need you to duck down just in case.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

He wrapped his hand in her long, silky hair and put her face down in his lap. “You need to learn to follow my orders.”

She tried to push upward. “Mace, let me go.” Her words were muffled against his crotch.

“Not until you settle down.”

“I’ll bite you,” she threatened.

Mace chuckled. “We both know when you open your mouth for my cock it won’t be to bite it.”

“Asshole,” she muttered. “I swear I’m—”

He reached over and slapped her bottom hard. “We don’t have time to play right now. Settle down or I’ll strip that ass and redden it.”

Scar stiffened but stopped fighting.

“Good girl.” He stroked her head. “I need you to stay down until we clear the area, okay?” Scar nodded but didn’t complain, even though his cock was hardening against her cheek. “That’s my girl.” He opened the garage door and eased out. He took a quick right then a left. He hopped on the first expressway ramp. Looking back, he saw Cowboy in the distance. “So far, so good.”

“Can I sit up?”

He was thoroughly enjoying her warm breath against his groin but he had to remember, wrong place, wrong time. “You may.” He eased her up to sit facing him. Her hair was mussed from his hand and her mouth reddened as if she had just been sucking his cock. “Fuck.” He moaned as his eyes lowered to her tight-tipped breasts.

Scar gasped and covered her breasts with both hands.

“You don’t have to hide it. I didn’t try to hide my body’s reaction to you.”

Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

He cocked a brow as he glanced back at the road. “Is that what you think?”

“I won’t be with you. I don’t fuck men who fuck around.”

“Glad to hear that,” he barked at her. He didn’t like to hear her mention fucking other men. He hadn’t heard that she had been involved with someone, but that didn’t mean anything.

“I haven’t forgotten,” she said in an accusing tone.

“I realize that. First off, I wasn’t fuckin’ you back then. You were a sweet little virgin.” He glanced back at her and licked his lips.

“It was still cheating.”

“Not really, but we’ll talk about that at another time.” There was a lot he needed to tell her, but now wasn’t the time. Right now all he cared about was keeping her safe.

“No. I’m not going to let you hurt me again.” Her lips trembled.

Mace snorted. “I let you go. Fuck! I pushed you out of my life before, but not this time.” He turned to pin her with his gaze. “You fucked up when you came back. Now, you’re mine.”

She shook her head but her haunted eyes told another story. “I don’t belong to you, or anyone.”

“Not yet.”

“I’m not that lovesick little girl anymore.”

Mace rubbed the back of his neck. No doubt she’d grown up, but he still felt the chemistry between them and he knew she did too. “Sit back and relax. It’s still a bit of a drive and I ain’t gonna pounce on you when we get there. I’m not a monster. We’re gonna figure out who we can trust at the club and you’re gonna learn to trust me again.”

“Hmph.” She snorted. “I wouldn’t hold your breath if I was you.”

He ran the back of his hand over her puckered nipple and a jolt shot through them both. “Your body is ready.”

“My body is stupid.” She crossed her arms across her chest.

“It just recognizes its master.” He smirked.

“You are not my master.”

“I bet you’re wet already.” Mace laughed as she crossed her legs and scooted toward her door. “Don’t get all uptight. You’re safe…for now.”

A sob escaped her lips and he glanced over at her stricken face.

“Fuck! I ain’t gonna force you.”

“I know.” She gulped. “Juice,” she said softly.

Mace held out his right arm. “Come here.” She dove into his side and he curled his arm around her. “We’ll get through this and I’ll make sure they pay in blood.”

Her face was buried in his chest but she nodded. He knew she didn’t fully trust him, but this was a start. “Want to hear about where we’re going?”

“Yeah.” Her voice was weak.

“It’s a cabin in the mountains. It belonged to my parents. It was their refuge when things got to be too much. They didn’t tell anyone about it except me.” He stroked her hair. “You’ll be the only person I’ve taken there. It will be our secret place.” He kissed the top of her head. “When I’m there I’m not Mace, President of Wraith’s Blood, I’m Mason. I don’t wear my cut. I usually wear flannel or denim.”

Scar snorted. “Just a good old country boy.”

“Something like that. There’s an old man down the road, Grady, who keeps an eye on the cabin for me. I’ve known him since I was a kid.”

“Sounds ideal for hiding out.” She sniffed and glanced out the window. “It’s nice to see trees instead of buildings.”

“The scenery is great.” They’d left the interstate behind and were traveling rural roads lined with tress. “The cabin is basic. There’s electricity and water but it’s heated by an old buck stove. I let Grady know we were headed up, earlier. He’ll have laid in some food and started a fire.”

“I won’t ever tell anyone. Even after all this is over.”

“I trust you but this”—he hugged her to him—“this ain’t gonna be over.”

She stiffened against him. “Mace…”

“Shh, we ain’t hashing it out right now.”

Scarlett’s mind raced out of control. Juice was gone and his death had put Mace back in her life. It had all happened too fast and her mind had yet to come to grips with it all.

She wasn’t kidding herself—her brother had had flaws. He’d been the Sergeant at Arms of a motorcycle club. He’d lived a dangerous life and his hands hadn’t been clean but he’d sworn under Mace’s leadership they were trying to go toward the legit side of things. She’d refused to discuss Mace with Juice, but he’d often told her of the changes at the club and how they were phasing out some of their illegal dealings. She’d hoped he wasn’t just trying to waylay her fears. Concern always lurked in the back of her mind. She’d had nightmares that something had happened to Juice or Mace. As much as she tried to hate Mace, he owned a part of her.

She’d grown up in the MC. Mace and Juice were ten years older than her and she’d idolized them both. When she had been almost fourteen her parents had died in a motorcycle accident, and Juice had become her guardian. Mace had been right there with Juice, comforting and providing for her. At some point her hero worship for Mace had changed into something more. He’d noticed and, being the blunt SOB that he was, he’d shut her down.

“You’re just a kid and I’m a man. You’re too young to give me what I need and I sure as hell ain’t what you need.” His words replayed in her head.

Her young heart had been shattered but she’d pretended not to care. She’d flirted with boys and gone on dates. Of course, Juice and or Mace had put the fear of castration in every boy who came near her.

“Do you remember how you and Juice used to threaten my dates when I was young?”

Mace snorted. “Yeah. I was saving you for me.”

She slapped his chest. “Liar. You warned me off you.”

“That changed when you turned eighteen.”

“For a little while.” Scarlett sighed. “I thought Juice would kill you when he caught us kissing.”

Mace chuckled. “Fuck! He wasn’t blind. He knew what was up.”

She traced a patch on his cut as memories flooded her. “Was he mad?”

“No. He said he always knew you’d be with me.”

She shook her head. “I meant when he found out you cheated and I left for college. We never talked about it. I told him not to mention your name.”

Mace shifted uncomfortably. “He understood.”

Scarlett snorted. “I guess that’s a man thing. Bros before hoes.”

Mace grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Fuck that. You were never a ho. Did you ever wonder why Juice and I stayed best friends?”

She shrugged. “You didn’t cheat on him.”

“I didn’t cheat on you either, and someday you’ll realize it. But now, we’re almost there.” Mace pulled into an overgrown gravel driveway that curved around and led to a small cabin. It was starting to get dark and the remote location was a little eerie.

“Well, I can say for sure I could never tell anyone how to find this place.”

Mace shrugged out of his cut and laid it in the back seat before stepping out of the truck. “Hold on and I’ll help you. The ground is uneven.” Mace hurried around the truck and opened her door.

“Wow! It’s much chillier up here.” She rubbed her bare arms.

“It’ll be warm inside.” He reached over her and grabbed her bag and laptop case and handed them to her.

She stepped down and he swooped her up in his arms. “Whoa!”

“Don’t want you to twist your ankle.” He easily carried her over the rough ground and onto the small porch with two wooden rockers.

The cabin was quaint. She could imagine sitting in the rocker listening to the crickets sing their song. She bit her lip when she thought of Mace sitting next to her. She cleared her throat. “This is cute.” He chuckled and shuffled her in his arms to open the door. Warmth caressed her chilled flesh.

“This is it. It’s nothing fancy.” He lowered her to her feet.

Small and rustic, the one-room cabin boasted a kitchen with heavy-looking, hand-carved table and chairs. The rest of the room had a wood-burning stove, a chest of drawers, a love seat and a bed. It was a perfect retreat from the world. “Is there a bathroom?”

Mace laughed. “Yeah. It’s basic but functioning.” He pointed to a door.

“Is there another bed?”

“Nope, but I’m willing to share.” He winked.

She eyed the small love seat.

“That’s not big enough for either of us. I told you, I’m not gonna force you.”

“I know but…”

“Let’s not think about that right now. Looks like Grady has a pot of stew simmering for us. How about we eat then look at some video?”

“That sounds like a plan.” She wasn’t hungry, in fact she felt nauseous, but she needed to focus on something. She ran her hand over the smooth chair back as she pulled it from the table. “Is this oak?” she asked, taking a seat.

“Walnut.”

“Impressive. Did your dad make this set?”

Mace snickered. “Pops was a dope mechanic, not a wood worker. Grady made it for him.”

“Nice work. He could sell these for a fortune.”

“He’s too old and arthritic to do this kinda work anymore. I don’t think he does much but read and watch old movies.” Mace set two bowls down and scooted one toward her. “Eat up.”

“Thanks,” she said as he pulled out the chair next to her.

He reached in his pocket and grabbed a flash drive and flipped it onto the table. “Juice gave this to me.”

Her spoon clattered to the table, splattering stew across the surface.

“Fuck! Sorry. I shouldn’t have sprung that on you.”

“It’s okay. It just startled me.” She wiped the table with her napkin.

“Your laptop should open this. I hope the Wi-Fi is working so we can watch your video.”

She nodded as she picked up her spoon and stirred the hot stew. “It smells good,” she said, but she had no appetite.

Mace narrowed his eyes at her. “This is too much. If you want to take a nap or something, I can see what’s on here.”

She shook her head. “No. I need to see it.”

Mace cleared his throat. “It could be anything. It might be something you don’t want to see.”

“I realize the club has some shady dealings. Nothing will shock me.”

Mace sighed. “It’s not like it used to be but yeah, not everything is legit yet.”

“Ghost and Tank are old school,” she said, remembering what her brother had said about the changes to the club.

“Yeah. They don’t want me as president and they haven’t approved of some of the changes that I’ve made. We work a little harder for less money, but kids ain’t dying because of product we push.” He glanced nervously at her. “Some of my decisions might have led to Juice’s death.”

She shook her head. The blame didn’t lie at Mace’s feet. “Fuck that. You’re doing the right thing. Juice approved. I know he had an addiction when he was young and he didn’t want that for me or anyone else.”

“Right. Juice kept his road name the same as a reminder of where he’d been.” Mace pushed his bowl away. “I guess I’m not hungry either.” He stood and crossed the room to grab her laptop.

“What’s the Wi-Fi password?” she asked as she took the laptop from him and unzipped her case.

Mace hesitated and she glanced at him. “myblueeyedgirl, it’s one word, no capital letters.” He grinned sheepishly.

She typed it in without comment. The signal strength was at two bars. “Which do you want to open first, the flash drive or my cloud?”

“Might as well open the cloud while we have Internet.” He pulled his chair closer to hers and leaned forward. He was a little too close for comfort but he needed to be able to see the screen too.

“Here we go.” She moved her mouse and his big hand came down over hers. “What?” she asked.

She turned to look at him and they were nearly nose to nose.

“Is there anything I need to be prepared for?”

“What do you mean?” She shrugged. “I don’t know what they were doing.”

“Is there anything else I might see?”

She arched a brow.

He released an exasperated breath. “Fuck, Scar! Am I gonna see you get friendly with anyone?”

She blinked. “No. I have a professional shop.”

He moved a fraction closer. “No boyfriend stopping by?”

He was jealous. The thought brought her joy even though it shouldn’t. She shook his hand loose. “I did tattoo a dragon on this guy’s dick and he—”

“Who the fuck was it?” he snarled and dropped a hand to her thigh, squeezing.

Scarlett laughed. “You should see your face.”

“Not funny. Pull some shit like that again and I’ll beat your ass.”

“Mace! I’m not your property.”

His chest pressed against her shoulder. “I don’t play. No more tattoos in personal areas.”

“Not even on you?” The words came out before she could stop them.

He growled and the rumble passed through her. “I ain’t crazy enough to get a tat on my dick, but we might be able to work something out.” His thumb drew lazy circles on her thigh and she shoved his hand away.

Mace’s dark eyes bore into her and she sucked in a shaky breath. “I, uh, let’s see what’s on here.” She selected the correct camera. “It was two days ago.” She scrolled through the dates. “It was after lunch.” She scrolled some more.

“There’s Ghost.” Mace said the name with disgust.

“I was finishing up a flower tattoo on Liz, Legend’s girlfriend, so Ghost had to wait.” They watched Ghost and Tank sit down next to each other in the lobby. “The sound isn’t very good.” She turned the volume to max.

There was static, then they heard Tank’s voice. “Hot.” More static. “Mace is last. We should make him watch while we all fuck his woman.”

Ghost could be heard laughing.

“Fuck that!” Mace’s arm came around her.

“Shh,” she hushed him, and rewound the recording.

More static. “Never deserved her. He’s such a pussy.” Static. “He chased her off to go to college and never even fucked the bitch.”

Scarlett hit pause. “Are they talking about me?”

He scooted her closer to him. “Yeah. I won’t let them touch you.”

Her mind reeled with what they’d revealed. She studied him for a moment. “What did they mean you chased me off?”

“They threatened to rape you and that’s what you’re worried about?”

“Yes.” She nodded. She wasn’t worried about them while Mace was at her side, but what they’d said raised some questions.

Mace sighed. “This isn’t the time.”

“This is the time. If you want my cooperation, I want honesty.”

A look of resolve came over his features and he brushed his thumb across her cheek. “I spent so many years looking out for you. You were a ray of sunshine and I didn’t want to dim your light. When you received that art scholarship you were so happy, and I was proud of you. Then I saw your excitement fade when you thought about leaving.” Mace sighed and shoved to his feet to pace. “I wanted more for you than life in a MC.”

Realization dawned on her. “So you hooked up with that club bitch just to run me off?”

He turned to face her. “I didn’t hook up with her. I just had her come into my room, take off her shirt and sit on my lap. She left right after you.”

Scarlett held up one finger. “But—”

“Do you remember what you saw?” Mace asked, cutting her off.

“It’s burned into my brain.” Scarlett tapped the side of her head.

Mace squatted next to her. “Where were my hands?”

“What?”

“When you walked in, where were my hands?”

She closed her eyes and pulled out the memory she’d struggled to forget. He was sitting in a chair fully dressed facing the door. His right hand was on the arm of the chair and his left was on his left thigh. One of the club girls perched on his right thigh. Her shirt was on the floor but she was still wearing her bra. Scarlett opened her eyes and looked at him.

“I wasn’t touching her, was I?”

“No,” she said hesitantly.

“Earlier that day I’d come damn close to taking your virginity. I’d had my hands and mouth all over you. I couldn’t touch her, not after that.”

Scarlett sucked in a shaky breath as everything fell into place. “I thought I’d left you hungry.”

He snorted. “You did, but nobody else could satisfy me.”

Scarlett jumped out of her chair and put space between them. “I thought you cheated. You let me believe that you were fucking her behind my back. When I accused you…” She swiped a tear from her cheek. “You didn’t deny it.”

He stood and splayed his arms. “I wanted you to believe that. I wanted you to have better than life in a club.” He hesitated. “Better than me.”

“Better?” She made a strangled sound in her throat. “You broke my heart. Did Juice know?”

Mace nodded. “Yeah. He didn’t like it, but he understood. He wanted the best for you too.”

She spun to face the wall. The two men she had trusted and loved the most had betrayed her. “So, you got to choose what was best without talking to me?”

“You were young.”

“And you are always right,” she spit out.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” she yelled. “You deliberately hurt me. You and Juice were all I had. I thought I could trust the two of you.” She pressed her lips together as tears streamed down her face.

“I thought it was for the best.”

“You thought! As usual, whatever you decide is law.” She turned to him. “Or maybe you were looking for a way out? I was your best friend’s sister. You couldn’t fuck me and dump me.”

“That wasn’t how it went down.” He started toward her and she held out her hand to ward him off.

“I don’t know what to think about any of that.” She waved her hand. “But what I know is that Ghost and Tank plotted to kill us and Ghost murdered Juice. That’s where my focus has to be.” She wiped the back of her hand across her cheek.

“You’re right.” He sighed. “We have to know if anyone else is involved.”

She stormed toward the table. “Hand me the flash drive. Let’s see what other secrets might be outed,” she said.

“Scar…” His hand came down on her shoulder and she shrugged him off.

“Not now.” Everything she’d believed for the last four years had been wrong and she couldn’t comprehend any of it.

Scarlett opened the drive and found four video files. They were labeled Church, Bar, Rec Room and Gym. Obviously, the club had hidden cameras. “Did you know there were secret recordings?”

“Yeah. I had the cameras installed.”

“Who else knew?”

“Juice and Cowboy. Pull up the bar first. People get sloppy when they’re drunk.”

“That’s true.” She clicked on the bar link and a recorded view of the club’s bar area began to play. She groaned when she saw the video was an hour long. “This is going to take forever.”

It was difficult to concentrate with Mace so close. His warmth enveloped her as his breath fanned her cheek and made her shiver. “What’s wrong, babe?” He spoke near her ear.

“Don’t call me that.”

“What’s wrong, Scarlett?” He used her full name as he trailed his fingertips down her arm. “You don’t feel chilled.”

She tried to shake him off her arm. The fucker knew what he was doing to her. “It’s this whole thing. It’s unnerving.”

“You don’t have to watch. You could just go curl up in my bed.”

“No. I need to be involved.” She stared at the screen as a prospect wiped down the bar top. A gasp escaped her lips when Juice walked into the frame.

Mace squeezed her shoulder. “Are you okay with this?”

“Yeah.” She smiled as she watched Juice laugh with the bartender while he sipped a beer. After a few minutes, Tank joined him, and her stomach churned.

“Can you turn the volume up?” Mace asked.

She maxed it out. Their conversation was ordinary. They discussed Tank’s new motorcycle. Tank said something lewd about a club girl and Juice shook his head but chuckled.

“Ew!”

“Boys will be boys,” Mace muttered.

Juice asked for another beer before saying he needed to bleed the lizard. She gave Mace a ‘what the fuck’ look. “He’s taking a piss,” Mace told her.

“Gotcha.”

“Did you see that?” Mace asked. “Roll it back.”

Scarlett reversed and watched carefully. “Tank put something in Juice’s mug.”

“Fuckin’ right he did. Prospect had his back turned and didn’t see it.”

“Tank drugged Juice? Why?” she asked.

They kept watching as Juice downed his beer. After a short period of time Juice became animated and jittery. The tape cut off then picked up with Ghost and Tank talking about whether Juice realized they had spiked his drink. The rest of the bar tape had another episode of Juice having his drink spiked then a frame of Ghost handing Juice what appeared to be pills.

The clip from the gym was short. It showed Ghost, Tank and Nitro talking, but they couldn’t hear the conversation. Juice walked into view and seemed to argue with them. Nitro walked away then Ghost handed Juice a baggy.

“Nitro?” Mace said with a surprised tone.

“We don’t know that. What we know is that Tank and Ghost got Juice hooked again!” Scarlett cried. “I hadn’t seen much of him the last couple of weeks. He’d said he was busy.”

Mace nodded. “Hadn’t been around much. Told me he had a sinus infection and was just takin’ it easy. He popped in occasionally. I should have noticed.”

“You weren’t his babysitter,” Scarlett snapped. “He should have come to me.” She released a heavy breath and clicked on the rec room video. It picked up during a party. Half-dressed club girls danced on the screen. “This doesn’t look very informative.” She knew this sort of thing was common at the club and that most likely Mace had fucked all the girls. That part of club life she couldn’t abide.

“Fast forward until we see some of the players.”

Scarlett sped it up, but she wasn’t sure that was any better. Especially when Legend, the club secretary, came into view wagging his dick at his girl. “Whoa!” Mace’s hand covered part of the screen. “You don’t need to see this.”

“I do know what a dick looks like.”

“You don’t need to know what the Legend’s dick looks like. I can watch this one.”

“Are you afraid I’m going to see you with one of the girls?” Scarlett bristled.

“Nope.” He adjusted his hand and pointed. “That’s me over there with Cowboy, fully dressed.”

“Doesn’t mean you stayed dressed,” she huffed but was pleased to see he wasn’t even watching the floor show.

“I can guarantee, I did.”

“There’s Juice,” Scarlett said as she saw her brother on the edge of the screen.

Mace moved his hand. Juice and Tank stood under the camera. “I know Mace won’t change his mind,” Juice said on the video.

“That’s where the easy money is,” Tank replied.

“He’s done with it,” Juice said.

“Then he and Cowboy need to go, one way or another.”

“Fuck!” An obviously fucked-up Juice threw up his hands. “I know.”

Scarlett’s heart dropped and she pushed her chair back. “He knew! Juice knew they planned to take you out?” She stared at Mace, whose face had paled. He looked as stunned as she felt. “I don’t believe it.”

“It was the drugs,” Mace muttered. “They got him hooked and fucked with his head.”

“He wouldn’t hurt you. I know he wouldn’t. He cared about you almost as much as…”

“As much as what?” Mace asked.

“He cared about you as much as a brother,” Scarlett amended her words. “There’s only one clip left. Do we watch it?” she asked.

“Might as well. Can’t get much worse.”

Scarlett sat back down and clicked on the church video. In the video, the meeting was over and Mace walked out first. “This was two days ago. I left fast because I had to go get some parts for my bike. Cowboy left with me.”

The room cleared out except for Tank, Ghost, Nitro and Juice. “I’ll take Cowboy first. Make it look like a rival club offed him,” Ghost said.

Tank laughed. “Let Mace suffer for a couple days before he meets a tragic end.”

Juice stared at the table. “Gotta be another way,” he said.

“We need to move product. Fuck, dude! You need the product,” Tank replied and everyone laughed.

Juice looked up and stared straight at the camera. “Fuck it,” Juice said and walked out.

“He’s weak. We shouldn’t have involved him. I knew he wouldn’t be able to change Mace’s mind,” Ghost said.

Tank looked at Ghost. “Take Juice first. We’ll wait a few days for the others, and since Juice will be out of the picture, we’ll have some fun with Scarlett too. That’ll destroy Mace.”

“I wouldn’t mind having a piece of that bitch.” Ghost smirked.

Nitro nodded. “Right.”

“They are gonna die painfully.” Mace growled and slammed his fist against the table.

The video switched to Juice sitting alone at the table as he began to speak. “I’m sorry, brother. I fucked up but I’m gonna fix it. I got this together in case it don’t go as planned. This whole thing is fucked up.” Juice shook his head. “I ain’t gonna let them hurt nobody. Take care of Scarlett. Protect her. Fuck, man, I ain’t trying to be Cupid here but tell her the truth. My sis is one in a million.”

The screen went dark and Mace closed the laptop.

Scarlett started to sob. “I knew he wouldn’t hurt you.” Mace stood and she wrapped her arms around him. “Juice wasn’t like that.”

“He came through in the end. I just wish he would have come to me.”

“Me too,” Scarlett said, pulling out of his arms and crossing the room to the bed. “I need to rest for a minute.”

“Whatever you need, babe. I’m gonna step outside but I ain’t going nowhere.”