Rogue's Retribution: Twisted Iron MC Read online

  “You leave our girl alone, Marx,” Rora states, wagging her finger at him.

  He ducks his head like a scolded child before saying, “I don’t mean anything by it, Aurora, but she’s the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen, and that alone spells trouble with a capital ‘T’.” All the guys agree with him by grunting and Rora just smiles mischievously at me. See, even she knows we’re going to have our hands full with this one. She thinks that shit is funny. She likes to see me squirm which is why I work my hardest at not doing so in front of her.

  “Don’t even start,” I warn her. “She’s an hour old and we’re already getting way too far ahead of ourselves. Fuck, I’m gonna have to take this one day at a time, ya know?”

  “I’m not saying a word,” she replies, still smiling at me.

  “Maybe not, but after all these years together, I can read your looks like an opened book. You’re already planning shopping trips, prom dresses, which usually consists of the opposite sex, might I remind you. Hell, you’ve probably already thought about helping plan her wedding.” The way she peeks up at me through her lashes tells me I’m correct. “I knew it!” I say, pointing my finger accusingly at her.

  “Whatever, I’m tired, it’s time for you boys to say your goodbyes now,” she says, pointedly looking at me. I scowl at her but it causes her to smile brighter in my direction. I give up! There is no winning when it comes to my old lady, might as well just walk my men out and do as I’ve been requested to do...say goodbye.

  Why is it I have a feeling these two ladies are going to gang up on me, walk all over me, and my commanded no will somehow always mean yes to them? I have a feeling I’ll be spending a lot of time checking to make sure my dick and balls are still in place while juggling to keep the club balanced and in order...my order. Why is it I can rule over my men with no one challenging me, but Rora has a way of undermining me, and making me change my mind without me realizing it? Damn woman has me wrapped around her finger, and I don’t even want to know what my daughter will be able to accomplish where it comes to me.

  Chapter One

  Rogue

  Time seems to be dragging on as no new information has been detected or found. Coder has been behind his computer all night and Bane and I have gone through every member’s file folder trying to come up with someone who could have a grudge against the club. Nothing that stands out as of yet, but I know if we keep digging we’ll come up with something. I look at my watch and realize I should be heading home soon to spend some time with my girls, but I’m having a hard time with leaving.

  I got a call from Sledge last night and it seems my woman is not impressed with me not making a call to her and informing her of the fact she has a detail at the house. I laughed when he told me that she attempted to stab him with the tip of the umbrella we leave near the front door. Then, reality hit me, and I got pissed that she thought it was a good idea to open the damn door in the first place without her piece. She knows, or she damn well should by now, to carry her gun with her at all times when I’m not home with the two of them. What the fuck was she thinking? Suppose I’ll soon find out since I’m gonna call it a night, or day rather, considering the sun has now made a glaring appearance.

  “Whoever’s bunking here, go ahead. If not, go home. Now is the time to do so, because I’m going home to see my girls for a while. I think with a fresh mind and renewed set of eyes, we might be able to figure this thing out. We better be getting fucking close! Most, if not all of us have families to protect, and not being with mine right now is torture.” Ah, torture. A word so underused and underrated. But, that’s exactly what this traitorous motherfucker will be on the receiving end of once I figure out who his ass is. Eh, probably a little extra now, considering the amount of time this is taking away from my family.

  “I’m outta here,” Bear states after I make the announcement, grabbing his set of keys. Thorne, Bear’s boy, has been giving his mother hell, and hasn’t been minding or listening to her. He tries to be home as much as possible, but he holds down a job outside of the club. He’s here a lot of the time when he’s not working his other job since he’s the club’s secretary. This missing money has him pissed off, ready to chop some heads off, and reclaim his reputation within the club. I don’t blame him; this was done so inconspicuously that it’s taking a while to get found.

  “I’m gonna stay. I’ll catch some sleep here in a bit,” Bane informs us.

  I laugh inwardly at his attempt to feign transparency. “Fucker, you’d be going home to your old lady if you weren’t in the damn doghouse and we all know it. None of us like going more than a day without pussy. We’re your goddamn brothers, you do realize that?” I chuckle out my rhetorical question. “We know each other better than anyone.” At least I thought we did until this. I pause briefly and reflect on anything I might’ve missed. Signs of secrecy, an odd request, anything...yet nothing comes to mind. “Fuck!” I shout out loud as my frustration and exhaustion takes hold and begins to finally suffocate me. “Say you’re fucking sorry, go home, and be with your pregnant wife. And, before you begin to explain to me how unreasonable she’s being these days, save it. Been there, and done that shit. You’re a man, handle shit like one! Everything until after that bundle of joy is in her arms is gonna be your goddamn fault. Accept it, and get the fuck over it already. Plus, I’m sick of seeing your ass here walking around all mopey like some little bitch. You’re my VP. You need to find your balls, and don’t fucking come back here until you do.”

  “You know what? Fuck you, Rogue! I ain’t your fucking traitor! So, you can holler and throw your neck-shots around at me all you want, but I am your VP, and that’s never changed,” Bane shouts in my direction before he puts his fist through a wall. “You can be a real dick, you know?”

  “You’re paying for that,” I say, pointing from him to the wall he just punched. “I expect you to call and pay for an estimate, got me? Then you can have that shit repaired. Be happy I’m not giving you a fine for your insubordination,” I finish, grabbing a dart from my desk, launching it behind me and hitting the bullseye as it connects. Been launching these fuckers all damn night and haven’t hit my intended mark once. Now that I’m more furious, I nail it, go figure.

  Marx walks into my office puffing on a joint. Not unusual at all, except it’s fucking six o’clock in the morning. “Y’all motherfuckers should try this and relax a little,” he says through squinted, bloodshot eyes with a stupid grin on his face as he offers me a hit.

  I slap it out of his hand. “Take that shit to your room, Marx. I have zero desire to be stoned right now before I climb on my bike and head home to my wife and daughter.”

  “Suit yourself. This is some new green I just scored and it’s off the chain,” he replies, as he turns his back to me and walks away.

  I’m in no mood to deal with a stoned biker right now either, even though I do enjoy the occasional smoke myself. I glance over at Coder who’s waving his hand, clearing the smoke from my office. He’s entranced, this thing has him so tightly in its grasp, it looks as though the life is being squeezed from his body. A vein in his neck bulges as I notice it visually pulsate while his eyes continue to scan our books. Walking up to him, I pat his shoulder. “Take a break, Brother. Rest. I’m going home to Rora and Outlaw. Here or at home, I don’t give a damn where you do it, just go and do it. That’s an order from your pres,” I tell him, defeated in my own way, but I know we’ll find this piece of shit.

  Coder stops and shifts his gaze to mine. “Fuck!” He slams his balled-up fist on the top of my desk. “I’ll find him, Pres. I promise.” I can hear the frustration thick in his voice.

  “I know you will. Go home and be with your boy. Doesn’t Jagger have a dirt bike competition coming up soon?” I ask, reminding him and hopefully persuading him to go home where he’ll be comfortable and get some sleep.

  His eyes widen. “Fuck yeah he does.” I stand back as he powers down his computer and rubs his fists into his tired eyes. “I’
m supposed to take him and go get him new tires today, fuck.” He grabs his belongings, tucking them underneath his arm.

  “Coder?” I call out his name as he makes it to the office door.

  “Yeah, Pres?” He turns his head over his shoulder as he looks at me.

  “Go get your boy, get those tires, then take a damn nap. That’s a direct order,” I press, needing him functioning later at full-capacity.

  “Yes, Pres,” he says back to me as he shuffles out of the room. I’m already exhausted and ready to face plant into my own bed. But I know Harmony is anxious and has risen with the sun to show me how she’s learned to ride her bike without training wheels to assist her. I plan on spending an hour with her before sleeping for at least four solid hours. There’s too damn much at stake for me to spend more than that away from the clubhouse.

  Aurora

  I knew Harmony would be up early, she usually is, but this morning, she was up before my body was ready to face the day ahead. Like a zombie during the apocalypse, I make my way to the coffee maker and pour my girl a bowl of cereal. I’m not usually that mom, I always try to provide a nutritious breakfast for Harmony, but my body is being uncooperative. My limbs are heavy and my muscles are tight with lack of a good night's rest.

  After Sledge left, my mind wouldn’t shut off at what all could be happening within the club. My chest is heavy as my heart breaks for my old man. I could detect the sorrow and anger in his voice. His tone sounded unforgiving which means someone has screwed up massively.

  As Harmony devours her cereal, a smile forms on my face when I hear her humming a tune. When I pick up on her choice of song, I join her, harmonizing with her. She spends hours with Rogue while he’s tuning his motorcycle in the garage listening to his rock music. Her favorite song is Hotel California, which is what we’re whistling the tune of right now.

  As I grab a chair at the kitchen table, I hear the front door opening. “Daddy’s home,” Rogue hollers out as I hear him removing his boots at the entrance. Thank goodness it’s my man, because yet again, my gun is in another room and I’m down one umbrella now.

  “Daddy! We’re eating, do you want some cereal like me?” Harmony hollers back.

  “No, baby girl, just coffee, very black and very strong,” Rogue states as he joins us in the kitchen. He ruffles Harmony’s hair before leaning over and placing his lips over my own.

  “Sit down, Rogue, I’ll make your coffee,” I say to him as I take in the bags forming under his eyes.

  “Nah, baby, I’m up, I’ve got it,” he tells me before shuffling his way over to the freshly brewed pot. “Outlaw,” he calls out, grabbing our girl’s attention away from her bowl.

  “Yes, Daddy?” she turns her eyes in his direction.

  “When you finish eating breakfast, get dressed so I can watch you ride that bike of yours. After that, Daddy needs to catch some shut eye, and you’ll let me without making the house sound as if it’s being torn down to the studs, yeah?”

  “I’m gonna take her to play,” I step in and inform him so he doesn't needlessly worry. I want him on his A-game, and that won’t happen unless he gets some much-needed rest.

  “Stick close, Aurora.” He gives me his ‘I’m not playing around’ look. Which tells me my gut was straight on, there’s something amiss in the club. Something he’s desperately trying to fix and protect everyone from.

  “Will do,” I promise him, not wanting to add any stress to his already filled plate of things to worry about.

  While Rogue is outside watching Harmony, I pick up the phone and call Inferno and Napoleon. Both of these bozos knocked up a club whore and ended up with kids from their trysts between the sheets. Therefore, Nash and Asher only have the few old ladies here to portray the roles of mother for the two of them. However, Asher’s biological mother does pop in and out from time to time. Not that any of us mind helping out with these young men, but I feel bad for the boys as they grow older and ask questions that I’m not capable of answering when it comes to the women who gave birth to them. Their dads avoid those questions at all costs, and Asher mostly acts unbothered. Their fathers are not yet ready to admit to their sons that they only exist because they both made poor choices in which women to trust; and I’m not sure they will ever disclose that information. I know these men, and I’m positive that they used protection, which has always made me and the others believe they tampered with the rubber meant to protect from diseases and unwanted pregnancies; but why will always be the million-dollar question considering they ultimately left.

  Those women stayed long enough to birth the two of their sons before being thrown out on their backsides. Anyone who betrays the brotherhood usually doesn't see the dawn of a new day, but since they mothered the boys, they were given a different chance. Only stipulation was that they signed their rights over and promised to never lay eyes on the boys. Inferno has been the exception, by allowing that terrible excuse of a so-called mother to play ping-pong out of their son's life; and I’ll never understand it.

  When I talk to each one of the men individually, I can hear how truly tired they both are. I offer to watch the boys for the day so they can get some shut eye without interruption. After they agree, I inform them I’ll be around to gather up the boys here shortly. I figure I’ll get that taken care of while Rogue is entertaining our daughter. It’ll be easier to get them and their bikes without her delaying them both with her exuberance.

  Walking out the front door, I say to Rogue, “I’m on my way to gather the boys and will be back before your hour’s up.”

  “Sounds good, lay one on me, Rora,” Rogue says, puckering up his lips. I giggle for a second before obliging my old man’s wishes. Once my lips breeze across his, he pulls me into him and swipes his tongue along my bottom lip. I open mine up for him and he inserts his tongue. I’ve never been able to hold back from my man so I indulge him and duel his tongue with my own.

  When we’re both breathless and panting, he pulls back, slapping my back side as he gives me a wink. “Love you, Rogue.”

  “Love you too, Rora,” he states before turning his attention back to our daughter. With a giddiness I only experience with him, I leave him to his bonding time with Harmony and head off to gather the boys.

  Chapter Two

  Rogue

  Five years later

  I’m sitting in my office chair thumbing through paperwork as I blurt out the occasional obscenity, when Bane, my vice president, my right-hand man, comes strolling into the office and slams the door behind him, heading straight to the liquor cabinet.

  “Trouble, brother?” I ask him, since he now has my undivided attention.

  “Big trouble,” he responds, slamming his drink of my best bourbon down his throat. “I think we’ve got a traitor in our midst,” he states. At his words, my head snaps toward him so quickly that I feel my brain rattle from the movement.

  “Wanna repeat that?” I growl out. Accusing someone, especially a brother, of being a traitor has dire consequences, none of which are good. You have to have solid proof to bring that to my attention. We’re talking about this other man’s life which he’s just potentially laid in my hands.

  “I wouldn’t have come to you if my suspicions weren’t warranted.” He helps himself to another glass before he swallows it all in one long pull.

  “Bane, you know you need a solid foundation for these accusations, are you sure you don’t wanna do more research before you have me begin an investigation? You’re not only my VP, but my closest friend, don’t do this to me unless you’re one-hundred-percent certain you’ve got a leg to stand on,” I remind him as I stand and place both my palms firmly on the top of my desk, staring him directly in the eyes.

  “I know the rules and bylaws, Rogue. I personally enjoy my life, and wouldn’t take a chance of bringing you information that could cause my own demise. You know me better than that, and I have been tracking this myself for months before deciding to come to you,” he explains to me, and I notice t
he disappointment as it crosses his eyes, making contact with mine.

  “Well, fuck! Show me what information you’ve got in your hands there,” I look down and nod in the direction of an envelope he has firmly grasped in his hand. Hesitantly, and while shaking his head, he slides it over my desk then takes a seat. This is probably a good thing considering I damn near watch all the color drain from his face. He props his feet up on my desk, crossed at the ankles. He’s confident, which means I’ve got a motherfucking traitor in my club. I go through the trail of printed papers and am dumbfounded at the amount of inventory and funds we’re missing. “This can’t be right!” I holler out, as I grab the bottle of whiskey next to where I was working, and quickly pour myself a glass and slam it down.

  “Brother, I’ve triple checked it, I wanted to show it to you before I took it to Coder to follow the trail of crumbs. Napoleon brought this to my attention a couple of months ago. Since then, I’ve been personally combing through the information he brought to me,” he informs me as he folds his arms across his chest, and a look of disgust now paints his face.

  “You’ve known about this for months without bringing it to me?” I slam my fist down onto my desk. It rattles my whiskey bottle and glass, and causes several papers to catch the wind of my wrath as they become airborne and eventually float to the floor.

  “Needed to make sure before I brought you in.” Considering I just threatened his life, I can see why he waited. Doesn't mean it makes me happy that it’s been in his hands for this long before he came to me with it. “When Napoleon uncovered this trail of missing money and supplies, he followed it as best as he could before even coming to me. He didn’t want to get into any trouble. Just as I don’t, but we can’t let someone steal from our club. He knows this as much as I do.”