Page 22

Sunny

H e glanced over at Callie and saw she was shielding Thalia from the police. Clio was also present with Tati, and the women had formed a clique. Two officers stood in the entrance of the clubhouse, and Sunny narrowed his eyes. He didn’t recognise either of them.

“Can I help you?” Chance inquired, approaching. Bear headed straight for Thalia and lifted her into his arms, keeping her face hidden from the cops.

“Chance Michaelson?” the first asked.

“Yup.”

“I’m Martin Cross from Spearfish Police Department,”

“New in town?” Chance inquired.

“Yes. What happened, Mr Michaelson?”

“Huh?”

“Your face and those two men. You’ve clearly been fighting,” Cross said.

“Yeah, what business is it of yours?” Bear demanded.

“Gratuitous violence?” Cross asked.

“We were keeping fit. We have a private boxing ring, and we don’t pussy around. Nothing gratuitous about it.” Chance stared at them.

“A way of keeping anger under control,” Cross suggested. Chance sent him an expressionless look.

“No offence, I doubt you’re here about our exercise routines. What can I do for you?” Chance challenged them.

“You had a member called Zack Smith?” the second man asked.

“Who are you?” Bear interrupted.

“I’m Officer Edwards with the state troopers.”

“Good to know,” Bear responded.

“Zack Smith?” Cross pried.

“He was a member here, even held president position once. His club name was Zeus,” Chance answered calmly. “Whatever he has done isn’t associated with us.”

“He’s dead,” Edwards replied.

“Can’t say I’m sorry to hear that. Man was darker than Hades and had the devil in him. What’s it got to do with us?”

“Not interested in when he died?” Cross asked.

“Nah. Told ya. The guy was evil incarnate. He was kicked from the club for illegal activities, and we ain’t had dealings with him since,” Chance responded calmly.

“Would be a bit hard to have dealings when he died soon after leaving your club,” Cross said.

Sunny almost laughed when surprise crossed Chance’s face. “He did? Damn. I think I’m missing something, though. Unless… you are accusing us of killing him. In which case, we want a lawyer.”

Edwards scowled and glanced at Cross.

“When was the last time you saw Mr Smith?” Cross asked.

“Do I need a lawyer?” Chance demanded.

“Do you think you need one?” Edwards inquired.

“Yeah, considering you’re here questioning us in relation to a death. Do you even know how he died?”

“Painfully by the condition of his bones. When was the last time you saw Mr Smith?” Edwards pushed.

“I just told you. We kicked him out of the club and haven’t seen him for years. If you’re asking me for a specific date, can’t tell you. None of us have thought about that asshole for years,” Chance stated.

“It’s local legend your gang was at war with his,” Edwards pressed.

“And we are done. Hellfire is a club, and you’re here on a fishing expedition.

If you want to talk to anyone from here, make an appointment, and we’ll bring a lawyer.

Hellfire has worked with SPD for years, we’re clean and intend to stay that way.

Can’t say I’m sorry that useless asshole is dead, and ain’t gonna pretend to grieve.

Zeus was one of the nastiest bastards I’ve ever come across.

The door’s there, gentlemen, please use it,” Chance said, folding his arms.

Edwards and Cross stared at them before offering a nod, and turning on their heels, they left. Sunny walked to the door and watched them go.

“Call church for tonight, Sunny. Bear, my office,” Chance ordered as Sunny walked out.

He followed the cops to the car, and they stopped and looked at him. “Sunny, isn’t it? If you need help, we can protect you,” Cross said.

Sunny frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Dude, those bruises on your face are several days old, and you also have new ones. You’ve been in a fight today. We can protect you and get you free of them if you want it,” Edwards answered.

Sunny blinked before laughing. “You think they’re beating on me? You couldn’t be more wrong. A bout in the ring caused this. Nothing more, nothing less. Trust me, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”

“Just remember our offer,” Cross said and climbed into the driver’s seat.

Sunny watched them pull out and nodded as Sailor closed the gates behind them. He spun on his heel and walked inside to Callie. Fuck knows what she was thinking, and he was worried.

Callie headed for him the moment he stepped into the clubhouse.

“Are you okay?” she asked, wrapping her arms around him.

“I should be asking you that. I’m sorry you witnessed all that shit,” Sunny replied, drawing her in close and inhaling the scent of her shampoo.

“Why did Bear flip out?” “I’ll tell you later, just not here, Callie,” Sunny murmured in her ear.

“Something bad is happening, isn’t it?” Callie whispered.

“Please trust in me.”

Callie studied his face, and Sunny nearly squirmed. He needed Callie to believe him.

“I do,” Callie replied finally.

Sunny dropped a kiss on her head and squeezed her. “I’ll explain after church.”

“Okay,” Callie muttered.

Callie

I watched as Sunny disappeared for church and turned to Thalia. Bear was beside himself as he held an ice pack on her chin. Despite Chance calling church, Bear wasn’t rushing. Bear kept stroking Thalia’s arms, and I could see her getting irate.

“Bear, for fuck’s sake, it was an accident. I stepped in the way, and it was a glancing blow,” Thalia muttered as she winced in pain.

“Baby, I hit like a sledgehammer,” Bear whined.

“Yes, you freaking do, but I’m okay,” Thalia insisted.

I wasn’t going to keep my mouth shut. “If you hadn’t attacked Sunny, Thalia would never have been hurt. You have temper issues.”

Bear looked crestfallen, while Thalia sent me a dark look. “Callie…”

“No. Whatever issue he had with Sunny, your stupid husband caused this. He clearly was lacking information and lashed out without knowing the full story. Chance made that very clear,” I pressed.

“This is club business,” Bear snarled at me. Fuck, no. I wasn’t standing for that. I shoved my face in his.

“You punching my sister is my business, asshole,” I hissed, and Bear flinched physically.

“I would never hurt Thalia on purpose,” Bear muttered as he hauled Thalia in closer to his body.

“That I don’t think I can believe. Honestly, you were so riled up you had no idea Thalia was heading to you! If you lost your temper at home, you’d kill her,” I snapped.

“Callie! Shut up! It was a damn accident!” Thalia exclaimed.

“Yeah. Take the side of the man who just punched you. Typical.” With that, I walked away.

Thalia and Bear may be right. But at the end of the day, Bear had been so incensed he’d not known who was in the vicinity. My blood ran cold at another thought.

“You know, you were so blinded with temper, you didn’t know who was around you. What if it had been one of the kids?” I demanded. “One blow from you and it’d lead to real damage.”

Thalia and Bear paled, while Clio sent me an admonishing look. With that final say, I headed out and got into my car and drove off.

Sunny

He winced as he heard Callie’s parting shot. It would make Bear doubt himself, and Sunny didn’t want that. There was no doubt in his mind that Bear would ever deliberately hurt Thalia, and Callie was severely mistaken there. But he could see shit from Callie’s side.

She’d not been close enough to hear what had happened, and all she had seen was Sunny talking to Sailor and Bear attacking them both. From Callie’s point of view, it looked bad. Then Thalia got hit.

Sunny remembered someone mentioning that Callie had been abused as a child. She’d never mentioned much around him, but an odd comment or two had slipped out of her.

The violence must have taken Callie by surprise, and she’d naturally reacted against it. He’d explain everything to her later, and hopefully, Callie would calm down. If Callie was going to be in his life, she deserved to know it all. Sunny owed her that.

He sat in the office as Bear entered; the man a much quieter version of himself than an hour ago.

“Any doubts now?” Chance demanded without preamble.

“No. But I can’t imagine who it could be,” Bear replied.

“Sunny is going to explain once more. You’ll listen, Bear, and pay attention. We’ve got a rat,” Chance ordered.

Sunny glanced at Chance, who nodded and began explaining to Bear again. This time Sunny could tell Bear was taking shit in.

Finally, Bear sat back and shook his head. “No one stands out, and I mean nobody.”

“I agree, which is why Sunny’s research is vital,” Chance replied.

“That’s why you two have been fighting,” Bear realised.

“The first time was because of Callie. The second, yeah, because of this. Sunny’s now had three ass-whoopings in a few weeks,” Chance said.

“Attempted… get it right. I held my own against you both, and you can’t deny it,” Sunny interrupted, his pride stung.

“You had to make that point because…?” Chance asked dryly.

“Facts needed to be corrected. But we’re getting off the subject. We have got a traitor, one who helped Zeus try to murder me two decades ago,” Sunny replied.

“Seriously, I can’t see it being someone in the club now,” Bear denied.

“Can’t say I’m happy about it, but we’ve a rat, and that’s a fact.

No way would the cops just randomly hit on Zeus’s burial ground.

Plus, he was there when they arrived. He’d have been arrested if they’d caught him a few minutes earlier.

Ain’t no secret that Sunny thinks we have a dirty brother still,” Chance said.

“Someone tried to get Sunny banged up to avoid him prying,” Bear realised.

“Yup. That’s my take on it, too. Hate to say it, but we gotta start paying attention to who’s doing what,” Chance agreed.

“Sailor’s cover can’t be broken. That might put a target on him,” Sunny stated.

“He’s gonna have some tough questions to answer when it comes out who he is,” Bear muttered.