Iron Scythes

In the Den

The door to the clubhouse flew open and Reid shoved me inside hard.

The place hit me like a storm. Loud music pounded through the walls. Thick smoke hung in the air and mixed with the smell of whiskey and leather. Dozens of rough bikers turned and stared as Reid dragged me through the main room. Their eyes felt heavy and dangerous. I kept my head high and my steps steady even though my stomach twisted with fear.

Reid did not slow down for anything. He pushed me straight into a back office and slammed the door behind us. Two men already waited inside. One sat behind a large wooden desk looking calm and in control. The other leaned against the wall with sharp watchful eyes.

"Who is this?" the man at the desk asked. His voice carried real weight.

Reid kept his hand locked on my arm. "Caught her by the river with a camera. Says her name is Ivy Laurent. Claims she is a journalist."

The calm man stood up slowly. He had broad shoulders and a steady stare that made the room feel smaller. "I am Jude. Vice president of the Iron Scythes. What were you doing on our land?"

I pulled my arm free from Reid and faced him. "I was getting proof. Your club is poisoning the river. It is hurting families downstream. Kids are getting sick because of what you are dumping."

Jude crossed his arms over his chest. "Those are serious words. You got any evidence to back that up?"

"I have pictures and documents," I said quickly. "Enough to bury the Iron Scythes if I print them."

The man by the wall spoke next. His voice came out smooth and careful. "I am Ezra. Treasurer. You seem very sure of yourself for someone standing alone in our office surrounded by men who do not like strangers."

I looked him straight in the eyes. "I am sure because it is true. I saw the trucks tonight. Your men. Your patches. You are destroying protected land and you know it."

Reid stepped closer until his body brushed against mine. "She has got a mouth on her. Kept talking the whole way here like she is not scared at all."

"I am not scared of you," I told Reid. Then I turned back to Jude. "You seem like you run things around here. So tell me why your club is dumping poison in the water. What is worth all that damage to people and the land?"

Jude stayed calm but his eyes stayed locked on me. "You walk in here throwing accusations and expect us to explain ourselves? We do not owe you anything."

"You owe the people whose water you are ruining," I shot back. "I saw those drums. I smelled the chemicals. This is not some small thing. This is wrong."

Ezra pushed off the wall and walked a few steps closer. He studied me like I was a chess piece on a board. "Most people would be begging right now. You are fighting instead. Why push so hard?"

"Because someone has to," I answered. "Your club acts like you own the whole world but you do not own the truth. The truth is coming out."

Reid laughed low and rough. "Damn. I almost respect the fire in you. Almost. But you are still in a lot of trouble."

Jude held up his hand. "Enough. Ivy, is it? You need to understand exactly where you are. This is the Iron Scythes clubhouse. Our rules. Our territory. Sneaking around here was a big mistake."

"It was not a mistake," I said. "It was necessary. The story is coming out no matter what you do. The world needs to know what the Iron Scythes have been doing to the land."

Ezra tilted his head. "You assume we are guilty. What if someone wants us to look guilty? Did that idea cross your mind at all?"

"It crossed my mind," I replied. "But I saw your trucks and your men with my own eyes. Explain that part."

Reid leaned in close. His breath brushed my ear. "Keep pushing like this and you might not like what pushes back. I brought you in here alive. That can change real fast."

"Threaten me again," I said. "Go ahead. It only proves everything I believe about this club."

Jude sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "You got real fire. I will give you that much. But fire gets people burned around here."

The office door opened suddenly. An older man stepped in wearing the president patch. He looked tense and distracted. Sweat shone on his forehead and his eyes moved around the room fast.

"What is going on in here?" the president asked. "Who is the girl?"

Reid answered right away. "Caught her spying by the river. Says she is a reporter digging into the dumping."

The president stared at me hard. "A reporter? Here? Tonight of all nights?"

I took the chance. "Yes. And I know what your club has been doing. The toxic waste. The damage to the land. You cannot keep it quiet anymore."

He stepped closer to me. "You do not know half of what you think you do little girl."

"I know enough," I said firmly. "And I am not leaving until I get some real answers from someone."

Jude glanced at the president. "We were handling it."

The president opened his mouth to speak but a loud gunshot exploded through the room. The sound cracked like thunder. His head snapped back. Blood sprayed across the floor as he collapsed right at my feet. Warm blood pooled around my shoes.

I jumped back fast. My shoes slipped in the mess. Boom, My ears rang loud.

Reid cursed under his breath. Jude pulled his gun out quick. Ezra moved fast and he slammed the door shut.

I stood frozen staring down at the dead president lying on the floor in front of me.