Page 36 of Bishop

I don't respond. I can't. Revenge is the only thing on my mind. It's already taken over.

***

Sleep doesn't come easy.

Walking out of my room, I notice that all is quiet in the Boys of Djinn compound. Maybe the boys have all gone back to their separate cabins for the night. I have one of my own, but I feel better in the main compound with other people around, just in case something goes down. It's always good to have some backup.

Slowly, I push open the door to the small guestroom both April and Gabrielle are sharing and see them cuddled up next to each other, sleeping peacefully. April is getting on better than I would have assumed, but Gabrielle is still having some issues. She tries to put on a brave face, but I can see right through it.

After that night she asked me to hurt her during sex and I caught her cutting herself, I've tried to keep a close eye on her without seeming like I'm monitoring her. I want her to know I trust her. I do, but I also know how loud the terrors can scream after something like this. As far as I can tell, the cutting was a one-off, but I don't want her to get to a place where she feels like she's going to have to do it again.

I'm missing her though, not only physically but emotionally. She was just as much my support as I was hers. After that night, we've remained close, but I feel like she's still closed off. I want her back. I want old Gabrielle back even though I know it's impossible; she'll never be the same Gabrielle she was before.

I grind my teeth together and close the door. She'll never be the same because of what Shade and Liam did to us. I blame them wholeheartedly for trying to break that woman.

My woman.

Since we've been here, the club seems to be extremely happy that I'm back home, but people are still walking on eggshells around me. They're still acting like I'm an invalid or something like that. I need that to stop immediately.

I don't see anyone in the main room, but I see a light coming from the back where church is.

"We've already flushed out the members in the councilman's office. The bureau has all the information, and most of them have already resigned from their stations." I hear Brendan speaking and wait at the door for a second to see if I can catch more of what's going on. If they were calling church, why didn't I have an invite? Last I checked, I was still a member of the Boys of Djinn.

"What about the crimes committed? Are they going to get any time for what they've done?" Wyatt asks, and I suck in a breath, shocked. They're really waiting on the authorities to dole out appropriate punishments? I can't fucking believe it.

I push open the door, not even bothering to knock, and make my presence known. "Is this a secret boys club or something I don't know about?" I ask, trying to infuse a bit of humor into my deadly tone.

"Bishop? Hey man. No, it's no secret, but we didn't want to rush you into getting back to business. You can take your time to?—"

I cut Wyatt off before he can finish, "I'm fine. Let's talk business." I walk over to the table and sit in my chair. I spread my fingers on top of the heavy wood table. It feels nice under my fingertips. This is one more of those sensations I thought I'd never get to feel again. Just a few days ago, I was at the whim of a madman, and now I'm in a position to seek vengeance.

"Uh, yeah, well, like I was saying, most of the congress members in the state that we know of who had ties to the Faceless have been outed. After Rupert went down, people started jumping ship and snitching just as soon as they could to cut a deal." Brendan continues. With every word out of his mouth, I can feel myself getting angrier and angrier.

"And what are we doing about them?" I swing my eyes back in Wyatt's direction. As the President of the club, he has the final say on our plans.

"What do you mean, what are we going to do about it? The authorities are going to handle it."

"Authorities? Are you out of your mind? Do you realize how many of these Faceless bastards are in positions of authority? What makes you think they won't take it easy on their buddies? We need to make sure those who had anything to do with this pay. Heavily."

"We don't need to do anything but make sure the community is safe," Wyatt fires back.

I fist my hand against the table, leaning forward in my seat, and spit venom in his direction, "Safe? You think ratting out a few politicians is going to be enough to make sure the community is safe from the Faceless? If it were that simple, something like this would have never happened in the first place. No, what we need to do is go after the leaders. All of them, and deal with them ourselves."

Cody leans forward. It's the first time I'm getting a good look at him. His once pretty face is now scarred with burns. I don't know what happened, but I'd put money on it having something to do with the Faceless.

"We've already started a way to ensure those responsible are tried justly. That's all we can do right now, Bishop."

His words infuriate me even more, and before I can stop myself, I'm up out of my chair, banging my hand on the table. "That's not good enough!"

The entire room falls silent. All eyes are on me, their backs facing Wyatt, protecting him from me. I'm the danger in the room. That's fine with me. I've spent way too long just going with the flow. This time, nothing is going to stop me from doing what I know needs to be done, even if that means I have to go against my President to do so. I just hope he understands that this is what needs to happen.

"Clear the room," Wyatt snaps out. "Everyone but Bishop, leave."

"Bro, I don't think—" Brendan turns back to his brother, concern lacing his features.

"I'm fine, and so is Bishop." Wyatt leans over and glares at me. "Isn't that right?"

"Jury's still out on that," I spit back.