by Nicole Snow
“Helluva mystery.” I was stumped. Seriously.
Blaze was chewing his emotions. When he met my eyes, his were sharp, dark, full of future blood. I could tell there was only one decision sparking in his brain: whether to take the body now and execute every last Ram in this shitty place, no questions asked, or if we were gonna give these assholes one chance to explain themselves.
Without a word, Blaze turned sharp, moving down the hall. I was right behind him. I'd never been a superstitious man. Still, this place's atmosphere would've sent the willies up a gravedigger's spine, and I sure as shit wasn't hanging out with a dead body while we had bigger sheep to gut.
Last night seemed like a distant dream. I would've given my left nut to be back in bed with Emma, leaving the stiffs, assholes, and fucked up girls a million miles away.
Just me, her, a bottle of Jack, and a whole lot of fucking. Heaven.
“Well? Did you boys find whatever the fuck you were looking for?” Block looked up from his seat at the bar.
Blaze didn't say shit. I was two steps behind him as he closed on the Rams' Prez. The other geezers jumped on their feet as the boss' gun came out. There was a gnarly crack like wood splitting as his pistol whipped Block's jaw.
The asshole spat several bloody mouthfuls, grunting as pain throttled his skull. Several old teeth rattled on the floor. One was still spinning as it came to a stop against my boot.
“You asshole! Why didn't you fucking tell us you had a torn up bitch and a dead body back there?” Snarling, Blaze pressed the barrel to Block's temple, his hand shaking furiously. “You think we're all as drugged out and stupid as you? You think we wouldn't find it?”
No answer. Moose and Reb kept their shotguns trained on the other three. I was ready to pounce either way if anybody tried something stupid.
“Answer me!” Blaze's howl echoed through the empty clubhouse.
Outside, a feminine wail answered, and then Stinger's voice, trying to be soothing.
Fuck. Things are going from stupid straight to hell. Somebody's gonna get their skull split, I thought, adrenaline humming in my veins. Don't give a shit as long as that somebody isn't wearing our patch.
“We wanted you to find them,” Block said finally, using one wrist to wipe blood off his mouth. “Had a feeling you'd know what to do. You've already shown you're younger...healthy...able to handle shit like this.”
Blaze's rampage simmered down one notch. He pulled the gun back, until it was no longer digging into the man's temple, but he never took it off him.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Happened the night before last. Mickey stopped by. Hadn't seen that fuck for years, not since he had us store some shit for the Grizzlies to pickup.” Block paused, swallowing more blood so he could speak. “Heh. He'd be amazed to know you're all upset about his dead ass. Thing is, we're not the only ones who've had our asses turned upside down and hung up to dry since you Devils claimed this state.”
Blaze narrowed his eyes. Everybody else shifted uncomfortably. Red and Moose were just a pube away from pulling the trigger if the Rams at the other end so much as flinched.
“Go on,” Blaze growled. “Nobody's done shit for Mickey in this club since Voodoo met his maker.”
“Yeah. Well, business has been tough along all the usual routes with all the fighting going on between you and the bears. Mickey showed up half-drunk two days ago. Soon as the fuck had a couple more beers in him, he let loose, telling us all about how pissed he was that the Devils were hauling their own shit, too busy to take his loads to the coast anymore. Wasn't real happy about your deals with the competition either. The Russians take the shit you hand off all over the fucking world. Mickey's client list was looking mighty dry because they're handing your shit out to warlords like free vodka. He was pissed at you, pissed at business, so he offered us a deal...”
The tension lighting up Blaze's face was thick as mud. Finally, he lowered his gun.
I wasn't sure what to think. Block had definitely gotten the boss' ear. If it was a fucking story, then the bastard was a damned good liar.
“He was gonna reach out to the Grizzlies. See if we'd do runs under your noses across the Idaho panhandle and pass his shit off to them in Washington or Oregon. Guess he thought the bears needed to beef up their defenses and their war with the cartels in SoCal would turn 'em into good buyers.” Block looked up, eyes like steel, holding Blaze's gaze. “Of course, we refused. Didn't want to go behind your backs, taking your cut of the profit”
“Fine. Why the fuck is he dead?” Blaze snorted.
“Desperate motherfuckers do stupid things. When we told him we weren't interested, he started swinging his fists.” Block pointed to the heavier guy with gray hair and glasses. “Reaper here knocked his ass out with a bottle. He was still breathing. Figured we'd throw him in the back to cool his heels. When we found him the next day, he wasn't breathing. Must've hit him harder than we thought and killed him in his sleep. Honest. Asshole doesn't have a scratch on him. Must've had a bad ticker or something. Look him over yourselves.”
Blaze turned to us. “Bring the body out here.”
Moose nodded. He passed his shotgun to me while him and Reb got moving. I cradled the deadly weapon in my hands, eyes focused on the Rams we had against the wall, waiting for one little jab to pull the trigger.
Something didn't smell right. And it wasn't just the filthy fucking smells in here. Too bad I couldn't put my finger on it, or I would've warned him, would've pulled the Prez aside and told him these fuckers were bullshitting us.
The Block who was talking now didn't seem like the one earlier. Felt like a rat playing helpless old man. My fingers tightened on the gun, wishing the fucks would give me one good reason to pull the trigger.
All my nerves were hopping like caged up monkeys sensing a storm. Same fucking feeling I used to get on patrol outside Kandahar, right before mortars started falling from the mountains, trying to blow my squad to hell and back.
Five minutes later, they laid Mickey's body out on an empty table. Blaze and I checked him from head to toe. The fucker's story checked out, much as I didn't want it to. There wasn't a sign of foul play on him. Just a little dark bruising on the head, right where Reaper said he cracked the glass against his skull.
“Well?” Blaze looked at me, twirling his gun in his hand.
“Looks like these assholes might be telling the truth. Maybe.” The words came out rough, right through my clenched teeth.
“Anything you see here that says they aren't?”
“No. Nothing on this body, anyway. Gotta wonder why the hell they had the girl living in the closet like an animal. She was there long enough to eat some meals and piss in the box.”
Good fucking question. Blaze turned his gun at Block again. “You heard Tank. Who the fuck is she? That's one part of your story that I'm not buying.”
Block smiled. His lips were still bloody. He stood, hands spread out carefully. That harmless old man act just went double.
“I couldn't tell you. Only one who can is her. She rode in with Mickey, some whore or something, who the fuck knows. Girl seemed woozy when she came in. She started screaming like a banshee when Reaper whacked his ass out. She laid on the floor and wouldn't get up. We put her in there after a fight. Even when we found him dead and tried to take her out, she wouldn't move.”
“You're telling me the four of you assholes couldn't drag a skinny little girl somewhere safer?”
Block shrugged. “She spit and clawed like a wild animal when we came close. Wouldn't let us anywhere near her. And fuck, what were we supposed to do? Bring her somewhere she could rat and scream, and drag the Devils in too?”
Blaze's face curdled. The asshole had a bitter point.
“Yeah? And what about her pants? Where the fuck are they?” Our Prez looked like he was about to explode, a wild animal on the hunt for one tiny crack in Block's story, same as me.
Reaper cleared his throat in front
of me. I clenched the shotgun tighter, watching carefully as he reached for the shirt collar underneath his cut. He pulled on it hard.
Deep, ugly scratches lined his neck. “We left her alone after she did this the first time we tried to move her. Bitch almost nicked my fucking jugular. Tore her khakis to hell in the struggle, so she went without.”
Blaze's temples bulged, working his jaw. He was torn, same as everybody else. I could see it on my brothers' faces. Moose and Reb just as eager to finish these fuckers as I was. But if they truly weren't bullshitting us...
Fuck. Club charter said we didn't kill in cold blood. Wasn't so much the ethics as the fact that it was a bad idea sure to invite trouble. More stiffs meant more investigations, and way more unexpected consequences.
“Okay,” Blaze said at last. “We're taking the body and the girl. We'll see if this story checks out.”
“They're yours. We were fucking waiting to see what you'd want to do. You can have his body and the girl...maybe bring her back when you're finished? We'll keep her in good faith. She's this club's problem, not yours. You're free to take our property per the agreement, but she's not anybody's old lady or even a slut. She still belongs to us.” Block made a doubtful face, forcing out his words. Then he looked up, fixing his eyes on Blaze. “You see? We're cooperating. We're earning your protection, brother.”
It was Blaze's turn to feel venom in his blood. “Yeah, well, you fucks have got a lot of talking and a lot of cleaning to do before we go there. And don't you dare call me brother, asshole. Until we decide what to do with your asses, consider yourselves under lock down. Nobody leaves this fucking clubhouse for so much as a beer run 'til we're satisfied you're gonna keep those colors.”
“All right. And the girl? You'll bring her back?” Desperation rang in Block's voice.
“Don't tell me you're really that fucking stupid?” I stepped forward, steam in my veins. “Why the hell would we ever bring her here when you had her living like a dog? Maybe the Grizzlies let you fuckers keep women chained up like strays. That's not the way things roll in this club, is it, Prez?” I looked at Blaze.
He nodded, dagger eyes all on Block. The rival Prez stared at us with killer eyes. My muscles flexed instinctively, ready to rumble if he stepped an inch out of line. Finally, he looked down, letting out a long sigh.
“She's only coming back when we're good and ready, and my boys will be with her. You're not having her alone to yourselves again. Don't even fucking ask.”
“Okay. I'm cool with that.” The dark note in Block's voice said otherwise. “We're all cool, friends. We can iron out the fine print later. Right now, we're good...”
“We'd better be. Because if you're not, we'll be dumping off four more bodies with Mickey in the Montana wilderness.”
Blaze signaled. I picked up their weapons, everything Stinger and I collected in a bag, never lowering my gun 'til we were out the door. I slammed the door behind me, rattling their shitty old structure.
Before I started my bike, I peeked at my phone.
Fuck. Three new voice mails. All from Em.
It was bad enough we had to undo all the hell the fucking Rams had raised, especially taking a long trip out of our way to drop off Mickey's corpse where nobody would find him. Now, with the stray we'd picked up, Emma was gonna be at the clubhouse for sure, and she'd be laying into my ass for disappearing without a kiss goodbye.
I watched her come into the infirmary. We'd just gotten out of church where we debriefed the Rams situation when my girl showed up. Blaze decided the best thing to do was see if the mystery girl's story contradicted Block's.
I was in there with her for the exam, same as Blaze and Stinger. The VP wouldn't step away for a goddamned second, even when Blaze ordered her to take a shower. He stood outside, towel ready, following her around like he was already bound and whipped.
Who better than me to recognize a crazy crush when I saw one? And who better to suffer when Emma came in, shot me a fiery look, and then wouldn't meet my eyes again the whole time she looked the chick over.
I sat in the corner, listening as she talked.
“Alice. That's what she told me her name is,” Stinger said. “She was in worse shape when we got her to the clubhouse. Had to slow down on my bike a few times to make sure she kept her hands around my waist on the mountain curves.”
“Hmmm...” Emma shined the bright light into her eyes. “Pupils are normal. No sign of brain damage. What is it you want to know?”
“What the fuck really happened the night she showed up at the Rams' clubhouse. She says she doesn't remember a damned thing,” Blaze said, pacing the room. “Is it possible she's fucked up her head, nurse? Or is she fucking us instead?”
Stinger shot the Prez a dirty look. I stood, ready to get between them if I had to. Alice looked up, rubbing her eyes after Emma finally stopped the light.
“I...I told you already. I don't remember anything. Nothing but my name...hiding in the closet...those men. Jesus, I hated them. I just can't remember why.” She chewed her lip, scared as a cornered kitten.
“It's not unheard of, Blaze,” Emma said. “I'm not seeing any obvious physical damage here. But that doesn't mean she's lying. The brain can short circuit if it's been through a terrible trauma. I'm no psychologist, but there are tons of cases where the brain suppresses something terrible to keep its sanity. You don't know why she was with the dead man, this...?”
“Mickey.” I walked up, answering her question, forcing her to look at me.
Blaze slumped back against the wall, pounding his fist on the brick. “Fuck. No, we don't. Maybe she was his slut or his old lady like Block claimed. Who the fuck knows.”
“I don't think she's that kinda girl, Prez,” Stinger said firmly. “She's not a club slut. I can spot those bitches from a mile away, and this isn't one.”
“Yeah, yeah, you're right about that.” Blaze chuffed, humor and frustration building in his throat. “Whatever, bro. Just get her the fuck outta here and find the girl a room.”
We waited for Stinger and the girl to leave. When the door was closed, Blaze looked around, first at me and then Emma.
“We're not done, Em. I'm gonna keep you doing regular checks on this chick 'til she tells us something useful.” Blaze stepped past us and stopped at the door. “Look...the tension's so fucking thick between you two I can cut it with a knife. I don't know what the hell's about to go down, but I can guarantee it's a fucking storm. That means I need everybody focused, all hands on deck.”
I nodded. Blaze's eyes pierced me. I held my ground as he pointed a finger.
“Get a room, goliath. Fuck her, fight her, I don't care. You two star crossed lovers do whatever the fuck it is you need to do to fix the shit between you. We've got no time for distractions.” Blaze spun, stepped out the door, and slammed it closed.
I took a good long look at Emma. I started to walk, working my way around the table. Barely reached her in time before she was doubled over with laughter, bright and bubbly and totally unexpected after the dark fucking morning.
“What! What the fuck's so damned funny, Em?”
“His face...” She gripped the table's metal edge to regain her balance. When she took a good look at me, more sharp laughter came pouring out.
Like a fucking idiot, I started laughing too. How the hell could I do anything but join in? It was crazy and senseless, yeah, but damned if I could resist that sweet sound coming out of her, everything I loved floating like a kite in those precious chirps.
I threw my arms around her waist, hoisted her up, and made her laugh harder when her feet left the ground.
“Stop it!” Emma beat on my biceps. “Stop, Tank. I'm supposed to be pissed...you left me.”
“Babe, I don't give a shit. You can hate my guts 'til you set yourself on fire, just as long as something makes you happy and I get to hear that laugh.”
No mercy for her. Emma was still laughing and fighting me when I got her against the wall. One kiss and
she became pure blonde honey, flowing against my lips, hot and potent, making me crave her more with every kiss.
I locked my lips on hers a little tighter whenever she tried to speak. My whole body pinned her on the wall, locking her tight, making her listen damned good to my apology. All written in flesh.
I'm sorry, babe, I thought, accenting my lips on hers.
I'm sorry I ran this morning. I'm sorry club business dragged me away from your perfect ass. I'm sorry I'm gonna make up for it by fucking you 'til you can't remember your own name, much less what happened a few hours ago...
My cock strained against my zipper like a wild animal. He wanted her bad – no, needed her. Took all my will to stop before I ripped off her bottoms and pushed between her legs, fucking right here in a room that was supposed to stay sterile for some very serious shit.
Snarling, I broke my kiss. Emma fell, touched the ground with her feet, and sucked in precious oxygen.
“Tank...you can't leave me like that again. You didn't even call and you ignored my messages.” Darkness prickled at her eyes, fighting with bright desire.
“Real sorry about that, babe. It was my fault. Forgot all about what was coming last night, when all my attention was here...” I reached out, cupped one breast, and squeezed 'til I heard her breath going ragged.
“Never expected Blaze wanted to start so damned early. We had to suit up and go ASAP, dealing with another club.” I paused. “I'd say more, but it's –“
“Yeah, I know,” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “Club business. And I'm getting close to being one more old lady strung around on a ride going wherever you damned well please, right?”
“Old lady?” I slid one arm around her waist and jerked her tight, cradling her against my chest. “Is that what you want? You want me to claim you in front of this whole fucking club?”
All the hot desire and frustration on her face wilted. Now, she was all red, lips quivering like she'd just let me in on the biggest secret in the world.
“Don't you worry for a single second, babe. That's gonna fucking happen, and soon. You're off limits. You're mine. I don't give a shit how many times I fuck up or how much club business gets in the way. There's no stopping us.” I brushed my head against hers, leaning in, laying her little forehead against mine. “You understand me? Pretty soon every brother from here to Minnesota's gonna know you belong to Tank, and nobody else. You want a ride, babe? Then come the fuck on.”
