by Skye McNeil
“I’ve been VP for fifteen years. Reaper won’t choose me as successor. I’m too old and there’s too much new blood. The Twelve Brothers offered me my own chapter. It’s a win-win.”
“They’ll probably kill you the instant they get what they want.”
He narrowed his dark eyes. “You can’t talk me out of this, Isadora, so don’t try.”
“I don’t give a toss about talking you out of anything. I just want out of here.” Her head pounded, and she reached up and felt her own sticky blood in her hair. She couldn’t force her way out, and she didn’t know him well enough to try another tactic.
“Where are Niall and Orla?” she asked, recalling her friends and their similar abduction.
“In Ireland with the Twelve Brothers, where they’ll stay until this is resolved.”
His phone rang, and he pulled it out of the back pocket of his jeans. They were covered in mud, immediately making her wonder if he had anything to do with the accident Doc left to assist with.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“You passed out last night,” Shovelhead replied, not looking up. “It’s almost noon.”
Isa racked her brain, trying to remember anything after being taken from the kitchen. It was all a hazy blob of black. If she knew how long they’d traveled, she could guess where they were keeping her hostage. Given the cement box, she assumed the outskirts of Snowshoe.
“Have they contacted the club yet?”
“No.”
Her mind went to Doc. He’d been assigned to protect her. And he left thinking I was safe. She resisted the urge to curl into a ball and cry. No doubt he’d beat himself up for the night before. She could get through this. Somehow. But none of her university studies would help. Using her wits was the only way out of this mess.
“When, then?”
“Don’t know, don’t care.”
Stomping over to him, she smacked his phone out of his hand. The older man cast deadly eyes on her. “Find out how long I’ll be in this shithole with no food, water, or loo.” She kept her gaze stoic. “Now.”
Shovelhead dropped their connection and retrieved his phone. “You’ve definitely earned the name of Macha princess, haven’t you?”
“Damn straight. Now move your arse.”
He paused, body language showing his uncertainty.
“Just because Phantom isn’t here to whoop you doesn’t mean I can’t.” She kept her eyes locked on his and hoped to God he believed her farce. Dolly taught her a thing or two, but nothing that would overpower a hardened biker.
Chuckling darkly, Shovelhead opened the door. “You’ve come a long way since you arrived. Phantom would be proud of you. The Twelve Brothers, not so much.” He lowered his voice. “Keep your smart mouth shut or they just might pass you around their MC, sweetheart. Your precious Doc won’t want you after that.”
Panic flooded Isa’s veins, but she didn’t waver. Showing her fear wouldn’t help. The Twelve Brothers were probably watching her at that very moment. “Hurry the hell up. It smells horrid in here.”
Macha’s Judas left, slamming the door shut on his way out. Isa slowly walked around the cube and searched for a hidden camera. After she came up empty, she flopped on the bed and muted her sobs in the pillow. She’d never relied on a man before coming to Colorado. Her mum made sure of it. Now, she understood why.
She couldn’t blame Doc. He’d done nothing wrong in her eyes.
But if she knew Doc—and she did—he’d tear down every door necessary to find her and protect her. And she’d figure out a way to help him. Somehow.
36
Doc
Doc did his damnedest to listen to Rubble speak to the room full of bikers. So far, it was a lost cause. The Twelve Brothers hadn’t made contact yet. His nerves were shot despite members coming out of retirement to aid the MC during this time of need. Reaper seemed to appreciate the extra bodies, but Doc wasn’t sure the aged-out men and women would be any help.
Ten minutes after the meeting began, a new man came into the room. Rubble seemed glad to see him, as did the rest of the members. Doc didn’t recognize the tall man with military tattoos peeking out from his shirt, but the name Kevlar on his leather cut rang a bell.
Rubble and Brewer sang the man’s praises. Evidently the rumor was right, and Kevlar was back from deployment. From what he’d heard, the tall man was special ops.
Good, maybe he can do something.
“Prez, there’s a call for you,” one of the prospects said, coming into the room.
Reaper’s bushy eyebrows rose. He snatched the phone from the prospect and put it on speaker for all to hear. “Speak.”
“You know, I always find it funny when MCs have some dumb schmuck answer their phones,” the accented voice on the other end started. Every Macha member balled their hands into fists, hatred simmering below the quiet surface.
Macha’s president leaned his fists on the table. “Viper, is that you?”
“Aye, old man.”
“You took something of ours.”
“Is this wee lass yours? I don’t see a Macha patch on her clothes.” Viper chuckled. “It’s too bad. She’d make a grand old lady. Hell, even some of my men are tempted to taste her.”
Doc clenched his jaw until he was sure it’d shatter. He’d put his motherfucking boot up this Viper guy’s ass if he hurt one hair on Isa’s head.
Brewer nudged his side and offered a silent warning. Doc glanced at the redhead, then around the room. Each club member had the same look of distain scribbled on their face. No one fucked with Macha and lived to tell the tale without a broken body part or two.
“What do you want?” Reaper asked, steering the conversation back to the goal in mind.
Viper clucked his tongue. “Northern Ireland.”
“That’s not happening, and you know it.”
“Hmm, all right. Then I suppose I’ll let my newest president of my Dublin chapter escort Phantom’s daughter to the bullpen. It’s funny how easily men are purchased, Reaper. Take your Shovelhead character. Hell, it barely took fifty thousand before he jumped at the chance to break Macha.”
Lacing his fingers together, Reaper stared at the cell phone. “I don’t know a Shovelhead. Our club doesn’t have a man by that name.”
Viper laughed. “Of course not.”
“Get down to the details. I’m sure you’ve already contacted Phantom.”
“Aye. He told me to pound sand. I’m shocked since I have his precious daughter. Isn’t Macha supposed to idolize women?”
Rubble stood, his phone to his ear, and walked to the door. He snapped his fingers, and Hawk and Kevlar immediately followed. Only once they exited did Reaper respond. “I can offer you a new territory. You saw how quickly Macha took over Colorado. We only have one competitor.”
“So?”
“So, think about The Twelve Brothers taking over another US state. The MCs here are weak compared to Ireland’s. You could wipe out any competition within months, and the entire territory would be yours. In fact, the MC in Nevada is in between presidents right now. You could take their men and territory in one swoop. Plenty of casinos and strip clubs in that state.”
Reaper kept his eyes fixed on the door. He’s trying to keep Viper on the line for a trace. Doc cursed himself for thinking even for a minute that their president wouldn’t do everything to get Isa back to safety. It hit him square in the gut.
“That is tempting. I see why you’ve earned your president status.” Viper hummed on the other end. “But what happens if we stray into Colorado?”
“You won’t. Colorado is Macha’s.”
Hawk entered the room and nodded. A collective sigh echoed silently in the room.
Picking up the phone, Reaper stood. “The choice is yours, Viper. Either take the win or prepare for a bloody loss.”
“I could, or I could say fuck you and keep this little princess for the Twelve Brothers.” A shuffling of feet, then a woman’s cry filled the
air. “Isadora would make very pretty babies with my brothers. Perhaps we should come to a truce between our MCs. A marriage would work for me.”
“Touch her and I’ll make your death one no MC will ever forget,” Doc seethed before he could stop himself.
Every Macha member looked to him, but he didn’t apologize. The Irish fucker who held Isa hostage would feel his wrath. The bastard might as well know it’s coming.
“Typical Irish temper.” Viper chuckled. “What do you say, old man?”
Reaper walked to the window and opened the blinds. “Macha doesn’t trade in women and children, Viper.”
“Right, I guess your crew really does worship women instead of the other way around.” Viper cleared his throat. “If you’d like Phantom’s daughter alive, be on the county road outside Snowshoe Lodge seven tonight.”
The line went dead, and Doc’s heart thudded against his rib cage. He didn’t dare look up. He simply stood, walked out the door, and headed into Snowshoe on his bike faster than any lawman would condone. He couldn’t handle the possibility that Isa would never be the same after this fiasco was through.
37
Isa
“Oh well. I tried to keep you as our own, lovey.” Viper walked back into the room and passed his phone to the man next to him, then hunched down in front of her. “I guess you won’t be our wife after all.”
Isa struggled at the restraints on her wrists. Viper’s right-hand man had put the duct tape back over her mouth after she cried out when she heard Reaper’s voice on the phone call. If it wasn’t in place now, she’d spit on Viper and his goon. After that, her captor had left the room for the duration of the call, not that she minded much. The greasy-looking man gave her the creeps. His beady, snakelike eyes didn’t help matters either. Probably how he got his club name.
“Right, I forgot you’re mute at the moment.” Viper traced her face with his fingertips, and she reared back in disgust. He laughed but didn’t stop his fingers from dipping over her exposed skin. “I prefer women this way. Except in the bedroom, of course.” He kissed the side of her neck. “Want to give me a little sample of the sounds you can make, princess?”
Isa held back the vomit rising in her throat. His touch combined with the putrid scent of raw fish from the kitchen they were currently hiding in made it more difficult by the moment. The Twelve Brothers’ president purposefully moved her from the cement box to a nearby restaurant so Macha couldn’t trace their headquarters.
A chef walked back to the freezer and eyed her warily before grabbing a filleted trout and then retracing his steps. The cold air had her teeth chattering for the past hour. Only after the call began did Viper allow his younger brother to pull her out of the freezer and into the kitchen. Viper left her alone in the kitchen with his brother fifteen minutes ago, but her body hadn’t recovered yet, though from the arctic temperatures or the looming threat, she wasn’t sure which contributed more.
Viper sat back on his heels and studied her. “It’s a pity. I think you’d like my brothers. We could have a reverse harem if you say the word.”
Isa bit at the tape over her mouth, but it didn’t do any good. She had more than one thing to tell the pompous arsehole.
“Eh, no matter. Once we get Reaper and his men here, I don’t care what happens to you.” He released her chin and stood. “Let’s get out of here before Macha arrives.”
The younger biker roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the straight-backed chair. He marched her through the kitchen and out the back door. A black SUV with dark-tinted windows sat running. The biker paused to chat with the driver while Viper made a phone call. Isa saw her opportunity and steeled herself for the next set of events.
Acting fast, she kneed the biker in the groin and smacked Viper with her fisted hands. Both men grunted at the pain, and she sprinted down the alleyway. Shouts filled the space behind her, and she held back her panic when she came to a street. Looking left, then right, she swore. Nothing was familiar. She couldn’t even guarantee she was in Snowshoe anymore. After spending most of her time with Doc at the clubhouse or lodge—or bedroom—her surroundings were as strange as when she’d first arrived.
“Get back here, bitch!” Viper yelled.
Isa veered right toward the convenience store up the road. If she could make it there, she was safe. I hope. She crossed traffic without stopping, cars honking at her jaywalking venture. She peeked behind her shoulder and saw five bikers headed her way. Shite! I need to hurry.
She pushed her body faster, her legs somehow obeying her despite not seeing such activity in years. It was fight or flight, and she was absolute shit at fighting. Sweat poured down her forehead, but she kept running. Cars swerved to miss her, and she yelped when one nearly hit her. If she were smart, she’d stop somewhere and get help.
Heavy footballs behind her steered her away from stopping. She was barely ahead of the bastards. If she paused even for a moment, they’d be on her within seconds.
Lungs burning, she turned right and tried to get the tape off her mouth, knowing breathing would be a lot easier without it. She managed to get part of it off but had to slow down for even that painful inch.
“We’re closing in,” she heard an accented voice yell. “Cut her off at the next corner.”
Isa yelped and kept her gaze ahead. The years spent jogging did her no good. The blocks whizzed by, and she lost track of where she was. She couldn’t even tell how long she’d been running. The scenery didn’t look familiar, but the Snowshoe name was plastered on nearby billboards.
Just make it until you get help.
She walked for a moment, trying to catch her breath. The sun beat down on her, a drastic change from the freezer they’d kept her in not an hour ago.
“There she is!”
Isa’s eyes bugged and she glanced over her shoulder. Her captors seemed to have multiplied. Panic set in once more. She didn’t want to think about what they’d do to her once they caught up.
Facing forward again, she suddenly hit a wall. Dazed, she stepped back, and tears filled her eyes.
It wasn’t a wall.
“Isa? Oh my God.” Doc wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his chest for a moment, the scent of him momentarily overtaking her fear.
“Are you hurt?” he whispered, pulling the tape off her mouth. His blue eyes scanned her anxiously. Rubbing her lips together, she held back tears at the agony the tape caused. He carefully untied her wrists and ran his fingers along the indentations. “I’m gonna kill that fucker.”
The horde of bikers stopped just shy of their location. “You’re outnumbered, Macha,” Viper said, a smug smile on his bearded face.
Isa trembled at the sight of ten men with guns pointed toward them. Doc tightened his hold on her.
“And you’re a fool to think I came unprepared,” he said coolly, drawing his gun.
A large body came into view from around the corner of the convenience store. She immediately recognized the deputy star on the man’s tan uniform. Another man appeared behind him, a similar law enforcement emblem on his shirt. Relief coursed through her prematurely, but she didn’t care. It was three to ten, but she was hopeful they’d win the standoff.
Viper’s gun remained cocked despite the new additions. “I don’t care who’s in your pocket, Macha. The girl is mine until I get the territory deal your president and I discussed.” He used his gun to motion for Isa to walk to him. She shook her head and he sneered. “I have no issue shooting her, then you.”
The two law enforcement agents took giant steps forward. “Get out of town and Macha may forgive you for putting this woman at risk. From what we’ve heard and seen, she was snatched by your MC.”
Viper glanced at his men, then back to the deputy. “I don’t give a shit about shooting police either.” He trained his gun on Doc. “How much do these guards cost? I’ll need to get Nevada’s in my pocket before we take over the state.”
Doc’s arm muscles twitched. �
�There are innocent bystanders, Viper. Don’t make this end in gunfire.”
Shrugging, Viper pulled the trigger, and all hell broke loose.
Doc shoved her to the ground, firing off rounds toward the offending MC. Isa covered her ears with her hands and watched the scene play out. Four of Viper’s men fell right away and lay unmoving on the sidewalk. The two police officers struggled to contain the gunfight to the store parking lot, both calling for backup.
Distant rumbles of motorcycle engines neared, and she held her breath. If they weren’t Macha, she may as well pick out a casket.
Crawling over to the building, she stayed low. Doc dodged bullets, and Viper gained on him. Her heart thrummed in her ears the closer the two got to each other.
Viper’s bullet made contact with Doc’s side, and she screamed. He fell to the ground, hand covering the oozing wound. The Irish biker preened and stalked toward his prey, clicking a new magazine in place.
“This’ll teach you not to fuck with the Twelve Brothers again.”
Thinking fast, Isa ran over to where a discarded gun lay next to one of Viper’s men. Grabbing it, she aimed it toward the hulking biker and pulled the trigger. The blowback stunned her ears, and she took a step backward to steady herself. Viper swiveled his head and glared at her with dark eyes. She’d hit his shoulder, wounding but not felling him.
“Bollocks!” Swallowing hard, she lifted the barrel again. This time, Viper stopped and waited. Keeping her eyes fixed on him, she yelled, “Drop the gun or I swear to God, I’ll hit you between the eyes.”
Viper’s eyes narrowed to slits, and he took a step toward her. “You’ll never be safe, princess. My men are everywhere. They’ll come for you. And if they fail, my eleven brothers will come for you.”
Isa responded by shooting his leg.
His face paled. “You bitch!”
She stood her ground, worried about a motionless Doc on the ground but unwilling to let the bastard take her hostage again. She looked over and saw the two police officers arresting the remaining Twelve Brothers crew who were still alive. All it’d take was one wrong move and she was Viper’s prized chess piece again.
