Page 29 of Rebel

“My work here is done. Let’s scarf down our breakfast and get on our way to the ranch before those two kill each other. That would be not only a horrible mess, but would affect everyone we know. Come on, Dallas, George, move it along.”

As we eat our breakfast standing up around the island, my mind is split. I get my dad, Sheriff George, having a job, but he knows what we all do and always seemed okay with it. And for my “other” dad, Tank, why is he rocking the boat? When he gets in a mood, usually all hell breaks out and the only one who can bring him down is Momma Diane. Once done, we all clean up quickly then make our way to Panther’s huge garage. Dallas, George, Avalanche, Panther, and myself pile into the huge SUV Big Bird just bought. Why he needs this monster with the enormous truck he bought months ago, who knows. Jersey and Chicago will be on their way in a bit, as they are taking care of the animals. The guys’ wolves need to be fed, along with the studs in the barn. Panther surprised me a week ago with four mini donkeys and three mini cows. I’m in love and it’s pissing me off I can’t take care of them. After much discussion everyone agreed, except me, to give them the far southern stalls so they are away from the crazy as fuck Arabian horse. Don’t understand why but they are nuts. The palomino and Appaloosa are so docile and kind. One of the hands got a finger bit off because, I guess, the Arabian stud was having a bad day. With my little herd on the other side of the barn, Avalanche hopes the horses will stay calm so when they are in breeding season the Arabian isn’t stressed. Yeah, not stressed, both Avalanche and Panther have wolves that are their pets, for Christ’s sake. I’m sure when the wolves are walking through that section of the barn the horses feel so safe. Shaking my head, I take a seat in the second row and buckle in, knowing that Avalanche drives just like me if not worse. I feel a headache coming on and am dreading this day, as I can’t think of a happy ending. Panther turns to face me from the passenger seat, making sure I’m okay.

“Nizhoni, breathe, it’s going to work out however it’s supposed to. We can’t change fate. Now sit back and try tomeditate. No, don’t give me that look, Zoey, you know it works. We’ll get there when we can, Avalanche can only go so fast.”

I glare at my ol’ man for a few minutes then push my head back and close my eyes with the intention to meditate. Instead, with the deep breathing, I relax and fall asleep.

We approach the ranch through the back road that leads through the woods and comes out by the cabins behind Tink and Noodles’s house. When I tell Avalanche to go straight to the survivors’ area, the mood in the car changes immediately. As we approach, I see Dani, Kitty, Malachi, Squirt, Presley, and Omen to one side. Across from them are Heartbreaker, Vixen, Ironside, Wildcat, and Malcolm. Each are heavily armed. When I get out of the car, all my club sisters approach me. Vixen is the closest to me so it seems she’s been elected to update me.

“Shadow, we lost two of the jagbags overnight. One must have been bleeding internally and the other, we think, might have had some kind of existing condition. Doc Malcolm, along with Yoggie, tried for at least twenty minutes to revive him, but no go. The rest have been given water with a little bit of pain medication, but no food as of yet. We’ve been waiting to see what the plan is. Any ideas on what we’re going to do with them?”

I look down on one of our more petite sisters, who could probably—if needed—kick anyone’s ass. Then I catch Malcolm’s eyes and when he shakes his head that tells me most hidden in our safe rooms are in pretty bad shape. I assumed that because they are giving out pain medication, which I never allow. It’s okay though, no matter what happens, Atlas will feel better knowing that they weren’t in constant pain throughout the night. That’s the caretaker in him. Hearing a vehicle come racingup the road, we all turn to see Atlas and Rebel making their way to us. Behind them is Taz and Enforcer. Great, a show, just what I don’t want. What really starts to upset me is when I see the sheriff’s car with my dad driving with Tank next to him. Yoggie is with Glory in her vehicle. Finally, bringing up the rear, is Tink and Noodles. Great, the beginnings of a shitshow. This is exactly what I didn’t want. Usually, it’s at my discretion who is around during this time of our missions. My go-tos are Dottie, Raven, Rebel, Heartbreaker, Glory, and Wildcat, though my right hand has become Spirit, who I don’t see. Before I can ask, it’s like she can read my mind, the door opens up and she walks out covered from head to toe in blood and guts. Fuck, did no one tell her it was hands off until Atlas gave us his decision?

“What the ever-lovin’ fuck, Spirit, we haven’t gotten word yet. Why are you bathing in blood and guts?”

She turns those dead violet eyes my way before looking down to the ground. Oh shit.

“Shadow, I’ve spent the better part of the night making sure that the bodies of the two dead assholes can never be traced back to your club or the sanctuary.”

That’s when it dawns on me that she has always been the cleaner. Making sure nothing identifying remains for the law to find. And I can’t believe I’m thinking it, but she’s extremely good at what she does.

I hear doors opening and can feel bodies surrounding me. When I hear Atlas whisper, “What the fuck?” I turn to face him. He looks like total shit, which is to be expected. This part of our lives will weigh you down eventually. For me, I’ll never stop being the Devil’s Handmaidens Enforcer until I’m either voted out or die. It’s part of what keeps me alive, that and that Panther is able to accept what I am and do. I walk toward Atlas and Rebel, trying to figure out where he’s leaning but, damn, this man can keep his emotions hidden.

“Atlas, before you lose your shit, Spirit was taking care of the remains of two who died overnight, not at our hands, but from injuries sustained during our rescue. Have you made a decision?”

“Shadow, all I’ve done is think about this and try to come up with an answer that would appease everyone involved. When we got here, Tank pulled me over, telling me no matter what, he wanted someone named Brian. Then Tink told me she needed to make sure the men who that touched the two young girls in the hospital needed to stop breathing. I need the ones who beat and whipped my dad, and especially the ones who raped my mother to pay. Sheriff George told me that for some reason he hasn’t divulged to me, he’ll not fight my decision. So before I tell you, Shadow, I need to go in and see them. All of the men and try to make sense to a senseless situation. Rebel understands, I hope everyone here can try and see why I need to do what needs to be done.”

Nodding, I make my way to Spirit and together we walk through the door and follow the hallway to where the hidden floor door is already open. Spirit and I go down first, then Atlas and Rebel. Tank, Tink, and Noodles bring up the rear. Why my dad is going along with this, I have no idea, but I’m leaning toward Tank winning the battle. Spirit unlocks the outer door and you can start to hear screaming and moaning. Behind me I hear Atlas asking Rebel, “What the hell?” Well, Doc is in for a big surprise, I’m guessing. By the time we reach the main door, I use the keypad and unlock the area. What meets my eyes makes me smile. Yeah, I have a black heart. Who the fuck cares, these aren’t good people. Like I always tell Goldilocks, what goes around, comes around.

We have chains attached to the walls all the way around the huge-ass space. Men are cuffed to the chains, sitting on their asses, or standing, each with different levels of injuries. In thecenter are tables, pulleys, and other instruments of torture. I see Spirit was very busy as by the door, off to the one side on one of the larger tables, are two body parts sitting on it. On one side is a head and directly across is the other man’s head, both faces showing the fear they were experiencing right before they died. Atlas gasps loudly, and when I turn he’s bent over trying to breathe, while running his hands up and down his legs. Rebel is next to him, not touching him, just there within reach.

“Atlas, these two are some of the original men who started this group in our town. We had no idea they were near, which they took advantage of. Both of them begged for their lives when we brought them in. No one laid hands on them, they died eventually from their injuries. Spirit only did that to protect not only our club but also the survivors. Not one is in the shape to withstand a court case or get up on the stand reliving the tortures they’ve been through. Now, follow me as I point out some of their crimes. These two are the ones who beat and whipped your father. That one pissed on him and laughed while doing it. He forced your dad to watch the men who raped and sodomized your mother. Those four are some of them. The younger dude, I’m sure you recognize. He’s the one who was fighting with Kon at the barbecue a few weeks ago. He not only brutally abused your mom; he raped Colin because he refused to hurt your mom. Those two in the far corner are the ones who repeatedly raped the two little girls. The damage done to them you already know about. I will tell you no one who was at their ‘camp’ will come out of this unharmed, and I don’t mean physically. They will carry scars for the rest of their lives, while fighting the urge to commit suicide, or just giving up, hoping for death to take them. We’ve already started to clear one of the buildings so when the victims are ready, they will come here to recover. One of the larger cabins is being made ready for both your mom and dad. Raven’s brother, Ollie, has alertedthe therapists at the Blue Sky Sanctuary that their services will be needed. The ranch will take care of everything, including their living expenses, medical and therapy bills. Everything will be made available to them, but we can’t force them to accept it. That’s their decision, as you have a decision to make. Atlas, what’s it going to be?”

Watching Atlas’s eyes take in every single man in the room, everyone waits patiently. When he approaches the kid, Brian, my heart bleeds for him because that asshole doesn’t have a soul. My eyes catch Rebel’s and I give her a look, so she follows him. When he’s close to Brian, the bastard hocks up something and tries to spit it at Atlas. Rebel pushes him out of the way and, with her fist tight, goes right up to him and punches him right in the nose. We all hear the cartilage give and I laugh out loud when she tells him that was from Konstantin. When Brian snorts saying that Kon is a pussy, Rebel pulls her leg back and sends her foot right into his dick and balls. Then she leans really close as tears roll down his face.

“Who’s the fuckin’ pussy now, asshole? Might want to enjoy these last minutes because you’re on the fast track to hell. When your rotting, Konstantin will be living his life to the fullest. No one probably ever told you, but good always prevails over evil, dumb asshole.”

With that she turns and goes right to Atlas, who pulls her close. I know what he’s going to say before he does. I can only imagine how hard it is for him. The pain is in his eyes.

“Shadow, get rid of them all. Make it hurt. Let Tank and Tink have who they want and anyone else. Do me a favor please? The ones who savagely put hands on my mom, after you’re done doing whatever it is you plan on, cut their dicks and balls off and let them bleed out. I owe you, Shadow, and no, I can’t be here. This decision will weigh on my soul the rest of my life, but I have my parents, three boys, and this woman at my side to protect. Ifany of them are released, I’d be looking over my shoulder until I die.”

He walks up to me, giving me a side hug, then walks straight past everyone and out the door to the outside. Rebel comes to me, touching my face, which generally I don’t allow or want. She stands on tippy-toes and kisses my other cheek.

“I know you think of yourself as a monster. To me you’re an avenging angel for those who can’t fight for themselves. That includes Atlas because, yeah, he’s tough, but his heart would die slowly if he tried to do what you are about to do. I’m forever in your debt. Make sure that asshole Brian hears Konstantin’s name right before he dies. That’s for me. No matter what never forget, Shadow, that I’ll always love you.”

When they are gone, I remove my kutte and take my boots and socks off. Then I braid my hair while every single degenerate watches me. When Spirit comes next to me with a thick rubber apron, I put it on, thanking her. Tank and Tink are off to one side, waiting for me to give them what they want. First, though, I have some playing to do. I put the deadliest grin on my face and with my icy eyes look each and every one in their eyes. The fear on their faces feeds the hole in my soul.

“So are y’all ready to have some fun? I know I am so let’s get this party started.”

They all start to scream, cry, piss, and shit themselves. Ignoring all of their pitiful sounds, I look to the table at what’s on it. Grabbing some wire cutters, I hear the door close and see Dottie and Raven waiting, their kuttes and boots off too. Smiling at them, I move to the first dickless piece of shit, and without a single thought of mercy, start cutting off his fingers one by one. Today is gonna be a great day, as these bastards will never hurt another innocent again. I plan on making sure on this day they each take their last rotten breaths.

TWENTY-TWO

‘ATLAS’

The last week and a half has been terrible. First, the decision I made is eating me alive. I’ve second-guessed that moment in my life every minute of every day. I know they were the scum of the earth but me signing their death sentence, what does that make me? Then in one way or another each one of my boys is suffering from the actions of that day. My little guy is the worst. Taz offered for him to stay over this weekend and after Rebel and I talked about it, we figured it would be a good idea. Teddy seems to be an empath. Taz and Enforcer spoke to him to keep an eye on Thanos, which he promised he would. Stefanos won’t leave our sides. Well, that is Rebel’s. Since that night when they bonded, they are inseparable, which has Kon feeling like the third wheel as he’s always been Rebel’s shadow.

The Devil’s Handmaidens are in the process of doing the research on who those assholes were. Raven, with the help of Freak, has found a money trail leading to The Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood. We don’t know who their contact was because everything is encrypted. I don’t have a lot of knowledge with this kind of stuff, as I don’t break up human trafficking circuits. Rebel has been such a lifeline in this aspect for me. Also, she’s there when I wake in the middle of the night with nightterrors. Rebel talked me into starting therapy, which I’m doing weekly at the Blue Sky Sanctuary, and am beginning to see the tiniest shimmer of light, though it’s so far in the tunnel I can barely see it.

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