The probie and his biker chick (Iron vipers book 3)

Served with toast

*Isabella*

The clubhouse is a sanctuary of sorts… a familiar chaos filled with laughter, camaraderie, and the comforting scent of aged leather and whiskey. But today, it feels like a pressure cooker, just like the courtroom. I’m simmering with frustration, my mind racing over the words Caleb Sinclair threw around like confetti.

Tom and Zac are at the bar both watching me, but right now I feel like a lioness pacing in a cage. I can’t shake the feeling of anger that’s settled deep within me, a roaring fire that neither of their half-hearted jokes can extinguish.

“Honestly, Izzy baby,” Tom says, a glint of mischief in his eyes, “if this bastard gets away with it, I’ll just take him out into the desert and shoot him myself. Save us all the trouble.” He laughs, but I can hear the underlying seriousness in his tone.

“Please,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “That would be too quick for him. He deserves to suffer. Also very much illigal.” The words taste bitter on my tongue. It’s not enough to wish for revenge; I want him to feel every ounce of pain he’s inflicted on others.

Zac nods, leaning forward, his expression fierce. “I mean, if it were up to me, I’d give that prick the same treatment I gave his dear brother. Make him understand what real consequences feel like.”

“Zac, please,” I say, covering my ears dramatically. “I absolutely can’t hear this. You guys know I am a lawyer right? Do not tell me things like that.” But deep down, I know it’s not just the graphic nature of their thoughts that bothers me; it’s the frustration that we’re all powerless to stop Caleb's manipulation.

Zac leans back in his chair, a slow smile creeping across his face. “A guy like Caleb deserves to be castrated and have his balls slowly roasted and served with toast,” he says, his voice low and dangerous, but there’s a ridiculousness to it that makes me want to laugh despite my fury.

Suddenly, there’s a small voice beside him that cuts through the air like a knife. “What does castrated mean?” It’s Iris standing there wide-eyed and innocent, her little brow furrowed in confusion.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my lips, a bittersweet laugh that underscores the absurdity of the moment. Zac’s eyes widen, and he looks over at me, cheeks flushing pink, as he desperately searches for a way out of this situation.

“Uh, well, sweetie,” he stammers, his bravado faltering as he glances at Willow, who is standing nearby with her arms crossed, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. “It’s, um… it means they take away a guy’s ability to have babies, sort of like a… uh, really bad haircut?”

Willow raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Nice save, Zac. But I think we both know that’s not what it is at all.”

“Yeah, Dad! What does it really mean?” Iris presses, and I can see the gears turning in her little head.

I can’t hold back anymore. “It means they take away something very important to a man, Iris. It’s a punishment for being really, really bad,”

“I like that,” Iris says, nodding with a smile, her face still innocent. “Can I help castrate the bad man?”

I try to keep my face straight and my voice firm but gentle as I say. “We don’t have to worry about that. Right now, we’re focusing on helping those who are hurt.”

“Can we help with that mom?” She says, looking at Willow.

“Absolutely,” Willow says. “We’re going to make sure she gets the justice she deserves. No matter what it takes.”

Zac looks between us, a mixture of pride and humor on his face. “Well, if we’re all in this together, I guess we should wait and see, hope the jury is smart Justice is the name of the game, right?”

Tom raises his glass, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “To justice, then! And to making sure Caleb Sinclair gets exactly what he deserves.”

I raise my glass too, the fire of determination igniting within me again. “To justice!”

But even as I sip my drink, I know that it won’t be enough until that smug smile is wiped off Caleb’s face for good. I’m not just fighting for this one victim anymore; I’m fighting for every woman who’s been silenced, every victim who’s been made to feel less than. This is just the beginning, and I will not rest until Caleb Sinclair faces the consequences of his actions.

Iris starts running around, pretending to fight the bad guys, as Zac pulls Willow in for a soft kiss, and Tom wraps his arms around me, gently touching my belly as he mumbles in my ear. “I know you do not want to hear it, but if the justice system doesn’t stop Sinclair, we will.”