Page 24 of Nun’s Prayer

“If I had her, I’d be fuckin’ throwing her at you,” I snapped.

I started to leave when he said something that made my blood freeze. “Do you want war with the Royal Bastards?”

I slowly turned around. “Say that again?”

“Give up, Brielle, or Warden will declare.”

“Why the fuck would Warden do that?”

“Because I’m a brother.”

“Bull-fuckin’-shit. Not in Camden. I’ve no idea who the fuck you are or where you came from, but go back there, Priest, before I take offence. As if Warden would go to war.”

“He will because you’re peddling the flesh of my cousin. As a member of my family, she’s protected by the Royal Bastards. I’m sure Jameson won’t be happy to learn what your club is doing,” I threatened.

Nun’s eyes narrowed. “You’re under a misapprehension. One, the Harlots don’t answer to Jameson. Two, we certainly don’t fuckin’ obey Warden, nor are we under his protection. Three, you wanna declare? Go ahead. We’ll wipe you from the face of this earth. You want war? Bring it. We’ll be the ones walking away. Tell your pissant president that he’ll hear from Sapphire soon.”

With that, I stormed off.

“He threatened you outright?” Sapphire demanded. I’d informed her what had happened as I rode back to the clubhouse. She’d called emergency church immediately.

“Yes,” I repeated, then opened my mind to Belladonna. Belladonna took the scene from my thoughts and placed it in everyone else’s.

“That fucker!” Sapphire hissed.

“Do we declare first?” Sparrow spat.

“No. We treat this with the disdain it deserves. Warden can chase us. I’m tired of his disrespect,” Sapphire seethed.

“Should we prepare? What if Warden visits Jameson, who proceeds to Duchess and forces her to challenge us?” Lantern asked.

“Then, as much as it will hurt, and it’s bound to burn fuckin’ deep, we cut ties with the Harlots. Here, on our turf, nobody can beat us. Warden might have Vogue, Dynamo, Thunderbird and Romeo,” Sapphire named some of the more lethal Royal Bastards. “But we have Heart, Sparrow, Vengeance, Dagger, and the rest of you. We’re far more dangerous than them.”

“The remainder of us are crack shots,” I spoke for the rest of us who had no powers.

“We’ll hold.”

Hearing a knock, I glanced up. What the hell?

“What?” Sapphire yelled, temper on display. Fume opened the door, and her face was apologetic. She had punishment coming her way for disturbing church.

“Royal Bastards just rolled in,” she said grimly.

Sapphire grinned. “Tell them we’re in church. They can wait.”

Fume nodded and shut the door.

“Now ladies, who wants a few rounds of poker?” Blade chuckled.

Sapphire

“Cheating bitch,” Nun cussed Belladonna out. She’d walked away with a nice two k. I swore she’d been reading our minds.

Belladonna laughed as we entered the rec room. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Half of us ignored the Royal Bastards and headed for the bar. I sauntered out with Blade and Dagger on either side.

I stopped and held Warden’s gaze. This was a power move. This was our land, our home, and they were the invaders. Warden bowed his head, or I wouldn’t acknowledge him.

Behind him stood Undertaker, his Veep, Vogue, Dynamo, Romeo, Thunderbird, Noble, Wisecrack, and a couple of others. Warden had brought his soldiers.