“Shit, babe, you really think I could do any of the sick shit those animals have been doing?”
“No, but I also know you, if they threaten anyone you loved, you would cave. If they threaten the MC, your brothers, hell your sister, and Georgie, you would have given them anything they wanted. I needed to make sure that you knew none of it was your fault. That they couldn’t play on your guilt because hell, Tank, that wasn’t what happened.”
“I hear you, Rea, but I just can’t deal with any of that now. You being involved in this fucking mess, damn it, pisses me off. I want you safe, hell, I left you alone in high school because I didn’t want my shit to come back on you in any way. When you showed up at the clubhouse, it was like you were spitting in my face. Do you know how long it took me to get over you?”
“Well, considering I’m still not over you, I can only imagine. Listen I know finding this stuff out all at once has to be hard. Hell, my family is nothing but trash, and shit, they’re starting to look like do-gooders, but you need to work through all this and move on or there isn’t any hope for whatever we are starting here.”
“Babe.”
“No, wait, I don’t expect that to be anytime soon, either, it’s just…”
“I know what you mean, Rea. Now, I need you and Suzie to pack up. Brass and I need to be at the Clubhouse soon, and I don’t want either of you out here by yourselves.”
“Tank, it's really okay. With Suzie and I both here, we would know if anyone got within a mile of your property. Can you understand why I wouldn’t want to go back to the Clubhouse now?”
“Might understand it, Babe, but like you said it’s just something you’re going to have to get over and move on from, it’s happening whether you like it or not.” Tank hugged her, tweaking her nose to emphasize his response.
“You know, sometimes I really don’t like you.”
“Yeah, babe, I know you love me, but hey what’s there not to love.” Tank kissed her quick and then jumped away. Reagan went to smack him but Tank moved away too fast and said “Knew you were going to do that,” laughing, and for the first time in a long while, she just lived in the moment. Tank was happy and playful, and she was the reason; she would hold on to that forever. Reagan hoped that she would be able to make that happen many more times in the future.
When they got back to the Clubhouse, Reagan was surprised at how normal it all felt. She thought people would be looking at her differently, but nothing. Suzie was getting all the attention which Reagan could see was making Brass a little pissy.
“Come on, Babe, let’s get you and Suz settled,” Tank said. They all went upstairs, and when Reagan started to go into the room she had been staying in, he grabbed her arm, “No, babe, from now on you’ll be staying with me. In my room and in my bed.”
Reagan was so stunned all she could do is say okay. She knew they were working on some of their issues and hell, the chemistry between them had always been off the charts hot, but Tank didn’t let anyone in his room at the club. It had always been a mystery Reagan wanted to figure out. When he opened the door for her, she was kind of disappointed. It was just like all the others, a chest of drawer stood on one wall with a big tv on it, a huge bed dominated the middle, nightstands on either side with a couple of books on one. There weren’t any pictures or mementos like at his cabin. The room was actually kind of bare bones. Two doors were inside; Reagan knew from her own room that one went to a bathroom and the other was a closet. That was it.
“What were you expecting, a make shift sex den?” Tank laughed at her dismay.
“Well, no,” but that wasn’t all that far from the truth. His need to keep everyone out made her think he was hiding something, but hell, the place was bland. In one of her day dreams she imagined black satin sheets on a four-poster bed, but the regular navy cotton comforter kind of blew it for her. Tank pushed her down to sit on the boring bed.
Chapter 11
“You realize you are so going to get spanked,” Suzie said while they shimmied their way down the gate. “Hell, girl, if I would have known what you planned, I would have punished you my damn self. I don’t do the gym, Rae, I don’t run, I don’t jump, and I sure as hell don’t climb. This crap makes you sweat, and I don’t like to sweat unless I’m doing it under a hot ass man between the sheets.”
If Reagan hadn’t been breathing so hard, she would’ve been laughing because Suzie was right, neither one of them liked physical fitness. She was half afraid one of the guys would come out and catch them hanging from the fence, but they were almost home free. just a quick jog to the road, and they would be on their way.
“Hey, who did you call to pick us up?”
“Billy, I couldn’t think of anyone else.” Reagan groaned. Damn, Billy was nice enough, but he was also one of the biggest gossips in Defiance. Some people think women are bad, hell, Billy could put them all to shame. “You do realize we’re going to have to get him to drop us off somewhere else and come up with a pretty good story of why he’s picking us up in the middle of the day, on the road in front of the RBMC, right?”
“Already thought of that. I told him we decided to take up jogging, but couldn’t make it any further, and we needed a ride. Hell, once he gets a look at you, he’ll believe it. Dude, you really need to think about maybe lifting the remote once in a while. You're sweating like a pig.”
This time Reagan did laugh, unfortunately, it also caused her to get a pain in her side. Shit, maybe Suzie was right.
“Well, sister, you don’t look much better. Who was it that was just saying they only got sweaty between the sheets? Hate to break it to ya, honey, I’m not the only one sweating like a pig.”
When they finally made it to the road, mind you it couldn’t have been more than an eighth of a mile, both them were panting like, hell, Reagan didn’t even know what they were panting like. Bracing her hands on her knees, she bent down, trying to get more air into her lungs. Damn, this was the other reason she always stayed away from Tank, he was Mr. Fitness, and she was, well, a couch potato. Reagan thought her curves looked great and when her pants started to get a little tight, she went on a diet, but never anything drastic. How could they fit when everything about them screamed how different they were?
“Here comes Billy,” Suzie said, bumping her. Sure enough, Billy’s Neon Green Ford F-350 Super Duty was barreling their way. Shit, could they be any more obvious? Billy was a sweet old man, but he was a nut.
“Hey, there, girls, I have some candy in here, wanna take a ride?” He joked, complete with bobbing eyebrows and silly smirk. Reagan wasn’t in the mood, but Suzie busted laughing.
“Sure, you sexy beast, how about I jump up in your mean green machine and get a piece?” Ewww, it was so gross, but the two of them seemed to think it was the funniest thing ever.
“So where to?”
“Umm, can you take us to my apartment?”
“Sure thing. You know, you girls should join a gym or something, it’s not safe running around by yourself out in the middle of nowhere. What would you have done if I couldn’t have picked you up?”
“Oh, come on Billy we’re still in Defiance, and we all know that nothing happens here without the RBMC knowing. I think we were safe enough. Isn’t their Clubhouse around her somewhere?”
“Yeah, not too far, but that is just it, I’ve heard things about those boys and what they do at that clubhouse of theirs. It’s no place for nice girls like the two of you. Plus, what if they had rivals or something, they could’ve come along, seen two pretty girls hanging out on the side of the road, and taken you; it wouldn’t be the first time.”
“What do you mean? I’ve never heard of anyone being taken in Defiance.”
“Oh, hon, that happened a long time ago, you two were probably just kids, but two girls were snatched not too far from here. Rumor had it that the RBMC was responsible. I didn’t believe that shit. Slade was in charge, good man. Now that Tuck, he seems all nice and friendly, does a lot of good for the commun
ity, too, but he’s just too pretty. Guys shouldn’t be pretty. You know what I mean?”
Reagan and Suzie started laughing, anyone thinking of Tuck as pretty was hilarious. Shit, the man was gorgeous, just like all the guys of the RBMC, but he was hardly pretty, manly maybe, handsome definitely, pretty, hell no.
“We’ll keep that in mind Billy, thanks for looking out of us,” Reagan said. “Hey, Billy do you happen to remember the names of the girls who were snatched?”
Hell, Reagan thought, at least one of them was thinking, she hadn’t even thought of asking.
“One girl was Megan Hertzog, but I can’t remember the other one, I think it was Jenny something, but I can’t be sure it’s been a long time. Why?”
“No reason, just thought I would look them up on the web and see if they were ever found.”
“Not a bad plan, but the Herzog’s are still in town, out on that farm off 22, and I’m pretty sure if their girl had been found, I would’ve heard about it by now.”
“Yeah, maybe you're right.”
Billy let them off in front of Reagan’s building, so they both acted like they were going inside and as soon as he pulled away, they exited out the back.
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to the Storage facility, and I want you to hang out by the convenience store. If you see anyone coming in, call me. I will keep my phone on vibrate. I have a unit in here, so if you call I will go there and lock myself in. Are you good with that?”
“No, but I guess I’m going to have to be. Shit, Rea, just be quick about it, in and out. I checked up on your brother’s whereabouts before we left the Clubhouse, but it’s been almost an hour now, so there’s no telling where he could be.”
“I will, I promise, in and out, and if Tank, Brass or anyone from the MC, even Addy, try to get a hold of you, ignore it, Suz. They’ll want to shut this down, and we’re so close.”
“Shit, I still think you should’ve just waited and had Tank bring you here. It doesn’t matter what he finds, it’s all going to come to light sooner or later. Hell, you gave Tuck copies. Do you really think he’s going to keep this from him?”
“No, but hell, maybe you’re right, but we're here now, and I didn't climb that fence for nothing. Let’s just finish this, and I promise to sit on my butt like a good girl for the rest of my life.”
“Well, honey, I think you might need to revise those plans because once Tank gets ahold of you, sitting is that last thing your butt will want to be doing.”
“I’m willing to risk it, might be fun actually.”
“Whatever. Get going, I’ll be the look out. Shit, we should’ve changed our clothes. Aren’t we supposed to be wearing all black or something?”
“It’s broad daylight, Suz, I don’t think our clothes matter.”
“Okay, go.”
Reagan did what she always did, unscrewed the lock plate, and pushed her metal bookmark through the slit. The door opened, just like every other time. Once inside, she shut the door and went straight for the chest. Pulling out all the blankets and a couple of albums. Reagan quickly looked through the albums, but it was all normal stuff, family stuff. It made her sick, this man didn’t deserve either of the families he had.
Then she was at a loss. There wasn’t a false bottom like Suzie thought. She knocked and pried, even banged on it a bit, but nothing. Suzie’s theory still made sense, the lower portion of the chest was still a good six inches off the grounds, and the chest didn’t have any legs.
Reagan’s phone vibrated, and she almost jumped right out of her skin. Hell, she was jumpier now than she had been all the other times combined, maybe because of Bobby catching her the last time. Looking at the screen, Reagan winced. Shit, it was Tank, he knew she was gone. Hell, this wouldn’t be good. Reagan ignored the call, and her phone immediately went off again. Shit. She let the next two calls go and slammed the chest shut, sitting on top of it.
Shit, Reagan picked her foot up and swung it down hitting the damn chest with all she had and, low and behold, a drawer popped open. Hell, she hadn’t even seen a space that would show a separation between the bottom of the chest and the rest of the trunk. This thing was pretty cool. Deciding to make quick work of it, Reagan started shoving everything in the hidden drawer into her messenger bag. She didn’t have the time to risk downloading everything right now.
Her phone was still going crazy in her pants pocket, but she ignored it, believing it was Tank. Who else would call her every two minutes? Damn, maybe Suzie was right; spankings might be fun while playing, but she doubted the one she was earning right now would be anything but fun. Argh.
Once she had everything, Reagan put the albums and blankets back into the chest and closed it up tight. She left, going through the same routine, hopefully, for the last time. Looking around, she felt rather certain no one was going to come up on her, this time. Thinking it would be better to hide what she found, she walked down to her own storage locker and put the messenger bag and all its contents inside her fire proof cabinet and locked it in tight. She and Tank, or hell, even just Tank could come back for it later. Reagan was done playing cat burglar for a while.
Reagan walked out of the facility and waved at Suzi. She was standing in front of the store just like they agreed on, phone in hand. But once she focused in on her best friend, she noticed something else and started to run. Bobby was right behind her raising something in his hand. Reagan never saw the car until it was too late; she felt the impact on her body as she flew through the air and landed on the hard pavement. Hell, someone had run her over; her head hurt, and her body ached, but she was alive. Now all she could think was who the hell hit her with a car?
When she went to get up off the ground, a man approached her. Reagan’s vision was fuzzy. She thought he was coming to help, but he placed something on her neck, she felt a pinch, and then she felt nothing. Before she blacked out she heard Bobby talking telling the man or whoever it was to get her in the car and leave. What?
Chapter 12
Tank wasn’t liking how long Church was taking today. Typically, it wouldn’t have bothered him, but Reagan was in his room, and he wanted to be with her, hell, he wanted to finish what they started. He and Brass had already given their reports on what Suzie and Reagan found when Tank noticed Talon looking at his phone. There was one hard and fast rule in Church, everybody left their phones outside; it pissed Tuck off to be interrupted. The only exceptions were Talon and Jinx; those two handled all the computer shit and security for the Clubhouse.
If they had men out on missions, then both men needed to be available to them. They also needed to be informed immediately if something was going on with the Club’s state-of-the-art security system. With the shit that had just gone down with the Vultures, everyone was on high alert.
“Tank, tell me again how Suzie got involved in all this and why you brought her to the Clubhouse?”
“I can answer that,” Talon piped up. “Suz is an expert hacker with degrees in both criminal justice and computer science. She is also one of Peyton’s friends, the two of them have worked more than one case together. Suz also has her PI license, so including her in on this was probably a good choice on Reagan’s part.”
“Hell, why am I just finding out about this shit now? I mean asshole why the hell does she work at the Diner as a fucking waitress if she has all that shit going for her?”
“Oh, that’s even easier. Suzie is nosy, she likes to know everything that’s going on in Defiance and the Diner is the best place to get all the gossip. She is also a wanna be baker. Yeah, it doesn’t fit, but Suz is, let’s just say, different, always has been.”
“Hell, I’m starting to think you assholes keep this shit from me on purpose, so you can pull it out in the exact wrong moment to surprise my ass. Clue in, I don’t like surprises. Next thing you’re going to tell me is Mrs. Fletcher works for the CIA.”
“No,” Link answered that one, “but her husband was once approached for recruitment.�
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“Fuck, this shit just keeps on getting better and better.”
Talon was still looking at his phone, and from the scowl, on his face, something was not going right. That was confirmed a second later.
“Tuck, permission to leave Church.”
“Anything I needed to know about?”
“I’m not sure, yet, just need to check something out, Jinx, I’m going to need you on this.”
Damn, it that wasn’t good, Tank thought. Talon was self-sufficient; if he needed Jinx, then something bad was going down.
“Go, I will expect a full report as soon as you figure out what’s going on.”
“Understood.”
The two men left, and Tuck continued the meeting.
“The way I see it, we need to bring in the feds and hand over the information Reagan found and not our new resident contact. I put in a call for Murphy. Once he calls me back, I’ll make arrangements. Tank, this shit affects you more than the rest of us. Are you going to have a problem watching your Dad go down?”
“No, he can rot in hell for all I care. Hell, I might even stake myself out in front of his house, just so I can watch the show. I called my mom and sister this morning and set them up with a weeklong spa trip. If you think this is going to take longer, let me know because I don’t want either of them around to witness this, okay?”
“Deal. I’m thinking a couple of days at most. We’re looking at trying to rope Worthington’s ass in as well, but we can leave that up to the feds. I want to wash our hands of all this nasty shit.”
“Agreed, but Reagan thinks something else is going to go down and soon. She heard the three of them talking about keeping us busy. We need to figure out what they had planned and why they would need us diverted. If it all ties into the Vultures and the caves on the Sinclair farm, we might get some backlash.”
Tank: Ruthless Bastards (RBMC Book 2) Page 8
