Page 29 of The Ghost of Rage's War

Sharp

Volcano hadn’t spoken another word to him after that announcement, but Sharp noticed Volcano watching him. There was a smug smirk on Volcano’s face, and Sharp realised Volcano enjoyed making himsquirm. It had been two days since the club had partied, and the air was electric.

Sharp couldn’t have been more surprised when a suburban housewife and two children were dragged into the clubhouse half an hour later. The stranger carried a toddler and a baby. Sharp’s spine straightened as the Fangs began baying. The lady curled around the kids as she gazed at the men, horrified.

There was blood over her face and clothing, and Sharp tried to see where she was hurt.

Whatever the fuck this was, Sharp had to get her free. The club members were grabbing her body even as she held the babies. And one snatched the toddler and threw her to the floor. He ripped open the woman’s blouse as she struggled to protect the baby. Sharp stepped forward; this would cost him his life, but he couldn’t watch.

He started to move as the woman grabbed the edges of her top and picked up the crying toddler. Sharp studied her carefully, committing her features to memory. Tears had made a path through the blood on her face, and she looked dishevelled and terrified. The kids didn’t seem much better.

Sharp began straightening as Fury confronted his prize, and Volcano clamped a hand down on his shoulder hard.

“Stay your hand, Ghost,” Volcano murmured so quietly Sharp wondered if he imagined the words. That was twice Volcano had called him Ghost.

Fury stalked forward as she stepped backwards, herbody curving over the children’s. Once again, Volcano held him back as Fury struck the woman; the fact she was holding those children made it all the worse.

As the band of assholes bayed and laughed, she fell badly as she couldn’t get her arms out because they were full of kids.

“Fury will batter but not kill Carmelle. But if you interrupt, he’ll kill you and make it hurt,” Volcano murmured.

Sharp struggled but stayed still.

“Volcano! Take this useless cunt to a room. And keep those fuckin’ kids quiet,” Fury yelled. He turned away and grabbed a bottle of beer. Rage was pulsing through Sharp’s body, and he was fighting the urge to draw his gun and shoot Fury. But that would only get him killed, and nobody would save Carmelle.

“Drake Michaelson can go fuck himself!” Fury crowed.

Sharp saw the confused looks the Fangs swapped, but they all howled. Sharp’s eyes narrowed as Volcano hauled Carmelle up and marched her through the clubhouse. Who was she, and how was she connected to Drake? Because a suburban housewife could not be Drake Michaelson’s half-sister, that was for damn sure.

Carmelle

Volcano sent a drugged-out skank who arrived andtook my list. I’d kept it to the bare minimum, but even then, I was frightened Fury or Volcano might come back. Someone had placed snacks in the room, which I was grateful for that night, but the next day, nobody brought us anything. Shannon needed proper food, and so did I.

In the end, I waited until I heard Volcano moving around in his room and banged on his wall. When he didn’t come in, I knocked again, and my door flew open, and the hulking man glowered at me.

“Shannon hasn’t eaten a meal since we arrived. She needs food, not chips and chocolate. Shannon’s not even had a glass of milk or juice,” I said quickly. “If there’s a kitchen here, I can cook.”

“You don’t fuckin’ leave here unless you want to suck somebody’s cock,” Volcano threatened and slammed the door shut.

Tears streamed again as I hugged Shannon close. Her small stomach was full, though not with nutritious food. Sadie was beginning to suffer, too.

An hour later, the door opened, and Volcano entered. Volcano placed two bags down and locked me back in.

Gingerly, I opened them, and tears trickled down my face. Inside was Chinese; okay, not what I’d call nutritious, but it was proper food. I found some forks in the bags, yanked a tub of noodles out, and gave them to Shannon.

Shannon squealed with delight and tucked in as I opened a box of rice. I ate slowly, not really having an appetite but knowing I needed food to supportSadie. All I felt was numbness right now.

My brain was reacting, and I couldn’t think straight.

Whoever had been shopping before I got here had provided basic items. There were five changes of clothes for each girl. Underwear for Shannon, nightclothes and a dressing gown. They were of cheap quality, but they worked. I washed the clothes in the sink in the tiny bathroom that was joined to the bedroom we were in.

A woman who’d looked rough had brought my shopping list. Sadie had plenty of diapers now, and there were wet wipes and bags to put dirty diapers in. Somebody had provided colouring books and pencils, some old reading books, a couple of dolls and a few other toys. I wondered what had happened to my home and the items there.

Had the police arrived yet? Were they looking for us? I hoped someone had seen what happened, but I had a feeling I wasn’t even in the same state anymore. Life was terrifying at the moment, and I could barely keep shit together. The girls needed me; if anything happened to me, what would happen to them? It didn’t bear thinking about.

Shit was simple. My babies needed me. I had to survive for them.

I wondered why this was happening to us.

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