Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
But my focus narrows to a single target—my father—James Quinn. I surge towards him, adrenaline pumping through my veins. He turns, eyes widening in surprise as he recognises me. For a moment, time seems to freeze. Then, with a roar of fury, I swing my fist, and it connects with his face. The impact is jarring, sending a shock wave up my arm.
Blood spurts from his nose, and he staggers back, but I don’t relent. Years of pent-up anger and betrayal fuel my blows as I land punch after punch, my knuckles cracking against bone. He tries to defend himself, but I’m relentless. A storm of hatred that won’t be stopped.
Around us, the fight rages on, but all I can see is my father, the man who chose this life over his family and brutalised his sons. My vision blurs with anger and tears, but I keep hitting him, each punch a release of the pain and betrayal I’ve carried for so long.
Finally, Hades is there, pulling me back. “Enough, Hadrian! Enough!” he shouts, his voice cutting through the red haze of my fury.
I stumble back, chest heaving and hands shaking. My father is lying on the ground, bloodied and beaten, and struggling to rise.
The warehouse falls into a tense silence as the last of Gordon’s men are subdued. We’ve won, but the victory feels hollow. I look at Hades, and I see the same pain and confusion in his eyes that I’m feeling.
We’ve captured Gordon and our father, but the cost is high. As the dust settles, I realise that this is far from over. The real fight has just begun, and the wounds from tonight will take a long time to heal.
The cold air bites at my face as I drive with my windows down through the narrow streets of Newcastle. The familiar sounds of the city usually bring me comfort. But tonight, my mind is too restless for that.
Harley’s words keep replaying in my head — ‘Sometimes, choices need to be selfish, or you’ll forever live for others.’
When she said it to me, her eyes were filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. It was a simple statement, but the weight of it feels like a heavy chain around my neck.
I pull over to the side of the road and park by an old, weathered bench overlooking the Tyne. The bright lights reflect off the water, creating a shimmering path that leads to nowhere. I sit down, staring at the river, trying to make sense of the turmoil inside me.
The Royal Bastards, my family, are in Belfast. That’s my life, my world.
But then there’s Harley.
Sweet, strong Harley, who’s fighting tooth and nail to keep her father’s organisation from crumbling. I have to decide what matters most to me, and it’s not going to be easy. I’ve walked away from family before. I don’t know if I can do it again. If I stay with Harley, it would mean I have to leave the club. I would never willingly relinquish my place within the Royal Bastards, but I know it won’t work if I’m living in England.
I want to be with her.
But I don’t want to abandon my brothers.
After the fight was over and we had Gordon and my father locked up tight, I told Racer and Hades I needed time to think. I know I have to help them interrogate the two arseholes, but it’s the last thing I want to do right now.
Shaking my head, I return to the car, and starting the engine, I head back on the motorway to South Shields. I want to talk to Harley, but first, I need to see how my brother is doing after finding out our father was the one who was involved in trying to destroy Shaun and his organisation. Deep down, I know his involvement isn’t an accident. Somehow, he must have found out that we went to work for Hunt after we ran away from home. I don’t believe in coincidences, and my father has always been vengeful.
When I pull up to Hunt’s house, I see Hades and Racer waiting outside, Racer’s smoking while Hades is leaning against the wall, one leg bent at the knee and foot pressed against the bricks.
“Hey lads,” I say when I step up to them.
Hades doesn’t say a word. Instead, he pulls me into a hug, and we hold each other for a long, silent moment.
When we pull apart, Hades says, “We’ll have time to talk, but there’s someone waitin’ on you.”
I know he means Harley. I nod and head inside. The living room is quiet, so I pour a drink and stare at the tumbler of Irish whiskey while I wait. I don’t need Dutch courage, but it won’t hurt.
The sound of footsteps approaching pulls me from my thoughts. I look up to see Harley walking towards me, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle, hugging herself. She must have been worried, especially when I didn’t return with the others.