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He’s silent fer a moment before he nods. “Aye, I am, but I’m not the one fallin’ in love with the wee lass we picked up off the streets.”
This time, my fist does make contact with his jaw. I don’t knock him out. Instead, I draw some blood, but nothin’ that’s goin’ta scar that pretty face of his.
His response has me on edge, though. “Only guilty people get violent.”
FIVE
REBEL
The Present
Thirty Years Old
Time passes and people move on, but there are always things that bring back old memories. It can be a song, a fragrance, even a feckin’ word. And that’s how my life has been since I was fifteen—a mirage of memories that have eaten me alive.
When I die, and trust me, I’ve thought about it a good deal, I know I’ll still remember certain moments in my life that have changed me. I’ve come to accept them over the years. I know they happened for a reason, and I need to move on from them.
But, do I move on?
No.
I joined the Royal Bastards MC when I was at my lowest point—after my girlfriend left, my da was killed, and I’d drunk and fought my way into a stupor. Now I’m the Vice President, and I’m one of the most dangerous men in the club. And there are a lot of violent feckers in our clubhouse.
There’s only one thing that weakens me. It’s the blonde beauty currently lying in the sunshine with her sister Miren. After Orla, I vowed never ta allow another woman into my heart, and I’ve kept that promise.
Even though Callia is a constant in my life, I’ve kept her at arm’s length. But the thought of her bein’ mine hasn’t left my mind since I first saw her. The need ta claim her is a battle I fight daily. But now, her present and my past are about to collide. Her father, the head of the Irish mob and the man responsible for the murder of my da, is our prisoner. Revenge will be sweet, but will I ever be able ta make a move on Callia, knowin’ she’s the daughter of the man I helped kill.
Pushin’ those thoughts aside, I make my way into the clubhouse and towards the room where we hold church.
“Why the feck are ye late?” Monster looks at me with those dark eyes that bore right down into the depths of yer feckin’ soul.
He has a way about him, and I think that’s why he’s such a good President. When he took over from his da, I know he didn’t think he’d be in the position fer very long. But he had no choice, and over the years, he’s settled into the role better than anyone expected.
There’s a commanding aura that follows him around, even when we’re not in church. He could walk around the feckin’ pub, and people would kneel fer him if he asked.
“Had some shite to deal with,” I tell him.
Perhaps I should offer up the truth about my thoughts, but with the rest of the brothers here, I keep it ta myself. I don’t want them hearin’ my life story until I’m ready ta tell it.
“Somethin’ ye need help with?” I know Monster won’t let up until he delves right down into the root of the problem, and I don’t mind usually, but for now, I want ta focus on the task at hand.
“Nah,” I tell him as I settle into my seat at his right hand. “I’ll be fine.” I chuckle, hopin’ ta calm the feckin’ tension in the room.
“Right,” Monster says after a long, silent moment. “We have Bragan in the basement, he’s locked up, so now we need ta make the fecker talk.”
I still can’t believe Bragan was that easy to apprehend. I’m havin’ my doubts about him, but I know Monster has been waitin’ on this moment fer a long time.
The meetin’ starts, and soon, the men are fired up and ready ta make Bragan pay fer his crimes. I’m not focused. I should be. But there are other things going on in my head, and it’s feckin’ me up.
“That’s it,” Monster says. “I’ll be questionin’ him with Hades and Rebel.” The words drag me out of my thoughts, and I glance across at the man who’s in charge. “Are ye ready?” Monster asks me, his dark eyes locked on mine.
“Aye,” I say, it’s an automatic response because he’s the President, and I’m his VP. I have to be ready fer whatever he needs from me.
Havin’ Hades around will at least make up fer my own distracted feckin’ mind. Torturin’ Bragan, makin’ him pay fer what he did ta my da, is somethin’ I’ve waited on fer a long time. But knowin’ his daughter is the girl I’ve been obsessed with fer most of my adult life is a feckin’ nightmare. I don’t want to have ta go to Callia and tell her I’ve killed her da, but he needs ta pay his dues.
