Reclaiming Reagan (Unsaintly Kings MC Book 2)

by A. Lynn

  “Crow? It might have been me who told him what we doing for Christmas,” Skylar says apologetically.

  “What do you mean ‘might have been’ you, Skylar?” I demand.

  “Don’t talk to her like that, Kane. She would never do something to compromise us or your parents. Not that any of us knew to steer clear of him,” Reagan snaps.

  “She’s right, I never would knowingly bring harm to those I love. Dec just called me on Monday wanting to get together for Christmas but I told him we were doing Christmas morning with Jordan and that we would have to get together in the evening. I didn’t tell him it was going to be here though, I swear.”

  “I know you wouldn’t Sky, I’m sorry I implied that you would,” I say and draw her into my side for a hug.

  “Uh, would you be willing to put another person on Sasha’s tonight?”

  “Yeah, I’ll call Dub.”

  “Thanks, my love.”

  “Thanks is not needed,” I say and drop a chaste kiss on her lips.

  Chapter 14

  Gunner

  Three months later…

  I am sitting in the office with a stack of possible sightings and tips that have come into the Sheriff’s Department since the day Harley and Ellery were taken—and there are a fuck ton. We have been working in secret with Roen to look into each and every one, but Roen handles the eyewitness reports. But nine times out of ten, it will be someone who may look like Harley or Ellery in passing, but isn’t. Roen needs us for the instances where toeing the moral line is needed.

  For our part, we let Einstein off his leash to hack any and every database to his nerdy, little heart’s content, but even that has been limited. The most promising leads have been a couple of CCTV videos at a gas station in Tuscon and then on a red light camera that one of their dumb-asses failed to stop at.

  But that was more than a month ago and now I’m almost at my breaking point; we need to bring Harley home. She has a family that needs her, not to mention the turmoil that her disappearance and the death of their father has let loose in Axle. Her mother won’t even come to the club anymore, it hurts but we understand. We need her.

  I need her.

  My thoughts are interrupted when there is a knock on the office door. “You got a second, Prez?” Moose calls through the door.

  “Yeah, come in,” I call back as I close the folder and put it back in my drawer.

  “Any new leads today?” Moose inquires as he comes in and takes a seat in one of the chairs in front of my desk.

  “No.”

  “We’ll find her.”

  I just nod and change the subject. “What’s up, Moose?”

  He expels a heavy breath. “Cash has been blowing me up about this sit-down. What do I tell him?”

  “Is he still keeping his mouth shut on what he wants?”

  “Unfortunately, I have asked a few times but he isn’t saying shit. If he told me anything, I would let you know.”

  “I’ll call him.”

  “Thanks, Gunner,” he says as he gets to his feet and heads to the door.

  “Moose?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I know you would let me know if he told you. You proved where your loyalties lie a long-ass time ago. You know it, I know it, and every brother knows it. You don’t need to keep stating irrelevant shit; it wastes both of our time.”

  “I know, Gun. I just don’t want anyone to have a question about it just because Dec and Cash defected. I have wanted to be a King as long as I have known what a King was; I thought it was the same for Cash and Dec, but I was wrong. We were as close as we were because this MC brought us together. I didn’t realize that their loyalty lied with Dec and Dec alone.”

  “You made the right choice, brother, don’t doubt that.”

  “I don’t doubt the choice I made because there was no other option.”

  “Exactly. And that is why I can tell you that no one questions your loyalty.”

  “Thanks, Gun,” he says and walks out, pulling the door closed behind him.

  I have to say that I am intrigued to know what Cash wants with the Kings and why he doesn’t see his wanting to sit-down with us as walking into a den of vipers. Maybe blowing Dec doesn’t have the perks that Cash thought there would be.

  Stupid fucks.

  I grab my burner, pull up Cash’s contact—I need to delete that shit out of my phone—and push the call button. He picks up on the first ring.

  “Gunner?”

  “Cash.”

  “I’m so glad that you called, man, I need—”

  “Skip the pleasantries, Cash, we are not friends.”

  “Right. My fault.”

  “Yes, it was. Now, what is so damn important that you have been hounding Moose?”

  “I haven’t been hounding him,” he replies indignantly. “I have been wanting to have a meeting with all the brothers.”

  “Why do you think that we would agree to a sit down with an outsider?”

  “I need for you to trust me, Gunner. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m asking anyway.”

  Can I trust him? Fuck no, I can’t, but I need to try everything to get Harley back, which is why the next words out of my mouth stun the both of us.

  “Be at the club at three. And if you fuck us this time, I’ll give you a third eye.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “You fucking better,” I snap and end the call before sending a group text to the brothers.

  Me: Church at 2.

  ******

  “Was there really a need to call Church, Gunner?” Tex asks. “I mean, it is Thursday.”

  I arch a brow and give him the finger. “Just wanted to make sure all you ladies were here. And seeing as you’re the last one, why don’t you shut the damn door and the hole in your face so we can begin?”

  “Damn, Gun, you’re touchy today. Is it that time of the month already? You need me to send Killy out for some ice packs for your nipples? I hear they are sensitive around this time.”

  “Killy’s with Jordan today,” Crow offers up with a chuckle.

  “No worries, I can send Motherfucker,” Tex shrugs.

  I can feel my patience slipping away more and more with every word that comes out of Tex’s mouth. I know there is no disrespect intended but I don’t have time for this right now. “Alright, that’s enough, guys,” I say pounding the gavel on the table, calling the meeting to order. “Does anyone have something to bring to the table before we get started?”

  “I do,” Crow states.

  “If you say something about my nipples, I’m going to fuck you up,” I warn.

  “Your nipples are safe, don’t worry,” he chuckles. “It isn’t a secret that I have claimed Reagan, but I wanted to let everyone know that I am going to be giving her the leather once I get back from the run this weekend.”

  “Did you have it made already?” Colt asks with a wide smile crossing his face.

  “About a month ago. She already wears my ring and carries my baby, her property tattoo will come after the baby is born.”

  I pound my fist on the table and it is quickly followed around the room. I’m getting to my feet when I see Colt round the table and pulling his son into a hug. I halt my steps to give them the moment it looks like that they need during this time of strife. Only when they pull back from each other do I continue toward them.

  I extend my hand to Crow and pull him into a man-hug back-slapping thing—not at all like the embrace father and son just shared—that men do. “Damn proud of you, Crow. I couldn’t have picked a better woman for you. She’s bat-shit crazy, but a welcome addition, nonetheless. Little man, too. He will make a fine addition to the ranks one day.”

  “Just keep him the hell away from Waverly and we will be good,” Shadow slaps him on the back.

  “I’ll try, but he has already claimed her. He’s even started calling her ‘my Wavey’,” Crow says with a laugh, making Shadow glare.

  After a few minutes of congrat
ulations for Crow and Reagan, I call the meeting back to order. “Alright, guys, let’s get back to the meeting. Since Crow brought up the run this weekend, I want to add a few more members to the run. I know we ran with skeleton crews the last few runs but I want to make sure whoever is going is covered. We have lost too many brothers because of the fucking Rippers.”

  “How many more brothers do you want me to add?” Crow inquires.

  “Just fill the holes that were left and we will reevaluate and make changes after if need be. Think about it and get back to me.”

  “Put Moose and Shadow with me and Rhys, and put Juice and Bane with Mase and Smooth,” Crow suggests.

  I make eye contact with Moose for a second. “You guys good with that?”

  “I’m good,” Moose says.

  “Me, too,” comes from Bane.

  “Works for me,” Shadow replies.

  “Yup,” Juice nods.

  “Sounds good. We will revisit when you guys are back. Is there anything else?” Crickets. “Okay, it seems that Cash has been hounding Moose to get a meeting with us.”

  “What the fuck for?” Tex demands.

  “He’s got a lot of fucking nerve,” Shadow hisses.

  “I know, guys, I don’t like this any more than you do but since we have discovered the link between Dec and the Rippers, we have been flapping in the wind on hope and a fucking prayer that we get some hard evidence to locate Harley. We need to shoot every shot we can right now.”

  “I think he’s right,” Colt speaks up, shocking the shit out of me. “I loathe the thought of seeing Cash—or Dec, for that matter—but we need to bring the girls home.”

  Looking around the table I see more nods of agreement than not. Makes me feel a little better about making this decision without putting it to a vote first.

  “What if this is a setup?” Rhys asks.

  “There is no way of knowing. He lost my trust a long time ago, but I think we need to go for it,” Axle reasons.

  “What if he is with the Rippers, too?” Mase asks.

  “Then he’s done,” Moose threatens. “I will not let that coward make a fool out of me twice in this lifetime.”

  “We all in agreement?” ‘Ayes’ fill the air. “Good, because he should be here anytime.”

  “You agreed to this without bringing it to the table?” Axle accuses.

  “I did.”

  “That’s not how we do things, Gunner.”

  “What would you have had me do, Axle? You want me to let a lead fall to the wayside?”

  “No.”

  “Then let it the fuck go. I’m not arguing with your ass over a call you would have made if it was brought to you.” A hush falls over the room as Axle and I glare at each other, neither of us backing down or giving concessions to the other. A knock at the door has me breaking away, but not before I growl, “This shit ain’t over.”

  “You got that right.”

  “Yeah,” I call out and watch the door open to expose Motherfucker—who is not smiling, for probably the first time in his fucking life.

  “Hey, Prez, Lucky called in from the gate to tell you that Cash is here. You want me to get rid of him?”

  “That’s okay. Rhys, go with Motherfucker and escort Cash in. I want a brother’s eyes on him at all times.” He just nods and leaves the chapel.

  “I’m not your fucking brother!” Rhys booms seconds before he enters with Cash following close behind.

  “Sorry,” Cash acquiesces before moving to sit in his old chair at the table.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Rhys demands halting him from planting his ass in a King’s chair. “You don’t have a seat at this table.”

  “Did you search him, Rhys?” I ask.

  “Yeah.”

  I nod. “Give your phone to Einstein.” Once he has it connected to his laptop, I spread my arms wide and say, “We are all here.”

  “Let me start by saying it’s good to see all of you,” Cash says.

  “Did you know?” Crow asks him in a deathly quiet voice.

  “What?”

  “Did you know that Dec was there when my pregnant woman was beaten and violently raped? That he stood by and recorded her being brutalized?”

  “I didn’t, Crow. Not until about a month or so ago, when I got home.”

  Crow starts to say something else but I beat him to it. “Why don’t you start from there. Tell us what you two have been up to.”

  “I was conflicted about following Dec out of here that day and needed some time away to think. It wasn’t a hard decision to make seeing how Dec disappeared when we left that day. So I packed some clothes and went to visit my sister.”

  “Great, you had a vacation while Stamped was shot up and our brothers were dying,” Axle snapped. “Tell me something useful!”

  “When I heard about your dad and Harley, I called Dec to see if he wanted to come here with me and pay our respects, but he just laughed and hung up. A couple of hours later he was walking through the door and wearing a Rippers’ cut. Ace told him to bring me into the fold or kill me because I was a liability.”

  “How were you a liability if you didn't know what was going on?” I ask suspiciously.

  “I don’t know. Dec told him I walked out with him and maybe he thought that I knew something I didn’t, I honestly have no clue. But I agreed to come into the fold so I could hopefully get access to Harley.”

  “And did you?” I demand.

  “No, she was long gone before I was there.”

  “Where is ‘there’?” Colt asks. “The clubhouse in Growler?”

  “No, Dec took me to a loft in Chandler to meet with Kid and a few of the other members.” “Not Ace?”

  “No, and the only reason Kid was there was to give me my cut,” he frowns like the words taste bad on his tongue.

  “I find it hilarious that the two of you walked out so Dec wouldn’t have to be a prospect again here—only for the both of you to be prospects there,” Rhys says stoically, belying the emotion he just claimed.

  “We aren’t prospects.”

  “What? You walked into a full rocker?” I spit in disbelief. “I’m calling bullshit on that.”

  “They don’t operate like a traditional MC, Gunner, they are more akin to a gang. They demand proof of loyalty through acts committed, not grunt work.”

  “Well, we all know what Dec did… what did you do?” Shadow inquires and I see shame cross his face.

  “His phone is clean,” Einstein interjects and I nod.

  “Do you know what Dec has done though?”

  “It is widely known in this room, I can assure you,” Crow snaps and starts ticking off Dec’s offenses on his fingers. “We know about the abductions from Fallen that he was involved in; we know that he blew up their clubhouse in Growler—killing Unit and Rock; we know that he shot up Stamped—clipping Kimberly in the shoulder; and we sure as fuck know that he was a party to the havoc that was wreaked on Reagan.” He’s yelling now. “Unless you know something that we don’t, answer Shadow’s fucking question!”

  “With help from Chains, he took Harley and Ellery. You know Chains, Crow.”

  “Are they who beat the shit out of her?” Axle demands.

  “I don’t know anybody named Chains. What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “I don’t know anything about that, Axle, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I don’t know who Dec is anymore.” He grabs at the back of his neck and turns his attention to Crow and Tex. “He was pushing up on Reagan at Fallen one night when they were on the prowl. He’s the guy that you fucked up.”

  “The night that she was out with Lynna?” Tex asks Crow for clarification but Cash speaks first.

  “Yes. Lynna and Reagan were the targets that night,” Cash answers.

  “I’m going to fucking kill him,” Tex growls.

  “Get in fucking line, Brother,” Axle and I say in unison.

  “The line starts behind me,” Crow asserts.
/>   “You going to make me repeat myself,” Shadow demands, no question in sight.

  “I did what I had to do to get in,” he defends himself.

  “And that was…” I lead.

  “I’ve put David Medley to the ground to get my cut; then I had to take out a low-level drug runner for skimming off the top, and I assisted Chains and Nickel in burning down a rival’s house for selling in their territory.” His shoulders sag after his confessions, it’s almost enough to make me feel sorry for him. Almost. But my mom has always told me that almost doesn’t count.

  “Who is David Medley?” Tex asks.

  “He was a DEA agent. The Rippers took his sixteen-year-old sisters, Tori and Teri, from the mall. He was getting too close to the operation.”

  “You’re no better than they are! How are you going to come in here and be all self-righteous when you have been killing people? You arrogant prick!” Colt slams his fist on the table. “You should be ashamed of yourself!”

  “I am!” He yells back before dropping his head. “Do you think I wanted to do that shit? I was doing it to get closer to Harley. And I would do it again. I hate that I had to do that shit, but contrary to what you all may think, I love you guys and I don’t want bad things for any one of you.”

  Silence rings out in the room. I never really understood that expression—because I grew up around loud ass bikers—but I can feel its pressure on my eardrums right now.

  Moose is the one to break the silence this time. “I can’t speak for everyone here, but I love you, Cash. That was never the issue here. Where you fucked up was when you decided to take a ride on Dec’s coattails. Your loyalty should have been to the Kings as a whole, not one individual; especially when that individual turned out to be a fucking psycho.”

  “Do you know where they are keeping Harley and Ellery?”

  “They were being held at a loft in Chandler, but that is just a stepping stone. They were at a safe house in Tuscon, but they weren’t there when I went down there with Dec and Chains a couple of weeks ago. Chains said something about a safe house in Clifton.”