Page 6 of Kraken (Hades Abyss MC #4: Mississippi Chapter)

Kraken

Sending Phoebe and Ember with my brothers had been the right call.

I’d known it the moment I handed her into the truck.

I could have gotten on my bike and followed, but running wasn’t my style.

Instead, I’d grabbed a beer and sat at the bar, waiting for the Sadistic Saints to wake the hell up.

So far, only their President had stumbled into the room.

Deuce ground his teeth and his eyes flashed with fury. “You’re telling me the little bitch is gone?”

“Yep. Long gone.” I smirked. “You miscalculated. I always take what I want, Deuce. And little Phoebe? Once I had a taste, there was no fucking way I was letting her go. So yeah, she’s gone. Safely tucked away. Her and Ember.”

“I paid for her. Broke her. The whore will do whatever she’s told.”

I tapped the bar. “About that payment. Did her family know you had her before or after you dropped the cash on their doorstep?”

“We gave the preacher a choice,” Deuce said.

“What kind of choice?” I asked.

Deuce smiled. “He either gave up his daughter, or we would burn his church to the ground. Imagine my surprise when he gladly gave her up. Not without a little bit of a fight. He did ask for some money. Once we agreed on an amount, he let us know when and where to find her. She thought she’d been sneaky, slipping out of the house.

They’d been watching and waiting. The moment she left I got a call. ”

When I finished with these fuckers, I should pay the good preacher a visit. I wondered if his church members knew what he’d done. Doubtful, since he’d spread the word she went to stay with family. I would expose him, take my pound of flesh, and then I’d send the asshole straight to hell.

“You’ll have your men bring her back,” Deuce said. “Now.”

I rolled my neck, cracking it. “You seem to think I answer to you, Deuce.”

He slammed his fist onto the bar top. “You’re in my territory! My house. My rules.”

“Let me tell you exactly how I feel about your rules.” I turned to face him fully.

“You’re a pathetic excuse for a leader, Deuce, and your club is even worse.

You’re nothing but a bunch of murderers and rapists.

Scum. It’s clubs like this one that give all of us a bad name.

If I were to wipe the lot of you from the face of the earth, they’d probably throw me a fucking parade.

You have no authority over me, Deuce, because I’m not weak and pathetic like the rest of these men. ”

“You fucking…” Deuce stood so fast his stool toppled. He pulled a gun from the small of his back and pointed the barrel at my chest. “You can’t talk to me like that. I’m the President!”

I knocked the gun from his hand and slammed my fist into his jaw.

Fury ignited in me as I thought of all he’d done to Phoebe.

I plowed my fists into his ribs, his face.

I heard bones crunch and watched blood fly.

He’d made the mistake of talking to me without an audience.

Deuce fell to the floor and I leaned over him.

I fisted his shirt and yanked him closer.

“Now, you’re going to shut up and listen.

The only reason you’re the President is because your club is just as pathetic as you.

There’s no fucking way real men would ever follow you.

Rapists. Pedophiles. Murderers. Those are the people who willingly let you lead.

And since I can’t trust you to leave Phoebe alone, I’ll have to make an example of you. ”

I hauled him on top of the bar and yanked the knife from my hip.

I jabbed the blade between his ribs twice, then sliced it across his throat.

As he gurgled and drowned on his own blood, I tore open his shirt and left a message for his club.

My blade ripped through his skin as I sketched the words into his flesh.

She’s mine!

I cleaned up and went out to my bike. Watching the clubhouse, I waited a moment.

No one came for me. No shouts. Nothing. I shook my head.

These sorry fuckers were so damn drunk and stoned, I could probably burn the place down with them inside.

They hadn’t even left a Prospect to stand watch.

As tempting as it was to roast them in their beds, it wasn’t my style.

I’d give them a chance. One. If they failed and came for me or Phoebe, I’d take them out.

I pulled away from their clubhouse and hit the road toward home.

Other than a stop for gas and to take a piss, I didn’t take breaks.

I wanted to get home to my girls, make sure they were all right, and get them settled into their new home.

The look in Phoebe’s eyes would haunt me for a while.

She’d been scared and uncertain. I’d hated leaving her with Poison and Brick, but I’d needed to do this.

It was late when I pulled up to the gates. Morgan, a new Prospect, let me through. I bypassed the clubhouse and went straight to the house. By now, Phoebe was probably going out of her mind. I should have called. Talked to her. Reassured her everything would be okay.

Sean stood outside my house and gave me a nod as I parked my bike. I walked past him and inside. The door hadn’t even shut before Phoebe rushed toward me. Her hair looked like she’d been running her fingers through it. Still, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“You’re here,” she said.

“Told you I’d catch up.”

She folded her arms and tipped her chin up. “Catch up? Kraken, we’ve been here for half a day. Where were you? What happened?”

I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her.

“Baby girl, there are some questions I’ll never answer.

Just know Deuce won’t be coming for you, and if his club has even half a brain cell among the lot of them, they won’t either.

Damn near went to see your parents, but when I finished with Deuce, I just wanted to see you. Make sure you were all right.”

“My parents? Why would you go see them?”

I pressed her cheek to my chest and held her.

I didn’t want any secrets between us, not as long as they weren’t club business, but I also didn’t want her scared of me.

She’d lived with monsters long enough already.

There might be darkness inside me, but I only let it out when someone needed to be punished. I never went after innocents.

“We’ll talk later, baby. Right now, I want a shower and some food. I promise I’ll tell you what I can. There are some things I’ll never be able to share.”

“But you won’t lie to me, right?” she asked.

I cupped her cheek and pressed my lips to hers. “No, baby. I won’t lie to you.”

“All right. I’ll go start the shower for you, then find something for you to eat while you get cleaned up.”

I rubbed my hand over my beard. I hadn’t had anyone take care of me before.

It was nice. I watched her ass as she hurried down the hall, her hips swinging side to side.

Despite being hungry and tired, my dick hardened.

I wondered if she’d understood what it meant for me to claim her.

She wouldn’t be sleeping in a guest room.

My woman belonged in my bed, under me, and screaming my name.

I followed, stripping off my clothes along the way. I tossed my cut onto the dresser along with my phone and dumped my boots in the closet. My clothes went into the hamper in the bathroom. Phoebe openly stared at me, and I saw her fingers twitch. I reached for her, tugging her closer.

“You can touch me, baby girl. You might be mine now, but I’m also yours.” I took her hand and placed it on my chest. “You understand what I meant when I said I was claiming you?”

“You mentioned old ladies, but the Sadistic Saints only have whores.”

“I’ll have a property cut made for you. You’re not a club whore, Phoebe, and you damn sure never will be.

Any man touches you, I’ll fucking kill him.

” She tensed but I held onto her. “Not trying to scare you. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, or this club.

You didn’t ask how I knew Deuce wouldn’t come for you. ”

“You killed him, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice nearly a whisper.

“Beat the hell out of him first. I’m the Sergeant-at-Arms, baby.

My hands are covered in blood. Doesn’t make me like that shithead.

I don’t kill innocent people, and I would never hurt a woman.

Well, maybe not never . There are some evil bitches out there, and if one of them hurt you or our kids, I’d end her.

Someone betrays this club, won’t matter their gender. I’ll handle it.”

She took a breath and seemed to be thinking it over. “You’ve never forced yourself on a woman, have you?”

I smirked at her. “Baby, do I look like I’d need to force anyone? They always fell at my feet.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious, Kraken.”

“And then there’s that. Around the club, I’m Kraken. In enemy territory, I’m Kraken. Here in our home and it’s just us? Call me Blake. No one’s used that name in a long-ass time, and only you get the privilege of saying it now.”

“Is it just you and me?” she asked. “Or will I have to share you with those other women? Is there even a reason for me to get tested? If you’re just going to bring something home to me…”

I silenced her with a kiss. “Said I’d never do anything to hurt you. I won’t fuck around behind your back. After I’ve showered and gotten some food, I’ll call Bones and ask him to stop by when he’s got a chance.”

“Bones?” she asked.

“Club doctor.” Something occurred to me. If they hadn’t cared about getting Phoebe tested, and Ember had been born at the Sadistic Saints clubhouse…”Has Ember had any shots or anything?”

She shook her head.