In the Arms of the Beast (Kings of Hell MC 5)

“Why are they stopping?” Shadow whispered straight into Gray’s ear. For this particular ‘mission’, he not only covered both their bodies with his shadow form, but also encompassed the motorcycle they sat on, muting its sound. They did this during the stealthiest of missions, and the risk of having Shadow’s limp body attached to Gray on the motorcycle was only worth it if the job came with the prospect of large profit.

Usually at least.

Tonight, they were doing it to make sure a bunch of rowdy teenagers arrived at their destination in one piece.

Gray had no idea how to answer Shadow’s question, because they’d barely driven out of Brecon, but the reason for the unauthorized parking on the side of the road became clear when the little shits swapped drivers. Beast had allowed his sons to go to the gig in Portland if Marcel was the one behind the wheel. Sixteen, first outing of this kind on their own, and they were already messing around. Gray shook his head, and added this transgression to the list of things he’d report back to Beast, along with the addendum that he wouldn’t be doing this again.

The club wasn’t doing all that great financially, and it would have been more beneficial for everyone if he and Shadow spent the weekend planning another heist, since those were among the MC’s most lucrative ventures these days. He’d only agreed this one time, because he knew Beast and Laurent would have followed the boys themselves, had they the talents Shadow possessed.

What Beast would do with the intel they were about to gather would be his own business. Gray’s was to ensure the boys returned home safe and didn’t take drugs. He rolled his eyes when the minibus dashed forward and made a turn at a speed that was far too fast for an old road in the woods. Gray followed them, sensing the dead weight of Shadow’s body strapped to his back. It wasn’t his favorite way to travel, but at least he still had his man with him. In both of his forms.

As younger kids, the boys had been pretty cute, but they’d grown up to be a pack of hyenas out on the prowl for mayhem. Only Marcel had no issues at school, but Gray was positive he was no saint either. He could smell the falseness of the good boy facade from a mile away. Gray was glad he and Shadow didn’t live in the club building anymore, because the buzzing hormones and awkward teenage posturing would have made him lose his shit at some point.

There was also the issue of secrecy, because the Mercier brothers were kept in the dark about their real background and were ignorant to the fact that some of their ‘uncles’ had paranormal powers. Taking into account most of the boys were teenage loose cannons, Gray approved of that choice, in hindsight.

Gray didn’t have much patience for kids, and Shadow couldn’t live in constant worry over having to restrict his instincts, so in a bid to give themselves more freedom, they had built a little cottage in the club-owned forest years ago, following Rev’s passing.

Shadow had done most of the heavy lifting in that endeavour, but their friends helped out too, and finally getting to live in a place they’d designed to suit their own needs was bliss. It was cozy, small, but their own. Shadow even insisted on planning everything with Gray’s disability in mind, since they couldn’t be together all the time, and whenever Shadow was too far away, Gray’s arm disappeared.

Dexter hadn’t passed his driving test yet, and seeing the chaotic way in which he handled the minibus, told Gray why he’d failed all the previous attempts. He wished for the boys to get caught. Maybe arrest would teach them a lesson on committing crime responsibly. And what was the point of endangering everyone, anyway? If Dexter wanted to break his legs, he was welcome to do so on his own.

But the night proved to hold even more surprises when instead of following the road heading for Portland, the boys drove into a suburban area.

Shadow hugged Gray more tightly, like immaterial warmth. “I don’t think they’re going in the right direction.”

That much Gray knew himself. He just hoped he wouldn’t have to intervene, because becoming enemy no.1 of a bunch of teens was not on his bucket list.

The minibus drove all the way to a street with several homes, and a figure emerged from one before it had even parked.

A teenage boy with an odd haircut approached the vehicle, and Louis burst outside, jumping the guy. They kissed like they wanted to suck out each other’s insides.

Should Gray tell Beast about this? It wasn’t as if the guy who entered the minibus while still holding on to Louis’s buttocks was an adult trying to prey on young boys. Gray wasn’t their chaperone.