Ugly Beast (Hell's Bastards MC 1)

Ugly Beast tossed the cell phone back to Smokey. “It will?”

“Yeah, and I’ve got it on good authority that tomorrow night, there’s going to be one hell of a party. You know how I love to crash a party. Gather the men. Go and get Raven. I want church right now to talk through my plan.”

“On it.”

Ugly Beast rounded up the men, saving Raven until last.

Heading outside, he found Abriana sitting on the ground near the wheelchair. Raven wore her leather cut, and she must have told his wife he was heading their way. She closed the book she’d been reading and stood up.

“It’s time for church,” he said.

“Awesome. Wheel me in.”

“Should you be going to church? You’re injured,” Abriana said.

“Injured I may be. My ears still work perfectly fine.”

“And your mouth,” Ugly Beast said.

“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.” Abriana turned on her heel and left.

Raven let out a whistle. “What did you do, man?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“I’ve known Abriana as long as you have, and not once has she tried to get out of anyone’s company as quickly as she tries to yours.”

“Mind your own fucking business.”

Raven laughed. “It’s official. You totally did something wrong.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. You want to be in church, you’ll shut your damn mouth.”

“My lips are sealed.” He pushed Raven into the house and through to church where most of the guys were gathered. The main club was seated, but there were also the presidents of the other charters as well.

He took his seat close to Hunter, who was the club VP. Sitting back, he listened to Smokey arrange the details for the following night. They were going to hit five of the homes where Garofalo kept his girls. Smokey already had their cops on standby and ready to take the girls home.

From there, they were heading to the MC who wanted their turf. The plan was simple. They had the explosives Kinky had obtained. Go in, place the explosives, get out, boom. Quick, simple, and effective.

The Hell’s Bastards were not known for keeping any prisoners. They were known for sending their enemies straight to hell.

Once everyone knew what was going on and their details, he left the room, leaving someone else to deal with Raven.

He went to his room, and Abriana wasn’t there. Going to the window overlooking the garden, he found her leaning against the shed, reading one of those fucking books she always had in her hand. When the men filed out of the clubhouse, she stopped reading to watch them. He spotted a couple of the club-whores who were smoking pot. They were scantily clad, and Abriana looked at them before averting her gaze. He noticed she pulled on her shirt. What was going on inside her head? Why did he even fucking care?

She meant nothing to him. They were not going to be in a relationship for long, and once they took care of her father, she would be free to live her own life. She wouldn’t be forced to live with him or to be married to him. He didn’t need a woman anyway. He never had.

Shaking his head, pissed off at himself, he left the room, grabbing everything he’d need to be ready for the coming day’s drive.

Garofalo had what was coming to him. For too long that son of a bitch had been at the very top. He’d vowed to see the man fall. This was the start of that fall, and he intended to relish every single moment of it.

****

Abriana stared at the parking lot. Men and women were gathered around. She held the handles of the wheelchair, knowing Raven was pissed she couldn’t go.

“I should be riding with them,” Raven said.

“You’ll get to go soon enough.” The men were preparing for something. She didn’t know what was happening. Last night, Ugly Beast had been in the room waiting for her. She’d taken a shower first, and when she entered his room, she’d been so surprised she’d simply stood there, watching him. She hated this.

The women were throwing themselves around the men, telling them to ride safe and to come back in one piece. She kept on staring, not really knowing what to do.

After her and Ugly Beast’s … conversation, she didn’t know where she stood. They were not a married couple, not really. He put up with her because it was who he was.

“You take care of her,” Smokey said, coming toward them.

“I will.”

“I can ride.”

“You can also have my foot up your ass, but I don’t see you volunteering for that,” Smokey said.

Raven cursed and slumped back. Smokey ruffled her hair, and she shoved his hand away. Abriana smiled, watching the two.

Her happiness dropped when she caught sight of Ugly Beast. He’d already strapped a bag to his bike, and as he approached, she felt the ache in her stomach.