Chapter Five. #2
“The clubhouse.” That was where we’d been heading, anyway.
Nut Judas had struck so swiftly and withdrawn so quickly that I’d been unable to follow him.
But he’d done something to Drake’s members.
Nun sped up and caught Drake. She overtook, and I waved Drake on, and he frowned before Nun pulled in front.
Drake hugged our tailgate as we shot down roads and jumped stop signs and lights.
We skidded into the Rage MC parking lot and climbed out.
I was still shaky and now felt disoriented, but realised that wasn’t coming from me. Biting my nails, we waited as Drake unlocked the gate, and we all raced through. We saw a body lying in the snow, and Phoe cried out. “No! Autumn!”
Drake reached her first and checked for a pulse. A sigh of relief escaped him as he picked Autumn up and began carrying her.
“What happened?” he demanded as we followed behind. He kicked the door open, and an eerie silence met us.
“Oh my God,” Phoe whispered as we gazed at the bodies lying scattered around. People had dropped where they stood, and nobody had been spared. Men, women, and children all lay in heaps.
“No,” Drake growled as the blood drained from his face. He staggered with Autumn, and Phoe and Poker supported him. Drake placed Autumn carefully down as we began making our way to the closest people.
“O God, Drake, the kids!” Phoe cried as she laid eyes on a small huddle of children. “The asshole even attacked the babies.”
She dropped to the floor and picked up a baby who couldn’t be older than six months. Phoe hugged it tightly as she gazed wildly around. “Why won’t they wake up?” she screamed.
“Judas knocked them unconscious.”
A mind touched mine, and I spun to face the entrance. Drake pulled a weapon at my reaction and held it steadily.
“Royal Bastards MC, Camden Chapter!” someone called, and the door opened slowly. “Drake, Warden sent us; he had a premonition.”
Drake kept the gun on him, but I relaxed. “Noble!” I acknowledged, and he nodded.
“You recognise him?” Drake asked. I glanced behind Noble and sighed in relief.
“All of them. Warden sent those who could help. Romeo, they’ve been knocked unconscious psychically; we need to wake them up,” I said calmly.
“Permission?” Romeo asked Drake.
“Are you like Belladonna?” Drake demanded.
“A telepath? Yes. Noble can raise a shield and is blocking any further attacks on you. We’ve got Undertaker, Bogeyman, and Slasher with us,” Romeo introduced as they entered the clubhouse.
“Shit, the asshole hit hard,” Slasher muttered, gazing around.
“Wake the brothers up first. The women next, and then the children,” I ordered.
“No probs,” Romeo said, appearing happy to follow instructions.
Slasher and Stitch began checking people for injuries.
A couple of times, they stopped, and I saw their hands glow as they healed minor wounds.
Meanwhile, Poker tapped Noble and amplified his power, and the man was almost glowing himself.
He kept staring at her in amazement. No doubt her secret was out.
Romeo, Bogeyman and I walked around and awakened the sleeping brothers.
Undertaker projected calmness as men awakened and found their families unresponsive.
There was an undercurrent of anger which Undertaker allowed, but he kept the lid on anyone blowing their stack.
He also controlled women’s concern when they woke.
Instead of panicking that their children were unconscious, they were merely concerned.
“He’d be fuckin’ great at riot containment,” Drake muttered to Phoe as I headed towards her and touched the baby’s head. The baby blinked, opened her eyes, stared, wrinkled her nose, and pooped.
“Yup, here you go,” Phoe said, passing her over to a woman I thought was the mom.
“Should we take our families home?” Ace inquired as Bogeyman sat down in an armchair. The Royal Bastard enforcer closed his eyes.
“He okay?” Phoe asked.
“Yes. Bogeyman isn’t as strong as us. It drains him quicker than Belladonna or me,” Slasher replied, putting a hand on Bogeyman’s shoulder. In turn, Poker touched him, and we all saw Slasher’s weariness disappear.
“Holy crap, woman, that’s better than getting laid,” Slasher exclaimed. “Watch her, I might steal her away.”
“Try it, you’ll wake up with your throat slit,” Nun retorted mildly.
Slasher eyed her before shuddering. “Heard about you, Nun.”
“Everything was sorely understated in the retelling,” Nun quipped, and Slasher chuckled before continuing to heal Bogeyman.
“Judas made his move, and we weren’t ready,” Drake said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“One second, do we need to evacuate the clubhouse?”
“No,” Romeo and I said together. To my surprise, Romeo motioned for me to continue.
“That’s what Judas wants. You separated and circling the wagons.
With Romeo here and Noble, he won’t get through the shield.
That’s really going to annoy him. Stay here, have the potluck; it will tip Judas over the edge.
But is there enough space for everyone to sleep? ”
“No, not with the Hellions,” Drake answered.
“How big can your shield go?” Phoe asked.
“Pretty big. If Poker amplifies me, I’d say the size of a football stadium,” Noble replied.
Phoe grinned. “I know exactly where Rage can go for the next few days. That’s why I bought Reading Hall.”
Drake nodded grimly. “It’s not the first time we’ve stayed there.
With Rivendell and Ewok Village, there’s plenty of space.
The kids can bunk in the ballroom. They’ll think it’s a huge adventure.
Ace. Call everyone together and have them head there.
I’ll call Liz and Matthais, and they can get security to fetch the sleeping bags, etcetera. ”
“Sounds like you’ve done this before,” I muttered.
“Several times,” Phoe agreed, looking grim. “Silvie, have the women take their dishes to Reading Hall and give them to Mrs Ames; she’ll organise the dining room for us.”
“Okay.” Silvie scuttled off, and Phoe turned to Autumn and Lindsey. “When you arrive at Reading Hall, the emergency plan is the study. Rooms are allocated and have been updated recently. As everyone arrives, give them their rooms.”
I watched as Rage MC’s President and Queen Bee got to work. It was impressive. My sisters and I stepped back as people raced around, chivvying kids into vehicles. Brothers kissed the old ladies goodbye, and soon a convoy of cars left the compound.
“Where are you staying?” Drake asked, turning to Romeo.
“We’ll book a hotel.”
“Yeah. Expect Phoe on your doorstep, creating drama. Follow us to the Hall.”
“Nah, it’s fine…”
“I’m warning you. I’m not responsible for Phoe’s actions. She will literally camp out in front of your door until you do as you’re told. Give in gracefully, man,” Drake warned.
Romeo turned and glanced at me as I agreed. “Might as well, Romeo, it makes sense for us to be together. Plus, Noble would have to stay to maintain the shield,” I replied.
“Good point.” Romeo checked with Bogeyman, who nodded.
“We’ll take the offer of hospitality,” he said.
“Great idea,” Drake agreed.
Several hours later, my sisters and the Royal Bastards had commandeered Phoe’s private tower. We were totally shell-shocked.
“Holy crap, those kids ain’t sane,” Noble declared, shaking his head.
“No wonder the parents call them the Hellions,” Bogeyman added.
“Half the shit they pulled can’t be legal. I’m surprised this house is still standing,” Romeo muttered.
“The insurance must be sky-high,” Nun agreed.
“That basement level for the children is a brilliant idea. This place is like a grand hotel,” Poker stated.
“Okay, so Judas. No line on him yet?” Romeo asked.
“No. I feel he’s in his twenties and new to his abilities,” I said.
“Then we can only wait. Tell me Drake has somebody ruling suspects out?” Undertaker inquired.
“Yes. His brother Mac is running names, and so is someone called Hawthorne. They’re eliminating people, but there’s so many. Thousands were involved in this war. Whoever it is certainly has the advantage of being in the shadows. Judas has planned this well,” I explained.
“Then we hunt tomorrow. Together we’ll find him,” Romeo promised, and I nodded. I couldn’t walk away now. Judas needed to be neutralised, and by my patch as a Royal Harlot, he would be.