by Franca Storm
He thinks for a moment. “Wait. That biker princess bitch? Roxana? Yeah, last I heard you were fucking ‘round with her.”
I take an aggressive step towards him. “Hey! Don’t fucking call her shit like that!”
“Dealer’s daughter? You messing with me? Wanna risk our lives for a hot piece of ass and some tight pussy?”
It takes everything I got not to punch him out. “She’s my fiancé and she’s pregnant with my kid, so watch your fucking mouth.”
“Kid?” he asks, caught off guard.
“Yeah.”
“Boy?” he asks, hopefully.
Oh, right, so the boy can carry on the family line—get caught up in club life like the rest of the men in my fucking family. But not the kinda club life we got now at Thorns. Nah, Sin will be wanting the Mavs’ kinda club life. Be wanting to resurrect the Devil’s Mavericks, or some screwed up shit like that.
“Dunno,” I tell him. “Too early.”
He nods. “All right. Listen, Ax. I’m up for this. But we walk into this shit storm and I gotta know you got my back.”
His eyes bore into mine, getting ready to scrutinize me for any sign of a lie.
“I got your back,” I tell him, meeting his harsh glare.
“Yeah?” he presses.
“How many more times you want me to say it?”
“Just ‘til I believe it.”
I scoff and fire up another smoke. “Look, you’re either in or you’re out. I can do this alone. Just thought you’d want a shot at Kent. No two people on this earth hate that fucker as much as you and me.”
“You gonna let me take the kill shot then?”
“Yeah. I’m gonna be busy pulling my girl out.”
“All right. Where’s he at?”
Now comes the dangerous part. “The warehouse,” I say, before taking a harsh drag of my smoke.
Realization flashes in his eyes. “So that’s why you wanted me in on this. You’re worried you ain’t gonna be able to see straight setting foot in that place again.”
“Sin—”
“Ax, I gotta know where your head’s at before we walk into all this.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Dunno ‘til we get there. Can’t honestly say. Could be an issue. Could not.”
“But you ain’t over it? The shit he—”
I hold up my hand and snap, “Let’s not fucking rehash it. That ain’t gonna help, is it?”
“Better to freak the fuck out before we get there.”
I smash my boot into the side of my truck. “Jesus fuck! Let’s just fucking do this, Sin! We don’t got time to rehash shit, take trips down memory fucking lane or do some messed up version of therapy here! You’re either in or you’re out. Just tell me right the hell now!”
“Hell, kid. You’re even more impatient than I remember.”
“Getting old.”
He hacks out a laugh. “Talk to me ‘bout getting old in twenty years from now.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” Like fuck, I will. Never gonna see him again after tonight.
And that’s guaranteed.
Chapter 29
~Roxana~
Smiter pats me lightly on the back as we walk back into the clubhouse after being out at the doctor’s appointment Neil had him arrange behind my back.
“Great news. Yeah, Rox?”
“Yeah,” I murmur.
He walks in front of me. “What’s wrong? The doc said the baby’s real healthy and everything’s perfect, sweetheart.”
“Nothing,” I say, brushing a stray hair out of my face. “I just…this time around, I wanted Neil to be there with me. We never got to have our first appointment last time and I just always thought…never mind, I’m just being stupid.”
He shakes his head and gently grasps my shoulders as he leans down so he’s at my eye level. “Rox, he’s gonna be there for all the rest.”
“Yeah,” I say, faking a smile.
He starts talking about the huge news that’s spread like wildfire around here, ever since Runner noticed the ring on my finger shortly after Neil left last night, and started blabbing. Neil finally getting married. I’ve learned that it is not something to talk about with a bunch of guys. The things I’ve been hearing are not the things I ever want to hear, or know about. Some things are better left not knowing, such as the apparent fact that all the club whores are going to be devastated when he gets married. Lovely. All the club whores. My God. How many are there exactly? No, no. I don’t ever want to know. I just need to avoid any situations where I might hear about it.
It’s not helping right now while he’s not here with me.
And Smiter’s reassurances about Neil being there for all our future appointments are just falling on deaf ears, because I now know the truth about what Neil’s up to. I know he’s putting himself in danger. The only thing that is slightly reassuring about the whole thing is that Sin is with him. At least he has some back up. And I think Neil is intending to use him as a human shield for want of a better phrase. It’s exactly what I would do if I were in his position, or if I were in a similar situation and still running in the circles that I had been back in Brockford.
But he won’t be out there with just that psycho, Sin, as back up for long. I’m going to make damn sure of that. I glance at the clock on the lounge wall.
Only a few minutes left.
“I’m going to go up to Neil’s room,” I tell Smiter. “I need a nap.”
“Sure, sweetheart. We got church in a few anyways. I’ll come by when we’re done to check on you.”
I know, no matter what I say, he’ll insist on coming by anyway. Neil has clearly asked him to watch over me like a damn hawk while he’s away.
I smile inwardly. Neil knows me very well.
As I make my way out of the lounge, towards the corridor at the back, I’m very aware of Runner walking in. He smiles casually at me, but the chin lift he gives me is anything but casual. It’s him saying he’s got my back. He’s going to help me to do what we’ve planned.
It’s such a huge turnaround to the way we first were around one another when Neil and I had just started dating, or whatever the hell it was that we were really doing back then. Runner hated me and I hated his attitude towards me.
But everything is different now.
We both want the same thing: Neil remaining alive and well.
Normally, Smiter would be my go-to guy for anything, but I can’t bring him in on this, because he already has his orders from Neil to keep me here. I can’t put him in a bad position like that.
My biggest problem is going to be getting a bunch of sexist men used to casting women aside to actually listen to me.
And that’s where Runner comes in. He’s a respected member of the club and he’s known Neil longer than anyone here. That will count for a lot.
I head up to Neil’s room. I need my laptop for this.
***
I press my ear to the door. The meeting sounds like it’s in full swing. Good.
Drawing in a deep, calming breath, I push it open and walk on in, making sure to act like I belong, even though I don’t. I’m not a member. But I can’t show any weakness. These men won’t respect that.
“Rox?” Grit says, eyeing me in surprise.
“You need something, sweet girl?” Mullet asks kindly.
I walk over to Grit and place my open laptop down on the space beside him—Neil’s spot, I think.
All the boys gasp.
“Just relax. Give her a second,” Runner says, getting to his feet.
I wink at him and he smiles back at me.
I turn the laptop around so everyone down the long table can see it. “This is Malcolm Kent’s compound. You guys know it as The Warehouse, I believe. I can tell you all the weak points in security. I can tell you how to get in and out without encountering any security issues, without Kent even knowing you’re there. I can have you move in and out of there like ghosts.”
“Rox, why are you�
��?” Grit starts.
I cut him off, telling them all, “Neil is planning to extract my dad with Sin.”
Gasps and muttered curses all around. As I’d expected.
“No fucking way. He’s alone. Said he can get in and out, cuz of his skills as a thief and shit,” Grit says.
“Nah, Grit. He’s using Sin,” Runner says, providing me the backup I need.
“He doesn’t want to risk what he loves—you guys and me. That’s why he kept it quiet. I don’t know about you, but I’m not prepared to lose him when we could easily save him. Help him. Back him up.”
“Jesus fuck,” Grit says, rubbing his face roughly.
“Grit. That fucking Sin is gonna stab Ax in the goddamn back. You know his record,” Mullet says.
I shake my head. “I think Neil’s using him. Killing two birds and all that. He’s leading Sin into a trap.”
“How you figure, Rox?” Smiter asks, leaning back in his chair and eyeing me intently. This is him backing me up by treating me like one of the guys.
“Why would Sin—Skinner’s brother—agree to help Neil save my dad? They hate each other. The only explanation is Neil lied to him. And if he lied, then he’s planning on offing him before he figures out the truth, once he’s used him for what he needs.”
“He could do it alone. Why’s he need that bastard with him?” one of the boys gripes.
“Cuz he’s got issues with that place,” Runner says, still on his feet. “Kent tortured him there. Brutal fucking shit. He ain’t forgotten that. Might be issues once he goes back there. Flashes. Might freeze up.”
“We been there before. We can do it the same as we did when we pulled Ax outta there a few years back, yeah?” Mullet offers.
“Security’s been updated since then. And there’s been construction on it as well.”
“How you know that, Rox?” Grit asks.
“Because, I have eyes everywhere, boys,” I say, flashing them a sly smile.
“I thought you buried all your leverage and shit when you sacrificed your business in Brockford to wipe the rest of that list?” Grit says.
I grin. “I do have friends who aren’t just my friends, because of something I’m holding over them.”
The boys laugh at that, including Grit.
I fold my arms across my chest and eye Grit, the one I really need to convince here, as he’s VP and in charge of the club in Neil’s absence.
“But I get to come along.”
“Rox, that weren’t part of our deal,” Runner cries.
“You made a deal with her?” Smiter barks at him.
“She was worried you guys would just ignore her, cuz she’s a chick.”
“So, you told her where Ax was really headed? ‘Bout her dad?” Smiter realizes. “Oh, shit, fucker. You’re gonna be in some deep shit when he gets back.”
Argh. “He won’t be coming back if we don’t step in here!” I yell. “Don’t you get it? He can’t get in and out of that place alone or just with one person backing him up. He won’t make it. It can’t be done. It just can’t.”
“Can’t override Prez’s orders, sweet girl,” Mullet tells me. “Rules of the club.”
“What if one of the orders contradicted the other?” I suggest.
Smiter chokes out a laugh. “Jesus, Rox. You’re something, ain’t you?”
“What? What is it?” Runner asks.
“Someone please get to the goddamn point now,” Grit orders. “This is the most fucked up meet we’ve ever fucking had.”
“Only other order, apart from staying here under lockdown, was to keep Rox safe,” Smiter says, getting exactly where I’m going with this.
Grit nods and then turns to me and shakes his head with disbelief. “You got some balls.”
“Does that mean—?”
“Yeah, it means you can pretend to pull a miraculous escape like last time. Right, this is how shit went down, as far as Ax is gonna know. You heard us talkin’ and went after him. We followed you down.” He glances around the table. “Not all of you. Me, Runner and Smiter. Mullet, you and the rest of the boys hold the fort while we’re gone.”
“Yeah, boss man,” Mullet agrees.
Everyone else nods, immediately agreeing to Grit’s barked orders.
Well, that was easier than I thought.
As Grit dismisses everyone and ends the meeting, I raise my eyebrows at him, surprised he gave in so easily.
He smirks at me. “Been looking for an excuse to head down after him. Thanks for giving me one.”
He pats me on the shoulder and says, “Better take Ax’s bike. You ride any other and there’ll be hell to pay if he finds out.”
Oh shit. I didn’t know that was a rule.
“We’re riding in ten.”
I nod. “I’m going to need a weapon. A Glock, if you have.”
He grins. “You got it. Heard what a good shot you are.”
I smile as he hurries out of the room to get ready to ride.
I follow him out, only to bump into Runner and Smiter. They both ruffle my hair in turn.
“Hey!” I cry, batting them both away. “Stop that, assholes!”
“You’re something else, sweetheart,” Smiter says.
“Yeah, good job in there. But, for fuck’s sakes, don’t try to pull that shit again or Ax will freak the fuck out,” Runner says.
I laugh as they both lead me down the corridor towards the garage.
Chapter 30
~Ax~
I flatten my back against the concrete wall of the dimly lit hallway. Dimly lit? That’s a fucking understatement. It’s almost pitch black, except for one creepy looking light bulb giving me and Sin some goddamn visibility. Thing looks like it’s ‘bout ready to give the fuck in and die anytime now, though.
Jesus fuck. I’m sweating like a bitch in heat.
And it ain’t from the workout of running through the damn place and dodging security like ghosts for the last half hour. Nah, I’m in the best shape of my life.
It’s just…this place.
That door.
Just ‘round the corner to my right.
Place I remember as hell on earth.
Place he tried to screw me up permanently.
Place he tortured me, almost to death.
But almost is everything in that kinda situation. Means he failed. Means I was stronger.
“Ax!” Sin hisses at me.
I jerk my head to my left. He’s a few feet away, his back against the wall, too. We’re almost there. Almost to our target anyway.
Getting out’s gonna be a whole other story. I just know Dealer’s gonna be in a state. Kent wouldn’t have left him untouched. Any opportunity to inflict pain and get off on the power of it ain’t something a sick motherfucker like him is ever gonna pass up.
Means we’re gonna be carrying dead weight.
Well, I am.
This is the end of the line for Sin.
Poor fucker dunno it yet.
Didn’t wanna have to do it. Killing family members ain’t something I look forward to. Putting a bullet in my old man’s head was more than enough of that shit to last a lifetime. But I figured Sin woulda been buried by now with all the dangerous stuff he’s always mixed up in.
He ain’t, though.
So I gotta be the one to do it then.
Can’t risk it.
Can’t risk him being ‘round when my kid is born. Cuz I know the asshole. If it’s a boy, he’ll come. He’ll try to take him and mold him into another Skinner. Hell, Skinner’s career is the greatest accomplishment this family’s ever had, according to Sin. Fucked up bastard.
That messed up way of thinking is getting buried for good today.
“What?” I hiss back.
“You all right? You’re sweating.”
“Fine,” I snap.
“Good. Then…check it out, yeah?”
“Will. Calm the fuck down.”
My whole body tenses up as I force myself to peer ‘round t
he corner. Shit. As soon as I see that goddamn door, it happens. A flash:
“I will break you, biker trash!” Kent roars, driving the blade in deeper.
“Never…fucking…happening…” I choke out as he twists the damn thing.
“Tough talk. But that’s all your kind ever is,” he says, ripping the blade out and relishing my grunts of agony.
I watch him walk to the workbench and pick up the blowtorch.
“Ain’t…gonna…break…fucker….”
“We’re about to see the truth of that, Barron,” he says, firing up the torch.
Shit. I blink hard and come back to reality to find Sin tugging on my arm.
“Get back!” he whispers harshly, slamming me back ‘round the corner to the wall I was pressed up against before.
“Fuck,” I breathe, scrubbing my hands roughly over my face and tryin’ to get a grip.
“You gotta get it together now.”
I grab his arm and jerk him into me. “Tell the truth here. Skinner got me outta here back then?”
He looks shocked that I’m asking. “Well, Thorns pulled you out, but your old man tracked you down and gave ‘em the location to hit, yeah.”
“Cuz it looked bad on him, having his son getting screwed over by a suit like Kent, right?”
“Nah,” he says, shaking his head. “Weren’t ‘bout that.”
“Then what?”
“He knew Kent’s rep. Knew he was hurting you real bad.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re lying for him and he’s a corpse now, Sin. Give it up. If that were true, why he hire Broker as his VP after that fucker tortured me, too, over my club tat?”
“You dunno?”
“Know what?”
“Skinner did the same thing to him just cuz he found out Broker touched you.”
I jerk him into me. “Why didn’t you tell me this shit?”
Emotion flashes in his eyes, shocking me. “You been done with the family for a long while, Neil.”
“Ain’t had no choice. The man Skinner became...killed my mom. Killed my kid. Nearly killed my girl.”