Page 32

ALINA

Two weeks later

“Will you leave me alone? I am fine,” I sigh as I carry one bag of shopping from the truck.

“The doctor said you’ve still got to be careful and not to push your body,” Hap says as he snatches the bag from my hand. I huff and run my hand over my now visible bump. The only time I can hide it is when I wear one of Hap’s hoodies.

“I still need to walk and lift things. If I don’t, then I will have muscle weakness. One bag of shopping isn’t going to tip my body over the edge, but if you carry on swamping me like this, it will tip me over the edge mentally,” I snap. He places the bag on the counter and stalks over to me, a look of amusement on his face. “Don’t! Do not look at me like that,” I warn.

His arms circle my waist, tugging my body flush against his. “Look at you like what?” he teases, nipping my neck.

I tilt my head to the side to allow him more access. “You know what,” I whisper.

He continues kissing me, his lips leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. “I’m loving your hormones right now. I just have to look at you, and you just melt against me,” he murmurs between kisses on my neck.

The buzzer sounds, snapping me out of my aroused trance. “They’re here.” I push against his chest, and he groans, releasing me. I walk to the buzzer to open the gate to let them in, and as I walk to the front door, I see Ghost and Star ride up on his bike. I want to ride on the back of Hap’s bike, but he won’t risk it. Star gets off, and as she removes her helmet, she shakes her long black hair out.

“God, she’s hot,” I mutter.

Hap laughs and pulls me to him. “Seriously, I’ve got to worry about you trying it on with Star now?” he snorts.

I shrug. “I don’t think so. I’ve already felt her boobs, so I think you’re safe.” I wink before I walk down the steps to greet them. “Hi!” I smile, hugging Star.

“Hey, are you ready?” she asks.

I nod. “Yeah, Hap loaded the truck up.”

Hap turns and sets the alarm before he locks up. We climb into the truck, leaving Ghost’s bike parked at ours.

Hap drives us to the club, or what is left of it. Ghost managed to get work started on it straight away. It’s already looking like it did before. Well, the shell of it is there, at least.

Hap parks the truck, and we climb out, leaving Ghost and Hap to unload the truck. Star and I walk to the club, but we stop at the entrance.

“Helmets!” Ghost barks.

Star rolls her eyes at him and hands me one of the safety helmets. We walk inside, stepping into what would have been the big open bar and living space, but it is now completely gutted. Nothing but concrete walls and plastic sheeting.

“How are you feeling?” Star asks.

I lift my shoulder stiffly. “Pretty good. I will be glad when we can move on and forget it ever happened,” I sigh.

“Yeah, well, I don’t think it’s going to be that easy to forget, especially for them,” Star says, gesturing to the guys outside.

I nod. Hap has been so overprotective, it was bordering on smothering. This past week I distracted him with sex, but even getting him to do that was a challenge. He was so worried about hurting me, which was sweet, but also annoying as hell.

“Why are we here?” I ask. “I mean, I know they wanted to bring some tools and paint and stuff down, but they didn’t need us to come with them.”

Star shrugs. “They don’t want us out of sight, and with everyone just taking some time for themselves lately, I guess Ghost didn’t want me on my own, and Hap didn’t want you on your own.”

I nod. “Probably.”

Ghost and Hap carry in tins of paint and tools, placing them down on the floor. “We are just going to take the wood up to the barn. You good staying here?” Ghost asks Star. She eyes him for a moment before nodding.

Hap kisses me and places a gun in my hand. “What the hell? I’m not holding that!” I screech.

“For me, just while I’m up at the barn,” Hap pleads.

I huff. “Fine, you’re insane. Put it in my purse.” I hold open my purse, and he drops it in.

“Good girl. Back in fifteen minutes max,” he says after giving me a brief kiss.

I wait for the sound of the truck to drive off. “See! Insane,” I point out. Star reaches around from behind her and pulls out her own gun. “What the fuck?!” I screech.

“It will die down. They’re just overcautious. They nearly lost everything. Members included. Just humour Hap for a while,” she suggests.

“Well, when you put it like that, I can’t help but feel bad,” I sigh.

Star laughs and walks over to me, draping her arm cautiously over my shoulder in case I’m still in pain. “Don’t feel bad. It’s just the life of an ol’ lady. Life is never simple. It’s not always easy, but there is never a dull day.” She smiles. “The fucking ain’t too bad, either.”

Hap

I put the truck in park and jump out of the truck. Ghost is next to me as he unlocks the door, and as soon as he swings the door open, the smell hits us. I cover my mouth, coughing and spluttering.

“Fuck!” I wheeze.

Ghost covers his face with the top of his T-shirt as we step in closer. I switch on the light, and there hung up by chains is Eugene. He’s naked, and with marks covering his pale body, he is close to death. We left him hanging here, the other brothers taking it in turns to feed him the minimal to keep him alive. Piss and shit litter the floor beneath him, and his hands are a deep purple from lack of circulation.

“Eugene,” I growl, stopping in front of him. He can barely open his eyes, his breathing is laboured, and if I turned and walked out now, he wouldn’t last the night. He stinks of death, due to his body already beginning to shut down. “Eugene, look at me,” I seethe.

His eyes open more and fix on to mine. I can see the fear coursing through them. Ghost places the thick, cold metal in my hand, and I grip it tight. Without saying a word, I glare into his eyes while I drive the blade forward straight into his gut. Eugene lets out a long wheeze, his body flinching. His eyes widen as I twist the blade, and blood begins to pool from his mouth. The sound of the blood pouring from his gut, dripping onto the floor is the only noise in the room. “My eyes will be the last thing you fucking see,” I growl.

I withdraw the blade, only to drive it right back into another spot on his body. I twist the blade again, loving the wheeze he makes as the pain I know he will be feeling consumes his entire fucking body. I don’t move. I stand mere inches from his face as I watch the life drain away from his eyes. The final breath escapes him, and his head rolls limply to the side. I step back, leaving the knife buried in him.

Ghost hands me a towel, and I wipe my hands before I chuck the towel on the ground. Ghost walks around with a canister of gas, pouring it all over the place. I rip off my bloody shirt and throw it down on the ground before I grab the other canister and help cover the entire place in gasoline. Once they are both empty, we walk out.

I open the back of the truck, and after I tip water over my hands, I wash my face, making sure Alina sees no trace of blood. I grab the same T-shirt I packed in the back and look to Ghost; his eyes giving me the once-over to make sure there is no blood. He nods, and we jump in the truck.

I pull alongside one of the windows, and as Ghost holds up a petrol bomb, he lights the rag and throws it through the window. I don’t hang around; I slam my foot down on the gas pedal and floor it as far away from the barn as possible. The barn explodes into flames behind us as we drive back down to the club. I look to Ghost, and he looks at me before we both erupt with laughter.

“That’s it. It’s finally fucking over,” Ghost sighs.

The End