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

by Ellie R. Hunter

Letting go of him, he climbs in and scoots over to make room for me.

  “So?”

  “There wasn’t as much as we expected there to be.”

  My stomach drops. “How much did you get?”

  I barely hear Myles snapping directions to Angel while I wait for Mason to answer.

  “Just over eight thousand.”

  Fuck.

  After burning the car out and walking back to our bikes, it’s not long until we’re riding over the Willow’s Peak town border. I’m about turn off the road leading toward the club when a convoy of SUVs drive by, heading in the direction of Ruddy Burbank’s land.

  The four of us pull over and come to a stop, cutting our lights as not to be seen.

  “You can smell the city on them from here,” Mason sneers.

  “Burbank’s been trying to sell his land for years. No guesses Effie’s behind this,” I say.

  “Let’s roll in behind them, see what they’re up to,” Myles suggest.

  We don’t have to move far. From between the trees, we see up to twenty guys walking into the old barn.

  Two linger behind, lighting up smokes and looking up the dirt road to the entrance.

  “Looks like they’re waiting on more showing up,” Angel notes, pulling his own smokes out of his pocket.

  And we’re not waiting long when a formation of bikers ride up the dirt road and stop outside the barn.

  “What do the patches say? I can’t read them from here.”

  “You need glasses, brother,” Mason tells him.

  “Fuck you.”

  As soon as one of the bikers step into the light spilling out from the barn, I see his patches clear enough.

  Dead Rats MC, and the guy I’m watching is their president.

  “Dead Rats? I’ve never fucking heard of them.”

  “Nor have we,” the twins contribute.

  Come to think of it, nor have I.

  “Maybe it’s a new club?” I offer.

  “Whoever they are, your dad needs to know they’ve just ridden into town.” Angel mutters, heading back to his bike.

  The twins and I join him, and ten minutes later, we’re riding through the gates.

  I expect to speak to Dad first thing before we set off, but I’m surprised to see him still up, considering it’s nearly three in the morning, sitting with Sparky and Pope.

  “Look who is it,” Sparky hollers across the bar.

  “I’ll stash the cash while you distract the old-timers,” Myles whispers before running up the stairs.

  The three of us head over, and Dad asks, “Where you been?”

  “We were just riding around. Saw another MC riding onto Burbank’s land following a load of SUVs. All met up in the old barn,” I tell him.

  “What were you doing out that way?”

  “Like Luc said, we were just riding around.”

  Sparky looks to Angel and asks, “Is that true?”

  Before Angel has to lie, I cut in. It’s one thing for me or the twins to fuck around with our dads, but Angel isn’t a son, and he’ll have to pay a heavier price if caught lying.

  “The twins wanted to bond before the wedding, and Angel came for something to do.”

  “Yeah? What did you get up to?” Pope inquires.

  “Riding around, thus seeing the Dead Rats,” Mason huffs.

  “What was Myles hiding from us in the bag?” Sparky never misses a beat.

  “What’s with the interrogation?”

  I’m tired. I should be with Tor, and all I want is my bed.

  “When we smell bullshit, we question it,” Sparky replies, finishing his beer.

  Pope looks to Mason, and I know the game’s over when he snaps, “Truth now, boy.”

  Mason rolls over like a baby, and not for the first time. The twins give it all they have until they’re faced with their grandpa.

  “We were in the city to jack over a bar. We saw the Dead Rats on our way back.”

  Sparky smothers his smirk, and dad just sits there, twiddling the cigarette between his fingers as he listens to us.

  Pope, not bothered in the least, asks, “Is the money for Victoria?”

  Mason nods, and that’s all Pope needs. “Good. Don’t let it blow back on the club.”

  Leaning back in his chair, he picks up his beer.

  Myles jogs down the stairs, and I notice Mason lift his brows twice in quick succession. It must be part of their secret code. Myles now knows the game is up and the truth is out.

  “How much did you get?” Sparky asks.

  “Not what we were hoping for, but about eight thousand,” I tell him.

  “And it’s all going toward this surgery for her?”

  We all nod.

  “When we get back, I’ll sort you out a couple of thousand. Call it a wedding present.”

  “Cheers. Appreciate it.”

  Angel taps his fingers on his knee. “What about these Dead Rat assholes?”

  “We’ll still leave for the run. I’ll leave a few brothers behind, and we’ll have a lot more rolling into town for the wedding. I’ll give them all a heads-up.” Rising from his chair, Dad orders, “Luca, my office.”

  I follow behind, fist bumping the twins and Angel on my way out. After this powwow with the old man, I’ll be heading for my bed.

  “Close the door,” he instructs, and I do. “If your mom had suffered in the same way Victoria has, there wouldn’t be anything I wouldn’t do to make it right for her. That being said, what you did tonight was reckless and needless.”

  “The twins would’ve done it with or without me,” I point out.

  “And I’ll deal with them once we’re back.” He takes down the painting off the wall and opens up the safe and throws two bundles of cash on his desk. “That’s the money the Lancaster girl paid me back. Put it toward Victoria’s surgery.”

  “I can’t take that much from you.”

  “It’s money I haven’t had in years. I want to help.”

  I pick up the cash. “Thanks.”

  “Before you go, don’t do that shit again. You’ll be earning now. I have big plans for you, and it doesn’t involve bailing you out on stupid charges. Rise up the ranks, and you’ll get your money.”

  “I hear you, Dad.”

  He doesn’t call me back, and I head up the stairs. Knocking on Myles’ door, I wait for the door to open.

  I toss the wads of cash at him.

  “This looks like twenty large.”

  “Because it is, courtesy of my dad. Keep it with the rest of the cash.”

  In my room, I lock the door behind me. Slipping out of my boots, I shrug out of my cut and face-plant onto the bed.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Victoria

  The waitress places my plate of pancakes and a jug of syrup in front of me, and my stomachs rumbles. Mom and Alannah wanted to meet for breakfast at Hank’s, and Emma and Aspen joined us. With the guys out of town, the women stick closer together. Bonnie isn’t feeling very well and wants to rest so she’s better for the wedding, so she’s at home.

  “Where’s Harper?”

  Since we’re going to be talking mostly about the wedding, and her being Luca’s sister, I would’ve thought she’d have been here.

  “I have no idea,” Alannah says, adding, “Since Cas got shot, she’s been avoiding us. I think Luca’s the only one who’s seen her, but he hasn’t said much about it.”

  “I heard she’s been looking for her mom. Maybe she’s just been busy?” Mom offers, and I make out like I wasn’t reading her lips and didn’t “hear.”

  I wasn’t privy to the second time she left town, but I know Luca had something to do with it. And it will be a question I put to him when he gets back from the run.

  Wanting to change the conversation, I go to ask if everyone has their dresses picked out when Mom asks after Holly.

  “I saw her with Leo and Rayna in the store yesterday. She seems nice,” Mom tells Alannah.

  “Almost too nic
e,” Alannah replies. “Leo won’t talk about her. Apparently, she’s just a nanny who he pays.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  “I don’t know what to think, but if he trusts her with Rayna, it leaves me little choice but to as well.”

  “Will she be coming to the wedding?”

  “I should imagine so.”

  Tucking into my pancakes, dark figures walking through the door catches my attention. I don’t recognise their biker patches, and they’re definitely not Lost Souls.

  Grim, Axle, and Bolt, brothers who have ridden into town for the wedding from another chapter, are sitting at another table, watching the newcomers. I found out this morning we’ll have shadows until our men are back from their run. I count twelve of them, and they all zero in on us, specifically Grim, Axle, and Bolt.

  Emma pulls Penelope out of the highchair and hauls her onto her lap. Mom’s eyes dart to mine with concern.

  I try to smile, to let her know I’m okay, but it doesn’t work. Looking back to the guys, four of the other club members face off with ours, with the others hanging back nearby.

  I don’t bother trying to keep up with what they’re saying. They’re probably throwing insults and threats back and forth, and those I can guess.

  Finishing my pancakes, I wipe my mouth with the napkin and make sure my purse is over my shoulder. The other old ladies move slowly, and Alannah lays down enough cash to cover everyone’s breakfasts.

  All hell breaks loose when one of the guys shoves Grim into Axle, and then a scuffle goes down in the middle of the diner. I keep my eye on the others hanging back, but it doesn’t last long when Hank barges out from the kitchen, cocking a shotgun.

  I raise my brows in surprise, and I’m relieved when he points it at the intruders in our town, and they all start to back off.

  Hank pushes forward, keeping the gun on them as they back up toward the door, and the biggest guy stands until his last brother is heading toward the parking lot. Sliding his finger across his throat, he darts outside.

  Grim is straight on the phone, no doubt calling Cas when Alannah beats him to it. It turns out, Grim is calling for back-up.

  We’re told to sit at the table until said back-up arrives, and I drum my fingers on the tabletop. I have much better things to do than sit here because more egotistical men think they can roll up and be assholes.

  I’m sitting on the steps of the main house when Holly’s car drives through the gates. She parks up by the house, and I watch her unclip Rayna from the car seat. When she’s hoisted her up onto her hip, she starts walking toward me. Keeping hold of the little one, she stands in front of me awkwardly. Stabbing her thumb on her phone screen, she holds it up like she’s about to take a selfie, and I wonder what the hell she’s doing.

  I’m about to ask her when she mouths, “I’m here, I’ll pass it over.”

  Thrusting the phone at me, I take it and see Luca’s face filling the screen. He looks pissed.

  “You need your own phone!” he signs angrily.

  “Why? I’m talking to you now, aren’t I?”

  “After I had Holly drive to the club to do so.”

  “Why didn’t you just call someone here?”

  It seems a little excessive just to get a hold of me.

  “Our moms aren’t around, and I didn’t know who else to call.”

  “What was so important, anyway?”

  “I wanted to see for myself you were okay.”

  I lift the phone up and down, showing him I’m fine, and only then does he smile.

  “If I weren’t okay, you would’ve heard by now, I’m sure.”

  “It’s not a joke, babe. Wherever you go, there’s trouble.”

  “Not much you can do about it, especially as we’re getting married next week. The club is just as much my life as it is yours.”

  “Unless I lock you in the house at all times.”

  “As if you would, or could.”

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine. Mom wants me to stay at the club tonight and I said I would, so stop worrying.”

  “We’ll be back by lunch tomorrow, so stay put.”

  Saluting him, he laughs and signs, “You’re so weird.”

  “And you’re an asshole.”

  It’s getting late, but Grandpa has summonsed me over to the bar. I was planning on going across to sit with him anyway. I grab him a beer and myself a bottle of water before joining him at his table.

  “How’s the wedding plans coming along?” he asks.

  I smile. “Nicely. We’re just waiting on the liquor delivery, and I’ve got to finalise the flowers tomorrow, and then it’s all done. We’ve managed to pull off a wedding in eight days.”

  The club is always saying they never see my grandpa smile, but he’s always smiling at me, and right now, his smile is warm and full of something I can’t work out.

  “What?”

  “It makes my heart beat hearing you speak again.”

  “I…”

  “It’s because of Luca, isn’t it?”

  My smile grows at the mention of him. Before, when we were a secret, I wished everyone knew about us, and now they do. It’s everything I wanted.

  “Even though I still can’t hear, he makes me feel like who I used to be.”

  “I’m real happy for you, sweetheart. I really am.”

  “Thanks.”

  Moving onto the reason he called me over, he passes me an envelope.

  “What’s this?”

  “Usually when you open something, you find out.”

  “Ha-ha,” I mutter, ripping open the envelope.

  Pulling out the wad of papers, my smile fades, and I begin to frown. It’s his last will and testament.

  “I don’t understand. Why are you showing me this?”

  Looking to him to read his answer, he says, “You already own the house, but when I go, you get everything I own.”

  “What about mom and the twins?”

  “Your dad is a good provider and has your mom covered, and your brothers are more than capable of finding ways to earn.” He thinks over his next words. “I have no doubt in my mind that Luca will never let you down, but if anything ever happened to him, I need to know you’ll be covered. Most of my money is cash, which you’ll find out the locations once I’m gone so you don’t have to pay the death taxes.” I roll my eyes. Trust him to cut corners with the government.

  Shoving the papers back into the envelope, I pass it back to him.

  “I’ll deal with that when I have to, but it better not be for a very long time. I choose you over money and material things any day.”

  Grinning, he wraps his arm around my shoulders and hugs me. My grandpa is an enigma for most, but to me, he’s the best man in the world.

  Chapter Fifty

  Luca

  At the last rest stop, Dad instructed us that we’d be stopping at the diner when we get back to town before heading for the club. The run couldn’t have come at a worse time. With this new MC rolling into town, we should’ve shown a united and untouchable front. However, from what Dad’s been told from brothers showing up for the wedding, the Dead Rats haven’t even tried to get close to the clubhouse, though they’ve been seen hanging around the diner often.

  As we ride down Main Street, there must be around eight motorcycles parked outside of Hank’s. Dad comes to a stop alongside the curb instead of riding into the parking lot. Sparky parks beside him, as we all do one by one down the line. Angel cracks his knuckles in preparation of a fight.

  Engines are cut, but there’s no doubt the bikers in the diner would’ve heard us arrive. And in less than a couple of minutes, they walk out the door and linger by their rides.

  The guy I saw the other night steps forward as Dad climbs off his bike. His VP moves to stand at his side, and Sparky joins Dad.

  “You must be lost,” Dad calls out, loud enough for the guy to hear.

  “Nope. We’re right where we’re meant
to be.”

  “Then we’re here to welcome you to town.”

  Dad holds his hand up, signalling for the club to climb off their bikes. Movement ripples down the line, and the Dead Rats broaden their shoulders at our show of force.

  Rolling my neck, I crunch my knuckles and bounce on my toes.

  “You don’t want your pretty face getting marked two days before your wedding,” Leo points out beside me.

  “You’re assuming I’m gonna let them get that close.”

  My bruises will fade enough before the wedding from the twins. I can’t afford new ones.

  “You think because we’re outnumbered we’ll back off?” their president yells over.

  “Quite the contrary. My guys are looking for an outlet. I’m hoping you give them a good fight.”

  With one flick of his wrist, the brothers and I move forward as one, and all hell ensues.

  Us against eight is hardly fair, and does nothing to ignite adrenaline. But reputations have to be upheld, and every punch and headbutt dished out reignites the club’s hunger to be on top.

  Their president stands back, lighting a smoke as he watches the scene around him with a twisted, gleeful look on his face. Joining Angel, I stomp my boot down on a Dead Rat’s head while he works his stomach and ribs.

  Women’s shrieks soon fill the air, and Dad whistles for us to fall back. Once by my bike, I catch my breath and take in the scene of the Dead Rats, minus their president, down on the ground, moaning and bleeding.

  “Welcome to Willow’s Peak!” Sparky hollers, spitting on the ground near a fallen brother of theirs.

  “You think this will scare us off?” their president snorts.

  Dad’s eyes narrow as he steps forward. “This was a welcome. You wanna find out what a goodbye looks like, hang around and find out.”

  Slowly, they help each other up and linger near their rides. The fucker Angel and I done over glares our way, and I blow him a kiss, infuriating him further. He lurches forward, but his brother grabs his arm and yanks him back. Angel and I laugh, and the fucker’s cheeks redden with anger.

  “I guess we’ll be finding out, then, ’cause we ain’t goin’ nowhere. Willow’s Peak is our home now.”