Chapter 153 A stupid plan
Ryder's POV
"That was one hell of a plan," I said, keeping my voice level despite the anger burning in my chest. "How did you remotely imagine it was all going to go exactly as you planned it?"
Dante stopped pacing for a moment and looked at me. His hand was still pressed against his ribs and his breathing was a bit labored.
"Plans are flexible," he said. "You adapt when circumstances change. That's what separates leaders from followers."
"Leaders don't manipulate people into becoming federal informants," I said.
"Don't they?" Dante's smile was annoying the hell out of me. "The simpler, more perfect option was for Vincent to just make me president. That was the original plan actually."
Sage's head turned slightly toward him, listening even as her hands stayed pressed against Jaxon's wound.
"Vincent was supposed to step down voluntarily, after I blackmailed him of course." Dante continued, starting to pace again. His steps were uneven, favoring his injured side. "Once he realized what a disgrace and disappointment Jaxon was. A snitch for the feds. A traitor to the club. What father would want to leave his legacy to someone like that?"
"So you set up the trap with Inspector Adams to make Jaxon look bad," I said, finally understanding his motives. "You wanted Vincent to see his son as a traitor so he'd choose you instead."
"Exactly." Dante winced as he moved, clutching his chest tighter. "Vincent was supposed to be horrified by what Jaxon had become. He was supposed to disown him. Remove him from the line of succession. And then turn to me. His most loyal, most capable option."
"But it didn't work out that way," Sage said quietly.
"No." Dante's voice was tight with pain and frustration. "Because Jaxon just happened to kill his father before Vincent could make the change official. So I had to make other plans."
He stopped pacing and pulled a small pill bottle from his jacket pocket. His hands were shaking slightly as he opened it and shook out a number of pills. He threw them into his mouth and swallowed them dry, grimacing.
"Pain medication," he explained when he saw me watching. "Cracked ribs are a bitch. So is a punctured lung."
"Good," I said. "I hope it hurts."
Dante's laugh was weak. "Your sense of humour is so embarrassing."
He leaned against one of the porch posts, still clutching his ribs. He was really in some pain. I could see it in the tightness around his eyes, the way his jaw was clenched.
As another round of heavy gunshots rippled through the air, I now wondered who it was that came shooting earlier. I thought it was Jaxon's federal protection. But there were no sirens, so what was happening in the front of the yard?
Dante's two remaining men kept glancing toward the sound of the gunshots, their guns still pointed at me but their attention divided.
That's when Jaxon spoke.
His voice was so quiet I almost didn't hear it at first. It was just a whisper, barely audible over the distant gunfire.
"Sage."
Sage's hands stilled on his wound. Her eyes went to his face. "Jaxon? Don't try to talk. Save your energy."
"Need to..." Jaxon's words came out wet and labored. "Need to say..."
"You don't need to say anything," Sage told him, her voice breaking. "Just hold on. Help will be here soon."
"I'm sorry." The words came out clearer this time, like he'd gathered all his remaining strength to say them. "This is... all my fault."
"No," Sage said firmly. "This is Dante's fault. Not yours."
"If I didn't..." Jaxon coughed, and blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. "If I didn't fall for the trap... Dante set with Inspector Adams..."
"Don't," Sage pleaded. "Don't do this right now. You were manipulated. Dante set you up. He used you."
"Doesn't matter." Jaxon's breathing was getting more ragged. "Still my choices. Still my fault. If I hadn't... if I'd been stronger... our lives would be just as it was."
Tears were streaming down Sage's face again. "Stop. Please stop talking like this."
"You deserve better than me," Jaxon continued, his voice getting weaker. "Better than a brother who... who killed his own father. Who destroyed his family. Who got you into this mess."
"You're my brother," Sage said fiercely. "You're all I have left. So you don't get to give up."
"Sage—"
"No!" Her voice rose, desperate and fierce. "You're not going to die today. Do you hear me? I can't lose you. I can't lose the only family I have."
She pressed harder on his wound and Jaxon groaned in pain.
"I know I'm angry at you," Sage continued, the words tumbling out between sobs. "I know you lied to me. I know you did terrible things. But you're still my brother. You're still Jaxon. And I need you to fight. I need you to stay with me."
"Trying," Jaxon whispered. "So tired."
"I know, I know. But you have to try harder." Sage leaned closer to him, her face inches from his. "You have to hold on. Because if you die, Dante wins. And I'll be damned if I let that bastard win."
Jaxon's lips twitched, like he was trying to smile. "Always were... stubborn."
"I learned from you," Sage said, managing a weak laugh through her tears. "So stay with me. Keep breathing. Keep fighting. Can you do that?"
"Can try," Jaxon's voice was barely audible now.
"Good." Sage's voice was fierce again, determined. "You're not going to die today. I won't let you. Do you hear me? I can't lose you.”