Animal (Royal Bastards MC 1)

“I overheard your mother telling Mitch she was pregnant with his kid and they’d have to up the timeframe of their plan.”

He’s lying. A hole opens in my chest, sorrow bleeding out.

“She was the Prez’s ol’ lady and acting like a club slut. Fucking another brother—and Mitch of all people? Your old man loved him.”

Viking only loved himself—and maybe Alec. He’s the reason my dad’s dead.

Alec’s chest heaves, Kai’s confession changing everything he thought he knew.

“When Mitch went outside to get his call, I stuck a knife in her belly—no kid for those traitors.” He grins against my hair, inhaling, stroking his cheek down to my neck. Alec edges a step forward, his fists clenched.

“Uh-uh-uh,” Kai warns, aiming the gun over my shoulder at Alec. My soul flees my body as fear drowns me. “Don’t,” I gasp. Turning in his hold, I flatten the front of my body against his, wrapping my arms around him in a hug. His body tenses for a moment, then sags against mine, his good arm with the gun clutching me to him.

“Princess,” he exclaims.

Counting to three in my head, I lower my hand and plunge it into his wound as hard as I can, sliding my body to the side to give Alec the clear shot he needs. Kai bellows in agony. A bang explodes from Alec’s gun. The splat as it hits Kai’s shoulder forces him back a couple steps. Another blow, and Kai hits the floor. “Arghhhh!” I scream out, releasing everything left in me.

Brothers flood the room, dragging Alec outside and scooping me up, taking me to him. He snatches me from Jameson’s arms and collapses to his knees, holding me against him. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Sobs wretch from my body as I grip onto as much of him as possible.

I knew my dad didn’t kill his mom. I don’t agree with him betraying the men who took us in, gave us a family, but when it comes to love, people doing crazy shit. I’d do anything for Alec. Love is dangerous, powerful, and sometimes deadly. But we’re alive. Living. Breathing. Together.

Thank God we’re together.

“No sign of Gracie?” Rage asks me over Alec’s shoulder.

“She wasn’t here, but her car is.” I point to the silver sedan parked between two other buildings about twenty feet away.

I watch him approach her car, open the door without the key, and checking inside. Kai probably just stole it from her…I hope. She’s fine. Please let her be fine.

“Animal, you need to get everyone out of here. He killed a fed. I need to get this cleaned up,” Copper says.

Pulling away from Alec, I get to my feet and slowly walk toward Rage as he rounds the car toward the trunk. Time slows, one foot, two…three. The trunk pops open…four steps. Flesh coated red…five…six.

“C…a…l…l…an…am…bu…lance!” Rage’s voice distorts, the world spinning.

Seven…eight…nine… I drop to my knees, my hands reaching out toward the body he pulls free.

Gracie.

Epilogue

Animal

Things around here have been unsettled since Kai’s killing spree. Gracie was laid to rest with a proper ol’ lady burial. She was a good woman. She didn’t deserve what he did to her. Rage is in a state of mourning that’s terrifying. He hit the road, and from what information I got, is dishing out his own kind of justice on anyone he deems deserving. Jameson’s lost. He has no idea how to help his brother, his best friend. Doc has been keeping him from following Rage right off the deep end.

“You sure you want this cookout?” Drew asks, sliding her body against mine, sighing from the contact.

“We need to bring the family back together. They need this.”

Nodding, her curls bouncing around her shoulders, she plants a kiss to my chest. “I love you,” she tells me, going to the bar to help Amy get things set up. “I love you too, baby.” Drew said we couldn’t not remind each other of that fact—not after everything that went down. You never know how long you have left on this earth. Life’s too short.

The club fills with brothers and their families, lifting the atmosphere. We have a tainted history, but a few bad apples can’t destroy a brotherhood built on friendship, solidarity, loyalty, and trust. We will overcome this and become stronger for it.

Mason slaps me on the back, squeezing my shoulder. “Prez, I’d like you to meet your goddaughter, Penny Simone Grimsby.”

Heidi hands me a newborn I have no choice but to hold in my arms. I don’t know how to hold a baby. “She’s…errr, cute,” I grumble, handing her back.

“Cute? She’s not a puppy.” Heidi chuckles. I look the kid over, her dark hair and apparent skin color not matching Mason’s. She may not be a puppy, but she’s not his either. Fuck, that’s a conversation for another day.