Page 8

Romeo

“Something needs to give. Soul was in agony, Prez. He’s also right, those cunts are being pushy. They are lazy and don’t do shit around here. And it wouldn’t surprise me if Soul was correct and Kiki was diseased. They’re not fuckin’ hygienic, that’s for sure,” I said.

Warden nodded as he watched Kiki yank her clothes on and scramble to her feet. There was no shame in her face but rather calculation.

“When’s the last time you had a checkup?”

he demanded.

“Huh?”

Kiki asked.

“A medical, to check your STD clear. When was your last one?”

“A few weeks ago,”

Kiki replied.

“She is lying. She can’t remember, and she has not been examined lately. But she has been using cream for something. Worse, she’s fucked three men last night and one today and hasn’t cleaned herself once. Warden, Kiki’s a walking disease,” I said.

“That’s not true,”

Kiki exclaimed.

Warden swivelled his head. “Have any of the whores had a checkup in the last four weeks, Slasher?”

“Not with me, and Romeo’s right. I can see diseases on several of them. And on some of our brothers,”

Slasher answered.

“What the hell?”

Anubis yelled. “They’re meant to be clean.”

“They ain’t,”

Slasher replied.

“Fuck me,”

Warden growled.

“Half of the brothers have an STD,”

Slasher explained as his eyes narrowed and he studied us all. Thank God I didn’t touch those skanks.

My brothers looked appalled; everyone began yelling.

“Are the men STD clear?”

Vogue yelled, and I winced.

“Yes. The male sluts are good and see me every two weeks diligently,”

Slasher confirmed.

“Riley, Levi, and Rowan care more than those cunts,”

Dynamo sneered.

“Our guy’s rock,”

Dare inserted, setting the air on fire.

My head reeled as thoughts blasted at me, and suddenly, they died.

Noble nodded at me, and I reached out and found myself in a bubble. Thank fuck for Noble.

I sank back in relief as Slasher sent healing vibes towards the thumping headache I developed. Undertaker’s legs went under him as the vicious energy that erupted took him out. Noble extended a hand, and I knew that he’d placed Undertaker under a bubble, too.

The atmosphere would have been far too much for Undertaker’s empathic ability.

Aura was the next to pale, and Noble reached out to him as well. Everyone else was psychically fine. Although Dynamo’s hair had become static, and Vogue’s fingertips were issuing little sparks.

“I want all whores out now. I don’t want you back until you bring me a medical certificate saying you’re clean. And this laziness of yours is also gone. You are paid to fuckin’ help around here, and you don’t do shit. The old ladies do most of it. The free ride is over,”

Warden growled.

“But the cookout is tonight,”

Silky complained.

“You ain’t welcome. The male sluts are, but not you lot. At least they’ve got pride and look after themselves,”

Warden snarled.

As he berated them, I began raising my barriers to protect myself, but a random thought hit me.

It had to be particularly layered with hate and spite to reach me behind Noble’s barrier.

Someone has just thought that we’d get our own and we weren’t as smart as we believed. The malice lingered, and I saw Undertaker jolt with it. Somebody here meant the club harm.

“Get yourself cleaned up.

I want test and medical certs.

If you don’t have them within a week, you’re gone. Not dealing with freeloaders. Tomorrow afternoon there’ll be a mandatory meeting for all sluts. If you ain’t there, your shit will be outside on the road and dumped. You’ve gotten away with too much crap,”

Warden snapped.

‘Asshole, McKay will make you pay,’ the thought floated on the air.

We had a traitor who’d just revealed themselves.

I scanned everyone’s faces and surface thoughts, but whoever it was had buried their negative sentiments deep.

I watched as the whores were forced from the clubhouse, and blessed silence fell.

“Those of you who are infected, get in with Slasher and be grateful I’m letting him heal you. Fuckin’ idiots, you’re just as bad as them. You should check they’re clean!”

Warden berated.

Yes, my brothers were stupid as I saw Wyvern, Thunderbird, and a couple of others exchanged awkward glances.

Noble slowly released his bubbles, and I relaxed back.

“Is the cookout still on?”

Iona demanded into the silence as Cécile shrugged.

“Yeah,”

Warden snarled. “But no whores.”

Soul

I’d clearly missed drama because everyone was a little subdued when I came down several hours later.

“What did I miss?”

I asked Dare, who giggled.

“Oh, it was bad! Whores are riddled with diseases, which they passed on to half the club. Warden schooled them all in hygiene and let Slasher heal the brothers but sent the sluts away until tomorrow. There’s going to be a meeting. They also have a week to get a medical and clean test certificate to us or they’re gone,”

Dare explained.

Riley walked by, and I raised an eyebrow.

“Male sluts are tested every two weeks, which means they care about themselves, us, and our health. Our sluts are good sluts,”

Dare crowed, and I flinched.

“I’m going to head out to the cabin after this. I need to destress,” I said.

Dare nodded. “You’re looking peaky, brother.”

“Dare, I feel shit.”

I rubbed my arm and winced. Dare reached out and snagged my long-sleeved top and yanked the arm up.

“Fuck!”

she hissed. “Slasher!”

she shouted as her eyes took in the jagged nail marks and raw flesh. “Soul, you should have said.”

“I’m no burden,”

I replied and tugged my sleeve down. Moments later, it was pulled back up as Slasher studied me.

“Just your arms or all over?”

Slasher demanded.

“All over,”

I admitted.

The shower hadn’t helped, and I’d torn my skin to shreds trying to alleviate the pain. A cool sensation flooded my body, starting with my head and heading over my neck and shoulders before sweeping the length of me.

An eased sigh escaped me as Dare patted my hand.

“You’re an idiot,”

she chided, and I nodded. Who the hell was I to argue? I felt relief at last. Slasher finished and slapped the back of my head.

“Don’t mess with my zen,”

I warned, and he laughed.

“Whatever, dude. Don’t get in that state again.”

Slasher was right. It wasn’t just me alone. I had brothers and sisters around me, and I needed to remember that.

I waited until Cécile’s name, Seeker, and Etienne’s, Craft, was announced and their patches given to them, and then I headed out.

The cabin awaited me.

Bryony

Strange. Now I wanted to speak to Soul, he’d not been home. It had been four days since I’d last seen him, and I didn’t know whether to be concerned or not. I was dithering over contacting Priest or Blue when I heard pipes, and looking outside, I saw Soul pull in. Quickly, I headed out to talk to him.

“Hi. I wondered if you had a moment?” I asked.

Soul turned and faced me with a smile as a second bike pulled up behind him. I felt awkward as a beautiful woman straddled her Harley and stared straight at me.

“Sorry, you’ve got company,”

I said and began backing hurriedly down the drive. Of course he did; he was a young man. Any woman would love to be with him. And she was totally stunning, and I hated her drop-dead gorgeous looks.

“Don’t run off,”

the stranger ordered, looking interested.

“No, no, the oven’s on, just remembered. It’s not important anyway,”

I replied and turned and walked away quickly.

“Bryony!”

Soul called, but I waved a hand at him. “Catch you later, dude!”

Dude? I cringed as I hit my drive and rushed inside the house.

The woman’s beauty struck me as I stared at my image in the mirror and compared myself to her. Her long, flowing, dark auburn locks had natural curls. Her skin had shone healthily, and her eyes had gleamed. And I wore jeans and a tee and had my hair scraped back as I had been working.

The goddess next door had worn tight leather pants, a long-sleeved leather jacket with a patch on the back, and clearly loved to ride a Harley. If I straddled one, I’d probably fall straight over. What a wake-up call that had been.

Soul

“Who was that?”

Lila demanded, looking interested.

“My neighbour.”

“I guessed that, Jayden. Don’t piss me off,”

Lila retorted.

“She’s got those two kids I told you about,”

I replied absentmindedly.

Bryony clearly needed to talk to me about something, and I wondered what. It appeared to have been important. I was just about to head after Bryony when I caught Lila watching me closely.

“Come on, let’s get a drink and wash the road off us,” I said.

Lila nodded but sent a glance next door. Shit, her interest was peaked, which meant Lila’s big sister instincts were up, and she was curious.

Lila followed me into the house and headed for the bedroom she used when she stayed. We’d met up at the cabin for a few days just chilling out. And she was going to stay for a few days more before heading back. I liked having time with Lila like this; it soothed my soul when my big sister was around. Even though she was a pain in my ass, I loved her to fuckin’ death and would take a bullet for Lila without a blink.

Although, I thought as I headed downstairs after my shower and found the house empty, I might shoot her myself. I grabbed my boots, stamped into them, and headed next door after the nosey bitch I called sister.

Bryony

“Oven wasn’t on then,”

a woman said, and I jumped and spun around. At my back door stood the stranger. “I’m Storm.”

“Oh, hi. Could I do something for you?”

I questioned.

“Lie to me,”

Storm demanded.

“What?”

“It sounds stupid, but can you tell a lie?”

Storm asked.

“I tend not to,”

I replied, thinking this entire scenario incredibly weird.

“Please, just indulge me,”

Storm ordered.

“You’re fucking ugly and a hag, and you stink to high heaven,”

I snapped, and Storm laughed and rubbed her bare arms. She was wearing the leather riding pants still but wore a low-cut short sleeved tee with a rock band on.

“Don’t hold back…”

Storm chuckled and entered my kitchen from where she’d been standing outside. “How strange.”

“What is?”

I retorted as my kettle boiled. I poured hot water into a cup and offered Storm a drink.

“Please. Are those cinnamon-flavoured coffee sachets? I love those. Can I have one?”

Storm asked, and I giggled.

“Sure, I’m addicted to them too,”

I replied and made two of the special coffees and handed one to Storm.

“Why are you here? Does Soul know?”

“I like it. Straight to the point,”

Storm mused. She opened her mouth, but Soul came through the back.

“Lila! You can’t go harassing my neighbours!”

he declared.

Lila? His sister. I looked between them and didn’t see a single likeness.

“Why not? Bryony wanted to talk to you, and I noticed something odd,”

Lila replied.

“Lila!”

Soul growled.

“Bryony, please lie again,”

Storm asked.

“I still think you are a hag, and I fully understand this situation,”

I remarked easily. I’d no idea what was going on.

Lila watched Soul as she rubbed her arms, and her eyes widened.

“Bryony, more lies,”

she demanded.

“You are all totally sane, not strange, and I would love you to stay forever,”

I obliged.

“Holy crap,”

Lila said as she winced. “Soul, you’re not reacting!”

“Well, no, you told her to lie, so she did. Lila, what are you playing at?”

Soul sounded exasperated.

“Bryony’s lies aren’t hurting you!”

Lila snapped and reached out and slapped his head hard. Soul rocked forward as he frowned and growled, and then his eyes widened.

“Lies, you’ve been lying to us,”

Soul exclaimed.

“Yes, Storm told me to,”

I replied.

“And I didn’t feel pain,”

Soul mused.

“How would I know?”

I asked, confused.

“No. That was a statement,”

Soul stated, his eyes wide on me.

“Anyway. Thanks for not thinking I am a hag and butt ugly, I’m this guy’s big sister,”

Lila announced.

“Yeah, Lila, I’m aware of you. Soul thinks you’re his hero, it’s nice to meet you,”

I responded while keeping an eye on Soul, who looked dumbstruck. His eyes were locked firmly on me, and I’d no idea why.

“It appears baby bro has lost his tongue. You’ve got two talented children, I hear?”

Lila asked.

“Yes, Soul told you?”

I demanded, feeling betrayed.

“Because he was worried and wanted to help. He said your little boy is burning himself out trying to support Maci… is it?”

“Yeah.”

“Soul inquired if there were any tips I could offer,”

Lila explained.

“Is there?”

I questioned hopefully.

“Yes. I can help Maci, but not Hamilton. You’d need a healer for him, I’m afraid. But the Royal Bastards have Slasher, and he’s one of the best. Slasher should be able to coach him,”

Lila replied.

“Can you tell me what’s going on? And do I call you Lila or Storm?”

I asked, pointing between the two of them. Soul still looked dumbstruck, while Lila was looking amused.

“If we’re in public, it’s Storm. Alone like this? Lila is fine, and if you are referring to me when speaking to someone, it’s Storm always, unless it’s Soul you’re talking to,”

Lila explained.

“Thanks.”

“MC rules can be as easy as stealing candy from a baby but can also be complicated. Soul will clarify in time, I’m sure,”

Lila said and looked at Soul. “Are you going to talk?”

“Holy shit,”

Soul gasped as Lila thumped him on his back.

“Eloquent as always, brother. Explain why you’re gazing at her like she’s a rare diamond,”

Lila teased.

“Because she is!”

Soul exclaimed.

I frowned. What had got into him? Soul didn’t look himself at all, and I grew a little scared.

“Bryony, you are my anchor,”

Soul said, and his excitement was clear to hear.

“Your what now?”

“Anchor. Let me explain, as Jayden clearly can’t formulate a sentence,”

Lila interrupted.

“Please do.”

“An anchor is somebody who stabilises someone with abilities. Those with empathy, or healing, telepathic, etc., all get a kickback when we use our powers. Or for people like me and Soul, we get pain when idiots lie around us. Nobody knew they existed until a woman in New Orleans…”

“Seeker,”

Soul added.

“Good name with her abilities,”

Lila agreed. “Until Seeker discovered someone who balanced out the backlash. None of us had ever heard of such a thing, so it seemed like a miracle when…”

“Craft,”

Soul offered.

“Yeah, I can see that,”

Lila retorted. “When Craft made Seeker stop feeling pain and stopped her passing out from intense visions. Seeker was able to use her powers without feedback, consequence, or health issues. Those who’d heard of Craft and Seeker had thought them a one-off. Until Warden discovered his anchor was Iona, his old lady. That meant Seeker and Craft weren’t unique, and there was hope for all of us.”

“And you think I am Soul’s?”

“Nope,”

Lila said, and I felt strangely deflated. “I know you are. Soul suffers a great deal of agony when someone lies around him. As do I. I’m sure your Maci does, too. But you just told some whoppers, and Soul didn’t react once. I was hurting, but he wasn’t.”

“I caused you pain?”

“That’s not important,”

Lila brushed that aside. “What does is the fact that Soul experienced no reaction when you lied.”

“There was nothing. I didn’t pick up on it. I know Bryony was lying, but I didn’t register the lack of pain.”

“So, what does this mean?”

I asked, even as my mind raced ahead. Could there be someone like this for Ham and Maci? How long would they have to wait? Did I need to start searching shit out?

“For you? Nothing, everything stays the same. For Soul, it gives him a chance at a normal life. Jayden has three homes, Bryony. He has his bunk at the clubhouse, which is heavily shielded so he can flee the lies the club whores spout. Soul owns next door; his main home, and we both share a cabin in the woods, which we escape to when overloaded.

“Thanks to you, Soul will be able to be around people who lie, and his ability will work with no backlash. Soul will never have to fear pain or agonising debilitation again. Which to anybody like us is a fuckin’ miracle,”

Lila explained.

“Do I need to be near him all the time? I have work and the kids. I don’t want him to suffer, but I honestly can’t help anyone else,”

I replied. “And no offence, we’re strangers.”

“From what Seeker and Craft described, the moment they met, a bond began forming. The bond helps Seeker, but sometimes Craft needs to be near her, especially when having a strong vision or when she’s remote viewing. On the other hand, Iona’s and Warden’s bond is so strong, Iona doesn’t have to be around him,”

Soul mused.

“Maybe because Iona and Warden are in love? Seeker and Craft aren’t. They’re friends,”

Lila suggested.

I wriggled a bit uneasy.

“This is a lot to take in, Bryony,”

Lila said.

“Yes. Does this mean I’m Maci and Ham’s anchor?”

“Sadly, no. Or they’d already be pain free. What it means is Soul’s pain will ease, and he’ll start to get a balance. Even if you moved away, he’d still have that link, but it wouldn’t be as strong as if you were close by each other. That’s our understanding, anyway. We only know a bare minimum, Bryony. This is new to all of us,”

Lila explained.

“Why did you come to see me?”

Soul asked me suddenly, and I jumped. I sent Lila a sideways look and bit my tongue.

“Do I need to leave?”

Lila teased, her eyes merry.

“No. I wanted to ask. Did the club save those fishermen?”

Soul held my gaze.

“The coastguard saved the fishermen,”

he replied.

“Did the MC call in the tip?”

I clarified.

“Yes,”

Soul admitted after a few moments.

“Okay. But you also lied about hurting people,” I added.

Soul sighed and ran a hand down his face.

Lila got to her feet and nodded at me. “This is between you two. I’m going to head next door and chillax for a bit. Nice to meet you, Bryony.”

“You too, Lila.”

She left, and I turned to Soul. He looked trapped but resigned.

“Explain!”

I demanded.