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

Quake rapped his knuckles on the smooth wood of the door.

“Enter,” Stone called.

Slipping inside, he approached his leader who was seated behind a sturdy wooden desk. An antique sword was mounted on the wall behind him, displayed beside a shield with the emblem of the Knights Templar blazoned across its surface. They’d all kept relics from the past. Pieces of times long gone when they had fought alongside others to stop darkness from consuming humanity. The world around them might have changed but their cause was the same. Fight evil in all its forms. Defend those who couldn’t defend themselves. Bring light to those in need.

They were all still knights at heart, but their steeds were motorbikes instead of the horses they’d once ridden.

“Report,” Stone growled, not wasting any time. “Did the jackals return?”

Stopping in front of the desk, Quake remained at attention. “No, there was no sign of them.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive,” Quake confirmed, feeling the intensity of the other man’s gaze on his face. “I stood watch all night, prepared to shift, but the house stayed quiet.”

Stone grunted. “The Death’s Heads do not forgive and forget. I suspect that Madam Belle and her girls are going to be in for a rough ride. We’ll have to keep an eye on The Pole Barn.”

“The Fae might not like that,” he pointed out, cupping his groin. “I don’t think any of us wants our dicks shrunk.”

“I’ll talk to her,” his superior continued smoothly. “Offer our protection with no strings attached and no expectation of payment in any form. We’ll do it because it’s the right thing to do. Defend those who can’t defend themselves the way you did last night. I wasn’t sure what happened until you texted me, but I commend you for your quick thinking and appropriate response. Madam Belle wasn’t happy that her bouncer let Phantom slip upstairs. I suspect he was bribed. If she determines that’s the case, he’ll be lucky to leave with any dick, let alone a tiny one.”

“When do you plan to talk to her?”

“Tonight. We’ll head out to the club and make sure the jackals aren’t hanging around or causing trouble. Meanwhile, remember that you and Rock are on the cards for the shifter fights in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York. We’ll save a crapload of cash in New York by staying with The Order of The Phoenix at the Citadel, but we still have cab fare and meals. Hopefully, the trip will pay for itself. I need you focused,” he warned him. “Head straight and dick down, got it?”

Quake hated that he’d have to leave with so much going on. Magenta, Phantom, the Death’s Head MC. He opened his mouth, intending to ask if there was any way he could bow out of this trip, but Stone nailed him with a look that sealed his lips. They’d made a commitment. They would honor it. Shifters who failed to show ended up getting banned from the big events and were forced to compete in small ones if they let them fight at all.

He’d fight his way across the country but he wouldn’t like it. With so much energy to vent, whoever he was up against had better watch the fuck out.

They’d pitted themselves against other supernaturals in the past. By keeping up the skills they’d learned as warriors, they were always ready for a good fight. Most of the matches they attended around here were set in tucked away barns or abandoned properties. Beast was their reigning champion at the moment—a position they’d all held. Dragons were competitive as fuck. Daily physical training included pairing off in the ring, on the mats, or in the outdoor arena where they did trial by combat, most of the time with blunted weapons but not always.

Their Viking, Ryder, loved his axe and enjoyed living dangerously, depending on their accelerated healing and lack of scarring to take care of any wounds. If broken bones weren’t aligned immediately, a clean rebreak would solve the problem. Fortunately, Dr. Stefano Laskaris, the local veterinarian, was a centaur shifter, perfect for keeping their secrets and serving as their medic when they needed one.

“Head straight. Dick down. Got it,” Quake quipped, knowing it was what he needed even if it wasn’t what he wanted. Magenta was miles away by now, off to run whatever errands an exotic dancer who whored on the side needed to be done.

Quake stepped out of the office and ran smack dab into Eagle Eye. So much for keeping his head straight. “Sorry, man,” he apologized. “You okay?”

Their most valuable prospect rubbed his shoulder and nodded. “I think so,” he said, circling his arm. Trotting up beside him, his giant wolfdog whined. “Chaya and I were going to go hunting. See if we could bring Cookie some fresh meat for the table.”

The eagle shifter and his wolf were an effective team with eyes in the air and a nose on the ground. Luckily, he and Eagle Eye had just bumped shoulders. Not the kind of injury that would interfere with flight.

At least Eagle Eye could get away with it in daylight. There was no fucking way gargoyles could fly unless it was nighttime with no one around to witness them in their true forms.

“Good luck,” Quake told him. “Whatever you find, I’m sure Cookie will do it justice.”

Eagle Eye headed out and Quake went up to his room to change clothes. Not that he didn’t enjoy the soft scent of Magenta still clinging to them, but he was a selfish son of a bitch. He didn’t want to share her with anyone.

He didn’t shower again, though. His nose was still attuned to her fragrance. He’d lose it soon enough. No sense in speeding the process.

With too much nervous energy and fights looming, he sought out Rock to see if he’d go a few rounds in the ring with him. They both needed to be in top shape before their fights, especially the one in