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Sharp - September 2015

S harp watched as Romeo pulled the trigger and took out a former bodyguard.

Romeo pursed his lips as the man hit the plastic he’d laid down on his floor and motioned to Dickens. “Get rid of him. And let the guys know that’s how we handle traitors,” Romeo said calmly.

Dickens and Seabrooke wrapped the body up and carried it out. Romeo sat behind his desk and looked at Sharp.

“You’ve been with me a long time,” Romeo stated.

“Yes. Since two thousand and eight. What’s up, boss?”

“Seven years. And a year with Toxic before that,” Romeo replied .

“Yeah.”

“Trusted you with a lot of shit, Mr Sharp.”

“Yup. Is there a point to this?”

“Not yet, Mr Sharp. I have a job for you. You’re aware of James Washington?”

“Yes,” Sharp answered. James was the main rival of Romeo, although Washington didn’t seem much bothered by him.

“He’s about to find some trouble,” Romeo said with a smirk. “Clive Maine is back and wants what Washington has. And after what he did to me with Lindsey Masterson… payback is a bitch.”

Sharp bit his tongue. Romeo had kidnapped Lindsey and lost out when she found what he was looking for and handed it to Washington. Washington had used the information to do a lot of damage.

“He is a survivor,” Sharp warned.

“Washington will pay,” Romeo hissed.

“No doubt,” Sharp replied, wondering how to get a warning to someone.

“Leave me, I gotta make some calls. Check on those fuckin’ idiots that are now calling themselves an MC. They need to push the drugs they’re being supplied with—or else.”

Sharp nodded. This wasn’t what he planned. He rose to his feet, and Romeo held a hand up.

“While at the Venomous Fangs clubhouse, did you hear anything noteworthy?”

“Like what?” Sharp asked.

“Just that Wrath is searching for someone,” Romeo pressed .

“Yeah, I heard that a while ago. Several of the Fangs were discussing it. But it didn’t pan out, and I thought it was rumours,” Sharp replied.

“Keep an ear close to the ground when you go. If Wrath desperately wants this person, then they may be of value to us,” Romeo ordered.

“Will do boss,” Sharp confirmed.

Sharp - December 2015

Fuck! What had that flaming, egotistical idiot done?

Sharp gunned the SUV he was driving as Romeo slid on the backseat. Seabrooke sat beside him as he tried bandaging the two wounds Romeo was sporting. Sharp hadn’t been inside, but Dickens and Harper had been and hadn’t returned. Seabrooke shook his head, and Sharp guessed they’d died.

“Where we heading?” Sharp gritted out. He wanted to put a fuckin’ bullet in Romeo right here, but he needed him.

“Airport. My plane is on standby,” Romeo snapped.

“Security?” Sharp asked.

“Seabrooke, activate the Mexican plan,” Romeo snarled as Seabrooke jabbed him by accident.

“Just slap a pad over it and tape it up. Boss ain’t gonna die in transit, we’ll stitch him when we hit the aeroplane,” Sharp hissed.

Frank Bryant was dead .

Holy fuck. Romeo had struck a harsh blow against Washington but had put a price so big on his head even Romeo’s own guard would turn on him.

Sharp knew Washington was presently in mourning; Frank hadn’t been gone an hour yet. But in a few weeks, Washington would come for him and Romeo had just bought a war he couldn’t win.

Clive Maine, and Romeo had both abducted Gunner and his woman. If Washington didn’t find Romeo, Rage would. Sharp was barely keeping his temper in check. The asshole whose ass he was trying to save had kidnapped and tortured Sharp’s brother. Sharp could end this right now, but he’d lose his in to Venomous Fangs. If he turned up working for another outfit, the Fangs wouldn’t trust him.

Sharp needed to consult Anderson. Did he stay or break cover? If he broke, what then? Would Anderson have a plan? This was a fuckin’ mess.

Sharp should just pull over and blow Romeo away, but it would fuck everything else up. No, revenge would have to wait.

◆◆◆

Romeo became cagey, and that made life more difficult. Four weeks after landing in Mexico, Romeo called him and Seabrooke for a meeting. He informed them he was putting them in charge of various aspects of his business. Seabrooke was going to return home and run Romeo’s affairs there.

Romeo wanted Sharp to continue controlling the Dark Souls of Lucifer and control the Venomous Fangs’ side. He stated that he’d be informing Wrath that he would deal with Sharp and Sharp alone. Sharp would finally have direct contact with Wrath!

Sharp - January 2016

He entered the clubhouse and did his best not to wrinkle his nose. When was the last time the room had been cleaned, he wondered, looking at trash and shit spread everywhere? Used condoms were dropped on the floor, beer bottles and takeout containers were left, and the clubhouse just looked a total shithole.

“Someone needs to tidy this up,” Sharp said without thinking.

“Don’t disagree,” Volcano replied, swivelling his head. “I was gone a few weeks. Gut Rot!” Volcano bellowed.

“What?”

“Get everyone up and clean this joint,” Volcano ordered.

Gut Rot glanced up from where he lay sprawled with a whore’s head in his lap. The fuckwit opened one eye and sneered.

“Ain’t got no fuckin’ pussy. Tidy up yourself,” he retorted.

Volcano went stiff. Dangerous vibes rolled off him. “Said clean this place up.”

Sharp noticed several other club members paying attention.

“And, brother, I repeat, I don’t have a pussy. In fact, I’m getting my big, fat cock sucked right now,” Gut Rot replied, thrusting hard into the woman’s mouth. Choking noises came from her, and I ground my teeth as Gut Rot held her head in place.

Volcano pulled a gun, and the room went wired.

Gut Rot yelped, but Volcano aimed and fired. Blood and brain matter exploded everywhere, and Sharp blinked. The woman who’d been blowing Gut Rot popped his cock with a high-pitched scream, and Volcano calmly shot her too.

Silence fell.

“Get off your lazy fuckin’ asses and clean this pigsty up now!” Volcano roared.

Sharp watched, amused, as men and women scrambled to obey.

“Dragon, feed their bodies to the pigs,” Volcano ordered.

Dragon hurried across and grabbed the woman. “Bit harsh killing Tits.”

Volcano’s lip curled. “Tits beat the fuck out of her kids six weeks ago. Put em in hospital. She was as big a piece of shit as Gut Rot. Take the trash out. This room better be spotless in an hour, or I’ll start popping brothers.”

Sharp glanced at Volcano, noting how serious he was.

“You’re with me,” Volcano said and headed towards a door. Volcano opened it and entered, and Sharp followed him into an office .

“Something to say?” Volcano demanded.

“Me? Nah. Just want what I’m here for,” Sharp replied.

“Which is a twenty-five per cent increase on drugs even though Santos is in Mexico hiding like a bitch,” Volcano said.

“Not denying that shit, but he has still got a grip on that area of South Dakota, and he’s making bank. So it’s up to you if you wanna accommodate the boss, but if he’s making you money… only a fool refuses cold hard cash,” Sharp replied.

“Ain’t no fool like an old fool,” Volcano stated, and Sharp wondered what that meant. “Wrath will need to approve this.”

“So, grab him. No offence, but the longer I’m here, the more I’m going to have to delouse,” Sharp complained.

Volcano snorted and studied him carefully. “Your roots are showing, asshole. They need doing.”

Sharp reared back, his hand heading for his waist as Volcano stood up. He left the room, and Sharp wondered what the fuck was happening. Remaining alert, Sharp waited, and Volcano returned.

“Follow me and stand down. Wrath will blow you away before you can draw,” Volcano said.

“Wrath?”

“Yeah, I ain’t authorising that twenty-five per cent increase.”

Volcano opened a door, and Sharp entered the office behind him and thanked God that Volcano’s huge ass body hid his reaction .

Wearing a dirty tank and sitting in a chair, jeans unzipped and getting blown, was Wrath. But it was the tattoo on his chest that made Sharp nearly break cover.

From shoulder to shoulder, there was a tattoo of death: a scene of a graveyard with skulls and bones piled up and dead bodies lying on the ground. And Sharp recognised it even though Wrath wore a mask.

Shit dropped into place. Wrath was another name for anger, and anger stood for Fury.

In front of Sharp, getting his dick sucked, sat Fury, one of the Founders of Rage.

Shock turned Sharp mute for a few moments, and he was grateful the whore was sucking Fury’s cock. Sharp’s skin crawled as he wondered if Fury would recognise him. But Fury looked at him with a disinterested gaze.

“Who’d you off this time?” Fury demanded, looking at Volcano.

“Gut Rot and Tits.”

“No point asking why. Stop killing members.”

“Then tell them not to piss me off,” Volcano snapped.

Fury sighed and glared at Sharp.

Sharp stared right back.

“So, you’re the fucker I’m now dealing with?” Fury bit out.

“Yeah.”

“And Santos wants an increase? Even though he’s hiding in Mexico from Rage and Washington?”

Sharp heard the hate in Fury’s voice. “Yes. ”

“What do you think?” Fury asked, wrenching the woman’s head from his cock. He tucked away his deflating manhood as the bitch scurried from the room.

“About what?” Sharp replied.

“The fuckin’ sun rising asshole, what do you think I meant? Can Santos sell an extra twenty-five per cent?” Fury demanded.

“Yes.”

“Well, ain’t you a verbose prick?” Fury said snidely. “You deal with Volcano. He speaks for me. I don’t wanna see you again. Get the fuck out.”

Sharp got to his feet. As much as he wanted to race from the clubhouse and speak to Anderson, he couldn’t. That would raise suspicion, and the asshole he was following out had killed his own brothers and just murdered two people over a dirty clubhouse. Volcano wouldn’t flinch at killing Sharp.

“The extra you requested will be delivered from our next delivery. Now piss off, I got some asses to kick,” Volcano said.

Sharp nodded and escaped.

◆◆◆

Later that evening

“And you’re certain it’s him?” Anderson asked over the phone.

“Yes. I saw that tattoo plenty of times. And his voice. Fury may wear a mask, but his voice wouldn’t change that much. Anderson, it was Fury,” Sharp insisted.

“Was any other Manticore around?” Anderson asked.

Sharp thought about that. “No. And you know what? I’ve not seen any of them for six months.”

“Possible they’re dead or running their own clubhouses.”

“It would not surprise me if Volcano had offed them. There’s something wrong with that asshole. He didn’t even flinch at killing today. And over a fuckin’ dirty clubhouse, although I think it was more the lack of respect Gut Rot had shown when talking to him,” Sharp said.

“Probably.”

“What now? We know one of Manticore is Fury. And that was our goal,” Sharp asked.

“We take them down. See what you can discover,” Anderson replied. “Sharp, be fuckin’ careful. Volcano was sending you a message today, don’t ignore it.”

“No. I’m not a fool.”

“That remains to be seen, brother,” Anderson retorted and cut the line.

Sharp - October 2016

He was going to kick someone’s ass. Why could nobody follow instructions?

Romeo was pissed because Taxman was uncontrollable. A few weeks ago, Taxman had killed the woman he had been banging and disappeared. Which meant the gang vanished as they’d been crashing at her place. He remembered Taxman saying he had somewhere they could all go. He’d track them down when he had time, but he needed to get some information to Drake, and there was only one way.

Sharp knocked on the door, and Rock’s woman opened it. Out of all the old ladies, he believed Carly wouldn’t be the one to greet him with a gun.

“You’re Ghost,” Carly said and stepped back.

Sharp recognised her desire to protect herself and quickly explained why he was there.

“No, I am not a threat. Rock isn’t being watched. I need Drake to receive a message. Warn him, Taxman has taken over the Dark Souls of Lucifer. They have found somewhere to lie low, but I’m not aware of where yet. Tell him I’m tracking them, and Blaze is a target. Carly, listen to me; Blaze must be protected, he is on a hit list they have, and he’s at the top,” Sharp explained.

“Why are you warning us? Because you harmed Silvie and double-crossed Rage,” Carly asked with venom.

Sharp shook his head. This needed clearing up right now. He’d not have his brothers thinking he’d hurt Silvie or any other woman. Sharp had suffered too much to swallow that injustice too. “No! I didn’t attack Silvie; I’d have given my life to prevent that. And I never betrayed Rage, Carly; I don’t fuckin’ care if you believe me or not. Just give Drake my warning.”

“Oh, I’ll tell Drake alright, and Blaze, that you’ve put a target on his back.”

Sharp grew frustrated, maybe this hadn’t been the right woman to warn Drake. She was stuck on him being a traitor. Sharp should have tried to get access to Silvie. “For fuck’s sake, I’m bringing a warning, don’t wanna see Rage hurt. Blaze has a bigger bullseye than Drake does, which makes me think shit’s personal. Tell Blaze to list his enemies and track them. Rage has excellent support, not that they need it, but Hawthorne will help. He’s tied to Rage.”

“How does Drake contact you?” Carly asked, and Sharp sighed. She was finally listening.

“He doesn’t. Drake can’t know shit about me other than this heads-up. Tell Drake to stop hunting me before he draws even more eyes,” Sharp warned. He held Carly’s gaze so she’d take his words seriously.

“Bullshit,” Carly stated.

Sharp grinned. Carly was a clever chick. “Recognise what you’re doing, Carly. Give Rock my warning to give to Drake.”

Sharp strode over to a bike, climbed on and, hitting the throttle, roared off. His advice had been given.

Sharp – October 2016

Sharp kept his head on a swivel. After a year in exile, Romeo had decided to pay a home visit. Despite Sharp and Seabrooke arguing how stupid that was, Romeo insisted. Romeo wanted to tour his safehouses where he ran dodgy shit from. Sharp guessed what the problem really was. Romeo was frightened that his men may start looking to Sharp and Seabrooke and their loyalties might change.

This move was meant to show everyone he was a stand-up boss. That he’d risk his life to visit them. It was fuckin’ blatant to those who knew him. This was a power-play by Romeo.

The idiot was staying at his mansion. Washington and Rage would have intel that Romeo was here, and they’d hunt him. Sharp knew they hadn’t simply forgiven, forgotten, and moved on.

For the next few days, Sharp drove Romeo around on tenterhooks. The Dark Souls of Lucifer did something that garnered everyone’s attention, and Romeo was able to sneak back to Mexico.

Sharp shook his head. Nine years of this shit. When would it fuckin’ end?

◆◆◆

For the following year and a half, Sharp discovered many things. Volcano was Fury’s son and only living child alive. The rest of Fury’s kids were dead, rumoured to be at the hands of Volcano. Volcano was gathering men to attack Rage. Fury wanted the club back. That was why he was forcing take overs of clubs and gangs. Fury craved a war.

As Sharp kept his ears to the ground, he found out it wasn’t just Rage he was after. No, Fury intended to rule the MCs around Rapid City too. Hellfire, Unwanted bastards, Devil’s Scythes, they were targets.

Then Sharp discovered that Volcano had offed Manticore and that organisation no longer existed. Everything was now owned and run by Fury. Anderson had managed to shut down two drug pipelines, which Fury merely changed routes, but many arrests had been made.

The Feds had also uncovered several trucks of weapons, and Fury felt the pressure. Whoever Fury was after had done a good job of hiding themselves. He was still hunting for this mysterious person and was determined to find them. Despite Sharp’s best attempts, he’d not discovered who the hell this was. But he had heard that this target would bring Drake to his knees. And so Sharp stayed; he needed to discover who it was until he learned that a member of Rage was being targeted by Taxman.

Sharp shook his head. He was going to blow Taxman’s brains out. The asshole had caused him enough fuckin’ grey hairs.

Sharp - February 2018

Sharp knew Rage had been seen on this ranch a lot, and the target Taxman was after also lived here. He’d scouted the place and discovered a back road. It was sheer luck he came across Alison hunting a cougar. He shot the cougar as the creature got ready to pounce and approached Alison.

“Thought it was gonna get you,” Sharp said, staying relaxed because Alison held a damn shotgun. She wasn’t afraid to use it either.

“For a second, I didn’t think I’d beat it,” Alison replied. Her eyes were alert, and she was wary. Her gaze raked him, and he knew what she was seeing. He’d let his hair grow back to its normal colour, and she was making note of that striking feature.

They exchanged a few words before Alison demanded. “Who are you?”

“A friend. Tell Drake that Dark Souls of Lucifer are coming tonight. Whatever plan Drake has in place he needs to enact now, they’re not gonna be watching the ranch until later,” Sharp replied. He needed to get a message to Drake, or Blaze would lose his life.

Not that Sharp knew Blaze. The man had joined after Sharp’s supposed death. But he wore a cut, and that made Blaze his brother.

“What’s your name?” Alison probed.

“Alison, he didn’t heed my last warning about Blaze. Tell him Dark Souls are moving. This time, Drake better listen. Rage must knuckle down and finish these guys. Drake gotta know that Santos has secured his power base again and is making moves. Dark Souls are merely one distraction Santos is throwing at Rage. Can you remember that?”

“I’m not an idiot,” Alison snapped.

“Little darlin’, I ain’t going to hurt you. Not here for bullshit, Alison Jackson. Need to get Drake and Blaze a message. And tell him ‘no matter what, brothers’.” Sharp saw Alison frown at that. He’d said too much and started to walk away, hoping Alison wouldn’t question him.

That was a pointless wish.

“What does that mean? Hey!”

“Give him the messages, and don’t do it with anyone else around. People are watching Rage closely.” Sharp disappeared and hit his bike. He hoped Drake paid attention this time, or Blaze would die. That would be a crying shame because Blaze appeared to be a decent kid.

Sharp - October 2018.

Shit had gone down. The clubhouse was celebrating, well, everyone apart from Volcano, who glared at his brothers.

“You not feeling this?” Sharp asked.

“What’s it got to do with you?”

“Just a question, dude,” Sharp replied.

“You ask a lot.”

“If you don’t, then how the hell do you gather intel? Never hurts to have info on shit going down,” Sharp retorted.

“You wanna know what’s happening? I’ll tell ya. Seems I had a half-sister, Dad didn’t rate her because she had a pussy and not a cock. She had a kid, and Dad’s found her. That bitch is gonna regret being born. Especially with who her family is,” Volcano explained, holding my gaze with those dead eyes of his.

“Yeah?” Sharp replied, sipping his beer.

“She’s Drake Michaelson’s half-sister. Fancy that. Arrow shoved his dick in Fury’s daughter and had a kid. And Drake has no fuckin’ idea she exists,” Volcano sneered.

Sharp stiffened. This created a whole new problem.

If what Volcano was saying was true… he had to rescue this woman from the Fangs.

“What ya gonna do… Fed boy?” Volcano demanded in a low tone.

He froze and held Volcano’s gaze.

“Yeah, I know exactly who you are… Ghost.”