by Nikki Landis
***
Back at the Crossroads, I banged down the gavel and sank into my chair at the head of the table. “What’s the word here, my brothers? What’s our next plan?”
“This all started with Rancid,” Ex spat. “Fuckin’ traitor.”
“And he’s dead,” Mammoth argued, taking his place next to my side. “Trish is sleeping, pres. Left two prospects outside the door.”
“Good.”
“Rancid trafficked bayou girls from NOLA into Alaska through Seattle, but there’s other states involved too. Rancid had girls taken from Vegas and then channeled through Carson City into Northern Cali on their way up to Anchorage. Been a shit show all over.”
Hannibal was right.
We didn’t know Rancid was involved with the Black Market Railroad in the beginning. We had no idea that Vladimir Solonik had used Rancid like a puppet for his own agenda, or that Rancid fed so much information on the club that Solonik knew many of the chapters and their day-to-day operations.
We were dealing with a cunning adversary.
Rancid was nothing more than a pawn but the Russians weren’t stupid.
They were the true enemy and threat. They infiltrated the RBMC and every single city where we held a chapter, stealing girls right from under our noses, and laughing about it as they united with our enemies. That was why Alexi Voltoy, Solonik’s nephew, targeted Razr and the Scorpions. He needed an MC that was a rival and would keep us busy.
Rancid introduced Razr and Acid to Solonik and Voltoy, how they made their deal, betrayed the club, and answered for it didn’t change the fact that the Black Market Railroad was still operating in Nevada and my territory. I wasn’t going to let that continue.
This was going to be bloody before it was all over.
“Don’t forget that Solonik fuckin’ attacked the Crossroads. He might be dead, but that shit hasn’t been resolved either,” Bodie added.
“Patriot is still in the hospital and he needs to know. Naomi isn’t safe.” Rael scrubbed his hand down his face. “Neither is my Nylah.”
“This is fucked-up.”
“Those poor girls.”
“Not in our state, Grim. No fuckin’ way.”
My brothers were pissed. I could see their Reapers ready to break free.
“We need eyes on all of the Scorpion compounds and warehouses. They’re spread wide on purpose which means we need to be smart,” Wraith advised. “The Scorpions are out for vengeance. It’s only a matter of time and after today we know Razr is now working with Resnikov.”
Mammoth agreed. “You’re right.”
“If Razr wasn’t in prison we’d be having a chat. Not sure who is in charge and calling the shots for him, so we need to figure that out. Need some new Intel on their club and its businesses. Razr is probably trying to control it all but he’s not on the streets.”
Nods were repeated around the table.
“I’ve got to go to Trish. Can’t wait any longer. Church at noon tomorrow.”
Rising to my feet, I slammed down the gavel and dropped it, stomping from the room as I made my way to my angel and the news that I knew would break her heart.
I hadn’t stopped pacing since the second I arrived. Hours trickled by at a snail’s pace. When I heard Grim and the others finally return, I knew it was bad when he didn’t come here first. My hope had diminished over the length of the day. If Stefanie was alive, he would have called. I’d bitten my nails down to the nubs, tears drying up after I cried for most of the night before when I received the frantic phone call from my aunt. I was almost numb now.
The door opened and Grim entered. His sad and anxious expression told me all I needed to know. My hand flew to my mouth and I let out a wail of disbelief. Knees weakening, I almost hit the floor, but he darted forward and caught me.
“I’m so sorry, angel.”
He let me cry, holding tight as I wept for so long my head ached and my throat stung. Taking a tissue, he wiped my nose and then dabbed at the corners of my eyes.
“Do I want to know what happened?” I finally asked with a sniffle.
He kissed my forehead. “No.”
Tears shimmered in my eyes and threatened to overflow again as I gripped his shirt. “I can’t do this. I can’t lose someone else that I love again. I can’t, Grim.”
“I know, baby. Trust me, I know.”
Sobs tore free from my chest anew and all I could think about was Suraya and now Stefanie. Two bright and beautiful lives snuffed out. It wasn’t even the MC. I kept trying to blame the Royal Bastards and the club for everything, but the truth was, there was a lot of fuckin’ evil in this world. It infiltrated every single crack and crevice, spread to every city, oozing with hate and a thirst for blood.
There wasn’t a way to avoid it. Foolishly, I thought I could.
I had been wrong.
“Hold me,” I begged and Grim nodded.
We moved to the bed and he pulled back the comforter, tugging off my shoes and then his own boots, followed by his cut. His gun and phone went to the nightstand and it was so normal and familiar that fresh tears dripped down my cheeks. I missed him. I missed us.
Once I was in his arms, his embrace stayed tight all night.
“I’ll make this right, Trish. I promise.”
I didn’t know how he would do it. A part of me didn’t care. I just wanted the asshole who hurt Stef to die. “Make him suffer,” I whispered through my tears. “Give him hell.”
I kind of knew what that meant now. After seeing what Grim and his club could become, I had a feeling they could dish out punishment and retribution like no other.
“You know I will.”
For the moment, that was good enough.
***
“Give them hell.”
Trish’s words echoed in my head. Men who would become that kind of monster and harm women and children were a special breed of heinous that had to be destroyed. I wouldn’t stop until Resnikov was found and anyone else associated with the crimes against young women in Nevada were brought to justice. Our justice.
Fuckin’ Russians were really starting to make my life hell. I was through finding horror scenes like the one we stumbled upon in that warehouse. Bringing my club into this bullshit was a mistake. Targeting ol’ ladies and their families? Fuckin’ asking for their souls to be reaped.
There would be no mercy. Not when I found them.
A sneer left my lips, and I began to pace, wearing a pattern in the carpet of my office while Trish slept. She’d been up most of the night. Worn out, devastated, and completely heartbroken.
There were two things I knew for certain. One, no one was fucking with my club. And two, Tricia Holloway was mine. Putting her on any kind of hitlist was pure suicide.
If I had to burn down every building the Scorpions were in to find justice, I was going to do it.
Fuck those assholes.
At church the next day, I leaned forward, staring into the face of all my brothers. “We’re gonna let that video of Voltoy leak out.”
A few snickers could be heard around the table. We’d tortured that sick murdering rapist and had it all on video. Quite the announcement for those who wanted to come after us.
Rael slapped a palm down on the table. “Fuck yeah. If that doesn’t draw out Resnikov and the Scorpions, I don’t know what will.”
“Shit is about to go down. Get your women inside the Crossroads. We’re going on lockdown. No one leaves alone and I need to know where everyone is at every single goddamn moment. If I’m not available, make sure you check in with Mammoth.”
“I don’t doubt this will kick up a fuckin’ hornets’ nest.” Hannibal shook his head with mirth. “Finally. This is gonna be fun.”
“Baiting the enemy. Smart.” I looked up as Papa entered the chapel. “What? Think you fuckers get to have all the fun?”
Bodie and Lucky snickered.
It was showtime.
The devil always enjoyed his souls that were reaped m
ost of all and we were long overdue.
As his chosen, we had a compromise with death. While in our normal human forms, we were just as vulnerable as our enemy, but once we transformed into our Reapers everything changed. Those demons were badass, and they were indestructible. Death was our obedient servant and we willingly provided prey.
This was what we did best.
Our job was to dispatch souls and hand them over for eternal punishment. To consign them to dust and fragments of their soul to be judged, condemned, and sentenced by the greatest jury ever conceived – the devil’s court.
Church was dismissed and I waited eagerly for our enemies to surface.
Trish was fuckin’ gone again. I couldn’t believe it. As soon as I returned to the room, I found a note. She snuck out before anyone had a chance to check on her and was going to visit her aunt. In the middle of a fuckin’ war between us, the Russians, and Scorpions. I wanted to roar my rage to the sky.
What in the fuck was the matter with my woman?
Did she think she was invincible? Because she had seen enough death and shit to know that wasn’t fuckin’ true. I grabbed my keys and went in search of Rael.
Banging on his door, I didn’t bat an eye when he opened it naked as the day he was born.
“What! I’m trying to fuck Nylah.” He blinked. “Oh hey, pres. What’s up?”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed. “Cover your dick. I need you. Sink into your ol’ lady’s pussy later.”
Grumbling under my breath, I stalked my way down the hall and outside. I swear. Shit never got old or failed to shock me around the Crossroads. Always something happening.
My focus returned to Trish.
The sun was setting, and she was out there alone. My Reaper reacted immediately, and I let him rise, knowing this was about to get fuckin’ crazy. How many times did I have to show up and save her from the fucking world? I was tired of needing to keep her safe. Why couldn’t shit just calm the fuck down?
My mind wandered as I thought of the stop I made in the bathroom before I left. A pregnancy test was in the trashcan. I never even took a piss because I was so surprised.
Did that belong to Trish? Did she miss a period? Was she expecting my kid?
A burst of joy erupted in my chest.
I’d give anything for that to be true. Never a guy who wanted kids, I couldn’t think of anything more amazing now. My Reaper receded as my anger faded. Could it be true?
Would I become a father? Was she getting ready to tell me the news?
As soon as I found her, I had to know.
I’d smoked two cigarettes and still didn’t see Rael emerge. Annoyed, I walked back toward the entrance to the clubhouse when I was struck from behind. Something hit my head hard and the last thing I remembered before closing my eyes was staring up at a complete stranger as he held a finger to his lips.
“Boo! Lights out, you unlucky bastard.”
***
Waking up in a fog, I recognized the same fuckin’ place I was in almost twenty years prior. Nothing had changed. Dripping water from the faucet. Stained walls. Blood splatters. A little dirtier but the same cozy and welcoming environment as before. The only difference was that this time I was chained in the middle of the room. My shirt and cut were gone. Bare-chested, my arms and legs were anchored in place with leather straps and more chains.
A stranger stood with a baseball bat, eyeing me with a mouth full of crooked teeth. Reddish-blond hair filled his light growth of beard and his receding hairline. He smelled of booze and body odor and I wrinkled my nose.
“Thought you’d never wake up, you heavy bastard. Almost didn’t get you chained up there.”
Blinking, I saw Trish chained nearby to the wall. Salty tears streamed down her face. Rage immediately rose to the surface and I growled my words. “You okay, baby?”
She shook her head. Yeah, I could see that.
Who the fuck was this guy? Why did he have me and my ol’ lady chained up in the old Scorpion compound?
“He killed my father.” She hiccupped. “And he turned over Stefanie. Gave her up like it was nothing. He’s a monster.”
“Who?” I sneered.
“Moby. My stepbrother. He’s also a member of the Scorpions MC.”
Yeah, that made sense. Wasn’t hard to make the connection but he wasn’t wearing a cut. Maybe he was just a former member of the Scorpions. That was the likely scenario. Guy looked like a dipshit. Of course, he managed to get us both here so that was resourceful.
“You shouldn’t listen to her. She’s just a dumb bitch. Did you know she’s a liar? Never tells the complete truth. She’s also surprisingly good at keeping secrets.”
Trish began to cry. “He’s right. I do have a couple of secrets.”
“Like?” Moby taunted, raising his hand like he was going to strike her.
No fuckin’ way. I was about to break free when Trish spoke.
“I was pregnant before, Grim. When we were together.”
What? My eyes widened. She never told me? Why the fuck not? “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We broke up. I thought it was best to wait.”
“Until she ended the pregnancy,” Moby sneered. “Quite the surprise huh? She didn’t want your kid. Didn’t want tied down to you at all.”
“What!?” I exploded.
Moby’s phone rang and he stomped out, running up the stairs as he began yelling.
“I didn’t end my pregnancy, Grim.”
Not believing her, I found it hard not to lose my temper.
I was fuckin’ done until she said one more sentence. Just eight tiny words with a massive and gut-wrenching impact that left her lips on a broken sob.
“Moby beat me, and I lost our baby.”
Pure unfiltered rage broke through my brain with a burst of hatred and bloodthirsty vengeance.
“I will fucking kill him but before I do, he’s gonna suffer and wish hell would take him in to relieve his pain and agony.”
She didn’t register my anger, but the words seemed to give her a sense of calm. “I want him to suffer.” Her voice was tiny and deflated, like exhaustion had taken over and there wasn’t much energy left. “I made a mistake leaving you and letting us fall apart.” One hand lifted, shaking lightly as she pushed her hair back and out of her eyes. “I should have said so sooner, but you didn’t want to believe me and so much shit has happened since then.”
An argument danced on my lips and I shut it down. She was right. “If I hadn’t been taken prisoner today, would you have told me what really happened?”
Her eyes were red and puffy where she’d been crying, probably from the time when I was knocked out. The depth of the blue was rooted in a sorrow I hadn’t seen in her eyes since the moment she left me after Acid’s death.
“Probably not,” she finally whispered.
Her words pierced my black heart with agony. For a few seconds I couldn’t breathe. It was like my heart stopped beating and my organs seized all at once with a burst of pain that robbed my body of oxygen or strength. Shattered. That’s what I was.
All that was left was a broken and empty ache. Biting my lip so hard I tasted blood, I resisted the urge to roar, scream, and shout my loss to the entire fuckin’ world.
My chest rose and fell quickly. I struggled to catch my breath until my gaze landed on the devastated expression on Trish’s face. I’d lost a child before I ever knew he existed. She’d lost something worse. My Trish lost a baby she’d known about and loved and then had him cruelly yanked away. Murdered. Stolen from her womb.
If I ever did anything in my life after this moment, I would make that motherfucker Moby pay for what he did. He would suffer long before I ever gave up his soul to be reaped. He’d never find peace. Never be able to gain reprieve. I’d hand him over for a special kind of punishment reserved for the worst of the worst. The blackest of souls. My hands slowly closed and formed fists as I felt my Reaper rise within. Fury trembled my body as I attempt
ed to gain control over the rage that threatened to burst free.
Trish needed me. I’d failed her before, but I wouldn’t now.
“Why would you want me to believe a lie? To hate you for something that wasn’t your fault? Or worse, never know the truth at all?”
“It was easier.”
Easier than what? My chest ached with the thought of what she went through alone the entire time and I should have been by her side. I was angry at myself for thinking the worst of her when I should have known that Trish would never do that to us. I should have known she was broken. I saw her aura was changed. I knew something had happened to her and now I realized Moby had been in her life and tormenting her for a long time while I knew nothing about it.
Pain reflected in her gaze as I searched those blue pools for something more than regret, loss, and desperation. I knew pain. Hell, I’d lived and inflicted it upon others. As a Royal Bastard, I knew a hard and unforgiving life. As the president of the club, I was nothing but dark secrets, carnage, vengeance, and broken promises.
I failed Trish and that fuckin’ gutted me almost as much as the knowledge that the one beautiful thing in this world I got right had been cruelly yanked away by my choice to become a biker. I lost a piece of myself before I ever truly had a chance to know what it would be like to hear Trish tell me I was going to be a father.
Anger simmered under the surface and I swore I would make this right between me and Trish, for my unborn kid, and because I wasn’t about to let the Scorpions take anything else away from me. Life didn’t hold a lot of beauty, not when your soul was sold to the devil. There were few things that I genuinely loved and cared about but my Royal Bastards brothers and the woman on the floor at my side –– they were fucking everything.
“Why was it easier?” I tried to gentle my voice and prevent growling every other word as I’d done for the last couple of minutes.
“Because I’m scared, Grim. I’m terrified of what intimacy and closeness means with you and that devil thing inside you. I don’t know,” she faltered, sighing softly, “I’m not sure how to make this work between us.”