Page 53 of Hell's Claim

“This is on me, not him. He’s not known for more than ten days. I’m the one who investigated you.” Sunny took the heat.

“I call for a vote of no confidence in Sunny,” Banshee said, startling them all.

“I second that,” Tiny agreed.

Sunny felt his gut knot.

“That fight today, that was Bear discovering your lies. Which means that candidate is involved somehow,” Chatter drawled, his eyes narrowed.

“Leave Sailor out of this,” Sunny defended his brother.

“Before you vote, you need an explanation,” Chance interrupted.

“Don’t push your luck. I’m in two minds whether to call a vote on you as well,” Banshee warned.

“Call it, Shee. I ain’t got nothing to hide. But before you vote blindly, you need to hear the truth,” Chance retorted angrily and leant forward.

“His version of the truth?” Levi sneered.

“The truth. None of you can deny we just received a visit from SPD and the Troopers about Zeus’s body. We’ve a fuckin’ rat, and he’s been amongst us since Sunny’s shooting.” Chance folded his arms. He held Levi’s gaze, and Levi stared, angry as hell.

“Start talking,” Big Al said to Sunny.

Sunny sighed and began explaining everything from the night of Olivia’s birth. When he mentioned the text messages sent to trap him, everyone present back then swapped glances. Finally, Sunny wrapped up with present day. But he never mentioned who he’d cleared.

“That don’t make sense. We all hid our burners,” Big Al spoke.

“Someone sent me that message. Why the fuck would I have been in that spot? I had Liv at home, and none of us went anywhere alone. One of you present stabbed me in the back and left me for dead. Then you tried to set me up to be found with Zeus’s body,” Sunny snapped.

“How could anyone have known you’d visit that asshole’s grave?” Banshee shook his head. “Sounds like excuses to me.”

“The cops said someone called in coordinates. And several people here knew I was heading to spit on his grave. I could easily have been overheard,” Sunny replied.

Big Al was shaking his head. “What you’ve got is flimsy.”

“Then vote. But I won’t stop until I discover who it is. I don’t need to be part of Hellfire for that. But when I find the culprit, I’ll expect an apology while I take care of your business,” Sunny responded irately.

A bang on the door made them jump, and before anyone could call out, Sailor barged through. His eyes met Sunny.

“Someone just attacked Cherry, she’s okay but has a dead body in her yard,” he announced.

Sunny leapt to his feet and headed out.

Fuck this, this proved he was right.

???

Sunny arrived at his home and raced around the back. He hissed as he saw the masked man lying on the grass and searched for Cherry. He noticed her standing by the patio doors. Running, Sunny caught his mom up in his arms and held on tight.

“Shit. Are you okay?”

“I am fine, Sunny. I’ve called the cops. The gunshots would have been heard,” Cherry answered.

“Don’t worry. Fuck… Mom, your face! I need to get you to hospital!” Sunny gasped as he got a good look at her.

“Sunny, I’m standing on my own two feet,” Cherry replied.

Sunny heard pipes roaring towards him and sirens blaring simultaneously.

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