Page 1 of Property of Raider
Prologue
Raider
The thunder in the distance rumbles, foretelling the hell to come.My chest is so tight that breathing is pure torture.I still cannot process everything I’ve seen and heard.My love of family and brotherhood keeps me from accepting the truth.At the same time, the spark for vengeance is burning like a wildfire begging for a way out.
“Looks like they waited for the party to arrive,” Blender’s sneer lashes out like a whip in the night as he and Mercy walk up.
I eye the two men.I never truly know if they are mentally stable or batshit fucking crazy.
“Well, it took you guys long enough to arrive,” Blitz snaps.He seems to have a death wish as of late; always poking at the crazy-ass brothers.
“Raider, what do you need to tell me about the situation before we get started with our new toy?”Mercy demands, crossing his arms across his chest glaring.
Returning his glare, I wait a beat to reply.As much as these men may be fucking psychopaths and have hair triggers that give me pause, I will not be disrespected or back down.Part of this is the knowledge that Mercy has true loyalty and respect for me.If I didn’t have that, no one would be able to talk him off the edge, which in turn keeps Blender from losing it.
“We actually have a couple of things to go over,” I finally state, not looking away from Mercy.As if we’re in a silent standoff, Mercy finally gives me a subtle nod in acknowledgement.
“First, we need to bring this to a vote as we’re about to play with two patched members of our club—one being our current president.Second, we will need to vote on a temporary replacement until we can do the official vote.”I pause, waiting for someone to object or have something to say about either of those tasks.
It’s unheard of for the club to just take out one President and vote in a new one.That said, the situation we find ourselves in is also unheard of.Our President has betrayed not only the club—his brothers—but he has hurt countless women and children in the process.The urge to vomit slams into me when I think about all the things this man has done that we know about, and worse, the things we don’t know and will find out.
I look every brother and club officer that is here in the eyes silently, asking for their okay for what needs to be done.As the Vice President, it is my job to hold the club and its brothers to account of club law.No one bucks or even shies away from the idea, so I move onto the last thing.This could either be a really good idea or a very, very bad one.
“Third, Mercy and Blender—I want you to watch the video of Relic’s attack on Ainsley,” I level my glare first on Mercy, and then on Blender.“You will hold your shit together while watching this.Once the video is done and we have done the appropriate voting, you boys can play until your hearts are content,” I finish, bracing for the man who is vibrating with barely controlled fury to explode.
“Let’s get this shitshow on the motherfucking road then,” Mercy grinds out through teeth so tightly clenched that I don’t know how he can say anything.
Mercy lets his gaze fall over the entire group as he says, “Everyone in favor of removing Relic as President and of stripping the patch off his little helper say aye.”
His eyes fall on me last, watching and waiting for what I can only assume is doubt on my part.Do not get me wrong—Relic, our current Prez, is my blood brother, and it burns something deep that he could do what he did.In the same breath, I will never stand behind a man who manipulates and hurts women and children for his own sick, twisted fucking pleasure.
Every man standing there says aye.My heart aches in ways that I can’t even begin to understand.The battle in my soul is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.I feel as if I’m being burned from the inside out.
“Anyone object?”Blender asks, glaring at everyone, daring them to disagree with him.
No one says a word.But fuck, who would disagree when you have a set of matching psychopaths staring you down?Every man here knows exactly what these men can and will do without a second thought or concern.
I make damn sure that when all eyes turn to me, I’m standing tall, shoulders square and head held high, and not giving any of my brothers a true understanding of what is stirring deep in my chest.These men will not see me buckle under the misdoings of my blood brother because he is no longer a brother by choice.Stepping forward, I make sure to be clear.“Does anyone have a brother they would want to put in place as acting President until we can officially vote?”
The words barely clear my lips when Mercy’s words slam into me, causing pure shock and disbelief.
“I vote for Raider,” Mercy shouts before anyone can say anything.
Every brother smirks as he throws out his “aye” in the vote.You could fucking knock me over with a goddamn feather.The tightness in my chest eases slightly knowing that my brothers still have my back even if my blood was fucking poison and about to be stripped of his patch.
“Alright, that’s two of the fucking three issues.Let’s get this video watched.”Mercy nods at me in acknowledgement before walking over to Hermes and his laptop.
I stay where I’m standing as I’ve seen the video more times than I’ll ever admit, trying to find the piece of my brother I had always known growing up.Running through every way I fucked up and let that asshole hurt someone under our protection.Yes, we did not trust her and were unsure about what we would do with Ainsley, but that doesn’t mean Relic should’ve ever gone after her that way.The sound of the attack on Ainsley makes the urge to vomit slam back into me all over again.
To then learn that Relic is the true reason that Jenny—not only Mercy and Blender’s baby sister, but our club princess—is dead is like digging a knife into a wound that is still raw and bleeding.Hermes pushes play on the video, and I watch as Mercy and Blender learn the truth about Relic for the first time.Relic brags about being the catalyst of the entire sex ring.I brace for the last part, knowing what’s coming and that the psycho twins will lose it.Relic admits to being the reason Jenny was targeted and how he is the man that set up pinning it all on Ainsley.
Mercy finally succumbs to the monster that he keeps a very tight grip on.He turns without another word, striding towards the door that separates us from the traitors and, with an ease I didn’t know he had, slowly pushes the door open with Blender hot on his heels.
I don’t move, hell, I barely fucking breathe until Mercy’s sinister chuckle and words carry from the still open door.“I see you’ve really adopted the sharing of your toys thing.”
“Should have known my little brother would send in the Monsters to clean up the mess I’ve created.”It’s Relic’s words that finally unglue my feet from their place, and I make my way towards the door—to let my own monster free.
Terro places a hand on my shoulder.“He’s baiting you.Let the boys handle it.”
