Stung by Stealth: A Satan's Savages MC Novel #3 (26 page)

“You okay?” she asks raising an eyebrow.

Taking a deep breath, I nod. “Yeah, just… having a strange day.” I sit down and she tries to sit on my lap, but instead, I shift her off to sit down next to me. She furrows her brows assessing me, as I run my hand over the back of my neck. She chews on her bottom lip taking a deep breath.

“Okay, so umm… my brother called me today.”

Turning to look at her, I fake a smile. “He did?”

She nods. “Yeah, he wants me to go and visit.”

My chest starts to ache again at the thought of her leaving for any amount of time.

What the hell.

I’m so fucked up.

“That would be good for you, I know you miss him.”

She smiles twirling some hair around her finger nervously. “Yeah, I do.”

Looking at her she’s so beautiful, and it makes me wonder why she’s chosen this life when there’s so much out there waiting for her. “Why are you here? Why are you a club girl? You could do so much more with your life. You’re smart and beautiful, you could be anything.”

She winces and looks at me furrowing her brows. “Are you okay?”

I exhale and nod reaching out grabbing her and pulling her to me. “Yeah, fine gorgeous, just like I said, having a weird day.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

I chuckle. “Nope.”

She giggles and nods. “Okay, beer it is.”

Mad Dog walks in huffing, his face bright red and his posture stiff as he picks up a chair and flings it across the room narrowly missing Crash. “Fucking Cartel getting to Jonah, fucking motherfuckers!”

Jonah is another lackey that Techie had found yesterday, I don’t know much about him.

“Motherfuckers killed him, and took all our eccy he was storing!” Mad Dog says picking up a beer stein and smashing it against the concrete floor, the glass splinters into tiny fragments and beer splatters all over the floor.

Mad Dog storms up to Techie and stands an inch in front of his face staring him straight in the eyes. “Why wasn’t your guy secure?”

Techie shrugs. “It’s not my fault the Cartel found him.”

Mad Dog balls his fists at his sides and leans forward headbutting Techie right in the forehead making his glasses fall to the floor. He steps backward hunching over and Mad Dog rushes forward punching him in the stomach. Techie falls to his knees as Mad Dog moves back and brings his leg up to the side, kicking Techie in the stomach, making him jolt back falling flat on his back on the floor. Techie groans out in pain. As I rush over to help him, Jigsaw pulls Mad Dog back even though he’s still trying to get at Techie.

“You’re useless, Techie. Can’t send a useless boy to do a fucking man’s job can I?”

Techie breathes harshly out of his mouth. As I grab his arm and help him to his feet, he holds onto his stomach with his other hand breathing loudly out of his nose. I pat his back and glance at his pale face. “You okay, brother?”

He nods, flinching and pulling away from my grip on him, bends down picking up his glasses and goes to walk off. “I’ve had just about enough of this shit.”

He storms off down the hall as I turn back to see Jigsaw dragging Mad Dog into the assembly room.

Tensions are high in the club.

The Cartel are making things
difficult

And Mad Dog is melting down.

Maybe it is a good thing to be bringing the club to its knees soon?

Everyone starts to go about their business and I take a seat at the bar. Acid glares at me, but pours a beer and slides it over. I start drinking when Mad Dog storms out yet again.

“I want eyes on Papi. We need him kept alive. I want him followed to and from work. I want details on the place he works? Their profit margins, and who owns the whorehouse? My bet is Papi will store the drugs there, so we need to know everything about Cupiditas.”

“Um, Techie is probably the guy for that,” Crash responds.

“Then get him on it, Crash, or do I need to knock some sense into you, too?” Mad Dog yells.

Crash shakes his head and swallows hard. “No Prez, I’ll go tell him now.”

Crash walks off down the hall toward Techie’s room, and in a way, I feel better knowing we’ll be tailing Papi. It means he’ll be safe from the Cartel. Let’s just hope he’s safe from Mad Dog.

It’s getting close to me hitting the hay after yesterday’s kerfuffle with Mad Dog and Techie. The club seems to be on tenterhooks with everyone keeping to themselves today, and the whole place seemingly more quiet than usual. Something is brewing in this club, things are changing, and stuff’s going on behind the scenes. I have no idea what’s bubbling away on the surface, but Mad Dog is certainly not taking any crap and definitely not going to lie down on this Cartel business without a fight.

Walking down from my room to the clubroom to grab a bottle of water, I notice Lookout, Techie, Crash, Behemoth and Jigsaw are all sitting around talking in hushed voices. Wondering what the fuck is going on, I meander over to them and they all stop talking and look up as I approach.

Techie nods at me and tilts his head to the free seat to his left. “Sit down, Stealth. I’m glad you’re here we wanted to include you in on this.”

They all look very serious and I furrow my brows taking the seat and sitting forward joining their conversation. “What’s going on?”

Techie sighs and looks right at me, a harshness in his eyes. “We’ve had enough of Mad Dog’s shit. This club is going into the ground and we’re not putting up with the bullshit anymore.”

Opening my eyes wide my heart starts to race. “So what, you’re all leaving?”

They all nod. “We’re going Nomad… come with us. This chapter is doomed. The Cartel? They won’t stop, and Mad Dog won’t give in till we’re all dead. We lost Ryder already, we don’t want to be next. We can’t be a part of his self-destructive war.”

I let out a long deep sigh and nod. “I think you guys are doing the right thing. Get out of this chapter and don’t look back. Find a new place to go, or, start a new chapter… but leave here before this shit gets any worse.”

“You sound like you’re saying goodbye, not like you’re coming with us,” Crash conveys.

I exhale and shake my head. “Because I’m not coming with you... I’m going to stay and watch over Mad Dog. He’s going to fall apart when you guys leave, and he’ll need someone here other than Chops, Penetrator, and the other dicks we have here.”

Techie exhales and slaps my knee. “Well, you have our numbers. So if you get sick of his shit then call and join us on the road.”

“Thanks, Techie. I hope you guys get what you’re searching for. When are you leaving?”

He shrugs. “Don’t know. Probably as soon as we can… tomorrow, maybe.”

Nodding, I take a deep breath.

It’s going to suck balls here without them!

“So, I guess we need to party tonight then?” I ask.

Lookout smiles and raises his beer. “Hell, yes, motherfucker. Slap my arse and tickle my balls, let’s get motherfucken fucked up!”

I laugh and nod looking over toward the bar. “Acid, a round of bevvies and keep ‘em coming!”

My head is a little groggy after celebrating the guy’s final night here, last night. I’m so bummed they’re leaving, but glad in a way too. I’m sitting at the bar now watching the assembly room doors aimlessly. The guys went in there with Mad Dog five minutes ago to tell him they’re leaving, and honestly, I’m waiting for gunshots. I don’t see him letting them leave easily. He’s not in his right mind at the moment, and having five brothers leaving all at once is a big deal. Especially, now with big changes in the club regarding how we distribute the guns and drugs.

I hear a loud thud and the assembly doors open forcefully as Mad Dog storms out of them with the guys following behind. I watch as Mad Dog runs his hands through his hair, his face bright beetroot red and his nostrils flaring out so much I’m worried they might split. He turns to face the five brothers all deserting him. “If you ever, and I mean
ever,
step foot back on my premises again, I’ll cap you all. You’re a disgrace! I can’t stop you from going Nomad. But I swear to God, if I find you in another chapter, I’ll hunt you down and string you up by your shriveled little balls.”

He pulls out his Glock aiming it at Techie’s head, and I sit up taller as a shiver runs down my spine.

“Now get the fuck out of here before I shoot you all.”

Techie nods, and looks at the other four. They all pull off their cuts, placing them on the table, and Techie turns walking with the others following. They step past me, and I half-smile as they walk out of the clubhouse. My entire body slumps watching them leave, I feel like a part of me is leaving with them. They’re the good guys of this club, and now I’m left with pure scum.

Maybe it won’t be so hard to take down this club now after all?

Mad Dog screams as he grabs the edge of a table and upends it. It flies through the air and catapults back to the ground smashing everything that was on it to smithereens. He grabs a pool cue and hurdles that through the room. It smashes into the sound system, turning the music up louder then falls to the floor, all the while he’s screaming and cussing. His gun comes up and my body stiffens as he takes aim at the dart board, putting his finger on the trigger he pulls.

The sound of gunfire echoes through the clubhouse as
Temper Temper
by Bullet For My Valentine aptly plays on the stereo. The bullets fly through the air pummeling into the dartboard, sending shards of cork flying off into the air, as he sends round after round into the circle. Pieces fly off in every direction as the dartboard wobbles against the wall ricocheting in every direction with the force of the bullets. Eventually, the board detaches from the wall, disintegrating and cascading to the floor in tiny pieces of metal and cork.

He curses loudly as he brings his gun down to his side, finally ceasing fire as his chest heaves from heavy breathing and adrenalin.

Mad Dog has seriously lost his shit!

Chops and Penetrator run out from down the hall frantically with their guns drawn.

“What the fuck was all that gunfire?” Chops asks looking around the clubroom.

Mad Dog huffs and starts to pace the floor. “Techie, Lookout, Jigsaw, Behemoth and Crash. They’re all gone. Went fucking Nomad! Couldn’t hack it here no more, the fucking pussies!”

Chops furrows his brows and shakes his head walking in further and up to Mad Dog. “And you just let them go?”

“I should’ve killed them. I know! But too much blood has been spilled this year. Let them go. If they can’t handle it here, we don’t fucking want them!”

Aimie walks in on her crutches and takes in the mess around her. She goes to walk back out, but Mad Dog grabs her by her hair and pulls her to him. She whimpers out in pain and he rubs himself on her. “I need a service.”

She exhales as he lets her go and she nods. He turns and walks with her in tow through to the assembly room.

I fucking hate how he treats her.

Shaking my head, I can’t believe how today is panning out… five of my friends, my brothers, are gone. The good guys left me in the club with the lowest of the low.

I turn around and grab a drink at the bar, as Chops and Penetrator leave me alone with Acid and Blade.

“Is it always this chaotic here?” Blade asks walking over to me with a fresh beer.

Chuckling at the humour in that, I shake my head. “No, only lately.”

Acid laughs and smiles. “I like the drama, it’s entertaining.”

“It won’t be entertaining when the bullets are flying at your skull,” I suggest.

“That’s
super
entertaining,” Acid quips excitedly.

Shaking my head in amazement, I swallow hard. “You’re a freak, you know that?”

He smiles and straightens his posture like he’s proud of himself. “Thank you.”

I furrow my brows. “It wasn’t a compliment.”

He bares his teeth at me snarling like a dog, and I roll my eyes at his usual display of stupidity. I swear this kid has rabies. Swiveling on the stool, I notice Skye walk in and my chest warms at the sight of her.

She looks at me and then at the mess in the clubroom that Mad Dog has created and raises her eyebrows. “What happened here?”

“Mad Dog got angry, had a temper tantrum, and played darts with bullets.”

She looks at the dartboard in pieces on the floor and nods smirking. “Wow, he really is losing his shit.”

I nod. “Yep.”

“Should I ask?”

Shaking my head, I sigh. “Nope.”

“Okay, well, I have news.”

I straighten up, wondering if my bad day is about to get better. “Okay, spill.”

“So, my brother wants me to go and work for him and live on the farm. He said he’d pay me the same wage as Strapless, and I would be out of the club and doing something with my life that actually has a purpose. Working with the animals, it would mean something.”

I nod slightly trying to take in what she’s saying.

“Stealth… I wanna go. I want to leave here. After being abducted and the Cartel coming after Mad Dog, and him
obviously
losing his shit, I don’t feel safe here anymore.”

My heart sinks into my chest and down out through my feet. I frown as she looks at me with her beautiful blue eyes sparkling like she’s happy, and it only makes me feel worse. “So you’re leaving?”

She smiles grabbing my hands and rubbing her thumbs over my skin, sending a shock wave running up my arm. “I want you to come with me. Make a fresh start, you’d be a good farmhand, and you and my brother would get along so well—”

I put my finger to her lips to stop her from talking. “I’d love to run away with you—”

Her eyes light up and sparkle intensely. “Great, we can leave tonight—”

“I’d love to… but Skye, I can’t. My place is here with Mad Dog. Someone has to keep him in line, and there’s no one else here besides Sentinel and I can’t leave my brother.”

She smiles and tilts her head. “Then he can come, too. Please, Adam?”

It’s the first time she’s called me by my real name, and it sends a shockwave right through me, and
not
in a good way. Hearing her say my birth name makes me think of Hannah. She’s the only woman who calls me Adam, and she’s the only woman I
want to
call me Adam.

Here, I’m Stealth.

It’s a persona, a character, it’s not the real me.

The
real
me loves my wife and kids.

He has all along.

Stealth was just trying to move on, but the whole time Adam was craving for his true love—Hannah.

I pull my hands from Skye’s and I look her in the eyes. “Skye, I’m not leaving… but you should. You don’t belong here. You never have. You came here broken, but you’re stronger than you know. You don’t need me to become the amazing woman inside of you. You just need to let her out. Go to the farm, blossom, and be the real you. Find a real man. Someone who can love you.”

Her eyes fill with tears as her bottom lip quivers. “So, this is it for us… isn’t it?”

Exhaling, I nod as tears begin to cascade down her cheeks. Moving my thumb in, I wipe away her tears and caress her cheek. “You’re beautiful, you can be absolutely anything.”

She sniffs and nods. “You’re a good man, Stealth. I know you struggle with demons and believing in yourself, but you have to do the right thing for you. That’s all that counts.”

“And you have to do the right thing for you, which means me letting you go.”

“I was never really yours to begin with was I?” she asks and I tense up slightly knowing the answer in my heart.

“Skye, I—”

“It’s okay, I think I always knew, I didn’t want to admit it because I’d fallen for you… but I knew. You love someone else, and that’s okay. Honestly, it’s not your fault. You love who you love, you can’t turn off your feelings, but I can’t stay around and play second fiddle, Adam.”

I sigh and shake my head. “I’m so sorry, I wanted us to work.”

She smiles and caresses my cheek. “I know, I know you did and you tried. I know in my heart you tried, but your heart can’t deny who it wants and that’s not me. I’m okay, I promise. This is a good thing, at least we know now before we got in too deep, right?”

Exhaling as my heart thumps hard, I nod. “Skye, I wish I could have been a better man for you.”