Chapter Five.
God’s Reclaimer
I stared at her photo. Margaret Steelman. She’d fallen long ago, but I’d not been here to catch her. If I had, would Margaret be so disgustingly filthy? God had called her, but she turned her back ten years prior and fucked the devil.
I cocked my head, looking at her pouty mouth and half-lidded eyes. She mocked her calling, taking the name Nun and making it something vile. Who did Margaret think she was? Like this, she was nothing special.
I tapped the flayer in my arms. Specks of blood flew as I spun around and looked at my display.
Nineteen, all returned to the embrace of God. Some had been easy to break free of the devil; some hadn’t, but they gave him up in the end. Those who found the path back independently made me smile with warmth. Their wings appeared beautiful in the light.
The halos above their heads, their wings spread and hair falling over their perfect faces, showed the rapture of God.
I scowled at the undeserving. They weren’t nearly as peaceful; no halo or wings for them.
No, they were presently one with the cross and wallowing in the Divine Being’s judgment.
I’d returned them to God as I had promised.
None walked behind the devil anymore, a slut for his lying tongue and spike-studded cock.
I tapped the picture. Margaret Steelman.
She once was Agnes Magdalene. Now she was just a whore.
My fingers shook around the flogger. It needed to bite into the sinner’s flesh, force them to repent, destroy the seed of the corrupt, and return them to God.
I was God’s tool on earth, and he demanded results.
In the fifteen years I’d slaved for his will, he’d given me only rewards.
God used my body to cleanse theirs, my fervour to ignite theirs, and my hand as his rod.
I turned to the redeemed in front of me.
Her eyes lit with fear. They should be. She realised God was judging her and had found her wanting.
But she’d make it up to Him in heaven. God would punish her there.
He was waiting for me to send the Sinner there.
In ecstasy, with his mercy running through me, I raised the instrument of God, ignoring her whimper; and I wouldn’t stop now.
The barbed tips of the flogger flew, and the Sinner’s scream was ambrosia.
Wylde
“He’s sure?” I asked.
“Yup,” Hatton confirmed. “The fool didn’t realise who he released until he returned to his station and saw the most wanted posters. He fuckin’ had Fox.”
What a total idiot. Didn’t their uniforms study the top ten? Hatton ensured ours did. What type of captain/chief didn’t ensure his officers knew who to keep an eye out for? One in fuckin’ Worcester, MA.
“Miles Fox has the luck of the devil,” I growled out.
“He’s leaving a body trail behind him. His latest victims looked like Storm.” Hatton put four photos down in front of me. Fuck, they did. The pictures showed before Fox and after Fox images. Those poor women had suffered.
“Christ,” I muttered.
“That brings Fox’s kill count to nine.”
“Nine?” I’d known of eight.
“They identified his sister’s remains.”
“Holy shit, Fox had killed the kid!” I gasped. A few weeks ago, we’d been notified that the investigating cops had excavated some bones.
“Feds are taking this over. Too many people are dropping the ball. We know he’s coming here; he wants Storm. Each day, I want his picture on the board so our guys can identify him. If anything happens to Storm, the Royal Harlots will go scorched earth on anyone who fucked up,” Hatton announced.
“I’ll notify them. I’ll also check on that assault victim from the other day alongside Cassidy,” I stated, standing.
“Do that and ensure they’re aware of how dangerous he is. I understand there’s some weird shit over there, but Fox is unpredictable.”
I nodded but didn’t elaborate. My loyalty when at work was to them, but I wouldn’t betray Sapphire’s club for anything. Hatton understood the risk of placing me in the middle.
As I walked out, Cassidy entered. “We’re heading out,” I declared, and Cassidy did an about-face and followed me. I brought him up to date as we headed for the car.
“This guy is a whack job,” Cassidy stated, and I laughed.
“Not the legal definition, but it will do,” I retorted as Cassidy chuckled.
“Fox really has a hard-on for Storm,” he said as I got in the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, it makes little sense that he fixated on her. Storm broke his nose, and Fox claims that ruined his life? I mean, get real,” Cassidy replied.
“There’s an ill wind blowing in, as my gran says,” I quoted.
Cassidy smirked. “You’d hate a quiet existence; that’s why you shacked up with the RHMC President,” he teased.
“Like you don’t have your eye on someone,” I shot back, and Cassidy shut up. Thought so!
“Fox is heading for Soul—or me. My guess is Soul. Fox got his nose broken because he broke Soul’s arm.
By hurting Soul again, Fox knows a couple of things.
One, he’ll draw me out, and two, I’ll confront him to protect Soul.
Fox is a rabid monster, a bully, and egotistical.
The ass assumed he couldn’t do anything wrong and hated that a girl put him in his place,” Storm said, shaking her head.
“Whatever his reason is, Miles Fox is unhinged. Storm, he’s leaving a trail of bodies behind, and worse, he definitely killed his sister; her bones were found in the family’s backyard.”
Storm looked shocked. “I remember little of her. She was Soul’s age, so not on my radar. Poor kid, I know she disappeared.”
“She died around the time the parents passed on. Fox reported her missing, and when seven years was up, he registered her death and claimed her half of the money,” I explained.
“That sick fuck. His arrogance was always going to be his downfall. Wylde, you mentioned victims?”
“Fox is dropping bodies, and they all look like you, Storm,” I said, not holding back. Sapphire hissed as Storm’s face saddened.
“I feel sorry for them, but he won’t control my life.
No, Prez, I understand the danger, and I’ll be extra vigilant, but you’re not locking me down.
They’ve been chasing him for months and haven’t got close.
The one time they did, Wylde explained Fox slipped through their fingers.
Soul needs warning, but I’m alert,” Storm said, cutting Sapphire off.
My woman’s gaze narrowed, and I knew she wouldn’t argue in public.
Storm had bought some time, but not much, as Sapphire watched her head outside.
“Babe,” I grabbed her attention. “It’s best we get Fox alive. Some families need to see justice.”
Sapphire met my eyes before nodding. Whatever that meant, I didn’t know.
Nun
“Hey,” Priest said, falling into step with me. I glanced up and saw him wearing a suit. Shit, this guy had money; even I knew that was expensive.
“Yo,” I responded in a surly mood.
“How are you doing?”
I stopped and held Priest’s gaze. “You suck at this. What do you want?”
“At what?” Priest asked, perplexed.
A laugh escaped me. “Small talk. Tell me what you’re after.”
“My cousin. You’re hiding her; give her over, Nun.”
His cousin? Who the hell was that?
“Don’t lie to me,” Priest ordered, holding up a hand as I went to speak.
My eyes narrowed. “Seriously. You think you can issue me orders? We spent one night together, and now you know me and are comfortable dictating to me? Fuck you, Priest. I take commands from no man. That includes you.”
“And Blue?”
“Blue is none of your business. Leave his name out of your mouth,” I flared up.
“Wow. Blue’s more than a club slut.” Priest smirked.
I smiled and poked the tip of my tongue out, touching my top lip, and leaned forward. Priest’s eyes dropped to my breasts, which were happily on show. “You’ll never understand what Blue is to me. You won’t ever earn that privilege.”
Priest’s stare flared with anger, and I stepped back and went to move on. “Nun. I just want Brielle; she’s a damn teenager, not even sixteen.”
“Who’s Brielle?” I asked, genuinely confused.
“My cousin,” Priest ground out.
“What’s she got to do with me?”
“I was told I’d find Brielle with the Harlots. If you’re running flesh…” I was at Priest’s throat in a blink, my knife digging in.
“Don’t. Ever. Accuse. Us. Of. Running. Children. I will bury you for that,” I hissed. Something poked into my stomach, and I felt the point of his own dagger.
“You quick enough to slice me open before I stab your windpipe?” I taunted.
Danger lit Priest’s eyes as he held my gaze. “Wanna try?”
“I’m up for a laugh,” I retorted.
Priest searched my face and stepped back. “Just give me Brielle. I’ll take her and go.”
“If I had her, I’d be fuckin’ throwing her at you,” I snapped.
I started to leave when he said something that made my blood freeze. “Do you want war with the Royal Bastards?”
I slowly turned around. “Say that again?”
“Give up, Brielle, or Warden will declare.”
“Why the fuck would Warden do that?”
“Because I’m a brother.”
“Bull-fuckin’-shit. Not in Camden. I’ve no idea who the fuck you are or where you came from, but go back there, Priest, before I take offence. As if Warden would go to war.”
“He will because you’re peddling the flesh of my cousin. As a member of my family, she’s protected by the Royal Bastards. I’m sure Jameson won’t be happy to learn what your club is doing,” I threatened.
Nun’s eyes narrowed. “You’re under a misapprehension.
One, the Harlots don’t answer to Jameson.
Two, we certainly don’t fuckin’ obey Warden, nor are we under his protection.
Three, you wanna declare? Go ahead. We’ll wipe you from the face of this earth.
You want war? Bring it. We’ll be the ones walking away.
Tell your pissant president that he’ll hear from Sapphire soon. ”
With that, I stormed off.
“He threatened you outright?” Sapphire demanded. I’d informed her what had happened as I rode back to the clubhouse. She’d called emergency church immediately.
“Yes,” I repeated, then opened my mind to Belladonna. Belladonna took the scene from my thoughts and placed it in everyone else’s.