Page 40 of Property of Stone (Kings of Anarchy MC: Pennsylvania #1)

“The fuck we can’t. Take ‘em,” Ransom ordered the prospect again. “Take them back to The Castle, throw ‘em in one of the burn barrels and light ‘em the fuck on fire.”

Damn , that was cold. Stone would rather take a beatdown than have his colors reduced to ashes. Cuts were goddamn sacred. So much so, rules on how to wear them and how to handle them when they weren’t on their backs had to be followed .

Having your cut stripped or stolen was worse than losing your fucking ride.

A few of Stone’s brothers ripped the cuts off the Souls and handed them to Squid. The three still-conscious bikers yelled and fought to hold onto them the whole time.

That got them introduced to a few more boots.

Using all his weight, Ogre ground his on Zero’s hand, causing the biker to scream and attempt to scramble away.

He didn’t get far. But he did get a crushed throttle hand. He probably wouldn’t be riding again any time soon.

But they weren’t done yet.

“None of you fuckers gonna admit you were scoutin’ Kings’ territory?

” Stone asked, circling the four intruders.

He stopped in front of Zero, who still clutched his hand to his chest with a pained expression.

“No? Since you ain’t answerin’, guessin’ you don’t need use of your mouth.

” Zero quickly forgot about his hand when Stone booted him right in the face.

Blood splattered and a few teeth went flying. Now he wouldn’t only need the bones in his hand set, he’d need some new choppers.

Zero was now rolling on the ground, groaning in pain.

Shame, that.

Stone stopped in front of Reno next. “Since you still got your teeth, you can fuckin’ answer.”

With a quick glance at his brother, Zero, the wide-eyed Reno shook his head. “Ain’t scoutin’. Just on a run.”

“Just the four of you? Bullshit. Try again.”

Reno braced, waiting for the kick to the face, but it didn’t come. Instead, Outlaw, the Kings’ treasurer, slipped up behind him, grabbed the Soul’s bearded chin, ripped his head back and sliced his throat .

That trip to Reno was canceled lickety-fucking-split, all except for the gurgling.

“Too fuckin’ easy,” Ogre complained. A few grumbles of agreement circled the Kings.

Ransom shook his head in disappointment. “Outlaw, drag his ass into the goddamn woods and out of sight. Might as well start a damn pile.”

Stone stopped in front of Bandit next. “Why you in the area?”

“The weather?—“

Stone made a buzzing sound. “Wrong answer. Thanks for fuckin’ playin’.” He glanced around. “Who wants this one?”

“C’mon, man! It’s the?—”

Bones stepped forward and clocked Bandit in the face, busting the biker’s nose and splitting his lip. “Shut the fuck up,” he yelled with a grimace while shaking out his hand. “Fuck!”

Ogre barked out a laugh. “Stupid ass. That’s why we wear steel-tips. To stomp on shit. Now you gone and fucked up your jerk-off hand.”

“Actin’ like a baby biker just makin’ his way in the world,” Lick said on a laugh. “Guess you learned the hard way, Bones, just like these other fuckers will soon enough.”

“All right, seems like they’re gonna deny the truth about why they were in our territory.

Territory they fuckin’ know is ours. Time to finish sendin’ our message before some concerned citizen decides to call the pigs.

” Ransom scanned the circle and ordered, “Get it done,” then stepped out the way to light a cigarette.

As the circle closed in on the surrounded bikers, Stone also stepped back next to Ransom and looked around.

Squid had finally left with the van and the cuts, but this crowd of bikers and their rides would still catch plenty of attention.

Even if they couldn’t see the bloody heaps in the center of that crowd.

Now they needed to get their message delivered to the other MC’s president and get the fuck out of there.

Once Stone’s own cigarette was lit, he glanced over to his parked sled to find it surrounded by the ol’ ladies. Were they giving Taryn shit or supporting her? It could go either way with them, since some of them could be pretty fucking catty.

He ground his teeth. None of them better say a goddamn bad word to her. Not a fucking one.

Even from where he stood he could see her face was white and her eyes wider than normal as she watched what was going on. Luckily, she couldn’t get a clear view.

Fuck.

He turned back. “Let’s wrap this shit up. Someone grab one of their cell phones. Then drag the fuckers into the woods where the other one is and tie ‘em up. Use their own belts if you gotta.”

Patch broke free from the group and offered a bloody cell phone to Ransom, who stared at it. “Couldn’t wipe it the fuck off first?”

“With what? Everything’s now bloody on them. Also had to use the asshole’s finger to unlock it.”

“For fuck’s sake,” the prez grumbled, carefully taking the phone. He began scrolling through it. “Anyone know the name of their fuckin’ prez?”

The crowd parted again and Torch pointed to the Twisted Soul crumpled in a heap at his bloody boot. “Ask this stupid motherfucker. Pretty sure his jaw’s still workin’. For now, anyway.” Torch leaned over and asked, “Who’s in charge of you stupid fucks? ”

All Stone heard was a gurgled answer.

Ransom squinted at Torch. “What the fuck did he say?”

“Think he said Pit Bull. That right?” Torch asked Zero.

Or, who Stone thought was Zero. Without their cuts and with the way their faces were mangled, it was now hard to tell them apart.

Fuckin’ shame.

When Torch didn’t get an answer, he kicked the Souls’ member so hard the guy’s head flopped back.

He was knocked the fuck out.

Ransom continued to scroll as he mumbled, “Gonna send a message to this Pit Bull on where to find them. Along with a warnin’.”

“That won’t be the only warnin’. Got one of my own,” Stone told him.

“Found Pit Bull. Hopefully he’s their fuckin’ prez.

” In the middle of typing a text, Ransom announced, “Drag those fuckers into the woods and make sure you got them secured. Don’t want them wakin’ up and runnin’ around, squawkin’ like a fuckin’ chicken with their fuckin’ head cut off. That’ll draw attention.”

It certainly would. But it would at least be entertaining. However, the Kings would be long gone before those fuckers woke up from their naps. Though, one of them wasn’t going to be waking up at all.

Stone sucked on this teeth. Again, a fuckin’ shame.

Ransom finished with, “Soon as that’s done, get ready to mount up so we can get the fuck outta here.”

Stone followed his brothers dragging the bodies into the woods and once they were left in a circle in the dead leaves and dirt, he slipped his knife from its sheath.

Bones stepped next to him. “What message you leavin’?”

“What d’you think? ”

Bones gave him a toothy grin.

Stone quickly carved the message he wanted delivered to their president. Hell, to every damn Twisted Souls member.

He divided up the message between the four bikers. When he was done, he stepped back and took in his damn fine handiwork.

Blood now covered their faces and the skin was separated enough Stone swore he could see bone…but it was one way to make sure the message was clear. Each forehead held a part of the message:

NOBODY

FUCKS

WITH

THE KINGS

Stone had no clue if they were even still breathing. Didn’t matter. Their own club could check on them when they came to collect them.

Ransom joined them and gave Stone a nod of approval at what he saw.

“What’d you say?”

Ransom handed him the cell phone and Stone read the text message.

Some of your Souls got lost. Don’t worry, we found them. You can find them in the woods west of Trevorton. Got the next 6 hours. Any of you fuckers caught in Kings territory after that time limit, gonna suffer the same fate.

“Let’s get the fuck outta here!” Ransom glanced around. “You know what to do next!”

They all throw their heads back and, with fists raised, yelled, “Nobody fucks with the Kings!”

Boots stomping, chest beating, and ear-splitting hoots filled the air.

It was enough to give Stone a damn chill.

It definitely made him smile.

The smile quickly died as he headed back to his sled and a waiting Taryn.