Page 61 of Avenging Devil: Part 1

Adding talking to him to my mental list of things to do, I go into the bathroom. When I come out, Cyn’s disappeared. To get dressed I expect, in her own room.

My mind keeps whirling. She was in my bed. For company or protection?Had she been scared fucking Kid would go to hers?

By the time I’ve put on my prothesis, a clean pair of jeans and a fresh t-shirt, I’m in a foul mood. My brain’s in a mess about something I can do nothing about, so I’m channelling my anger into something I can. Getting more enraged by the second, I stomp down the stairs as I search for my target, my eyes zooming in when I find him.

“Prospect!” I yell, then have to send waves of stand down toward Connor and Curtis, and even Wrangler who’d jumped at the tone of my voice.

I point to my eyes, then to Kid. “You and me, Kid. Outside now.”

Kid’s expression is almost comical. He swallows hard, making his Adam’s apple bob. With a stiff posture but a steady gait, he goes to the door of the clubhouse and exits. I follow straight after.

Grabbing his shoulder, I swing him around and plant my fist in his face.

“What the fuck, Niran?” Dart’s voice sounds behind me, as ruefully, Kid rubs his jaw.

I toss a reply to the VP over my shoulder. “Prospect’s been making my sister uncomfortable, and I fuckin’ want to know why.”

“That true, Kid?” Dart growls as he comes up alongside me.

The prospect’s eyes are wild, flicking from me to Dart, and then back again. Another rapid swallow, then he opens his mouth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t, huh?” As my fist clenches, Dart’s hand steadies my arm. I give him a sharp look, but recognising his warning, continue to use words. For now. “Cyn came to my room last night as she was too frightened to stay in hers. Was that because you threatened to fuckin’ visit?”

Loudly, Dart sucks in air and again, but this time more forcibly asks, “Is this true, Prospect?”

Kid holds his hands in a gesture of surrender and cries out, “No, I swear it’s not. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I only spoke to her for a moment.”

Taking a step closer, I crowd him. “What did you fuckin’ say to her?”

He looks past me to Dart, then his worried eyes come back to my face. He slumps in front of me as he admits, “I told her she needs to have some fuckin’ self-respect. She came on to me, man, not the other way around.”

She wouldn’t do that. She might be naïve as fuck, innocent for all that she’d lived with that fucker Hester, but she wouldn’t make a move on a member of the club.

“You fuckin’ liar.” I advance on him.

“Niran?” an anxious voice calls out, and Curtis, brave that he is, comes running up and steps between us. Prospect he may be, but like me, he’d been in the Marines. Showing that backbone that he needed to serve, he places one hand on my chest and pushes firmly, keeping in position between me and Kid.

“I was fuckin’ there,” he says, his voice full of scorn. “Kid’s right. She was flirting with him all night, trying to get him to give her a drink, then inviting him up to her room. Sounds to me like she had second thoughts and might have gotten worried he’d take her up on the offer. Kid did nothing to encourage her.”

“I wouldn’t, Niran.” Now Kid speaks for himself. “Even if I wasn’t after my patch, I wouldn’t go after a bitch like her.”

“Why the fuck not?” I find myself asking. “’Cos she’s Black?”

Curtis snorts and at the same time Kid’s eyes go wide.

“Because she’s too fuckin’ young—maybe not by the calendar, but fuck, Niran, hate saying this seeing as she’s your sister, but that girl would be hard work.”

“Man’s got a point, Niran,” Dart exclaims by my side.

Turning, I shoot him a look, still undecided as to who to believe. My sister, or the prospects. If she’d accused another member who’d already proved his loyalty to the club, I wouldn’t have hesitated for a moment. But these aren’t yet members. They both still need to earn our trust.

It’s hard to discount the word of Curtis, he’ll soon be patched in, and has proved his worth. But Kid? He’s too new and yet has to show his true colours.

And my problem is, if I believe him, and not her, it doesn’t bode well for her continuing to stay at the club. Pitting brother against brother, or even brother against prospect, isn’t going to go down well.

As Dart confirms with his next words. “A word, Brother?” When he jerks his head, I follow him a discreet distance away. He leans in and speaks quietly. “Kid’s got one thing right. Cyn’s been hard work. I know you’ve been tied up with Saffie, but that’s left her running wild around the club. I believe Kid, I’m afraid. I think she’s trying to stir up trouble.”

Pinching the brow of my nose, I take in a deep breath, wait for a second, then breathe it out. As I do, some of my rage and bad temper leaves me. “Why, Dart?”

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