Twisted Steel: An MC Romance Anthology

by Knox, Elizabeth

  “I guess you do know what the fuck you are in for.” He shrugged and looked out toward the field. “So what is this favor you need to ask?”

  Finally, he was accepting that this was going to happen. Well, it would happen if he agreed to help us. “Well, we want to get this club up and running sooner rather than later and I don’t think you want us to create a whole new club on your property.”

  “Fuck no. You shouldn’t even be in our clubhouse right now.”

  “I hope you don’t think of me as a threat of any kind.” I wanted to be a friend to these people. In fact, I was sure that I needed to be.

  “I don’t know you well enough to consider you anything.”

  “Fair enough. I’ll cut straight to the chase. I want Wings of Diablo to invest in our club. Give us the startup money, so to say, we will pay it back, and you still will have an ally and a favor in your pocket.”

  “What the fuck can you offer me? What do I need with a baby MC club as my ally?” He turned back toward me.

  “We may be small now, but I promise you there will be more. Our numbers will grow. You really want to be on the bad side of a crew of women who are either bitter, crazed, or just incredibly determined? You never heard the saying about a woman scorned, have you?” I laughed a little bit.

  “What the hell, I didn’t scorn them!” Wire looked a bit worried.

  “No, but to a victim, even if it’s only for a little while, every man is at fault.”

  He nodded his head slowly. “Yeah, okay, I hear you. I look out for my community and unfortunately, I do know about the influx of either trafficked women, addicts, or violence victims. I do what I can to help, but not everyone wants to strip. If you are offering another way, I will help. I’ll donate five hundred thousand dollars cash. You don’t need to pay it back, but you will owe us a favor and when I call, you get your girls’ asses on those bikes and get the fuck over here. You down with that?”

  My bottom jaw must have been on the floor. Did he just say five hundred thousand? As in half a million dollars?

  “Wire, that is a lot of fucking money.”

  He just smirked. “Starting an MC is a lot of fucking work, and you are absolutely right, the last thing we need is a bunch of women gunning for us. I think that might be my worst fucking nightmare.” He shuddered. “Use the money to get you a nice space. It won’t be the best, but it will get you started. Buy your girls the bikes they need and make sure you find a way to protect yourselves. I won’t have my club at your beck and call, but if you do find yourselves in a situation you can’t figure out, I’ll do what I can.”

  I had to laugh. It seemed like this shit was really going down. “Hell, I am no dummy. Yeah, I am good with that.” I put my hand out for him to shake.

  I walked out of there with my head held high. Day one as president was going better than I could have ever imagined.

  6

  It took us all of three months to find a great place that could serve as our clubhouse as well as a temporary shelter for anyone who was the victim of violence. It was actually pretty deep in the back country, a two-story cabin with an extra-large closed-door den that we would use as our church area.

  There were twenty acres on either side of the thick wooded area. We would cut down a few of the trees, but all the trees provided added security. We could set up a shooting range, have a hideout, even make a small track if we wanted to start teaching folks how to ride bikes. All the possibilities were exciting.

  I walked into the new clubhouse. Furniture was still being delivered and moved around the main area.

  “Vexx, we’ve been trying to reach you.”

  I walked further in and saw a woman sitting on the floor near Tati and Remy. “Who the hell is that? You know the rules. No one in the clubhouse.”

  “Unless it’s an emergency,” Riot replied.

  I looked back over to the woman and I could tell for sure it was an emergency— the woman was bruised up with no shoes on, her nose was bloody, and from the looks of it, there were chunks of her hair pulled out.

  “Fuck, what happened?”

  “She was running through the goddamn woods. We caught her just on the other side of the property. I think her boyfriend did that to her. I haven’t been able to get the whole story, but Tati and Remy have been trying to get her to calm down and see if we need to take her in town to the hospital.”

  I moved past Riot and walked closer to the woman. “Hey, you good?”

  “Does it look like I’m bloody good?” A distinct English accent floated up from the woman.

  “Watch how you fucking talk to me. I am the one who is going to either help you or send you on your fucking way.” I stood up straight, looking down on the woman. The last thing I was going to allow was anyone disrespecting me, especially in front of my girls.

  “What should I address you as, your highness?”

  “You got all this mouth now, so tell me, where was all this fight when you were getting beat to shit by your boyfriend?” I snarled at her.

  She jumped up from where she was sitting right into my face, Riot was on my hip and Tati and Remy had already closed in the second she did. My girls had my back no matter what.

  “He wasn’t supposed to! He promised! He said . . . he wasn’t supposed to!” The woman’s face crumpled in tears. It was obvious whatever happened between her and her boyfriend was still fresh. I could understand the feelings of betrayal and disbelief. You don’t expect the man you love to hurt you.

  I put an arm around her neck and pulled her into me as she broke down sobbing, “Listen, we are here to help. It’s just we are a bit unconventional, so we have to know your deal. We will help you if we can, but you have to let us.”

  She explained her entire story down to the part where she hit him with a bottle, but instead of him being dead, he chased her down in his truck, shooting at her. She was certain if he saw her again, he would kill her on sight. According to her, she walked in on him killing another woman. He thinks she will snitch, so he has to kill her.

  “Do you want to go to the cops? Tell them what you saw?” Remy asked from the side.

  “No, I can’t. When Tommy and I started dating, I was in some really heavy shit. I broke some laws and I’m still on bloody probation. I can’t go back to jail. I’d rather him just shoot me.” She let out a sigh and sat back down. “He is the same way, which is why I know he will kill me if it means him going back to jail. He will kill me in a second.”

  I looked out the window. We had a few things, but the clubhouse was nowhere near secure enough for this.

  “Remy, Tati, you get Duchess here up to one of the rooms and let her get settled in. Riot, you stay down here with me. We have to come up with a plan.”

  Riot nodded and the other girls helped the woman to her feet. “My name is Marie, by the way, but I could get used to being called Duchess.” She gave a soft smile and then let the women lead her upstairs.

  “So you want to just go take him out?” Riot asked.

  “No, but today was her last day as his victim. If he shows up, we will handle him.”

  * * *

  Marie’s boyfriend didn’t show up that day or any of the days after that. We were still looking for him, but Marie seemed to fall right in line with us. “So how do I get one of those beasts I see you ladies riding?”

  I took a sip of coffee. “You even know how to ride?”

  “No,” she took a sip of her tea, “but I could learn. You think they can paint one in pink? Some sparkles maybe?”

  “What the fuck?” Tati laughed.

  “Oh yeah, Duchess fits you well.” Riot laughed as she poured herself another cup of coffee.

  “Let me get out of here and get some more supplies. I’ll place an order so they can deliver it up here.”

  “Oh, see if they have any Cadbury candy,” Duchess asked excitedly.

  “What the hell? You mean, like the eggs? Isn’t that shit only around for Easter?” I asked, looking at her like
she was crazy.

  “What, really? You don’t have that all year?”

  We all laughed and I walked out. The girl was so oblivious, but she was a fighter, just like the rest of us.

  7

  I rode to the store, the wind in my hair, the bike growling between my legs. This was heaven. It was heaven . . . until hell strolled right past me.

  I had to do a double take, and in that moment, the bike slid out from under me. Luckily, I wasn’t going fast. I slid for just a second before stopping.

  “Look at this stupid bitch. Leave the bikes to the big boys, honey,” Paul slurred out from behind me, his work buddies cackling and stumbling right along with him.

  “You good?” One of them had the nerve to call out to me.

  Paul didn’t know it was me. I kept my head down so he wouldn’t see me. I waited until he was far enough away from me before I ran over to my bike and got it set up. I got on the bike, my hands trembling so hard I couldn’t even turn the throttle. I tried again, but now the tears were clouding my vision.

  “Come on, come on!” I beat on the bike, getting angry at it for not doing what I wanted it to do fast enough.

  I looked back to where I saw Paul walking into the store with his buddies. He was laughing and chatting it up and here I was crying my eyes out. The only emotion I was able to identify was fear. I had done so much for the girls, setting up the club, fought when I needed to, and this man who I thought I was over still had this much control over my life.

  Fuck that.

  I pushed my bike over to a spot behind the trees where I was sure no one would find it. I pulled out my phone and put in a call to Riot.

  “Vexx, wah gwan?” Riot laughed into the phone. “Did they have those Cadbury egg shits? Now I want one.”

  “Riot, shit is going down. I need you to set up the shed in the back and get the girls upstairs in the room.” I let out another breath, the tremor in my body slowing down. I was in charge. I was the one with the power. “Get that compound that Maven gave us, the tetrodotoxin. And I am going to need some knives and rope. I’m going to be out back for a while.”

  “Shit, you need backup?”

  “No, I need vengeance and I am about to get it.”

  There was silence on the phone. “I’ll leave the gun under the red can. Get off two shots and we will come running. Do what you gotta do, Vexx. I’ll set it up.”

  I flipped out my hair and wiped off any dirt I could before I put on my best fuck me face and walked into the store.

  I watched as Paul and one of his friends bent down to get another beer out of the fridge.

  “Paul, baby, is that you?” I said, sex dripping off my words.

  His head popped up at the sound of my voice. I saw the anger, but I didn’t let that affect me. “Oh my God, Paul, where have you been? I missed you so much!” I rushed to him and wrapped him in my arms. I made a show of rubbing his arms. “You don’t know how hard I’ve had it without my big, strong man.” The lust was now overtaking his anger.

  “Looks like that little lady of yours could use some attention, Paul,” the man at his side said, taking his time to look me up and down.

  “Yeah, looks that way.” He stared at me for a second before he grabbed my hand and we made our way outside.

  “Where the fuck you been, girl?” he asked, dragging me down the road to where he had his new car parked.

  “Oh, Paul, I was so wrong, I’m sorry.” I wished I had an ice pick so I could stab him right through the eye. He disgusted me. I would play along to get him where I wanted him to be, then I would take him out and no one would control me like he did ever again.

  “Come back to my place with me. I want to get my stuff so I can come home. Please, baby?”

  “I should leave your ass on the street. You’re nothing but a waste of space. I can do so much better than you. It’s fucking pitiful.” He got to the car and got in his seat, not even bothering to open the door for me.

  “I know, babe. I’ll be better.” I got in the passenger seat and watched as he turned the car on and pulled onto the dirt road.

  “Where the fuck am I going? You better hurry the hell up with this bullshit.”

  “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll make sure it’ll be worth your time.” I smiled at him. He would get what he deserved and I couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  “What the fuck is this shit?” Paul asked as he looked around the dirty shed. Riot had set up the shed exactly how I asked and I saw the chemical in a syringe on top of the red barrel. I walked over slowly and picked it up while Paul bitched about where he was.

  “I thought you said you were going to get your shit.”

  “I just wanted to do something first. I missed you so much.”

  He smiled and tried to saunter toward me, but it was more of a stumble. He was still pretty wasted. “Yeah, you know you can’t get enough of this stallion.”

  I put my head down and rolled my eyes. I couldn’t respond, but there was no way I could smile at that one. I let him get close to me, the disgusting smell of sweat and cheap alcohol seeping from his skin. He reached up to my hair and pulled my head back. I slipped my hands around his neck, making sure to keep the needle out of his sight. Just as he was about to kiss me, I injected him.

  “What the fuck was that?” He stumbled back a bit, using his hand to wipe his neck. “What did you just stick me with?”

  “You know, Paul, I thought I would never escape you. I thought you would be the end of my life. I worried that every breath I took would be the one to piss you off enough to kill me. Do you know what it is to live with that kind of fear?”

  “What the fuugh?” I watched as his face began to droop and his hands flopped down to his sides. “Fuc—” His speech was slurring badly and I knew the drug was working.

  “Don’t worry, I am going to let you know what living with that kind of fear is. Actually, more like dying.”

  I watched as he fainted and fell down to the ground. I had to work quickly— I didn’t know how long this stuff Maven gave us would last and I didn’t want him to wake back up with his full strength and kick my ass.

  There was a small table that I was able to pull him up on with a bit of effort. I tied him down, making sure to triple up on the restraints. I didn’t want to take any chances.

  I tied down his arms to the side and legs spread out, then I cut off his clothes, leaving him stark naked in front of me. I looked up to his face and could see his eyes were moving around.

  “Oh, look who’s awake.” I had no idea how long he was awake, but he didn’t move as I tied him up. He didn’t even open his mouth. Maven told us the tetrodotoxin was a powerful paralytic, but I would have never guessed it would work this good.

  If looks could kill is the perfect way to describe how Paul looked at the moment. He was staring daggers at me, the mental curses shooting from his eyeballs. It wasn’t until I showed him the knife that the look of anger melted into a look of fear.

  “I told you that you would know what fear felt like, to be helpless and just wait for your death. You’re going to die today, Paul. Not quickly. Not peacefully. I am going to make you feel a fraction of how you made me feel.

  I put down the knife that I originally picked up. It was too sharp, so it would be too quick. I reached back over and picked up the serrated hunting knife we had. It was dull, but the serrations still had some bite to them. I showed him this knife and trailed the tip of it over his chest. He screamed in his throat, but the sound never left his mouth. The tears were already falling unchecked down his face. I could see the muscles twitching in his body, but he didn’t move an inch. He must have really been trying to break through the effects of the drug. “Did you really think you were going to be able to get away with everything you had done to me with no punishment? Did you really think I would never fight back?” I trailed the knife down to his flaccid cock and balls and let it settle right there. “You should have never laid a hand on me.”

  I tu
rned the knife sideways, the serrated part heavy on his balls, and I began to saw away, the blood and muscle fibers caking up in the deep edges, the muffled screams and gurgles coming from Paul echoing in the shed, his body practically seizing in pain. It took a long while and it was a mess, but I was giddy with satisfaction at the end result. I picked up the small flesh bag, the two globes that were his balls floating in a pool of blood and bodily fluid. I held them up to eye level, twirling the little pouch around, quite tickled to see that I quite literally had his balls in my hand. It was only the gagging noises that stopped me from admiring my work. At some point, the ball-less prick threw up from the pain and was now suffocating on his own vomit.

  “No, no, no.” I ran over to him and gently placed the sack in the middle of his chest. “You don’t get to clock out early.” I turned his head and let the vomit drain out of his mouth. Once he got in a few good breaths, I turned his head back toward the front. He stared at his own balls on his chest and wailed some more, his eyes not able to close so he had no choice but to stare at what I had done. I felt something brush against my leg, and when I looked down, I could see his fingers were starting to move. The drug was wearing off. Time to end the game.

  I picked up his scrotum from his chest and placed it on the side table. There was a plethora of knives and metal equipment around the shed, but I went for the bat. I wouldn’t be able to beat him to death with my bare hands, but a bat would do the trick.

  I grabbed a stool and the bat, placed the stool near his side, stood on it, and brought the bat over my head, swinging it down onto his midsection with all my might. He grunted and I swung again. Over and over.