Chapter 58

AVERY

Avery took a deep breath when they pulled into the lot of the club’s strip club.

It looked so much different in the daylight, and she really liked how they had decorated it. It was very classy but sexy at the same time.

They walked past a few guys that Avery had met a few times, and she nodded at them.

Justin kept a tight grip on her hand as they walked down the hallway and stopped at the door that led to the basement. He turned her face so they were looking into each other’s eyes.

“Avery, baby, remember, you don’t have to do this,” Justin started, then continued after putting a finger to her lips to stop her from responding.

“I know you feel like you need to, and that’s okay. But you can leave at any time, got it?”

Avery swallowed and nodded. She knew she was about to see the dirty and violent side of the club and that this could change the way she viewed things.

She just hoped that she was strong enough for this.

Justin led her down the stairs into a very large room with multiple doors along the corridor. They walked to the third door, where several more men were standing outside.

They nodded at them both, and Justin opened the door to be greeted by crying and the smell of urine. Avery steeled her spine and walked with Justin around a corner to see three people tied to chairs.

The chairs were sitting on large sheets of plastic with Mikey, Cash, Mitch, and a few other men that Mikey used for rough work like this were sitting, talking among themselves, ignoring the people on the chairs.

Mikey noticed that they had arrived first and got up to meet them. He gave Justin a hug and whispered something to him, then moved to Avery and hugged her too.

“You okay so far, DQ?” he asked.

Avery would have laughed at the nickname if the situation was any different. “I’m okay. I will let you guys know when I am done.”

Justin and Mikey nodded, then led her to see the front of the people. Avery took in the sight and felt the anger and hatred fill her up.

She didn’t feel sorry for them at all. These people wanted to hurt her and her unborn child. They wanted to take Lexi away from her and hurt the rest of her family.

She walked a little closer and really looked at Dominique.

She was a beautiful woman underneath the blood, sweat, and spit. She could see why Justin was attracted to her and why Lexi was such a beautiful child.

Avery knew she would be a stunning woman when she grew up.

She kept up her observations when she heard Mitch start talking.

JUSTIN

“We found out how they found the druggie whore.”

“How?” Justin demanded.

“Remember when he said that a little birdie told him all he needed to know on the phone?” Mitch asked, then continued when Justin nodded.

“Well, Stevo remembered something when he filled your dad in on the latest. There is a guard that has been on your dad’s ass since he got there.

“After some money changed hands, we got our guys with him, so he was protected, as you know. But in the meantime, the guard was an asshole and gave your dad no peace.”

Justin remembered hearing about the guy, but didn’t remember much since this was after Lexi was born. “So what’s with the guy?”

“His last name is Sparrow,” Mitch declared, and it clicked for Justin, then he turned to the man in the chair who was half conscious and very battered and bruised.

Justin sneered at him, then grabbed the large container of salt. He rubbed a large handful into the open wounds on the man’s body and made him scream as he woke up some more.

“Good, you are awake,” Justin spat. “So let me get this straight, you motherfucker. First you go after my father, then my club and the rest of my family? You fucked with the wrong man!”

Justin grabbed the brass knuckles from Cash, slipped them on, then hit the man in the face several times. The last time, everyone heard the crunch of his jawbone and his face drooped as he moaned.

Justin was afraid that Avery would be upset and turned to look at her. She still looked livid at the man. She looked up at Justin and nodded for him to continue.

Justin threw several more bone-crushing punches to his chest and torso. The man passed out again, and Justin dropped the tool to the floor.

Avery went over to the man and spit on his lifeless body. She turned her attention to the next person who was crying, Dominique. She had been gagged with a cloth, and Avery yanked it down.

“Please help me!” she sobbed.

“Help you? Are you insane?” Avery snarled. “You tried to hurt me and my unborn child! You tried to hurt the man I love and my family!”

Dominique sobbed, and Avery was tired of her sounds already. “And you tried to take MY daughter away from me!”

The men all heard her say that and knew Avery was feeling very much like a mama bear, and that could make her temper explode.

Avery picked up a baseball bat that was leaning against the table and then swung it straight into the woman’s chest, making her gasp and knocking the chair over.

“Woah, Avery!” Justin said and grabbed Avery’s arm. “What are you doing, baby?”

“I’m making her hurt the way I hurt!” Avery yelled. “She tried to ruin our lives! Take our children away from us!”

“I know, but I don’t want you to get your hands dirty. I don’t want you to be so involved with this part!” Justin pleaded.