Chapter 16
Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.
-Unknown
Twist
I step out back and find Ares sitting on the picnic table smoking a cigarette.
“Thought ya quit.”
“After dealin’ with Viking, I needed one.”
“What was that shit ‘bout?”
“We got into it in Cali. I told him to wait for us to get to the club unless they absolutely had to take them out. The Nomads thought it’d be smart to just torch the place when they couldn’t find Ghost. They should’ve just waited in case he decided to show up.”
“Makes sense, I guess, but why him? I thought Ex and Scot were callin’ the shots with the Nomad crew.”
“I got into it with Exterminator, and Viking took up in his defense. They think they’re the only motherfuckers around here with skeletons in their closets. I just pointed out that we’re all fucked up in some way, and it turned into a bunch of bullshit.”
“I should’ve gone. If we wouldn’t have stopped for me to talk shit over with Avery and turn around, we probably would’ve made it in time before they had a chance to torch everything.”
“No, brother, you did the right thing coming back, especially since you’re laying claim. It’ll make it easier on 2 Piece to accept his sister growing up and moving on. Plus, with the baby, you needed to be here to help with him. Avery wants to help out also, but she doesn’t know much about babies—besides Cain’s boy.”
Shrugging, I start toward the old shed where Blaze is being held.
“What’re you doing?” Ares jumps up to follow me.
“I wanna see this bitch-ass real quick.”
“Don’t kill him, Twist.”
Snickering, I glance back with a wicked smile. “Who says I need to kill him to have some fun?”
He grimaces, rubbing his forehead knowing I love to torture people with my knives. Like he has room to talk, fucker saws people’s body parts off, yet they all think I’m the crazy one.
Ares unlocks the shed and opens the door wide, the light spilling in enough so I can see everything perfectly. My belt’s wrapped up neatly with my knives exactly where I left it, and there’s a passed out Iron Fist lying in the middle of the dirt floor.
“What’d y’all do to him?”
“Not much yet, just drugged him up so he couldn’t go anywhere.”
“Prez agreed to that?”
“No, the Death Chasers already had him fucked up though; they gave us some more shit to keep him that way.”
“I can’t believe Prez is down with you doping him.”
“He doesn’t know.”
His words halt me and I turn to him, eyes wide at the significance of his words. I know Ares is the VP and has been playing president while Mona’s been so sick, but I have to say I’m a little impressed Ares made the call like this without telling Prez.
“You an’ Prez straight?”
“Yeah, he’s just been mixed up in things without letting us know shit, like when he hid the fact that the person bombing the club not too long ago was also connected to his old buddy who is in with the Fists. I hold a lot of respect for Prez, but it’s my job to watch out for this club and the safety of its members, before worrying about stepping on his toes. It’s safer at this point to keep this piece of shit drugged up if we aren’t killin’ him yet.”
“I feel you and I agree.” I nod and shut the door. I’ll hold back and see what else Ares has planned, before I torture the fucker until he begs me to take his life.
As we walk back to the clubhouse, Ares peers over at me looking a little puzzled. “I’m glad you have Sadie; she’s good for you.”
I shrug and reach for the door, not replying. I’m glad he’s happy with Avery and 2 Piece, not that I’m gonna pat him on the ass about it or anything.
“Oh Twist!” Sadie jumps when I come into the entryway and I chuckle at scaring her.
“Sunshine?”
“The door startled me; I was in my own little world; you know how that is.”
Approaching her, I remove the laundry basket from her hands, holding it against my hip with one arm and twirl a piece of her hair around my finger. “I wanna taste you, beautiful.”
Her cheeks darken again as she bites her bottom lip slightly. “I wish,” she replies softly, and I give her hair a little tug. Her eyes fly to mine as I bend in, ready to sample her lips when there’s a loud shout from Ares.
“Sorry, babe, I’ll be back.” I hand her the basket and scramble back outside.
“Brother?” I shout, looking toward the picnic table and then shed.
“I’m good!” he yells back, coming around the side of the building. Once he’s closer, he quietly adds, “Swear to Christ I just saw someone out in the brush past the fence. I yelled and they disappeared.”
“Was it Ghost?”
“I don’t know, I wouldn’t put it past him though to show up again, especially now that we have his VP hostage…”
“You callin’ church to let everyone know?”
“Nope, we can’t leave Blaze like that, and I’m not havin’ you out here alone.”
“The fuck not? I can handle my own.”
“I know, brother, but there’s no tellin’ how many could be with him. You got a family to think about now.”
“I get it, so what’s the plan?”
“I want to string this dickface, Blaze, out in the middle of the parking lot. We’ll tie him to the flag pole, right there in the center, and see if whoever was just here has enough balls to come onto the compound and get him. If they make a move, we’ll be able to catch them—easy peasy.”
“Bet. You want me to holler at the brothers?”
“Nah, I’m texting Cain right now.”
“You know as the VP you ain’t supposed to be doin’ this shit? How ‘bout you let me an’ Cain handle it?”
“Fuck that! You know I prefer to get my hands dirty.”
Keeping quiet, I nod, giving in. His patch is higher than mine, and if the fucker wants to get killed, that’s his decision.
“What about the gate?”
“I’m telling the prospect to leave the electricity on, but to open the main gate so we can see them if they come it.”
He shoots off a quick text, and before we get to the shed, Cain, Spin, 2 Piece, and Snake are all out the back door to help.
“What’s the plan?” Cain inquires, scanning the perimeter.
“We’re tying him to the flag pole.” Ares nods toward the shed and Cain laughs.
“Fuck, bro, this is gonna be entertaining. We’re making him a sheep?”
“If that’s the case, I’mma barbecue him for dinner,” I mutter and they all stare at me, grossed out.
“2 Piece, I want you and Cain to go out front, make sure no one’s going to pick us off one by one as we drag this bitch boy out front.”
“No problem,” 2 answers, squeezing Ares’ shoulder briefly and they take off around the building.
Ares unlocks the shed again, and Blaze is still out of it on the ground.
“You two drag him out to the front; I’ll watch your backs.”
“No problem,” Snake answers.
“Gee thanks,” I mutter and grab Blaze’s legs. His feet and hands are together so we have to drag him by the ropes. He’s not heavy; it’s just the point that my back is starting to bother me a little more as I get older. Probably all the riding, but I’m never giving that up.
“We should just string him up and smoke him like a hog,” I suggest and Spin gags.
“What is it with you and food right now? Usually it’s Cain goin’ on about food and being hungry,” Ares grumbles and I shrug.
We’re dragging him along when the back door opens and Avery pops her head out back, her eyes growing wide. “Oh shit!”
Ares huffs, “Angel, get the fuck back inside and stay there please.”
I almost laugh hearing him say ‘please.’ Avery’s got him so wrapped around her finger but we’ve gotten used to it. The first guy to talk shit about it got punched.
Her hand flies to her mouth when she sees us drag Blaze and she rambles, “I didn’t see anything!” then slams the back door closed as she hurries back inside.
Snake laughs behind me until Ares sends him a glare, causing him to shut up. We get Blaze out front to the pole and wrap a chain through his ties a few times and then through a metal opening in the bottom of the flag pole. He can’t go anywhere unless the ropes and zip ties are cut, then he’s unwrapped from the chain, so hopefully it’s plenty of time to get to whomever decides to be brave and rescue him.
Spin clears his throat, glancing around the compound. “Now what? Where do you want us positioned?”
Cain and 2 Piece approach us. “If they’re here, then they’re hiding pretty damn good. We walked around all the buildings and didn’t see shit,” Cain grumbles.
“All right, now we go inside and wait.” Ares treks toward the bar entry, with Shooter catching up to us quickly, just coming from around the back. I’m guessing he’s late to see the text message.
“We’re just leaving him out here alone? After all the trouble with that club, no one’s staying?” he asks Ares.
We all stop, waiting for Ares to put Shooter in his place, and he doesn’t disappoint.
“Look, Shooter, you may have just got voted in, but two things: One, I’m the fucking VP, so shut the fuck up and watch. Two, you don’t have that patch sewn on yet, so don’t fucking push it. Now, it’s too fucking hot to be standing around out here. Do you want to stay outside and sweat your nuts off? It may have been cooler yesterday, but this is Texas. One minute it’s nice, the next you’re sweating to death.”
“I’m cool.” Shooter backs off, standing beside Snake and we snicker.
Just because he’s the Prez’s son doesn’t mean shit, he won’t protect Shooter from getting his ass chewed either. We’ve never treated Snake any differently as a prospect, and he won’t get special treatment once he’s patched either.
Shooter clears his throat, speaking up, “When will I get my patch?”
“Whenever London has time, I reckon.” Ares shrugs and goes inside, leaving us to follow in his wake.
Sadie
I’m finally about to fall asleep for a quick nap when Avery barges into the room, “Sadie!”
“Shhh!” I whisper-yell, not wanting her to wake up Cyle.
“Oops! Sorry!” she responds quietly, her hands flying to her face in surprise. “I didn’t know he was sleeping! I came to tell you the guys said to stay in the room and lock the door. They think something might go down and they want to make sure everyone’s safe.”
“Okay,” I answer, not really paying attention to what she’s just said. “Is the new girl okay alone in Spin’s room?”
“She’s actually in Cain’s room with London and Jameson. I’m going to camp out in my room to be with Lily. Scratch just took her for a walk, but I need to feed her dinner. That dog eats like crazy.” She grins and I can see right through it. She’s acting calm and blasé, but I know she’s just as nervous as I am about hearing that something may happen here today, and we’re all stuck inside with no idea what that is exactly.
“Okay, we’ll stay put,” I comply, and she nods, closing the door behind her.
I swiftly jump up and lock it, then lie back down in my warm spot in the middle of the bed. I was so close to sleep. Maybe I’ll get there again if I try.
I close my eyes and count to three hundred seventy-nine before my eyes fly open again. There’s no way I can take a nap now. I’m too wired wondering what’s happening and if Twist will be okay. I’m sure he will be just fine; he’s a strong man, but I still worry.
And what could be happening today anyhow? Frankly, I’m surprised Avery gave as much away as she did. Usually I’m kept in the dark about absolutely everything. I wonder if it could have anything to do with Ghost.
His texts magically stopped coming around the time I had Cyle. It had been in the back of my mind that Twist was looking for Ghost when he went on the run with all the guys, but then he came right back. I guess the other guys could have found Ghost and left Twist out of it, but I find it hard to fathom that Twist would sit back after Ghost came into the club threatening everyone. Twist and I could both hear all the shouting and fighting that went down that day. I was terrified that anything would happen; luckily after a fist fight and some crazy threats later, Ghost left. He did say he’d return.
Maybe I should grab Cyle and lock us in the bathroom too.
No. Who knows how long we could be in there. I’ll wait, and if I hear any strange noises, we’ll go in there. I can’t believe Twist didn’t come back here and let me know anything. I would’ve preferred hearing it come from him to gage how serious he thinks it could be.
I’m doing my best to adapt to his and my brother’s world. I’ve even grown accustomed to all the big scary guys here all the time, but I’m still not a hundred percent comfortable living here. Twist is planning on moving us into the apartment that Silas rented me once this all blows over; I just hope that ends up being soon and Twist doesn’t go crazy being around me and Cyle all the time. He’s with us now, but he has the club right outside the door to escape into if needed.
I want to have Twist all to myself sometimes and here I never feel like we’re alone, even if we do have our own room. Well, Twist has his own space; I just sort of overtook it. Then Cyle came along, and as I gaze around the room, I see he has taken over nearly every surface.
Twist declares he doesn’t mind, but he needs to have room to breathe. I don’t want to smother him so early on in our relationship, especially since things seem to be so amazing between us right now. Except for not being able to have sex. Being on this mandatory break is driving me just as crazy as it is him. I have to give my body time to recuperate, but honestly that’s the last thing I want right now.
Earlier in the hallway, when he pulled on my nipple, I thought I was going to cream my panties. I was so turned on. He’s beyond sexy. I don’t even have an accurate description of my feelings for him at this point.
My brother has backed off some. I’m guessing because of the baby coming. He’s been really excited about Cyle, more so than what I was expecting. I figured he’d be grouchy about it, but he’s been coming to visit him a ton.
Whatever his reasons are, I’m grateful. I keep falling a little bit more in love with Twist each day that passes and Silas needs to learn to accept that I plan to have Twist in mine and Cyle’s life as long as he’ll have us. He’s a good man, with a kind heart, who deserves nothing but to be loved, and I plan to be the one to give it to him.