“Do we know who their president is?” My blood was boiling with every word.
Rave nodded, pulling out photos of two men. “Darren Paterson. His number two is Elijah Clark.” Rave pointed to each snapshot in turn, showing me who my next targets were going to be.
“That’s who we have to go after.” I shoved the Polaroids into the inside pocket of my leather cut.
“They’re never in the same place at the same time. Surprisingly, I saw Darren last night, and he was never alone. No sign of Elijah, though,” Abel explained.
Jett jumped to his feet. “I say we take out as many as we can at once. No sense in just sitting here when we know where a lot of them are hiding out.”
“Sit your jumpy ass down and shut up,” Hawk howled at Jett.
Doing as he was told, Jett slumped back into his seat.
“Do what you want with the underling soldiers. I don’t give a shit about those bastards, but get me Darren and take him to the woods,” I instructed Abel and Rave. “I’ll meet you there with a surprise for our guest of honor. Jett, Reese, you’re with me. The rest of you, we’re in lockdown. Dad, I need you to go get Piper and Emerson. Bring them here. I don’t want them to be alone right now.”
“You got it, son.” My old man stood. “You heard the man. Let’s get to it.”
Chapter 5
Maccon
It didn’t take long for us to make it out to the cabin we had tucked away deep in the Arkansas woods. The crickets were chirping under a cloudless, star-cloaked sky as we parked our motorcycles around back.
“What’s the plan, brother?” Reese asked, following me around to the side of the house.
I popped open the shed door. “Fight fire with fire.” Grabbing the fine-tipped soldering iron off of the shelf, I grinned at my number two. “It’s poetic, isn’t it?” I chuckled before grabbing a few boxes of ammunition for his revolver. “Can’t be too careful.”
“You always were the brains of the operation,” he remarked before we headed back up to the front porch of the cabin. “Now we wait.”
After we went through a pack of smokes and a fifth of Jack Daniels, Abel and Ravage finally joined us. Pulling up in a blacked-out van, they hopped out quickly.
“We have a present for you,” Abel hollered up to us with a sinister simper crawling over his lips.
“About damn time. I was beginning to think y’all weren’t going to pull this off.” I made my way down the steps to join them.
“We’d never let you down, brother,” Rave stated as he opened the back doors. The hogtied man inside screamed through his gag at the top of his lungs.
“Shut up.” I spit in his face as Reese and Jett pulled him out of the back.
“Basement?” Reese looked up at me.
“Yep.” I felt like a damn kid on Christmas. It was the weirdest feeling in the world. The excitement of the torture I was about to inflict on the man responsible for Allie’s death was so intense.
We dragged him into the dimly lit, plastic-covered basement and tied him to a rickety wooden chair in the middle of the room.
“Take his shoes off,” I demanded, plugging my tool into an orange extension cord.
I let the soldering iron heat up to its maximum nine hundred degrees and began with the bottom of his right foot. Abel and Jett held his leg steady while Reese held his shoulders down.
Darren tried to thrash as wails of pain leapt from his chest.
“This is nothing compared to what you did to my wife,” I screamed, setting the instrument down for a second. “Other foot,” I barked.
Abel and Jett shifted, pulling his leg up. Darren tried to knee Abel in the face, barely missing him.
“Not today, fuckface,” Abel growled, pulling his Glock 26 from its ankle holster. Firing off one round into Darren’s knee, Abel shot me a quick wink.
“You picked the wrong motherfuckers to mess with,” Rave bellowed from behind me as he watched the show while chain-smoking.
Once both of the bottoms of Darren’s feet were medium rare, I cut open his shirt. Darren’s head nodded from side to side, barely able to stay awake through the pain.
“Wakey, wakey,” I snickered as I splashed water in his face.
His eyes shot open as he screamed out. “Please,” he muttered over and over. “Please don’t.”
“It’s too late for that. If you wanted mercy, you shouldn’t have blown up my house and killed my pregnant wife.” I smiled with my face an inch away from his. “Don’t worry, it’ll all be over soon.”
His chest was covered in the Renegade Kings’ reaper. That was about to change.
Taking the soldering iron, I slowly branded Allie’s name over the intricate artwork. I watched as the black-inked skin bubbled up under each letter. Tears started to stream down my face as the E was finished.
The smell of burnt flesh overtook the small space as I stared at the blubbering sack of shit in front of me, and the high that had consumed me faded. No retaliation would bring Allie back. No amount of bloodshed would soothe my aching soul.
Demons crashed inside of me as I dropped to my knees. I wasn’t ashamed. Grief was part of life, and if I couldn’t break down in front of my men and show them I was human, how could I be a true leader? I was only one man—one man with a broken heart and a duty to my family and brotherhood.
Jett pulled me to my feet. “It’s done, brother. Go back to your daughter. We’ll finish up here.”
Taking out my Kimber Micro Crimson Carry, I shot Darren in the temple.
“Now it’s done.” I exhaled before turning for the stairs. “The lye is in the shed. Y’all know what to do.”
Rave walked up to me, resting his hand on my shoulder. “We got this, brother. Get outta here. You have a little one waiting for you.”
Pulling Emerson out of the makeshift crib that was set up in the room where Piper was sleeping for the night, I went and sat on the couch in the lounge. Everyone was asleep in the back bedrooms and scattered around on the floor in sleeping bags. My entire family was under one roof, and that scared the shit out of me. Even with guards posted around the entire place and a state-of-the-art security system, I knew I would never rest easy again. There was too much to lose now that Emerson was in the world.
Staring down at her sweet face as she slept, I tutted to my daughter. “Daddy got the bad guy, sweetheart. I promise I will always protect you. As long as I live, you will always be safe.”
Daggers shot through me. How could I promise her that when I hadn’t been able to protect her mother? How was I going to be able to raise her on my own?
“Maccon?” Piper trotted into the room.
“What’re you doing up?” I whispered to her as she took a seat next to me.
“I went to check on the baby and she wasn’t in the crib. I nearly had a panic attack.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “How was your night?”
I leaned my head against hers. “Better now that I’m here with my girls.”
“She looks so peaceful in your arms.”
“I think she’s definitely going to be a daddy’s girl,” I teased.
“There’s no doubt about that one.” Piper stretched against me.
“Go back to bed. I’m going to sit up with her for a while.”
“All right. Get some rest. You’ve been going nonstop and you’re no good to anyone running on an empty tank.”
“Yes ma’am.”
She stuck her tongue out at me before hopping up from the couch. “Love ya.”
“Love you too, punk.”
Chapter 6
Maccon
A little over ten years later
I cracked my back as I got out of bed. With the Renegade Kings completely underground since the night we took out their leader, life had slowed down to a normal pace for us. We had lost a few good men over the years, all in the name of war. Ravage and Abel had both been taken. They were missed and their loss was felt on a daily basis, but the world kept turning anyway.
I could smell bacon and coffee wafting up from the kitchen as I made my way down the stairs.
“Daddy,” Emerson cheered as she popped up from her seat at the kitchen table.
“Morning, princess,” I muttered before kissing the top of her head. “Are you excited for your first day of school?”
She bounced in her chair. “Yep.”
“I can’t believe she’s starting fifth grade this year. Where has the time gone?” Piper handed me a cup of black coffee and a plate full of scrambled eggs and bacon.
“Bless you.” I smiled at her, joining my family for breakfast. “Are you going into the shop today?”
Piper nodded with bacon rolling around in her mouth. “Right after I drop this little one off at school. I’ll see you there.”
Emerson wiggled away from her aunt as Piper tousled her hair a bit.
“Now my hair is going to be all messed up,” Emerson complained.
“I’ll help you fix it. Go grab your brush.” I beamed at my daughter as she darted for her room in a flash.
“She’s so grown up,” Piper remarked.
“Tell me about it.” I rolled my eyes. “She’s going to be a handful here shortly.”
“She already is,” Piper baited with a toothy grin. “She takes after her mother.”
My sister was right. I saw more and more of Allie in our daughter every day.
Emerson thrust the brush into my hands. “Here, Daddy.”
I pulled my little girl into my lap, brushing her dirty-blonde hair into pigtails, just the way she liked it. “There you go, sweetheart. Now you’re all ready for your last first day of elementary school.” The words caught in the back of my throat. She was growing up too fast.
“Grab your bag, Em. We gotta go. You can’t be late on your first day.” Piper placed the dirty dishes from our breakfast in the sink.
“Love you, Daddy.” Emerson threw her tiny arms around my neck, making me melt on the spot.
“Have the best day ever, princess. I love you so much.”
After a long day of selling discount auto parts and dealing with paperwork, I was finally in my happy place—tucking Emerson in for the night.
“Story time,” she sang out, shoving a worn copy of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe into my hands.
“That it is, princess. Now get all situated.” I helped her climb into her bed next to me so she could cuddle up as I read from her favorite book for what felt like the hundredth time.
Pulling out the bookmark at the beginning of chapter two, I started reading the familiar words. “‘Good evening,’ said Lucy. But the Faun was so busy picking up its parcels that at first it did not reply. When it had finished it made her a little bow.”
I paused for a split second to take in the moment. There was nothing better than being there with her in simple moments like that.
When chapter two was finished, I put the bookmark back in and kissed Emerson on her forehead. “Sleep well, princess.”
“Good night, Daddy,” she muttered while rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Joining Piper on the couch, I let out a sigh. “I think I need to head out for a drink.”
“I think you deserve one,” she replied. “It’s about time you did something for yourself for a change.”
My sister eyed me as I deflated. My life was my family. I worked, I took care of Emerson, I ran my club, rinse and repeat—that was all she wrote.
“It’s really not that bad, is it?”
“You need to get laid, big brother.” Hearing my sister tell me to get my dick wet was the strangest thing in the world.
“Don’t be gross.”
She shrugged. “Just stating facts, man. It’s been more than ten years since Allie, and I feel like you’re turning into a priest or something.”
It wasn’t like I didn’t have a conquest or two from time to time, but I kept them as far away from my family life as possible. I didn’t want someone else messing up the wonderful dynamic we had together. It was too risky.
“Far from it, sis.” I grabbed my cut and keys before turning to Piper. “Thank you, though. Sometimes I need a little push.”
“You don’t have to tell me, Maccon. Now get goin’.” She shooed me away as I walked out the door.
Chapter 7
Kinsley
The last bell of the day finally rang, and all my fifth graders jumped up out of their desks.
“It was so wonderful getting to meet all of you today. Great first day.” I shoved my laptop into its bag before instructing the kids to get into a single-file line to walk to the car pick-up area and the buses.
As their excited faces greeted their parents one by one, I couldn’t help but cherish how much I loved my job.
I’d never thought teaching was my true calling. I’d gotten an education degree because it seemed easy and I was good with kids, but it had turned into a welcomed passion I was grateful for.
“We made it through day one!” Mrs. Day smiled over at me after shutting the car door behind the last child to be picked up.
I beamed over at her while digging my keys out from the bottom of my purse. “That we did.”
“Have any plans tonight?” she asked as we made our way to the staff parking lot on the other side of the administration office.
“A stiff drink is definitely what the doctor ordered for this evening,” I replied quickly.
“Amen to that. See you bright and early tomorrow.”
I waved goodbye to my friend before making the short drive to my house to change. The pencil skirts and nice blouses were the only part of my job that just didn’t fit. I was more of a worn-out jeans and T-shirt kind of gal, but dressing the part was a pill I didn’t mind swallowing too much.
As I wiggled out of my gray skirt, my phone vibrated with a text from my on-again, off-again douchebag. I had no idea why I still entertained Elijah’s booty calls, but there was something about him that made me weak.
It had been a couple of weeks since I had kicked him out of my apartment the last time, and like clockwork, he was trying to sneak his way back into my good graces.
Elijah: Hey beautiful. Drinks tonight at Red Crow?
I rolled my eyes as I read the message. He knew it was the first day of school and I would be making my way to my normal watering hole.
Me: I was just about to head that way.
Elijah: See you there in a bit, sweetheart.
I knew I should just find a new bar and block his number, but I didn’t. I was a moth, he was the flame—the oldest story in the fucking book. It was just a matter of time until I got burned yet again.
I threw on my favorite pair of Wranglers and an old Led Zeppelin shirt before glancing in the mirror. My makeup was still good from the morning, and the curls in my long hair were still holding up nicely. After a quick dousing with hairspray, I was out the door to make yet another bad decision.
Making my way to my typical spot in the back of the bar, I greeted the bubbly bartender.
“What’re you having?” she asked, throwing a white paper napkin down in front of me.
“Jameson and ginger,” I replied.
“You got it.”
The hair on the back of my neck prickled as the seat next to me was pulled out.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” Elijah’s low voice slid into my ear as the smell of stale booze wafted from his hot breath.
Great. He’s already three sheets to the wind.
“Laying it on thick there, Clark,” I spit out quickly with a little laugh. I loved how much he hated when I called him by his last name.
“Don’t be like that, sweetheart. Aren’t you just a little happy to be seeing me?”
As his head cocked to the side, I narrowed my gaze at him. “After all this
time, why the hell would you ever think that?”
“That smartass mouth of yours is going to get you in quite a lot of trouble around these parts, little lady. Your memory can’t be that short. Don’t you remember the last night you mouthed off to me in public?”
“Do your worst, Elijah. Your empty threats don’t scare me anymore,” I bit back before turning away from him.
“Don’t for one second think there is anything empty about what I’m sayin’.” His hand gripped my wrist.
Wrong move, fucker. I was in no mood to deal with his bullshit.
Chapter 8
Maccon
Bellying up to the bar at the Red Crow, I ordered a pint of Jade IPA and a shot of Jameson neat. It had been so long since I drank alone at a bar, I didn’t really know what to do. The people-watching was prime that night with drunkards hollering at each other at the top of their lungs while playing rounds of pool, couples line-dancing their hearts out, and swarms of barflies trying to outdrink each other.
It didn’t take long for a gorgeous brunette with long flowing curls at the far end of the bar to catch my eye. Just as I mustered up enough courage to walk over to her, a guy took the empty seat beside her.
The blacked-out tattoo on his forearm wasn’t lost on me as I tried to place his somewhat familiar face. The brunette seemed to know him, and I chalked it up to bad timing.
There will be other women to talk to. I tried to reassure myself, but I couldn’t stop glancing over at her delicate features as she laughed and carried on with her guy for a short time.
Abruptly, her face twisted and his hand gripped her wrist. He pulled her to her feet and she promptly slapped him across the face.
Unkillable: An Unacceptables MC Standalone Romance Page 3