Claimed By My Father’s Outlaw

Chapter12

Raine's POV

Immediately I heard my dad, I sat up, my heart slamming into overdrive. I swung my legs off the bed and moved swiftly to the door, opening it just enough to hear what he was yapping about.

"...and I told him if he wants the deal, he better come correct," Dad was saying. "I'm not running a charity bike sale here."

Isla's voice followed his as she responded. "Yeah, I get that. But speaking of deals, Dad, there's something I need to talk to you about."

I moved to the top of the staircase, gripping the railing as I watched them in the living room below. Dad was leaning against the back of the couch with his arms crossed, still in his riding gear. Isla stood a few feet away, wringing her hands.

"What is it?" Dad asked, sounding distracted.

"Well, it's actually kind of important..."

"Isla, grab me some water first," he interrupted, waving a hand. "Then come to my study. We'll talk there."

He turned and walked off without waiting for an answer, his boots heavy on the hardwood floor. I watched my sister standing there for a second and deflating, before she looked up the staircase and saw me.

She waved frantically, gesturing for me to come down immediately.

I hesitated. Everything in me wanted to stay upstairs and let Isla handle this on her own. I really didn't want to face my father twice in one day, and Isla was better at handling him anyway. But then I thought about those women again, and I forced myself down the stairs.

When I got downstairs, Isla silently made her way to the kitchen and I followed. She grabbed a clean glass, filling it with water from the tap.

"Thank God," she whispered. "I thought you were gonna bail."

"I still might, to be very honest." I muttered.

"Don't." She shoved the glass into one hand and grabbed my wrist with the other. "Come on. We're doing this together."

I let her pull me down the hallway toward Dad's study. The door was half-open, and I could see him inside, sitting behind his desk and flipping through some papers.

Isla knocked lightly on the doorframe. "Dad? I've got your water."

"Come in," he called without looking up.

We stepped inside and I stayed behind Isla, trying to make myself as small as possible. Dad glanced up, saw me, and his eyes narrowed immediately.

"What's she doing here?" he asked.

Isla set the glass on his desk. "She's with me."

"I didn't ask for her."

"I know, but..."

"Isla." Dad finally set the paperwork down and glared at my younger sister. "What's this about?"

Isla glanced at me, then back at him. "It's important, Dad. Really important. Raine saw something today. Something bad. She was riding out near Baton Rouge, and she saw a lot of women. They were being forced into vans by armed men."

Isla's narration gave me the boldness I needed. Taking a deep breath, I stepped up beside her and continued to tell the story. "I heard them screaming and begging. Some of them were just kids, Dad. Teenagers who couldn't be more than fifteen years old."

Dad's face stayed blank. There was no sadness or anger or even surprise in his features.

"One of them tried to run," I pressed on, watching him closely. "And they shot her just like that. Then they left her body there and drove off."

Still nothing from my father. He just sat there, fingers drumming lightly on the desk.

Isla leaned forward. "Dad, the men were wearing Revenant colors. This is happening in their territory. We need to find out where those women are being taken and help them. We need to save them, Dad!"

Dad let out a long sigh and closed his eyes, like we'd just told him the most boring story in the world. Then he waved a hand dismissively. "Look, girls, this is Revenant business and it has nothing to do with me. I don't know what you want me to do to fix it."

My mouth gaped open. "What?"

"You heard me," he snapped at me, reaching for his glass of water. "If it's happening on their turf, it's their problem. Not mine. Now, drop the subject."

I stared at him as my brain struggled to catch up. I knew Dad was cruel to me. I knew he hated me. But letting something like this slide just because it wasn't his club's territory, was something I never imagined he would do.

"Dad, you can't be serious!" I blurted, stepping evem closer to the desk. "Those women are in danger, real danger! I bet that Ambrose is trying to pimp them! They're being trafficked, and if we don't do something, they're going to disappear. Maybe forever!"

He set the glass down and finally looked at me with cold eyes. "And what exactly do you expect me to do about it?" He asked.

"I don't know!" I threw my hands up. "Talk to the other clubs, maybe? Send someone to investigate? Swallow your f*****g pride and talk to Ambrose about it?"

My sister placed a warning hand on my shoulder. "Raine—"

But I shrugged her hand away angrily. "Just... just do something. Anything! You're the president of the Iron Serpents. You have power. Use it!"

"Raine, stop!" Isla started, but I cut her off.

"No, Isla. He needs to hear this." I turned back to Dad in fury. "You always talk about loyalty and protecting your own. What about protecting those innocent women? What about doing the right thing for once in your life?"

Dad started to breathe heavily, and then his fists slammed down on the desk, making Isla and I jump.

"Shut the f**k up!" he roared, his voice shaking the room.

I flinched again and Isla went rigid beside me.

Dad stood to his feet slowly, towering over the desk with his face dark with fury. "Need I remind you that I have the final say in this house? Not you or your sister, me. And I've decided we're not pursuing this topic any further. Do you understand, or do you need me to injure you some more before you get it?"

I opened my mouth and only a sigh came out.

Dad pointed at the door. "The Conclave of Bike Clubs is this Saturday. Go and prepare for it and stop wasting my time with nonsense!"

Isla reached for my arm, but I shook her off, still staring at Dad. He glared right back as if daring me to challenge him again.

"Get out and let me think!" he snarled.

Isla grabbed my hand again and pulled urgently. I let her drag me toward the door. We stepped into the hallway, and she closed the door quietly behind us.