by Harley Wylde
“So what did the club do?” Rooster asked. “Because this is the first time I’ve heard what’s going on. I knew about the incident with Alora, but you’ve brushed me off every time I’ve mentioned making the dickhead pay.”
“You know the shed at the back of the property?” Charming asked.
“He’s there?” Rooster asked.
Charming nodded. “I haven’t done much to him yet. I thought I’d give you a chance. First, I need to know if Alora is like Jordan or more like Clarity.”
Rooster tensed. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Scratch huffed. “Relax, kid. He only wants to know if Alora wants to take a whack at him before we finish him off. Or is she more like my sweet woman and would prefer to stay home and let us handle it.”
Wait. What? I looked at the men around the table, finding every single one staring at me. Except Rooster, who was too busy trying to see if he had developed laser vision. At least, I assumed that’s why he was glaring at the innocent, defenseless table like he wanted to murder it. A quick glance proved there weren’t scorch marks, so it seemed he hadn’t developed a superpower.
“I don’t think I understand,” I said.
“Honey, he hurt you. Scared the shit out of you. Hell, you arrived here without one of your shoes and had a damn gator come out of the tall grass while the fucker had you pinned. I want to know if you want to take a pound of flesh and get justice for yourself, or do you want the club to take care of it?” Charming asked.
“You mean like… kill him?” I asked.
“You aren’t the first woman he’s pulled that shit with,” Renegade said. “The others weren’t so lucky. No gators came to their rescue. He’s a dirty cop and needs to go down. Even if he went to prison, do you think he’d survive long inside? Because he wouldn’t. As much fun as it might be to watch him get beaten, raped, and treated like a toilet for however long he managed to keep breathing while locked up, I think it’s best we just make him disappear.”
Wow. Okay. So they were really just going to kill a police officer. Apparently with the blessing of the police chief? Where the hell had I moved? The wild west? I didn’t think stuff like this really happened. Wasn’t it just fiction?
I searched myself, trying to decide if I had it in me to hurt someone. Take their life. Make them bleed. Then I thought about how I’d felt that day. I’d known what he planned, and I’d been unable to break free. Not until the gator came along. I really should go set some chickens loose in that area in hopes he catches a few as a snack. He deserved some sort of prize for what he’d done, even if he’d just been acting off animal instinct.
“I want to see him,” I said. “I don’t know if I have it in me to do anything. I may decide I want to go home.”
“You don’t have to do this,” Rooster said. “I can take care of him, Alora.”
I placed my hand over his. “I know you can. I have complete faith in your ability to avenge me, but I need to know if I can handle this. Not necessarily me taking his life. More… can I handle this sort of life? Where you go off and people may die, or I could be put in danger because of the things you do. I need to know I can deal with whatever comes our way.”
“All right. I don’t like it. I get it though.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek.
“You two head over to the shed. I’ll let Havoc come with you. One way or another, that asshole will breathe his last before he disappears for good.” Charming smacked his hand on the table. “Go on, you three. Get out of here.”
I stood and Rooster took my hand as we walked back out to his truck. We followed Havoc through the compound. I saw the shed in the distance, thinking it seemed awfully small. I figured that was probably the point. Who would see something so benign and think a man was about to die there? It looked like a place to store garden tools. Assuming anyone in this place actually used garden tools. Then again, they might… even if it was for planting bodies instead of greenery.
We stood outside the closed doors and Havoc unlocked it, then slid the doors open. I took a breath before going inside. Someone had run electricity to the building, and a dim bulb cast a yellow-ish light into the space. Officer Murray had been stripped down, bound to a chair in the middle of the floor, and gagged. A jagged cut over his brow bled freely, and he had bruises covering every inch of him. Blood had soaked the ground under him, even though I didn’t see more injuries. Until I noticed it was dripping from behind the chair.
I walked around him, his gaze locked on me in pure hatred. I winced and felt a little nauseated when I saw they’d ripped out his fingernails and severed his pinky and ring finger on one hand. I fought back bile, thinking maybe I should have gone home after all. I circled back to the front of him and studied the man who’d tried to do something so vile to me.
He didn’t look so scary now. I also knew if he could get free, he’d have been long gone. The way they’d shackled him guaranteed he wasn’t leaving unless they allowed it. I didn’t think that was happening until his heart stopped beating. I wanted to say I was horrified. I should have been. Knowing he’d hurt other women, that he’d have hurt me… it changed things. Made me see the world a little different. I’d heard how contemptable my uncles were, but hearing something and experiencing it were two different things. I saw the news, watched the horrific things people did to each other every day. None of it really hit home since it hadn’t happened to me. But this… this was different.
“How does it feel to be helpless? To be held against your will?” I asked.
He didn’t make a sound. Just glared at me.
“You probably think this is all my fault. It’s not. It’s your fault. You’re a sick, twisted man, Officer Murray. I’ve heard about the other women. The ones who weren’t so lucky. You’re a rapist. Men like you shouldn’t wear a badge. You shouldn’t be allowed to roam the earth, free to hurt whomever you want.”
Rooster placed his hand on my shoulder. I knew he wanted me to leave. He didn’t like me seeing this, being a part of it. The truth was I’d been pulled into this the moment Officer Murray dragged me from my car. The difference was that I got to finish it.
“The women he hurt…” I looked at Havoc. “What did he do to them?”
“Alora, sweetheart, you don’t need to hear that shit,” Rooster murmured.
“I can handle it,” I said, hoping I sounded braver than I felt.
“Held them down or tied them up,” Havoc said. “Raped them. In multiple ways.”
Multiple… oh. I narrowed my eyes at the man. No, not a man. He was a monster. The world would be a better place without him in it, and every other person just like him. Those who preyed on the weak, the ones who got off on hurting people. Maybe there wasn’t a way to cleanse the entire world, but knowing one less rapist was out there would help me sleep better at night.
Anger burned inside me. The pain and suffering he’d put those women through made me want to cry. I’d almost been one of them. I turned to Havoc, knowing he’d be the more logical. Rooster couldn’t be reasoned with when it came to someone hurting me.
“I want him to pay, Havoc. Not only with his life, although I want that too. But first I have a favor.”
“Name it,” the Sergeant-at-Arms said.
“I want him to hurt the way he hurt those women. I know none of you are that sort of monster, even though I’m sure there’s a bit of devil inside each of you. Find someone, or several someones, who will handle it. Make him cry. Make him beg. When he’s close to dead from the abuse he’s suffered, lock him up until he starves to death.”
Havoc whistled. “Damn. You really might give my woman a run for her money. I knew I liked you.”
“Alora, are you sure?” Rooster asked.
I glanced at Officer Murray and saw his hate had turned to fear. Good. That’s exactly what I wanted. He needed to be as scared as his victims. I knew it was wrong, and would likely stain my soul, but I felt those women deserved to be avenged like this.
“I’m posit
ive.”
Rooster wrapped his arm around me, holding on tight. Havoc approached the monster chained to the chair. “Looks like you get to keep breathing for now. Hope you’re ready for some fun. That’s what you told your victims, right? That you just wanted to play? That it would be fun?”
“I’m taking Alora home,” Rooster said. “If y’all need me, you know where to find me.”
Havoc nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements for our friend here. I know exactly where to send him. Little whorehouse few hours from here. Some of the workers are there willingly. This dickwad won’t be the first to be sent there to rot though. Don’t worry. The men who frequent the place will make sure he wants to die.”
I wasn’t sure I liked the fact he knew about a place like that and hadn’t tried to shut it down. But if some of the workers were willing, who was I to judge? It was the non-consensual ones I worried about. I hoped every last one was like Officer Murray and deserved being tortured.
Rooster led me outside and drove home in silence. When we pulled up to the house, Scratch was waiting for us with his woman, Clarity, and their two boys, Caleb and Noah. I got out and welcomed Clarity and the kids into the house, taking them to the kitchen for drinks and a slice of the pie I’d made earlier.
“You seem to be holding up well,” Clarity said.
I eyed the boys, careful of how I worded things. “Havoc is seeing to my request.”
She nodded. “I heard. I also heard something else, but Scratch made me promise to keep my mouth shut. I know what it’s like to wonder if your man is safe. I can’t tell you club business, except this one thing. The matter Rooster was sent to handle is being dealt with by multiple clubs. You should be safe and so is he. Charming is trying to keep it far from our doorstep.”
Well, her explanation was vague as hell. It was likely also the best I’d get. Unless Rooster cracked and told me something. I thought monkeys might fly before that happened, and if books were going to become reality, I could think of better worlds to be stuck in than the Wizard of Oz. Evil witches, flying monkeys, and trees that threw apples at you? Hard pass.
I noticed the boys eyeing Gypsy and opened the back door. She raced outside and I handed the kids her favorite ball. “She loves to play fetch.”
They waited for Clarity to give her permission. The second she nodded, they took off, running almost as fast as the dog. Maybe the three of them would wear each other out.
“You know, we might need to borrow Gypsy once a week,” Clarity said, watching the kids squeal and chase the dog as she played keep-away with the ball.
“If you use my dog to make your kids sleep, I’m calling in babysitting favors when my little one gets here and keeps me up all night.”
Clarity smiled. “I can handle that. I love babies.”
I nodded. I always had too. “In theory, they’re awesome. I like the way they smell, when they haven’t pooped themselves. They’re soft, sweet, and so innocent. I also haven’t had to keep one twenty-four-seven hours a day, every day of my life. They’ve always gone back to their parents when they got fussy. I’m not sure I’m equipped to handle a newborn.”
Clarity laughed. “You’ll do fine. You handle Rooster like a pro, and he can be pretty childish.”
“Rooster? Have you met your husband?”
“He’s usually very serious. He’s lightened up a lot since Noah was born. I’ve seen him laughing and joking more than I had until then. Did you know he has a daughter? Knocked up a club whore.”
My jaw dropped. “What?”
She nodded. “Happened long before he met me. In fact, his daughter is older than me. Her name is Darian and she’s married to Bull with the Dixie Reapers. She grilled me when she first found out. Hell, she damn near scared me. Scratch took up for me. He’s so wonderful and I know I’m damn lucky to have him in my life.”
“That’s just… wow. I take it the two of you get along now?” I asked.
“Oh yeah. Darian is great with the kids. We don’t get to see them too often, but we travel there once a year, and she usually comes to visit for Christmas and sometimes over the summer. Could be worse. If they were part of a club further out, it could be years between visits. I know Scratch feels bad about missing out on most of her life. Her mom hid her from him.”
I couldn’t imagine doing something so awful. Even when I’d thought Rooster might not want our baby, I’d known I had to tell him. I’d have walked if he didn’t want to be a father, but I knew it was right to let him decide.
“Have you met all the old ladies yet?” Clarity asked.
“No. Just you. I’ve heard about Jordan quite a bit, but we haven’t had a chance to meet. How many others are there?”
“Let’s see… There’s Josie. She belongs to Jackal, although I sometimes it’s more like he belongs to her. Janessa is with Irish. You have got to hear their story. It’s crazy. Meg is with Cinder. He was the President before he decided to step down and Charming took over. Then there’s Darby. She’s such a sweetheart. She’s Renegade’s old lady. And Renegade’s sister, Nikki, is with Ashes. And now there’s you!” Clarity smiled. “There’s not a ton of us, but when I got here, Josie was the only old lady. No one else had settled down yet.”
What she called “not a ton” seemed like a lot to me. I hadn’t made friends since I’d moved to town. It would be nice to meet everyone and see if we had anything in common, other than our men being part of the same club. I didn’t know where I fit in with these people. What could I contribute? There probably wasn’t a big need for writers.
“I’ll plan a small gathering. Just the ladies and kids.” Clarity reached over and patted my arm. “Everyone is going to love you. But please don’t let Jordan scare you off. She can be a bit much to handle.”
The more I heard about Jordan, the more intrigued I became. Who was she? She sounded like a badass woman who took charge. Maybe I could use her in a book.
Chapter Ten
“I promise to always be by your side. Or under you. Or on top.”
-- Unknown
Rooster
I woke to the sound of my phone going off. My eyes felt like sandpaper as I opened them and scanned the dark room. I leaned over the side of the bed and saw my phone light up on the floor as it continued to ring. Alora groaned next to me and rolled over.
“Make it stop!” She grabbed her pillow and pulled it over her head. If only I could do the same.
Before I could answer the call, it abruptly stopped ringing. A text came through a moment later. I kept blinking my eyes, trying to focus on the screen. I was getting too damn old to stay up all night fucking my woman.
I rubbed my eyes and the words finally cleared enough for me to read the message. Murray is dead. Hung himself.
Well, shit. It wasn’t the ending any of us had hoped for. The dead part was good, but I’d wanted him to suffer longer. I know Alora had as well. For someone who wrote happy endings, she sure did have a bloodthirsty streak. It had surprised the shit out of me when she’d sentenced Murray to his fate. Since she didn’t seem to be having nightmares, and I hadn’t noticed her behavior changing, I didn’t think it was weighing on her.
“What’s going on?” she asked, rolling back over to face me.
“Murray hung himself. He won’t be hurting anyone ever again.”
She flung her arm over her eyes and heaved a sigh. “Great. Wish it had been more painful for him. Guess the end result is the same.”
“I don’t think your readers will appreciate you putting him in your books. They tend to be on the fluffy, humorous side. Blood and guts may send them running.”
She giggled and curled into me. “Very true. You’ll just have to make sure I’m inspired when I need to write again. I’m taking a week off, though. My book is with my editor, and other than some marketing prep, I’m done until I start the next one.”
“And what does a romance writer do when she has time off?” I asked.
She smiled and climbed on top of me, pre
ssing her pussy against my cock. “I can think of plenty of things we can do, and they all have a happy ending. Unless you have to work.”
Technically, I should. Demonic Reign was still out there. After a discussion with Charming, the club had decided anyone who had a woman wouldn’t be helping with this one. We had too much to lose. Instead, he’d sent Gator, Magnus, and Shadow. I knew several other clubs were sending men, including the Mayhem Riders and Savage Knights. At the moment, it was mostly a recon mission. We needed to know if the chapter I’d tried to infiltrate was the only one, or if they still had brothers across the US.
“Anything I need to do will be local for right now. Besides, I don’t want to be too far away from you. Clarity insists this is our honeymoon phase and the club shouldn’t ask me to leave you for long.”
“I like Clarity. I think I owe her some cake.”
She wiggled, her slick pussy sliding along my cock. It went from semi-hard to fully erect in a matter of seconds. There was nothing sexier than watching my woman get turned on. Her eyes went dark, and she arched her back, thrusting her breasts up.
“Ride me. Make yourself come.”
She lifted her hips, and I positioned my cock so she could slide down. I hissed in a breath at how hot and wet she was. Fucking perfection! She gripped me just tight enough to send pleasure rippling through me. Alora moved slow at first, teasing the both of us. I reached between us and rubbed her clit in small circles, keeping my touch light and slowly getting firmer.
She moaned and closed her eyes, her hips jerking a little. “God, Killian. You feel amazing.”
“Come on my cock, beautiful. Get yourself off then I’ll give you what you really want.”