LYRIC (Aces MC Series Book 6.5)

by Aimee-Louise Foster

  "And what did he say?" Tyreese was eager to learn Duke's decision.

  "He doesn't think a collaboration between the Dyers and the ACES was a good idea at this stage." I tried to word it better than how Duke had put it.

  There was a long pause before he responded. "Did he give a reason?"

  "We have the feds sniffing around the club at the moment, it would be suicide for us to contemplate working with you right now." Again, I lied but I couldn't tell him the truth. Duke didn't want anything to do with the Dyers, they were all pricks.

  "Well it's a shame."

  I nodded, "Yeah it is."

  "Yeah, Poppy will be without her mum now for a very long time."

  He had lost me with his comment. "What do you mean? Why are you bringing her into this?"

  Tyreese shrugged. "Well, If Duke had worked with us, I was prepared to give the police some information to lessen your sister's sentence."

  "And because he hasn't you won't!" I wanted to punch the smug expression from his face.

  He nodded with a wry smile.

  I stood. "You're an absolute cock sucker to treat Adie the way you have."

  "Whoa! That's uncalled for." Tyreese didn't once lose his cool.

  "Really? You got her arrested in the first place, you said it yourself." I raised my voice. I hadn't realised that I was shouting until I caught a couple of guys enter the room and slowly walk towards us. I was outnumbered but the rage had built inside me and I was prepared to take them all on if I had to.

  "You're upset Lyric. Go home and calm down, we'll talk in a couple of days."

  "Go fuck yourself Tyreese."

  I brushed past the coffee table as I made my exit and knocked the mug over in anger. The liquid spilled onto the table and dripped onto the floor. I stomped from the room not paying any attention to Tyreese calling my name. That was it. I needed to find a way to free my sister and hurt Tyreese in the process for the pain he had caused.

  My head was pounding. Ideally, I needed to get home and sleep to rid myself of this headache. My motorcycle was in clear view. I quickened my pace and headed towards it when a young boy, no older than twelve skidded on his bike beside me.

  "Whoa, easy tiger. You nearly hit me." I wasn't in the mood to deal with a cocky kid.

  The young lad dug into his pocket and pulled out a small scrap of paper. He glanced over his shoulder making sure the coast was clear, before handing me the note. No sooner had he arrived, he left, cycling quickly in the opposite direction in which he had came.

  I turned my back to the building so I couldn't be seen and quickly opened the note. My heart raced as I read the words.

  Meet me at Rosewood Park at Midday, Kate xx

  Why would she be sending me a note, could she possibly be in danger and needed to keep it low key? So many questions whirled around my head. She was obviously in trouble for speaking to me last night and now I felt responsible for her safety.

  I had to meet her. I pulled back my sleeve to reveal my wristwatch, it was nearing 11.30am. If I got my shit together quickly, I would be able to get to the park in time to meet her.

  I cocked my leg and sat on the seat before placing my helmet on my head and fastening it under my chin. I needed to speak to her and help Kate escape the clutches of the Dyers.

  I drove the short distance to the park. I wasn't sure where Kate had wanted to meet so I decided to park in the main car park and hoped that I would be able to spot her. If not, I could walk around the park and hopefully, she would make herself visible.

  I parked up and removed my helmet. Glancing around my surroundings, nothing looked suspicious. There was no sign of Kate but then I realised that I didn't even know what car she drove. I dismounted my motorcycle and held my helmet as I made my way down the main path. There was no point waiting in clear view in the large car park, she wouldn't want to be spotted. I strolled down the path. A few teenagers played football on the main field up ahead and an elderly couple sat on a bench to my right but there was still no sign of Kate. I continued to stroll down the path glancing casually around me, not wanting to draw attention. My surrounding changed slightly as the path weaved through tall bushes that lined either side of the path. The only noise to be heard were the teenagers playing football, faintly in the distance. The bushes suddenly cleared into a large open space. I noticed two men casually walk in my direction, they were deep in conversation and oblivious to my approach. I stepped aside and gave them a brief smile allowing them enough room but to my surprise, they stopped.

  "You Lyric?" the man with the short beard asked.

  I drew my brows, shocked that he knew my name. "Who's asking?"

  The other man with dreadlocks lurched forwards to grab me but I moved back out of his reach. If they wanted trouble, I wasn't going down without a fight. I stepped closer, swung my helmet hard and made contact with the guys jaw.

  "Fuck!" he shouted stumbling back from the force.

  I swung again but the bearded guy stepped back and managed to grab the helmet. I let go and lunged at him, making sure that he got a blow to his stomach and face.

  I swung around his body, manoeuvring myself behind him and brought my forearm around his neck. Pulling tightly he clawed at my skin but I wasn't letting go. I backed up, putting the guy between me and his mate.

  "What do you want?" I shouted, trying to get to the bottom of why they had started this shit.

  His dreadlocks swung as he approached me with menace in his eyes. He wanted it for sure and he was about to get it. I was a bare knuckle champion and he was going to get the hiding of his life.

  I let go of the bearded guy, he quickly fell to his knees breathing heavily. I stomped forward with my fists ready, the guy on the ground wouldn't be any hassle for a while. The second guy, swopped at me but I ducked. I quickly tried to size him up, to see whether he was any competition. As I came up, I hit him twice in the ribs, winding him. He let out a loud yelp so I advanced knowing that he wasn't a match for me. I pounded him, one blow after the other until he was down on the ground. I quickly spun around, eager to finish the other guy.

  "Not bad, not bad. The boy can fight." Fazer clapped as he stepped from the path to join us on the grassy area.

  Six guys stepped from the shadows and spaced out, to form a semi circle in front of me. I swallowed hard but tried not to show weakness.

  The two guys that I had floored slowly got to their feet, holding various parts of their bodies. I now had eight people to contend with. I readied my fists, I wasn't going down without a fight but knew the odds were against me.

  The first guy swung at me and I stepped back, he lost his balance and I gave him a blow to the ribs. The next guy came at me brandishing a blade.

  "Dirty cunt!" I shouted. Before I knew it they had circled me.

  "How fucking stupid are you, coming to a deserted place on your own." Fazer stepped closer. He stood casually with his hands in his pockets waiting for a response. He smirked, "Your club has disrespected us for far too long. We're now going to turn up the heat and do more damage then we have already."

  I glanced around at the group, not wanting to be taken by surprise. "What do you mean? At least explain yourself." I was hoping to bide some time. Hopefully a member of the public would turn up or report a disturbance.

  "The fire at the salon, the broken window at the gym and supplying drugs to your strippers." He smiled and rocked on his heels. "Is it all starting to fall into place?"

  "But why? Why would you do all that shit, I don't understand." I continued to glance around the group, making sure I knew where everyone was standing.

  "Whip, I think you call him now, disrespected Tyreese." He stated firmly.

  "Okay and?" I couldn't understanding where he was going with this.

  "And nothing. Dyers don't forget." A few of the guys in the group nodded at his words.

  This was fucking madness, why was he holding a grudge for so long? "Okay and what has this got to do with me?" I asked confused as to
why I was now in an impossible situation.

  "You're trying to fuck my Mrs and I don't take too kindly to that."

  I drew my brows and dropped my guard. "You're gonna give me a kicking because you think I'm trying to fuck Kate?" I almost laughed because this was fucking stupid. "This is playground shit and you couldn't be much further from the truth." I tried to play the situation down. I was now running out of options and I knew that whatever came next was going to fucking hurt.

  "Clear up the mess when you're done boys." Fazer turned on his heels and walked in the opposite direction, clearly not wanting to engage in any further discussion.

  I brought up my fists in front of my face ready to brace myself but no sooner had I done this, I was grabbed from behind and my arms were hooked, rendering them useless. I kicked out and caught one of the guys in the balls. He doubled over in pain so I lashed out again as my feet were now my only weapon.

  One of the guys caught me on the chin, another in the stomach. From the back, someone was squeezing hard limiting my airways. I lashed out several times but quickly became lightheaded. I hurt, blow after blow hit my body and the lights were fading as I went in and out of consciousness.

  Chapter 13

  Victoria

  "I don't fucking understand, why would anyone do this to you?" I held his hand lightly as I sat beside him in the hospital. I was at the clubhouse when Duke got the call and had insisted that he take me with him, much to his dismay.

  Lyric had just woken after being brought into A&E and I was relieved that he was going to be okay.

  "Vics don't speak too loudly babe, I have a throbbing head." Lyric peered through the slits of his eyelids. I turned towards the sound of sniggering to see Duke leaning on the doorframe.

  "Lyric has a throbbing head!" I rolled my eyes playfully at Duke making Lyric laugh.

  He immediately rested his arm across his chest cupping his ribs.

  "Take it easy Lyric, you're in a mess buddy." Duke strolled into the room and grabbed a chair. He dragged it along the floor until he was the opposite side of the bed to me.

  "I'm hurting." I saw the pain on Lyrics swollen face.

  "The nurse said that she'll be back in a while to up your meds." I patted his hand reassuringly.

  "Where's Poppy?" he asked concerned.

  "She's with Amy. They are currently baking cakes." I wanted to make it clear that she was being well looked after. It was my job to care for her needs but I had felt an act of duty to be here for Lyric.

  "So what made you come up here to sit with him?" Duke asked raising his brows.

  "Sometimes you guys are a little, what's the word I'm looking for, insensitive!"

  Duke chuckled, "You think?"

  I nodded, "Yes. You're a man."

  It was Duke's turn to roll his eyes. "So you thought you'd come to offer your more sensitive side?"

  I smiled, "Yes I did."

  "So you still haven't told me how I ended up here." Lyric stated, interrupting our conversation.

  "A dog walker found you and called an ambulance. He did you a favour, your injuries could've been a lot worse if you were left alone on the ground for much longer." I squeezed his hand again. "Poppy has lost her mum for a while, she could do without losing her uncle also."

  "Indeed. Right I'm assuming you're here to find out exactly what happened." Lyric grimaced as he tried to adjust his seating position.

  Duke nodded and folded his arms across his chest before he glanced in my direction.

  "Oh do you want me to leave?" I stood and pushed my chair back.

  "Don't be silly Vics, you're now one of us. Sit, I need you here for your sensitivity."

  I smiled and sat back down on my chair pleased that he now saw me as one of them.

  "I told Tyreese that the ACES couldn't do business with the Dyers. He wanted a reason so I told him we had the feds." Duke raised his brows slightly making Lyric smile. "We had the police breathing down our necks." Lyric glanced in my direction briefly and I felt awkward, knowing my dad was to blame.

  "He basically then hung my sister out to dry, stating that he wouldn't make the authorities aware that the drugs she had in the car weren't hers." I saw the frustration displayed on Lyrics face. "Well, I assumed he'd do that anyway to be honest. He wouldn't do something for nothing."

  I listened closely to their conversation, trying to understand as best I could. Their lives were worlds apart from mine. My dad had warned me about their antics and I really wanted to see whether what he said was true.

  "As I left, some young boy passed me a note. It was from Kate, asking me to meet her at the park at midday. I didn't hesitate, she obviously needed to talk if she went to those lengths to get my attention."

  Lyric reached for his water on the bedside cabinet but grimaced as he twisted. I stood and took the glass from the cabinet and lifted it to his lips so he could take a sip. When he had finished, I returned it to the cabinet and took a seat.

  "Thanks," he smiled.

  "Do you now see that it was a set up?" Duke sat forward in his chair.

  "Katie wouldn't do that." Lyric was adamant.

  Duke tilted his head, "How do you know?"

  "I just do."

  "You turned up to the meeting point on that note. I'm assuming that she wasn't there and you got a beating." Duke was direct with his questioning.

  Lyric shrugged.

  "Tell me that I'm wrong then. Was she there or not?" When Duke didn't get the response he wanted, he got more animated.

  "You're right. She wasn't there and I was greeted by eight members of the Dyers." Lyric spat.

  "Fucking pussy's."

  "I could've handled one or two but once they all jumped in, I didn't have a chance." Lyric seemed frustrated, like he had almost let himself down.

  "Anything else I need to know?"

  Lyric let out a sigh. "Fazer admitted that he was behind the trouble we've been having."

  "What exactly?" Lyrics words had gained Dukes full attention.

  "The fire at the salon, the broken window at the gym and drugs distributed to our dancers were all mentioned."

  "Did they mention Amber or Paige?" I quickly racked my brains, I couldn't remember them being mentioned before.

  Lyric shook his head, "Nah, I don't think that was them."

  "I didn't think they would do the other stuff either if I'm honest. Why would they want trouble with us? Did they say why?" Duke reeled off multiple questions.

  He sighed, "They said something about the club disrespecting them including what had gone on with Whip."

  Duke drew his brows trying to rack his brains and then the penny dropped. "You're telling me that all this is over Whip spilling a drink over Tyreese's bird?"

  Again Lyric shrugged not knowing the full details.

  "Fucking hell. If they hold these types of grudges, then they must have beef with everyone out there. It's ridiculous."

  Duke sat back in his chair trying to control his anger. He fidgeted and finally extending his legs so they were placed on the chair beside him. "Okay so going back to Kate. How well do you know her?"

  "I don't really. We've met a couple of times and there's a spark but she's Fazer's and he won't let her go without a fight."

  "Is she in trouble?" Lyric nodded. "Does she need saving?" Duke lifted his brows waiting for a response.

  Lyric smiled, "I don't know, she's a tough cookie."

  "I'm thinking that if she was that tough, she would've left by her own accord."

  "You could be right but unless I see her again, I'll never know." I heard the longing in his voice.

  I saw that Duke was annoyed. My phone vibrated in my bag. I had heard it a couple of times during the past 10 minutes but I didn't want to interrupt the flow of the conversation.

  There was a natural pause so I bent down and took my bag from the floor. I rummaged inside and found my phone. I removed it and saw that I had numerous messages from my dad and a few missed calls. Why was he contacting me
?

  "You okay Vics?" Lyric asked seeing my confusion.

  "Yeah, my dad's trying to get hold of me. I'm just going to pop outside and call him to make sure everything's okay."

  He nodded, "That's fine. I'm not exactly going anywhere." Lyric pointed at himself sitting in the bed.

  I smiled as I stood, taking my bag with me.

  The corridors were fairly quiet. I strolled towards the exit and made a mental note that I would need some change in order to get a hot drink from the machine on my return.

  As I exited the building, the cold air took hold of my cardigan, opening it to reveal my vest top. The chill went through my body and I quickly grabbed the material wrapping it tightly around myself. I needed to call my dad but I couldn't be out here too long as I would catch a chill.

  I pressed his name and it started to ring.

  "I've been trying to get hold of you." He blurted.

  "Yes I know by the amount of missed calls." I chuckled.

  "It's not a laughing matter Victoria."

  I rolled my eyes knowing that he couldn't see me. "What is it dad as I'm sort of in the middle of something."

  "Where are you?" he asked inquisitively.

  "Dad, I don't need to answer to you, I'm a big girl." I didn't want him to know that I was at the hospital. He would ask too many questions and I was tired to play his games this evening.

  "Okay don't answer but are you at the clubhouse?"

  I didn't appreciate his shitty tone. "No I'm not dad. Please get to the point as I'm busy." My patience were wearing thin.

  "I wanted to be the one to tell you, we have arrested one of the ACES today." I placed my palm upon my forehead. I knew he wouldn't be upset about this, quite the opposite.

  "Okay, thank you for telling me." I racked my brains trying to think who he would have arrested but nothing sprang to mind. Duke hadn't mentioned it either so it couldn't be anything too serious.

  "Haven't you got any questions?" He was obviously surprised by my flippant response.

  "Dad, come on, apparently you've made it your life's mission to stalk the ACES and bring them down. If you've arrested one of them, then they have probably broken the law. What was it a traffic offence?" I couldn't believe that he was contacting me regarding this matter, it had absolutely nothing to do with me.