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I flipped Montana the one finger bird.
“Ask later, just sign,” Mercy said, shaking his head, grinning.
After I signed the papers, I stood. “Alight. Anything else because I need to check on Linsey and my girls.”
The room went deathly quiet. I looked around at the men. None of them looked at me as they all slowly stood. It was Montana who said. “Just one more thing. Take off your shirt, Vicious.”
“What?”
“Take off your shirt.”
Doing as he said, Malice and Payne walked around the boardroom table to stand on either side of me. As my shirt hit the floor, both men grabbed my arms as Montana got to his feet and walked to the door. Opening it, someone was standing there with a branding iron in his hand, the end bright red as if it spent the last hour in the flames of hell. Taking the branding iron, Montana shut the door and walked over to me.
“To become a true Soulless Sinner, the applicant must bleed for the club. This applicant has met the requirements. This applicant has the clout, the means, and the fortitude. The applicant has served his time and is asking to become a brother. A true Soulless Sinner. What say you all?”
The room collectively said yes.
“You have the votes applicant, but do you have the soul of a sinner?”
“I do.”
Mercy stepped in front of me, holding a leather strap. “Put this in your mouth and bite down.” Knowing what was coming, I did just that as Montana placed the bright red end of the branding iron between my shoulder blades, high on my back. The second the brand kissed my skin, my knees damn near gave out. If it wasn’t for Malice and Payne, I would have succumbed to the agony. As it was, I was seeing stars, biting down hard on the leather strap Mercy gave me. The smell of burning skin invaded my nostrils, making me queasy. When I didn’t think I could stand any more, Montana removed the hot branding iron.
Malice and Payne released my arms, leaving me to stand on my own as the brothers lined up behind me, each with a blade in their hand. I stood there while each of them cut me, each drawing blood. When it was Montana’s turn, he whispered, “This is for making me wait, brother.”
As his blade slashed across my back, I dropped to my knees. The pain was searing, robbing me of my breath. When I could breathe again, I got to my feet and looked at the men before me. Each one had gone through what I had just did and was still standing. We were the same. Each belonging to something bigger than what we were. I was no longer without a family. Like they did, I bled for my family. I was no longer a lone rider. A nomad. I now rode with my real brothers. My blood brothers. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew I felt different. Unlike when I joined the Golden Skulls, there was no fanfare, no party, no congratulations. This club was entirely different. I guess it should be. The Soulless Sinners were nothing like the Golden Skulls. Never would be.
A Soulless brotherhood made in blood.
A brotherhood unlike any I’d ever seen, and I was now part of it.
A true brother.
A Soulless Sinner.
“Sit down Vicious,” Happy said, opening a medical kit I didn’t see before. Sitting, I straddled the chair, giving him access to my back. I dared not flinch when he started cleaning my wounds. My brothers all went back to their respective seats as if what had just happened was nothing.
“As soon as Happy has you cleaned up, we ride. I’ve already contacted Linsey and my mother. They will have dinner ready when we arrive at your place. In the meantime, there is something I want to know.”
“What?” I said, swallowing a wince as Happy placed a cream on the burning brand on my back.
“Tell me everything you know about the Golden Skulls.”
My head swiveled to my new President, and all I saw was firm resolve. Montana wasn’t fucking around. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now. For the next hour, I answered every question thrown at me, leaving nothing out.
All the good, the bad and the ugly.
The sun had set when eight riders, all dressed in black from head to toe, pulled into the parking garage of Davenport Tower. After backing in the bikes, each rider got off their bike and stood, removing their helmets. Placing mine on the handlebar, I removed my black gloves and tucked them into the helmet. Making my way towards the elevator, I heard the brothers laughing and joking with each other. We all piled into the elevator, and when the doors closed, Montana spoke quietly, “You need to lock Linsey down fast, brother. Don’t care how you do it, but I better see a damn ring on her finger within the week.”
I smirked. “What about you? What happened to that fine piece you had tucked away for the last three years? Gonna make an honest woman out of her?”
“Bitch took a runner. She’s dead to me. Which reminds me, Mercy, I need you to put in a request with Barney. Make it a month from now. The boys will want fresh pieces by then. Tell him I’m looking. He knows what I like.”
“Will do, Prez.” Mercy said, typing something into his phone.
“I’m serious about Linsey. She’s a sweet piece, but we can’t have her speak out of turn. She needs to know the score.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
