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Kid
He was leaning against the wall outside the Sinners’ chapel with Rock beside him; waiting for the call he knew would be coming. A call summoning the two of them inside. A call that was going to change his life in ways he had no control over.
On the one hand he would be gaining a family, but on the other he could be making enemies in a club his president wanted to draw into a full alliance.
“Stop worrying.” Rock said quietly. “Dad’s got this in the bag.”
Kid answered as quietly. “I would if I didn’t know that we’ve been knocking heads with your PE, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg chapters over disputed territory and the shit they’re involved in. We both know how clubs work, how the voting works. It’s not cut and dried at all. It’s all about the deals they made before they walked into that room.”
“None of that matters today.” The man walking up to them said as he interrupted them.
Fox Knight, National President of the Sinners Sons MC shook his head as he looked him over. “It’s amazing how much you look like your dad and your brother over here.”
He held out his hand, Kid took it and was drawn into a hug and had two sharp slaps delivered to his back before they parted.
Rock grinned at his uncle and National President. “It’s these perfect genes we share, Uncle Fox.” He teased before he got the same treatment that Kid had. A hug and sharp slaps on the back.
Stepping back he immediately became the national president of the club as he looked at the chapel door then back at them. “Let me get in there and see what those fuckers are trying to squeeze out of War for their agreement to accept you as his son. Not going to fucking happen on my watch. Family is family, no matter how they came about.”
With that he walked away, dropped his phone in the basket on the table outside the door then hammered on it with his fist.
Shortly thereafter the door was opened by a pissed off looking Wheels but the look disappeared when he saw who was standing outside the door.
“Prez, fucking finally.” He said softly then opened the door fully and Fox strode past him. Wheels winked at them as he shut the door and the lock engaged.
They went back to leaning against the wall waiting to be called in.
Not very long after the door was once again opened and Wheels beckoned them both inside.
Kid followed Rock into the room and stopped just inside the door while Rock continued in to sit in a chair behind his president. After closing and locking the door Wheels went back to his seat while Kid was left standing. Locking his knees he crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
It didn’t take long for the jeering to start.
“Look at that fucking Dog, always thinking they own the fucking world.” Came from an older man with a long ratty grey beard, small dark eyes and disgusted look on his face.
Kid placed him immediately. It was Shoes, the VP of the Rustenburg chapter and the main reason why a lot of their efforts to sort out the problems between the two clubs came to nothing. He didn’t react, it wasn’t worth it.
“Walking in here like he belongs. This is bullshit as far as I’m concerned.” Boulder, the Bloemfontein president said and Kid’s eyes swivelled to him and he stared at him coldly until the man dropped his eyes. The fucker had no backbone and should never have been voted into the presidents’ chair. His decisions had put the Dogz and the Sinners on opposite sides in that city and it was a powder keg set to erupt soon. And the Sinners would be the ones who lost. Hawk and Klippies would make sure of it.
“What’s with the fucked up road name, Kid? You think you’re like Billy the Kid or something?” Another asked and Kid ignored him as well.
“Enough.” Fox Knight suddenly pushed his chair back and stood. “I’ve been on an extensive tour of our chapters around the country as you all know and we’ll be discussing what I’ve found once we’re done with this piece of business. We are welcoming my cousin War’s long lost son into the Sinners fold and I won’t hear another word from you motherfuckers about that. Blood is blood, family is family and that’s my final word.”
Dagger jumped right in as he glared at those who had spoken. “I want you fuckers to remember one thing. Sparrow’s son is being raised by Ice Walker, VP of the Iron Dogz, as if he’s his own. I warned you fuckers before and I’m now doing it in front of our National Prez, and it’s for the last fucking time. My club has a blood alliance with the Dogz through Duncan and River. They are my family which makes the Dogz my allies and family. You fuckers will treat Kid with the respect he deserves or you will be having a meeting with his cousin Jinx. Am I clear enough? Do you fuckers understand me?” He looked around the silent table then nodded. “Good.”
Turning to Fox he smiled. “Sorry I interrupted, Prez. I’m done now.”
Fox shook his head with a grin and turned to War. “You want to do this or do you want me to?”
War laughed. “It looks like you and Dagger are having fun, Prez. Go ahead and do your thing.”
Fox smiled then looked right at Kid. “It is my honour to welcome Kid, my cousin War’s son, to our club. The two of them had no idea they were related until a few weeks ago when Kid discovered that Flash Warne wasn’t his father. Hawk Walker reached out to us with the news and here we are, welcoming him to our family.” He looked around the table before he continued. “He should have been raised in our club but saying that I have to admit that Bounty and Bulldog Walker raised a good man. A man who through hard work and loyalty earned the position of Sergeant At Arms in his club. Everyone in this room knows the importance and responsibility of that position. So, let’s welcome Nathan “Kid” Warne into the Sinners family.”
Hands slapped the table as he finished and some of the men whistled.
And of course fucking Rock wouldn’t let it rest there. “I just want to say one thing to my older brother. Bru, we need to change your fucking road name. The two of us being called Kid and Rock is fucked up.”
“Not happening, little brother. My name is what it is. Remember one thing, that guy is a rock star and gets plenty of pussy. Think on that.”
Laughter rang through the room and Kid couldn’t stop the grin even if he wanted to. He looked at a laughing Rock and widely smiling War and shook his head. Fuck. His brothers back home knew he hated the name Flash had forced on him. Trying to make him seem weak, which he was definitely not.
Bounty had tried to make it sound like it was because of his prowess with a gun but that wasn’t it. It had been Flash’s way of trying to keep him down. He didn’t succeed though. He took that name and made it work for him. And he was damned good with a gun, one of the best at his club.
Wheels put a hand up. “I can’t get that damned stripper song out of my head. And thinking about those two fuckers and strippers at the same time is disturbing to say the least.”
Laughter rang through the room and some of the men started singing Cherry Pie but it all came to a screeching halt when someone hammered on the door.
Wheels jumped up and stalked over, unlocked the door and ripped it open. He had his mouth open to give someone a piece of his mind when Mouse barrelled right past him.
“Prez, you told me to keep my eyes and ears open for anything about our neighbours. And damn, Prez, it’s all over fucking social media and then the press picked it up. The news has gone viral.”
War frowned. “Stop and just give me what you’ve got, Mouse.”
“Dominick Maingarde asked Noelle Murchison to marry him this afternoon and he put an enormous rock on her finger. He took her out on one of those excursion boats out of Houtbay where he popped the question. They arrived back here about fifteen minutes ago and the road is fucking clogged with reporters and tv crews already. Some of the bastards tried to get a look inside our gates but Ram had the solid steel doors closed before they could get photos of the bikes and men in the forecourt. The guards over on their side have their hands full with fuckers trying to climb over the walls to get photos or whatever the fuck it is they are looking for.” Mouse threw his hands in the air. “We have a huge fucking problem outside, Prez. We’re going to have to get brothers out there to control this shit before it spills over onto the club.”
Displeased rumbles started but Fox held up a hand and it immediately stopped. He turned to War and gave him a chin lift, indicating he should take over.
“Right.” War growled. “Mouse, reach out to Star. Arrange an immediate meet with Face and Dominick. We’ll meet here. Tell them to use their back door and I’ll send someone to bring them in.”
Kid knew he was trying to disguise the fact that he had a tunnel that led right into the heart of his club. Obviously he didn’t want anyone besides his own club members to know about it. To keep it hidden they would have to find another way to get them inside.
“Prez, why don’t we just jump over the wall towards the back of the property as soon as it’s dark enough? That way we make sure we have no unwanted eyes on our movements and we can have the boys create a distraction at the front to draw attention away from what we’re actually doing.”
“That wall is fucking high, brother.” Rock took his idea and ran with it. “We’re going to need two long ladders, but I’ve got your back there. If I’m not mistaken we have ladders in the back shed from the last time we had the prospects paint the building.”
“Good idea.” War said quietly. “The two of you take care of everything. Mouse will let you know when to be ready for our visitors.”
But that wasn’t all they needed to be aware of.
“Dom isn’t going to go anywhere without his bodyguard and Bruno won’t let Face move without taking her back. Are you okay with four of them coming in, Prez?” Kid watched the faces around the table intently and he saw one or two becoming uncomfortable at the mention of Dom’s name. Or was it Face? Were they wary of her?
“Mouse, let them know that the invitation is for Dominick, Face and their bodyguards, no one else. And make sure you keep Star out of our business.” War ordered.
“Yes, Prez. I’m on it.” He said as he strode out of the chapel. The door slammed shut behind him and everyone’s eyebrows raised at the show of temper.
War stood and so did Burns, Wheels and Rock. “We’re going to leave the rest of the meeting to you, Prez.” He said to Fox. “We need to get ready for our visitors.”
Fox waved them off and the five of them left the chapel and the disgruntled rumbles behind.
War only spoke once they were behind the closed door of his office.
“What do we know about Dominick Maingarde’s love life? Is it possible that he and Face have been in a relationship without anyone knowing about it?”
“I don’t think so.” Kid tried to think back over the few times he had met with Dom. “I didn’t get the feeling that he had a woman the last time we met.”
“You’ve met him before?” War met his eyes with a curious frown.
“Yes, I have. Hawk and Dom have an understanding you might say. Let me call my prez and see if I can give you more information.”
Kid stepped out of the office and walked outside before he called Hawk. His prez answered almost immediately.
“What the fuck is going on down there, Kid? Since when does Dom have a woman that he’s willing to marry and drag into the shit his family is involved in?” Hawk’s voice indicated that he was definitely pissed off.
Before he could say a word his prez kept on with his pissed off rant.
“Isn’t this the same woman who’s being sent up here by the Syndicate? What the fuck is Dom playing at?”
Kid jumped in before Hawk could say more.
“I suspect he’s doing this to keep her and her people safe from the Syndicate and from us. We both know they would become collateral damage once the Syndicate realise we’re playing them.”
“Do you think this engagement is real?”
Kid shrugged even though his prez couldn’t see him. “I won’t know until I see them together, Prez. War invited them to a meet and once it’s done I’ll give you a call. For now we’re going to treat it as if it’s real. There are fucking reporters and news teams out in the street trying to catch a glimpse of them right now, so they’re not going anywhere until Dom uses his connections to have the bastards removed.”
“Okay, brother. How did the introduction to War’s club go?”
And yet another thing to report on.
“The introduction didn’t go smoothly. We were right. There are dirty players in the Sinners but I think War and Fox are on to them and the dirty ones are in the minority as far as I could see. And by the look on Dagger’s face he’s onto them as well. I won’t be surprised if he sets Jinx on them. Fox is handling club business right now while we get ready to talk to Dom and Face. If I hear anything I’ll let you know. Is it okay if I give War some idea of our club’s relationship with Dom?”
“Ja, its fine, as long as it stays with him and goes no further. You be careful, brother. And for fucks sake keep Scar at your back, that’s why I sent him with you in the first place.” Hawk snarled.
“I got you, brother. Scar’s here with me, the fucker sneaks up on a man without making a damned sound. I won’t walk around without protection, Prez, not around here.” Kid promised.
Kid heard Hawk snort before he ended the call. Next to him Scar started talking before he could say a word.
“Prez called me and asked me where you were. He gave me hell for not taking your back in their chapel.” Scar kept his voice low and his eyes kept checking the area around them.
Kid nodded as he quietly explained.
“He’s worried about us being here with virtually no protection, brother. But I think War and Rock won’t let anything happen to us while we’re on their turf. Plus there’s Dagger and Jinx, they are family, they won’t let shit happen to us either. Not that I’m going to relax, not at all. I don’t trust some of these fuckers because they’re still stuck in the old ways. They’re trying to return to the days when you killed to get ahead but they forget that those days are gone forever.” Kid tipped his head slightly to indicate a group of old bastards staring at them, all of them obviously not pleased that they were here.
“Fuck them. One look at their kuttes and it’s obvious they aren’t anyone we should worry about. Not a single officer or original in that bunch.” Scar replied. “Let’s get back inside, brother, and get this shit with Dom sorted.”
They turned their backs on the old men and strode down to War’s office. Kid gave a sharp knock and War called them in. The atmosphere in the office was still tense but he couldn’t sense anything else. It was a good thing, right?
Fuck. He wished this meeting with his father could have been between the two of them and his family. No one else needed to be involved. Why had it become this huge bloody issue?
Once they had the meet with Dom and Face he would be asking War that exact question.
And he had better give him a straight answer.
Dominick
Lying back in one of the loungers outside Face’s room with a glass of good whisky in his hand Dom contemplated the warrior woman on the lounger next to him. As far as he was concerned her scars didn’t detract from her beauty at all. Her profile was perfect. Her forehead was just wide and high enough, her nose straight and thin with flaring nostrils. Her mouth, even with the scars was full lipped and luscious. She had a fairly square and stubborn chin, and just saying, stubborn should have been her second name.
Kissing her had been an unexpected pleasure, not that he would be doing it again. One didn’t kiss one of one’s best friends the way he had kissed her on the boat. He brought his wandering thoughts back to her face.
It was those unique eyes of hers that had always fascinated him. They were a green so pale it reminded him of those days when the ocean looked more green than blue, when the curling waves looked as translucently pale green as her eyes. Those eyes never missed a thing, and right now he knew she was aware that he was looking at her. She didn’t say a word, just sipped her drink and lay looking up at the darkening sky.
Opening his mouth to call her attention to him he was hindered by his phone ringing. Reaching over to where it lay on the table next to the lounger he turned it towards him with a finger and looked at the caller ID then grinned.
“The wicked witch has finally decided to reach out.”
Face turned on her side and watched him as he picked up the phone and answered.
“Winifred, what a surprise, are you calling to wish me well on my engagement?”
She didn’t hesitate to give him her unwanted and vile opinion.
“I really don’t understand your behaviour, Dominick. You have your choice of well-bred women at your fingertips and you choose that ugly mongrel. If you need to crawl around the gutter why don’t you just take her to your bed and get it out of your system? She’s a nobody with nothing to bring to the table except her soiled reputation.”
She gave a derisive snort and continued before he could interrupt.
“I had high hopes that you would choose Annabeth DeLille, she would make the perfect wife. She’s well educated and has been raised to be the wife of a powerful man and perfect for you in every way. I’m aware that like most men you have a type you prefer and Annabeth ticks every single box. She’s petite, blonde, blue eyed with ample breasts and she won’t stand in the way of your ambitions.”
Dominick had to laugh because it was fucking ridiculous. “I have no idea where you got the idea that I prefer blonde, blue eyed, petite women with big tits, Winifred. I’ve dated a lot of women over the years and they have been as varied as the colours in a box of Smarties. You’ve been pushing Annabeth at me since we were teenagers and I’ll tell you what I told her. Listen carefully Winifred because I won’t be telling you again. She was a one night fuck and not a very good one at that. I don’t like her, won’t ever marry her or any of the other marriageable candidates you’ve been throwing at me. Get used to Noelle being by my side. She’s my choice.”
Face made wide eyes at him and he winked as he listened to Winifred raving on in his ear.
“You can’t be serious. You’re the grandson of David Delano Maingarde, you can’t marry some little nobody who is a convicted criminal and has a face no one could stand to look at.”
He was starting to lose his temper but he shoved it down deep. “How strange that you’re calling her a nobody when only a few hours ago Alexander informed her she would be marrying him and breeding his children. Make up your mind Winifred, either she’s good enough for the families or she’s not.”
Winifred snorted angrily. “Alexander will never be more than a foot soldier and you know it. She’s good enough for him but not for you. You will take over from me one day and your wife will be in the public eye all the time. She will be the one representing the families and Noelle Murchison can never be that woman. Not only is she a convicted criminal she has no class or the proper breeding required for the position.”
He couldn’t help it, he had to laugh. “You’re grasping at straws, Winifred. I know exactly who and what my future wife is. If you and Murchison continue with your plans for her I will be forced to take steps you’re not going to like. Don’t push me, Winifred. You know I don’t respond well to being forced into certain decisions.”
With that he was done with her and ended the call.
“You think she’s going to back off?” Face asked, he sighed and shook his head because he knew the old bitch wouldn’t.
He had to be ready to play his part in the slowly evolving master plan. It wasn’t going to be pleasant but he would endure because it meant the freedom of everyone he cared about.
Winifred
Staring out at the twinkling lights below her Winifred stood at the floor to ceiling glass wall in her office and controlled her breathing to keep her temper in check. Her fingers were clenched tight around her phone. Dominick was out of control and she would have to do something she didn’t want to do to get him back in line.
The boy had always been headstrong but this latest insult to her authority couldn’t be ignored. He would have to be forced to come back into line. But how?
That was the question. How to force Dominick Carlysle Maingarde to do what she wanted him to do?
She would have to be very careful of her next move.
She had to accomplish her goal of permanently uniting the Harrison and Maingarde families by breeding a Maingarde-Harrison child. Elizabeth, or Pixie as she insisted on calling herself, was out of the question, she was a vile child with her tattoos and connections to dirty bikers. There was only one choice, Dominick.
Maybe she had overplayed her hand by constantly throwing Annabeth at Dominick, but she had to soften him up to accept her actual choice of a wife for him. She’s had plans to broker a match between Dominick and Juliana Kolinic Harrison for years. Juliana was young, beautiful and headstrong. She had refused to come to Cape Town to meet Dominick because of his reputation. His reputation as a playboy made him an unacceptable choice as far as Juliana was concerned. She would no longer be given a choice. She will marry Dominick and do her duty to the family, giving them the heir they needed to finally get their hands on the vast Carlysle-Maingarde fortunes.
But before she could put them together she had to break Dominick of his bad habits. Habits she had allowed but it now seems it had been a mistake, a mistake she was about to remedy.
Dominick would return to her side once she was done with him.
A little bit more broken but then it was necessary as it had been necessary when he was sixteen.
He was her legacy and would finish the work she had started.
They would use his family’s fortune to take control of the Syndicate and rip it from the useless hands of the boys her brothers had spawned. And he would do it with her at his side as his mentor and advisor. The one who was in actual fact pulling his strings as they took over the world of crime.
That was her dream and nothing would stand in her way of making that dream a reality.
Nothing and nobody.
