“Edge, brother!”
Rafe’s and Striker’s guns discharged at the same time, the loud ricochet of the bullets leaving the barrels echoing in the large skeletal room. Bryce’s fear flooded my body and I gasped when I realized at the exact same moment he did that I was going to die.
Faster than should have been possible Bryce and I ran for one another. In his eyes I saw determination and intense concentration, but no fear. He shouldn’t have been able to reach me as quickly as he did, stretching toward my arm the same moment I instinctively reached for his.
Time slowed.
My heart stuttered.
Bryce and I made contact.
The second our bodies touched a vast explosion shot through the room accompanied by a pulse that vibrated within the foundation’s walls, the very air paused a millisecond before it sent the wave surging outward. A greenish glow encompassed our joined frames and crackled like booming thunder, jumping from our skin and darting into the atmosphere.
Everything went black.
Inhale. Exhale.
I blinked, coming back to awareness.
Both Bryce and I were flat on our backs, lying prone next to each other.
Moaning was coming from both Rae and Mack. Unfazed I sat up and scurried toward Rae but froze as I reached her, knowing she was fine, as well as Mack. I could feel and sense their heartbeats, frantic but unharmed. My baby was alright.
The surge of power that reflected from Bryce and I had thrown the others remaining in the room hard, catapulting them into the solid concrete walls. Bodies were strewn across the barren floor. Metal fragments and the stench of gunpowder w
ere the only indication guns had been discharged. Blood was spattered like some horror movie, limbs twisted and broken at odd angles. No other heartbeats.
Only four people were alive.
Everyone else perished.
Chapter 44
“I have to know the truth, Mack. Just this once I’m asking you not to bullshit me anymore. Tell the damn truth. There’s nothing else that matters.”
I was sitting on Pete’s lap and held tight in his arms, R.J. on my left, his hand holding mine, and Bryce on my right. Miraculously he seemed to be healing entirely on his own. Bryce was breathing easier and the color was returning to his face. Shocked as I was over the events that had just taken place, I still couldn’t wrap my head around what any of this meant.
An hour ago Sherriff Daly released us from custody and asked that we remain at the clubhouse until the incident at the warehouse could be sorted. When we entered the RRMC HQ tensions were running high and we were bombarded with questions. Mack insisted on debriefing with those in charge first and then planned to call Church.
We were left alone in the meeting room, affectionately known as the V. V for vagina since these guys felt at home and closer to God when buried deep inside pussy. No, I can’t make that up. Valan and Ghost were happy to inform me of the significance but also thrilled to let me know Edge was a born-again virgin since hooking back up with me. Apparently they had doubts he was ever going to have sex again.
I was able to resist rolling my eyes. Barely.
And so it was Pete – V.P., R.J. – Treasurer, Ghost – Sergeant at Arms, Valan – Original Member, Jake – Full Patch, and me sitting with Mack, the exiled Original Member.
Silence engulfed us for a few minutes before Mack cleared his throat. Palms flat on the table he stood, his voice loud and clear as he recited the RRMC motto, one hand over his heart, “I will defend my club above all else. I will protect the members, our freedom, and our property, sacrifice all I am and have so the RRMC lives on. I will fight to the death to save and preserve the club and its members, my brothers. Anyone who threatens my brother threatens the club and is my enemy. I will live by my word, this code, and never break it until the day I die.
Ravage Riders in life, in death, and forever.”
Pete, R.J., Valan, Ghost, and Jake all repeated the oath in unison, sitting down once they were finished.
Mack leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his massive chest, “I suppose you want to know how I met Patty.”
Bryce answered before Pete, “Yes.”
“Patty wasn’t quite human,” he let the impact of his words settle over everyone at the table and then continued, even after a few grumbles and doubting remarks filled the air. “I found her by accident one night while riding along the back roads on my hog. It was late, well after two in the morning. I liked to ride late at night and clear my head when shit with the club became too much. Ron and I often went on late night rides, but on this particular evening he was out with Sarah.”
“Go on,” Pete encouraged.