A Rebel Love (Black Rebel Riders' MC Book 7)

by Glenna Maynard

  Grunts of disapproval ring out through the room.

  Grim’s eyes narrow in on Romeo, like heat seeking missiles. “What do you have to say for yeself deserter?”

  The room falls silent, with all eyes and ears waiting for Romeo to speak.

  “I don’t know shit all about no damn Militia. Sunshine married a piece of shit farmer, Paul Craven. He beat on her and she called me. I went after her and we left for California and never looked back.”

  “He beat on her and ye just let him walk on about his merry way did ye?” Grim is just waiting to fuck Romeo up.

  “I had my kids with me and getting her away from him was more pressing than murder,” Romeo argues.

  Grim mulls over his story. “I’m sick of waiting for these bastards to make a move. I say we suit up, ride out, and bring these fuckers down.”

  Romeo speaks once more. “Do you know anything on a Patrick Hanes? He’s Sunshine’s kid.”

  I answer this question. “He goes by the name Mute. That bastard Paul cut his tongue out when you took Sunshine.”

  “If the boy surrenders and comes without trouble, we spare him. If not, then it can’t be helped. I owe Sunshine that much,” Grim says.

  “Those in favor of putting these fuckers to ground and being rid of the vermin say aye. Those opposed you have the floor.”

  No one contests. The floor is open to regular business and it’s time for my announcement. “I’ve decided to put my claim on Amy. After this shit is handled, she’ll have my brand.”

  Rounds of congratulations are spoken. No one else has anything to add and the meeting is drawing to a close when Tread speaks up. “I need permission to ride down to Florida. Liberty showed up today with my son. She married a bastard who thought it was okay to put his hands on what’s mine. The coward needs to pay.”

  “You have my permission to take Kurt with you and handle yours after this shit with the White Militia is put to bed. One more thing, Romeo, what ye have to say for yeself? You are a traitor to ye club and ye brothers. I’ll allow you to ride with us tonight, but you broke your vows to me and our brotherhood. Time to pay the reaper.”

  Romeo stands up, loud and proud. “I gave most of my life to this club, and to having your back brother. I’ve made mistakes and I’ve not asked much of ye in return. I only ask what would you have done in my place? Put my boots on and try them on for size before ye judge me.”

  “We’ll vote on your fate come next choir, if ye survive tonight.” Grim bangs his gavel down loudly.

  We all break from the table to get our shit together. It’s going to be a long night.

  Chapter 19

  Kurt

  Sitting upstairs during choir fucking blows. I know I have to earn my stripes, but damn. They let that cocksucker Romeo sit in and he fucking deserted the club. I’m up here babysitting the pussy, while everyone else is in on the action. If I have to hear Lulu talk about the difference in shaving and waxing her used up cunt one more minute, I’m going to shove my cock down her throat just to shut the whore up.

  Finally, footsteps sound on the basement stairs. Choir has ended and Tread is headed in my direction.

  “What’s up man?”

  “Got a job for ye and if you do well it will get ye closer to your patch.” I nod, I’m so ready. “Need you to head to this address and check in on Christa, don’t let her out of your sight. One more thing—track down the kid brother.” He hands me a slip of paper with directions. “I tried calling but no one is answering, I don’t know where else she could be. She isn’t working tonight.”

  “I’m on it. I’ll find her.”

  As I head out on my bike, the rest of the crew is loading up in the vans. I wish I was going on this job with them, but at least this Christa bitch is pretty.

  The full moon is shining bright, and the night air is crisp. Cool air blows over me, chilling me to the bone. Something about this night feels off the closer I get to my turnoff.

  I nearly miss Christa’s driveway as the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach intensifies. The front door is open, and light is spilling onto the gravel road as I drive straight up to the porch.

  When I shut my bike off I hear her scream. I don’t think, I only react. Storming in blind and armed, I follow her labored cries down the hall.

  Black and white family photos line the walls on either side. It has a homey vibe. Hand sewn quilts decorate the bedrooms. Not a place you’d expect to hear blood curdling screams bouncing off the walls. The smell of blood, sex, and fear permeates the air.

  With my gun cocked and ready, I case every room I come to. Coming up short, I follow the bloody handprints up the staircase. Unsure of what I am walking into, I prepare to do my worst. Justice or vengeance will be mine. When I get to the top of the stairs the screaming has stopped.

  Quiet sobs float toward me. A loud thump reverberates on the wooden floor. I continue chasing the handprints, ending on the knob of an ajar door. The white worn wood is barely hanging on one hinge. Blood is still wet on the floor and I step around it, not wanting to track my boots through it.

  The room is dark but I can make out the shape of a man on the floor next to the bed. Christa is curled up against the iron headboard, shivering and sobbing softly.

  “Is he dead?” I ask not taking any chances.

  “Not sure,” she says in a hiccup, wiping at her nose but only managing to smear blood across her face.

  I approach the man with caution, keeping my weapon trained on him. Nudging him in the leg with my boot warrants no response. With my barrel on his temple I check his nose and mouth for any signs of breathing. Nothing. I make a mental note of the brass lamp lying on the bed next to Christa.

  “He’s alive,” I lie.

  “You sure?” She asks with her bottom lip trembling. I’m afraid she is going into shock.

  “How far away is your closest neighbor?”

  “A mile.” She eyes the Potential patch on the left pocket of my cut.

  “Name’s Kurt. Tread sent me.” Thankfully my gun has a silencer. I step back to the doorway of the room, turning on the light, I fire a shot at the back of the dead man’s head. Christa doesn’t even seem to notice. She isn’t going to think she killed him, I’ll take the hit for her. “Where’s your brother?”

  “Not sure.”

  “Call him. Get him home, now.” She’s going to need him. I’ll be in cuffs once the cops arrive.

  Her hands are shaking so I ask her for his number and dial him on my burner phone. Her fingers can’t keep a grip on the cell so I hold it to her ear, not bothering with avoiding the blood. I’ll toss it soon enough. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and she turns into my side, cocooning herself in my embrace.

  “JT, I need you home, hurry.” I click the call to an end for her once I hear he is on his way.

  “You got a man?”

  She shakes her head no.

  “Good, I’m your man for now.” She nods but I’m not sure she understands. Her eyes enrapture me, lost but found in my hold. She clings to me, unable to look at the body on the floor. I cradle her in my arms, carry her down the stairs, and seat her on the couch.

  “It’s best not to touch anything, but I wasn’t going to leave you up there.” She stays silent, getting lost in her head.

  I dial 911 and report the shooting. I coach Christa until the police and paramedics arrive. It’s best she sticks close with the truth, her only lie will be that I came here to pick her up for a date. We were recently introduced through Tread—Marc.

  “I killed him,” she says, her voice cracking with remorse.

  “No babe that was me. I own that shit, it’s all me.”

  “You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me, this is my fault.” Her fingers are twisting around one another.

  “Did you ask him to beat on you? To attack you? I don’t think you did. I’m here because I choose to be. I put that bullet in him because he deserved it.” I sit next to her and she crawls into my lap and sob
s. Awkwardly I gather her into my embrace, petting her back and kissing her forehead, ignoring the blood.

  The cops arrive and I shift Christa onto the cushion so I can greet them at the door. With my hands up in the air, I explain the situation. I tell them where my gun is and they cuff me.

  Christa shoots off the couch like a rocket as the cold metal clinks against my skin.

  “He saved my life! Please, don’t punish him for this, it’s all my fault! I did this!” she shouts.

  “Ma’am you need to calm down and let the paramedics check you over and we have to follow procedure. Please step back.”

  Her brother arrives just in time to see his mom’s boyfriend carried out to the meat wagon.

  “Is my sister okay?” he is shouting and fighting to get inside.

  The police keep asking Christa for a statement, but she is too upset to answer coherently. They finally uncuff me, no formal charges have been filed.

  Christa’s sitting in the back of an ambulance, clearly shaken. I motion to the kid and he comes jogging to us. I leave Christa with him and step off to the side to talk to a 5-0.

  They could hold me but a friend to the club is leading the case and he lets me go with strict instructions to wait for him at the hospital. My touch seems to be the only sedative for Christa. “Tell Grim he owes me big, I could lose my ass for this.”

  I nod, I know this will cost the club a huge favor.

  I follow the EMT service on my bike, the police will grab me at the hospital, when they are ready. I gave my word. I play the concerned boyfriend well. I dial Tread from the parking lot of the emergency room, but I am unable to reach him. I text his latest burner and give him the details. He may be questioned, about introducing me to Christa.

  Christa

  The whole ride to the hospital I am in a daze. Perry’s distorted face keeps appearing in my mind as I fight against the lump in my throat. I keep trying to picture someone else instead. I keep returning to Kurt’s face. I thought for sure Tread would be the man to come to my rescue, if any, but I’m not his to protect. I made sure of that years ago.

  Kurt burst through the door ready to save me. The look on his face was scary, and dare I say, sexy. Crazy to imagine, but his eyes, they never wavered from mine. Grey and intense, like a thunderstorm cloud rolling overhead. Dark hair, pushed back behind his ears, to keep it from his face. Strong, but smooth jaws, with hints of a day’s old shave. He kept me from cracking. He saved me from the black tide that was threatening to drown me. He made sure Perry would never live another day to hurt me any further.

  I don’t think I am physically hurt. The emotional damage is what pains me the most. I had never felt afraid in my grandparent’s house before. It had always been my safe haven. I don’t know if I can ever go back. And Gram—I am so worried about her.

  I stare down at the blood staining my hands not sure if it belongs to me or that piece of shit my mother moved in with us.

  JT squeezes my knee. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I knew Perry was a no good bastard, but this, damn sis.”

  I grimace. Had JT been home, Perry may have killed us both before Kurt arrived. He is taking the fall for Perry’s death. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at him calling himself my man. I suppose I could do worse.

  The hospital is like a damn circus. I have police officers waiting to speak with me and a doctor demanding a rape kit be used. Perry never made it that far. Thank God! He mainly punched and kicked me around. I wince as the shock begins to wear off and the pain sets in.

  I sent JT to check on Grammy, Kurt promised he’d stay with me. The police, however, are keeping us separated until they have questioned us both, individually. I am clever enough to play the shocked victim long enough that they will leave me alone until tomorrow, until I can get more details from Kurt about our ‘date.’

  Truth

  I’m driving the van since I have the coordinates. My brothers are keyed up and ready to bring these fuckers down before they do any more damage. I want to put more than a few holes in them for what they did to Amy. Sick bastards. I want to nail them to the sign on the Kentucky and Ohio state line. Let all the passersbys’ see what happens to sick fucks like them. Grim doesn’t want any harm coming to Sunshine’s son, but I haven’t forgotten his part in my woman’s shame.

  The van is quiet, only the locking and loading of guns, and an occasional grunt can be heard. I’m ready to get out of this wagon, I love my brothers, but when you pile a bunch of them in a van, they start fucking sweating and farting. Smelly assed pricks.

  Tread is riding shotgun. I know there are things we need to discuss, but not now with all the ears. I can’t believe he has a son. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that fact. Has he known all this time?

  Shit is changing fast for both of us. But I know one thing, our days of sharing pussy are through. My days of wanting him are over.

  Rebel

  I say a silent prayer before storming the barn. “Dear God, get me through this night and deliver me home safely to my wife and kids. In Jesus name, amen.”

  I look to my left seeing Romeo, and Grim is on my right. We outnumber these scumbags five to one but shit happens, casualties of war.

  Tread, Truth, and One-off douse the sides of the barn in gasoline, while our man, Stone, nails the doors shut. Place should blow in a matter of minutes if Truth’s source gave us legit information. They have their lab running inside. A strike of a match should send them all straight to hell, but if it doesn’t we’ll be waiting. I don’t think Grim took this into consideration when he asked us to spare Sunshine’s boy. Then again, maybe he just said it to make himself feel better.

  One-off strikes a match off the side of his boot and flicks it towards the ramshackle barn. Tread and Truth follow suit, before running back to where we wait, in the shadows.

  Flames surge up the sides and engulf the wood. Loud bangs and screams can be heard through the crackling and popping sounds.

  “Should have brought some marshmallows and made S’mores,” Romeo jokes.

  Grim’s lips lift into a smile but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Too much bad blood between them two right now. A figure emerges from the barn with fire blazing from his clothes.

  Truth charges forward and takes him to ground, rolling in the dirt with him, about catching himself afire. He smacks the guy in the forehead with the butt of his gun. And continues rolling him, putting out the flames. Others begin to run from the building, the smell of burnt flesh is stomach turning.

  Tread helps Truth drag his captive to the van. Grim and Romeo start firing rounds, taking out any survivors from the blaze.

  We have another smaller crew taking out Lenny and securing Pink Lips.

  Romeo has Paul Craven dragging him kicking and screaming.

  Sirens begin to wail in the distance. That’s our cue.

  Chapter 20

  Romeo

  “You’ll do whatever in the fuck I tell you to. You’ve got a debt to pay. So if I tell you to get your mouth on the horn and bring Sunshine and Jamie home to Drag Creek, you’ll fucking do it.”

  “Why not let me take the kid to California and treat him there? You don’t want me here no more than I want to be here.” Grim is pressing on my nerves.

  “Because I want to watch you suffer. I want you to look at my face and the faces of ye brothers and know you shit on us every day of your life that you’ve been away. That’s why. And besides, the boy is too burnt for travelling any time soon.” Grim grunts and shoves a phone in my face. “And Sunshine deserves to look at that bastard Paul and do unto him as he did to her. She’s your woman, don’t ye want to give her justice?”

  Once we were sure that we were in the clear and that Patrick would live, Grim forced me to take him to the hospital. I said I found him on the side of the road. Paul is hanging from the rafters of my cabin. Grim would love to see me go down for this shit. The asshole is toying with me, but my choices landed me in this predicament.

  I dial
Sunshine, ordering her to get Jamie, and head for the airport. Grim already booked their tickets. She refuses until I tell her Paul is dead, and that Patrick—her son needs her. Paul isn’t really dead, but she doesn’t need to know that, yet. I had to get her on the plane. Damn Grim forcing us back into this shit!

  “Where do you suggest I move my family to? Jamie and Dawn don’t deserve this shit.”

  “Already handled. Got an empty trailer just waiting for you.”

  “You really are going to hold this shit with Baby and Sunshine over my head forever aren’t ye?”

  “That’s the idea.” He laughs and takes a drink of his beer. Motherfucker!

  Tread

  I’ve not gone home to hash shit out with Liberty. I’ve been at the hospital checking on Christa. Fucking Kurt could be facing a murder charge. What a clusterfuck. He was taken to the station hours ago for questioning. Christa will follow as soon as she is released. Her wounds aren’t life threatening. They thought her nose was broken but she’ll be okay.

  I feel horrible for not being there for her, but I couldn’t have known that her whatever he was would attack her like that. I’ve not gone in to see her. I can’t, the police are sniffing around her room, and I smell like smoke and ash.

  Can’t chance being connected to this case or the fire. I don’t need any more heat on my back. Not when I have a cocksucker in Florida to end.

  Seeing I can’t do anything for Christa tonight, I head home to Liberty and my son. I still can’t believe it. I’m a father. Crazy shit.

  I don’t know what Liberty wants. Does she want us to be a family? Can she handle the that I’ve been sharing Truth’s girl? I’ve got to figure my shit out. Fast. There is a boy who needs his father, me.

  Liberty

  “Hey,” Tread whispers in my ear. His facial scruff tickles the shell. He could use a good shave. I used to do that for him, shave his beard. I rub the sleep from my eyes and stifle a yawn. He feels close to my face and I don’t want to kill him with morning breath.