Page 12

Sunny

“T ruly. I couldn’t believe how much work went into their investigations.

Callie was like a machine. They had interrupted sleep, worked hours on research, and sat for hours, sometimes in a room just waiting for a response.

It was interesting and tedious, but I was wrong.

They’re not faking anything. I’ve never been so scared in my life when that spirit box spoke my name,” Polly exclaimed to Thalia, Clio, and Rain.

Maylene sat close to them with Rose, Shotgun’s grandmother.

“So, you’re more appreciative of what Callie does now?” Maylene asked.

“Honestly, Gran, I have to say yes. They work hard. The first three days, they got nothing except temperature and EMF fluctuations. They managed to debunk some of those, but at least half could not be explained. I really didn’t think they were going to get anything until the fourth night, when it all kicked off. I’d been pretty smug until then.

“But those doors opening and shutting couldn’t be faked.

And we were all together when it happened.

And the female figure caught on camera! I can’t say I believe in ghosts, but there is certainly something out there I can’t explain.

And I’ll not ridicule Callie again,” Polly admitted. “They work damn hard.”

“Did you make up?” Rain asked.

Polly scowled. “We’re not in the playground now.”

“But you were acting like it,” Rain stated calmly, not backing down.

“I’m a lot more tolerant of Callie’s beliefs, and I’ve a shitload of respect for her team. I never imagined it would be such hard work. And Harry. Damn, that guy is a powerhouse for research. His mind made connections I’d never have dreamed of,” Polly said.

Sunny grinned. Seemed someone had gotten a good dose of Callie’s reality and had changed her tune exponentially. His word of the day, and he had used it in the right context.

He turned on his heel from where he’d been lingering and caught Chance watching him.

Despite Chance’s open acceptance of him, Sunny knew Chance and Bear were suspicious as fuck of him.

They knew Sunny was holding back, and that Sunny wasn’t one hundred per cent with the club.

The fact Sunny’s Olivia hadn’t been around spoke to that fact.

Sunny headed towards the garage where Fanatic was no doubt working. It was hard to get the prospect out, and Jinx had taken to ensuring Fanatic ate.

And speaking of Jinx…

Sunny’s eyes widened as he saw something falling towards him. “What the fuck!” he bellowed and dived to the side.

He landed and knocked the wind from his body as he lay there, stunned as something smashed into the ground with an almighty bang. Voices rose in alarm, and Sunny shook his head to clear the ringing in his ears.

Sunny rolled over onto his back as Chance reached him first. Chance’s mouth was moving, but Sunny couldn’t hear him. With a groan, Sunny sat up and stared in shock at what had nearly killed him.

A fuckin’ toilet? What the hell?

“Is that a toilet?” Sunny demanded in total disbelief.

“Yeah,” Chance’s lips formed the words.

“How the fuck does a toilet fall from the sky?”

Chance winced and pointed over his shoulder.

Sunny looked across and saw a mobile crane that was being used to move bricks and stuff over to where the houses were being built.

One of the chains had snapped, and the pallet it had been carrying had tipped to the side.

Clearly, the toilet had been on the pallet.

“Fuckin’ Jinx!” Sunny roared.

Chance bit his lip as Sunny got to his feet.

“What a way to go out, killed by a toilet. What the hell would you put on that gravestone?” Fanatic asked, and Sunny glared at him.

Chance bit his lip harder, trying not to laugh. “Dude, you almost got taken out by a shitter.”

“Shut the fuck up. We need to find a way to neutralise the Jinx effect. That kid is a menace,” Sunny exclaimed.

“Yeah, but he’s a damn good candidate,” Bear said, approaching. He looked completely bemused.

“Do not say a fuckin’ word, Bear,” Sunny warned.

“Spoil my fun, why don’t ya,” Bear complained.

“Fuck the lot of you!” Sunny moaned and walked away.

Laughter followed him as he limped back to the clubhouse.

Jesus, it was bad enough they all kept their head on a swivel, but now they had to look up as well? Sunny contemplated contacting a voodoo witch to try and end Jinx’s curse. Because it had to be a freaking curse!

November 2023

“Need me to come?” I asked Fanatic as he shoved clothes into a backpack and grabbed his wallet.

“No, I’ll be fine, but I need to ride. The hospital didn’t say what was wrong, but it’s an emergency,” Fanatic replied.

“I don’t think you should be heading out alone…”

“Sunny. It’s Willow. I gotta know what’s happening.

I’m not giving Axel half-truths and panicking him.

No offence, but Axel doesn’t need the shock.

Let me find out what’s going on, and then I will inform everybody.

But I’m leaving right now, the plane’s already being prepped.

I’ll call and update everyone,” Fanatic explained and took off.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Only one person could drag him away from an important design,” Chance said from behind me as I exited Fanatic’s room and shut the door.

“No shit.”

“You know how he feels about her?” Chance asked, cocking his head.

“Brother, the entire fuckin’ club knows.

Fanatic buried that deep, and I’ve got a whole lot of respect for him.

Any man who can put aside his personal feelings and embrace the guy who claimed the girl he loved is someone I want to know.

Fanatic is…” Sunny broke off, unable to find the word he wanted.

“Yeah. Kid stepped aside for Grey to claim Willow and then made Grey a close friend. I’ve got doubts Fanatic will make a move on her because of his love for his dead brother,” Chance admitted.

“Gotta have faith, brother,” Sunny replied.

“You think shit will happen?” Chance asked, surprised.

“Willow is too young to be alone for the rest of her life. And love has a way of happening when you least expect it.” Chance regarded him shrewdly. “Something you want to inform me about?”

A woman’s toned body flashed into Sunny’s mind, a soft sigh and then a cry of his name. “No.”

“Sure?”

“Ain’t got no woman. I like Chatter’s old way of doing things, keep it simple and short.”

“That worked until Chatter murdered a doll and fell for a doll maker and valuer,” Chance said, chuckling.

“Only Chatter would fall for someone who worked with dolls.” Sunny shook his head in disbelief.

“Brother’s fucked in the head. That’s for sure. But they’re happy. About time you settled down,” Chance replied directly.

Sunny was startled. “Nah, too old, bro.”

Chance laughed. “Fuck off. Age does not mean a thing. You’ll find someone. She will be sweet and fiery, calm and passionate, she’ll take you to extremes you don’t know about.”

“You know something I don’t?” Sunny demanded. Had Chance seen the woman he’d spent the night with all those weeks ago?

“Nah. Just had faith that all my brothers, even the asshole ones, will find happiness,” Chance said and turned his head.

“Daddy!” Louisa Mae squealed as she rushed towards him. Olivia was on her heels, Chance’s daughter.

“We best refer to my Olivia as Liv,” Sunny suggested as the little girls reached Chance and stared at him with total adoration.

Chance swung down and picked them both up.

“That would help. When is Liv coming by?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. She is taking extra classes, so I won’t be seeing her for a while. But she’s doing great,” Sunny said. Habit made him offer as little information as possible. Liv would always be protected.

“How’s Cherry?” Chance asked, his eyes firmly focused on Sunny.

“Mom’s fine. Don’t ask me what she’s up to because I do not have a clue. Last thing I heard was Pilates and Salsa dancing,” Sunny replied.

“Sounds like her, she never liked being alone or idle.”

“Mom’s been alone since Bullet’s death. If she’s had a relationship, it’s one I’ve no clue about. Says nobody could live up to Bullet, and she’s not going to look,” Sunny stated.

Chance momentarily saddened. “Bullet was a good man.”

“You honour him and the others. That’s all that matters.

” Sunny nodded towards the wall where the cuts of Hellfire’s fallen were framed.

Only the greats were on that wall, not the drugged-up assholes.

Whiskey, Chaser, Bullet, Slash, and Engima, plus two old lady cuts, Willa and Amy.

Their cuts had been hauled out of the wreckage of the old clubhouse.

They hung next to photos of them, all having a good time.

There were even pictures of the children who’d been so brutally murdered.

Clio had once had a pink fit at the number of photos scattered around and had scanned them all into a laptop before putting most away.

It was a lucky foresight by her. It allowed Hellfire to keep hold of the positive memories.

“They deserve to be remembered,” Chance replied.

Sunny nodded. Pain shone in both their eyes. The night Whiskey and Chaser had died had been when he’d lost Julie at the same time. Sunny had been reeling from her death and then theirs. That had been when Chance finally pulled the trigger.

“Say it,” Chance demanded, and Sunny held his eyes.

“What?”

“You always thought if I’d moved earlier, Whiskey and Chaser would be alive, as would their kids.”

“Ain’t gonna lie. I was about to leave the club. Julie made me swear to put the baby first, and the way you let things drag on did not sit right with me. We should’ve pushed much earlier, but you were determined to play by the rules,” Sunny said honestly.

“The charter was what we lived by.”