23. Rogue
“Now this is what I call dinner and a show.”
Sitting with Lock and Fort in the security room, I watch the monitors and soak in the latest purge. Grim and Thorn are in the Confessional with a man who walked on a rape charge because the judge ruled that his confession was illegally obtained.
“Oh, shit,” Lock comments with amusement in his tone. “Grim just grabbed the ax.”
Fort pops another handful of Skittles in his mouth, his eyes glued to the screen. “Hundred bucks says he cuts off his dick.” His words come out jumbled because of the candy.
“That’s a fool’s bet,” I say with a chuckle. “He absolutely gonna chop off his dick. It’s what a rapist deserves.”
We watch with fascination as Grim lifts the ax above his head, his expression full of murderous rage.
“What the hell?” Fort snaps when Thorn grabs Grim’s arm to stop his assault.
“What is he doing?” I ask.
Thorn slowly walks to the weapon wall and reaches for something. It’s hard to see what it is because his back is to the camera and whatever he grabs is lower on the wall. But when he turns around, I spot the torch in his hand.
“Well, this is new,” Lock says drying.
“Is he gonna…” My words trail off as Thorn ignites the torch and lowers the flame to the sinner’s crotch. “Yep, he is. This is awesome.”
“Shoulda taken that bet,” Fort states. “There’s not gonna be anything left for Grim to chop off.”
“I don’t know how it’s possible, but I continue to be surprised at all the creative ways these two pun?—”
“Uh, guys,” Lock says, pointing to one of the other monitors that shows the common room of the clubhouse. “Is it just me or do they look like they’re on a mission?”
On the screen are all the ol’ ladies, Jez, and Skye. They’re standing in a group just outside the elevator, their gazes swinging from side to side like they”re looking for someone. And not a single one of them looks like they’re looking for a good time.
I reach for the volume knob and turn it up when Cece’s lips start to move.
“...out here now,” she demands. “We’ve got shit to talk about.:”
“Rogue, you might wanna go out there, see what this is all about,” Fort says.
“Why me? Soul can deal with his woman.”
“True, but your woman is with them,” Lock points out.
“She’s not my?—”
“Whatever, bro. Just go see what the fuck’s going on,” Lock snaps.
I groan with frustration. Things in the Confessional were just gettin’ good. I make a mental note to punish Skye for the interruption later as I stride out of the security room.
When I reach the common room, Soul and Malice are standing in front of the ladies, arms crossed over their chests, feet braced shoulder-width apart.
Uh oh.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Jez snaps. “You need to call church, now.”
“What’s going on?” I ask as I step up next to Prez.
“They’ve lost their damn minds,” Malice barks.
Apple grins, but there’s a devilish quality to the curve of her lips, and she moves forward to stab a finger in her husband’s chest. “The only thing I’m losing is my appetite for your cock.”
“What the hell did I do?” Malice counters.
“Call church, Soul,” Jez says calmly. “Trust me, I’ve got information you’re all gonna want.”
Soul glances at Malice and then me, and we both shrug.
“Fine.” Soul heaves a sigh and shifts his glare to Cece. “We’ll be talking about this later.”
Cece smiles sweetly. “Figured as much.”
Fifteen minutes later, the room where we hold church is full. Grim and Thorn are still covered in blood from the purge, but that doesn’t seem to faze the women. It doesn’t even appear to bother Skye. Each ol’ lady stands behind her man’s chair, Jez stands next to Cece, and Skye is behind me. I could pretend that I don’t care, but I do.
She’s choosing me.
“Before you start, I’ve got something to say,” Soul states. The ladies all nod and look at him expectantly. “If you ever pull a stunt like this again, there will be consequences. I don’t appreciate being told what to do with my own club. Furthermore, don’t think for a second that you being in church now changes any of the rules. This is an exception, one I’m not even a little happy about.”
“You’ll change your mind,” Jez says, her tone full of confidence. “As soon as you see what I’ve found, us being here will be the last thing on your mind.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Yeah, we will,” Jez snaps. She bends to retrieve her laptop from her bag and then sets it on the table. “I took it upon myself to dig into Purgatory’s finances. Noth?—”
“Nobody asked you to do that,” Soul snarls.
“Since when is that something that would stop me?” Jez counters. “You’re my twin, dude. Tell me, would you sit back and wait for instructions when you know damn well that you can help?”
Soul rolls his eyes. “You know I wouldn’t.”
“Exactly. So, how about you shut the fuck up and let me continue?”
Soul jumps to his feet and whirls on his sister. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that.”
Jez arches a brow, but she doesn’t back down or show any indication that she’s afraid.
“You about done throwing your temper tantrum?” she asks. “Because I’ve got shit to say, and you’re gonna listen.”
“Prez, just let her speak,” Malice suggests. “Clearly, she’s gonna do what she wants regardless of how angry it makes you.”
“Fine,” Soul capitulates. “But make it quick. My patience is about gone.”
Jez shifts her gaze from her brother to each of us, one by one taking us in. “As I was saying, I dug into the bar’s finances, as well as the club’s. I also hacked into Skye’s bank accounts.”
“Why?”
“Because something is going on.” She shrugs. “And it didn’t seem like you all were doing shit about it.”
“Can we just get on with it?” I snap, getting frustrated at the lack of information.
“Yes, Rogue, we can,” Cece says. “Jez was able to determine that someone is setting Skye up to take the fall for stealing from Purgatory.”
“What?!” I shout. “Who?”
“We don’t know yet.” Jez mirrors her laptop screen on the large monitor so we can all see what she’s looking at. “As you can see, there are deposits into her bank accounts that exactly match the amounts of missing money. But Skye didn’t make those deposits, and I can prove it.”
Soul crosses his arms over his chest. “Go on.”
For the next ten minutes, Jez and the others show us all the evidence they’ve found as well as explain their working theories of the theft. With each new detail, my anger forms and develops into a hurricane of rage.
“So,” Skye says when all the facts have been presented. “What’re we gonna do about this?”
“There is no ‘we’,” Animal states, his tone full of frustration. “Prez, I think it’s time they leave so we can discuss all of this.”
“I agree,” Frenzy comments. “This is our problem to handle, not theirs.”
“It’s mine,” Skye snaps. “I’m the one being framed, and I’m not leaving until I know you’re gonna make this all go away.”
I stand and turn around to face her. We haven’t had the whole ‘club business’ discussion yet, and I’m starting to regret that fact. It would make my next statement so much easier if she knew the score.
“We appreciate all you guys have done,” I begin. “But it’s time to go. This is club business, so we’ll handle it as a club.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s time for you all to go,” Soul says, his tone brooking no argument. “We’ll take things from here.”
“But we?—”
“Go,” Soul orders. “Now!”
The women exchange looks, but they do as they’re told and leave the room. I have no doubt that each man is going to pay for this later, and I’m not all that broken up about it. I’ll greedily take anything Skye wants to dish out.
“I’ll deny saying this, but they did good work,” Soul says.
Chuckles fill the room.
“Maybe too good,” Malice states.
“Why do you say that?” I ask.
“Because whoever is doing this likely now knows that they’ve been found out. And our women have painted giant neon targets on their backs.”
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Yeah, shit,” Malice agrees.
Grim pounds the table until we’re all looking at him. “What’re we gonna do about this? Because I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let anyone hurt Violet.”
“We’re not gonna let anyone hurt any of them,” Soul vows.
“I think we should add more cameras at Purgatory,” I suggest. “I know what Jez found was all digital, but someone’s doing something with cash because it ended up in Skye’s locker.”
“I can have those installed by tomorrow,” Lock comments. “I’ve got a stash of top-notch security cameras.”
“Good,” Soul says. “In the meantime, Fort, I want you to work with Jez, and see what more you two can dig up.”
“Got it,” Fort quips.
“I’m not convinced anyone is in any physical danger,” Malice chimes in. “There’s been plenty of time to hurt Skye, and nothing’s happened. This is about the money, plain and simple.”
“I agree,” Abyss adds. “I think we beef up security at Purgatory and keep our eyes and ears open. We don’t wanna do too much that we spook the thief otherwise we’ll never catch them.”
“All in favor of keeping our efforts somewhat on the down low, say ‘aye’,” Soul instructs.
The vote passes, and assignments are given. Soul dismisses church, and my brothers file out of the room. I hang back to talk to Soul alone.
“Need something?” he asks when it’s just the two of us.
“Do you really think Skye’s not in danger?”
Soul rests his hand on my shoulder. “Bro, if I thought she was, I’d put a protection detail on her.”
“If anything happens to her…”
I can’t even let myself finish that thought because it’s unthinkable.
Soul stares at me, his gaze all-knowing. “You’re all in with her, aren’t you?”
“Huh?”
“Skye. You like her.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“In fact, you like her so much that you’re gonna claim her.”
“How do?—”
“Dude, I’ve been in your shoes.” He chuckles. “Once you’re in love, it’s easy to spot with others.”
“I’m not in love.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“I’m not.”
Soul moves past me toward the door. “Whatever you say,” he calls over his shoulder.
I’m not.