Chapter Five. #2
Calmly, I looked around at my brothers and sisters.
No one avoided my gaze. “McKay states that he and his club raped me. Honestly, I don’t remember.
I might not have been able to see faces.
I could recognise voices. However, I was constantly drugged.
McKay could have been there, and I wouldn’t know. ”
“Do you want to?” Undertaker asked.
“Yes. If McKay touched me, he’ll pay like the others.”
Some of my brothers winced, but several grinned. Once I’d come out of my fugue state, I’d gone batshit crazy on the assholes who’d held me. They’d suffered longer than me and far worse. I had Slasher; they didn’t.
For three months, they were tortured daily before they died. If McKay and the Screaming Barons had been involved, they’d pay the same way.
“There could be more of those assholes alive,” Undertaker commented.
“Never asked Myers how many bodies were found or if they’d been identified. That’s a huge oversight.” Warden looked guilty.
“McKay went quiet and hid. What’s the betting they’ve been building up?” Vogue inquired.
“That’s a sure thing. If they had two Bloody Scorpions with them, then McKay’s got allies,” Warden agreed.
“Are the Bloody Scorpions behind the trafficking, or was McKay?” Vogue asked.
“Damn good question. The Bloody Scorpions would make sense as they’ve chapters across the country, much like us. We need to inform Jameson about our suspicions. Difficult to believe McKay is this organised,” Warden muttered.
“Is it?” I said, shocking everyone. “McKay plays dumb, but he’s not. The motherfucker had more secrets than we realised. Trafficking isn’t hard. You kidnap the girls, lock them up, and sell at auction. Very easy for the Screaming Barons to make plenty of dough.”
“He’d need the contacts,” Vogue shook her head.
“Nope. McKay needed one contact who could spread the word. Iona described what she saw at their clubhouse. Imagine a young teen or woman strung over that. They’d break within a week. McKay could take them anywhere, and they wouldn’t try to run,” I stated.
Most of the club looked appalled, but Warden held my gaze. “It’s possible.”
“Yeah,” I agreed softly. “Plus, Katie and I were both targeted by traffickers. Iona has been taken once and nearly again today. Prez, we were kidnapped to send a message.”
Warden couldn’t deny my words, as he closed his eyes in pain.
“The message was received; we’re not invincible. Your road captain was taken and held for two months. Your enforcer’s baby sister was held for six months and forced into prostitution. A message was sent, and we missed it. Today McKay ensured you received it loud and clear.”
None of them could deny my words. The truth was out.
We’d been too stupid to see it when I’d been abducted, and that had led to Katie being kidnapped and sold to a whorehouse.
Today McKay had opened our eyes, and we were the fools.
But he’d pay. I swore on my life that he would.
For now, I needed to work out; I was itching to get out of my skin.
Knuckles stepped back and wiped sweat from his brow. We bumped fists, both of us panting, and headed to the corner to have our gloves removed. I’d been surprised when he’d approached me after I kicked his ass, but Knuckles had been a good sport about it.
“If I had to lose to anyone, I’d pick you,” he’d said gamely. Followed by, “Want a sparring partner?”
Yup, I sure as hell did. Knuckles could match anyone’s aggression.
His manager wasn’t too happy, but Knuckles ignored him.
We were working out in the gym we underground fighters used.
It wasn’t a high-tech one; this was old-school, with the grizzled trainers to boot.
They were aware we fought underground but didn’t care.
“Heard you run tyres,” Knuckles said after our bout.
“Yeah?”
“At the junkyard?”
“Fantastic for building stamina and muscle,” I agreed.
“Wouldn’t mind joining you.”
I handed him my cell. “Put your digits in. I’ll tell you the next time I’m going. It should be Saturday or Sunday.”
“That would be great. Morning is the best for me,” he replied, handing my phone back.
“Yeah, can do that. I’ll send a message.”
Knuckles nodded and headed out of the gym. I grabbed my bag, walked to the door, and stopped when Mike blocked me.
“Hey,” he murmured, checking me over. Seeing the bruises gone, he frowned.
“What do you want, Mike?”
“To check on you; you took a beating the other night,” he stated.
Amused, I snorted. “Mike, I’m a fighter. Knuckles is still recovering. I gave as good as I got.”
“The ring’s not the place for you,” he said, and I blinked. Had I heard him right?
“Says who?” I demanded hotly.
“Me. You don’t belong there,” Mike replied.
“Are you fuckin’ dictating to me? Who the hell do you think you are, Mike?”
“Someone who cares. Knuckles hurt you; he could have killed you. You got a death wish or something?” Mike demanded.
“What the fuck?” I was floored for several reasons. Who did Mike think he was, trying to tell me what to do? And suicide? If I did, that was none of his business.
“Mike, I’m a trained fighter, and I don’t fuckin’ answer to you,” I snarled.
“Your problem, Dynamo, is that you don’t answer to anyone. You’re a loose cannon,” Mike snapped.
I checked Mike over before circling him. “Nope. Don’t see it.”
“What?” Mike demanded, puzzled.
“A Royal Bastard patch. They’re the only ones I let talk to me like that. Fuck you, asshole.”
I walked away, but Mike wasn’t done. “Some demons you can’t beat into submission.”
Temper riled, I spun so quickly that he stepped back, startled. “You know nothing about my nightmares. Don’t presume you do!”
“Know when someone’s running.”
“Do I look like I’m running? God, I loathe motherfuckers like you. Think you have all the answers, don’t ya? You’ve got shit. Stay the hell away from me, Mike. The underground is my home, not yours, Daddy Perfect.”
With that jab, I left the building furious, hit my bike, and headed for the open road. I needed to ride.
Mike
Shit, I’d almost blurted that I knew. If I had, Dynamo would have gone wild.
She didn’t realise, but the truth of what happened was in those beautiful, expressive eyes.
Dynamo had been missing for eight weeks; I’d put together the timeline.
I didn’t need to question what transpired.
They’d tried to break her and had nearly succeeded.
Dynamo had survived, but she had scars. Obviously, she now trained excessively to ensure she’d never be a victim again.
“Shit,” I muttered as I got in the car. I had to pick the girls up from school. With Dynamo occupying my mind, I drove there and made it just in time. The school run was something I hated. The moms swarmed me because I was one of the few fathers picking up their kids.
I knew what they had seen. A single dad who was quite good-looking and in great shape. Over a quarter of the mothers were single, and the rest didn’t care. They’d have a fling at the drop of a hat.
Not a shame I didn’t find anyone attractive, though. They certainly wouldn’t be able to handle my life.
I inwardly groaned as Shauna, Pamela, and Missy headed for me.
All three were a pain in my fuckin’ ass.
Missy was married, but made it clear she was up for some fun.
Pamela was divorced and was searching for husband number two to take care of her and her brat of a daughter.
Shauna was single, and quite simply, a goddamn bitch.
I loathed them. But they appeared to believe they had dibs on me.
“Hi Mike!” Shauna trilled.
“Shauna,” I replied, and she beamed. Didn’t matter how I greeted her; she always thought it was a welcome.
“You’re looking great today, new haircut?” Pamela added.
“No.”
“Something’s different,” Shauna tapped her chin as she pretended to think.
Here it came.
“You’ve been working out…” Missy sighed as she felt my arm up.
I moved away. “Missy, I’ve asked you not to do that.”
The damn bitch batted her eyes. “Aw, come on, Mike, don’t be shy.”
“Missy, I’m not a piece of meat. If someone you weren’t attracted to kept touching you, you’d be offended,” I stated, not caring how my words sounded.
Missy drew in an insulted breath and stormed off. One down, two to go. Shauna and Pamela seemed to pick up on my mood for once and smiled sweetly before moving away.
Evilly, I grinned as Raven appeared with Robin on her heels.
“Dad!” they bellowed, and I laughed as I swung them up. Several of the moms were watching with lust in their eyes, but I ignored them. I kissed my angels and put them down.
“Come on, girls, let’s get home, do your homework, and then how about pizza tonight?”
They screamed yes and made me wince, but a grin still escaped me. This was my life, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.