Page 2

Soul

“Lie,”

I said with a yawn as Warden asked Pine if he’d been skimming.

“It’s not!”

Pine shrieked.

“Yeah, it is, but the lie feels heavy, Prez,”

I stated with a frown.

“Heavy?”

Warden inquired.

“Yup. Like there’s more to it.”

“Is someone else involved?”

Warden demanded, eying Pine.

Pine watched as I folded my arms and held his gaze. Pine was nervous, and for good reason. He’d been a bartender at the nightclub Illuminate, which the club owned. Money had been disappearing, and the books weren’t adding up. Bogeyman had gone in, but everyone had kept their thoughts away from the theft. He’d not been able to get a telepathic read on them.

However, Undertaker, our empath, had picked unsettling feelings from a couple of staff, and Warden had been pulling them into the office tonight during their shift.

Will Pine was the head bartender, and Undertaker had noted that he was especially uneasy.

“Warden, I ain’t been dipping in the takings,”

Pine insisted.

“Lie,”

I declared softly.

Every time someone lied, it was like a red-hot rash ran over my skin. Considering how many lies people spoke daily, I avoided people like the plague. Better than being in agony. Even a little lie such as ‘I’m fine’ grated.

Warden, having sat me down when I joined, had ensured the brothers be truthful around me. It was the whores who made life fuckin’ uncomfortable, the lying, scheming bitches they were. Warden had hired a construction company to soundproof my room, so I had a sanctuary to flee to.

Until recently, I’d never heard of an anchor—until Cécile had arrived with her one. Now I was on the constant lookout for someone who calmed shit around me. But unluckily for Pine, I’d not found her yet. His lies were like sandpaper on my bare skin, which was notching my anger lie by lie.

“Warden, I’m not lying!”

Pine cried with panic in his eyes.

“Lie,”

I said and sighed.

“Take Pine to the wet room. We’ll question him there,”

Warden ordered.

“Wait, what?”

Pine demanded, panicked.

Bogeyman moved in, slammed Pine down on the desk, and forced his arm up and behind his back.

“Let me go! What are you doing?”

Pine shrieked.

“Shut him up,”

Warden offered, looking at his nails.

Bogeyman hit him with one punch, and Pine went lights out.

◆◆◆

Agitated, I tapped Keres against my leg as Pine watched with terrified eyes.

“What did you think would happen, skimming off us?”

Warden asked calmly.

Pine wasn’t getting out of here. Not alive anyway. Slasher, our medic, Undertaker, and Bogeyman were all present. Undertaker was reading Pine’s emotions as Bogeyman tried to read his thoughts. We’d established that Pine was definitely hiding something and protecting someone, but the fucker was adept at repeating the footballs scores.

“Just own it. Tell us the accomplice, and then we’re done. You get a bullet, and this shit stops,”

Warden said, sitting in a chair.

I smirked. Keres, my axe, was wicked sharp and needed blood. Pine would be supplying it.

Bogeyman hauled back and released a blow that cracked ribs. Slasher’s eyes narrowed as he scanned Pine’s body.

“Pine’s okay, ain’t gonna die yet,”

Slasher added.

“This can all stop. You want the pain to stop, don’t you, Pine? Avoid answering this time, and shit gets worse,”

Warden warned.

Undertaker was rummaging in a drawer and pulled out some knuckle dusters. I stepped forward and swung Keres behind my shoulders and gripped her with both hands.

Pine’s eyes focused on Keres, and he paled.

“Pine, I’ll take you apart little by little. You’re causing me pain with these lies. You don’t answer Prez, I’m taking a foot,” I warned.

“Bloodthirsty little shit,”

Bogeyman joked.

Angrily, I snarled because I was in a lot of fuckin’ pain and needed to kill something… or someone. Temper rising, I eyed Pine and waited.

“Did you take the money?”

Warden demanded.

“Yes,”

Pine admitted with a sob. His gaze swept between Undertaker and me.

“Look at me!”

Warden shouted, leaning forward in his chair. “You’ve disrespected my club and me enough. Gave you a position of power, Pine, and you stole from us!”

“My mom’s dying. Warden, I needed the money to try and save her,”

Pine blubbered.

Oh fuck, here come the tears. Grow some balls, I thought.

“Why didn’t you just fuckin’ ask? The club would have given you a loan,”

Warden hissed.

“Not a full lie, but Pine’s hiding something,”

I interjected.

“Shut up!”

Pine screamed.

“Not happening,”

I replied.

“A woman,”

Bogeyman said suddenly.

I grinned. My distraction must have broken Pine’s repetition down because Bogeyman was inside his head.

Bogeyman’s eyes turned pure white as he rummaged through Pine’s brain; he was not gentle about it either. Pine shrieked as he dug out what he was looking for.

Pine writhed to escape Bogeyman’s attack. But with his wrists tied and hanging from a meat hook, he wouldn’t get far.

Pine screamed as Bogeyman burrowed deeper and grunted when he found what he wanted.

“Damn. You need to bring in Carla. She’s involved and is banging this sorry piece of shit. Pine doesn’t give a fuck about his mother, he’s using her as a scapegoat. He and Carla were planning to rip us off completely tonight and run,”

Bogeyman said.

“Truth,”

I intoned, and Pine screamed as I watched him, amused.

“Prez, I also know where Pine’s hidden the money he’s stolen. Twenty k so far,”

Bogeyman added.

“Where the fuck did you think you were going to go?”

Warden questioned, surprised. “The Royal Bastards are in nearly every state. We’d have found you!”

“I hate you!”

Pine yelled and kicked out.

“Deal with him and burn the body. Soul, you okay?”

Warden asked.

“Yeah, Prez. I will be better when Keres takes his lying tongue out,”

I replied.

Warden got to his feet. “Go for it. Just remember to call Scorch when you’re finished. I’ll send Dynamo and Vogue to fetch Carla.”

“Leave Scorch until those two have finished. They’ll make more of a mess than us,”

Undertaker suggested. He was rubbing his arm. It was a sign Pine’s emotions were overwhelming him.

“True.”

Warden studied me and Undertaker for a long moment. “If this gets too much for you, get out. That’s an order.”

“If Soul’s about to go fuckin’ Jason, I’ll come with,”

Undertaker said.

“Jason uses a machete,”

Warden argued.

“Not in the third film. Jason uses an axe,”

Undertaker refuted.

“How many films are there? That doesn’t count!”

Warden exclaimed.

“Well, we can always call him Axeman,”

Undertaker shot back.

I recalled a slasher movie released about fifteen years ago called that. About some guy frightening a group of friends who were staying in a cabin.

“That’s more suitable for me,”

I agreed. “I do own a cabin and Keres!”

Bogeyman shook his head. “What fucker names his axe after a bunch of Greek death spirits?”

“How the fuck did you know that?”

Warden snapped, and I smiled.

“Because I pay attention to my brothers,”

Bogeyman replied waspishly.

“Pull your neck in,”

Warden growled and headed towards the door.

I turned to Pine with a grin. “Time to have some fun.”

◆◆◆

Content, I sat on the porch of my place and watched the sun set over the water. I’d bought this when I joined the Royal Bastards. This was one of three homes I owned—my room at the clubhouse, this house, and the cabin. Not bad for a kid whose father threw him away at four years old. My mobile buzzed, and I glanced down before a smile crossed my face.

“Lila,”

I said, answering the phone.

“Hey, little bro, how’s things?”

Lila asked.

“All’s good here,”

I replied, relaxing back into my recliner.

“Truth!”

“Yeah, yeah. How are you?”

“Up to my neck in shit as usual,”

Lila answered with a laugh.

“Truth,”

I teased, and Lila laughed.

“The Royal Harlots were considering a meet within a few weeks.”

“That would be great! Is Saphire going to call Warden?”

“Probably. We’re just dealing with a few issues. Still, Saph has mentioned she wants a get together. But warn Warden if any of those skanks your club keeps around gets mouthy, there’ll be blood spilt. And it won’t be ours,”

she warned.

“Will do.”

“Jayden, have you been out to the cabin lately? You need to wind down,”

Lila asked.

“Yeah, I spent a weekend up there a few weeks ago. Hey, have you heard of a psychic anchor?”

I inquired, wondering if Lila knew anything about them.

“Yeah, I’ve heard of them but never met one. Rumours are there’s an Oracle in Louisiana that has one. She doesn’t go anywhere without him.”

“Her name is Cécile. They recently joined the Royal Bastards,”

I confirmed.

“Does Cécile really have someone who protects her against psychic feedback?”

Lila asked.

“Yeah. Etienne protects and keeps Cécile stable. Now we know they exist… let’s just say we’re all looking for ours. Iona, we’ve discovered, is Warden’s. He’s getting premonitions, but not the blinding headaches and nose bleeds. And Prez hasn’t ended up on his back since they declared their love for each other,” I said.

Lila snorted, and I laughed as I realised how my words could be taken.

“Wow, I’m sure Warden hasn’t,”

Lila teased.

“Do the Royal Harlots need help?”

I asked, changing the subject.

“Nah. We’re as deadly as your chapter. Any fool who wants to tackle us is asking for a world of pain. But there’s a lot of fuckin’ fools out there.”

“Ain’t there just. I miss you, sis,”

I said honestly.

“Jayden,”

Lila whispered.

No further words were needed. Lila had protected me my entire life, and as soon as she aged out and turned legal, she had petitioned for custody of me. Sure, I was nine then, but Lila never left me alone. Lila had joined the Royal Harlots MC when I was ten, giving me people to be around like myself.

The bullying and other shit didn’t stop, but nobody messed with the Royal Harlots. They’d proved capable of handling business just as well as a male MC. And if the Royal Harlots decided to fuck you up, they fucked you up. The women in the club partied hard and lived harder. Yet, they found time to help a child struggling with his abilities.

Those women were the fuckin’ bomb, and I’d kill for them at the drop of the hat. It was them that pointed me towards Warden. Luckily, our two states were next to each other, so we didn’t have far to travel. The Royal Harlots, my sister’s chapter, was based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was a two-and-a-half-hour ride away.

Usually, I travelled once a month to see my sister and club sisters.

“Don’t be sad,” I said.

“I’m not!”

“Lie.”

“Fucker,”

Lila spat with more fire in her voice.

“Yeah, I’ll let you know when I’ve a few days off, and we’ll hit the road,”

I suggested.

“Good idea. Be safe, little brother,”

Lila replied and cut the call.

“Bye, sis.”

I chuckled as I leaned back in my chair.

It was about time Lila found someone. Lila was thirty-one now; I wanted to see her settled and happy. But not with one of my club brothers. She’d kill him!

Warden

“Soul okay?”

he asked as Undertaker entered his office.

“Yeah, but Soul seems to be feeling shit more. We gotta find his anchor—and Oracle’s,”

Undertaker replied.

“Honestly, brother? We’ve got to find everyone’s anchor. Oracle is spiralling. His visions are knocking him on his ass. Romeo can’t let his guard down for a single second before being swamped with thoughts. Blister is becoming scared of items in the pawn shop because of the horrors some contain. Everyone with abilities needs someone, and I feel fuckin’ guilty I have Iona, and the rest of you are suffering,”

Warden spilled.

“Don’t. Iona balanced your powers. And I think we know who Oracle’s anchor is, but he’d rather suffer. He’ll learn. I didn’t mean to put pressure on you.”

“You didn’t, brother. Sometimes I feel like banning whores and bar flies and saying only decent woman can attend.”

“But they wouldn’t come anywhere near here!”

Undertaker exclaimed.

“Exactly!”

“When are you going to announce Cécile’s and Etienne’s new road names? Their cuts have arrived,”

Undertaker asked.

“Saturday. Spread the word, attendance is mandatory,”

Warden said.

“Will do, Prez.”

Undertaker left, and Warden after him. Undertaker had touched a sensitive topic. Warden wanted everyone to find their anchor, but it wasn’t happening fast enough. Somehow, there had to be a way to speed the process up.

Soul

LIE! The word screamed at me as I felt like someone was slashing my arms with blades. The family in front of me was arguing about a necklace that had gone missing. The brother, Mr Wickes, claimed he didn’t have it, and the sister, Miss Wickes, insisted he did.

Mr Wickes was lying through his teeth.

“Enough,”

I said, banging my hand on my desk and making them jump. “Trevor called me in because of your behaviour. How dare you act this way in a chapel of rest? Your mother is waiting for you to agree on burial plans, and you bicker like children,”

I boomed, hoping to shame them.

“My mother was to be buried with that necklace. Yes, it’s valuable, but Daddy bought it for Mom on their first anniversary. It’s never left Mom’s neck. Only he could have stolen it,”

the sister insisted.

I saw the tears in her eyes and knew she was genuine. Meanwhile, the brother’s smugness crawled over my skin. I looked Mr Wickes directly in his eyes.

“Mr Wickes, I know you have it. Don’t lie. It’s not worth it. Either you get me the necklace by the end of the day, and we bury it with your mother like she wished, or you’ll be joining her,”

I threatened.

The fool went pale and then deep red and began to bluster.

“Stop! I sense lies and you’re lying through your fuckin’ teeth. Your mother doesn’t deserve you stealing from her just so you can sell it to buy your idiotic wife shit.”

There was a gasp from Mrs Wickes. “I want that jewellery. If not… it’s on your head. Miss Wickes, we won’t bury your mother without it.”

The brother was sneering, and I tapped on the desk. “Don’t push me, fucker. You’ll regret it by the time I’m done with you!”

“You can’t threaten me!”

he blustered.

“No? Just did. And I’ll follow through. Get me that fucking necklace and get the hell out of my chapel of rest!”

I nearly yelled, and Mr Wickes jumped.

Moments later, he and the silly bitch he’d married ran out.

“He won’t bring it.”

I turned to the grieving daughter. “Oh, he will, because crossing my MC isn’t something to be taken lightly.”

“Thank you, Soul,”

Miss Wickes said, grasping my hand and squeezing.

It took two hours, but I received the necklace.

◆◆◆

That night.

“Mandatory attendance,”

Undertaker said, talking to me as I sat at the club’s bar.

I nodded an agreement that I’d heard him.

“I love your cock,”

Siren announced, stroking Wyvern’s arm.

Wyvern glanced at me, and I grimaced.

“Lie.”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Siren snapped, and I rose to my feet. Before I could move, Iona was there, and Siren’s head met the bar.

“Don’t ever raise your voice to a brother again!”

Iona exclaimed. Silence fell as everyone looked surprised.

“Channelling your inner Lindy?”

Wyvern asked with a grin.

“I could have worse examples than Lindy…”

Iona seemed to think about that comment. “Yup, I said that right.”

“Glad you did because Lindy would probably kick your ass,”

Wyvern said as Lindy waved from Spice’s lap.

“I know,”

Iona replied mournfully, and then smacked Siren’s head again. “Know your place. Whore!”

“Fine!”

Siren cried as she tried to pull free. Iona had a grip on her hair and didn’t look inclined to release Siren.

“It’s okay, Iona,”

I said, and Iona looked appeased. She gave Siren a third rap and released her.

I was silently amused. Iona was growing in confidence, and she was working her ass off for forgiveness. She had been a total bitch before she and Warden got together. Iona had been foolish enough to believe the lies of a bitter woman, and, boy, everyone had paid for that. When the truth emerged, Iona had been horrified and deeply hurt.

Emotionally, Iona had suffered because of the pain she’d caused. She wasn’t a bad person, just na?ve, and Iona had learned a harsh lesson. It was one that undermined her a lot, but she was starting to gather her confidence back.

Christmas had certainly gone a long way to helping her make amends. The club felt easier; the tension Iona and Rosalea’s return had caused faded more each day.

With Warden relaxing, it filtered down to the inner circle and then to the rest of us. The Old Timers created mischief, which seemed to be more tolerated. Nobody was at each other’s throats.

We were all more aware of those with abilities weaknesses. Romeo was spending more time in his room—as was Bogeyman. Undertaker couldn’t deal with crowds over thirty as it overloaded him. Romeo was stretched, protecting Undertaker from the empathic backlash. Aura was also in the same boat as Undertaker and had recently started refusing to take clients on at the real estate office. Instead, Aura stayed in his small office out back and let his staff manage clients. Aura knew their auras intimately.

There was a lot of pressure. The club had numerous peripheral issues to handle as well. Dynamo was physically beating the shit out of any male stupid enough to get in the ring with her. Her time being trafficked affected her still. Vogue worried that Katie wasn’t going to recover. Shit, Romeo still blocked Katie’s memories after her collapse at Christmas.

And the Screaming Barons kept driving past, attempting to push buttons. All in all, we had a shitshow happening. And then there was the Bloody Scorpions; they were quiet for now, but they’d soon raise their head.

I got up off my stool and nodded to Iona, who was talking to Wyvern, and headed upstairs to my room. I needed peace and quiet. Before I clawed my skin off at the bullshit that the whores were sprouting. How many of my brothers had they told ‘they were the best they’d ever had?’

Fuck me. Lying bitches.