Page 65 of Soul

“What’s your relationship with Miss Teague?” Myers retorted.

“We’re dating. She’s my woman,” I said as I stroked Bryony’s hair. Her face had been a mess from the quick glimpse I’d seen.

“Miss Teague was attacked and sexually assaulted by two men. They identified themselves as members of your MC. I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” Myers stated.

“What the fuck? Nobody from my club would attack and assault a woman. Bryony, baby, it wasn’t one of us,” I exclaimed as I rubbed her back.

Bryony pulled away. “They wore cuts and said they were from your club. They wanted me to remember that.” Tears streaked her cheeks, and I gaped at the state of her.

Her left side of her face was deeply bruised and swollen. Her nose was slightly bent to one side, and her bottom lip was split, and was that… fuck, teeth imprints marred it. There were marks around her neck, and on the right side of her forehead was a large graze.

“Jesus Christ,” I murmured.

“You told me your club would never hurt me. Was this a warning?” Bryony sobbed.

“For what, babe? Why would you think that?” I was completely confused.

“Mac said—”

“Mac?” I stiffened. Myers stood up.

“Mac and Duster. They claimed I was disrespecting—”

“Baby, they ain’t Royal Bastards. Mac is the President of the Screaming Barons. Duster is one of his members,” I explained softly as I tried to pull her closer.

Bryony fought back and pushed away.

“I told you, I wasn’t made for this life. I can’t do this. Just go. Bring the children here, I’m discharging myself. And then I am taking my kids and getting the fuck out of this nightmare town,” Bryony said.

“Bryony, please. Myers, leave. I want to talk to my woman,” I demanded.

“You know what I haven’t heard, Soul? You’ve not asked exactly what happened to Miss Teague. All you’re concerned about is her not leaving you. Miss Teague was the victim of a particularly nasty sexual assault. She was terrorised by two men with nefarious intentions that, one way or another, had links to your club.”

“What the fuck would you know, Myers? You’ve been looking to take us down for years,” I snapped, stung by his words.

He was right. I was a schmuck. “Bryony, baby. Look at me. If space is what you want, that’s what you’ll get. But I will be outside waiting. I’ll make sure you get justice,” I promised, gently touching her hand.

“Your idea of justice isn’t mine. Go, Soul, and let me give Detective Myers my statement. Stay away from my children and me, please. We don’t belong with you,” Bryony whispered.

Bryony turned her face from me as I left the room.

???

I sat in church, barely keeping my temper in check. Warden had called church, and I explained what I’d learned from Bryony and then Myers.

“I read Myers and Bryony’s mind when they left. Myers escorted her home. I witnessed everything in her head. Mac and Duster didn’t know Bryony was linked to us. They spotted a woman they liked and forced attention on her. From Bryony’s point of view, they intended to rape her and came damn close,” Romeo said and flashed images into our heads.

Anger built in me as I watched what happened from Bryony’s POV.

Several of the men gasped as we felt Bryony’s fear.

“When you declaring war? And I want in the first salvo,” I asked Warden when I finally gained enough control to talk.

Warden glanced at me, surprised. “What do you mean ‘war’?”

“Bryony was nearly raped. Did you miss that?”

Warden looked at me. “Soul. She didn’t have a cut on. This wasn’t an attack on the club. This was an unfortunate incident of a woman being assaulted.”

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