Rage of the Phoenix

by Elizabeth N Harris

  “Do ya? Do you honestly see that?”

  “See Rage united. Can see what joy she brings.” Chance nodded his agreement at his cousin’s words.

  “Hellfire received that bounty three and a half years ago. Phoe strutted her ass into our life. Curled up on my lap in a cell with her head on my cut. Phoe’s somethin’.”

  “Yeah, mine.” Drake stated.

  “I know. Hellfire knows but you gotta respect Phoe’s ours too. She’s so much love in her she overflows with it. Rage can take primary but the woman will always be our sister and our girl too. You’ll never cut Hellfire out of her. Phoe picks up the phone, Hellfire will ride. Ain’t nothing we won’t do. Includin’ bleed.” Drake nodded.

  “We need time to be alone.”

  “I’ll get Bear out. He’ll stay overnight somewhere. Bear won’t leave Phoe until he knows she is good.”

  “Be a time before she’s good.”

  “Yeah but he’ll stay tonight. Bear had a sister once.” Chance shared. Drake caught his eyes and muttered “Fuck me.”

  “Yeah, life is fucked up but there’s magic in it and Bear found it again.” Chance said carefully and leaning over the bar he snagged a beer.

  “I think Rage is gonna get some magic.” Drake said.

  “That’s life brother. That’s life.”

  ◆◆◆

  I came awake curled in Drakes arms and looked at him hazily. Drake’s eyes were worried and scared and he watched me like one would a wild cat. Then what happened hit me and I paled as I realised everyone had seen it.

  “Don’t.” Drake said harshly.

  “I ruined the cookout.” I whispered, my mind latching onto something innocuous.

  “Nope, brothers and Hellfire got the kids rounded up. They’re in the yard. Micah’s calmed down, Axel took him for a ride, kids are okay.”

  “I heard his voice. Yet he’s dead. I don’t understand.” I whispered, thinking back to the phone call.

  “Sure it was him?” Chance asked from the shadows of Drake’s room. I thought hard and then nodded.

  “He was buried, how is he alive?” I asked Chance confused, scared and uncertain.

  “Gonna find out. Big Al left to speak to Roadkill. Either Roadkill fucked up or someone’s fuckin’ playin’ sick games.” I nodded gingerly, my head banging.

  “It was his voice Chance. He called me Marie.” I insisted.

  “Your real name?” Drake asked.

  “My real name is Phoenix, I changed it by deed poll, Marie is long in the past.”

  “Okay baby. We’ll deal. Need painkillers?” Chance frowned at my frown. I nodded. He left the room and left me in Drakes arms.

  “I understand if you want to take a break from me.” I told Drake. He frowned now and looked pissed at me.

  “Think I’m gonna walk because you got flashback issues? What do you fuckin’ think I am Phoe? That I’m the guy who’d walk ‘cause you got PTSD?” Drake snarled, I’d just pissed him off. Wonderful.

  “I’m giving you a get out of jail card.” I whispered to him wishing my temples weren’t pounding so much.

  “Don’t fuckin’ want one nor did I ask for one!” Drake snapped and wrapped me up tight. “What type of man you think I am Phoe? Someone that just wants to fuck ya? No offence babe, your pussy ain’t that golden. I want you, all of you, understand that.” I felt shamed. Subconsciously, I’d tried pushing Drake away. Instead of leaning on Drake like he offered. I’d gone into defence mode.

  “Phoe you need help angel, can’t break like that again in front of kids. Lucky Manny got the younger ones out, but the teens saw it. Promise me you’ll get help baby. Gotta get you a therapist.” I agreed, totally agreed.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Baby, listen to me, what you’re dealin’ with, the shit you been through. It can break a person, even one as strong as you. Chance said he’s seen you have these before. Can’t be doin’ that angel, need to get that poison out of your system so we can have a good life. Ain’t gonna lose you now I found you. Get me?” I nodded.

  I’d no idea where the flashback came from and I thought I’d dealt with my issues. But I clearly hadn’t. I couldn’t afford a breakdown like that again in front of the kids. Drake was right.

  What if an attack happened during a meeting, at work, walking across the street? That was a terrifying thought. I’d not had therapy to help me get over my ex-husband but the kids had. When he found me just after I had met Hellfire, I’d been lucky enough that Hellfire had been on hand. While the monster kicked my door in, Jodie phoned Chance for help.

  He’d beaten me but not for long because Hellfire barrelled through the door and given him a beat down. I’d got the kid’s therapy again after that. Chance dragged him out of my house with murder in his eyes. He handed him over to Roadkill to deal with, and the monster had barely been breathing.

  Chance and Hellfire had beaten him nearly to death. Roadkill had been volunteered to dispatch my ex so he could never be found alive again. Drake’s mouth twitched, and I realised I’d been speaking my thoughts out loud. I was horrified. What was happening with me, I’d never been loose lipped before.

  “Behave Phoe, won’t say a word.” Drake drawled. “Makes sense that Chance would be sure he’s dead though. Chance told us this anyway babe, you’re not sayin’ anythin’ Chance hasn’t just told us. Big Al will find shit out. If he’s buried, then we have someone that is close enough to know to play these fuckin’ games with you.”

  “It was his voice.” I insisted. Chance came back in holding a glass of water and two pills. I shoved them in my mouth and swallowed with a gulp of water.

  “Big Al’s on it Phoe. Sleep for an hour. Brothers are playin’ ball with kids. Get rid of that shit in your head.” He ordered, with a glance at Drake, Chance left the room. Drake held me until I slept and when I woke up, he’d gone.

  Chapter Ten.

  The chill woke me up, and I realised I was alone. Noise from outside faintly filtered through the door. With a yawn, I climbed out of bed. The cookout sounded as if it was in full flow and I was missing the fun. I took a few moments to compose myself and took a calming breath. Part of me wanted to run, hide, everyone had seen my breakdown. I felt open and raw.

  The fighting part told me to strut my stuff and screw everyone else. The one thing I wasn’t, was a quitter. No one came to check me, so I headed to Drakes bathroom. I rummaged through cupboards and found a new toothbrush and vigorously brushed my teeth and then brushed my hair.

  Makeup had smeared around my eyes, so I wiped my face clean. I realised I’d tore my shirt. Disgusted, I pulled off the reminder of the flashback, and threw it in Drakes bin. Without regard for Drake’s privacy, I searched through his drawers for a top.

  A Walking Dead tee was clean, so I pulled it on. The tee looked wrong against my pencil skirt but I was decent. With a deep breath, I left the safety of Drakes room and walked to the common room. Two skanks sat at the bar, who looked in my direction and sneered.

  With a glare I held my head high, floated past and heard the snickers. I jumped as someone slammed a bottle on the bar. Behind me, Ace stood at the other end of the bar, Hunter and Jett behind it. Ace’s eyes were on the skanks and they were so bleak, I felt the chill from where I stood.

  “Judging an old lady?” Ace rumbled. I stopped where I was, not wanting Ace’s angry attention.

  “What?” Skank one said, her name was Krystal or something similar.

  “Said, you judging a fuckin’ old lady?” Ace rumbled louder this time and Jett and Hunter both come to attention.

  “She’s an old lady?” Skank two said surprised. Ace’s brow furrowed, and he glared.

  “Phoe in Drake’s bed?” Ace asked Hunter. Hunter nodded. A blush began at my cheeks.

  “Woman on the back of the Prez’s bike?” Ace asked Jett, Jett nodded. It was true, several times Drake had taken me out on his bike. I’d been on the back of Chance’s and Bears but there was something sexual riding with
Drake. The unwritten rule in both Hellfire and Rage was only old ladies rode the back of a brother’s bike. A brother’s bike was an extension of himself.

  “Last time I saw, Phoenix was.” Jett rumbled back.

  “Makes Phoe the Prez’s old lady.” Ace said turning the attention back to the skanks.

  “Just coz she’s fucking him, don’t mean she’s Drake’s old lady.” One skank said thrusting her hip out. Sudden recognition hit, she was the skank who had been with Misty, when Misty had confronted me over the bikes.

  “No bitch goes on the back of a Rage bike unless she carries old lady status.” Ace sneered, driving home the point, neither of them had been on the back of a bike.

  “Drake’s just having a taste for a high-class pussy.” Krystal said and my eyes narrowed.

  “When Drake’s done, he’ll want a taste of me again.” Skank two said. Drake had slept with that? Seriously? Krystal caught me wrinkling my nose in distaste.

  “What’s up bitch?”

  “Number one, Hellfire member, which means you owe respect, whether or not you want to. Number two, I’ve old lady status, which means this bitch outranks skanks. And number three, Drake must have been desperate or drunk to have slept with you.” I snapped my temper flaring.

  “Drake’s feeling sorry to fuck you. Heard what happened earlier. Gotta be a sympathy fuck.” Krystal sneered.

  “Yup.” I cheerfully agreed. Krystal looked shocked. “But it’s this bitch Drake’s fucking. It’s me Drake claimed!” Ace’s presence was strong at my back. “It’s okay Ace, that skank has nothing on me.”

  Intent on walking past, I wasn’t ready when Krystal’s hand shot out and grabbed my hair. The bitch yanked me back around and slapped hard across my face. That was the only shot I let Krystal have. I reached up and outwards breaking her grip. My other hand let out a right hook that knocked Krystal backwards.

  At the same time I turned my body and as Krystal bent from the force of the blow, my knee came up and smashed into Krystal’s face. The woman let out a blood-curdling shriek and her hands came to her nose. There was a movement at my back and spinning, my leg kicked out and knocked the other skank on her ass. The slit up the back of my skirt ripped to mid-thigh. That made me mad, I loved this skirt.

  Furious, I turned back to Krystal who was straightening, and let out a quick fire of punches to her torso and ribs. Krystal went down and stayed down moaning in pain. Skank two jumped at my back and I staggered and then dropped a shoulder and threw her. She landed in a heap and stayed there. I felt a gaze on me and looked at Ace. His face was its usual impassive but Ace’s eyes showed approval.

  “Didn’t expect that, Phoe.” Jett said from behind me and Ace.

  “Hellfire and Liz made sure I can fight.” Ace nodded in approval. I felt more eyes and saw Drake standing in the clubhouse doorway. Drake’s eyes held his own approval and something else. I realised I’d aroused Drake. I gave him a slow grin.

  “Hey.” I whispered wrapping my arms around him. Drake grinned as he looked at me and hauled me against his body. Drake dropped his mouth to mine and gave me a long wet kiss. When it ended, I glanced over my shoulder at the two skanks and smirked. Drake sidestepped but kept me tight to his side.

  “Twice you’ve gone at Phoe. Know you’re dumb, but how fuckin’ dumb are you?” Drake growled looking at them. Krystal paled but skank two thrust her breasts out in Drakes direction even while she tried to stop a nosebleed. Honestly!

  “Snotty bitch started it.” Krystal sniped.

  “Snotty bitch is the Prez’s old lady. Outranks every other fuckin’ female in or on Rage! Snotty bitch is a sister in Rage’s brother MC.” Drake roared.

  “Bullshit, Phoe didn’t start shit.” Ace said. The skanks looked at him. “Fucks sake Drake, everyone’s dipped in their cunts that wanted too, why they here? Won’t get old lady status, who’s gonna want a pussy every brother has fucked before him? Get fuckin’ rid of the trash.” Drake nodded.

  “Only kept them around coz they were easy pussy.” Drake agreed. “Any brother that needed to get laid had it on tap. Easy pussy is easy to find. Get off Rage.” I winced at the harsh words. The skanks began shrieking and Ace not buying it, grabbed one around the arm and hauled her out. Hunter followed with the second.

  “Easy pussy?” I asked Drake.

  “Never went there. I don’t wanna be dipping into a brothers cum.” Drake said crudely. My eyes grew wide and my mouth opened in shock. I’d never heard Drake be so crude.

  “Drake!” I muttered. Drake’s gaze dropped to me.

  “Weren’t no angel Phoe. Had plenty of pussy, plenty of skanks but I never dropped my standards to that sort of skank. Got a past, told you that. Said you could accept it. Get your head around it.” Drake said harshly and my mouth opened and shut and then repeated those actions.

  “I wasn’t even insinuating that! Christ give me a break. Don’t you think I’ve been through enough today?” Stunned, I gazed at Drake.

  “Don’t play that card baby, was right there by your side when you broke.” Drake snarled back.

  “I’m not saying you weren’t! Why are you picking a fight?”

  “Not me runnin’ my mouth woman.” I stared at Drake, astounded. This was not the Drake I fell to sleep with earlier. What had happened during my nap? Had Drake changed his mind? Why was he being so damn mean?

  “I don’t know you at all, do I?” I’d no idea why Drake had turned on me. I ran our conversation back over and couldn’t see where I’d gone wrong.

  “You know me Phoe.” Drake growled. I shook my head at him, no I didn’t know this version of Drake. I’d no idea, Drake could turn like this. Yeah, men in an MC rarely respected the women who hung around. Usually, the only women who got respect, were old ladies. I’d not seen Drake act this way before and it was a shock, especially coming on top of my breakdown.

  “No. The man I love wouldn’t dream of speaking to me like I’m trash. Not asking for special favours but give me a chance to get my breath.” I replied, shocked at how this was escalating. For God’s sake a few hours ago I’d had a severe flashback and panic attack and now Drake was attacking me!

  “Phoe they’re just short of unpaid whores. Gotta have seen them around Hellfire. Women who screw any brother hoping to be on the back of his bike. Shit don’t work. Gonna open your legs easy, not gonna get a brother by the balls. Don’t lead me around by my balls woman.” Drake said, and my eyes opened wide. Was he suggesting I’d given in to him too easy? Was Drake saying I was no better than them? I concentrated on his last few words pushing the others to one side.

  “Wasn’t leading you around by your balls.” I told him indignantly.

  “Don’t.” Drake ordered. I bristled angrily. How this had resulted in an argument between us? Not sure, but I wasn’t taking his shit. With Drake, I was safe from physical harm. Emotional harm was a different story. I may have broken, but I was still strong enough to defend myself.

  “I didn’t do anything except take out two smack talking skanks. By the way skank two says when you’ve finished with the high-class pussy, you can go back when you want. Said you liked what she gave you.” I wrenched myself away from Drake and stormed out. What was Drake’s damn problem? I hadn’t been leading him around by his balls, I just hadn’t liked his crudeness.

  Hellfire was the same. They spoke to their biker bunnies or skanks the same. Yeah, I didn’t enjoy crudeness, but I accepted it. Accepted it from my brothers because that was who Hellfire was, and I’d have to accept it from Drake. It was part of who he was and as long as Drake didn’t speak to me the same, I could live with it. Just couldn’t live with Drake picking a fight with me after what happened earlier.

  I spent two hours eating and drinking and playing with the kids and avoiding Drake. It was nearly midnight when I realised I’d left my house keys at the office. With a sigh I walked back into the clubhouse, still avoiding Drake and snagged my office keys. Darkness had well and truly fallen, and once I left the l
ights of the yard, the forecourt was dimly lit.

  Without thinking, I walked swiftly across the forecourt, forgetting the warnings not to go anywhere on my own. Strangely, the streetlights outside Rage and HQ were out. A tingle crept down my spine and I was going to open the door when a hand slid across my mouth.

  “Hello bitch.” A voice muttered. Shock hit me hard. No it can’t be, it can’t be! That hand grabbed my jaw hard and then I was spun around to face my worst nightmare. It was him! Terrified, I looked up into the eyes of my ex-husband, Martin Page. Horror hit, followed by nausea and paralysing terror.

  Martin began dragging me towards a car I hadn’t noticed. Parked near HQ under one of the dark lights, it had pretty well hidden. Fearful, I began to struggle, kicking with my feet, awareness dawned, if Martin got me in that car, I’d never see my kids again. This time Martin meant to finish what he started. I kicked backwards with my feet harder and a solid punch landed on my head.

  Dazed, and stopping fighting, I heard pipes and peered into a bright light from a bike. In the light a tall figure got off the bike, and the light died. Ace stood in front of us. I hadn’t even noticed Ace wasn’t in the clubhouse when I’d come across to HQ.

  “Let Phoenix go.” He growled. Ace took a step forward, and I looked in horror as Martin raised a gun and then calmly shot Ace twice.

  There was no noise, Martin had used a silencer on the end of the gun. No sound, except a soft whuff when the bullet left the chamber. Ace’s body jerked and then hit the floor. Crumpled on the ground, Ace didn’t move. Against the hand over my mouth, I screamed Ace’s name and the gun barrel slammed across my temple and it was lights out.

  ◆◆◆

  Gradually, I became aware of being tied to a chair and being half naked. Martin had removed my clothes and left me in bra and panties. Martin did that, to make me vulnerable and fear him, and it worked. I looked around trying to see something. Was Ace alive? Had he raised an alarm? Where had Ace been shot? I’d never forgive myself if Rage’s V.P had been hurt badly. Drake wouldn’t forgive me, after warning me not to go anywhere without guards. This was my damn fault.