Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology: Second Edition by Elizabeth Knox (top 5 ebook reader txt) 📕

Oh shit.

5 HAWK

“I guess I’ll just take this coffee and drink it myself.”

I blinked, trying to clear my vision and take in the shadowy figure standing over me. My sister sunk to the ground, shifting her long, old-fashioned dress so it still covered every little bit of skin possible. At this point, I think it was probably just natural for her to do so. After twenty-odd years, those types of things just became natural.

Especially when they were beaten into you.

I shuffled my body away from the tree I’d been leaning against, just resting my eyes. “If you drank coffee, I might actually take that threat seriously,” I countered, accepting the takeout cup she extended to me. Her hand drew back, unconsciously resting atop her growing belly, her fingers stroking it gently. “How you feeling?”

Though she managed a smile, I could feel just how forced it was, refusing to meet her eyes. “The morning sickness this time isn’t pleasant. Neither are the back aches or the way my feet no longer fit in any of my shoes.”

Grace already had three children with a husband she shared with two other wives. I swear I don’t remember the last time I saw her when she wasn’t expecting. The Valley believed that was basically what women were made for—to produce child after child in search of the one who will finally save them. One pops out and if it’s not the one, they move on and try again.

Then daughters are raised to do the same when they get older.

The men were raised to work and care for the millions of fucking children these fucktards are producing.

I sipped at my coffee, enjoying the way the caffeine seemed to instantly take effect. I had no idea how many hours of sleep I’d had over the past week or so, but I knew it wasn’t many, the boys and I working extra fucking hard to make sure opening night was going to go ahead.

“I don’t remember you having this many issues with the other kids,” I commented, my brow knotted. “Maybe you should get che—”

“It’s twins.” My mouth fell open, and she let out a dark laugh. “Yes. My thoughts exactly.”

Grace was the only sibling I kept in contact with. I knew there were a handful or more who left The Valley but never bothered to find me. I guess because I was the black sheep, the one everyone believed was bad, whether they listened to the prophets’ ramblings or not. I was the bad seed.

There was a reason, though.

She and I shared a connection I didn’t have with any of my other siblings.

We were twins.

Up until now, the only set in my father’s bloodline, and as far as I was aware, the only set within The Valley.

While my mother was praised for bringing two babies into the world to offer at Heaven’s gates, things quickly changed as I grew older. People would tell stories about how twins weren’t a blessing, but instead, a curse. Rather than one baby being born with both beauty and sin, the baby was separated into the two.

Grace was the beauty.

I was the sin.

When my constant challenging of the teachings in The Valley finally came to a head, and Bishop stepped in to protect me, Grace chose to stay inside. She believed that was her purpose, though our bond was too strong to be kept apart for long.

She came to the city every week to supervise the young girls and boys taking classes that needed certification like first-aid certificates or anything that warranted a license.

Every other week, she came to the park to have her lunch.

And I just so happened to be there.

If it were a coincidence, The Valley wouldn’t complain or punish her for mixing with an exile.

So that was what we went with.

A bi-weekly coincidence.

“Be careful,” I warned her gently, the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention.

Her hand continued to stroke the large baby bump, a smile forming as she looked down at it lovingly. “I know what you’re saying. You’re scared one of them will be like you.”

My lip curled. “You know what they’ll do if it is.”

“And if it does come to that,” she murmured, seemingly unfazed by the idea her child may end up with the same fate as me. “I know exactly who to call to protect him.”

And I would.

In a fucking second.

No question.

Before I could tell her just that, her head whipped around, her attention being pulled to the kids’ playground nearby. The sound of children laughing and screaming always seemed to disappear into the distance, but this sound wasn’t that. It was a deeper tone, a threatening rumble.

“Why the fuck can’t you ever just sit down and shut the fuck up?” the guy roared, throwing his arms into the air.

“Men shouldn’t speak to women that way,” Grace scowled, her nose crinkling like she’d smelled something bad. “It’s so…” The rest of the words coming from my sister’s mouth melted away when I finally caught sight of the person this asshole was fucking screaming at.

“Taylor!” Grace called after me, but I was already on my feet, my growing anger sending shockwaves through the ground as I stomped across the grass.

“It was none of your goddamn business, Missy!”

She stood her ground, her chin held high even as this asshole stood over her, practically spitting in her face. “My daughter, my business,” she threw back, completely fucking stoic.

A picture of strength if you didn’t notice the way her eyes were glittering with building tears.

The asshole had the nerve to take a step closer, lowering his head and voice. But I heard him loud and clear. “You pull some shit like that again, and I’ll fucking take her—”

I grabbed the back of his shirt, dragging his dumb ass backward with so much force, he lost his footing and fell straight on his fucking ass. “I’d like to see you fucking try,” I seethed, taking two large steps toward the bastard as he