Six (3 page)

He stands when I approach the couch they're sitting on.  "Piper.  What. The. Fuck.  You don't belong here."

"Evan.  Seriously.  It's not that big of a deal.  I'm just chilling with some of the guys." 

"No.  This isn't a place for little sisters." 

She stands in front of me.  Poking her finger in my chest, she starts in on me.  "I'm not your fucking little sister.  Damn it Evan.  When are you going to realize, I grew up?  I'm not the same girl you knew when we were separated."

"I fucking see that, but I won't let you be pulled into this."

"Oh, chill.  I'm not getting pulled into anything.  I just want a damn beer.  If it makes you feel any better, I'll drink that beer with you.  We can do that bonding thing you've been bitching about."

I make a motion to Tori to bring us two.  Nodding to Switch to step away, I pull him close enough to tell him to get the word out.  "Tell the guys to keep shit straight until they're given the go ahead.  I don't want my sister seeing all these whores in action."

"Consider it done."

Tori walks up with our beers and I try not to look at her ass when she walks away, but fuck.  I know what it feels like in my hands.

Piper hits my shoulder and smiles.  "Looks like someone wants a lil’ taste of my roommate."   

"Why didn't you tell me you had a roommate?"

"She just fully moved in yesterday.  She's been in and out the past few weeks trying to get all her stuff here."

"Do you know her well enough to have her living with you?"

"Tori is my best friend, Evan.  She's been my friend for thirteen years.  Hell, I've known her longer than I've known you."  A feeling of guilt stabs at my heart.  I wanted to fucking save her.  It seemed like she had a great foster family.  I mean shit, I was only eighteen when our fucked up dad finally went to prison.  If I hadn't met Tex when I did, who knows how I would've turned out myself.

"You know I fucking hate that."

"I know.  Tori is great though.  She's had a rough life, but I love her to pieces.  I think that's why we get along so well."

"Oh yeah."  I take a big drink, trying to not get too nosy.  I want to ask questions about her.  There's just something about this girl.  She caught my eye the second I saw her.  Not many do that.  I mean shit, I have pussy lined up for days, it’s not something that I have to chase. 

"Yeah.  She lost her mom when she was young.  Her dad is some big politician always trying to send her away.  Seems like he's ashamed of her or something.  I don't get it.  She moved here trying to build her own life.  I don't think she even told her father where she was moving to."

"That's fucked up."

"She's my family, Evan, and I'm truly the only family she has.  I had to let her move in."

"I agree.  I just need to know this kind of shit.  How am I supposed to make sure you're taken care of if I don't know all the details?  Fuck.  I'm gonna get some eyes on your apartment.  Two women living alone.  That's just asking for trouble."

"Stop.  You already got me into the best apartment complex with the highest level of security out there.  I'll be fine."  I know how secure those apartments are..... I designed them.  The club owns them.  Yet another thing we have our hands in.  I make a mental note to increase the security there and to talk to the brother leading that project.

"So, which one of these guys has the biggest dick?"  I choke on my beer with her words.

"None of them.  I'll chop it off if they come near you."

"Evan.  What the fuck.  You can't do that."

"I did."  Finishing off my beer, I hold it up, letting Tori know we need another round.

"Seriously?"

"Piper.  You need a normal guy.  One who works eight to five, who can give you the simple life you deserve."

"I didn't ask you for a husband.  I just want a good time."

"Not gonna happen here."

"You'd rather me go to another club where you can't watch over me?"

"No."

"You'd rather I go home with my vibrator?"

"Piper.  I don't want to hear that shit."  Tori smirks when she hands me the two beers. 

"That's what I told her last night." I pause in horror.  Did she just say what I think she did?  

"Tori, shut up before I start sharing your secrets."  Tori smirks again before she walks away from the table and before Piper has a chance to spill.  

"How late will this party last?"  Piper starts to look around after she asks that question.

"All night."

"Awesome.  That'll be a fun time."

"No fucking way Piper.  You're leaving here after this beer.  This is not your scene."  

"Damn it, Evan."

"I'm sending Tori with you."

"She'll be pissed.  She's trying to pay for her classes."

"I'm covering her tuition.  That's already worked out."  My eyes are drawn to Tori again.  That damn hair.  Those tits... And that ass.  I hate that she's so close to my sister.  I can't mix the two worlds.  No fucking way.  

"I don't even want to know what has you looking at her like that."  I don't respond to Piper, she really doesn't want to know what I'm thinking.  My phone starts to vibrate in my pocket. 

Beast:  I just got verification.  I'm going to make a run, I'll be back.

Blade:  I'm coming with you.  Meet me in my garage in fifteen.  Bring Shadow.

Piper is talking to me, but I didn't catch what she just said.  This is a call I've been waiting on.  I was hoping it would never come, but unfortunately some people never learn.  It's time to fix the shit that should never be broken.

"What do you say, Evan?"  Piper pulls my attention from my racing heart.

"I have to go pick up one of our idiot Prospects.  He's got himself in a fucking mess.  I want you to leave here when I do."  I stand to find Roxi.  I want Tori and my sister out of this scene.  My guys won't be holding back much longer.

"Fine.  I can tell there's no changing your mind."

"No, there's not.  Piper, I'm fucking serious.  Go home then text me, so I know you're safe for the night."  She stands to hug me.  Her short stature makes me feel like she's younger than she actually is.  I watch a few of the guys look at her ass as she hugs me.  Glaring at the new guy, I remind him that he's signing his death wish.  He turns quickly and pulls in one of the frequent bitches right against his side.  I'm still going to have words with this little fucker.  He knew what he was doing.  Damn, why'd my sister have to grow up, this is going to fucking suck.

"Roxi, I want you to let Tori go home with my sister.  Bill me for all the bartenders tonight."

"I'll tell her now."  I continue to walk past her and through the front door of the club.  My bike is front and center, so I slide into place before sending the rumble through the quiet parking lot. 

My garage is behind the MC house.  It's where we keep most of the shit we need when it's time for a run like this.  My heart starts pounding and the adrenaline is flowing for this fucker.  I will personally be his punisher.  I hear a few engines outside and know Beast has arrived.

"Where's he at?"

"Hotel on Fifth Street.  A Prospect has him silenced."

"This one’s mine."  I let them both know that tonight I'll be the handling things myself.

"I knew it would be.  We'll take the old Ford tonight."  This truck is a giant piece of shit, but it'll get us there before we take it to the salvage yard tonight.  I don't take chances. 

"Have one of the new guys on stand by.  He can pick us up at the yard."  Shadow dials a number and steps outside.  I'm gathering the final tools just as Beast steps in front of me.

"Boss.  I want you to keep it in the present.  I don't need any of your memories taking over."

"You know I can't promise you that.  It's why I do this."

"I get that, but we have to remember to work it the way we set it up.  This one isn't set to be finished.  He just needs reminded of a few things.  Are you sure you don't want me to take him?"

"I need to do this."  It's been an itch lately.  The shit brewing inside me is making me crazy.

"Alright.  I'll have him brought to the yard."  I step forward, take a deep breath and clinch my fist.  Memories rush my mind, reminding me of the chaos I used to live in.  I light a cigarette, exhaling with hopes of pulling myself together.

Chapter Three

Blade

I can practically feel the sting and my jaw swelling.  He was pissed at me for coming home late.  That shit started happening when my mom left.  Piper was little and for years, he didn't touch her.  It wasn't until I grew up and stood over him that he started hitting her instead.  I tried everything to get him to stop. 

That night was the worst.  He started in on me and I told him to fuck off.  I slammed my bedroom door and cranked the music to drown him out.  I thought things were going to smooth over until I heard her cries between songs.  Turning the knob, I knew instantly this would be the last night with my father.  I would either kill him or he was going to jail.  I called 911 before leaving my bedroom.  If I went to jail, so fucking be it.

I opened her door to see him smack her in the face.  Her body flies onto her bed and she holds her face when she lands.  I stop him before he touches her again, diving straight for his stomach.  We fall onto the bed and I scream for Piper to go to my room.  She listened. 

We struggle for control and break everything in her room in the process.  Her toy box, dresser, and bed crumbled every time one of us landed. 

The police finally showed up and pulled me off of him.  We were both handcuffed and they took Piper away in a van.  I was released, my father was not.  He died a few months later in prison. 

The state wouldn't let me have Piper back, said I was too young.

"It's time to head that way."  Beast interrupts my thoughts.  I can't stop the feeling I've got.  It reminds me of when I had no control and that fucker made sure I knew that. 

I grab the last bundle of chains and toss my cigarette butt on the ground, stepping on it as I walk by. 

Beast and Shadow don't say a word on the drive, they know this shit gets to me. 

I park with my headlights on bright and shining directly in his eyes.  They've moved him to the yard.  The asshole is on the ground, with ropes restraining his every movement.  His eyes are already almost swollen shut from the abuse my Prospects have unleashed on him.

Beast hands me the file I need to see.  Pictures of him punching a little boy, still shots of him kicking the kid in the stomach, a picture of three cigarette burns on the boy's chest and I'm done looking.  I run my palm through my hair, trying to take a deep breath.  The hardest part about tonight will be not killing this mother fucker.

"Chain him up.  I want him to see me."  They pull his arms up with the chains dragging them across the top of the engine lift.  The sound of metal on metal screaming through the dark night make me ready to get started on this.  Too bad it'll be a short one.

"How come I'm seeing pictures of you punching your fucking kid?"  I get in his face to make sure he knows I'm here.  He's coherent.  I can always tell.  Their tears fall when they see me coming like this.   

"I'll never do it again."  His words escape through a cry. 

"I know you won't."  I signal for the guys to pull the chains tighter... I need him eye level.  This fucker won't stand up straight to face me.  "I'm going to make sure of that." 

I walk back to my truck, place an unlit cigarette in between my lips and grab my tool box.  Beast gives me a nod when I walk back by.

Standing in front of this man's face, I light my torch. 

"I'm not going to kill you.  I'm gonna be a nice guy.  I'll give you a chance to be the father that kid deserves, because I never had that."

"Thank you."

"Don't fucking thank me.  Thank Beast.  He made that call.  The burns on that boy's chest make me sick.  Did you do that to him?"  The whisper of my torch gets louder as I raise the flame to light my cigarette.  As I inhale, he starts to cry.

Leaving the torch lit in one hand, I pull the cigarette to my side in the other.  Leaning forward, I ask him again.

"Did you fucking burn that boy?"  My spit splatters against his neck as I talk through disgust.

"I won't do it again," he cries out.  I step back.  I want him to see me.  I want his nightmares to be filled with this vision.

I slide my knife out from the inside of my boot.  This is my signature.  I always leave a reminder of the night they came face to face with me.  That's how I got my name.  Tex gave it to me the first night we met.

I run the flame over the clip blade I carry with me everywhere.  Slipping my cigarette between my lips, I cut his shirt from his shoulders.  He knows the blade is hot and is trembling at the anticipation of it touching his skin.  I won't let that happen.  Not until I'm ready anyway.

My hair falls in my eyes before I finish.  I turn and make eye contact with Beast, Shadow, and the Prospect.  This is my way of showing Beast that I'm in check. 

"If I ever see that boy hurt, I'll fucking find you.  I'll have eyes on him.  I'll have eyes on you.  You won't be able to take a piss without me knowing."

I run the back of the blade over the flame, preparing it for his skin.  Three marks from the boy, then one from me.  The chains pull tight until his feet are no longer on the ground. 

The smell of burnt skin fills my nose when I set the back of the blade against his chest.  His screams fill the air and I fight to hold back the memories.  I reheat the blade and watch his face as I leave him another mark.  His eyes roll back in his head and it falls forward as he passes out from the pain. 

"Wake the fuck up, asshole.  I'm not finished with you yet."  I lift his head with the blade of my knife, daring him to move a fucking muscle in the wrong way.

I use the torch to warm the blade once again while he watches through his own tears.  "Please.  I won't touch him again."

I don't respond with words, laying my blade against him once again.  Ah, the smell of burning skin is something you never forget.   

Before the last one, I let his cries stop so he can hear me.  I want him to know this, remember this.  "The next time you see me, I will be there to kill you.  You can count on that if you so much as knock that boy to the ground."

He nods just before I burn his skin for the last time using the blade and sealing it with a touch of the torch.  He loses control as he screams from the pain.  He'll hurt from that burn.  I made sure to only give him a sample of what true torture I can unleash.  Inhaling on my cigarette when I pull the torch away gives me an ounce of relief.  Fucking tiny bit of relief from a lifetime of this shit.

The chains drop and he falls to the ground.  Beast moves to pick up my box and I can hear him reminding the guy that we have proof of his abuse on the boy.  If he says a word about this night, we'll make sure the proof gets in the hands it needs to before we find him and finish this.

"Let's go."  I need to fuck.