His Twisted Heart : Sons of Lost Souls MC Series Book Nine

by Ellie R. Hunter

  Inside the kitchen, I lean against the doorframe.

  “Where’s your friend?”

  I can’t help the smirk at her tone.

  “She’s over in the bar.”

  She narrows her eyes, and I roll mine, waiting for her bombardment of questions.

  “You don’t seem as happy as I’d expect you to be having her back.”

  Shrugging, I admit, “I’m still getting used to it.”

  “And how does Victoria feel about her being back?”

  There it is, what she wanted all along, and now I’m the one narrowing their eyes.

  “I’m not blind, boy. You and Victoria have been close for a long time. I’ve seen the way you watch her. It’s no secret to anyone here.”

  Fucking hell. Mom is like Google, she knows everything. Crossing the kitchen, she straightens my cut.

  “The night she lost her hearing, she ran out of the Mercy clubhouse in tears. Were you the reason she was crying?”

  “You already know I was if you’re asking.”

  “What did you do?”

  My lips stay firmly sealed. I’m not getting into it with her. It’s shit she doesn’t need to know.

  “Talk. Now.”

  “It isn’t any of your business, Mom.”

  “Boy, did I not push you out of a certain area that’s really not natural to do so after nineteen hours of extremely painful contractions?” Here we go. The giving birth card she pulls out every time she wants to extract something from me. “Everything about you is my business.”

  She won’t give in until I tell her, so here goes.

  “I made sure she caught me fu— having sex with someone else. She ran out because of what she walked in on.”

  Mom can be a stone wall when she wants to be, but right now, she’s full of disgust.

  “If I were the slapping kind, I’d slap you so fucking hard, my hand would hurt for a week.”

  I blanche at the thought, thanking my lucky stars she isn’t the slapping kind.

  “I raised you better than that. Why, Luca?”

  “Yes, I’d like to know why too.”

  Kyla hovering in the hall is the last thing I need.

  “I knew you had something to do with why my daughter doesn’t love life anymore.”

  I grind my teeth, debate on whether I should slip out the back door and avoid this clusterfuck of a headache. But standing here saying nothing seems to be infuriating her even more.

  “Your mom might not be able to slap you, but I can.” Darting forward, I clearly see her advancing, readying her hand. I catch it easily before it connects with my face, and keep a hold of it.

  “You don’t want to do that,” I warn.

  “Luca,” Mom warns.

  Dropping her wrist, I step around her and head out to her yelling, “This isn’t over!”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Victoria

  Pulling into the club, the prospect closes the gates as I park in my usual spot.

  I catch sight of Mom storming into the bar, and I frown. Mom’s never angry.

  Climbing out of the truck, I grab my purse and run into the bar where chaos is erupting. Mom’s yelling, Grandpa’s swinging his gun toward Luca, my dad standing with his arms crossed over his chest, and my brothers advancing slowly like predators to prey.

  What the hell has happened? Alannah’s trying to talk to Grandpa, but the hell if I know what she’s saying.

  Spying Emma sitting with Aspen and Penelope, I head over and sign, “What’s the hell is going on?”

  Passing Penelope over to Aspen, she signs back, “They’re saying it’s Luca’s fault you lost your hearing because he broke your heart in Mercy. Pope wants Luca to pay for it.”

  Oh, no. No, no, no.

  How did my mom find out about what happened? Luca would never tell a soul. He doesn’t tell his business to anyone.

  Spinning around, my skirt twirls around my ankles, and I nearly trip over the fabric in my haste to get between Luca and Grandpa.

  I go to shove Grandpa’s arm down, but it doesn’t budge. This is embarrassing. Everyone’s staring. My cheeks heat with humiliation, wishing I hadn’t come to the club today. Trying to lower his arm is useless, so I step back and sign, “Don’t hurt him. He’s not worth it.”

  Only his eyes move to track to my movements, but it works. He lowers the gun, and I manage to breathe.

  “It’s his fault,” he mouths to me.

  “No, it’s not.”

  It’s taken a long time to see it myself, but the fault lies with the two guys fucking around with their guns. I should’ve seen Luca doing something terrible to hurt me coming.

  “Please, Grandpa, leave him alone.”

  The dirtiest smirk takes over his lips, sending a shiver of fear from my head, down to my toes. He jerks his chin over my shoulder, and I slowly turn to find my brothers fighting with Luca. You’d think two on one wouldn’t be a fair fight, but Luca’s holding his own.

  I look to Cas to stop this, but all he does is move closer, keeping his eye on the punches being thrown. Sara hovers on the edge of the crowd, her fear of fighting shining as bright as her beauty. Cas allows the fight to continue for another minute before giving the signal for Zach and JJ to break it up.

  They pull Luca and the twins apart, and Mitch steps in to hold Mason back when he goes for Luca in Zach’s arms. Luca spits out a mouthful of blood, but there are no visible injuries I can see. Mason has a cut under his eye, and Myles’ lip is busted.

  I’ve seen all three of them fight many times, a few of them with each other, but I’ve never been the reason why. To be fair, the twins never need a reason to fight.

  An arm wraps around me, and I shrug away from the touch, more concerned with making sure no one else tries to fight. I don’t need anyone’s pity, especially not a bar full of brothers.

  Cas moves into my line of sight and calls for order. I move closer to him so I can read his lips.

  “This is the only time fists are thrown against one another. Next time… well, don’t let there be a next time.”

  He looks at me, his eyes full of pity. Great. Slowly turning around, everyone is staring, sending out even more pity.

  I have to get out of here. I make it halfway across the bar when Luca blocks my way. Sara comes to his side, holding onto his arm, and guides his face around to look at her, but he jerks his head back so he can glare at me.

  I watch his hands. “If only they knew the whole truth.”

  I make sure my family isn’t watching. They’re the only ones around here who would know what he was saying.

  A warm hand squeezes my shoulder, and I tear my eyes away from Luca to see Angel at my side.

  “You okay? Do you want me to get you out of here?”

  I love how he can read me, knowing here is the last place I want to be.

  With one last look around the bar, I see my family arguing amongst themselves, and Luca is now focused on Sara.

  “I’m good. See you later,” I sign.

  I want to be alone, and I want to be at home where I’m going to stay forever and never come back here to face everyone who heard what went down today.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Luca

  Sara closes the door softly, trapping me within the four walls of the kitchen. My blood is pumping. Fuck the twins, fucking assholes. They’re too predictable. I saw the moment Myles launched himself at me from the right, and Mason from the left. I was more than ready for them. The day they get the better of me is the day I’m in a box six feet under the ground.

  “Is that true what they said out there?”

  Turning on the faucet, I splash a few handfuls of cold water over my face, then cup a couple of handfuls to swill inside my mouth. Not even a tooth loose from their pussy punches.

  “Why do you want to know? You won’t like what you hear.”

  Leaning against the counter, I pull my smokes out of my pocket. Lighting up, I draw deeply and let the nicotine burn m
y lungs.

  “We used to be able to talk about everything. You can tell me what happened, I won’t judge.”

  Like shit she won’t. But if she wants to know, she should know what I’m capable of if she plans on sticking around.

  “You should sit. It’s not pretty.”

  She pulls out a chair at the table, and I join her.

  “A while after you left, Tor and I would hook up. At first, it was meant to be a one-time thing, then it happened again, and again…”

  “Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Sara snaps.

  “I wasn’t interested in anything but sex with her, but she caught feelings, and things got messy. You were in my head every day, and she was… actually here. It fucked me up, because I always planned on finding you.”

  “You were?”

  Her shock at my admission is patronizing, like she wouldn’t think I’d go looking for her. “Of course. Anyway, I got her pregnant and promised her I’d take responsibility and look after them both, but shit went down at the club. I was distracted, and behind my back, she got rid of my kid.”

  The crease between her eyes deepens at the mention of a baby.

  “The club had business up in Mercy, and shit between Tor and me wasn’t great. All I wanted was to push her away once and for all, so I hooked up with the Mercy chapter president’s daughter and made sure Tor caught me in the middle of fucking her.”

  “Wow, your honestly is brutal,” she huffs.

  “It’s the truth.”

  “Luca, that was horrible. Like, I can’t believe you did that to someone, but how did that make her deaf?”

  “Because she ran out crying into the middle of two guys fucking around with their guns. Shots were fired, and they fucked up her ears. End of story.”

  “So she blames you for losing her hearing?”

  “You could say we have a mutual hatred for each other.”

  Sighing, she comes back at me with, “‘They say there’s a fine line between love and hate,’” and I’m not ready for that.”

  “If I loved Tor, I’d be with her. I don’t love her, and I’m not with her. Can we stop this conversation now?”

  “But does she love you?”

  “She got rid of my baby. You think she loves me?”

  I can’t do this anymore. Stubbing my cigarette out in the ashtray, I go to leave when she rises and steps in my way.

  “I know I’ve been away for a long time, and we’ve both had lives, but we can’t hide things from each other. I don’t want to look a fool, Luca.”

  “Us having this conversation makes us both look like fools.”

  Her brows pinch together, and her eyes squint with frustration.

  “I’m heading into town. I need to pick some things up from the store.”

  Snatching her purse from the table, she storms out, but I lack the want and inclination to chase her down. I’ll catch up with her later.

  Out in the bar, I ignore the Simmons clan and lean against the bar.

  Forgetting I’m the prospect, I round the bar, grab a beer, and slide onto a stool before anyone asks for a drink.

  The scent of violence and death surrounds me. I look over my shoulder to see Pope standing behind me, arms crossed over his puffed-out chest, and a death glare in his eyes.

  “You don’t care who you hurt. You think you can do as you please and get away with it because of who your daddy is.”

  As if this day could get any worse. “Like the twins? Because of who their grandaddy is?” I retort.

  Grunting, he unfolds his arms, and his hand drops to the gun at his belt, yet my remark amused him. I can see the glint in his eye, the one he gets when someone’s about to get hurt.

  It disappears, though, when he says, “You’ll learn one day that everything you do has consequences. I have to settle for that shit show of a fight earlier for what you did to my granddaughter, but I strongly believe in what goes around comes around, and you’ll get yours soon enough, one way or another.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “Not at all, boy. It’s called life, and it always has a way of coming back to bite you on the balls.”

  If I wanted, maybe if I were brave enough, I’d tell him what his precious granddaughter used to do to my balls.

  “I warned you once what would happen if you hurt her. The only reason you’re still breathing is because she promised me you weren’t worth it.”

  Without another word, he walks off, and I dig out my cigarettes. I’ve barely turned around when Leo sidles up beside me, gripping my chin and checking my face over. Yanking out of his grip, I light a smoke and inhale deeply.

  “I heard about your fight. Not a mark on you.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised,” I snort. “I was fighting the twins, not someone who can actually throw a punch.”

  When he barks out a laugh, I look at him in surprise. I haven’t heard Leo laugh since India was killed.

  “I haven’t heard anyone gossiping about the baby. Why didn’t you tell them what she did?”

  Shrugging, I mutter, “It’s not anyone’s business.”

  “So you’re fine with being the asshole?”

  “It’s what everyone thinks I am, anyway. Makes no difference to me.”

  “Big achievement, that, little brother, being an asshole since birth.”

  “Fuck off. I learned it from you.”

  Knocking his shoulder into mine, I almost smile when I see that his grin’s not weighed down so much with grief for once.

  “Da-da!” Rayna’s little voice shouts. Looking over my shoulder, I see Holly standing there with Rayna in her arms. Leo’s smile grows, and looking at the three of them, I’m not sure if it’s for my niece or Holly. Her hands are covered in lace gloves to hide the burn scars. The poor girl’s just another casualty of Tal’s betrayal.

  “She’s getting hungry. I’m going to take her into town for lunch,” Holly says, and Leo tenses.

  “No. Take her over to the main house. I’ll be over shortly.”

  Listening to him, she nods, doing as he says.

  “Looks like you’ve got her trained.”

  “I pay her to do what I say when it comes to Rayna.”

  “Yo, everyone in the back room. Thirty seconds!” Sparky hollers.

  “Sorry, bro, the men need to talk. You stay out here with the women.”

  “Fuck you.”

  I take a seat on the nearest bench, the sun warm on my face. Scrolling through my messages, I click on Victoria’s thread and start typing.

  I’ll never forgive you, but I’m done. From now on, you do you, and I’ll do me.

  I suppose people were going to find out what went down between us one day. At least it’s done and over with now.

  The sheriff’s car pulls up to the gates, and from what I can see, the prospect isn’t letting him through.

  Sliding off the bench, I head into the bar and to the back room. Banging on the door, I yell, “Cops!”

  Dad’s the first one out, followed by Sparky and Ricky hot on his heels. Outside, the sheriff is heaving himself from his cruiser, and I slide my ass onto the picnic bench.

  “What can we help you with, Sheriff?” Dad hollers, keeping a short distance from him.

  The sheriff is alone, and looks around leisurely, his lip curling in disgust.

  “Didn’t you get my message?”

  Dad shrugs, and the sheriff steps closer, his eyes landing on me for a brief second before settling on Dad.

  “How’s your boy gonna patch in if he can’t deliver a simple message?”

  “My boy’s no concern of yours, and he did pass your message on. I just haven’t found the time to give a shit as to what you want.”

  I smother a laugh before anyone catches it.

  The sheriff’s shoulders straighten as he braces his hands on his belt. “There was a robbery at Sassy’s Strip Club a couple of weeks ago. You wouldn’t know anything about it, would you?”

  Dad’s lips stay firmly closed.
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  Sparky steps forward, crossing his arms over his chest. “Wasn’t us, and you know it, or you’d be here with backup to take us in. Don’t you have better things to do than waste gas driving out here?”

  “I have all the time in the world when it comes to you ladies,” he snorts, amusing only himself. “The minute a witness comes forward, I’ll be back with the rest of my department.”

  “Fine. If you call ahead, I’ll make sure everyone’s here,” Dad retorts sarcastically.

  The club watches him leave, but as I look around at the men, I notice the twins are watching me. Blowing them a kiss, I laugh when Myles lurches forward, only to be held back by Mason.

  I smell her perfume before I look to my side and see Sara sidling up beside me.

  “Do the cops come around here often?”

  “Not really. The new sheriff has a hard-on for the club. He’ll grow bored soon.”

  “I still can’t believe you decided to join. You were so adamant you weren’t going to. What happened?”

  I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. The words would’ve poured out to the old Sara, but it doesn’t feel right to tell her about the shit with India and Ellis, and all the other shit that’s happened since.

  “Maybe I’ll tell you one day, but not today.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Victoria

  The dirt and grass beneath my feet is cooling. The heat is sticky and horrid today, and there’s only one place to be on a day like this—the creek.

  You do you, I’ll do me.

  What a joke. He’s been doing him since I can remember. And me doing me? Yeah, I’ll get right on that. In fact, it’s what I’ve been doing for months. Who the hell does he think he is? He really thinks he’s someone special.

  Dumping my basket on the ground, I slip out of my dress, leaving it in a pool on the ground, and walk into the water. Chills race up and down my body, contradicting the heat with the cool water.

  Submerging fully, I push out into the middle and break the surface for a lungful of air. Floating on my back, I watch the leaves swaying in the light breeze, the sun peeking through the gaps above me.