Saranya Chapter 16 #2
Michelle came charging at me. I was ready for her ass.
She was a few inches taller than I was, but I estimated we weighed roughly the same.
Men and women always underestimated me due to my size.
However, Dad had taught Mom and me how to defend ourselves.
As I got older, War took over, practicing with me.
He wanted no one messing with me when he wasn’t around.
I was no black belt or anything, but I did more than just slap and pull hair.
I was taught to win, not play by the rules. I might lose, but I’d go down fighting.
“Chelle, don’t!” Skylar cried.
Michelle had her claws up. Her long talon fingernails were poised to rake my face and eyes.
I never gave her the chance. I ducked down and to the right, then came up with my fist curled.
I took her in the stomach. She gasped as she doubled over.
The height of her face was too much to resist. I used my other fist to clock her in the jaw on the opposite side from where I hit her before. Surprise, I’m ambidextrous, bitch!
“What the hell is going on in here?” Boden thundered. I hadn’t seen him come into the room. He must’ve come from somewhere else in the clubhouse or in through another door. He rushed over, placing himself between Michelle and me.
“What does it look like? I’m teaching her another lesson,” I replied.
“How the fuck did they get in here? Are you alright?” he asked, concerned. Boden had his body angled so he could keep an eye on Skylar and Michelle while scanning me.
“I’m fine. She never touched me. I heard them say someone at the gate let them in.
Michelle lied and told Skylar she had left her purse the last time.
They were supposed to come in, find one of the prospects to help her locate her bag, and then leave.
I overheard the entire conversation. Michelle lied to everyone, even her cousin. ”
Further conversation was cut short by the thunder of boots approaching the common room. Utter panic consumed Skylar’s face. Michelle was in too much pain to react. I moved over to stand next to Skylar. I placed my hand on her arm.
“It’s okay. I’ll tell them the truth. You’re not in trouble, but your cousin isn’t so lucky.”
“Oh God, I can’t believe I was such an idiot to believe her. I swear, I’ll never come here again. Please, don’t let them hurt me,” she moaned.
Fourteen big, grim bikers entered the room. Cowboy, along with a few others, came to us. Cowboy tugged me away from Skylar.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“No, I’m fine. It’s Michelle who’s hurt.” I smirked as I glanced over at her. She was standing straighter, eyeing the guys with trepidation.
“How the fuck did you two get in here?” Diablo thundered.
Both women cringed. Before Michelle could spin some tale, I answered for them.
“Diablo, I can answer that. First, let me say, Skylar isn’t at fault for anything other than trying to help her lying cousin. She shouldn’t be punished.”
“Go on,” Diablo muttered.
As concisely as I could, I ran the guys through what I had overheard and what I had done to Michelle when she decided to attack me.
When I was through, Cowboy glared at Michelle harder, while the other Horsemen stood there unsmiling.
I noticed that Crash was standing on the other side of Skylar, whispering in her ear.
“I want to know which prospect let them in. I know it wasn’t Boden. He knows better. Whoever it is, his sponsor needs to have a talk that sticks with the culprit. Ensure nothing like this happens again. If it does, the guilty party will be gone,” Scorpion ordered.
Butcher and Toretto nodded. Their faces were dark with anger. I felt sorry for Pierce and Adrian. They hadn’t even been here two weeks and were already in trouble. Butcher walked up to Michelle.
“So, you thought you’d trick a brother into making you an old lady or at least give you money by messing with condoms. And you use your own cousin to bring you here.
You’re banned permanently from the premises of our compound and any of our businesses.
If you’re caught trying to enter, you won’t like what I do,” he snapped.
“S-she misunderstood what I said to Skylar. Tell them, Sky,” Michelle pleaded.
“No, she didn’t. It was exactly the way Cowboy’s lady said,” Skylar responded.
“Traitorous, bitch, you’ll pay for that!” The former hanger hissed.
“You lay a finger on her, and I’ll make you pay,” Crash threatened.
Michelle scanned the group. Noting no one gave her a pleasant vibe, she shrugged. “Whatever. I’m out of here. Let’s go, Skylar.”
“Oh, wait, did I say you were allowed to leave? I didn’t. You’re not getting off that easy. You have to be taught a lesson, though, from the looks of you, Sari started it for me. Thanks, darling,” Butcher said, winking at me.
“You’re welcome,” I said back, blowing him a kiss.
“Hey, don’t encourage him,” Cowboy muttered, making everyone chuckle except the two other women.
“Lesson? What kind of lesson?” Michelle asked warily.
“One that will stamp it into your brain. I wish it were a weekend night, that way we’d do it in front of the other hangers and club sluts. However, if Micro will give me a hand and record it, we’ll have it for their viewing pleasure,” Butcher explained.
My stomach fluttered, wondering what he was about to do to her. I wasn’t sure if I could handle watching him beat her up, or worse. Sure, she caused trouble, but nothing too drastic. However, I knew this was club business, and I had no say in it, so I remained silent.
“Babe, don’t worry. He won’t do anything that’ll permanently scar or cripple her.
He’ll scare her. But if she had done something more drastic, such as harm you, the other women, the kids, or placed the club in real jeopardy, then those would be options.
The club learned that lesson years ago when an enemy was given leeway.
Diablo’s first wife was raped and murdered in front of Brooklyn. That will never happen again.”
I gasped. I had no idea how Diablo lost the mother of his oldest daughter.
Knowing made me nauseous. I looked over to find Diablo’s face a granite mask.
My heart ached for him. Micro had agreed to record the session.
Thunder and Turbo placed themselves on either side of Michelle.
Butcher conferred with Boden. The prospect nodded, then hurried out of the room. I wondered where he was headed.
The front door opened, and Adrian and Pierce walked in. I saw how their eyes widened, then the sick look that came over Pierce’s when he spotted Skylar and Michelle—no need to ask who let her inside.
Immediately, Pierce stepped forward. “I let them in. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would hurt to allow her to grab her purse. What did they do?”
“You wait your turn, Prospect. I’ll get to you next.
And your buddy needs to stay and see this.
You don’t allow people into the compound without permission.
Because you did, this one tried to harm Cowboy’s old lady.
And if Sari hadn’t been here, who knows what other shit she would’ve done,” Butcher snarled.
“Yes, sir,” Pierce said. I respected how he immediately took responsibility for his error.
By the time their conversation was over, Boden returned. He was carrying a flogger. He handed it to the enforcer. Butcher wasted no time latching onto Michelle and marching her to stand next to a table. He pressed on her back until she was bent over it.
“This is a taste of what we do to those who cross us. Be thankful you didn’t harm anyone, or you wouldn’t walk away. Pull up your top, lower your pants, and place your hands on the table and keep them there. You earned ten strikes. If you remove your hands, it’s an extra strike every time.”
Michelle refused to move her top and pants, so Butcher did it for her and announced she earned herself two extra whips.
Sobbing, she placed her hands on the table after that.
I cringed as Butcher swung. The crack was loud, and she cried out in pain.
I knew it had hurt. He took his time, and the red slashes he left on her skin were vivid.
By the time he finished, she was sobbing uncontrollably as she lay on the table.
Yanking her top down and her pants up, he turned to Diablo.
“Pres, do you agree that Skylar has done nothing to earn a similar punishment?”
“I agree. I don’t believe she came here maliciously.
Skylar, I suggest you stay away from your cousin.
She’ll end up getting you into big trouble.
You’re permitted to return as long as you follow our rules and behave.
Pierce, drive Michelle home. Skylar shouldn’t have to do it.
Then return for your talk with your sponsor,” Diablo instructed.
No one tarried. As a shaky, sobbing Michelle was escorted by Pierce, who was half holding her upright, Skylar trailed behind.
Crash looked torn watching the latter go.
As they reached the door, it opened, and in walked Electra.
Her eyes widened at the scene, but she remained silent. Swerve wheeled himself to her.
“That’s it for tonight. Church is dismissed. Everyone, go home, have a drink, or do whatever you’d like. I’m off to see my family. Good night,” Diablo announced before walking out. I waited to see what Cowboy would do.
“Babe, have a seat and let me get you a drink,” was my man’s response.
He pulled out a chair at the table closest to us. I sank into the chair, then he went to the bar. Before he returned, Electra came to sit with me.
“Swerve told me I missed the excitement. Damn, I would’ve loved to see you punch her again. And to see Butcher in action. I heard he has an affinity for flogging and knife work. I wonder if he’s into that in a kinky way?”
“I don’t know if he is or not, but it sure seemed to hurt like hell, and she left with marks,” I responded.