Vice and Void (The Savage Wolves Brotherhood #1)

21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Dakota

“Sixty-five-year-old male,” Thalia said as she trailed behind James and Dakota. “Complaining of chest pressure and left arm numbness. No known history of cardiac issues. He’s visiting from a town outside of Blackdon.”

“Thank you, Thalia,” James replied as he scooped the man’s chart from her hands. “Current vital signs?”

Thalia brushed her dark blonde hair, recently tipped blue, behind a shoulder. “Blood pressure was slightly elevated. Heart rate and respirations were within normal limits. We administered a few drops of Pain per protocol.”

“Excellent,” James said as they entered the examination room. He looked up from the clipboard, a smile stretching his lips. It didn’t quite meet his eyes, though none had since their trip to the prison. “Sir, my name is James, and I’ll be the alchemist assigned to your case today. This is Dakota, my associate, and we’ll be working together to get you feeling better.”

The man, short with a round belly and a jovial face, greeted them after mopping the droplets of sweat from his hairline. Dakota noted thick black already darkening his veins, spreading like a plague from his heart. “The missus made me come here. I don’t think that I—“ He paused to lean to the side, staring at something over Dakota’s shoulder. “Morning, Ranger."

Confusion with a dash of dread narrowed her eyes and clamped her breath in her throat. John loomed in the doorway, his arms crossed tightly in front of him.

“Alchemist,” John said, tipping his hat toward James, whose face had gone an off-shade of pink. “I need a word with my daughter if you wouldn’t mind.”

“I—I do mind,” James stuttered, straightening his spine in defiance. “This is a place of healing and education, Ranger, and I expect it to be treated as such.”

Despite his heroic effort, John merely waved him off. “I won’t be long.” He reached to grasp Dakota’s arm, tugging her from the room. Behind them, Thalia clicked her tongue against her teeth.

John rounded on Dakota when they reached a semi-private alcove between the menders' desks. The stern glare etched on his face was wholly focused on her. “Where is Ethan Sullivan?”

Dakota didn’t blanch or flinch, didn’t let a single shred of guilt show, no matter that Ethan’s death from the night before had been playing on repeat in her mind since she woke that morning. “I don’t know. Why?”

John reached into his back pocket, retrieving a squared piece of paper that he shoved into her hands. Dakota unfolded it, trying to keep her fingers from trembling, as John said, “He left town last night. Only dropped that note on my desk. No mention of it to his family, and he isn't answering his cell phone.”

Dakota read it over—it was expertly crafted by Dylan, in her opinion—folded it along the creases, and returned it to her father. “I have no clue. I gave him the boot weeks ago.”

John took the note between his fore and middle fingers, absentmindedly flicking the corner with his thumb as he stared down at her. “I thought he was planning to visit you at Lyra’s last night.”

The muscles in her back tensed, and her heart ratcheted up a few paces, though Dakota fought the instinct to hold her breath. “I never saw him,” she lied with an air she hoped he would find innocent. “I was there all night.”

John’s arms folded across his chest again—that lethal expression scrutinizing every inch of her face. “Phone records indicate he was in the area. It went dead around one in the morning.”

Dakota shrugged her shoulders. “Does he have any friends around there? I’m telling you, I didn’t see—“

“I know Callum Reynolds was there,” he cut in, pinning her against a whiteboard with a hand bracketing her head. “I saw him on his bike this morning. He all but told me that he spent the night with you. ”

Dakota rolled her eyes, something she would do as a teenager just to see the vein in his forehead bulge. “Dad, you and I both know he will say anything to get a rise out of you. I didn’t see him either. I ate dinner, studied for my board exams, and went to bed. If these men are out stalking the night, I have nothing to do with it.”

“Dakota!” Thalia called from the mender’s desk. “The alchemist is asking if you can go to the distillery and grab a vial of Healing. He forgot it in the rush over.”

Dakota knew damn well that James didn’t forget a vial of Healing—it was imperative to the work they did in the emergency department—but she appreciated the assistance nonetheless. “Duty calls,” she said, dipping from under John’s outstretched arm.

John rested his hand on his gun. “You may not live under my roof these days, Dakota, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped watching.”

A shiver went up her spine, but she kept walking.

“He didn’t ask for a Healing distill,” Thalia said quietly as she rounded the desk. “The patient is halfway to the operating room.” She paused as she picked up the now-empty clipboard and tossed it onto the counter behind her. “I just thought you could use the reprieve.”

“Is he gone?” Dakota asked, not wanting to turn around and look.

Thalia glanced over Dakota’s shoulder. “He’s on his way out.”

“Thanks for the quick thinking,” Dakota said earnestly, sending Thalia a small smile.

Thalia returned it with a wink. “We have to stick together, us ladies with shitty fathers.” She grabbed the pen from behind her ear and tapped it on the tip of her nose before walking away.

James rubbed the corners of his eyes as he approached the counter. In the harsh light of the emergency department, he looked more exhausted than in the distillery. “Did your father get what he wanted?” The question seemed to come out meaner than he intended because he sent her an apologetic look a second later.

“Doubtful. Ethan Sullivan is missing.”

James shook his head. “Shame what’s happening to the cities with these riots. Any idea where he went off to?”

Shot dead and sunk beneath the surface of the quarry.

“He left a note saying that he was headed out of town. Didn’t leave an address or new phone number.” Dakota followed James into the winding, narrow hallways behind the emergency department. She barely avoided colliding with him when he halted in the empty corridor near the distillery .

James glanced around, his wide, glassy eyes scanning the hallway before finally looking at her. The joyous energy that usually pulsed from him was dulled to quiet resentment. “I’ve decided to stop calling the Rangers to report the marked after what we witnessed in the prison.” His swallow was thick. As though it were the first time he voiced the words aloud, and he was unsure whether he should shove them back in. “It might take some time for them to catch on, but I hope to retire by then. I cannot continue in good conscience.”

Dakota slid her gaze down to her fingers, threading them before her. “Sir, with all due respect, you’ve known what the Fieldhouse has been doing for a long time. How's this any different?”

To his credit, James didn’t recoil. “I know it may seem like what I was involved in was cruel. But I firmly believe the suffering of a few in exchange for the betterment of all is the best course for society.”

“I disagree,” Dakota replied, training her tone to remain impassive and calm. “If some suffer, we all suffer. Those targeted now will eventually be gone, and then you’ll move on to the next. None of this is right.”

“You’ll make a remarkable alchemist, Dakota. Though I fear I’ve pulled you into something impossible to untangle from.” From the dark circles under his eyes and the etched frown lines around his mouth, James could have been twenty years older.

“Let me judge what I can untangle myself from,” Dakota responded defiantly.

Alarm grew like a tidal wave in the depths of his gaze. James guided her deeper into the hallway with a hand on her back. “These people will hunt and dispose of you without a second thought.” His voice went quiet as a pair of menders passed by, each with a coffee in their hand. When they rounded the corner, he said, “Your status as the daughter of the Head Ranger will only get you so far. And, to be frank, he may not protect you if it means sacrificing his job.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

James studied her face. Must have seen the fight that set her jaw in place—defeat rooted in his own. “I hope you know what you’re doing. These people are…they won’t take kindly to betrayal. I’m walking on a precipice I can’t step away from. You’re young. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

“Julia Sinconi had her whole life ahead of her. She had two children and a husband who looked for her while she was locked in the belly of the prison. Who am I if I allow that to happen to another mother? Another sister? Another son?”

James steadied a hand on her shoulder. “You’re much braver than me or far more na? ve. Either way, I’ll keep you in my nightly prayers.”

The evening sun was beginning to weaken as Dakota made her way from the Guildhall. The crickets hidden amongst the tufts of grass at the ends of the parking rows had already begun to chirp, and the last birds twittered from their nests.

Dakota aimed for her car, a stack of papers clutched in one hand and her keys in the other. She jangled them in her palm, looking for the fob amongst the smattering of metal copies she wasn’t sure she could place anymore.

“Dakota! Wait up!”

Thalia bustled across the pavement, her mender coat draped in a bundle over her shoulder. Summer rain and sweet wildflowers swirled as she slowed from her jog.

“Saw you printing those out as I was getting ready to leave,” Thalia said. “I heard about your friend. Any word at all?”

Dakota lifted the stack of papers with a sigh, showing off the crudely made missing poster she had put together in the last few minutes of her shift. “Nothing. No word from the Rangers. I can’t keep putting my hope in the Broth—“ She cleared her throat, letting her hand fall back to her side. “I just need to feel like I’m doing something. This is probably stupid anyway.”

Thalia reached across Dakota’s body to take the stack from her. In one clean swipe, she split the pile in half and handed one half back to Dakota while keeping the other half tucked against her side. “Let me help. It’ll go faster with the two of us, and then we can get that drink we’ve been talking about for over a month now.”

“Oh, Thalia, I can’t let you do that,” Dakota started, something in her chest pinching at the offer, but Thalia quickly shook her head.

“Truly, you’ll be giving me something to do.” Thalia lifted her hand to free her blue-tipped hair from her ponytail, letting it drape to her shoulders. “I wasn’t kidding when I said that I didn’t have any friends here, and the amount of time I spend at home swiping through dating apps is getting really sad.”

Dakota grinned, tucking a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear. “If you insist, then. I was going to head to the west side of town. ”

“Let’s go,” Thalia said, following Dakota to the car. “I can get a tour from a Norwich native.”

“Don’t get too excited.” Dakota pressed the button on the key fob to unlock the car doors. “Wait until you see what side of town we’re on.”

“Dating apps, remember?” Thalia said as she tugged the door open and slid into the passenger seat. “Dating. Apps.”

While the drive to the west side of the city looked pretty at first, it quickly descended into a chaos of industrial factories and smog. The reek of pollution overtook the car freshener Dakota hung from her rearview mirror, and while she could tell Thalia was trying to be polite, there was still the slightest curl of disgust on her upper lip.

“Maybe you were right,” Thalia said as Dakota threw the car into park. “I shouldn’t have gotten too excited.” Her gaze tracked a slow-moving freight train that chugged past the gates of the nearest factory.

“Told you,” Dakota said with a smirk as she grabbed the staple gun and her half pile of missing posters from the center console. “There isn’t much over here.”

Thalia shouldered open the door and hoisted herself out of the car. “Why are we here then?”

Because this was the one place that the Brotherhood refused to go. This was the one place the news of Lyra’s disappearance may not have reached yet. Because she knew that it was deep in Viper territory, and Callum would rather spoon out his own eye than come here. And he would also spoon out her eye if he found out she was here.

“I haven’t hit this part of town yet,” Dakota replied instead. The first electricity pole was covered in ripped pieces of paper and flyers for strip clubs. She stapled the first missing poster on top of it all. “I’m just trying to cover my bases.”

Thalia took the staple gun from her and planted her first missing poster on a tree a few feet away. “You’re a good friend. I can’t think of many people who would take the time.”

Dakota walked a block away to the next electricity pole and stapled another one. “She’s been my best friend since we were nine years old. I would do anything for her.” She felt her throat tighten as she gazed at the picture of Lyra’s grinning face, her hip propped against the kitchen counter. It was one of Dakota’s favorite pictures of her.

Thalia took the staple gun, letting it fall against her hip. “I had a friend like that in Penham.” She took a slow, deep breath through her nose and let it out through her mouth. “She got into bad shit back home and…well, I wish I had the chance to put up missing posters. It means there’s still hope.”

Dakota opened her mouth to respond, but a rumble of motorcycle engines drowned out her next thought. “Shit,” she mumbled under her breath, tipping her head to twist away from the road. Whoever was the head of the Vipers these days may not recognize her, but…

“What are you—oh,” Thalia said as she watched the motorcycles fly by, their wheels kicking up stones from the road and sending them into the smog-filled air.

For a brief moment of relief, Dakota thought the pack would keep riding and think nothing of the two women stapling missing posters to electricity poles. That relief was short-lived when the head rider held a fist, and the motorcycles swung around in a wide arc spanning both sides of the road.

“Shit,” Dakota repeated as the head rider sidled up to the curb. Thalia quirked a brow at her when the Viper tugged off his helmet. Dakota scoffed, throwing the rider a look dripping with disdain. “Finn?”

Finn Blackthorn had been Callum’s rival in school, much like their fathers had been before them. Finn pushed his black hair from his bright blue eyes, starkly contrasted against his tanned skin, and leaned forward to prop his elbows against the handlebars of his motorcycle. It showcased his muscular shoulders, which Thalia couldn't seem to help but notice.

“Dakota Montgomery,” he drawled with a smirk. “I didn’t think I would see your face in Norwich again.”

Thalia glanced at Dakota. “One of your friends ?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Dakota replied, eyeing the gun holstered at his hip. “What do you want, Finn?”

Finn’s dark brows rose as he sat back in his seat. “Is that how you’re going to greet the Lead of the Vipers? It’s been a long time, Dakota, but even old ladies treat other clubs with respect.”

“Ugh, someone voted you in as Lead?” Dakota ignored his jab and lifted her pile of papers. “Lyra’s missing. We’re just putting up reward posters for information.”

“Why would I give a fuck what happened to Lyra Jones? ”

“Hey,” Thalia barked as she stepped forward, unaware of the lethality of Finn Blackthorn. Or, if she was aware, she didn't seem to care. “Don’t talk to her like that, you fucking pig.”

Finn paused, cocking his head as he stared Thalia down. Her eyes narrowed even further. Finally, he set his helmet on the seat behind him and swung a leg over the side of his bike. A hand went through his black hair in what looked like a poor attempt to tame it. Thalia didn’t yield an inch at his approach. Didn't yield an inch as the other four riders chuckled darkly.

“Who’s your friend, Dakota?” Finn asked, halting within half a foot of Thalia. He studied her fierce expression, gaze dragging from the peak of her hairline to the blue tips of her locks.

“Thalia, meet Finn. He’s the resident asshole of the west side of Norwich.”

Finn’s eyes flashed toward Dakota. “Careful. Callum isn’t here to save you. There’s no protection for you out—“ He was cut off when Thalia landed a swift and unexpected kick to his groin. He groaned as he leaned over, catching his knees with white-knuckled hands.

Dakota’s eyes widened, and she began to lurch forward to haul Thalia away, but Finn only let out a harsh laugh.

“I like you,” he heaved after a long minute of recovery. He struggled to stand completely but managed after the second minute. “Let me take you out sometime.”

Thalia let out a huff of surprised laughter. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Finn said with a grin, showing a dimple on his left cheek. “Let me take you out.”

Thalia gaped at him, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Are you insane? I just kicked you in the dick.”

Finn’s grin widened, and unpleasant didn’t begin to cover how Dakota felt as she watched it stretch across his lips. “What can I say? I like my women feisty.”

Gross.

Thalia watched him reproachfully before her head tilted. “Ten. Cash.”

It was Finn’s turn to say, “Excuse me?”

“Ten marks per number,” Thalia amended.

Dakota couldn't help but snicker at the look of Finn’s jaw working beneath his stubble. With a sigh that fluttered the locks framing Thalia’s face, he reached into his back pocket, retrieved his wallet, and handed her a bundle of crisp bills. As Thalia counted them, victory lifting the corner of her mouth, she rattled off the ten-digit number.

Finn dialed it into his phone and pressed the call button, which was promptly rejected with a loud screech that Dakota could hear over the rumbles of motorcycles from Finn’s awaiting Vipers. He looked at her expectantly.

“I’m sorry. Did you want them in order? That’ll be an additional one hundred.”

There was a flicker of something unreadable in Finn’s eyes before he reached into his wallet and pulled out another hundred. “You’re already becoming a more expensive woman than I typically care for.”

Thalia counted the money and pocketed it. “Thanks for doing business. Run along, please. We're trying to have a girl's day."

From his abashed gawk, it didn't seem Finn had been so thoroughly dismissed before. Especially by a woman. But Thalia merely swung around to staple another poster to the nearest telephone pole.