Page 16 of Fractured Souls

Before Noah can respond, Cade grunts, “Talk.”

Noah has a moment of shock before he quickly masks it.Yeah, I get it, dude. He talked last month in front of her. I about shit my pants; it's been so long, and he sounds scary as shit. If I didn’t know my brother, I’d run from the fucker.

I cough. “Yeah, that's the other thing: She's mute. Can't talk, but we’re not sure why. We had Gray get on the school network, but all it says is mute and no other details. Kind of weird.”

Noah opens his mouth to say something but yet again before he can, Cade grumbles, “Gotta do fucking everything,” so quietly I don't even know if Noah heard him across the desk but Gray and I sure did. “I don't think she's actually mute,” he grunts out, his voice raspy and deep from barely any use.

Of course, as soon as the words are coming out is when prez, the club’s president, walks in and stops dead in his tracks. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the man shocked before. He's been in our lives since we were younger and is always the badass prez, not this shocked to his core pussy he is right now.Oops… probably shouldn't call the prez a pussy.

I guess I can't blame him, though, because Cade doesn't talk. He's always been on the quiet end, but when he was younger, his dad wanted him to be like him. Since Noah wasn't going to be, for his own reasons. So, he tried to force Cade to be like him. He’d beat him to make him talk and force him to say horrible things to his mother and beat on and yell at other kids or anyone his father wanted.

We don't know everything he went through, but I do know from a drunken night about a year ago that Cade doesn't like to talk now because he has the choice. He said maybe someday that'll change again, but he was forced so much as a child that he needs to feel like he's in control now and has power.

I don't think he even remembers telling Gray and I that since that night he was so drunk, but I'm glad he did. It gave us a better understanding. I hope someday he tells us everything so we can seek out some revenge on his behalf.

Prez clears his throat, wipes the shock off his face, then comes in and shuts the door before leaning against it and looking towards Noah. “Blade, what's going on?” Blade is Noah's road name; he nods his head to me, and I repeat everything back to prez that was just said.

Prez, or better known by his road name, Rage, nods. “Alright. What's her last name?”

Grayson pipes in and says Wilson. Rage gets a look on his face that I can't quite read. “Wilson? You sure the kid’s name is Harley? The Wilsons only have two kids. Tabby and Rob.”

“Yeah, we're sure. Gray got into the school system and checked her out. Nothing is on there. Just her name, no middle name, her home address, and that she's mute. Oh, and her emergency contact is Tammy Wilson.”

Rage looks at Noah, his brows scrunching up in confusion and says, “I want them on her.”

Noah nods. “Of course, prez. I think this is different because these fools seem to have come to a liking of the girl, so I'll allow it. I'm assuming there's more to this?”

Rage grunts and turns around, opening the door. “Finish this, then my office, Blade.” With that, he storms out, slamming the door behind him.

The only reason Rage put it to Blade is because none of us are old enough to be prospects yet. You have to be eighteen, so technically we aren't a part of the club. But we are family, so it's different. But everything goes through Noah since he's our guardian. Although I doubt he'd ever tell his prez no.Pussy.

“Alright, boys, make friends with her. Be fucking nice.” He glares at Cade, who simply grunts. “Try not to overwhelm her. The main goal right now is being her friend, and then we'll want to try and get her here at some point because prez will want to see her and talk to her. Also, if possible, I want pictures of bruises. I don't know how to get them, but you fuckers are smart, so figure something out. Gray, I'm going to put Nerds on her as well. I'd like you to sit in with him.

“And one more thing: Cade, if you think she can talk, get her talking. I don't care how. I want answers. Get them. I gotta go see what's up my president's ass now. Later, boys.” He gets up and walks out, leaving us alone to think about how we are going to figure out Harley.

Part of me gets a bad feeling about all of this, but the pull to that girl is so strong that there is no turning it off.Ready or not, here we come, little flame. Time to light that fire.

* * *

Blade (Noah)

I leave my brothers and head towards Rage’s office. I haven't heard my brother Cade speak a word in over a year. To say I was shocked is goddamn understatement. What is it about this girl that brings him out of his own head enough that he speaks willingly? He mostly definitely didn't have to say anything out loud. Usually, he just texts us what he wants to say. I know one thing for sure: I will do what I can to help them figure out this girl. If her pure presence alone can drag my little brother from the depths of his own hell, I will owe her my life.

Rage has been like a father to me since I was little, so I know I can get away with a little more than others normally would. I barge into his office, making sure the door hits the wall. “So, prez, what the fuck was that shit?”What? I got a flair for the dramatics.Prez glares at me like he knows I did that shit on purpose. I shrug at him, slam the door, and sit down across the desk from him. “Well?” I draw out.

He rolls his eyes at me and sighs, “You know, if you were anyone else, you wouldn't get away with that shit.”

“You know, prez, you tell me that all the time. But I really don't care. Your fault for making me your enforcer, so you're stuck with me all the time.”

He rolls his eyes and grumbles, “If you weren't so goddamn batshit crazy, I wouldn't have needed you as my enforcer.”

“Alright, alright, I get it, I’m fucking special as shit. Want to tell me what's up with the Wilsons now? Or more specifically Tammy?”

He sighs and runs a hand through his beard. “Tammy and I dated many, many years ago. For a long time, I thought she was the love of my life, but I was in high school and so stupid. She was also dating two other guys, at least that I know of. Her main goal was to make sure she was with someone who was going to prospect for the club when my dad was still prez so she had a chance at being someone’s old lady. My dad caught her fucking another guy behind my back; it was someone in the club who knew I was seeing her. Dad had him brought down to the cells and let me decide what to do with him. Well, I was so head over heels in love with this bitch that I went into a blind rage and killed him. Dad said he was proud of me. Fucking fucked up he didn't stop me. I'd never let one of the boys go through that shit so goddamn young.

“Afterwards, I broke it off with Tammy, and she was asking for the club member I killed, and I said he was gone and it was her fault I was so angry. She turned around and went to the cops and got us raided. She was kicked out and never allowed on any club property again. Her current husband, Richard, was one of my close friends back then, and she spun the story to fit her best, and he took her side. Refused to even hear me out. Not that long after that, I found out she was pregnant, but she lost the baby. No one knows whose it was, but she lost it early on.

“My dad always thought it was intentional. Anyways, none of it makes sense now because Tammy has two kids. I've kept track of her over the years to make sure she didn't try any other shit with the club. She stuck around for some reason but hasn't been on any club property in many years, and neither has Richard,” he sighs and sits back in his chair, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

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