Chapter Twenty Two
There was a rapture of voices. Low cheers and grunts, and then hands slapping backs.
When Tyne Thunder MCC entered the Dog on the Tyne tonight, we all knew what was happening.
Our invitation had been accepted. Old patches were sliced off the front of the cuts they wore, and Indie handed over something new.
Now they would wear our colours. Not all.
Just a prospect badge on the front and the black and white rocker reading Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Kings had just doubled in size, but only half of us were fully patched.
And that was a gamble. Even the old Tyne Thunder members had to serve their time as prospects.
And those that didn’t make the cut wouldn’t wear a Kings patch at the end of it all.
But now we had numbers. And people who wanted to prove their loyalty and worth.
I glanced around at the bodies that filled the ground floor of the pub.
We knew Tyne Thunder. They were our closest MCC ally.
That stood for something, at least. But were they ready to become an MC?
This was a whole different ball game, and I wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do.
But the club had voted. And I trusted Indie.
Always had. So, I slapped backs and hugged new brothers like everyone else.
The Dog was full of leather, but no women. We were following orders and so far, even Mamma Dot was staying home. Security Sam had eyes on Emmie through the hospital security team, without them even knowing they were working for the Kings.
I glanced at my phone again. At the message that hadn’t been answered, and deep inside me, my stomach felt heavy, that lump of dread and disappointment sinking lower and lower. Sam had reported in on Sophie a couple of times that day, so at least I’d had proof of life.
A pat on the back caught my attention.
“You reckon this’ll help?” I didn’t know who it was. I could never tell them apart.
“Dunno mate. Can’t make it any worse. Least we got two clubhouses now, I suppose.”
“Aye, and more eyes on Ciara,” Demon grumbled into the short glass of whisky.
“You still not convinced her to quit?”
He shook his head. “Tried everything apart from tying her up to a chair at home and leaving her there. Apparently that’s unreasonable,” he shrugged before taking another gulp.
“What about Suzy?” the unidentified twin asked Magnet.
“To be honest, the morning sickness is taking it out of her. Left her in bed this morning. Said I’d bring all the patches and cuts back to her to sort out.”
“Bet she loves you,” Chaos or Carnage or whoever the fuck he was laughed.
“You know she loves sorting it out for the club. She’d be well pissed if we went anywhere else.”
“True. And we don’t need to see that again,” Demon smiled.
Inside my jacket, my phone vibrated. At first, I ignored it. It stopped and then started again. This wasn’t a brother ringing for help. They were all here. With me. Something tugged at my stomach, and I fished the device out of my pocket.
Sophie.
I hadn’t even saved her number into my phone. But she’d been right. I still remembered it.
Pushing through the crowd, I waited until I got outside to hit the button and answer. As the doors closed behind me, and the deep drone of voices and laughter quieted, I tapped the screen.
“Ry?” Her voice was weak. Something was wrong.
“Soph? What’s happening?” Because I knew something was.
“There’s someone here,” she whispered, and my heart picked up another rhythm.
“Where?”
“Outside. They’re outside in the street.”
“Ok, Grey. Who are they?”
“Two bikers. Are they yours?”
Something swelled in my chest. Anger. Rage. And fear. I took a breath and steadied my voice.
“No, Sophie. They’re not. All my guys are here.”
“Oh, God.” A whisper again.
“I’m on my way, Soph. I need you to stay in the house. No matter what. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
“You come out for no one but me.”
“Yes.”
I ended the call and turned. Straight into Indie.
“Tell me.” The instruction in his voice was clear, and I didn’t have time to argue.
“Sophie. Two men on bikes outside her house. That’s not coincidence.”
I saw the look on his face. The way it crept across his eyes. The purse of his lips. I knew we’d talk about this later.
“Take Magnet and the Twins. Get her somewhere safe, Reap. Don’t bring her here.”
I nodded.
*****
We roared over the bridge. Weaving our way through any traffic in our way.
Switching lanes again and again. I led, pushing us faster.
The Rocket growled underneath me, as angry as I was that some fuckers had turned up at my girl’s house.
I didn’t care what cut they wore. They wouldn’t be riding away.
I’d have their cuts off their backs and the wheels from underneath them.
If I felt nice enough, I might let them limp home.
Otherwise, they could crawl on the broken legs I was going to fucking give them.
My hand squeezed the throttle in anger, the bike surging forwards, the engine dragging the world with it like it had teeth sunk into the road.
Power rolled through it. Low, brutal, relentless.
Nothing frantic, nothing desperate. Just force.
Two hundred-odd newton metres of it, rolling through the frame and straight into my bones.
It didn’t scream. It didn’t need to. It growled. Deep. Certain. And it knew exactly what it was capable of and didn’t give a fuck who was in its way. And that’s exactly why the bike worked for me.
The street came into view quickly, and I raced on, the engines behind me sounding like battle cries as we rode towards her.
But this wasn’t going to be a battle. This was punishment.
I spotted them further down the road, just where Sophie’s flat would be.
Their bikes were already lit up. Pinpricks of red and getting smaller.
We needed to be closer. Close enough, we could see whose cut they wore.
I yanked at the throttle. The bikes behind me joining in the fierce roar too, and I knew my brothers already had the same thought as I did.
We had speed and momentum as an advantage, but the unidentified riders in front of us were getting away fast. Magnet waved the Twins past us and then motioned for me to pull over.
“Go see to your girl,” he shouted over the noise of the engine. “Chaos and Carnage can sort those two out.”
“I’ll rip their fucking eyes out for even looking at her,” my blood pumped thick and heavy in my veins, the ride still vibrating in my ears.
“You can do that later. Let’s get her somewhere safe first.”
I nodded, kicking out the stand and killing the engine. I leapt up the first step, running up the path to the front door, struggling to pull my phone out of my leather jacket as I went. It only rang once, and then I heard the tiny pause as it connected.
“Soph. I’m at the front door, darlin’’. It’s safe to come down and let me in now.”
“Ok,” her voice was still faint. Uncertain. The call disconnected.
When she opened the door, she was pale. Her lip trembled. Her eyes raked over me, darted over my right shoulder and back to me.
“Don’t worry. He’s a King.” I said quickly. “We need to get you out of here, Soph.”
“What? Why?”
“Just for a few days. Maybe more. I’ll tell you later. Where can I take you that’s safe? Your dad’s?”
“What? No. Not there.” There was a shake in her voice. “I don’t have anywhere else, Ry. But I can’t go there.”
“Ok. Mine, then.”
“Your house?”
“Yeah. My house. You ok with that?”
“I…yeah. I guess.”
“Good. Come on.”
“What? Now?” she asked, suddenly taking a half step back.
“Yes. Right now.”
“I need to pack some things.”
I sighed. Right now, I didn’t know what that threat was exactly.
But I wasn’t taking any chances. We didn’t know what the Hand’s game plan was.
I could suspect and I could assume. But we didn’t have the intelligence.
And there was no fucking way I was letting Sophie stay in there by herself.
It was a gamble at my place. But at least my place had weapons on tap, and I knew its limitations.
There were too many entry points here. Too many options and far too many unknowns.
“Go get the essentials and just those, Grey. We need to get going.”
Sophie turned and jogged up the stairs. She was still in those light linen work trousers. Loose on her legs but tight on her arse. Danger or not, it was still a fucking good sight. When she returned, she was carrying a small bag, her car keys in her hand.
“We’re leaving that here,” I motioned to the white Mercedes sitting in the street.
“No. Why?”
“Because it’ll look like you’re at home.”
“How…?”
“Bike. You remember how to ride pillion, don’t you?”
Sophie swallowed. I watched the bob of her throat as she stared at the matt black bike on its side-stand in the street. Then she looked at me again, uncertainty in her eyes, but she nodded anyway.
“Here, Sophie,” Magnet called, walking towards us, his arm outstretched. “Put this on. It’s my wife’s,” he added when Sophie didn’t move.
“Thanks, bud.” I took the helmet from him. “I’ll get it straight back to you.”
“No rush. Suzy isn’t riding at the moment anyway. She’s pregnant. Few complications. We’re being careful,” Magnet turned to Sophie.
“Oh. Well, congratulations.” Sophie gave a smile. It was light. Clinical. Well-practised. I wondered whether he noticed.
“Where we going?” Magnet asked, going back to his bike.
“Mine.”
He nodded. “I’ll cover you.”
I pulled the heavy bike up from the stand, starting it up, feeling it growl in greeting underneath me. Then, I looked back at where she stood waiting. Unsure.
“Come on, Soph. We need to go.”
I saw the motion of her chest as she exhaled. But she didn’t move. Just stood and stared, clutching the helmet in her hands.
I kicked out the stand and let it settle to the side again, climbing off and leaving it.
I could almost hear the impatience in the engine as I stepped towards my doctor.
Pressing both hands either side of her face, I tipped her head up, reaching for her eyes, for the multiple shades of grey I knew I’d see in there.
“I know this is a lot right now.” Sophie looked at me.
Really looked at me. Her eyes gripping mine.
Not pleading. Not screaming. But searching for reassurance.
For help. “You know how to ride pillion, Soph. Just this time you have a helmet. And that bike, it won’t let you down.
Get on. Wrap your arms round me. Close your eyes if you need to. But I need you to get on the bike.”
I took half a step back, watching her carefully. Her top teeth pulled over her bottom lip, not even for a second, but I saw it. Then she took a breath and pushed the helmet onto her head and stepped towards me.