by Brook Wilder
“I refuse to accept that.”
As they stood staring at each other, they heard a thump. Hammer jerked back and looked around.
Alina whispered excitedly. “How about an attic?”
Hammer went running from the room into the hallway. At the far end was a rectangular indentation in the ceiling with a cord hanging down. It was obvious to everyone that it was a very typical attic entry. The thumping continued. Alina’s heart hammered in her chest. This was it. Jaden was there. She knew it right down to her bones.
Though her heart was pounding as she watched hope spring into the eyes of the man she loved. Hammer’s hands were shaking as he yanked the cord and roughly pulled out down the folding steps. He pulled back out his weapon and climbed onto the ladder.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
He made eye contact with her for a brief second as he nodded once.
He disappeared into the attic and she waited with bated breath for any sounds of conflict.
♦♦♦♦♦
Hammer ascended the stairs with a growing certainty that he’d find his son there. The problem was, he didn’t know what else he’d find there. Stepping quietly into the room, he paused to give his eyes a moment to adjust. As the room came into focus, he could see the room was littered with pizza boxes and pop cans. Boxes were stacked up along the walls.
His throat closed up to see Jaden sitting in the back of the room. He was tied and gagged but his son’s eyes were pinned on him. The moment Hammer moved forward, Jaden began shaking his head no and thrashing about. That was all that Hammer needed to see. His son was warning him of something. His gut told him it was one of the Grims.
Hammer eased sideways instead of walking directly into the room. As quietly as he could, he slipped around the perimeter of the room. Before he even got halfway to Jade a man stepped from behind some boxes and jerked Jaden to his feet. Hammer recognized him immediately. It was the Grims VP…Twinkie’s father. Pulling Jaden in front of his larger frame, the man barked orders to Hammer.
“Drop you weapon or the kid gets it.”
“Kill me and you’ll never get out of here.”
“I know you lied about my girl. Give her to me and you’ll get your son back.”
“Like I already said, we don’t have her. How fuckin stupid are you people that you can’t find one little girl?”
“Play stupid with Miguel. He might be gullible but I know better.”
Hammer hadn’t lowered his weapon. His mind clicked through his limited number of options and the probable outcomes in the space of heartbeat. If he put down his gun like the man had asked, it would be bad. He would shoot Hammer down in cold blood, then use Jaden as a shield to escape, before killing him as well. It literally didn’t make sense for him to do anything else. Throwing down his weapon was not an option.
His blood ran cold as he realized what his one and only option was. Steeling a quick look at Jaden’s face, the boy’s color paled. He knew what was coming. That was a small advantage. Gritting his teeth, he jerked the gun up and fired. Just as it sounded off, Jaden jerked sharply to the left…away from the man’s face. Hammer watched as the smaller caliber bullet tore into the man’s face. His body froze for a brief second before he fell slack to the floor.
Bolting into action, he grabbed Jaden up and hugged the youngster close. Picking his still bound son up, he carried him down the ladder, and laid him on the floor. A quick flick of his switchblade and Jaden’s arms were free. As the Rip cut the ties on his legs, Hammer gently pealed the duct tape away from his mouth.
“You came. I knew you would!”
“Of fucking course I came, son.”
“Sorry, I left.” Looking down at his son, Hammer couldn’t find it in his heart to be angry at the boy. He looked exhausted and roughed up but relieved.
Suddenly, Alina was there pressing a bottle of water to Jaden’s lips. His son seemed thoroughly shocked to see her. His eyes jumped from his teacher back to Hammer.
Alina gestured for him to drink some more. “We were really worried about you, Jaden. Especially Non. He and Twinkie have been freaking out. The rest of your friends were worried as well.”
Jaden’s mouth dropped open. For some reason Hammer found that slightly comical. Tousling his son’s hair, he quipped. “Cat’s out of the bag, Jaden…or should I say Hawk. We can talk about it later. Right now we gotta get you to the clubhouse.”
“I’m all for getting’ the fuck outta here.”
“Yea, I think everyone’s in agreement about that, son.” Turning to Rip her ordered. “Load everyone up, we’re getting the fuck gone.”
Rip jerked his head barely able to contain the huge smile on his normally expressionless face. “You got it, boss.”
Helping his son to his feet, Hammer walked him outside with Alina trailing behind them. His crew surrounded them and remained diligent for any additional member of the Grim Crew who might have showed up. Within short order they had him in an SUV, heading for Kingsmen territory.
Hammer sit with his arm around his son. “Sure you feeling okay, son?”
“I think I’m fine. Miguel refused to allow them to hurt me.”
“Any idea why?”
“He didn’t say. The guy tends to ramble. He did say something about my mother’s shade protecting me. What do you think that means?”
Hammer pursed his lips, but Alina answered. “In ancient Greek mythology, the spirits of people were sometimes called shades. We think he was in love with your mother but she chose your father instead of him.”
Jaden didn’t look convinced. “Well since he’s bat shit crazy, I’d say she made a good choice.” Pausing only a heartbeat, he asked flatly. “Why are you here?”
Alina looked nervously at Hammer who responded to the question.
“Alina is with me now. I know that may make you feel uncomfortable but she worked her ass off to help find you, so treat her with some respect.” Hammer knew his son had been through and ordeal but it was better than he knew the score right off the bat.
Hammer had never once lied to his son about anything, and he wasn’t going to start now. Jaden had never been told Santa or the Easter Bunny was real. He grew up with the understanding that they were fictional characters designed to make the holiday more enjoyable. Jaden appreciated honesty and would have felt slighted if he’d tried to keep him in the dark about Alina.
His son just shook his head. “She’s not like the women you normally see.”
Hammer sighed. “You’re right. She’s a lady not a whore.”
“Does that mean I don’t have to worry about her spitting in our food when you’re rude to her?”
Alina’s eyes flashed up to him. It was one of the few times Hammer had felt embarrassed in his life. Stretching his neck, he spoke calmly. “I can’t imagine Alina doing anything like that. She’s a good fit for us.”
Jaden’s eye flew open. “You’re keeping her?”
Hammer had to smile down at his son. “Thinkin’ about it. We’ll have to see.”
Alina spoke up, in a desperate ploy to chance the subject. “Bet you’ll be glad to have this whole mess behind you.”
Jaden’s eyes once again found Hammer’s. They both knew this situation was far from over. As long as Miguel was still roaming around they’d still be in danger. Though his VP might have been in it for the girl, it was becoming increasingly clear Miguel was still grinding the same old axe.
Hammer murmured darkly. “I think getting you out of there was much easier than I would have expected.”
Rip turned from the front seat. “I been thinkin’ about that myself, boss. It was too easy. If not for the VP being there it would almost feel like a set up.”
Hammer reflected out loud. “Most of the crew there looked freshly minted. Maybe he was fed up with his VP fucking things up and decided to put in the line of fire.”
Rip nodded. “Makes sense. He had to know that after what he did to his family, we’d never let him walk ou
tta there alive.”
Hammer nodded his agreement. “I’m surprised Miguel didn’t send my son out of area. That would have made more sense.”
Seeing that Jaden was becoming emotional, Hammer changed the subject.
“You did a good job with your club. Picked good guys. They’re real solid. Got yourself a good set up.”
His son smiled tentatively. “Can I call them when I get back to the clubhouse?”
“Call them hell, most of your officers are there waiting for us to get back. I stashed Twinkie in your room.”
“She’s probably scared out of her mind.”
“I doubt it, son. Copperhead is up there with her. No one is going to mess with her. She’s been reading books to him off your tablet. He seems to like that real fine.”
“It’s their favorite pastime. They’d read instruction manuals and be happy as two clams sitting in seaweed.”
Alina laughed. “Reading is a perfectly acceptable hobby. It’s the only thing that took her mind off worrying about you.”
“Don’t know why she’s so worried about us all. She about hen pecks up to death. She takes some getting’ used to but we like her well enough.”
Jaden seemed to be getting sleepy, so Hammer pulled him close. Within moments the young man with the weight of the world on his small shoulders had fallen asleep, much like he had a thousand times before as a small child.
Hammer leaned over Jaden, caught Alina by the back of the head and pulled her in for a kiss. “Thanks, doll. You did real good by not givin’ up back there.”
Hammer could see tears welling up in her eyes. As they began to wet her cheeks, he cleared them away with his thumb. “Come on, sweetheart. No crying. Jaden’s safe and we’re almost home.
As soon as they crossed over into Kingsmen territory, Hammer allowed himself the luxury of relaxing. He had his son back and a woman he was growing fonder of by the day at his side. It had been a good day.
Chapter 22
Cops to the Rescue
It was a good thing that Jaden had caught a nap in the vehicle, because everyone turned out to welcome him back. Marlow had managed to arrange a celebration appropriate enough for the youngsters to participate in. Hammer sat on the large wrap around sofa with Alina cuddled up to his side. Something about seeing Jaden being welcomed home by his friends clawed at his gut.
“You have that look about you. What’s wrong?”
Alina had grown to know him pretty well in a short time. “I always thought that I was doing right by Jaden. Seeing him with his friends made me realize something. I tried to make my crew his friends but what he really needed was age mates. I guess I failed him in that regard.”
“You taught him something more important, how to be a good friend. He’s a big boy. I think he’s a natural born leader and has probably always made friends easily. He seems popular enough at school.”
“I’d like to believe that. God knows, his friends are dedicated to him.”
“There you go. Stop worrying, big guy. He’s fine.”
Hammer smiled. “Still can’t believe he has his own little club.”
“It’s what he knows. I’d be surprised if he’d done anything else.”
Suddenly, there was chaos around the entrances. Marlow rushed up.
“Cops are here. They have a writ or something.”
Alina asked, “What in the world is that?”
Hammer stared at the door. “I don’t know. They normally have search warrants.”
“I’m going to tell them that I brought the kids for Jaden’s party. Hopefully, they’ll let me leave with them. I’ll take them to my place until we get this whole thing sorted out.”
“Good plan. I can’t imagine what they want.” Turning to Marlow Hammer directed. “Pass the word. If they begin hauling us in, whoever is left is to take Jaden and sit on Alina and the kids. I won’t take a chance on anything happening to them.”
Marlow jerked his chin in acknowledgement and walked off. Hammer took his time going to the door. Outside the front entrance he was met with a sobering sight. There were half a dozen police cars and over a dozen law enforcement officers from two separate stations.
“What the fuck do you want?” Hammer barked the words as he stepped out the door.
“We have a writ of habeas corpus for one Jaden M. Hark. Reported missing a second time yesterday.”
Hammer barked, “He just got back from visiting relatives out of state. Kids visit relatives over the holidays all the goddamn time. Why is Jaden doing the same a fuckin’ 911 emergency?””
The officer stepped closer. “Your son has been reported missing two times in the last few weeks. Child Protective Services will need to have a look inside and speak to him.”
“Fine but the rest of you can stay the fuck outside.”
“We are required to accompany them. If we see anything concerning we’re authorized to act on it.”
“My son is talking with his friends. They wanted a little welcome home party for him. Their teacher, Miss. Stuart brought them buy. We don’t need their parents up my ass or yours because they were subjected to a police raid.”
“We aren’t authorized to talk to anyone else’s child. Have their teacher remove them from the premises immediately.”
Hammer turned to speak over his shoulder. “Miss. Stuart, the party’s over. Thanks for bringing the other kids but you all need to take off.”
“Certainly, Mr. Hark. I’ll see you at the next parent teacher conference.”
Alina ushered the youngsters out to the back lot and loaded them into her Prius. It was a tight squeeze, but none of the officers seemed to notice or care about their hasty exit. Hammer breathed a sigh of relief when they were off the property.
His crew was exactly the same degree of accommodating to law enforcement that they always were. This earned them all the usual backlash from the officers. As Jaden sat talking with CPS workers, Hammer watched the officers roaming around visually inspecting every square inch of his clubhouse. It rankled him. Though he’d left strict instructions that the weapons were all to be locked up because of having the kids around and Shelby was supposed to be burning any bloody clothing, they might have missed something. If so the officers would find it and exercise their right to ‘act’, whatever in the hell that meant.
Finally, the officer in charge approached him. “CPS has decided to take temporary custody of your son. They feel that he is to traumatized by his environment to speak honestly to them. They’re convinced that a little time in a safe environment will help.”
Hammer argued. “That’s total bullshit. You can’t just take him.”
“That’s among the least of your problems. We’re taking you and every patched member as well. We discovered your armory and you have some things in there that aren’t quite legal. With any luck it just might earn most of you some real jail time.”
“You bastard.”
“If you could turn around please. I need to cuff you.”
Since fighting would just earn him a resisting arrest charge, he turned and placed his hands behind his back. The goal was to just to get this over with as soon as humanly possible. Just as the officer slapped the cuffs on him, he began to wonder who had called Child Protective Services the second time. It wasn’t his club brothers that was for damn sure. No one would accept a report from an underage person, so that ruled out Jaden’s friends.
His blood ran cold as he realized that only left one person. Alina. She’d done it before. Maybe she got tired of waiting and lost faith in him to save Jaden. She cared deeply for his son and some small part of him could see her doing that at a low point, if she totally lost hope of recovering him any other way. Maybe when she had gone behind his back to get help from that man she worked with. Why couldn’t she have just trusted in him?
Hammer could barely look his brother’s in the face as the police loaded them into the police van. They were all getting thrown in jail, his son would certainly end up in foster care,
and it was all his fault for trusting the wrong bitch. He could feel the emotional wall coming back up, slowly choking off his emotions. He’d never make a goddamn mistake like again.
The officer in charge was a real asshole. Upon arrival at the jail, he waited until last to process Hammer, forcing him to watch one brother after another being subjected to fingerprinting and mug shot photographing. Most were deadly quiet.
Bikers were a strange breed. They valued freedom and respect above most all things. Hammer was convinced the entire process of being arrested was designed to rob a man of his self-respect. It took all their personal control away, leaving them feeling thoroughly emasculated.
