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

for Rogue,” he says, pointing at me, which has all eyes turning toward mine. “Lex is his. This is a personal fucking job, and we’re not going to let a brother down.”

One of the men who’s just joined us asks, “If we find him—”

“You bring him in. You make sure that bastard is tied up with anything you find. Make sure you disarm, and if you want to get a shot in, use his hands, feet, anything you want, just keep him alive.”

“I’ve got him,” Jord announces excitedly before realizing Snake was speaking. “Sorry, Dad.” He seems almost sheepish, but then again, if I were Snake’s son, I’d quake in my fucking boots.

“Give us the location. We’ll move out immediately.” Snake grins, his eyes sparking with excitement, and I can’t stop the adrenalin from coursing through my veins.

Each man is tense. It’s as if we move in sync to our bikes. The tracker that Jord picked up is not far from where we are now. Just outside town, a smallholding waits for us with at most probably two to three chapters of the Serpents. And they will be armed. There is no doubt about it.

But I’m ready.

With a vibration of engines all revving at the same time, it’s as if we’re bringing a fucking earthquake to town. A glance at my dad is the last thing I see before we make our way out of the lot and into the double-wide street.

Cars pass us, slowing down to stare. People walk along the sidewalks, and they can’t keep their eyes off us. It’s one of the perks of being in a motorcycle club—some people respect you, others fear you. I haven’t decided which I prefer, but I know that I’m proud to wear the leather; I’m proud to have the patch on my chest.

Snake signals as he takes a dirt road that leads off the tarred course we’d taken, and then we’re headed out into the middle of fucking nowhere. Buildings disappear, and all you can see for miles are trees in every direction. I knew there were woods out here, but this is like being in a goddamned forest.

Once we reach the stop a few miles out, we kill our engines. The plan is to head toward the house on foot, so we have the element of surprise. The only thing is, I’m not sure we do. Lex isn’t stupid. The man has the instincts of a hunter, and when the prey is near, he can sniff out blood from far away.

Glancing around me, I take in every leather cut, each man holding his weapon of choice. Whether it’s a gun, or a hunting knife, or even metal chains, they’re all ready for war. And that’s what we’re walking into.

The deeper into the woods we move, the more tension grabs a hold of me and doesn’t let go. When you spend all your time focusing on something, on getting a moment to finally achieve a goal, then having it right within your grasp can make you anxious.

My hand fists the handle of the Glock tighter when the house comes into view. Bikes are parked out front, an easy count of at least fifteen, and I’m sure there are more in back. Nothing will stop me though. My feet carry me forward, and the crunch of footsteps behind me confirms I’m not alone.

By the time we reach the perimeter of the garden, the violent beat of my heart thumps against my ribs, my stomach is twisted into knots, but the blood coursing through my veins is hot and ready.

A few shots go off from around the side of the house, and that’s when all hell breaks loose. The front door flies open, and men in Serpent cuts race for us. My father and I snake around the side, making our way toward the back of the house where we find the rest of the men trying to get Lex to safety, and that’s when I see him. The man who turned my world upside down.

Even in the noise of war behind me, my focus is on him. Everything is drowned out. There aren’t any other brothers here—it’s only me and the bastard who’s staring right at me. His dark eyes piercing right to the core of me, the flicker of a smirk on his face has me seeing red, and I don’t hear anything but the thundering of my heartbeat.

Raising the gun, I hold it steady. I’m not shaking. I’m not even fucking breathing because he’s right there. Yards from me. And I know the moment I pull this trigger, I’ll finally find peace. I’m sure of it.

“What? Can’t do it?” Lex taunts. “You know, I enjoyed watching the beautiful crimson patterns of your mother and sister.” His words cut me—they slice deep into my soul. My finger tightens on the trigger. And the moment I push it down, the shot rings in my ears, and agony courses through me.

Searing pain right in my chest, and another shot bounces around the bubble it feels like I’m in, and I feel the way the bullet hits me right in the gut. My finger pulls the trigger once more, and I see it for one split second, blood oozing from Lex’s chest, but he doesn’t go down.

My vision blurs. My breathing halts. And my knees hit the ground.

But I don’t scream.

I don’t cry.

I smile.

I watch his leather cut drip with deep, dark, metallic blood.

Then the world goes black.

13

Trinity

“You’re not going anywhere near the hospital,” my mother hisses. Her glare is piercing as she stares at me. When the text came through on my phone from Larkin, I was almost out the door when my mother pulled into the driveway of our home. She knew I’d want to see him, yet she’s standing in my way.

“I have to go!” My voice comes out in a shrill screech. I’m shaking. My hands are trembling at the thought of him being hurt. I had