ChapterOne
SAXON
“That little bastard Blade is going to be the death of us all!” Joker stares at the empty space on the table where the bag was sitting until a moment ago. We’re all on our feet as the big door at the front of the clubhouse slams shut.
The rain pelts against the vehicles in the parking lot outside, a low, steady drumming sound. Tricky riding weather, low visibility; a real shitshow.
“Wrong. Sit the fuck down. I’ll deal with him myself.”
Joker raises his bushy eyebrows, chomping down on the gum in his mouth. “Prez, I think—”
“I saidsit the fuck down. And no heroics or coming after me in a pack.” I march toward the door as the low rumble of Blade’s bike starting up fills the air. As I open the entrance, he glances behind him. He overdoes the throttle, nearly stalling the engine before he catches himself, corrects it, then roars away.
The road is slick from the rain as I get on my bike. I’ve ridden in worse weather, but not on the tail of a jacked-up, fucked-up boy who doesn’t care whether he makes it home alive at the end of the night. But, I’m going to catch him. Even if I have to rag the shit out of my ride.
As I start the chase, Joker’s words ring in my ears. Blade’s hexed to holy heaven. We can all feel it, the fucked-up energy that wraps around him like a poisonous vine, threatening to entangle anyone who comes near. Back in the day, under the relentless sun of the desert, one of my squad had the same cloud following him. And that didn’t turn out well for him. Or me.
I swallow, forcing down any thoughts apart from keeping on Blade’s tail as the rain gets heavier. The wind is making the utility poles that line either side of the road wobble like bowling pins. He’s heading for the big road out of town, trying to lose me on the smaller streets. But, as good a rider as he is, I’m better. I close the distance between us, intending to ride alongside him and find a way of forcing him to pull over.
Blade slows down, sending up a spray of water from his back tire, and I open up the throttle so I can catch him, moving to the right. He twists his head back as I hit the oil patch, skidding as I try to stay upright. My ride slides out horizontally as I’m thrown off, up into the air. I’m sure the fucker is laughing at me as he accelerates away.
My body slams against the ground with enough force to rattle the teeth inside my skull. The metallic tang of blood fills my mouth as the rain washes the sweat from my face. It streams off my helmet as my vision blurs. The night gets even darker and I black out.
I wake up in a busy white room, medics shining lights in my eyes and chattering away. It takes a moment for me to understand what they’re saying. It’s like they’re speaking in an entirely different language.
“Where am I?” My voice sounds like I’m ten whiskies to the wind.
“You’re at Prephis General.”
That bastard Blade must have called it in. He knew I’d get tied up here, answering questions and dealing with doctors, instead of calling one of The Order to come pick me up.
I scrabble at the brace around my neck and the guy examining me tries to force me back on the table. I grab his wrist, squeezing the fragile bones in my hand as he squawks in pain.
“Now, don’t do that Joseph! He’s trying to help you. Is it Joseph or Joe? I’m looking at your license.” That’s a sweet-sounding voice to my left. I can’t turn my goddamn head to see who’s talking.
“It’s neither. I go by my middle name. Butyoucall me what you like.”
“Please don’t fight. We just want to check you out, okay? You have some impressive scars on your arms already, underneath all those tattoos.”
I snort, although the pain radiating up my old wound from this more recent spill on the road is nothing to laugh about.
“Yeah, that’s right angel, I’m a regular Frankenstein.”
“I’m going to give you something for the pain, okay?” There’s a scratching sensation on my arm and I sit up, getting a brief vision of a gorgeous blonde injecting something into my vein.
“I don’t need anything for the pain. What I need to do is get out of here…” My tongue feels like it’s too big for my mouth.
The angel pats my shoulder, leaning closer. Through the antiseptic aroma of the hospital, there’s a brief wave of something like sugar and daisies.
I must be high.
She smiles, and I swear that despite everything my dick twitches. Her voice is amused. “I think you’ll be with us for some time, I’m afraid.”
All there is left now is her beautiful face. Long, blonde hair, golden-brown eyes, and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. I could stare at that face all day and all night, and never get tired.
“Whass…your…name?” I manage to slur, making an effort with each word.
“I’m Kaia. I’m your nurse. And you had a very lucky escape. That road is dangerous at night.”
