Page 67 of Wrath’s Nightingale

The more I think about that day on the trail. The more I’m convinced he wanted to kill me. Aaron’s always hated me. I don’t know why. Even as a little girl, he’d be mean to me for no reason. Any excuse to lay hands on me and hurt me, he would. He told me once after the courts made me visit Felicity that he’d kill me one day. I asked him why. He said because he could.

Wrath

Istop in front of the gates of Baton Rouge. The prospect does a double take before opening the gates. I roll up to the clubhouse, parking out front as requested by Chief.

The club house is a former high school. It’s a two-story red-brick building. They refurbished. The top floor is apartments, while the bottom has the kitchen, dining room, office, church,gym, and bar. Chief had the bar flown in from Ireland. An old pub sold it to him.

Chief and Trinity are waiting for us in the lobby. Chief immediately pulls Millie in for a big hug.

“Since you two eloped, you’re going to have to let us throw you a big party. The King likes to celebrate life's big moments.”

Millie gives him her kilowatt smile. “We’d love to celebrate with you. If it’s any better, it was a surprise to me, too.”

“Millie, this is Chief, the club’s President and his VP Trinity.”

“Pleasure to meet you both, and thanks for helping us out.”

“Why don’t you come into the office and tell us a little more about Aaron and Felicity.”

We follow them into Chief’s office. He indicates the couch. We take a seat before Millie goes into details about Aaron and Felicity.

“Aaron’s had it in for me from the moment of my birth. It started with him stealing my bottle, drinking it, and putting it back. Felicity thought I was fed and would leave me to cry. When I was older and started to walk he'd push me down or pinch me hard enough to leave bruises when no one was looking.

“In fourth grade, he caused me to fall off a roof. I wound up with a concussion. Another time, he tackled me and beat my head into the ground to give me yet another concussion.

“Felicity turned a blind eye. I wound up with black eyes and bruised ribs. She turned a blind eye. She was too concerned about her next boyfriend. Who knows what would’ve happened if Lisa and Dad didn’t get custody of me when I was ten. I try not to think of the horrors Aaron would have come up with.”

“This shit ends here. Are you alright with us handling things?”

Millie nods. “I am. I don’t think I want details.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. Why don’t you and Wrath go enjoy dinner? You have reservations at the Little Village. Best Italian in the city if you ask me,” Chief says.

Chapter 42

Millie

Both Felicity and Aaron know my weakness for Italian food. Bug, the Baton Rouge club’s hacker, has eyes on them. When Wrath told me they were on the way, I asked them to head them off. I don’t know, maybe it’s because of the twins, but I don’t want either of them to step foot in my city.

While I’ll always love Indiana and consider it a hometown, New Orleans is my home too. It’s where my husband and children are. It’s where I’ll raise my family. I don’t want it tainted with their energy. The city’s always been my safe space. My place away from them. Both refused to come visit me the time I invited them. I tried once. That was enough. They didn’t deserve more.

We arrive at the restaurant. It takes a few minutes to find a parking space. It’s a couple of blocks from the restaurant, but I’m not worried. I’m carrying. I have PK380 in a holster at the small of my back. A black denim vest covers what my shirt doesn’t.

Wrath has a Sig-Sauer M17 in shoulder holster under his cut and a backup pistol in his boot.

The prospects and members of the Kings’ Baton Rouge chapter are all spread out nearby. Wrath’s hand slips into mine as we walk.

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving. I could eat as much as a draft horse.”

“I take it that’s a lot?”

“One to three percent of their body weight. Which is between sixteen hundred and two thousand pounds.”

He laughs. “Okay, you’re on the verge of hangry. Got it.”

We laugh and chat along the way. If Aaron or Felicity are nearby, I haven’t seen them yet. Wrath gives our name at the hostess stand and we’re whisked off to a table. It’s not centrally located, but we can be easily spotted from anywhere in the restaurant.

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