The Hunters Rage

by Elizabeth N Harris

  “Sit.” Artemis said. Her face turned impassive, and Artemis watched as Ace walked across and sat.

  “Talk.” I said, looking at Ace. His face was ravaged, and Ace was allowing his emotions to show, pain and betrayal were the foremost expressions on his face. Ace reached out a hand to touch me, and Angel pushed his hand away. Kristoff and Butch appeared from behind, and they took my back. Simone was to my right and Akemi to my left.

  “Wasn’t involved” Ace said.

  “Hard to believe.” I said, striving for calm, I wanted to scream and rail at Ace, but that wouldn’t solve anything.

  “I didn’t, shit Kayleigh you really think I’d do that to you?”

  “Misty, you fucked her.”

  “Yeah, I shoved my dick in her and came, she didn’t get off with me once, I never put the effort in.” Ace snapped, leaning forward. Anger crossed Ace’s face.

  “You did so repeatedly.” I bit back. Those actions alone, damned Ace.

  “Fucked Misty every few months, Misty was a cunt I shoved my dick into nothing else.” Ace hit back.

  “You kiss her?” I asked. I was hurting bad, so bad but I hid that from Ace.

  “Never.” Ace said adamantly.

  “Yeah.” I drawled softly. Ace looked at me and saw disbelief written across my face. “No woman will let you just fuck her Ace. You put some effort in with Misty. Otherwise, for the last eleven years, you couldn’t have kept shoving your dick in Misty. Guess how many lovers I’ve had?”

  “Loved you so much.” Ace said brokenly.

  “Don’t know about that. I loved you, I’d my babies ripped from my gaping stomach for loving you. Everything done to me, that hurt the most. The cunt you fucked, didn’t mind trying to kill your kids.

  Except they’re my kids too and Falcon and Nova fought for life. Falcon was flatline when they brought him in. Worked on Falcon for hours before he stabilised enough. Falcon died several more times.” I lashed out, allowing my pain to roughen my voice.

  “Nova and Falcon are mine.” Ace stated, his voice mirroring my pain.

  “No, they’re mine. You’re just a sperm donor who decided to get rid of them. When did you realise I was pregnant?”

  “Didn’t. Realised you’d put on weight, we were eating a fuck load that summer, thought it was that.” Ace held my stare.

  “Still shoved your dick in the cunt that tried to kill your kids.” I controlled the startled jump my body gave as Ace shoved to his feet. The chair flew backwards, and he leaned towards me.

  “I shoved my dick in the cunt that tried to kill my kids. Think that don’t haunt me? We talked about kids, you and me. Dreamed of that house with a big yard and it bein’ full of kids. Think I’d kill my babes?” Ace roared. I blinked as a memory hit me of us in bed, eating chicken and laughing about making the most of it. Because when we’d kid’s, we wouldn’t get many chances to do that. My eyes glazed, and Ace saw and sat.

  “Wanted kids, wanted ‘em so bad with you, could taste it. Blond-haired, blue-eyed baby girls and dark-haired, green-eyed boys. Lay in bed night after night talkin’ that shit through. I’d kill my babes? Even if I wanted you gone, I’d have taken my kids first, made sure they’d survive before gettin’ shot of you. That alone should tell you, I wasn’t fuckin’ involved.”

  “Ace is right, daughter. The man wasn’t.” A gentle voice spoke from the shadows. I looked up as Master Hoshi appeared and he was looking directly at Ace and me. I stared at the man who’d been my father for eleven years. My mentor, my children’s grandfather and for the first two years of my meeting him, Master Hoshi been my damned nemesis.

  “Master.” I said, rising to my feet and bowing. Master Hoshi bowed back, and I studied him.

  Late fifties, possibly early sixties, he was lean and trim. His frame held wiry muscle, he’d beaten my ass a load of times. Master Hoshi was dressed in an expensive black suit and wore a silk grey shirt under it. I could see the gold chain from his pocket watch crossing his right breast.

  Master Hoshi wasn’t much above five foot four, face lightly lined and his head shaved bald as it had been the whole time I’d known him. He stood straight, and his demeanour, as usual, was projected calm. Master Hoshi was patient and had a face that anyone who met him would trust. Brown eyes looked deep into mine, and I saw love for me. I’d always been the closest of his students, apart from Akemi.

  “The man speaks the truth. We’ve one who knows more of the truth.” Master Hoshi said, his voice becoming harder. “My daughter deserves the truth.”

  “You do?” Ace asked, looking at him. Master Hoshi held a hand up in Ace’s face. Angel, who’d disappeared, appeared out of the shadows carrying a body over his shoulder. Angel slung it none too gently on the floor, and it rolled over, and I frowned as I recognised Sticks laying there unconscious. I’d been searching for Sticks, and Master Hoshi had him.

  “Fuck, Sticks?” Ace whispered in horror.

  “Wake him up.” Master Hoshi ordered Angel who withdrew a case from his pocket and pulled a needle out. Angel jabbed it in Sticks and a few seconds later Sticks body jolted. Eyes opened and then grew wide as Sticks realised he was surrounded and then Sticks spied Ace. The blood drained from his face, and I recognised Sticks guilt then.

  “Start talking.” Ace demanded.

  “Brother.”

  “Ain’t no brother of mine.” Ace spat.

  “Tell our present company what you told me.” Master Hoshi said, dragging a chair over and sitting on it facing Sticks.

  “You’re gonna kill me.” Sticks muttered. Master Hoshi shook his head.

  “I give my word I will not kill you.” I looked towards Master Hoshi as I caught his phrasing. My gaze flew back to Sticks.

  “Bulldog guessed early that Drake was making moves. Bulldog realised that if he took Ace from Drake, Drake’s foundation would shudder and probably crumble. To get Ace, Bulldog decided to take out Kayleigh. Bulldog didn’t wanna lose the club. Rage was Drake’s legacy, he wasn’t gonna let Drake have that.”

  “Bulldog ordered Kayleigh’s death to rock Drake?” Ace whispered, and I caught the dangerous edge to his voice.

  “Bulldog ordered it. We followed orders.” The man said beseechingly.

  “And you didn’t think it was wrong to do so.” Sticks gaze shot to my face, and I rocked back as a memory hit me with the speed of a train.

  “Oh my god, you were there, you raped me too.” I whispered, and Sticks lost whatever blood he’d left in his face. I’d hadn’t remembered seeing him, either forgotten or blocked it. Sticks hadn’t been there the whole time, but he’d raped me before the bottle, and he’d anally raped me.

  “Keep talking.” Master Hoshi said before Ace reacted.

  “Bulldog got Thunder in on it, Thunder was whacked, he’d do anything. Misty joined willingly. Bitch hated Kayleigh with a passion, wanted Ace.” That blow hit Ace hard. “They got Gid who wanted in on your pants and me on board. The others followed. It was orders.” Sticks wailed. I began shaking, and Ace was doing the same.

  “Orders?” I screamed at Sticks. “Raping and torturing a teenager was orders?” Sticks dropped his head.

  “Who else? Who fuckin’ else?” Ace roared.

  “Apart from Thunder and Jacked, I’m the last.” Sticks cried.

  “Not Mac, Gunner, or Slick, not anyone else?” I asked, leaning forward. Akemi stepped behind me and laid a hand on my back. Akemi’s warmth and strength flowed through me.

  “Lock Jacked down.” Ace said and then flipped his phone shut. I hadn’t even realised Ace had pulled his phone out.

  “No one else, no one I swear.”

  “Why torture me like that? Why?” I screamed at Sticks. Everything came boiling out of me, and I kicked him in his face and then bent over Sticks dragging him up. “How could you bastards do that to a teenage girl? A pregnant teenage girl? What sort of evil were you?” A hand gripped my arm and glancing at the hand, I saw the gold ring that said RH on it. That hand had held me so ma
ny times. I let Sticks go and stepped back, and Master Hoshi took his seat again.

  “Wouldn’t put out for anyone else and most of the MC wanted in Kayleigh’s pants. Don’t see why a fuckin’ prospect got her, but you were on the ground, and I was gonna get me some. I could look at Ace and know I’d had you, and I’d one over him.” Sticks proved his stupidity as he sneered at Ace who was motionless.

  “You got off on it?” I asked Sticks. Sticks nodded, remembering Master Hoshi had said he wouldn’t kill him.

  “Why did Misty name innocents?” Ace asked. I wanted the answer to that too.

  “Should’a heard her scream when we said you agreed. Pain, pure pain. Thunder got off on it. Misty wanted her to die thinkin’ you’d done this to her.”

  “But Slick, Mac, the others?”

  “Hurt you deeper, didn’t it? Cried buckets when we said their names, rammed it into your head over and over. You cried more from that than the fact we fucked your virgin ass.” Sticks sneered. Yeah, Sticks was way beyond stupid.

  “Tortured Kayleigh because Bulldog wanted Drake to fail?” Ace asked.

  “Yeah. Liked the money we got, don’t see why the MC couldn’t remain the way it was. Taking you out meant we took Drake out, meant MC didn’t change.”

  “Yeah, ‘cept it did, you didn’t take me out. Kayleigh’s body never turned up, so your plans got fucked. You tried to kill my kids.” Ace whispered, so softly that Sticks scrambled back on his ass. Even I felt a twinge of fear at Ace’s tone. “Tried to kill the woman I loved. Raped and tortured her, you cut up my old lady. Tossed my babes aside like garbage.”

  “Never cut Kayleigh, just fucked her back and front.” Sticks kept piling it on.

  “And you rapin’ her back and front were okay?” Ace said. Ace turned away from Sticks and looked at Master Hoshi. “We done?” Master Hoshi rose to his feet and flicked an imaginary piece of lintel from his suit.

  “Yes. My daughter has her answers and the truth.” Master Hoshi walked to me and kissed my forehead and then disappeared into the shadows. Sticks moved to get up, and Ace kicked him back and placed his boot on Sticks throat. Ace looked into the shadows.

  “He said you wouldn’t kill me.” Sticks squeaked.

  “No, Master Hoshi said he wouldn’t kill you.” I told him. “He said nothing about us not killing you.”

  “You hear it?” Ace asked. I watched as Drake walked forward, Apache and Slick at his back. Texas and Fish behind them. From behind them came Dylan Hawthorne and several of his men. Behind me, Kristoff and Butch appeared. I hadn’t even noticed they’d gone.

  “Clocked ‘em walking in.” Kristoff said into the silence. People moved, apart from Ace who remained with his boot on Sticks throat. Rage took one side of Sticks and Artemis took my side.

  “Ezra is locking Jacked down.” Drake said and looked at me. The pain in Drake’s face took my ability to breathe away. It was naked.

  “You got fucked up because I tried to get the MC clean.” Drake said bitterly and struggled to meet my eyes.

  “I got fucked up because Bulldog was a sick bastard.” Instantly, I denied Drake his guilt. What happened was not Drake’s fault. Drake didn’t need the guilt. I looked at my people and then at Rage. “Guessing you want this one.” Drake nodded.

  “You’ve got this.” Dylan Hawthorne said and waved a hand, he and his men disappeared.

  I looked at Ace, whom I’d loved with a passion so many years ago and spent twice that time hating him. Ace was broken, I could see that. He’d been broken for years, just existing and this had broken Ace further. Ace didn’t have a Master Hoshi. Ace had Rage, he’d make it. I gave a finger signal, and my people faded away, I looked at Rage and then faded too.

  “Artemis, wait.” Drake called. I heard him, but Drake didn’t know that, I kept walking. I reached the limo sitting outside idling and opened the door and climbed in. Then I laid my head on Master Hoshi’s lap and let the tears fall.

  Chapter Seven.

  8th December 2014

  A week later, I sat in Akemi’s SUV and studied my nails. I wasn’t sure what I was doing was right, but I owed Ace and Rage this. Although now I was here, second thoughts were creeping in. I looked in the mirror at Nova and Falcon, who both patiently watched.

  “Mom, take your time.” Falcon said. I smiled at my son. So like his father, this wasn’t a bad thing. As Falcon’s mother, I’d never held it against him. What mother would? The twins' father was a good guy, and that sank deep within me. Nova gave me big eyes, solemn and serious.

  “If you’re not ready, Mom turn the car around.” Nova said, but she stared out of the car window.

  Five days ago, I’d sat the twins down and gave them a very child-friendly version of the truth. They knew I thought their father had been involved in an attack on me, and I’d hidden us to protect them. The twins had the truth, and their father was innocent. So we sat here, on Rage.

  I took five calming breaths and put the car into gear and drove onto the forecourt. Parking near the front of the clubhouse, I checked the time. Eight o’clock at night, Ace should be in the clubhouse. The garages and parts store were shut, and so was the shop. Reluctantly, I got out, and the kids climbed out behind me. As usual, I placed myself in front of Falcon and Nova, Akemi at their back and walked to the clubhouse door.

  Gulping another deep breath, I jumped as a small hand, touched my back, Falcon. I reached behind and squeezed Falcon’s hand tight. Nova moved behind me to stand by Falcon’s side. The kids knew the drill, I always entered first. I pushed open the clubhouse door and stopped as noise hit from every direction.

  Phoenix and Drake sat on a sofa, her in his lap and wrapped around him, Phoe’s head on Drake’s chest. Brothers stood at the bar, the pool table that had been there before I’d hit Rage, was occupied by Fish and Marsha. Silvie leaned closer to Apache and made a face at him. Texas was hollering at a Blaze who looked as pissed as Texas and my gaze settled on Ace. I heard a loud gasp and guessed Marsha had seen me. A cue hit the floor.

  Drake stared over and stilled, and so did Phoenix. Drake calm mood changed to alert and hit the club instantly, and brothers began stopping and looking up. Ace turned from the bar where he’d been sitting with a bottle of beer in hand.

  Ace still drank Coors. Why that mattered I didn’t know, it was something I randomly noted. His body tightened, and my presence hit home. I stepped inside and moved to the right, and the kids came through the doorway.

  Ace’s gaze flew straight to the twins and pain, wariness, shock and worse than that, disbelieving hope crossed his face. He stared at the kids as they gazed straight back at Ace. There was no question who their father was. Falcon tilted his head, and Nova wrinkled her nose.

  Ace’s face softened, and then he was up and moving fast across the floor. Nova and Falcon remained still as their father reached them, landing on his knees. Without hesitation, Ace dragged the twins into his arms. Ace wrapped them both in a hug and buried his head between them.

  Falcon remained standing still but Nova, my beautiful girl, shyly lifted her arms and wrapped them around her father’s neck. There was a muffled sob, but we couldn’t move our eyes away from the scene in front of us. Falcon lifted a hand and put it on his father’s neck, and Ace held on tighter. Tears choked the back of my throat and arms came from behind. I leant back knowing Akemi was there, as always, at my back.

  They remained standing there for a few minutes, with everyone watching them. Akemi and I were ready to move, to protect the kids when Apache hit the huddle. He fell to his knees as well, and Apache’s strong arms hugged the three figures. A memory of Apache holding me tight surfaced, and I remembered how safe those arms were. Ace lifted his head with tears running down his cheeks and leaned on his father’s shoulder for a few seconds.

  Nova reached up a little hand and wiped tears from Ace’s face, Nova studied one on her finger and wiped it away. Ace broke into a wonderous smile and wrapped his arms around his father and kids again.

/>   “Righted a wrong woman.” A voice whispered in my ear, and to my surprise, Drake was there. I looked up and saw approval in his eyes, and that warmth hit my stomach. I gave Drake a half-smile. Akemi tightened his arms.

  “Meet Uncle Akemi.” Nova said into the silence. Ace looked up and saw Akemi with his arms around me. Something crossed Ace’s face and disappeared quickly.

  “Uncle Akemi meet our Dad.” Nova said with a grin, and that burrowed into Ace and me at the same time.

  “Uncle Akemi was there when we were born, he’s like Mom’s big brother, only I think Uncle Akemi gets into more shit.” My eyes narrowed. “Sorry, trouble than Mom does.” Falcon said.

  “Yeah, Mom says she’s gonna get grandpa Hoshi to put Uncle Akemi up for adoption.” Nova chipped in, and Akemi grinned at his girl.

  “Grandpa Hoshi will have trouble doing that.” Akemi chuckled.

  “Grandpa Hoshi is a kickass badass.” Falcon said, his eyes narrowing, and he turned to Ace, “Mom says you’re a kickass badass too.” Falcon looked to his dad to confirm that.

  “If your Mom says so it must be true.” Ace finally spoke.

  “Don’t say badass.” I muttered, and Drake squeezed my hip.

  “I’m grandpa Apache.” Apache said. Nova studied him.

  “Hi, I can see that.” Nova replied, and I rolled my eyes. Apache grinned.

  “Yo, I’m Uncle Drake, and that’s your Aunt Phoenix.” Drake snapped his fingers.

  “You’re not Native American.” Falcon announced.

  “Nope. But in an MC, we’re all brothers which makes every one of these your Uncles.” Drake replied, pointing at Rage, seeing Ace was still struggling.

  “Well shit, er, sugar.” Falcon corrected at another eye glare from me, Ace chuckled, and Falcon grinned.

  “Mom doesn’t like us cussing, she says not until we’re sixteen.” Falcon shared.

  “Your mom had a potty mouth herself at your age.” Fish said, coming forward. Marsha lurked behind him, and they seemed hesitant.