by James Cox
Nico glanced at me harder, this time his eyebrow rose and his lips pressed together. The expression was gone a moment later. “Romeo’s right. How many men do we have left?”
“Eleven of twenty and that includes you two. Five are dead. Justice and three others are captured. How the fuck did they know we were coming?”
That I couldn’t answer. “What about my club?” The thought ripped through me. They were walking into a trap too. I didn’t wait for an answer. I ran for the chapel and grabbed the radio as the door slammed shut from its sheer weight. “Whip?” He was our computer expert. Crazy, kinky fuck but great with technology. “Whip, are you there?”
“Good to hear your voice, brother.”
My stomach lurched. “Is everyone whole?”
“Mostly. Tage got a fucking scratch and Deviant went ballistic.” They were lovers and Deviant was a bit...possessive. “We rode into a trap.”
“Us too.” I collapsed onto the nearest seat. “Justice and three guys were taken.” Saying his name made a lump form in my throat. “How did they know?”
Whip was silent for a moment then whispered, “Rat. Only way they could know.”
Motherfucker.
“We managed to blow our building though.” There was pride in Whip’s voice. “Fucker burned as we rode away. We are whole. Let me know what you want to do with Justice. Outlaw and the guys are just dealing with that shithead Day-Si.”
That was a particular peacekeeper that liked to fuck with us but had yet to take us down. “Damn. I’d hoped he’d been in the building.”
“You and me both, brother.”
“Talk soon.” I placed the radio on the table and closed my eyes. Four slow breaths made my heart stop racing so fast. When I opened them, Nico and Nero were walking into the room. “Outlaw MC and Amazons are whole.”
Nero opened his mouth, but Nico glared at him. They sat at the table.
“We talked with the others,” Nico started.
“You have a plan?” I was all ears.
“They want to wait until Justice and the others are moved and then strike. They’re probably going to be taken to the government building for a public execution. President Wexmen will make it live television. A warning to the rest of us and anyone who sympathizes with us.”
I sat on the edge of the seat and rested my elbows on the table. “We can’t wait. They’ll be tortured. Beaten. What if we miss the mark and don’t rescue them? They’ll be fucking executed.”
“You don’t think we know that,” Nero yelled from across the table. “He’s our goddamn president.”
I swallowed hard to keep myself from flipping the fuck out.
Nico placed his hand on mine. “It’s the best plan we have. We can’t save them now without huge losses. They’re in the heart of the peacekeeper building. With only one left, they’ll be tons of them in there.”
I didn’t accept that. “So, we take the building down like were supposed to. We go right through the fucking building to get our men out.” I stood up. The chair hit the wall. “I will not let those fuckers have my man.”
“You love him.”
I opened my mouth then closed it. “I don’t know but I’m not letting the government have him.” And that was all truth.
Chapter Eight
I was going to ask Outlaw for help, but that’d get my club in trouble and possibly at the center of this case. The other guys in the Underground MC eventually offered to help. But did I want someone who didn’t have the nerves to do this? No. So, it was just me. I strapped on two guns at my waist and two knives on each thigh. I stole one of their bikes and made my way to Harley’s. He was a flirty Irishman that helped get us our guns. He was always under the radar but ready to help. I used a tunnel to get to his parking lot that was an attached building then I ran inside his store. It was quiet as I traversed the shelves full of items and made my way to the long counter.
He looked up from his tablet and his green eyes went wide. “T’e fook are ye doing ‘ere?” He stood up, running a hand through his ginger hair.
“Looking for a blowjob,” I muttered.
“’fraid I’m all out of t’ose, mate.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me through an arch opening. It was a back room, dimly lit.
“My...Justice was captured.”
“Leader of t’e Underground?” Harley blew out a breath and leaned against the wall. “W’at do ya need? W’ere is Outlaw?”
“This is all me. I need an explosive big enough to blow a hole in a wall.”
He lifted his eyebrow and parted his lips. “Yer serious?”
“Yes. I know Mayhem does the bombs but I need something quick and we get our explosives from you. I also need a burn strip.” It was a metallic strip that’s placed on a lock and activated. Fucker releases acid that burns through most locks.
“Anyt’ing else?” He moved from the wall to the false floor. Harley kicked it open and climbed down a steep set of stairs.
“Some Irish luck wouldn’t hurt,” I whispered. I must be fucking in love to attempt rescuing Justice from the peacekeeper building. It was either that or I hit my head hard enough to scramble my brains.
Harley came up the steps with a small material bag. “Don’t jostle t’is. I’m not as good as yer Mayhem.”
I nodded.
He shoved two burn strips in my jeans pocket.
“Don’t tell Outlaw. I don’t want him messed up in this shit.”
Harley hesitated then nodded. “Don’t get yer arse blown up.”
“Goal number one of the day.” I gave him a pat on the back, shoved the sack over my arm, and went back out the way I came. This time I was armed and ready.
It wasn’t long before sunset. I just waited in the parking garage for my time to rise up and save my lover. Thinking about him made me twitch though. What were they doing to him? I would not put torture above those bastards. Then again, with the scars on his back he may have been a victim before. I should have talked with him more. Don’t get me wrong, the sex had been amazing, but I wanted to know more about the man behind the big dick.
I rode my bike slowly down the back streets, letting the shadows hide most of my profile. I checked the blueprints. Apparently, the prisoners were held in the basement but the main room for the peacekeepers was upstairs and to the right. That’s where I was going to set the bomb. I wanted a way in and a distraction. I had both. While I was rushing in the hole, this bike would explode. Most people run away from explosions. Those that didn’t, I’d handle with my guns. There was no way I was leaving that building without Justice.
I pulled the bike to the side of the building. There were three guys at the front entrance and two at the back. I made sure I went between them so they wouldn’t see me. The sun had set so beautifully that only darkness and dim lighting remained. I cut out the hover tech and lowered the bike to the ground. On its side, the black vehicle was barely visible. Then I took a deep breath and reached into the bag. The bomb had a flat black base and a ball in gray above it. They were connected with wires. I touched my thumb over the large button and held it. The moment my finger came off, I’d have six seconds to run as fast as I could or my ass really would blow up. I kept my knees bent, my body low as I jogged toward the building. The street was quiet so no lights shined on my position. I thought maybe I’d pull this off without being shot at. Of course, then there was a yell, a warning, someone had spotted me. I stood up, only six feet from the building.
“Don’t move!”
Damn it. I wasn’t close enough, but they were just going to shoot me anyway on proof of homosexuality. Eh, fuck it. I cupped my crotch with one hand and threw the bomb at the wall. Then I leaped toward the only tree around and curled into a ball. I think they had a clue as to what was about to happen because they all started yelling. I heard a few shots ring out and then the loud detonation made my ears ring. The sound was so over the top that I couldn’t hear my own erratic breath for a few seconds. Fire splashed behind me followed by black
smoke. I tucked my head into my arm to keep from breathing that shit in. The ground under me rumbled and large pieces of wall fell around me. The moment the smoke cleared enough for me to see, I jumped to my feet. I staggered around debris to get to the hole. There were four bodies in this room, too mangled to identify. No time. Had to get to him. I took out both guns and charged down the hall. There was smoke here that nearly blinded me. It sure as hell took my breath away as it rushed out the new opening.
A laser shot passed my head.
Fucker. I didn’t aim. I just let the trigger catch a few times in that general direction. Thanks to the blueprints, I knew there were two entrances to the basement. One should be behind me, down this hall, and to the left. I walked fast, checking behind me to make sure no one would shoot me in the back. I turned the corner, the door wide open with a peacekeeper standing there. We had a split second to aim at each other. I threw myself to the left and shot, catching him in the arm. Then I jumped at him. I wasn’t thinking of my safety, I was thinking of getting Justice out. My body slammed into him and we were air born for a moment then sliding down the stairs. My elbow hit the ledge. My head banged into the railing. The guy with me rolled violently onto the floor and I tumbled after. His larger frame helped my fall so that it just knocked the wind out of me instead of anything permanent. Blood seeped from his head creating a pool around us.
“Romeo?” Justice. His voice strained but fucking perfect.
I lifted my head, slightly dizzy and our gazes locked. I smiled. This weight lifted off my shoulders. “Miss me?” I stumbled from the body and crawled to his cell.
“Fuck yeah.”
I pulled the burn strip out of my pocket and jammed it into the lock. “Get back.” I dove to the ground and a low sizzle filled the room. Sparks ricocheted off the wall and the ground around me. Then I heard a thud as the cell door opened. “You okay?” His shirt was bloody.
“We are.” His three men came forth. They all looked worse for the wear. I hadn’t planned for this many to be injured. “Where’s my crew?”
I gave Justice my gun and one of the bigger guys took the guards weapon. I ignored his question. Hopefully, he’d forget it in the heat of the battle. Smoke was blowing down the stairs, nothing thick but the peacekeepers wouldn’t stay away for long.
“Romeo?”
“We have limited time here.” I jogged to the bottom of the stairs. “There are cars on the street. We have to break into one to get everyone out.” I held the butt of the gun and started on the first step.
“Fucking Christ. You came alone didn’t you?”
Shit. “It was too dangerous for your crew, what’s left of them, and I wasn’t getting my guys involved. You got me. We can do this.” I started up the stairs again. The smoke was thinning out even more. I could see the doorway clear of anyone. I rushed up and heard heavy footsteps right behind me. With a quick glimpse, I saw the hall was empty. I waved behind me, keeping my gaze on the hallway. There was a room behind us filled with boxes. The back door was locked and I heard banging behind it. They must be trying to get in. “Front door or the new hole in the side of the building?” I wasn’t a leader. I had no idea what to do now.
Justice moved in front of me. He ran to the open door down the hall and used it as cover.
The banging behind us got louder. The three men on his crew were already up, one had his weapon pointed at that closed door. “Well?”
Justice peeked into the room with the big hole. He jerked back quickly as laser shots went off. Two hit the wall and left oval black marks. “Front door it is.”
I rushed past him, fired in the peacekeeper’s general direction, and stopped at the turn. A glimpse showed me no one so I waved the others on. We all passed through, but more shots rang out. How the hell were we going to get to open the front door, across the grass, and break into a car then ride away without being shot to death? Two of our guys took the lead. It was fucked up that I didn’t even know their names. They just ran out there watching for the enemy, risking their lives for the whole of us.
Justice moved past me. We were in the main area where the front door was. There were couches blown over and dark splotches where the wall burned some. The windows were shattered and the glass crunched under his feet. Both doors were ajar but only a few inches. Justice threw one open. Laser shots rang out, lighting up the room. “Shit.” He fumbled to get out of the way.
It made my pulse speed up.
“What was your plan, Romeo?”
Well, that’s where things got thin. “Blow up the wall and break you all out of the cells.”
He dropped his arms and glanced at me. “That was your whole plan?”
“I saved you, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, yeah you did. But it may just get you killed.”
“Life’s a bitch like that,” I muttered too low for anyone to hear.
“Put down your weapons.” The voice was amplified, deep, male. “The building is surrounded. Come out with your hands up and you will not be executed on sight.”
I snorted. “I’ll be down as soon as they realize who I am.”
Justice stared at me. “I won’t let anyone shoot you.”
“You can deflect bullets now?” My tone went somewhat bitter. Hey, it was that type of situation.
The voice returned. “This is your last chance.”
I frowned and shuffled to stand beside Justice. “I would have liked to have kissed you one last time.” Might seem cheesy but that’s how I felt at the moment.
One of the guys with us glanced over and lifted a dark eyebrow.
“Later,” Justice said and smiled. “Backup’s here.”
Backup? I shifted to peek over the door and sure enough, I heard the roar of hover bikes and saw them riding toward us. Each man had a mask on. Was it my club or had Nico finally decided to help? No, it had to be Outlaws, they were the only ones who had to wear masks to keep their identity hidden.
The voice returned only this time it was one we knew. Outlaw. “You’re an idiot.” The words echoed in his familiar tone.
I laughed, actually laughed in the middle of a firefight that we were losing. “We’re going to live!” I cheered.
Justice grabbed the door as shots rang out. But it wasn’t for us. The peacekeepers were trying to deal with all the bikers that just rode in. Most had cover, some were crazy fuckers crashing into blockades and firing until they ran. Okay, one man did that. Mayhem. He was a beast when he was angry which was most of the time. Despite the mask, I could see the cigar in his mouth as he fired his gun. This was covering our escape. The men with us went first, running to the nearest bike, hopping on and driving off. I was next, with Justice behind me. We hauled ass as fast as we could. More shots rang out. We took cover behind a car that already sported some black markings from bullets. I hunched and Justice covered me as a bike wound through trees and stopped in front of us.
Nico stared down from that seat and smiled. “Couldn’t let you have all the fun.”
“Take him,” I yelled and before Justice could protest, I ran out from the car to draw any fire aimed in our direction. No, I was not suicidal. Justice was hurt. He couldn’t fight like I could and being angry helped. I ran to another car, took out two men with two shots. I heard the bike start to drive away. I took a quick glimpse to make sure Justice was on the back of it. He was. Then I made a leap to the next car. I landed hard on my knees but didn’t feel pain. Adrenaline is a beautiful fucking thing.
I caught sight of Mayhem having a fistfight with two guys. And he was winning. I ran to the next car. Smoke was still in the air. Between the Outlaws and the Underground MC, we had enough people to cause a real fight. Laser shots were going off all over the damn place. Mayhem knocked the last man standing out. He pulled his bike from the front of the peacekeeper’s car, hopped on, and headed my way. The sounds were getting thinner. Our guys were starting to retreat. Mayhem maneuvered the bike close. I jumped on and held tight as we sped away. There were some shots t
oo high to hit us and then we were driving fast. Mayhem still had his cigar as we drove from the smoking building. That’s when I heard the loud bang that made my bones damn near rattle.
Mayhem glanced back and smiled.
It was fucking creepy. He only smiled when he was about to come or when he blew something up. I was thankful he was on our side. I held on to him as we traversed the city streets. The gunfire was dying down, but more waves of black smoke filled the air along with an acrid smell. “Thanks for the rescue,” I yelled loud enough for him to hear.
“Anytime, brother.”
We drove off as the night continued to conceal us.
Chapter Nine
“Here comes the idiot.” Outlaw’s voice was low but deep.
Mayhem drove us to the end of the city and deeper into the darkness than they would normally go. We met Outlaw and my MC here. It was damn good to see their faces.
“I can’t believe you didn’t radio us.” He glanced at me with both brows lifted. He still looked tired.
“Thanks for saving my ass.”
“Always, brother.” Outlaw winked. “We have to get back to the bar for our cover story.”
I nodded.
“Next time you blow shit up, invite me,” Mayhem grumped.
I chuckled. They drove back toward the city lights sparkling in the night. Big plumes of smoke still filled the air. We had accomplished our mission. Taken down both peacekeeper buildings. It was a little unconventional, but we still got the job done.
“You ready?”
I glanced back. I hadn’t even known Nico was there in the darkness watching. “Where’s Justice?”
“Back at the Underground clubhouse. He was pretty beat up. We had to sedate him because he wanted to wait for you.”
That made me smile.
“Get on. I’m not making my pres wait anymore.”
I nodded and joined him on the bike. It wasn’t a long ride just a tricky one. The constructions zones were lit up now. From here, I could see the immense amount of brightness thrown off by large lights. Apparently, the government was taking extra precautions. The city looked like it was sitting on a star the way the edges were glowing. The bike was quiet as we made our way through red-sanded hills and large boulders. I wasn’t paying attention to our surroundings. My mind was solely on Justice. How bad was he hurt?
