by E. C. Land
“Shadow follow her,” I order.
“On it. I’ll find Victoria and bring her back,” he declares as he follows the dark-haired beauty.
Raking a hand through my hair, I let out a deep breath, I turn to face my brothers. “Stoney’s calling lockdown. Nerd go do your thing, find out who did this. Also find out what the fuck Raven meant about the ‘night is about to go silent’ bullshit.”
“I can already answer you on that one Blaze and you're not gonna like the answer,” Nerd says as he pales.
“What?” I bark.
“Night is about to go silent, is what people say on the dark web when a certain person is needed for a job. No one knows whether this person is a man or woman. Well they didn’t until now,” Nerd rambles.
“Get to the point brother,” Coyote snaps.
“If I’m right Victoria is Silent Night and if that’s the case then she’s gone to do what she does best. Silent those who have put you in here,” Nerd states, causing my head to spin.
How the hell could a woman like Victoria be who she is? Better yet how the hell did none of us know this.
“Family of James Wilson?” a doctor calls out.
Fuck.
This shit just keeps getting fucked by the minute.
19
Victoria
“Vicky, you have everything?” Raven asks as she enters the house.
“Yep, how did it go?” I ask as I finish packing my bag and opening my case of blades to check them. Seeing them shine I reach out and run my hand along the edge of my longest one. I had this set made for me when I took on my first job. The one that changed it all.
Closing my eyes, I could see the man who reeked of money as he laid over the little girl trying to rip her legs apart. I’d been able to sneak up on him as the girl screamed into the night. Without the asshole realizing what was about to happen I’d slit his throat and tossed him aside from the child.
Kneeling in front of her, I’d put my finger over my lips, letting her know to be quiet. She’d instantly stopped her screams and threw herself into my arms sobbing. To soothe her, I started singing Silent Night to calm her down. It was Christmastime, after all and what better song to sing then a carol.
It’s how I ended up being known as Silent Night. It somehow became my calling card I suppose you can say.
“It went about how you would have expected. You sure you don’t want them to go with you,” Raven says. She knows I don’t need backup. I can handle myself but the guys from the club not so much. They’ve never seen this side of me, and I’d prefer they didn’t.
“I’m sure, Raven,” I say as I pull out my other case. Inside it contains my Barrett M82. She’s a beauty that barely sees the light of day.
“Vicky,” Raven starts, but I hold my hand up to silence her.
“Raven. I know you're not going soft on me. Not after you told me to shut it down. I’ve done just that and now I’m about to end it all once and for all. They will not get away with this. I was finally happy. I refuse to allow them to do to my child what they did to his father. They’ll all die,” I declare.
“Bitch, please, I’m not going soft. I only asked because of the fact you're carrying Tracker’s child. And just so you know he made it through surgery. The next twenty-four hours will be critical, but if he makes it through, then there’s a good chance for him. The doctor said he was put into a medically induced coma,” Raven states.
“Good. If I’m not back before he wakes up, then you can tell him I’m safe and I’ll be back,” I mutter as I lift the bags into my arms.
“I forget every time you end up like this what a massive bitch you can be. I’ll make sure to tell his ass everything when he wakes up,” Raven snaps.
“You do that. But till then I want you watching him, make sure he’s guarded. Who knows if the fucker who shot him is still around and you know these people don’t play. They always make sure they complete the job,” I say as I head for the door to the garage.
“I’ll watch over him and deal with all the ego sadistic assholes while you do your thing. The quicker you get it done the quicker you can release the emotions,” she mutters as she follows behind me.
Without giving her a response, I head toward my blacked-out jeep that I’m grateful Raven was smart enough to not let Tracker take to his house.
“You’ve got the tracers on, right?” Raven asks as I start putting everything in the back.
“Tracers are always active on this beast,” I murmur.
“Good. I’ll keep an eye on you from here. I want twice a day daily check-ins,” Raven says just as the form of a man steps into the darkened room.
Raven and I both have our guns on him pointed in his direction before he can make a sound.
As he steps into the light, I realize it’s Shadow. “What are you doing here?” I ask as I put the gun back in its place on my hip.
“Here to make sure you don’t do anything stupid which is what it looks like,” Shadow grumbles, taking in my appearance.
“You don’t know what you're talking about. I suggest you get back to the club,” I say shrugging my shoulders.
“I’m not about to let you do something stupid without back up. So if you're determined to leave and deal with this yourself then I’m coming with you. Tracker would have my balls if he knew I let you go by yourself,” Shadow states as he steps closer.
Glancing in Raven’s direction, I see her not only give a slight smirk but she nods her head.
Sighing, I round my Jeep. “What the hell. Get in, shut up, and don’t try to interfere in any of my plans. Am I understood?”
“Long as it doesn’t involve you getting hurt, then fine by me. Just so you know I look forward to seeing the spanking Tracker’s going to give you for this little stunt,” Shadow grins as he climbs into the passenger side seat.
“He has to wake up first,” I grumble as I pull the door closed behind me after climbing into the driver's seat.
“Damn, Raven’s right, you are a bitch without emotions. Tracker’s gonna wake up and when he does, he’ll be out for blood,” Shadow mutters.
Ignoring his comments, I start the engine, pressing some keys needed and roll the window down. Leaning forward I look around the behemoth of a man, “Open the door and then get back to the hospital. They might insist they can keep an eye on Tracker, but I want your eyes on him. Don’t leave his side.”
“Got it, Vicky. Be careful, use your head and slit the fucker’s throat for me. Remember you do this then the emotions come back,” she says just as she’s always said when I’ve had to turn my emotions off.
I may have only started this path two years ago, but she’s been doing this since she first learned to hold a weapon.
Her father calls us the Silence of the Dark assassins. I come in the silence of the night while Raven lays in wait for her target in the darkness. Neither of us takes many jobs, only those that grab our interest.
Normally, if it’s something we’re interested in, it's something Chains, the Prez of the Inferno’s Clutch MC, sends our way.
Having Shadow with me might be interesting, especially when we get to our destination. I hardly ever speak to my brother and now, not only am I pregnant but I’ll have a man from another MC with me. What could go wrong with that?
Smiling, I glance in Shadow’s direction. “I hope you're ready,” I say, turning up the radio before I put the car in reverse and back out of the garage.
This ends once and for all. One way or another, my parents and Parker will all die by either knife or gun. You touch mine and I’ll kill to avenge.
As ‘Silent Night’ begins to play, I hum to the carol.
Silent night.
Holy night.
All is calm, all is bright.
20
Victoria
Fifteen and a half hours after getting into the car, I finally pass the sign for Eden Isle. Thankfully, Shadow didn’t speak the entire way here except when his phone rang.
Talk
ing to Stoney, he put the phone on speaker and, damn, I don’t think I’ve ever heard the man so pissed. He threatened to strangle me and all sorts of other things if I didn’t turn my ass around. I’d simply hit the ‘end’ button on Shadow’s phone as I plucked it from his hand and threw it out the window.
“No personal cell phones on this trip. Need to talk, grab a burner when we stop,” I stated when he’d started in on me.
He demanded we stop at the next gas station, where he proceeded to buy said burner phone and called Stoney back. When he explained to Stoney what happened, the man looked at me like I was crazy, shook his head and laughed.
Shaking my head, I make the turn off to my destination.
“Where we going?” Shadow asks, sitting up as he takes in the barely-there road.
“To my brother’s,” I say.
“I didn’t know you had a brother,” Shadow retorts.
“Barely anyone knows. He and I don’t like many people to know about our relationship. It could be dangerous for both of us,” I shrug.
“Wanna tell me why that is and what I’m about to walk into,” he demands.
“Might as well. You're about to walk into the Inferno’s Clutch MC. My brother’s the Prez of the club,” I state as I pull up to the gate and wait for the prospect to step up to the window.
“You lost, baby,” the prospect asks.
“Open the gate, dickweed, or I’ll shoot you myself. Chains won’t be happy to know you called me baby,” I snap.
“Easy, baby, I’m not about to let you in without knowing who you are and why you’re here,” he chuckles.
Sighing, I lean over to reach into my glove box and grab the remote to the gate. Sitting back up straight, I sneer at the prospect as I hold the controller up and press the middle button.
As the gate started to open, the asshole pulled his gun. “How did you get that? You can’t go in without permission,” he yells.
“Watch me,” I say simply as I pull through the gate with the asshole running behind.
“You really are a bitch,” Shadow chuckles as I put the Jeep in park.
“Just don’t forget that I’ll be me again when this is done and I’m back to Tracker. Until then, I’ll be a cold-hearted bitch to keep him safe,” I mutter as I take my seatbelt off and open the door.
“Look, cunt, you need to get back in your piece of shit and get out of here,” prospect dickweed yells as he gets in my face and I turn to face him.
Glancing over my shoulder, his eyes widen as he takes in Shadow’s appearance. I find it amusing how he’s scared of Shadow when in reality it’s me he should fear.
Stepping around the dumbass, I make my way to the front entrance of the clubhouse. “Shadow, how much do you wanna bet dickweed will be pissing himself within the hour?” I call out over my shoulder as the prospect continues to protest.
Opening the door, I’m immediately hit in the face by the thickness of smoke, cigarettes, and weed all mixed together. Music is blaring through the speakers as laughter fills the room. Walking in, I stop to scan the room for Chains, only Breaker spots me first.
Rushing to me, the beast of a man scoops me up into his arms and twirls me around like I weigh nothing.
“I suggest you let her go,” Shadow snarls from behind me.
“Who the fuck are you coming into my club wearing another club’s cut?” Breaker sneers.
“Alright, you two, put your dicks away and step back. Breaker, meet Shadow, my man’s brother. Shadow, meet my cousin, Breaker,” I say in frustration.
“Cousin?” Shadow asks, lifting a brow in question.
“Your man? Hold up,” Breaker says at the same time.
“Ugh, yes to both of you. Now, where the hell is Chains,” I ask as I glance around the room for my brother.
“He’s over by the pool tables,” Breaker says, nodding over to the corner.
“Thanks. Can you play nice for a minute?” I ask as I make my way across the room to where I find my brother groping one of the club strays, as they’re called here.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight, Vi,” Shadow mutters as he follows.
“Whatcha' thinkin’, that she’d be hurt here? Please, any of these fuckers would get a beating for even trying,” Breaker growls.
“Then I suggest you get ahold of your prospect who mans the gate,” Shadow suggests.
“Will you two shut up,” I snap as I push my way through the crowd and make my way to Chains, who doesn’t even see me coming toward him.
Talk about gross as the stray starts to pull his dick out of his pants.
“Geez, do you not have any respect for keeping that shit hidden? I mean, seriously, I don’t wanna see your junk,” I grumble, causing my brother’s head to whip around in my direction.
A smile crosses his face instantly as he realizes I’m standing there and immediately straightens his pants. “Sorry, Tar, you’ll have to wait,” he says.
“Why do we have to wait? This bitch can hold on,” the stray whines while narrowing her eyes in my direction.
“I’d suggest you watch your mouth,” I bite out as I take a step toward her.
“And I suggest you learn your place,” she snaps.
Glancing in my brother's direction, I notice the smirk on his face and the nod giving me the go ahead. “Alright, I’ll learn my place just as you will,” I say before throwing a punch that sends the bitch backward. She cries out, covering her nose, blood already pouring out.
“You bitch,” she screams and jumps for me.
Stepping sideways, I hold my arm out just as she would have reached me and check her in the throat. Gasping, she falls to the floor. I grip her hair and yank her head back so she has no choice but to meet my gaze. “I’m going to be generous this time. Learn your place or the next time you’ll end up with your face blown off,” I say before throwing her to the floor.
Laughter and clapping of hands surround me as I straighten.
“Damn, Vi, I didn’t know you had it in you. Why didn’t you take care of those bitches at DP?” Shadow chuckles.
“Who the hell are you?” Chains growls, stepping toward Shadow before I could answer his question.
“Don’t worry about him, Prez. Evidently, he’s the brother of your sister’s ol’ man,” Breaker says through his laughter.
Stopping in his tracks, Chains turns to give me a look. “You forget to mention something to me?” he asks as he scans my body before landing on my stomach.
“Oh, shit, you're pregnant,” Breaker blurts out in shock.
“No shit, Sherlock.” I mutter to my cousin, placing my hand on my small bump as I meet my brother's gaze. “There’s a lot I need to talk to you about.”
Holding my stare for a long moment, he seems to be trying to figure something out in his head before nodding. “Let’s take this to church,” he growls as he steps into my space to put his arm around my shoulder. “I missed you, baby girl.”
And right there I can feel my emotions trying to push forward with the need to crawl in my brother’s lap to cry my eyes out. In my entire life, he’s the only other man besides Tracker who I’ve ever felt fully safe with.
“I’ve missed you too, Darren,” I murmur loud enough for only his ears.
The four of us step into the room where his club holds church. I can all but taste the tension that fills the room. It only gets worse as my other two cousins, Tyres and Brake, enter the room as well.
“What’s going on?” Brake demands.
“Why’s this asshole here?” Tyres snarls as he takes in Shadow.
“We’re about to find out. Victoria, go ahead and start explaining,” Chains demands as he takes his seat at the table.
Moving around the room, I sit in my own chair directly across from him at the long table as everyone but Shadow takes their seats. Shadow moves to stand behind me.
“Shadow, you can sit to my right,” I point at the empty spot. If it were a full table, he wouldn’t be able to. If it were any oth
er time, neither of us would be able to, but all the members of the ICMC know when I’m in here, I sit directly across from Chains.
“I’m good right here,” Shadow mutters as he stays standing at my back.
“Suit yourself,” I shrug before turning my attention to the rest of the guys in the room.
“As Chains took in earlier, I’m pregnant,” I say, placing my hand over my belly, feeling my son kick.
“Who’s the father?” Chains demands.
“That’s why I’m here. Tracker was shot protecting me from a bullet,” I state and just like that my emotions are slammed back into place behind the door.
“Fuck,” Breaker mutters.
“To sum it up for you, I’m ending this shit once and for all. I know you work with Parker and why you're doing it. Out of respect for you, big brother, I’m letting you know I plan to take him out as well as my parents and anyone else who stands in my way.”
“Baby girl, you sure about this,” Chains asks, sitting forward in his seat, bracing his arms on the table.
Locking my gaze with my brother’s, I let him know the deal. “They drew the last straw trying to take Tracker’s life, and as it stands right now, he still might not make it.”
“He’ll make it, Vi,” Shadow says from behind me as he places his hand on my shoulder.
“Tell me why this dude is here,” Chains demands, nodding his head in Shadow’s direction.
“I’m here because my VP would have my balls if I didn’t protect his ol’ lady when he couldn’t,” Shadow says calmly.
Chains stares at Shadow for a long moment before turning his attention back to me.
“I’ll help you any way I can, baby girl, you know that, but I know you don’t need it. Even pregnant, you're still scary as hell. Now, last thing, then you go sleep in your room. What did Shadow here mean about bitches at DP?” he asks.
Sighing, I shake my head, not wanting to answer.
“I know you have your emotions shut down and don’t give a damn, but still answer the question,” Chains demands.
