Chapter 12
Ripper
Five Hours Later
I stopped my truck in front of the clubhouse for the Pinewood Lake Chapter of Wrath MC.
It was far enough away from the bad shit.
But it was close enough to get to her.
And I needed that closeness.
More than I cared to admit.
Even more than I was willing to allow.
And that was another one of my fuck-ups.
I sighed, then really took the building in.
It looked like an older converted warehouse of sorts, done in faded gunmetal gray.
It had two levels, from what I could see.
Right above a set of doors hung the Wrath MC logo, with Pinewood Lake blazoned right below it.
And in the center was Lucifer.
I couldn’t wait to be a part of something where someone would always have my back, yeah, I guess you could say that I would have had that with Cotton and the brothers that make up the Mountain of Clearwater chapter. But something about this club, this place, it just - clicked.
I climbed out of my truck, closed the door, then grabbed my duffel bag and made my way to the doors.
Once I made it inside, I headed to the bar, and the woman who was standing in front of it.
I didn’t let my eyes take her in.
‘Cause nothing and no one held a candle to Creedence.
Inwardly, I rolled my eyes.
Creedence owned me. Body. Heart. Soul.
“Well, hey there, sugar. How can I help you?” she asked in a sweet tone.
“Looking for Storm,” I said in a deadpan tone.
She actually fucking pouted.
I did roll my eyes then.
“I’ll get him for you,” she said and then walked away.
I took in the clubhouse while I waited.
A man came walking over and said, “So, you’re looking for Storm?”
I lifted my chin, “I’m Ripper. Cotton and Garret sent me here because I asked for a transfer.”
The man nodded, then said, “Name’s Cason. Follow me.”
I did so.
We stepped into a large room dominated by a huge-ass table with the club’s logo carved into the center. Fourteen black chairs surrounded it. Cason pointed to the chair at the far end.
Then he introduced me to everyone.
“Need the details,” Red, the VP, said.
I lifted a brow, “Heard the conversation y’all had with Cotton. I was there. What more do you want to know?”
Storm chuckled, “Boy... got a feeling about you. But we need the rest of the story.”
I swallowed, then took in a deep breath.
“Heard my sister screaming and crying. I raced into the house. Kicked her bedroom door open. He was on top of her. Trying to rape her. I launched myself at him. He beat the shit out of me. Someone heard it. I didn’t know I’d pulled Ms. Strickland’s number out of my pocket—the one I had written on a piece of paper. ”
“I knew that was hard. And we asked because we don’t let soft pussies into our club. You done good. Now, got one more question?” Storm said after he slapped me on the shoulder.
I jerked up my chin.
“Know that Garret choked the life out of the piece of shit. Know they got him back. Took him to the hospital to treat him. Care to tell me how he’s found dead the next morning?”
I locked my eyes with his and stared.
His eyes flared.
Then they narrowed.
“How did you kill him?” Storm asked.
In an uncaring tone, I said, “I ripped his throat out.”
If I thought his eyes had flared before... it was nothing compared to now.
He stared at me, slack-jawed.
Red was the same.
Tank as well.
Clip was smirking, “Finally. Someone who likes depravity.”
Cason nodded.
Hippie covered his throat with his hand.
Gravel smirked.
Then... not even a beat later, Storm lifted his chin.
“Welcome to the club... Ripper.”