Page 61 of Soul

“Why would you think we’d hurt you?” Soul asked finally.

“Because of that man and Lindy pulling a gun and Warden and everything…” I blurted, unsure where to start.

“Lindy is licenced to carry concealed. We all are, Bryony.”

“But that means none of you have criminal records,” I surmised, and Soul nodded. “That means you’ve never been caught, or you’re not as dark as I thought.”

“Bit of both? I told you, we have illegal businesses. We like money and enjoy nice things in life. And if we have a woman, we don’t want her to go without. If she wants to drop fifty k on a car, we want her to be able to. If she desires vacations abroad, then that’s not an issue. But Bryony, we don’t touch the big three. No drug or gun running and no human trafficking.”

“I forgot. Normal people hear things, and we don’t know if they’re true and think back to the eighties. Biker wars were notorious from then. That man scared me. He touched me, Soul, and stated I had no cut. Almost as if he was saying I was free game. I do not live like this and don’t understand this world,” I replied.

“Firstly. Tap is the President of the Bloody Scorpions here in Maine. They are based in Millinocket, two and a half hours away from us, babe. This is RBMC territory, and Tap breeched it because of the club’s actions lately. We informed the law of a huge drugs shipment, which got several of their members locked up. And we also let leak a place where they were doing a trafficking sale. People died, and they lost roughly over one hundred thousand when the Feds busted them.

“It was worth it as a truckload of women and children were saved. That’s why Tap was here. They set fire to the laundrette that Undertaker runs, and we hit back with the drugs bust. Tap was sending a warning today. He thinks we’re even, but we are not. The Bloody Scorpions need wiping off the earth. They’re in almost every state we are in, and they are our natural enemy, as I explained.”

“He scared me.”

“I won’t allow him to hurt you. Warden will retaliate over what happened because there’s an unspoken rule that women and children are off limits. Tap pushed that, and Warden won’t let that stand,” Soul assured me.

But the question circling in my head wouldn’t go away. Was this what I wanted?

Chapter Twelve.

Soul

Iwas losing Bryony. I could sense it. She had been shocked by today’s events, and I could understand why. A suburban mom whose main difficulty had been a divorce and fighting her ex-asshole-husband.

Bryony was right; what did she know of this life? But I was falling for her. Everything about her attracted me, and I couldn’t… wouldn’t set her free. I should, I honestly should, but I was too damn selfish. Bryony was mine.

“You should have been scared. Tap is evil. I suppose people could say the same about us, but that’s because they don’t understand us. We’re not bad, Bryony, maybe we are morally grey, but we’re certainly not the Screaming Barons or the Bloody Scorpions. Tap was using you women to send a message. We heard it, and now we’ll respond,” I stated.

“Why not let it go? Why escalate it?” Bryony asked.

“Because taking the higher road means Tap will see that as weak. There's only one language people like him understand. We’ve no qualms using it to warn him off.”

“But I don’t wish to be involved in that.”

“I agree, babe, and you shouldn’t have been. Tap crossed a line today, and that’ll be forcefully challenged. Old ladies and children are off-limits. Tap will be reminded of that.”

“Soul, I don’t think I can handle this. I know nothing of this life, and I’m not sure I want to learn.”

Panic kicked in, my gut twisted, and my fingers clenched. “Bryony, it’s my job to protect you and the kids. I failed today, but I won’t in the future. Any woman, not just you, should be safe to walk down the street and not fear being confronted. What happened was frightening, but it will not happen again. Tap will be made aware of the lines he crossed. I promise. Don’t leave me,” I begged.

“Soul, how can I when we’re not even together?” Bryony asked with a short laugh.

“But we’re heading towards building something solid. And make no mistake, we are in a relationship,” I stated as I threaded my fingers through hers. Bryony couldn’t go. I’d not let her. All three of them belonged to me, and I desired the whole kit and kaboodle. Bryony and those kids. Mine.

Possessiveness rose in my chest, and I wanted to stamp myself all over them. Nobody was going to take them away from me. No one.

“Can we take this slow and explain things to me that don’t make sense? What might seem a stupid question to you or the old ladies isn’t to me. I do not like Warden; he’s an ass, even though he offered to find this psychic teacher. And I don’t think Warden would care if I was hurt or not.”

“You’re wrong, and time will prove that,” I said with complete faith in Warden.

Bryony nodded. “Can we enjoy the view now?”

“Your wish is my command, babe,” I replied as my fear subsided. Bryony was going to stay, and that was all that mattered.

???

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