Page 9

Soul

“Do I have to?”

Left my lips like a whiny schoolboy.

“Yes.”

Bryony crossed her arms over her chest, and my eyes flicked down. They were very nice breasts.

“Soul!”

Bryony exclaimed, and I grinned unrepentantly, as a red tinge hit her cheeks.

“Okay.”

I took a deep breath. “The Royal Bastards is a one percenter. Which can mean many things. The most common is we are an unlawful club. We’re not a single MC, though, we have many chapters throughout the states, and our National Chapter is in New Orleans, and the National President is called Jameson.

“They get to decide who opens a club where and when, and we have to abide by their rules. But each club runs independently. The Camden chapter is special. We’re the only ones with these types of abilities, although some of the other chapters have different ones.

“The club has legal and illegal businesses. But we do not touch drugs, trafficking, or gun running. We run a brothel, which the state says is illegal, but we take prostitutes off the street and give them somewhere safe to peddle their wares. They don’t work for us, we take a small cut to pay for their security and shit. They work for themselves and take home the money they earn.

“Another example is we run a smuggling ring. Bringing in items such as Cuban cigars, Chilean Bass, Absinthe, and so on. That makes us illegal. And we have an underground casino. You want to know if we hurt people? Yes, Bryony, we do, but not without reason.”

“Like what? Because I believe in the law,”

she stated firmly.

“Someone takes a kid, abuses them? They ain’t gonna walk away with jail time. A female member of the club was kidnapped, raped, and trafficked for her powers. Those men died. A man stole twenty thousand from the MC. He didn’t want to work and save up. We don’t hurt Jane Doe down the road or Joe Bloggs going about his day. If we find a dealer on our patch selling to kids, he’s gone.”

“So you’re bad guys killing bad guys?”

Bryony asked.

“I wouldn’t call us that,”

Soul refuted.

“Of course not. The law exists for a reason.”

“What did law enforcement do when our member was kidnapped? Nothing. She was a biker and, therefore, deserved everything she got. They couldn’t care less. Remember James Jackson, the kiddie fucker who abused ten children and got released because of a legality? He isn’t walking about no more, and those kids sleep fine. The old man who sexually assaulted that mother of three and got off because of bad health? Yeah, he ain’t about to threaten her anymore,” I said.

Bryony fell quiet.

“There’re two MCs that are a major threat to our club. The first is the Screaming Barons. They murdered a kid in front of a female connected to the MC and then hunted her down and kidnapped her. They threatened to strip her naked and tied her to a rack with everything in the air. Any of their brothers could rape her when they wanted. Mouth, ass, pussy. That is the scum we take out,”

I explained.

“The second club, the Bloody Scorpions, sells women and children through our territory. We work to bring them down and stop those victims becoming sex slaves or worse. There’re men out there, Bryony, who buy young girls to rape and torture till they die. Because that’s their kick. The law does nothing because they hide behind their billion-dollar fortunes and get away with it. That is who my clubs kill.

“You might think we’re bad. But imagine if that was Maci. Your daughter kidnapped, raped, abused, and tortured to death. Tell me you wouldn’t want the blood of the men who’d done that to her. And I’d call bullshit. Or Ham. What if he was put in a fighting ring with other little boys his age for the entertainment of the rich? Given weapons to kill and maim, and the winner gets his ass fucked by those attending who literally fuck him till he succumbs. My clubs seen that, Bryony, and we prevent that.”

“I wasn’t aware,”

Bryony whispered.

“My chapter doesn’t do drugs, gun running, or trafficking. We stop it. If our other chapters do any of that, we ask it’s not run in our territory. Yes, we do illegal stuff, but we fuckin’ look after our community and ensure people here walk the streets safely. And if they don’t, we get vengeance for them. And let me tell you, when I face someone whose soul is so black they’d hurt kids and teenagers, I make them feel every bit of pain possible.”

Bryony blanched but nodded. I could see she was thinking shit over.

“We built the new playground, the community centre and supplied it, supplied equipment for the schools and hospitals. My club does a lot for the people, and if some bad guys who wanna harm people and be less than decent die, who gives a fuck?”

Bryony remained silent, and I’d nothing else to say to her. I didn’t want her to run, and I certainly wanted to get to know her better. But she needed to understand what we were. Great men doing bad shit so others breathe freely.

“I’ll leave so you can think it over, but remember, the offer to meet the members is there and is genuine. I won’t discuss their abilities, but they might. Let me know,”

I said and walked out. It was in her hands now.

◆◆◆

Aura stared at me, puzzled. His frown deepened as he looked around the room and then back at me.

“What?” I asked.

I’d arrived at the clubhouse with Lila, and she was chatting shit with some of my brothers and sisters. They all liked her, which meant I could enjoy her being here.

“You have a golden thread, like Seeker and Craft and Iona and Warden. You found your anchor?”

Aura questioned, and Undertaker straightened at the side of him.

“Stop looking at me and take your shot,”

I said, nodding at the pool table.

“Soul? Did you?”

Undertaker demanded. “Fuck, you appear calmer, and I’m not getting the normal waves of hurt off you.”

He wasn’t wrong. There was a mild, irritating pain, but nothing like my usual agony.

“Yes. I found her,”

I replied.

“Prez,”

Undertaker bellowed, and I sighed and leant on my pool cue.

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

Undertaker snapped.

“What?”

Warden asked, approaching with Iona.

“Fucknut here knows his anchor and hasn’t told anyone,”

Undertaker tattled.

I raised an eyebrow at how quickly the Veep spilled the beans.

“Jesus,”

I muttered.

“This true, Soul?”

Warden boomed.

“Yes, but I didn’t find out until earlier.”

“I don’t understand,”

Warden said.

“It’s my neighbour, the one with the psychic kids. She’s struggling with everything, and I know she was looking to move,”

I explained.

“What does it mean if she does?”

Warden asked.

“Storm thinks the bond will remain, but it won’t be as strong. I’ll suffer some pain, but not as bad as what I have been. Even with distance, it’ll protect me from the worst, but not all of it,”

I replied.

“I don’t like that idea. Soul, you gotta convince her to stay,”

Warden ordered.

“I can’t force her,”

I said, amused.

“You might not, but I could,”

Warden stated.

“No. She gets to make her choice, Prez. Bryony has kids, we aren’t forcing anyone to do anything,”

I retorted.

Iona studied me, and a smile crossed her face. “You like her.”

“What are we? In kindergarten?”

Warden asked.

“Shut up,”

Iona replied and stared into my eyes. “Soul likes Bryony.”

“Sure he does. There were sparks flying everywhere earlier. It was something out of high school. Shy, endearing looks at each other,”

Lila added.

Iona squealed, and we all winced. “When are you claiming her?”

“Fuck me, Iona. I barely know the woman. She seems nice, but I have to get to know her first. And she is not too impressed with what she knows of MCs,” I said.

“What’s that meant to mean?”

Warden demanded.

“It means she’s watched too much Sons and believes that bullshit to be real,”

I snapped.

“That fuckin’ programme,”

Warden cursed irately.

“Clay would have been buried a long time ago,”

Iona agreed.

“Don’t tell me you watched that shit?”

Warden asked Iona incredulously.

“It was mine and Rosalea’s dirty little secret.”

Iona grinned.

“You fancied Jax, didn’t you?”

Warden looked outraged.

Iona licked her lips, and Warden grabbed her up, slung her over his shoulder, and marched her off.

“Somehow, you got out of that one, but I don’t rightly know how,”

Undertaker moaned, staring at me in astonishment.

“Skills, brother, skills. Now, where the hell did Storm disappear to after that jab?”

I craned my neck, looking for my sister who’d sacrificed me to the lions, aka, the old ladies.

“Storm’s with Tati,”

Wyvern said, walking past.

“Fuck my life,”

I complained as Aura began studying me like I was under a microscope. “Stop that!”

“But the whole bond thing is fascinating, I’ve not seen it before,”

Aura responded.

“Go study Seeker and Craft.”

“No. Theirs is established. Yours is newly forming. And it’s so interesting,”

Aura replied.

“And I’m outta here!”

I handed Undertaker my pool cue and disappeared.

◆◆◆

As I headed out, I noticed a parked vehicle and frowned. It was facing the clubhouse gates but was a short distance away. There shouldn’t have been a car out here.

I swung my bike towards it and passed by. A man appeared to be kissing someone as he leaned over their seat. The car was in shadows, so it was hard to make out a second figure, but I shrugged and sped up, riding off. But something didn’t feel right.

When I looked back, I saw the car had pulled out and was leaving.

As I arrived home, I was surprised to see Bryony sitting on her porch swing. “Late for you,” I said.

“Yeah. I was waiting for you. I was about to go in,”

she replied.

“Want me to come over?”

“Please.”

I jogged around the side of the shrubs separating us and approached.

“Sit down,”

Bryony offered, moving half the blanket covering her. I didn’t think that was a good idea, so shook my head and leaned back against the railings.

“What you said earlier resonated with me. That is a hard life to live,”

Bryony announced.

“Yup. But someone has to take the trash out.”

“Why you?”

Bryony asked.

“Because I can. It’s the right thing to do. The worst thing a good man can do is stand by and watch shit happen and do nothing,”

I replied.

“That is true, but there is also the law.”

“Yeah, and usually, we let law enforcement do its job. But when it doesn’t… we are there to ensure justice happens.”

“None of you kill for the sake of killing,”

Bryony asked.

“No.”

I laughed. “We’re not serial killers. But we will protect our community, our businesses, our family, old ladies and, most of all, the brothers and sisters in the club. That is tantamount. If someone crosses us, then they’d better be prepared to pay the price. We own a lot of legal businesses and employ loads of people. We don’t want them or us shit on. Sure, we operate outside the law sometimes, but who doesn’t?”

“I guess everyone has bought something off the back of a wagon or a knock off,”

Bryony mused.

“Yeah. Club life isn’t black and white, and neither is being a one-percenter. We have our own set of rules, and we ensure anyone working with us understands them,”

I explained further.

“Can I meet some of them?”

“With the kids?”

“No, just me at first.”

“I was going to say we’ve got a cookout this weekend. It’s the one thing we like to do. When the weather becomes warmer, we try to get at least one a week in. Sometimes two. And on a Sunday, Iona, the Queen Bee, who is Warden’s old lady, has instigated a roast dinner, which the women cook.”

“Are there any children?”

Bryony asked.

“No. But we have things for them. Warden is hoping that kids are going to start coming along for us. He’s doing his damnedest to knock Iona up.”

I chuckled. “Do you still feel like running?”

“No, things are unsettled, and I need to protect Ham and Maci, but the lure of others with abilities is huge,”

Bryony said honestly. “Will there be club whores there? That’s what they are called?”

“Sluts or whores, yeah. And no. They fucked up a week ago, and Warden has laid the law down. They’re only allowed at the clubhouse during certain times now. But they exist, Bryony, but I don’t sleep with them. Never have and never would,”

I added, not knowing why I was telling her this. Bryony hadn’t shown much interest in me other than what I’d overheard the other day, but I’d felt the need to tell her.

“Why not?”

she asked curiously. “Oh, I’m sorry, you’re gay!”

“No!”

I choked on the word. “Nope, women all the way. Love a good pussy. And shit, I sounded like a sex-crazed maniac. I like females, but the reason I don’t sleep with them is simple. Why would I want a woman all my brothers have had?”

“Great question. What about the women in your club?”

I laughed. “They have some male sluts,”

I said, and Bryony’s eyes widened.

“They do?”

“Yeah, and they are pretty hot as well. I mean, fairs fair, why are the brothers getting laid and not the sisters? And no, the male and female sluts are not allowed to sleep with each other. They’re there to service the club members.”

“Isn’t that prostitution?”

“Yes and no. They all get an allowance, and they can’t say no to a member’s request unless they’ve a really good reason. But they get paid to do things like laundry, cooking, cleaning, and for the men, mowing the grass or general maintenance. But apart from the male sluts, the females are awful cooks and Iona, Rosalea, Lissy, or Lindy usually cook.”

“I know Iona is Warden’s woman. Who are the others?”

Bryony asked.

I was pleased Bryony was showing interest. “Rosalea is Warden’s younger sister. Lindy was the only old lady we’ve had for years. She is Spice’s old lady, and Lissy is their daughter. Katie comes and helps, but not often. She is Vogue’s sister, and she’s…”

I blew my cheeks out. “Katie was kidnapped and trafficked. We didn’t find her for months. She is not recovering like we hoped. And I’m not talking about it.”

“Was she the club member?”

“No. We’ve two women who were abused. But, as said, it’s not up for discussion, Bryony, unless they talk to you. Katie has most of her memories blocked because she can’t cope with it. Romeo is helping her with that. Katie has a team supporting her and ensuring she heals in her own time,”

I answered.

“Okay. I’ll come Saturday and bring the children. But can nobody please approach them about abilities until I have a handle on this?”

“But what if the kids ask?”

I inquired, because Maci wouldn’t keep her mouth shut for certain.

“Then they should be honest,”

Bryony said after a few moments.

I nodded and leant back.

“I like watching the stars,”

Bryony said, and I smiled.

“Me too.”

“Want to join me?”

“Sure,”

I answered and moved across to her swing.

Bryony lifted the blanket, and I slipped under and sat as the swing gently rocked. Together, we had a perfect moment in time.

Bryony

What the hell did someone wear to a clubhouse? Jeans? Skirt? Dress? Fuck. I gritted my teeth and banged my head on the wall. In the end, I yanked out a pair of jeans that I knew made my ass great and a gypsy blouse. It hid my little stomach pouch from having the kids. My ass, boobs and legs looked amazing, but I had a tiny belly that no number of sit-ups would get rid of.

Madden had told me to get it removed surgically, and I had hit him in the head with the boots I’d been putting on at the time. Fucking asshole.

I ran a brush through my hair, glad it was behaving for once, and headed out to get the kids. Maci had been ready for two hours at least, insisting on wearing a pretty dress. Ham was wearing shorts and a Captain America tee.

I checked I had everything needed and picked up the two containers of brownies and cookies I made, and we went out to the car.

Soul had given me instructions on how to get to the club, and they were simple to follow. When I arrived, I saw a big wall and a gate. I’d not been out this way before, so I was pretty interested.

A man sat in a guard box, and I stopped by a speaker.

“Hey, Bryony, come on in,”

Priest invited, and I waved at him.

I pulled inside, and the gate closed behind me.

“Follow that road, and you will see the clubhouse. There’s a lot of land here, so it’s easy to get turned around. You’ll see where to park. Soul marked a space for you,”

Priest said.

“Thanks. Do I need to know anything?”

“Yeah, beware of the old ladies. They’re rabid to get to know you,”

he warned, and I paled.

I wasn’t sure if that was a bad or good thing and drove slowly down the road Priest had pointed to.

The kids were craning their neck, and I’d admit I was pretty impressed. There was a lot of green, and in the far distance, I could see what looked like houses. A large building appeared, and I stared, stunned, at the view behind it.

“Wow,”

Ham said, peering over my shoulder.

“You can say that again!”

The clubhouse sat near a cliff with a view of the sea and neighbouring cliffs behind it. It was beautiful, and even the clubhouse had been wonderfully designed. It was made of wood and had large windows on the ground floor, and there were four stories, including the ground floor.

“There’s Soul,”

Ham said, pointing, and indeed there Soul was. He was waiting outside and waved me to a spot. He jogged over as I parked and climbed out. Ham was already scrambling out, his eyes wide at the array of bikes in front of us.

“Holy cow!”

he exclaimed.

“Impressive, aren’t they, dude?”

Soul asked.

Ham nodded, speechless, it appeared.

“Soul!”

Maci cried as she nearly ran me over in her excitement to back out of the car.

“Hey, sweet girl!”

Soul greeted her as Maci drove over to him.

“This is so exciting!”

Maci shrieked.

I rolled my eyes at Soul and reached in for the two huge containers.

“What’s that?”

Soul asked.

“I brought cookies and brownies,”

I replied.

“Leave them here. I ain’t sharing with those fuckers!”

Soul boomed.

“One dollar, please,”

the kids said in unison and held their hands out.

“It’s a fine, every time I cuss, I give them a buck,”

I explained, laughing at Soul’s face, and both children made grabby fingers. Soul pulled out his wallet and handed them thirty bucks each.

“Let me know when that runs out,”

Soul stated as I gasped.

“They’re going to be fuckin’ richer than an oil baron by the end of today,”

Soul said as Maci and Ham grinned.

Maci yanked out a notebook and wrote in it. The gleam in her eyes warned me Maci was already spending her money. Oh, well.