Page 65 of Sinner's Fury

“There is nothing.”

“Lie to me all you want, but it’s there.”

Christian slowly pushed his seat backwards and stood, taking me with him. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he shook his head and clearly said, “We will not become a pawn in this fucked-up game. I’ve got love for all of you, but I left the Soulless Sinners because I refused to be used as a bargaining chip. I don’t want Carly or our kids anywhere near what’s coming. Find someone else. I’m out.”

“You know it’s not that simple, Chris,” the man who met us out by the gate spoke up. “I hate this for you, brother. I hate it for both of you, but you know King is right. There is nowhere on thisplanet where either of you could go and be safe. The best thing is to fight this mess together as one.”

Looking up at Christian, I asked, “What is he talking about?”

“Tony’s talking about our mutual blood ties. If we marry, no one can touch us.”

“And by joining clubs, the Silver Shadows would be blood bound to protect you both,” King stated, getting to his feet. Walking around the table toward us both, he stood before Christian and added, “Take the night. Talk and leave nothing out. She has a right to know the score, Fury. You can let me know your decision in the morning. Matlock, show them to a room.”

After checking on the kids, Matlock opened the door directly across the hall from them, allowing me to precede him. Looking around the room, it was clean but small. Walking over to the window, I stared out into the darkness, wondering if this crap would ever end. I just wanted to live in peace, away from all the drama.

“The prospects brought up your bags. If you guys need anything, come find me.”

“Thanks, Tony,” Christian said, giving him a quick, manly hug before closing the door.

Turning to face him, I stood rooted to my spot, my arms wrapped around my stomach, not knowing what to say to him. So, instead, I stood there and waited, watching as he took a seat on the bed and hung his head, muttering, “I’m sorry.”

“Gonna need more than that, Christian, because I don’t understand any of this.”

“You’ve been doing research into the Golden Skulls, right?” he asked, not really needing my answer as he continued, “Well,what if I told you that all your research connected the Soulless Sinners and the Golden Skulls?”

Frowning, I pulled out the chair under the small desk and sat. “I don’t see how. The only commonality is that they are both biker clubs.”

“I didn’t understand myself until you showed me William Doherty’s family tree. I thought maybe the geek squad got it wrong somehow, but they didn’t. Well, technically they were wrong, but on the whole, they were right, and when I put it all together with what I learned in Shame’s apartment and the file Tyran gave me, it just clicked.”

Getting up from my spot, I walked over and kneeled before Christian. Placing my hands on his face, I looked into his eyes and said, “What clicked, Christian? You’re not making sense. Start from the beginning.”

“Don’t you see?” he whispered. “It’s a family feud. Only no one knows who is guilty.”

“Guilty of what?”

“The rape of Frances Doherty.”

Shaking my head, I tried to clarify, “You’re talking about the youngest sister of Brian Doherty?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “The man who started the Golden Skulls.”

“Christian, the article didn’t state who started the Golden Skulls. Only that it was a bootlegging operation before the conspirators scattered. It only became a motorcycle club afterwards.”

Christian shook his head. “No. It was always a club. I found evidence of that in Shame’s apartment. Like you, he was also researching everything. He had mounds of information he collected during his time with the Soulless Sinners. Vicious and I even found evidence to suggest he was there to babysit my club.”

“That would mean someone planted him there.”

“Yes, but I didn’t have time to figure out who.”

“Hold up,” I interjected. “Go back to the family feud thing.”

“The article Shame had said that someone sexually assaulted Frances Doherty and left her for dead for her brother to find. Everyone believed that the two members that took off and disappeared with all the money were the assailants.”

“That’s right.” I nodded. “I found the same article, but those suspected men were nowhere to be found. The case was never solved.”

“And nine months later, Frances gave birth to a boy.”

“Yes, John Doherty, who was raised by Brian after Frances died in childbirth. John Doherty later married Hyacinth McGregor and had William Doherty in 1943.”

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