Page 26 of Kraken (Hades Abyss MC #4: Mississippi Chapter)

I heard a crash, then more cussing.

“What the hell is going on?” I demanded.

“She fainted. I’ll handle it. Go deal with that sick fuck, and, Kraken, you better make him suffer. If she’s my daughter and I’ve lost all this time with her, I want his blood. Every last fucking drop.”

“On it.”

I hung up and went back into the bedroom. The wife was crying and pleading with Dragon, claiming she’d had no part in what happened to Phoebe, but I could tell the bitch was lying. She’d known. Might not have planned it, but the preacher here hadn’t kept her in the dark.

“Titan wants this one to pay,” I said, pointing at the preacher. “Can you handle the bitch?”

“You got it. Any requests?” Dragon asked.

“Don’t care as long as she’s not breathing.”

Dragon grabbed the now hysterical woman, gripped her head in both hands, and snapped her neck. She slumped to the floor, her lifeless eyes staring at the wall. The preacher pissed himself again and bawled like a fucking baby. Not even over his wife. No, the bastard only thought about himself.

“I’ll give you anything you want. Don’t kill me. You can have all the money in our accounts. My daughter! You can have Meredith.”

“Didn’t learn the first time, I see. Don’t worry.

Meredith is safe and will soon be far from you.

” I used a length of rope to tie his hands behind his back, knocked him flat and tied his ankles too.

“How’s your tolerance for pain, preacher?

Because you’re in for a world of it. Better start talking. Why did you try to get Phoebe back?”

He babbled and cried as I cut his shirt from his body.

“I just wanted…” He gaze darted around the room.

“What? More money?”

He nodded. “One club paid for her. I thought maybe another one would too.”

Sick fucking bastard! I used the material to gag him, shoving a wad into his mouth, then tying a strip around his head to hold it in place I slid my blade along his tender skin.

Shallow cuts along his back. I didn’t stop until every inch was covered in blood.

Slicing his pants off, I carved Traitor down the length of one leg.

I nicked a vein and the blood started to pool under him, which meant I was running out of time.

Rolling him over, I removed the gag from his mouth. “There’s one thing you’re going to do before you die. If you don’t, I’ll make you suffer more.”

“Anything.”

I saw his phone on the bedside table and brought it over. Damn fool didn’t even have it locked. I pulled up the number for the church and showed it to him.

“Anyone there right now?” He frantically shook his head.

“Then you’re going to leave a voicemail and admit to what you’ve done.

You’ll tell them you sold Phoebe to men who raped and abused her.

Tell them where the money for the roof came from.

And only then will I think of ending your pathetic life. ”

“I’ll do it,” he said.

I pressed the button to call and put it on speaker. The church voicemail picked up and when it beeped, he started rambling about what he’d done. When I was satisfied, I ended the call and tossed the phone aside.

I heard Dragon murmuring on his phone, and the words clean up .

While he made sure we wouldn’t get caught or leave any evidence behind, I made good on my promise to Titan.

I carved up the preacher like he was a damn Christmas goose, and watched as he bled out.

When I was finished, Dragon clapped his hand on my shoulder.

“Come on. There’s a crew coming by to make sure there’s no trace we were here. They’ll handle the bodies too. Make it look like the preacher and his wife skipped town.”

I eyed the blood covering the floor. “Don’t think you can hide that so easily.”

“They’ll do whatever is necessary. Even burn this bitch to the ground.” Dragon looked me over. “Better wash some of that off before you hit the road. Thankfully, you’re wearing dark colors, but you still might want to clean up and change.”

I nodded and followed him from the house.

Outside, Iron was waiting, but I noticed Grizzly was already gone.

I was glad. They needed to be far the fuck away from this place.

I hoped like hell the girl could handle what she’d learn about those parents of hers, assuming they even were her parents.

If they hadn’t given birth to Phoebe, there was a good chance the sister wasn’t related either.

I texted Titan one word. Done .

He sent another selfie of him and Phoebe cuddled on my couch. My woman looked pale but happy. Maybe finding out she hadn’t been related to these fucks had lifted some of the weight from her shoulders.

I had a feeling Thanksgiving and Christmas at the club were about to get interesting.

Not only would this be our first holiday season with an old lady on the premises, but Phoebe wasn’t just my woman.

She was Hades Abyss by blood and the President’s daughter.

Never saw that fucking coming, and I knew Titan hadn’t either.

As tired as I was, there was no fucking way I’d stay anywhere overnight.

I needed to get home. But first, I pulled out my overnight bag and went back into the house.

I washed up in the kitchen sink and changed my clothes, rolling up the dirty ones and shoving them into the bag.

I’d either clean them or burn them later.

When I got on my bike, I started her up and eased down the road.

I opened up my bike on the highway and let the tires eat up the miles.

The sun beat down on me as it rose to its peak just as I passed the town limits sign.

Every part of me ached and fatigue pulled at me.

I stopped at the gates to the compound and Riley let me through.

Heading straight for the house, I saw Titan’s bike was still outside.

When I entered the house, I heard the TV going and stepped into the living room, smiling at the scene before me.

Ember sat on Titan’s lap as he stared at her in wonder. Phoebe was next to them and looked at the Pres with a bit of awe.

“So… does this mean I have to call you Dad?” I asked.

Titan flipped me off. “Fucker.”

Phoebe bolted from the couch, but I held up my hands and she threw herself into my arms. “You’re home. You’re safe!”

“Told you, baby girl. Nothing was going to keep me from coming back to you. You doing okay?”

She nodded against my chest. “It’s so strange and yet… I feel relieved.”

“How’s it feel to be a dad and grandpa, Titan?” I asked.

“Pisses me off I missed so much of her life. If you hadn’t already taken care of Deuce and the others, I’d have ended them. The way they hurt my girl.” He shook his head. “They died too easy.”

“Where’s Meredith? Where did you send her?” Phoebe asked.

“Remember I told you she’d be in good hands. She’s with the Devil’s Fury. Their Pres is going to take her in, give her a home. You can talk to her later.” I ran my hand down her hair. “She may not be your sister by blood, but you were raised with her. Makes her family.”

“What if she’s like me?” she asked.

“You mean not really the daughter of those sick bastards who raised the two of you?” I asked.

She nodded.

“If there’s a way to find out, I’m sure the club hackers can do it. Between Wizard, Surge, and Outlaw, they’ll dig up whatever they can.”

“Already had Outlaw working to change Phoebe’s birth certificate. I know he feels hampered because of his hands, but figured he could easily handle something like that. She might be married to you and have your last name, but I want to make it damn clear she’s my daughter,” Titan said.

“What happened after you hung up?” I asked.

Phoebe’s cheeks pinked. “I fainted. Then we talked. The shock wore off after a few hours. He pointed out I was already family because I’m with you. Being his daughter just makes it even more official. And now Ember will have a grandfather she can look up to.”

“It’s going to take a little time to adjust,” Titan said. “We’ll find our way. She’s not going anywhere and neither am I. We have all the time in the world to catch up.”

“As much as I want to sit here and enjoy all this, I’m dead fucking tired. Going to shower and crash for a few hours.”

Phoebe put her arms around my waist and kissed me. “I’ll make something special for dinner. You gave me peace, not only knowing I’m not related to those hateful people but making sure they’d never hurt anyone else. And you gave me a family.”

“No, baby girl. You’re the one who’s given me everything I could ever want or need. Love you.”

I kissed her again, then waved to the Pres as I walked out of the room. Shower. Sleep. Then I’d sort out our new family dynamics with a clearer head. Life just kept throwing curveballs, but this one was pretty damn amazing.