Page 54 of Hell's Claim

“Sit down,” he ordered, leading her towards a chair. Cherry obeyed, her hands shaking as Big Al rounded the corner first. He took one glance at Cherry and the scene and whipped his phone out.

“Tati’s coming, Cherry,” Big Al said seconds later as he hung up.

“That’s mighty kind of you, but I don’t need anyone,” Cherry replied. Her hands shook badly, and Sunny grasped them as he knelt at her feet.

“Mom, you need someone. Did he…?” Sunny was unable to force the words from his throat.

Cherry’s face was bruised and bloody, there were scratches on it. She’d clearly been assaulted. Those marks carried on down her shoulders and neck, and Sunny saw where her blouse had been ripped open. There were scratch marks just above her breasts.

“No. No. That didn’t happen,” Cherry assured Sunny, but he felt she was holding back on something. Her eyes were flicking to those arriving behind Big Al.

“Cherry, you need to go to the hospital,” Chance suggested.

“Chance Michaelson. I wiped your ass, boy. You don’t command me,” Cherry bit out. “He had a message for you, Sunny. Stop looking, or Liv will be next.”

Sunny stiffened. “This attack was because I was investigating Hellfire?”

“Yes, he laughed and said by the time he’d finished with me, you’d either back off or bury me or Liv. The message was quit searching for the rat. He was a hitman for hire and said it wasn’t personal,” Cherry whispered, looking over Sunny’s shoulder.

Sunny glanced behind him and saw everyone present who’d known Cherry. The newer brothers had stayed behind. He held Big Al’s eyes.

“Now tell me this is fuckin’ flimsy!” Sunny roared. He yanked his phone out. “Diaz, get Liv somewhere safe. Cherry was attacked.”

“Already in motion. Deal with the situation there,” Diaz replied and hung up.

“Whichever one of you is the traitor, I’m going to take great pleasure in gutting you,” Sunny swore.

The sirens wailed outside his home as two uniforms came around the corner with their guns out.

Luckily, it was the regular officers who recognised Hellfire.

“I think he’s dead,” Cherry cried with a tinge of hysteria in her voice.

“Okay, Ma’am. We’ll call for a detective and an ambulance. Can someone get her a drink?” Officer Jaggers asked.

“I will,” Bear replied and headed inside.

Chance and Sunny swapped glances. If they had needed further proof, they’d just been handed it. Banshee caught Sunny’s gaze as Sunny embraced Cherry and held her tightly. It was minimal, but Banshee acknowledged that Sunny hadn’t lied. There was a traitor in Hellfire MC.

Chapter Twelve.

Sunny

“Just do as the doctor’s say,” Sunny growled, exasperated, as Cherry began arguing.

“I don’t need a bed. I’m not that badly hurt, and someone else needs this more than me,” Cherry argued.

“Do as you’re told, Mom, for once in your life!” Sunny demanded tiredly.

Cherry gazed at him and nodded sharply. “I am not staying, though.”

“Fine. I just need to know you’re okay,” Sunny said as the nurse put the blood pressure cuff back on Cherry’s arm.

“Grandma!” Liv cried as she entered the cubicle with Diaz on her heels. Diaz looked every inch the bodyguard she was.

Liv hugged Sunny briefly and then turned to Cherry and took her hand.

“I’m fine, Liv, don’t fret,” Cherry stated, patting Liv’s hand.

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