Policy of Truth (Sacred Heart Continuum Series Book 1)

by Scarlett Holloway

  Xander was quick to deflect the oncoming attack, through the cracking sound of wood against his arm made everyone in the room cringe.

  Durty shot up to her feet as Viper yelled in aggravation, lunging toward Xander, who tried to recover from the blitz attack. Problem was, Viper now had weapons—the legs of the chair, one in each hand.

  Parrying the onslaught by Viper, Durty watched in fascination as Xander retreated from the physical blows Viper dished out.

  What was an obvious act of self-preservation, Xander picked up a bar stool and threw it at Viper, who cried out as it glanced off her shoulder. A table was next, quickly scooped up and used as a shield as Viper swung out her leg to try and land a kick.

  “Enough!” Lace stood up, walking past Durty, toward the two. “The next item broken will be taken out of your paycheck.”

  Durty smirked, crossing her arms, glancing between the two now worn out warriors. She was shocked Xander could hold his own with Viper, and her friend’s facial expression gave away the anger rolling through her.

  Sighing, she spared a quick look to Lace before she spoke to Xander. “How soon can you start?”

  Chapter 7

  Eye of the Tiger

  Sting watched the spar unfold from the entrance of the Domino, specifically paying special attention to Viper’s tells and how she moved. He was the last interview of the day, and planned it that way on purpose. He knew the Angels by reputation and Steel guessed right. The interview was to kick the ass of their Sergeant-at-Arms.

  Steel had seen the ad in the Shadow Falls Gazette, and brought it to Sting’s attention. “Butcher and I think it’s best if you apply.”

  “That’ll be easy.”

  Steel laughed and shook his head. “Not as easy as you think. If I know Tilly, she’ll have it where you have to spar with Viper and kick her ass.”

  “I’m not hitting a woman, Steel.” Sting had never raised a hand toward a woman and he wasn’t going to start now.

  “Viper has a bigger set of fucking balls than you or I combined. Don’t look at her like a woman when you go in. Look at her like a kid brother who’s annoying the fuck out of you. You don’t necessarily have to hit her.”

  Sting hadn’t liked the idea much, but after watching her down a few of the men who interviewed, she was being over confident, which was how the kid managed to do so. Xander used the classic wrestling moves and defensive maneuvering they taught in the army, along with a style Sting had only seen used back East.

  Steel had told him Viper had military training, so using tactical holds and grips were out of the question. She’d know how to get out of them. Maybe a good old-fashioned mud stomping was needed.

  By the looks of how she was fighting, he’d been right.

  Stepping out of the shadows of the entry way, he made his way toward Durty, Viper, and the new kid. “My turn.”

  Durty looked up in surprise, and then turned five shades of red as Viper snickered, sitting next to her.

  She looked rather adorable in those shades of red. It complimented the red in her hair and brought out her brown eyes even more. Even her button nose was glowing as she tried to hide her face from view.

  It urged him to make her blush even more.

  “Durty…Durty, I got your number. I need to make you mine. Durty, Durty don’t change your number. Eight, six, seven, five, three-oh-nine, eight, six, seven, five, three-oh-nine…” Sting sang as he crossed his arms over his chest, his perfectly arched brow rose up even more as he stared directly at her.

  “Fuck me running,” Durty groaned, tossing her pen to the table top as Viper clapped while laughing.

  “I’d rather fuck you lying down—you know, or backed up against a wall—but I’ll give it a try, as long as I get an A for effort.” Sting bantered, not letting up on her.

  “Look, I’m sorry─”

  Sting cut her off with a wave of his hand. “I’m here for the job interview. We can discuss positions another time.” He wanted to make sure Lace heard him, separating business from pleasure, so she knew he was the serious type. That didn’t stop him from giving her a solicitous wink though.

  “By all means.” Durty swept her hand toward the mat, looking a bit disappointed at his quick end to the conversation.

  “I don’t want to mess up his pretty face, Durty.” Viper pouted slightly as she walked toward the mat.

  Sting was very aware that all eyes were on him, waiting to see if he could hold his own against the venomous woman who’d earned her name rightfully. Guess it was time to put up or shut up. He wasn’t expecting the other women to interfere though, which was his bad.

  His attention was turned to Lace when he heard the classic bass riff from “Eye of the Tiger” filtering out of the speakers. “Really,” he asked in disbelief.

  Mistake number one—he took his eyes away from the poisonous bitch.

  His head snapped to the side as his jaw was nearly dislocated by the perfectly delivered punch from Viper. Lifting his hand to his chin, he moved his jaw back and forth, seeing if it was all right. Nodding to himself, he let go of a long breath that was pent up. He really didn’t want to hit her.

  None of the men who’d interviewed hit Viper, except the kid who just got hired. She’d never given them the chance. Soft laughter erupted past his lips as he shook a finger toward Lace. “That was cold, Lace. Good one, but cold.”

  Viper swung again, but Sting was ready this time, leaning his torso back enough for her to miss, which she wasn’t expecting, her momentum forcing her to stumble into him.

  Point in his favor.

  Grabbing her right wrist with his left hand, he rotated his outward while stepping into her, jerking down on her captured arm.

  He should’ve known she’d go for the nuts.

  When Viper sank to her knees, she uppercut his sac, sending his nuts up through his body. Her left arm was just as strong as her right.

  Managing to not cry out in pain, reaction took over.

  Sting felt her lip split when the back of his hand cracked across her cheek, snapping her head aside, splattering blood to the mat. Sting froze where he was, no one moving, or breathing for that matter, as they waited for Viper to react.

  She was on her hands and knees, her red hair hiding her face from view. Viper pushed up, spitting out blood as she stood. Both hands lashed out and grabbed his face, her fingers digging into the back of his skull.

  Here came the boom.

  Okay, maybe not.

  Instead of the head-butt that he was expecting, he got a blood-lipstick kiss, fully planted on his mouth.

  Distracted by the spitting and trying to wipe the blood off his lips, his attention was taken away from Viper and another attack. Before he knew it, Sting was reeling backwards from her fingers that were acting like claws and trying to gouge out his eyes.

  Sting sank to his knees, his own hands covering his face from their view. Women tended to play games, so why couldn’t he?

  “Did you blind him?” Durty’s voice rang out.

  Spreading his fingers just enough to see Viper’s feet, he waited until she took a couple of steps away from him, her attention on Durty.

  “I don’t know.”

  Jerking up, Sting swung his arms around Viper from behind, placing her into a rear bear hug, squeezing his arms as tight as he could around her body. Her cry of surprise was ignored, as well as her thrashing legs, while he backed up to the entrance door. Pushing it open with his foot, he tossed Viper outside, as gently as he could.

  “What?” He laughed at Viper as she stared up at him in total disbelief, her hands now on her hips.

  Viper caught his wrist and drug his wounded ass over to the table. “Dude, he is so fucking hired. This man here,” she slapped him on the chest, then flexed his arm for him, obvious excitement plastered across her features, “is not a pussy! You have my permission to screw his brains out, Durty. He’s a keeper.”

  Lace wandered o
ver, leaning against one of the columns, her eyes bouncing between them all. “We don’t need two bouncers.”

  Durty bit her lip, looking to the others then back to Lace. “I don’t see why not. They can alternate days they work, and we need extra muscle on fight nights.”

  “Seriously, Lace. This dude isn’t afraid to smack a bitch—if required, that is.” She quickly held up her palm in Sting’s face, silencing him before he could speak. “I know you didn’t want to hit me. I’m not stupid. I played dirty and went ghetto on your ass to see what you’d do, and you showed us what you got.”

  Sting wiped his mouth free of the blood with the back of his hand, looking around for a rag. “I’m sure my balls won’t be thanking you any time soon.”

  “No worries, Durty can kiss them better.”

  “Viper!” Durty exclaimed, her cheeks flushed once more.

  Sting stuck out his hand toward Lace. “Brett Jackson at your service.”

  Lace looked to his hand, then met his eyes, hers turning stone cold, as if she flipped a light switch on the emotional wall. Her voice lowered as she pushed away from the column, taking his hand. “Chantilly Beck, Lace to everyone but a select few. You fuck up, and you’ll rue the day you ever took this job.”

  Sting had a feeling she kept her word, no matter what. Lace was going to be one female he didn’t want to piss off. He might wake up with his dick glued to his thigh, or maybe in a blender. “I’ll do my best, Lace.”

  “That’s all I can ask for.”

  Letting go of her hand, he watched the Amazonian walk away from him, disappearing into the back. Turning to the other three, he hiked his thumb over his shoulder, ready to quiz them about her.

  Durty shook her head. “Don’t bother. She’s protective over us. A mamma bear is all.”

  ****

  Back at the Roja’s clubhouse, Sting recanted the events to Steel and Butcher, who laughed their asses off at him getting taken down by Viper.

  “I tried to warn you.”

  Sting rolled his eyes, reaching down to gingerly cup his sac, which still hurt. “It’s not that funny. Though I wanted to dance around like Rocky when she played that damn song.”

  “Sounds like something Lace would pull.” Butcher snickered with a slight shake of his head.

  “I’ll be lucky if my fucking dick ever works again,” Sting grumbled, debating on getting an ice pack. He prayed they didn’t get twisted in the exchange of blows. He particularly didn’t want elephant balls because they couldn’t get enough blood to them.

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine. What exactly will you be doing?” Steel settled back into his recliner, kicking his feet up.

  “Me and this kid, Xander, will be alternating some days at the door. We’ll be paired up on fight nights though. They want extra security for then. Durty-T says it can get pretty wild and some guys need to be manhandled.”

  “Durty-T?” Steel’s brows shot up in confusion.

  “A nickname I gave their Road Captain.”

  Well, shit on a stick. He’d let that one slip.

  He hadn’t meant to, but it’s how he thought of her now. Her and her cute, tiny, plump lips, her bottomless brown eyes, and her tight and well-rounded ass.

  “I know who she is,” Steel snapped at him, slamming down the foot rest of the chair, leaning forward enough to get his point across. “You’re there to make sure the Warriors don’t hurt them. You’re not there to get nice and cozy with the women and get your dick wet. Got it?”

  “Yeah.” Sting lifted his hands in defense. “I got it.”

  “Good.” Steel nodded, leaning back once more in his chair. “Shit can go very wrong if you shit where you eat, Sting. You have to be able to walk away if something goes south, they become a weakness and we can’t afford to allow that to happen. Now, we need a game plan.”

  Chapter 8

  Another Brick in the Wall

  “He wants to get dirty with Durty.”

  “Oh geez, really, Viper?” Durty groaned as she walked into the bar area where the twins and Jenny sat.

  “What?” Viper batted her lashes innocently as she pushed herself up to sit on the bar top, swinging her booted feet back and forth.

  “Yes, he’s hot. I get that, but when do I have time?” Durty brushed off the fact she found Sting extremely good looking and yeah, she’d do him. She wasn’t brought up that way though. She respected herself too much.

  “Nothing wrong with getting you some, Durty. You’re acting so prim and proper. Seriously though. When was the last time you got laid?”

  Durty bit her bottom lip with a one shoulder shrug. “I don’t remember.”

  Sure, she did. She remembered as if it were yesterday. It was the last time she ever let her husband touch her. He got off, she didn’t, and she was dumb and opened her mouth about it. He used her as a punching bag, and then did things to her in ways that should never be done to a woman. She smarted off and asked him if he liked little boys. The rest was history.

  Stiletto snorted, “Let him knock the sand out of it then.”

  “Oh my God, you two are horrible.” Durty rolled her eyes, waving them off, directing her comment to Jenny. “Don’t listen to these two. They’ll get you in trouble.”

  “It’s not the fucking eighties any more, Durty. The sexual revolution is passed and there’s nothing wrong with a woman getting a piece of ass when she wants it,” Viper stated in a matter of fact tone, blatantly looking at Durty.

  “Neither of you must be getting any either, if you’re telling me to break a piece off. By the way you were looking at Xander, I’d say you’ve thought about it, Viper.” Durty hoped to shut them up about her non-existent sex life.

  Stiletto’s brows shot up as she cocked her head, looking toward Viper. “Did I miss something?”

  Viper rolled her dual colored eyes, her ponytail swinging with the motion of her shaking head. “No, you’re not. He looks really familiar. I’ve seen him before. Just can’t place where.”

  Sex life averted. Subject change to… Jenny!

  “You’re looking much better, Jenny.” Durty saddled up to the bar, right after she poured herself a cup of coffee. It was Friday and it was going to be a long ass day.

  “I feel better. Still a bit jumpy.”

  Durty knew exactly how she felt. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Wondering if she’d be found, and what exactly he would once he did. “That goes away after time. I promise.”

  “Hang around long enough, and you’ll be kicking his ass sooner than you think.” Stiletto gave a nod, rocking back in her chair.

  “I highly doubt that,” Jenny snorted with a shake of her head. “I don’t know how to fight, for one. For two, he’s got too many people on his side. They’d kill me.”

  Durty frowned, patting the top of Jenny’s hand. “Being a part of the Angels means you learn how to fight, to protect yourself. Lace requires it. We have great teachers.” She lifted her eyes up to Viper and Stiletto. “Viper teaches self-defense and how to shoot, and Stiletto teaches you how to use knives.”

  “A man touches you again like that, you’ll know how to Lorena Bobbit his ass.” Stiletto ran her thumb across the base of her throat, making a cutting sound.

  “What else is involved?” Jenny looked between the girls. “I mean, I’ve been an ol’lady, but aren’t women’s clubs run differently?”

  “No, not really. Yeah, we’re still patch-holders, but if we’re out somewhere, we don’t bust up in a man’s circle, acting like our dicks are just as big.” Viper laid back on the bar, grabbing out two bottles of root beer, handing one off to her sister.

  “We wouldn’t want them doing that to us. It’s mutual respect. Real good way on making me or Viper beat the shit out of you.” Stiletto uplifted her chin toward her sister, accepting the bottle.

  “So, it’s like when the guys get their eye dotted?” Jenny looked between them, confusion plain as day.

&nb
sp; “Basically. Yes.” Durty nodded, taking a drink out of her mug. “You have to do something pretty severe to get your ass kicked here. We’ll pull rockers and bust your ass back to Prospect, most of the time.” Tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, she continued. “We’re women that have been through hell and back. We’ve been beaten, we’ve OD’d, and there are a few who’ve been raped. Corporal punishment is the last resort. This is supposed to be a structured, safe haven for us. A place to be at home and have sisters to comfort or help us through shit. It’s a family who sticks together and loves one another, no matter what our faults are.

  “We’re also a support group for those women who can’t reach out or are scared too. We raise money to give to the safe houses that harbor runaway abused women and their children. We help relocate them. We also volunteer to man their hotlines now and again. Every Angel had some form of PTSD, whether from being abused, raped, or being in the military. We talk you through those attacks, ‘cause we sure as hell have them.”

  Jenny blinked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Wow, I—I didn’t realize.”

  Viper half scoffed, tilting the neck of her bottle toward Jenny. “Most don’t. Sure, we’re not taking shit from any man ever again. I’ll sure as fuck knock a man into next week if he ever tries to lay a hand on me. And, if he beats the shit out of me still? Well, he’ll at least know I was there when he’s in pain the next morning.”

  “Here, here!” Stiletto knocked her bottle into her sister’s.

  “Why did you guys join her?” Jenny asked.

  Durty sighed and took a drink of her coffee. “My ex liked to use me as his personal punching bag and sex slave. Lace saved me from it.”

  Stiletto formed duck lips as she avoided meeting anyone’s eyes. “Let’s just say I had a hard time facing reality in some instances.” She adjusted uncomfortably in her seat.