Twelve
TWELVE
REV
We slip into the warehouse through the side entrance, the metal door creaking faintly as it closes behind us. The air inside is heavy with the scent of oil and rust, and the dim light from the overhead lamps casts eerie shadows on the walls.
Our small team of men move silently, each step calculated, before taking cover behind a stack of crates near the centre of the vast, open space. We’ll have a clear view of the proceedings from here while staying hidden in the shadows. My heart pounds in my chest, the anticipation almost unbearable. We need to be ready to strike the moment Gordon and the Mod Boys’ leader appear.
Minutes pass like hours, the silence pressing in on us. Then, finally, the sound of footsteps echoes through the warehouse. I peer through a gap between the crates and see them—Gordon, flanked by his handful of thugs, accompanied by another man surrounded by bodyguards. As they step into the light, my breath catches in my throat.
The leader of the Mod Boys isn’t some unknown criminal. It’s my father.
I sneak a glance at Hades, and his eyes are wide with shock. We’re both shaken, but there’s no time to process what we’re seeing. The exchange is happening right in front of us, and we need to act.
Gordon and our father stand, face-to-face, discussing their business with low, guarded voices. The tension is palpable, and I can feel my anger rising, and my fists clench at my sides. This is the man who was so abusive to my brother and me that we felt compelled to run away, and now he’s here, conspiring with our enemy to bring down the organisation and the man who saved us. This can’t be a coincidence. Can it?
I signal to Hades and Racer, but just as we’re about to make our move, a gunshot rings out, shattering the silence. The bullet hits one of Shaun’s men in the chest. He must have stepped into view a moment too soon.
That’s when all hell breaks loose.
We charge forwards, weapons drawn, as chaos erupts around us. Gunfire explodes from all directions, echoing off the walls as bullets whiz past. The warehouse is filled with the sounds of bodies clashing and falling to the floor.
I dodge a punch from one of Gordon’s men, and when my fist connects with his jaw, I send him sprawling. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hades grappling with another thug, their struggle fierce and violent. Racer has entered the fight and is a whirlwind of motion, taking down opponents with a precision that’s almost surgical.
But my focus narrows to a single target—my father—James Quinn. I surge towards him, adrenaline pumping through my veins. He turns, eyes widening in surprise as he recognises me. For a moment, time seems to freeze. Then, with a roar of fury, I swing my fist, and it connects with his face. The impact is jarring, sending a shock wave up my arm.
Blood spurts from his nose, and he staggers back, but I don’t relent. Years of pent-up anger and betrayal fuel my blows as I land punch after punch, my knuckles cracking against bone. He tries to defend himself, but I’m relentless. A storm of hatred that won’t be stopped.
Around us, the fight rages on, but all I can see is my father, the man who chose this life over his family and brutalised his sons. My vision blurs with anger and tears, but I keep hitting him, each punch a release of the pain and betrayal I’ve carried for so long.
Finally, Hades is there, pulling me back. “Enough, Hadrian! Enough!” he shouts, his voice cutting through the red haze of my fury.
I stumble back, chest heaving and hands shaking. My father is lying on the ground, bloodied and beaten, and struggling to rise.
The warehouse falls into a tense silence as the last of Gordon’s men are subdued. We’ve won, but the victory feels hollow. I look at Hades, and I see the same pain and confusion in his eyes that I’m feeling.
We’ve captured Gordon and our father, but the cost is high. As the dust settles, I realise that this is far from over. The real fight has just begun, and the wounds from tonight will take a long time to heal.
The cold air bites at my face as I drive with my windows down through the narrow streets of Newcastle. The familiar sounds of the city usually bring me comfort. But tonight, my mind is too restless for that.
Harley’s words keep replaying in my head — ‘Sometimes, choices need to be selfish, or you’ll forever live for others.’
When she said it to me, her eyes were filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. It was a simple statement, but the weight of it feels like a heavy chain around my neck.
I pull over to the side of the road and park by an old, weathered bench overlooking the Tyne. The bright lights reflect off the water, creating a shimmering path that leads to nowhere. I sit down, staring at the river, trying to make sense of the turmoil inside me.
The Royal Bastards, my family, are in Belfast. That’s my life, my world.
But then there’s Harley.
Sweet, strong Harley, who’s fighting tooth and nail to keep her father’s organisation from crumbling. I have to decide what matters most to me, and it’s not going to be easy. I’ve walked away from family before. I don’t know if I can do it again. If I stay with Harley, it would mean I have to leave the club. I would never willingly relinquish my place within the Royal Bastards, but I know it won’t work if I’m living in England.
I want to be with her.
But I don’t want to abandon my brothers.
After the fight was over and we had Gordon and my father locked up tight, I told Racer and Hades I needed time to think. I know I have to help them interrogate the two arseholes, but it’s the last thing I want to do right now.
Shaking my head, I return to the car, and starting the engine, I head back on the motorway to South Shields. I want to talk to Harley, but first, I need to see how my brother is doing after finding out our father was the one who was involved in trying to destroy Shaun and his organisation. Deep down, I know his involvement isn’t an accident. Somehow, he must have found out that we went to work for Hunt after we ran away from home. I don’t believe in coincidences, and my father has always been vengeful.
When I pull up to Hunt’s house, I see Hades and Racer waiting outside, Racer’s smoking while Hades is leaning against the wall, one leg bent at the knee and foot pressed against the bricks.
“Hey lads,” I say when I step up to them.
Hades doesn’t say a word. Instead, he pulls me into a hug, and we hold each other for a long, silent moment.
When we pull apart, Hades says, “We’ll have time to talk, but there’s someone waitin’ on you.”
I know he means Harley. I nod and head inside. The living room is quiet, so I pour a drink and stare at the tumbler of Irish whiskey while I wait. I don’t need Dutch courage, but it won’t hurt.
The sound of footsteps approaching pulls me from my thoughts. I look up to see Harley walking towards me, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle, hugging herself. She must have been worried, especially when I didn’t return with the others.
“Hadrian,” she says softly, taking a seat on one of the couches. The deep brown of its leather, a stark contrast to her black hair with a blue streak running through it. “I’ve been worried about you. I wasn’t sure where you’d gone.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak just yet. She waits patiently, her presence calming the storm inside me, if only a little.
“I’m at war with myself, Harley,” I finally admit, my voice barely more than a whisper. “There’s so much going on in my head right now. I feel as if I’m being torn apart. Finding my father in that warehouse angered me so much, I lost my shite,” I admit.
She glances at my knuckles that are still blood stained. The cuts sting, and I know I should clean them up, but that will have to wait a bit longer. It’s been an evening of reckoning. For years I’ve wanted to make our father pay for what he did to us, so getting that chance was bliss.
“I know. Hades told me,” she responds with a sad smile.
“…and I enjoyed it.”
“But, like you said, you only enjoy violence when it’s directed towards someone who deserves it,” she reminds me of my earlier confession. “You’re father definitely deserved it, Hadrian.”
I nod because, deep down, I know she’s right.
“Then, there’s this other war I’m fighting. I want to stay with you. But my family, the club… they’re my life. How do I choose between the two?”
Harley rises and makes her way towards me. Her movements capture my attention, and I can’t look away from her. She takes my hand, her fingers warm against my cold skin. “You don’t have to choose, Hadrian. I don’t want to tear you away from your family or your brothers. But I do need you to be honest with me, with yourself. What do you really want?”
I close my eyes, trying to envision my future. There’s the life I know with the Royal Bastards in Belfast. The camaraderie, the sense of belonging, and the thrill of the ride. My family.
But then there’s Harley.
The thought of being without her feels like a knife twisting in my gut.
“I want you and my family in Belfast,” I say, opening my eyes to meet hers. “But I don’t know how to make it work.”
She squeezes my hand, her eyes filled with understanding. “We’ll figure it out. Together. Maybe you don’t have to choose. Maybe there’s a way for you to have both.” Her words give me a sliver of hope, but the doubts still linger.
“How? The club means everything to me. And they need me, especially now, with all that’s happened…”
Harley nods, her expression thoughtful. “I understand if you need to go back, even if it’s just for a while. I won’t hold it against you, Hadrian. I know how important family is.”
Her selflessness stuns me. She’s offering me the chance to step back and figure things out without any pressure. But the thought of leaving her, even temporarily, tears at my heart.
“I can’t bear the thought of being away from you,” I admit, my voice cracking. “But I also can’t abandon my brothers.”
I lead her back to sit down on the couch. She’s shivering, and I wrap her in my arms. Her head rests on my shoulder, and we sit in silence for a while, the weight of the decision I have to make pressing down on us both.
Finally, she lifts her head, her eyes bright with determination.
“Hadrian, whatever you decide, I want you to know I support you. I want you to be happy. And I truly believe we can make this work, no matter what.”
Her faith in us is both comforting and terrifying. I can’t hide from this decision any longer. I have to face it head-on.
“I have to go back to Belfast,” I tell her, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “I have responsibilities there, and I need to talk to Monster and the rest of the brothers. But I promise you, Harley, I will return to you.”
She nods, a small, sad smile playing on her lips. “I understand. Just promise me you’ll stay safe.”
“I promise,” I say, pulling her into my arms.
We sit there on the couch, holding each other and drawing strength from our connection.
It’s getting late, and I’m ready to pass out. I’m so shattered. The silence between us is heavy with unspoken questions. Harley’s gaze is fixed on me, her eyes a mix of curiosity and concern. I know she wants me to tell her what happened tonight.
“What are you going to do about your father?” she finally asks, her voice steady and soft.
I lean back, running a hand through my hair, the reality of the situation weighing heavily on me. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. It’s hard to believe he’s the leader of the Mod Boys. I’m sure his endgame was to take over your father’s organisation and run it alongside Gordon. That’s not something I can let slide, even if I wanted to.”
Harley nods, understanding etched in her features. “I know this isn’t easy for you, Hadrian. I’ll support whatever you decide to do in relation to your father. He needs to pay for everything he’s done.”
I look at her, appreciating her resolve. “You’re right. I’ll confront him and try to get some answers, but the violence, the murders, and the extortion need to end. The Mod Boys gang needs to end.”
Her eyes search mine. “And what about Gordon? I want to interrogate him myself. I need to know why he turned against us, and why he poisoned my father.”
I hesitate, the thought of Harley facing Gordon is unsettling. “Are you sure about that? He’s probably going to say things to goad you. I don’t want you to hear the shite he’s going to spew to make you angry or to hurt you.”
“I’m sure,” she replies firmly. “I need to speak to him. I want to understand his motives. This isn’t just about revenge. It’s about protecting my family and the future of the organisation.”
I sigh, knowing there’s no dissuading her when she’s this determined. “All right. But we do it together. I’m not letting you face him alone. Hades and Racer will be there, too, so he’ll have no way of getting to you. I don’t want you to be hurt by his shite. Okay?”
A small smile tugs at her lips. “Okay, Rev.” Again, her use of my road name makes my chest tighten with emotion.
As the weight of what we’re about to do settles over us, we sit in silence, hands intertwined. I can feel the strength of our bond. There’s an unspoken promise between us that we’ll face whatever comes next, side by side.
“I’ll go speak to my father. He’ll want to know what’s happening,” Harley says, breaking the silence.
“Aye, he needs to know,” I agree and Harley nods. A sense of determination settles over me. “We’ve got this. We won’t stop until we get all the answers we need.”
She smiles, a fierce glint in her eyes. “Damn right we won’t.”
As we rise from the couch, I can’t help but feel a renewed surge of pride in Harley. She’s strong, determined, and unyielding in the face of adversity.
With her by my side, we’ll uncover the truth, confront our enemies, and protect what matters most. And no matter what happens, we’ll do it as a team, stronger and more united than ever.