Spark of Vengeance: MacKenny Brothers Series Book 2: An MC/Band of Brothers Romance

by Kathleen Kelly

The rest of them begin to laugh, and Beth goes a lovely shade of red.

  “Fuck you all. And I’m warning all of you… Beth is mine. Hands off.”

  “Sean!” shrieks Beth.

  “Well, it’s true, isn’t it?”

  Beth looks up at me. “Yeah, city boy, it’s true.”

  Angus clears his throat, and all eyes go to him.

  “This is sweet and all, but are we going to discuss the Senator?”

  Smiles fall away as we all take our seats.

  “What do you know?” I ask.

  Angus looks to Kyle, who nods, then he pushes back his hoodie and locks eyes with me. “The Fed said Robert Bates was Robert Kemp, an ex-army sniper. He bounced around from one security firm to another. Mostly in all the war-torn countries around the globe. Nasty piece of work. From what Jamieson could find out, it looks like when Senator Towell went on a diplomatic mission two years ago to Iraq, somehow they crossed paths, but there’s also a link to Towell’s father. Bates’ phone links him to one of the men on the Senator’s campaign team. So no direct contact, but our Fed is eager to please.”

  “You mean he’s eager to keep himself out of prison,” interjects Maddock.

  Angus nods. “That, too. He’s offered to put a tap on your phone, Sean, and see if we can catch the good Senator in a compromising position.”

  I frown and look at him sideways, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. “A tap on my phone?”

  “I’ll get you a new one when it’s over. The important thing right now is to get something on the Senator.”

  Beth leans forward. “You mean… kill the Senator, don’t you?” Her tone is icy, and there’s no emotion in her voice at all.

  The room goes quiet, and I place my hand on top of Beth’s. “She’s right. We can’t let him live. He not only ordered the murder of Beth’s father but me and everyone in my unit.”

  “Sean, Beth… think about this. Think about the MC. We could use the Senator,” replies Lola.

  I pin Kyle with a glare. “Is that how you feel?” I pull Beth up with me. “I won’t stand for it.”

  “Neither will I,” firmly states Beth.

  Lach explodes out of his chair, sending it flying behind him. “Goddammit, Sean! Use your fucking head. This is an opportunity to help the MC and, in doing so, help us, your family. This Senator will probably go on to be our next President. He will be in our pocket, a tool to use. Can’t you see that?”

  Beth leans across the table, glaring daggers at Lach. “What if it was your daddy? What if it was your friends being murdered? Would you stand there and tell me to walk away, so you could put yourself in a better position?”

  Lach swallows and looks down, shaking his head slightly. “I’m sorry for your loss, Beth. But…”

  “No buts. He has to pay.” I look around the table.

  Mad nods.

  The others all avoid my gaze.

  Except Kyle.

  “Brother?”

  “Is this my house?”

  “Yes, it’s your house.”

  “Will you abide by my decision, no matter what it is?”

  My gut drops. I’ve pledged allegiance to the MC, my family, and most of all Kyle. If I say no, my word is worth shit, and I’ve lost all of them. Without looking at Beth, I straighten and square my shoulders.

  Kyle stands, leans over the table, and puts his weight on his fists. His gaze drills into me, and I nod once. I hear Beth’s sharp intake of breath, and I reach for her under the table. Kyle continues to stare at me, then slowly he tilts his head and looks at everyone in the room. The silence is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Eventually, Kyle lets out a sigh and locks eyes with Beth.

  “Get the evidence against the Senator. Leak it to the press, then when things have quieted down, the Senator will meet an unfortunate end.”

  I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath and let it out slowly.

  Kyle looks deadly, his fists have turned white.

  I nod at him, grateful he didn’t make me choose. Beth squeezes my hand, knowing I would have killed the Senator and lost both my family and the MC.

  “Well, that settles it,” says Lola with a chuckle. “Anyone want a drink?”

  “It’s nine o’clock in the morning,” replies Angus, but at the same time, Beth, Cherie, and Lola say, “It’s five o’clock somewhere in the world.”

  I glance down at Beth and grin. Kyle chuckles, and Mad shakes his head at Cherie.

  “What?” Cherie stands. “Beer or something stronger?”

  “Stronger,” replies Beth and Lola.

  “Girl! I just know you and I are going to be close friends,” says Lola loudly, looking at Beth.

  Beth grins up at me, and I shake my head.

  “The women need to leave the room,” orders Kyle.

  “Kyle, I—”

  “Lola, I’m not in the habit of repeating myself.”

  With a scowl, Lola sashays out of the room, attitude and defiance exuding from her. Beth kisses me on the cheek and follows. Cherie whispers something to Mad, and then she too leaves the room.

  Kyle waits until the door is closed, then he pins me with his gaze. “If I hadn’t said kill the Senator, would you have kept your word and done what I asked?”

  My stomach turns to stone.

  Kyle sits back in the chair, still eyeing me with a cold, hard stare.

  I shake my head once and glance at my brothers. Mad’s lips are pursed into a thin line, understanding in his eyes.

  “Kyle—” begins Maddock.

  “No, Mad, you don’t get to save his ass this time. This time he answers for himself,” growls Kyle.

  With a sigh, I look at my brothers one by one, and then I fix my sight on my hands which are clasped in front of me on the table.

  “Growing up, we had an order in our family. Kyle has always been in charge. Maddock’s the smart one. Jamie has always had a green thumb and knows plants better than people. Angus, you’ve always been a loner, and the way you can scour the internet and dig up dirt is nothing short of mind-boggling. Lach, well… you’ve always been popular with the ladies, and it makes sense you’d cash in on your looks. Me? I’ve been the protector. Always. I’d do anything for all of you, and if it means dishing out my own brand of justice, then that’s what I’ll do.” I look up at Kyle. “This isn’t an MC thing. This is all about me as a person. And I’m asking you, brother, to understand. They killed my unit. They tried to kill me. You know I can’t let that shit stand. The man responsible has to pay.”

  Kyle sucks in a breath of air and lets it out slowly. “I get it, I do.”

  “You can’t. You don’t understand. I was in the trenches with these men. They had my back, and I had theirs. To be killed on home soil because we did our jobs ‘cause suddenly we know too much isn’t something I can let go. I love you, Kyle. I love the MC. But if this were us and someone was picking us off one by one, honestly I’d be doing the exact same thing, for the simple reason that it’s the right fucking thing to do.”

  “If I’m allowed to speak?” asks Mad solemnly. Kyle nods. “I’m not in the MC, but I am part of this family. He’s right, Kyle. Sean has always been our protector. Even from you.”

  Kyle looks at him sharply. “And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  Angus shifts uncomfortably in his seat and raps his knuckles on the table once. “You stepped up when Mom and Dad died, but Kyle, as much as we all love you, there are times we need you to ease off. The MC is where you lead, it’s where you’re in charge, but us?” Angus shakes his head. “We are blood family, we aren’t always going to do as we’re told.”

  Kyle goes to speak, and Jamie holds up his hand. “I have no love for the MC, you all know it. But family?” Jamie leans back in his seat. “I’ll do anything for you all, and Sean… he’s always done our dirty work. Don’t think I don’t know it was you who got my permits for me. The permits I worked for months to get, then one day they just all magically came together. The guy fro
m the office even brought them out to me himself.”

  I quirk an eyebrow, look up at him and shrug. “You got those all on your own.”

  “Bullshit!” Jamie turns and stares at Kyle. “It’s the reason he’s not in charge. It’s the reason you are. You guide us, Kyle, but Sean…” his gaze comes back to me, “… Sean protects us. Always has. Always will.”

  The room goes quiet. And as I look around, all of them are nodding, even Kyle.

  “What now?” I ask.

  “Now, Angus is going to contact the press. Leak the information about the illegitimate brother and the relationship between the Senator and the shooter. We are all going to sit back and watch and you…” Kyle points at me. “You’re going to stay close to home. Understood?”

  “Am I still in?”

  “Yes, Sean. You’re still my VP…” Kyle pauses and purses his lips. “And more importantly, you’re family.” I grin as Kyle shakes his head. “You ever disobey an order from me again, and I swear as your President, I’ll beat you myself.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Angus clears his throat and runs a hand through his unruly hair. “I’ll do all that, but there needs to be more.”

  I cock my head and look at my younger brother. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, the Senator needs to pay.”

  Kyle stands. “This meeting is over. Angus, leak the information. The Senator will get what’s coming to him.”

  Angus frowns. “He’ll still be breathing.”

  “Angus, let it go.” Angus slowly drags his gaze from me to look up at Kyle. “Let. It. Go.”

  Angus opens his mouth to speak, but Kyle cuts him off. “Go… do your part.” Kyle looks out through the glass door to the bar area and tilts his head toward the women. “We should get out there before they start plotting world domination.”

  Mad barks out a laugh. “Too late. Let’s see if we can slow them down a bit.”

  The rest of us stand, and I glance at Kyle, who gives me a signal to stay behind. The others filter out as Kyle looks past me through the closed door.

  “I know you’ll take care of the Senator. Do it after the press release.” He flicks his eyes to me. “We both know you were going to do it anyway, at least now I feel like I’m giving you permission instead of you going around me. You can talk to me about these things, you know? I know your moral compass is stronger than mine.”

  “Not true, brother, only different.”

  Kyle walks toward me and slaps my back. “Yeah.” A smile spreads across his face. “You’ve got bigger problems than the senator. My Lola… she likes Beth. Lola doesn’t like anyone.”

  I frown and shake my head. “Were we in the same room? Lola wasn’t exactly nice to Beth.”

  Lola belongs to Kyle and has been since the day she wandered into the compound. Lola never even looked at another member, it’s always been him, and she’s warned every female who came near Kyle to back the fuck off. Together they are a team, a force to be reckoned with. I’ve seen Lola go after a guy with a knife when he shoved Kyle. The woman’s got balls.

  As I watch, Beth reaches out and touches Lola’s arm, and she bursts into laughter. Lola hooks her arm around Beth’s shoulders, slams the bar, and pours them both a shot.

  “Jesus,” I whisper.

  “Yeah. Lola has that effect on me, too.”

  I shake my head and join everyone out in the clubroom.

  Angus looks at me as I pass with that look of knowing on his face.

  My little brother might be a computer nerd, but like me, he has a strong moral compass.

  Senator Lewis Towell

  The whole house is quiet. I’m in my study drinking the last of the good scotch, the one I save for special occasions. My wife is gone and taken my children with her. Today we buried my father—he killed himself when the news broke, the news those bikers leaked so successfully to the press. It’s only a matter of days, maybe even hours, before the authorities begin charging me with everything from illegally smuggling someone into the country to murder for hire.

  Taking a long swig, I swallow the rest of the amber liquid while relishing in the burn. There’s no way out for me. I can’t run, and I sure as hell can’t hide. The press is camped outside following my every movement.

  I’m sitting at my desk, drinking alone and wishing I’d won, but I gambled and lost. It’s been six months of hell, six months of slowly losing everything.

  My father wasted no time checking out, and to the press and my constituents, it only solidified my guilt. Then, my wife packed up and left. Marjorie waited until the day after his funeral when I was out attending to his wishes regarding his will. That morning my darling wife kissed me goodbye and gave me no indication she was leaving. Like a true politician’s wife, she made a brief statement to the press with our children either side of her and then left for The Hamptons.

  Today my lawyer told me I needed to prepare for the worst. I’m not sure how much worse it can get.

  Dead father.

  No wife.

  No kids.

  No political career.

  And a life behind bars.

  I guess it could be worse—I could be dead.

  Although, right now, I feel like the walking dead.

  Leaning back in my chair, I look at all the accolades on the walls and smile. All the things I did to keep my political career on the upward swing as I swung for the brass ring. The presidency.

  That’s all nothing but a pipe dream now.

  As I reach for another bottle of scotch, the lights go off.

  “Fuck,” I mutter to myself then louder, “Great!”

  Getting to my feet, I stumble around my desk and out into the hall. Groping the walls, I make my way to the back of the house. There are flashlights in one of the kitchen drawers, so I stagger into the kitchen island and groan.

  “You’re not looking so good, Senator.”

  My stomach drops as I frantically search the darkness for the voice and the man it belongs to.

  “MacKenny?” I croak out.

  A light is shined on my face, and it instantly blinds me.

  “Good guess.”

  And as quickly as it came on, it’s gone.

  “Let’s make a deal?”

  “Too late.”

  I whirl around, knocking over one of the island stools. “I have money.”

  “I don’t need it.”

  This time his voice sounds like it’s coming from behind me, I move away from it and trip over the stool.

  “Careful, Senator, you don’t want to hurt yourself.”

  On all fours, I crawl away from him. Sean MacKenny managed to thwart all my plans and has destroyed my life.

  I crawl headfirst into the wall. “Fuck it!” Sitting on my ass, I push myself up the wall until on shaky legs I’m standing. The room’s dark, but I think I can make out a shape five feet in front of me.

  “What d-do you want?”

  I hear an intake of breath, then a chuckle. “For my friends to still be alive.”

  Shaking my head, I stammer out, “I-I can’t d-do that.”

  “Why did you do it?”

  Now, it’s my turn to laugh mirthlessly. “For power, for position, but you took it all away. You destroyed everything.”

  The shape moves toward me, and I turn and run for my office. His footsteps are right behind me as I crash through the doorway and trip over my own feet where I am sprawled out on the floor, so I crawl quickly as I can toward my desk. I have a gun in the top left-hand drawer. If I can get to it, I might have a fighting chance and survive this attack.

  I hear a grunt, and then the wind is knocked out of me as I’m kicked. Rolling over, I try to draw breath into my lungs, but I’ve never been struck so hard, and the shock of it stuns me.

  “Where are you going, Senator? Do you think you can get away?”

  MacKenny’s voice is devoid of emotion. He means to kill me, and maybe I deserve it, but surely, I’ve suffered enough?

 
; I’ve lost everything.

  Everything.

  The bastard shines a flashlight in my eyes.

  “There’s nowhere to go, Senator.”

  The way he says ‘senator’ grates on my very last nerve. I’ll never be that again.

  The flashlight turns off, and I’m momentarily blinded, so I blink a few times. Sucking in air, I get to my feet, my side aches, but I don’t think I’ve sustained any permanent damage. Feeling for the edge of my desk, I slowly inch my way around it. The gun is foremost in my mind, but if I can put some distance between myself and this Marine-come-biker, I’ll feel safer.

  “Nowhere to run to, Senator.”

  Creeping backward, I finally reach the other side of my desk, and quickly open the drawer to pull out my gun.

  “Not so smart now, are you?” I yell into the darkness.

  Laughter greets me, and I fire in its direction. The sound seems strangely loud in the blackness of my study. There’s no noise save for my labored breathing and the ringing in my ears. Tentatively, I take a step toward my attacker, then another. I’m desperately trying to listen for something, so I might finish off his worthless life before I’m sent to prison.

  Nothing.

  “MacKenny?”

  There’s not a rustle, or scrape of a boot, or even the sound of breathing.

  I must have shot him.

  Dead!

  Grinning to myself, I tread more purposefully into the room, almost giddy with relief.

  Something strikes my shins, and I trip.

  The gun goes under me, and my finger accidentally squeezes the trigger.

  Pain shoots through my chest as I fall face-first onto the cream carpet.

  Sean

  I’m crouched low in the room when the second shot goes off. I wait a full minute listening to the Senator’s labored breathing. It sounds like he’s drowning. Turning on the flashlight, I find him crumpled on the floor as the carpet around him turns from cream to crimson. I need to know for sure, so I shine the light into his lifeless eyes.

  “Fuck me,” I whisper.

  The stupid bastard killed himself.

  Kyle told me to make it look like an accident, and I guess this fits the bill. Smiling down at the man who destroyed so many lives, I shake my head and backtrack out of his house. My bike is parked a short distance away. Scaling the fence at the back of the property, I double-time it back to my ride, start it, and ride off leaving the bastard and everything he did behind me. I’m only hoping Beth can do that too.