“Voodoo”—Godsmack
Approximately Twenty-Two Years Later…
“Iknow what you saw, boy. But you remember what I always told you.” My grandmother’s voice carried strong and powerfully over the phone line.
“Yes, I know, but I’ve seen it repeatedly, Granmè. I don’t like it.” My hand ran roughly through my hair.
“I’m being careful, and Jameson, thatbeau diable, has been checking on me. He even brought that pretty Sadie girl with him last time. I like her. She has a good soul, but she still carries a pain deep within her. They’re good for each other. They will heal each other. You will have that one day,” she said with certainty. I snorted in disbelief.
“Yeah, right.” Zaka nudged his cold nose into my hand, and I glanced down at him. As I listen to my grandmother go on about her need for great-grandbabies, I stroked his thick, black fur. Another call chimed in, and I pulled the phone from my head to see who it was.
Seeing Raptor’s name on my screen, I told her, “I have to go, Granmè.”
It was her turn to snort. “You’ll see, I’m right.”
“Love you,” I said, laughing. She replied in kind and we ended the call.
“Voodoo,” I answered.
“Venom wants you at the clubhouse.” His abrupt instruction caused me to roll my eyes.
“Would it kill you to say hello or acknowledge me before you bark out orders?” I grinned as I fucked with my VP.
He growled. “Get your ass over here. Church in thirty minutes.”
Chuckling, I shoved my phone in my pocket. He’d hung up as soon as he’d finished talking. He wasn’t an asshole; he just didn’t have a lot to say over the phone. He hated them.
“Sorry, Zaka. I gotta go. You guard,” I said as I ruffled his fur and grabbed the doorknob. He lay on the floor with his head on his paws, staring balefully at me. “You’re pathetic,” I mumbled with a hint of a smile to my lips.
Settling on my bike, I slid my shades on and scanned the neighborhood. It was a nice but unassuming neighborhood in Ankeny, Iowa—the heart of the country and home to the Royal Bastards MC in this neck of the woods.
Something deep in my soul missed the bayous of Louisiana, even though I’d only lived there for the first six years of my life. But this was home, and I truly wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
The ride to the clubhouse didn’t take long, and I was thankful to see I wasn’t the last one there. The last one into church had to clean the shitters. After the party we had the night before, I’d fucking pass.
“Voodoo, you freaky sonofabitch. How’s it hanging?” Silver called out as I stepped into the dimly lit clubhouse.
Surprise hit me, because we hadn’t been notified he was coming. He grabbed me in a tight embrace and patted my back as his giant of a prospect stood behind him silently watching everything. Prospects didn’t join in church, so he’d be waiting outside the door when we went into the chapel.
Silver was the VP from our Detroit chapter. He called me freaky because of my beliefs, but rumor had it, he was certainly no angel.
“Hey, Silver. It’s all good. What the hell are you doing down here?” I asked him as we stepped back and took seats at the large table. His smile dropped, and he looked over his shoulder at Venom.
“We’re gonna discuss that in a minute, Voodoo. Where the fuck are Angel and Ghost?” Venom had barely gotten his question out when there was the sound of running feet. Angel and Ghost both slammed into the doorframe as they tried to burst through the door at the same time.
Ghost shoved at Angel and darted forward, tumbling into the nearest free seat. With a smug smile, he crossed his arms and gloated. “Angel’s cleaning the shitters.”
“Fuck you. You tripped me when I got off my bike, you asshole,” Angel grumbled.
“No rules. So all’s fair.” Ghost gave him a smart-ass look. Angel glared at him as he tossed his phone in the basket outside the door with the rest of them. Ghost tossed his phone to Angel, who caught it midair. “Be a sweetie.”
Angel flipped him off but tossed his phone in with the rest and closed the door.
“If you two don’t knock your shit off and sit down, I’m gonna kick your goddamn asses.” Venom growled. I tried not to smile as Ghost and Angel immediately calmed and sat quietly. No one wanted to push Venom too far and piss him off. It never ended well.
“Sorry, boss,” Angel said as he pouted from his chair. Dark hair fell in his eyes, and he glowered.
“Now that you’re all finally here, Silver has an offer for us. Listen up.” Venom gave the floor to Silver, who’d been silently stroking his heavily graying beard.