Page 72 of Hell's Claim

“I love my sister,” Clio defended herself, her eyes wide and shock on her face.

“The fuck you do. Callie’s the weird one, you tolerate and indulge her. None of you really respect her, not even you, despite the fact that you attempted to work with her,” Sunny said to Polly.

“We get you are upset, but you’re out of line,” Tiny interrupted.

“No, I ain’t. How many times have we scrambled when the old ladies have been in trouble? Callie was missing, and not one of you was concerned, apart from me. I don’t wanna hear anything you have to say,” Sunny boomed and walked away from them.

Chance

Chance winced as tears welled in Clio’s eyes. He hauled her in close and wrapped his arms around her.

“I do love my sister,” Clio insisted, and Chance rubbed her back.

“Yeah, I know. Sunny is having a hard time, babe, it’s not personal.”

“I saw the look in his eyes. Sunny honestly believes that,” Clio argued as her fingers fisted in Chance’s tee.

“Sunny’s angry, confused and a whole shitload of negative emotions right now. Callie, Liv, and Cherry are his girls. He’d take anything concerning them personally. He’s like me, babe,loves his woman, doesn’t know how to show it and takes her hurt as his own. Sunny would break his own back to keep Callie from harm.” Chance hoped Clio believed his words because, no lie, he wasn’t as confident as he made out.

Sunny was a different guy from the brother Chance had once known. He was secretive, cagey, and suspicious. Sunny did not trust easily and watched everyone with an expressionless face. Sure, he’d taken part in events, including the war, but Chance felt and noticed a distance. Sunny was looking for a traitor, and Chance didn’t know what would happen if and when he found him.

And, sadly, after all Sunny had thrown at him, Chance couldn’t say he believed there was a rat in Hellfire still. No way could he point a finger at a brother and claim he was dirty. Chance implicitly trusted every man in his club, and for one to be traitorous… it would make Chance question everything.

He continued to rub Clio’s back as she sought comfort from him. Chance knew the distance between Callie and her sisters hadn’t closed. Even after Polly’s two weeks with Callie’s team, Callie still held back. Chance didn’t know how to close the breech and hated it caused Clio upset and pain.

Somehow, Chance would make everything right again in their world. They had earned peace. They’d bled for the war and protected innocents. They had the right to live as they wished and not be judged.

He looked up as Lio approached Sunny and watched as they exchanged words. Sunny’s jaw tensed, and Chance had a sinking feeling that it was bad news.

Sunny

“When she due back?” Sunny demanded.

“She’s down in scanning now. Callie should be half an hour. Do you recognise this?” Lio inquired and showed Sunny an item in a protective bag.

Sunny took the bag and frowned. “No. Should I?” he asked as he studied the gold cross.

“That’s not Callie’s?”

“Nope. It’s large and tacky, definitely not something she’d wear.”

“It was found in her tee. I think Callie pulled it loose during the struggle, and it fell down inside it. Sunny, evidence is showing Callie was attacked. She’s awake but disorientated, and the doctors have recommended to give her time to come around. She is asking for you,” Lio said.

“What’s that?” Chance asked, approaching.

“Something we needed Sunny to identify,” Lio replied, going to put it away.

Chance reached out and stopped him. “Can I see?”

Lio handed it to Chance and clearly didn’t expect anything. When Chance stiffened, Lio and Sunny did, too.

“What is it?” Sunny demanded.

“I know this. It was bought as a gag gift,” Chance murmured.

“Who does it belong to?” Sunny snapped.

Chance shook his head. “Nah, I must be mistaken.”

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