Atone (The Disciples 2)

“David has returned. We all know that almost ten years ago, my father, my brother, and his old lady and baby were all in the lab explosion that almost brought us to extinction.”

Hearing it makes it all real, and my chest tightens.

The fucking explosion, the heat, the silence…

The sun is hot and the sweat is dripping down my eyes, or is that tears? Someone is talking to me, but I can’t see through the smoke and fucking chemicals that are blinding me. My whole body burns as I notice I’m crawling. I need to get to them…

“David.”

I blink as the nightmare of that day slowly slithers away like a snake crawling into its hole, waiting to come out and take me down.

“You need to understand that if we vote to let you in, you will be our historian. You’ll document all that goes on, same as you used to.”

I blink. Is that all he’s going to say? Or have I missed everything? I suck in some air as my eyes scan the room resting on Axel’s distrustful eyes, which seem to bore into my brain. There’s a rat in this room. I smell it—the powerful scent of unease and fear.

Someone’s not happy that I’m back. My mind drifts to who had the most to gain.

“Fine.”

“Do you want to add anything, David?”

I take a step forward, scanning the table. This is the first time everyone looks back at me.

“When I left, I did it right. Most of you were in this very room when I gave up my cut.” The blood is pumping in my temples. Not because I’m scared they won’t let me back, but because I know they already have.

“Hardest thing I ever did besides burying my baby girl.” My gaze takes in the old and young.

We all look tired, older than we need to. I look out the window as a flash of blond hair catches my eye. It’s Eve, chasing James Dean outside by the swing set.

I need a cigarette. I’m done making my case. Blade must feel it. He looks at Axel and nods.

“Let’s vote. All in favor of David being our historian, our brother, who was born into the Disciples and has agreed he’ll die a Disciple raise your hand.”

Nobody moves, and for a second, I wonder if they might deny me.

Then Edge steps up from where he was leaning in the corner and raises his hand, followed by Lucky and so forth until those remaining are Axel, Ryder, and Blade.

At last, Blade stands, accompanied by the loud shuffle of chairs scraping the floor as all the brothers stand in respect.

We stare at each other, his green eyes cautious. “Because you did leave with the blessings of this room, I give you back your cut.”

I nod, knowing full well I’m bringing hell into this room. Yet isn’t that what we are? What we were born and raised to live by? Kill any who fuck with us. Family first, and by family, I mean this band of brothers in this room.

“Your name is Poet now, and welcome home, man.” He holds out his hand and I take it as he pulls me into a hard hug.

“We’re not going down,” he growls in my ear. I nod.

“Let’s get fucked up,” Ryder bellows, and the room explodes.

Blade grins. “I’d better send Eve home.” He laughs.

Four hours later, the party is in full swing and it’s clear Eve didn’t listen. She sits on Blade’s lap as they both laugh at something Axel said. Speakers, which are wired up to the house, are pumping out Eminem. A huge bonfire is blazing. The pool area is busy with a big orgy of naked strippers and massive amounts of cocaine.

Nothing’s changed, except I’m tired and don’t drink or do drugs anymore. What I should do is grab one of these new girls. Take her upstairs to my room and let her fuck me until I don’t remember my past or a pair of golden eyes.

I scan the party. All I want is a raven-haired beauty with cat eyes, a bee-stung mouth, and a cunt that smells and tastes like candy and can hold me like a fucking vise.

“Fuck,” I mumble, causing both Axel and Blade to look at me.

“Dude? I get that you’re sober, but lighten the fuck up,” Axel grumbles.

Eve smiles as she takes a sip of water. “I can’t drink either,” she yells.

Clutch, one of the best mechanics for bikes in the whole compound, stumbles close only to collapse in the chair next to mine. He slams his bottle of Jack on the table. “I heard you were hanging out with billionaires and shit,” he exclaims and belches in my face.

“Christ.” I turn away and take another cigarette from Axel’s pack, which is lying on the table.

“What’s it like to have all that money? Like did you just fuck all day long?” Clutch laughs as he reaches for the table to steady himself so he doesn’t fall out of his chair. Ignoring him, I look over at Blade caressing Eve’s leg. It’s gentle. He truly loves this woman. I almost laugh. Blade is as fucked up as me… well, maybe not as much but close. I’m fascinated that this has happened to him.