Page 98 of Property of Legend

Becki.

Boots clickin’ hard concrete, she’s heading over.Her eyes lock on Sophie, on me, and that fake Southern charm she likes to smear over everything burns clean off her face.

“Well, ain’t this precious,” she spits, arms folded across her chest like she’s about to pray for our souls, right before settin’ us on fire.“Thought you were smarter than this, Legend.”

I stand slow.Deliberate.A wolf comin’ outta the dark.“You got one hour to pack your shit and be gone, Becki.After that, I won’t be so polite.”

She laughs.Bitter.Ugly.“You think it’s over just ‘cause you finally grew a set?You’re gonna regret pickin’ her.She ruined you.You’ll lose everything.”

Sophie rises beside me, chin high.“You already tried, Becki.And you lost.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Becki coos with venom.“You think the Reverend’s just gonna let this go?”

I step forward, eyes hard.“You think I won’t burn that so-called church to the ground?”

Becki’s mouth curls into a cruel smile.“Deal’s off.You two can rot together.”She turns, hips swayin’, fury in every stomp as she slams out the front door.

“She’s runnin’ to Daddy,” I mutter.“To the Pearly Gates.”

Sophie’s face tightens, but she nods.“They’ll come for my father.They’ll try to finish what they started.”

“We could catch her, keep her hear.Threaten her.But if her daddy don’t hear from her, he’ll raise hell.”

I turn to the club brothers who’ve been hoverin’ in the hallway since Becki stormed in.“Mount up.”

Chevy raises an eyebrow.“Bikes are still down, boss.”

I grin, dark and mean.“Then we ride the horses back to their home.”We’ve got to protect Old man Montgomery.

There’s a beat of stunned silence before they all start movin’.Hell’s cavalry, runnin’ out the back, mounting the finest thoroughbreds Paradise Falls has ever bred.

Royal already got his knife belt slung across his chest, lookin’ like he’s born for war on horseback.His Native American roots, he looks right at home as he lets down his long hair.

The sun’s startin’ to fall behind the hills as we ride.

Derby leads the charge, wind in his beard, rifle strapped to his back.Rye and Oaks flank him, whoopin’ like it’s the damn Wild West.I’m on the Derby winner.Ain’t no one outrunnin’ me.

As we crest the hill, Paradise Falls stretches out below us.But it ain’t peaceful.

The Pearly Gates have arrived.

Their vans are parked along the paved drive.White robes scatter across the lawn like a field of Halloween ghosts.Becki’s there, front and center, eyes wild.The Reverend stands behind her, holdin’ that damn Bible like it’s a sword.

And me?I draw my gun and ride straight outta hell and into the eye of the storm.

“Time to see what happens,” I growl.“When heaven meets hell.”

Chapter 56

Legend

The Pearly Gates cult fans out across the front lawn of Paradise Falls like some backwoods holy militia.Robes flappin’, crosses raised, eyes blank as river rock.Some of ‘em got weapons tucked beneath their holy books, like the good Lord himself gave ‘em permission to swing bats and machetes at anyone who don’t kneel.

My club rides in on stallions.

Ain’t no Harleys hummin’ today, just horses with muscle and bikers with hellfire in their blood.

Royal’s already got blood on his blade before we hit the ground.Rye throws a haymaker into some dumb bastard in a linen robe shoutin’ about damnation.

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