by K E Osborn
Chops chuckles bringing his hand up and around detaching Steel’s hands from his collar, and he glances at me and walks off to another room still leering at me over his shoulder. My heart is racing so fast as tears well in my eyes from the shock. My body is now visibly shaking and my breaths are coming in short and shallow bursts.
Steel steps up and pulls me to him as I fall limp into his arms. “Babe, you need to stay away from Chops. Why didn’t you tell me you were comin’?” He pulls me back and holds me at arm’s length.
My insides tremble as I try to calm down. “I wanted to surprise you.”
He pulls me back to him and holds my head to his chest. I wrap my arms around him tightly needing the support right now.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head. “I’m okay, now you’re here.”
He looks over to Knucklehead and glares at him. “What was the go?”
Knucklehead looks around the room and leans forward. “Chops was full on, brother. I would’ve stepped in, but I’m a prospect about to be patched in and he’s the Prez’s right hand, you know?”
“Jesus Knucklehead! So if he started to assault her, would you have let it happen?” Steel asks angrily and I turn looking at him wondering the same thing.
“No, I wouldn’t have let it get that far. You know I don’t like women bashers, Steel.”
Steel nods and cuddles into me tighter. “C’mon let’s sit you down and get some food into you,” he says and drags me over to the table and sits me down.
I nuzzle into his side as he strokes my hair while FIM brings over the bloody burgers and some drinks.
“Thanks,” Steel says and he walks off back to the kitchen.
Techie joins us soon after and we eat, well the guys eat, I mainly pick at my food seemingly lost my appetite. Then Steel takes me back to his room and we lay on his bed cuddling, where I can calm down with just us, and him telling me that everything’s going to be okay.
“Why is Chops like that with me?”
Steel runs his fingers along my arm and takes a deep breath. “I don’t know, babe. He’s always been that way.”
I chew on the side of my cheek. “What’s his job in the club?”
Steel goes quiet and stays still for a moment. I know that means it’s probably not something good.
“So, I don’t want to know, do I?”
He starts caressing my arms again. “Probably not.”
I cuddle into Steel further and try to relax as much as possible. Being in his room, I feel a lot safer than I do out in the clubrooms.
STEEL’S POV
Willow left really early this morning. She had to leave to go home and get ready for work, so she was up at sparrow's fart. I gave her a massive kiss goodbye and walked her out to her car, there was no way I was letting her out on her own in the club with Chops around, even if I was positive he’d still be in bed. After she left I, of course, went back to bed and slept until midday. But I’m up now, and sitting at the bar. Knucklehead is pouring me a beer as I wonder where everyone is. The clink of the stein being placed against the wooden bar alerts me that my icy cold beverage is ready. I look back at Knucklehead and smirk feeling on top of the world. Nothing could break this high I’m on.
My girl is back, the 5113ers have gone quiet, nothing is heading south right now. It’s just the way I like it. Picking up my beer, I take a gulp as everyone walks in from outside. It’s like the entire clubhouse of brothers were outside and have now ventured inside. As they traipse in, the noise level of the room picks up to its usual dull roar. FIM, Doug, and Techie all take seats next to me. Even Cassius and Shogun are inside, and Cassius is by my side nuzzling into my thigh. I lean down to pet his head.
“Good boy. You know how much your daddy loves you?” I ask in a baby voice to my dog as Techie laughs and punches my arm.
“You’re such a softie pansy arse now you have a woman, you know that?” Techie tells me and I roll my eyes and move my lips to say something back when a massive blast reverbs shaking the walls of the clubhouse. It sounds like the gates of the compound have just been smashed down or blown apart.
We all stand up as the dogs poise with their hackles up growling as we all look around wondering what the fuck that was. All my brothers draw their weapons. I reach around my back and pull out Wesley, in my head thanking anyone who’d listen that Willow isn’t here.
Techie pulls out his tablet and brings up the security feed from outside, but it’s all static.
“Code black… code black! The cameras are jammed,” Techie yells out. The sliding of metal against metal as bullets lock into position on everyone’s guns, is the only sound that can be heard in the otherwise silent clubhouse. My heart is racing as we all watch the clubhouse door waiting for whatever is coming through.
The door swings open and everyone points their weapons. Something flies in through the door. Suddenly, there’s a loud blast and everything turns white. The ringing in my ears is so loud the only other thing I can hear is the faint noise of the dogs barking as they take off toward the door. But I can’t really see anything as I’m stumbling on the spot from the stun. The ringing starts to drown out, and the blasting of gunfire jolts me back into the present. I stand up taller shaking my head as the stun wears off. My vision rights itself and I look across to the door to see the 5113ers raiding the clubhouse.
All of them.
They all storm inside shooting at anyone they pass and engaging in hand to hand combat with anyone who’s able to fight back. Taking a deep breath, I run forward and into the crowd of men, my knife glides into one of them. They invaded our turf, they’re here for our blood. Well, I’ll give them blood! Right here, right now, it’s kill or be killed and I have too much to live for. A fuckhead comes right at me and I duck from his fist flying toward my eye. He falls forward and Wesley comes down right into the back of his neck, blood squirts out as he falls to the floor and I pull my knife out to continue taking down these fuckers. Bending down, I pull my piece out of my boot and rack it ready to shoot some fuckers.
A 5113er screams as he lunges at me pistol aimed directly at my chest, so I bring my gun up without hesitation and pull the trigger putting a bullet right between his eyes. The echo of my gunfire I can’t distinguish from the other rounds all going off at the same time. My arm suddenly jolts backward and the burn against my skin makes me wince. Looking down, I see a bullet graze, I shake my head and punch the nearest 5113er in the back of the skull as he’s attacking Crash. He falls forward and Crash smiles at me, then brings up his gun and shoots the guy in the back, his blood propelling up onto my shirt. There’s still too many of them in here, and there’s too many Savages falling.
It’s a fucking bloodbath.
Shit is spurting all over the place as bullets burst into the skulls of the men all around me. Another 5113er lunges at me, the gun clicking right at my forehead, but it doesn’t fire. My heart stops as we both look at his gun. He’s out of ammo.
Thank fuck!
Smiling as I bring up Wesley, I slice right through his stomach. Blood bellows out as he gasps and plunges down onto another dead man’s body below. I watch him fall lifelessly to the ground as an almighty thump to the back of my head sends an ache right through me and causes me stumble slightly. I turn to see the guy aiming his gun right at me. So I pull up my piece and shoot first, the bullet bursts through his cheek blowing half his face off as I correct myself. I’m breathing fast as I turn around to see Techie fist fighting with a 5113er, but he’s holding his own.
Looking over to the other side of the room, Lookout grabs his stomach yelling out in pain and then falls flat on the floor. I wince as I race forward to get to him, but another 5113er grabs me and pulls a knife right up grazing over my chest. I grit my teeth at the near miss and clutch Wesley thrusting it down right into the side of his neck. Blood spurts out of his jugular as he gasps for air. Pushing him off me, I glance to my right to see Dad leaning over the back of the pool table wit
h a guy on top of him about to stab him in the face. My heart jumps into my chest as I rip out my gun and sight it with the 5113er. But Doug steps up in front of Dad pulling a gun and shooting the 5113er right in the head. The blood splatters onto dad’s face as the body falls on top of him. He pushes it off and looks up at Doug, nods at him, and I take a deep breath knowing Dad’s okay.
For now.
I turn to see a guy jumping on Behemoth’s back, so I punch him in the side of the face and he falls off and scurries away. Turning, I reach around to stab another 5113er, but another one steps into my sight and pulls a Glock right on me. I tense waiting for the impact of the bullet, but FIM jumps in front of me, his body jolts to the side as he takes the bullet. Reacting quickly, I bring my gun up and shoot the fucker right in the knee cap. He screams out in agony and drops to the floor. I move in behind him grabbing his hair and holding his head up high bringing Wesley under his chin and slicing through his neck letting him bleed out like the coward that he is. Pushing his body to the ground, I race over to FIM as he clutches at his side.
The crazy fucker took a bullet for me!
“Fuck, FIM,” I say to him as he stands back up and shakes his head.
“I’m good Steel, it’s only a flesh wound. Let’s get the rest of these fuckers,” he says and then rushes off punching a 5113er in the head as he pushes past.
He took a bullet for me. That means a lot.
I’m standing in a state of shock as another 5113er runs toward me. I simply bring my gun up and shoot him at point blank range. His blood douses my face. I frown at having his DNA all over me, so I bring my shirt up and wipe his crap away as the noise in the clubroom begins to die down. The blasting of gunfire is almost nonexistent now, and only muffled moans and death-filled gurgling and coughing can now be heard.
I take a look around breathing loudly through my nose as my body feels heavy looking at the bodies littering the clubhouse floor. Every inch of the grey concrete floor is now painted in red as I pant trying to catch my breath.
Glancing over at Dad he nods at me, and I’m grateful that he’s still alive. I look over to Behemoth, Ryder, and Crash, who are checking the bodies of the men on the floor.
Techie walks across the floor limping slightly and shakes his head. “Well, that was fun.”
I scoff and shake my head as we both stride over dodging bodies to Lookout, who’s on the floor in a bloodied mess. My chest tightens looking at his lifeless body on the floor. Bending down, I feel for his pulse just to make sure he’s really gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Placing my two fingers at his neck, his heartbeat instantly pounds strong and hard against my fingers. Relief floods over me as my body sags and I clench my eyes shut as I breathe.
Opening my eyes, I pull up his blood stained shirt to check his body. There’s nothing, not even a knick.
“Fuck’s sake, he’s fine. He just passed out,” I say standing back up as my brothers around me all sigh with relief.
Jigsaw walks over shaking his head. “The river of blood is a sight best unseen.”
I nod, actually understanding that one. I slap his shoulder as I turn and look around at the carnage. Some dead bodies ours, but mostly they’re 5113ers. A moan echoes from behind the bar. I open my eyes wide as I race over to see Knucklehead on the floor with his back up against the bench holding onto his stomach with blood pooling from his fingers and mouth.
“Fuck!” I call out and squat down, applying pressure to his stomach straight away as Knucklehead coughs and splutters.
FIM and Doug sprint around the back of the bar, they squat down beside me as my eyes fill with hot salty water looking at the pale face of my brother. My friend. My family.
“Hang in there, Knucklehead. Techie will already have Stevie on his way. You just gotta hang on. Okay? Hang on, brother.”
He looks up at me and his blood stained hand comes up to cup my cheek. “This was the best time of my life. You guys pulled me from the streets and made me into something. I never felt like I was a part of anything… until I came here. Never part of a family, I never belonged, until you made me a brother. I have you to thank for giving me a life, Steel… You let me live… I love the club… I love the brothers… I love you, Steel.”
“Don’t you dare, Knucklehead. Don’t you dare say your goodbyes. You hold on you fuckin’ hear me!” I yell at him but his eyes roll into the back of his head and his lips part letting out one final breath. His body slumps falling onto my lap. The ache in my chest is immense as his body gives out. I grit my teeth as the hot water pools in my eyes burn, but I blink it away. My breathing becomes rushed and harsh as I sway to and fro with Knucklehead in my arms trying to come to terms with my grief over losing such a loyal friend. Ney, a brother. My fist clenches and I smash it hard against the bar wall, letting out an angered groan with it.
FIM and Doug are reticent as they watch me mourn for Knucklehead. The mood is somber and all round the room, it’s quiet.
“Kid, I think you better get over here,” Dad calls out from near the entry door.
I exhale still clinging on to Knucklehead, but I know sitting here rocking with him won’t bring him back. I need to see what other fucked up mess awaits me. Sniffing, I gently lay Knucklehead down and run my hand over his eyes closing them. Shaking my head at the senseless loss of life, I stand up and walk toward the front door. In the short hallway where Dad is standing, I look down to his feet to see Cassius lying still on the floor. Red liquid oozing from his front quarter.
My heart stops and leaps into my throat as I gasp for air that just isn’t coming. “No, no, no, no, no.” I run forward and my knees hit the concrete hard as they skid along the floor in his blood needing to get to him as fast as possible. I drag his limp body into my lap, but there’s nothing. No sign of life, no whimpering, no breathing, nothing. He’s already gone. The hot salty water doesn’t evade me this time, as it stings my eyes and falls down my cheeks in fast rivulets burning my skin like acid.
“Cassius, my boy.” I lean down hugging him while sobbing into his fur.
“I’m sorry, kid.” Dad’s hand rests on my shoulder trying to comfort me.
It doesn’t.
Nothing will take away the ache in my chest. The misery and undeniable hurt running through my veins. Cassius wasn’t just a guard dog or a pet, he was my friend. A gift from my mother. He’s all I had left of her, and now thanks to those fuckers he’s gone too. Dead.
“Fuuuck,” I scream loudly as I continue to hold onto him tightly. I don’t want to let him go.
Dad sits down on the floor next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulders as I nuzzle into Cassius. I know my brothers are around me, but I can’t look up. I need to grieve. He’s been a part of me, of my life for ten years. He knows me better than I know myself, and he’s seen me through some really tough shit. I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to get through this crap without him.
“I know it’s hard Dylan. Trust me! If this were Shogun, I’d be gutted too. But we need to clean up. We can do whatever you want for him… bury him under the tree if you want. But we need to get back to business,” Dad says clenching my shoulder as I wipe my nose with my sleeve. I stutter out my staggered breaths and shake my head.
“I just need a few more minutes with him. Please, Dad.”
He stands up and nods. “Okay kid. Just a few more.”
A piercing scream echoes through the clubrooms causing me to turn and see Chops dragging a 5113er by his dreadlocks across the floor toward us. A sudden burst of rage flows through me as I stand ready to gut the last remaining fucker like a pig to the slaughter for my brother Knucklehead and my best friend, Cassius. I draw my gun and rack it getting ready to pull the trigger when Dad grabs my arm and pulls it down away from the 5113er.
Gritting my teeth, they squeak loudly as I grind them together in anger at my dad’s interference. “What the fuck, Dad. Let me kill this fuckin’ piece of scum shit!” I pull my gun back up and Dad st
ands in front of my gun making me huff out in annoyance.
“Stop! Think! We need to torture him for intel. We need to know if there are more coming.”
Turning, I huff knowing he’s right. Even though everything in me wants to make this fucker pay for the sins of his brothers, he definitely needs to be interviewed long and hard.
“Make the torture last a long fuckin’ time,” I demand.
Dad nods. “Don’t worry. For this massacre, it’s going to last days.”
Chops looks to Dad and he nods. Chops drags him off screaming and thrashing about by his dreadlocks down to the Chop Shop. Exhaling, I know at least that fucker will get some pain before he dies a slow and horrific death. Techie walks over and pulls me into a tight hug.
“I’m sorry about Knucklehead and Cassius, brother.”
I nod. “Yeah.” It’s all I can say as I walk past him toward the Chop Shop. I need to see some suffering inflicted on this guy, and I need to see it now. Stepping down the stairs, I move around the wall to see Chops already has him strapped into the metal chair naked and has his tool bench in place. The heavy footsteps of rubber boots on the stairs makes me look up to see Dad enter the Chop Shop too. The 5113er is ball-gaged so he can’t scream, but his eyes are open wide as he moves from side to side looking utterly petrified, his restraints keeping him in place.
I want to inflict the first pain, so I stride up to him clenching my fist and punch him in the jaw. The cracking of teeth pierces through the room as the ball-gag moves back in his mouth and he starts to choke.
Dad huffs and throws his hands in the air. “Don’t be a fucking idiot, kid.” He pulls the choking hazard from the 5113er’s mouth and he spits out three teeth. They clink against the concrete floor as blood dribbles from his mouth and he moans out in delightful pain.