“You think they were casing the place for our women?” Jameson doesn’t like the thought any more than the rest of us. Ghost’s girls are all of legal age, but a few are just barely eighteen.
“They could be coming in looking to see what our security looks like. We did just destroy their product supply chain,” Ethan points out. “All those foster homes we hit would be an incentive to retaliate.”
Pres shrugs. “I don’t know their reasoning. I don’t give two shits either. I want them gone. Out of our town. Away from our women,” Gabe demands. “Ghost says they came in, enjoyed the show, drank, and paid the girls well. The only reason we’re discussing them now is because we know there’s at least one Devil in our town, and I want to know why?”
“Pres is right. A Devil doesn’t just land in our backyard without a purpose,” Ghost says from his seat in the corner. “And this wasn’t just any Devil. We’ve dealt with this motherfucker before. Years ago.”
“You got a name?” Caleb’s scrutinizing Ghost, cracking his neck, rolling his shoulders as if he’s anticipating a fight to break out. Those two rode together to take out the Devil’s Pres, Viper, and a few of his men after Gabe’s wife, Maggie, was run off the road and killed. Ghost crashed his bike, injuring his leg. Caleb did some time in jail for killing Viper. “We knew him back then as Torch.”
My hackles are raised. A round of curses and grumbling fills the room. Caleb nods, rubbing his hand through his beard as Gabe zeroes his attention in on me. He’s the only one I’ve ever told my story to. He was the only one who needed to know.
“Do we know how long he’s been here? Anyone been tailing him?” I ask, not concerned when everyone looks at me with confusion. Everyone except Gabe. Ghost and Caleb have some idea about things, I’m sure. They’ve been around town long enough. Not much could happen around here that they wouldn’t know about. They know who Torch is and what his return could mean.
Gabe nods once. “I’ve had Colt on him since last night after Ghost called. He’s staying in a small rental on the opposite side of town from where your girl lives.”
The mention of Everly has everyone watching me, waiting for me to explain what I know and who this bastard is. It’s notreally my story to tell, but these are my brothers, and if anyone will help me keep Everly and Kaylie safe, it’s them. Each one of them would lay down their life for family, even if the entire club is pissed off because of what she said the last time she was here. The fact is, it doesn’t matter if the brothers like her or not. She and Kaylie are mine, which means the Kings are loyal to them. They’re all going to have to get fucking used to it, even Everly.
Dragging my hand through my hair, I consider the best way to explain to these men what I know. “Torch was Viper’s right hand when he was still living. He didn’t hold any official rank that I’m aware of, but he was known as Viper’s hound. He wrangled up women and young girls, getting them hooked on the Devils’s drugs. Some he convinced to party, introducing them to other men and getting them hooked slowly. It made them more pliable. Those women were open to being passed around to whoever so long as they were flying high enough. Others were raped and then drugged, leaving them to remember nothing.”
“Sounds like you have personal experience with this asshole.” Jake’s tone is more curious than accusatory, but the undercurrent of distrust is there.
“I don’t have a personal connection to the Devils if that’s what you’re getting at. But we shared a common interest. A woman they used for years to fill their coffers with cash.” The room grows quiet as all eyes are now on me.
“It started with Viper. He met a young woman here in town and convinced her he was in love with her. Her parents had both passed away suddenly, and he preyed on her being lonely and alone. Unfortunately, she was foolish and heartbroken enough to believe him.”
“Viper started her out slowly, using drugs to numb the pain of losing her parents. As time went on, he used it to loosen her up and get her to do his bidding. She’d entertain his friends andthrow parties at her home. It didn’t take long, and the young woman found herself indebted to the Devils for thousands of dollars’ worth of product.”
“Was she stealing it or snorting it?” Ethan asks.
“Hewas stealing it and using her to move it,” I explained. “He was taking a cut off the top of each shipment and using her house and theirpartiesto sell it out from under his supplier. But in order for her to do it and to ensure she kept her mouth shut about it, Viper kept her loaded almost all the fucking time. Until he got her pregnant.”
“She had a baby and Viper went missing. Turns out he went off and got himself killed. Unfortunately, his debt didn’t die with him. It was passed on to Torch, who had since taken over the skin trade operation.” I make direct eye contact with Caleb.
“Fuck,” he grumbles. “If we’d known, we would’ve found a way to have taken that bastard out with Viper.”
“Where’s the woman now? Maybe she can help us find them and figure out their next play?” Jameson inquires.
“She died about ten months ago of an overdose. Left her little girl behind for her sister to raise.” I can see all the pieces of the puzzle clicking together as each of my brothers puts things together.
“That’s why Everly hates bikers so much,” Hawk deduces. “Her mother was fucked over by more than one. I can’t imagine what Everly’s life was like as a kid seeing her mom going through all of that and now Kaylie going through it too. I mean, Nate was the king of deadbeat dads. Even with all the shit he did wrong, and his own addictions, he would never turn my mom into a hooker.”
“Jesus, Hawk,” Jake chides.
“What? I’m not making fun of her. I’m just stating the facts. Sharon Greene was known as the town hooker and an addict, butI bet if she’d never met Viper, she would’ve turned out different. Been a better mother to her kids,” he explains.
“She was clean for a while there, though, right?” Jameson asks. “I seem to recall her going away to rehab for a bit and then coming back with a round baby belly. Did Everly help her do that?”
“Everly got Sharon into rehab, but after Ever left to go back to Baron’s Edge, her mom checked herself out of the hospital.” I grab a water bottle from the center of the table, open it and take a drink. “I know one of the girls who works the front desk. She went to high school with me and Ever. My parents sold her and her husband a house a few years ago. Anyway, when I heard about Sharon going into rehab, I asked for a favor and had my name put on as her emergency contact instead of Ever.”
“Let me guess. Everly doesn’t know about this.” Hawk smirks. I shake my head.
“I had watched Sharon struggle for years and saw firsthand what it did to Everly growing up. I knew if something happened and Ever couldn’t get back in time to help her mom, she’d carry the guilt for the rest of her life. Sharon had caused Everly enough pain. For years she used to cower in shame because of her mother’s reputation. It’s why Ever left Oakridge in the first place. She needed to go somewhere where no one knew her and start over for herself. I thought helping her mom, relieving her of the burden she’s carried for so long, was the least I could do.”
A low whistle rents the air. “You’ve been in love with this girl for a long ass time, son. Maybe you should try telling her.” Declan teases with a smirk of his own. “You might get a better response if she knew some of this shit.”
I shrug. He’s right, but the timing has never felt right for me to tell her. “I want Ever to want me because I’m me and we belong together, not because she feels like she owes me for something. That’s exactly what her mother did. Fell victim toViper and Torch and their head games. Showing her kindness at a cost, she eventually paid with her life.”
“Okay, it’s starting to smell like pussy in here with all these emotional confessions and shit,” Jameson complains. “What happened after you found out Sharon bailed on the hospital because she was clean at some point? Kaylie is a healthy, thriving little ball of sass and energy. So, how’d that happen?”
