Chapter Fourteen. #2
“No, she won’t, and good for her. Don’t fret, Marion, you still have Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum here.
Come near me, harass, or contact me again, and I’ll have you thrown in jail.
Those injunctions were for life, and you’ve breached them several times now.
That’s all the evidence I need,” I warned and walked away.
“I never want to see you again. And if you sent that serial killer after me, call him off because my club will end his sorry existence.”
“Murderer? What are you on about? Hey, come back here!” Marion yelled.
I didn’t listen and kept walking. I was finished! They could stay away, including Edith. It was too little, too late. Hopefully, she’d protect her kids, but who knew? Edith hadn’t ever been a sister to me.
Priest
Outlaw walked down the road, showing no concern for the world. She’d no idea she was being watched. There was a slight limp from where I’d shot her in the hip. She pushed an elderly woman aside, causing the poor soul to stumble and almost fall.
I shook my head as Outlaw continued and didn’t glance back. Yup, if a bitch needed putting down, it was her.
I followed as Outlaw headed down an alley and knocked on a door.
This was one of the Bloody Femmes’ collection sites.
The illegal money they earned came here and was then filtered through various laundering businesses.
I watched Outlaw enter and waited until the door was shutting before darting down the side street.
I forced the door open and stepped inside, weapon held firm in each hand.
It was a small back room belonging to a shop, with just one entrance. A single light bulb dangled from a cord, and three women sat at a table counting notes. Around six duffel bags were in front of them, filled with cash.
Outlaw spun and paled. I wore all black and a balaclava. I didn’t want the witnesses to identify me.
“You’ve signed your death warrant,” she spat.
“Váyanse ahora, (Leave now.) I ordered the women. They looked fearfully at Outlaw, who snarled.
“Dije que te vayas ahora. No necesitas presenciar est. (I said, leave now. You don’t need to witness this.)” I fired a shot into the floor, and they got up and fled.
“You’re going to die,” Outlaw hissed.
“Bitch, you’ve been living on borrowed time. Shouldn’t have gone after my cousin,” I replied.
She frowned, recognising my voice.
“Priest? You son of a bitch.” Those were the last words Outlaw said.
My bullet took her through the head.
Staring around the place, I picked up the duffels of money and carried them to the door. Before leaving, I turned back and flicked a match at the notes stained with Outlaw’s blood. Throwing a generous amount of accelerant to ensure the room went up, I walked away, taking the bags with me.
I’d let shit settle, and then deliver a bag to each of the women who’d been forced to work there. There’d be enough for them to start over elsewhere.
The other three bags were going into Brielle’s bank account.
Compensation for what they tried to do to her.
That was fair to me. I dumped my stolen car, set it on fire, and got into another and drove away before repeating my actions.
I walked a mile down the road, climbed into my SUV, and returned to Portsmouth.
Brielle might never know, but I’d sleep a lot easier.
Nun
“Sapphire, I need to ride,” I said, entering her office. “Vengeance, Birdie, and Rose will come.”
Sapphire pursed her lips before nodding. “All of you, prepare your weapons and be vigilant. This asshole is out there, and he’s still sending gifts.”
“Okay.” I walked out and fist-punched the air.
“Prez ordered everyone to arm up, and then we can go.” I grinned happily.
Minutes later we were on the road, and I revelled in the wind in my face and the monster between my legs. We headed out of town toward Wolfeboro; we’d stop at the resort, grab lunch, and come back.
As we turned onto State Highway Route 11, an SUV came roaring out of the entrance ramp and scattered us.
I screamed as Birdie slid into Rose, and they both lay down their bikes as the truck thundered towards Vengeance and me.
We both skidded onto the shoulder, and Vengeance crashed hard.
Behind us, cars squealed to a stop to avoid hitting us.
My Hog landed on me, and I thanked God I had a helmet and leathers on.
I lay there dazed, pushed up against the barrier.
I slowly glanced over and saw Vengeance trapped under her bike, and she was unconscious.
In agony, I reached up to take my phone out and let my arm drop.
It hurt too much. Blood dripped into my eyes, and I blinked as a pair of jean-clad legs approached.
“Time to repent, bitch,” a voice growled, and a dark laugh accompanied it.
Fuck. Well, I can honestly say I never expected this.
Sapphire
I sat back in the chair and studied the costings of renovating the bookshop. Cass was opposite me, looking bemused.
“You want me to run it?” He checked for about the fifth time, and I raised my eyebrows.
“Did you get your degree in literacy?”
“Yes.”
“Then, Cass, my final response is yes. Now, what do you think?” I tapped the two designs in front of me. “We can go ultra-modern, clean walls, neutral colours, and create a bright, cheerful space, or choose wooden panelling, old-style with cosy nooks.”
“Why not both?” Cass asked. “There’re three floors?
Keep the basement for storage. Then make the bottom floor the cosy, wood-panelled one with a small coffee bar in the corner.
Maybe add sandwiches and chips. Then, to attract the students, arrange the college materials on the next level, with worktables and booths.
Have some modern sofas and tables for the hip crowd.
I’d add stationery and electrical items, phone chargers, etc. ”
Cass frowned and tapped his pen on the table. “Include some merch, you know, travel mugs, water bottles, all with the Royal Harlot patch. That will make money.”
“Take the designs and check them over properly. If you approve, go ahead. If you don’t, here’s the architect’s number; call him and have him redo it to your specs, okay?”
Both of us jumped as the door flew open and Sparrow stood there, heaving.
“There was an attack. Vengeance, Birdie, and Rose are heading to the ER. Vengeance and Rose are critical.” Sparrow dragged in a breath as I stood.
“Nun is gone. An SUV took them out; it hit all four of them.” Sparrow swallowed.
“When paramedics arrived, Rose wasn’t breathing. ”
I paused for a moment, closed my eyes, and inhaled calming breaths.
“Call Stitch, get her there now. Alert the club; we’ll meet at the hospital.” I turned to Cass. “Gather the stable; we’re going to require everyone, and phone Blue and Priest. They need to be informed. Get everybody to meet us at the ER. I’ll phone the police as we ride.”
“They know. Cassidy was on scene and recognised them. Birdie remained conscious long enough to say what happened. Witnesses are also backing up her report. They all witnessed a man take Nun. Cassidy called me. The PPD are already looking for them.”
“Let’s head to the hospital, we can make plans there,” I ordered and walked out. Sparrow looked at me with worry. “I’ve had nothing,” meaning a premonition. I wasn’t sure if that was positive or negative. If I hadn’t had a vision about this, what did that mean?
I didn’t wait around to puzzle it out and rode out with Sparrow on my heels. My phone buzzed as Sparrow’s alert hit it, and I knew across town the RHMC would be riding.
I entered the ER and headed straight for reception. “Three of my sisters were brought in. Vengeance, Birdie, and Rose.” I said.
The woman looked at me. “Their real names.”
“Just gave them to you. They’d have been booked in under them,” I replied, grinding my teeth.
“Look, we don’t—”
“Shut the fuck up and do your job. Vengeance. Birdie. Rose,” I snarled.
“Watch your mouth, or I’ll call security.”
“You think this desk protects you? You couldn’t be more wrong. Now I want information on my sisters.”
“You need to be a member of their family—”
“What is your damn problem?” I exclaimed loudly enough to garner attention.
“What’s going on?” a doctor asked.
“My sisters, Vengeance, Birdie, and Rose, were brought in. I’m asking for an update, and she’s giving me the fuckin’ runaround,” I ground out.
The doctor sent the receptionist a dirty look.
“We’ll be having words. You’ve been warned in the past about this attitude.
” He turned his back. “Vengeance has been rushed to surgery. She’s got internal bleeding.
Rose is having a scan. We’re concerned about why she stopped breathing on scene.
Birdie is next in after her. If you can wait, I’ll update you in a few moments. Rose’s scans should be through soon.”
My shoulders sagged. “They’re all breathing?”
“Yes.” The doctor reached out and touched my shoulder. “They are alive, and we’re going to do our best to keep them that way.”
He shot the receptionist another dark look, and she blanched. “How hard was that? The bitch attitude wasn’t necessary, was it?” He walked away as I sank into a nearby chair. Sparrow sat beside me as we watched the door he’d disappeared through.
Now it was a waiting game.