Page 101 of Steel

My mind runs through everything we’ve learned over the last two weeks. There’s been a few other women who have gotten the same damn cryptic notes that are always accompanied by a black rose, but the threats seem to be escalating because we have women getting beat in the parking lot.

At least they were until we caught on and started using a buddy system. None of the women go out at any time by themselves anymore.

Nothing else has happened until tonight.

Wish to fuck I knew why Killer decided now would be a good time to change up his strategy of attack. Maybe it’s ‘cause he knows Wraith won’t go after him without hard proof that it’s him, and since his usual is attacking head-on, he figured he’d throw us off by going after the women we employ.

He should know that none of us in the Dirty Mavericks are fucking stupid. It would only be a matter of time before we figured it out, especially when he leaves us a body with his calling card on it. Hell, maybe that’s why he did it. Maybe he’stired of hiding in the dark and is ready to come out and go to war.

Fuck, but I don’t think war is something my brothers are prepared for. It’s been too damn long since we’ve had to fight a club as big and as vicious as the Night Skulls. Truthfully, I don’t think it’s a fight we can take on our own. Killer has his hands in some dirty pockets, and those dirty pockets are even more vicious than him.

When I pull into Sinful Saloon, all the emergency vehicles are pulling out. Jake offers me a two-fingered salute, which I return with a respectful bow of my head as we pass each other. Gremlin, Bones, and Jagger are standing against the building watching Prospect Axel and Prospect Poe as they finish cleaning up the scene all the investigators and other personnel left behind.

I climb from my bike and head toward the group. “They say what the verdict was?”

Don’t want to lie to my brothers any more than I already have, so I go with assumptions.

Guilt gnaws a hole in my stomach lining and leaves a bitter taste behind.

“Fucking vicious brutality is what the goddamn verdict was,” Bones growls.

“She was raped vaginally and anally. Not just with multiple cocks, but also with someone’s fucking knife judging from the way her pussy was sliced to pieces and the knife that was still sticking out of her. There were bite marks all over her body and bruises around her neck indicating multiple attempts at asphyxiation. They tossed her here like she was part of the garbage when they were finished with her and marked her with the crass fucking skull in the middle of her forehead so we’d know who to blame for this.”

Jagger delivers the details in such a monotone voice that I search his face, but like any other time, it’s carefully blank. He’sbeen the same way since the moment we rescued him in the middle of his rape. The dude has tons of fucking demons, and they’re deep, dark, and dangerous. But ain’t ever seen another person more committed to this club. If there are two people he’d willingly step in front of a bullet for, though, it’s Crow and Sage. He’s got more loyalty to those two alone than he’d ever have for this club, and that’s saying a fucking lot.

“Night Skulls,” I spit out, not having to fake the outrage.

The hunger to drive my tomahawks into the skulls of every one of those bastards is alive and breathing under my skin.

“You think they’re the ones behind the other girls and the threats too?” Bones asks.

“From what I know, that’s not really Killer’s MO, though,” Gremlin answers.

I shrug. “Didn’t use to be, but maybe he decided to switch shit up and play with his prey. Some kind of psychological shit.”

“Makes sense with sick motherfuckers like him,” Jagger mutters.

I shake my head. “Not just sick. Killer is a sadistic son-of-a-bitch. What you saw tonight isn’t even half of what I’ve seen of his work. Don’t know how he’s never been caught but wouldn’t mind takin’ the bastard off the streets myself.”

Gremlin moves from his position to stand tall when the prospects start heading for us. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll get the chance, brother. Sure as hell hope so because no woman deserves to go through what that one did. Not even if it’s one I hate with every bone in my body. I’d rather just put a bullet through their head.”

“Everything is done, boss,” Prospect Axel says, coming to a stop in front of us and placing his hands in the middle of his back with his feet a few inches apart.

I tilt my head and study him. There are only two men I’ve seen stand like that—Phantom and Blade. I ain’t spent nearly enoughwith these newer prospects to catch most of their backgrounds, but I’m figuring this one has one similar to theirs. Probably not as long since he ain’t much older than Jagger and Sage, I’d guess.

“Get on out of here and back to the clubhouse. Wraith is waiting on a report,” Gremlin tells them. When they’re gone, he turns back to me. “I don’t know when Wraith is planning on retaliating against Killer, but I want fucking in. I want to spill Night Skull blood.”

“I want in too. You can spill it, brother. I want Night Skull blood raining down on my motherfucking skin,” Jagger rumbles.

“This will be a goddamn war, brothers. There’s goin’ to be enough to go around.” I blow out a breath. “Feelin’ we might lose a couple of our own if it comes to that.”

The three of them get pretty somber after that bit of news.

“Got to go check in with Reva and the office. Headin’ back to the clubhouse?” I ask.

“Yeah. Wraith sent us to deal with this shit because he had something going on with Nova. Crow was busy chasing after a lead on his shit and took a couple brothers with him, and you already know what Ronin’s ass is fucking doing. Don’t know why he’s running from Kush Queen anyway. Everyone knows that bitch has him by the balls,” Bones says.

“Why’s any man run from a woman? Juniper will have him callin’ her Old Lady before he thinks twice about it, and he doesn’t know if he’s ready for that. Ronin’s all for fun and games until shit gets real. Woman may play like she’s good with casual with him, but she ain’t. Don’t matter none as long as he doesn’t make her any promises,” I reply.

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