Page 34

Levi

H e was chuckling as he rode his bike back to the clubhouse. Madisen had been telling him about a customer who thought the speakeasy part of the club was code for strip joint. Madisen was furious, and Levi had gone to calm her down. The guy had been totally embarrassed, which amused Levi.

Levi saw an SUV appear on his tail and noted that it was approaching fast. He moved over to one side in case the asshole decided to overtake. Things happened too quickly. Levi wouldn’t remember them fully.

The SUV hit his rear type, and Levi spun out of control. Levi headed down an embankment and slid off his bike. A brief thought of thank fuck he was wearing a jacket crossed his mind, and then his head clashed with something, and he blacked out.

◆◆◆

Levi opened his eyes and blinked. It was sheer darkness around him, and he was hanging from a hook in the ceiling.

“You’re messing with the wrong person,” Levi called out as he winced in the pain in his shoulders. His feet just barely touched the floor, but his shoulders ached from being hung above his head.

“The army teaches you a lot of shit. How to fight, survive, and win. We also learn how to keep a guy alive despite him being wounded.” “Sunny? What the fuck, man? Let me down now.”

A bright light was switched on, and Levi blinked as a punch hit him hard in the kidneys. He cried out in pain and tried turning his head.

“Tell me why you betrayed us,” Sunny demanded.

“I didn’t.”

A second blow landed. Levi winced. “Stop this shit. I haven’t betrayed you.”

“Where’s your old burner?”

“Long gone, brother! Jesus, we did not need them afterwards,” Levi hissed. Why the hell had Sunny fingered him as the traitor?

A belt hit his back, and Levi yelled out.

“Why did you betray us?” Sunny demanded.

“I fuckin’ didn’t! Why do you think it was me?” Levi demanded.

Sunny didn’t reply. His only response was to yank on the chains holding Levi’s arms above his head and lift Levi so his arms and shoulders took his full weight.

“I’m your brother,” Levi said desperately.

Madisen had just discovered they were having a boy. He wanted to be around to see his child born. Sunny had evidence, but it was the wrong evidence. Levi had to reach him.

“Sunny, speak to me. Why do you believe it was me?”

Sunny did not answer but blows hit Levi’s body as he swung back and forth, helpless to defend himself. Levi was terrified. He didn’t want to die. He had a family and everything to live for.

“Fuckin’ talk to me. I’m not the rat,” Levi screamed with real fear.

Sunny had been mid-swing and paused at the terror in Levi’s voice.

“That’s how I felt when I was shot.”

“Sunny, Madisen’s having a boy, he deserves a father!”

“And Liv deserved hers! And you nearly took me from her. You attacked Cherry at home and tried to harm Callie. Your kid deserves better than you!” Sunny roared and hit Levi again.

Levi’s cheek burst open, and he winced.

“Who fingered me? They’ve set me up to escape their own punishment. Fuck, we were close back then. I’m not your rat!”

A heavy blow to the head stunned Levi, and two more knocked him unconscious.

◆◆◆

Levi had no idea how long he’d been out when he came to, but his body hurt all over. Sunny sat in a chair, playing with a knife.

“Tell me the truth, Levi, why me, what did you get from being a traitor? I’ll make it quick for you. Keep the bullshit up, and you’ll be in far worse pain.”

Levi shook his head. Hope was fading, and he was losing his dreams. “It wasn’t me. The rat has set us both up. I didn’t betray you or Hellfire.”

“Primal gave me your name.” “He wasn’t around when I joined. How the hell would he know?” Levi blurted, seeing what Sunny hadn’t.

“What?”

“How the fuck would Primal know what was happening in the club? Think. He was long gone. He couldn’t have known who the traitor was.”

“Maybe he stayed in contact with some of the other traitors, hoping to get back in,” Sunny retorted.

“You are grasping at straws. I’m not the rat, and you’re going to kill an innocent brother,” Levi hissed.

“None of us are innocent, Levi.”

“Of being a traitor, I am!”

Levi held Sunny’s gaze even though one eye had swollen shut. He hoped Sunny could see the truth on his battered face. Sunny held his eyes, and then everything went dark again. Levi hung alone in the darkness as Sunny moved away.

Hopefully, he had given Sunny something to think about.

Chance

“His bike is mangled. Someone hit him and took Levi from the scene,” Lio reported to Chance.

Not somebody… Sunny, Chance realised. For some reason, Sunny had gone after Levi.

He had taken a call from Sunny’s step-mom, who said that Sunny had stormed out of the hospital after promising someone was dead.

Belinda had told Chance that Primal had muttered the name Levi, and Sunny had left immediately.

Chance had reached out, but Levi hadn’t answered his phone. That had been three hours ago. Levi had been in Sunny’s grasp since then.

Chance rubbed his brow. They’d only just found Levi’s bike.

“There’s blood on the ground. Levi was hurt,” Lio added.

“Thanks.”

“Who do I put an ABP out on?” Lio asked.

Chance balked at telling him, but he needed Sunny finding quickly. Chance hesitated, and Bear shook his head.

“Don’t know. If we find information, we’ll inform SPD,” Chance replied. He hoped he was making the right decision, as Levi’s life was on the line.

“If you’re holding back and Levi dies…” Lio let the words hang before cutting the call.

“Get me Sunny!” Chance roared at those around him.

Boots hit the floor as those present left. Over half the club had been searching for him already, but Chance needed everyone out there. Bear swapped a glance with Chance.

“Sit down. You know Sunny. Where would he head?” Bear said.

“I don’t know. Sunny’s not the guy he used to be,” Chance answered.

“Sailor is missing as well. Is he in on it?” Bear asked.

“Possibly. I do not believe it’s Levi. Levi can’t be the traitor.”

“No, I don’t see it being Levi either. Why would Primal finger him? If we can figure that one out, we might have the real rat,” Bear replied.

Chance nodded as his brain scrambled. There was something; there had to be.

Sunny

It didn’t feel right. Something was off with the entire scene. Levi had rightfully pointed out something he’d not considered. Primal had left by the time Levi joined the club, so why finger him?

Sunny paced. He was convinced there was a traitor, and Levi’s name had been given to him. But Sunny had a feeling Levi would die proclaiming his innocence, and he didn’t want to kill an innocent brother. Levi had answers that Sunny needed.

He walked to where Levi was hanging and turned the lights back on. Sunny grabbed a bottle of water and held it to Levi’s mouth. Levi drank deeply from it.

“Sunny, you gotta listen. I ain’t the rat. I don’t know why Primal fingered me, but I’m not the traitor.”

“He gave me your name for a reason.”

“Ever thought Primal was behind this shit? That he’s come back to cause trouble? Turn brother against brother? That’s his mojo, isn’t it? Betrayal, backstabbing and pain. Is Primal capable of this?” Levi demanded.

Sunny was in the process of lowering Levi, so his feet touched the floor and paused. What Levi had suggested was true. Primal was capable of this shit. Primal would revel in the chaos caused by his lies.

“Possibly,” Sunny admitted.

“I am not the traitor, brother. Torture me all you want, even kill me, but that won’t make me the rat. But I pity you because you’ll have to live with the knowledge I’m innocent,” Levi ground out. His face screwed up in pain, and Sunny paused again, thinking.

“You could be mind-fucking me.”

“I can’t control your thoughts. But I have never targeted you. I don’t know who the snake is, but I think you’re being set up. Kill me, and Hellfire will take you out, too. They’ll do the traitor's job for him,” Levi said.

Sunny nodded thoughtfully. His gut was screaming Levi was innocent, but he couldn’t be sure.

“If I trust you and this is a mistake—”

Whatever Sunny had been about to say was cut off as the door was kicked in, and Pyro barrelled through it. He took Sunny down to the floor as Sunny fought back.

No! Not now.

Sunny fought with everything he had, but Tiny joined in as Banshee also arrived. The three of them quickly subdued Sunny, tied, and gagged him as Tiny lowered Levi.

“Tell Chance we need Doc, Sunny has done a job on Levi,” Tiny said with hate and kicked Sunny in the ribs.

Sunny’s eyes narrowed. He would remember that. Tiny hauled Sunny up and slung him over his shoulder.

“For what you did to Levi, I’m going to pay back tenfold,” Tiny promised and carried Sunny out.

Callie

I shouldn’t be listening, but I was. And I was devastated. Sunny had gone after Levi and tortured him. But he had been stopped by Tiny, Pyro, and Banshee and was being held at Hellfire. Sailor had reported to the others, and now they were discussing how to get Sunny back.

Without catching their attention, I slipped past and grabbed some keys. I could get into Hellfire and free Sunny. They’d not deny me entrance.

Cherry caught my gaze and nodded. “Bring my son home,” she said.

“I’ll do my best,” I promised.

“Thank you.”

I headed for the car and slipped in. Hands shaking, I started the engine and allowed the car to roll down the dirt track. We were hiding out at a house surrounded by woods. There was only one way in and out, and this was it. But if I started the engine, the team would be on me before I could blink.

Once the car was rolling merrily along and I deemed myself far enough from the house, I started the engine and drove off. Silently, I prayed for Sunny to hold on; I was coming for him.

Chance