Prologue.
Vortex
“Damn her!” I cursed as I stomped around my apartment. It wasn’t home, more like somewhere to sleep and eat while I rested from work. Angrily, I glowered at my phone, wondering if I could blame it for the call I had just received. Nanci was returning to South Dakota, and worse, heading for Merritt. I swear to God, the woman had more balls than brains sometimes.
Drake fuckin’ Michaelson needed a bullet. Nanci had been clear of the Unwanted Bastards MC and Inglorious for years. Now Drake had somehow managed to drag Nanci back using her dead brother Seth, aka Psych. Inglorious could rot in hell for all I cared. After what happened with Rhea and how Inglorious lost it, I owed the Unwanted Bastards nothing.
Over a decade had passed since I last set foot on Unwanted Bastard land. Years of regret and self-blame. Peace had been hard to find, but I had gained some measure of it. Now Nanci’s call had shattered that.
“Vortex?” a voice said as I heard the door open and shut. Oh, fuckin’ wonderful. Kyleah. Could anything else go wrong?
“What are you doing here?” I demanded as Kyleah walked into the lounge area.
“What’s with the attitude?” Kyleah challenged.
“Don’t got time for this shit today, Kyleah. State what you want and get the fuck out. And leave the keys, they ain’t yours.”
“Is that how you treat me after three months?”
“Kyleah, you know I don’t date past four months. What the hell is the issue?” I snapped.
Kyleah rolled her eyes. “You’re saying you didn’t like dating me?” She stuck a hip out and assumed what she thought was a sexy pose.
“I liked sticking my dick in you, but the rest of the drama that accompanied that, nope, can do without that shit. That’s why we only lasted ten weeks. The twice-a-week fuck wasn’t worth the bullshit,” I stated, and Kyleah gave up her attempt at seducing me.
Kyleah glared and opened her mouth.
“Before you start anything, make sure you can finish, Kyleah. Because I really ain’t in the fuckin’ mood. If you ain’t here for a reason, the door’s there, go through it.”
Kyleah growled. “You’ll regret this, Vortex.”
“Somehow, I don’t think so. When I said we were over, I meant it. I don’t second-guess myself.”
“You’re such an asshole!” Kyleah hissed.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I retorted and motioned for her to leave. Kyleah spun on her high heels and stalked away. Yeah, the bitch was good in bed, but I didn’t need the drama.
Kyleah slammed the door, and I rolled my eyes. I rubbed a hand over my face and wondered what else might make my day go to shit. In the meantime, I’d better start packing. Jesus, South fuckin’ Dakota, here I come.
Chapter One.
Klutz - August 2024
My wife sat up suddenly and gasped. Her hands scrabbled at thin air, and I recognised the signs of Aurora having a vision immediately. Still half asleep, I reached over and grabbed a pad—that was something I’d learned the value of keeping close. I also hit play on my phone.
“Fire falling from the sky. Huge swathes of it. It’s not a plane. I can’t make it out, but hundreds will die. Lots of people.”
“Where?” I asked.
“South Dakota, the town looks… I see Harleys, cuts, bikers rushing.” Aurora’s voice faded as she frowned and stared sightlessly at an image only she could visualise. That was new information. Aurora had received this vision for a couple of years, and it had been constant—until now.
“Focus on the surroundings, babe,” I ordered.
“It’s old, the bikes are parked outside… a saloon?” Aurora sounded puzzled, but the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“Like a Wild West saloon?” I asked.
“Yes.”
