“Looks like fucking Wildman is low on manpower,” the driver commented, not taking his eyes off the scene in front of them. “Must have been caught off guard, maybe we should help out.”
“Fuck that!” the man next to him growled. “I say we take the cunt in the back and get the fuck out of here.”
“Fuck that, I don’t want Wildman after my ass, he’s crazy.”
The passenger looked back at me, and then back at his friend. “Come on, I have a fucking idea. We’ll take the bitch with us.” He turned and opened his door to get out, but I didn’t move until the driver did the same thing.
As soon as they slammed their doors shut I jumped into action. I flipped the lid to the tool box and immediately started rummaging through the contents. My gaze landed on a screwdriver and I reached for it, but then my eyes flickered on something else and I had to look twice, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. A gun? I shook my head with disbelief as I slowly reached for it. Surely it couldn’t be loaded. I didn’t even know how to use a gun. I only knew that I had a couple of seconds, and quickly slipped it into the garter belt at the top of my thigh. I’d worn that for Stone, for later, but now it might save my life.
As back-up I also grabbed a screwdriver and jammed it into the waistband of my skirt, hoping that they wouldn’t notice it. No sooner done and the door was jerked open and I was facing the two leering gazes of the men who’d kidnapped me. I threw myself at them to disguise what I’d been doing, the momentum pushing the driver back a few feet from the van as he grabbed at me. I screamed at the top of my lungs and went for his eyes.
I was going to hurt him any way that I could.
Chapter 23
RACHEL
“Whoa, there, bitch!” His friend subdued me within seconds, wrapping an arm around my waist and hauling me back. Once I was clear of his friend he twisted my arms behind my back roughly, and clasped my wrist with one hand.
The next thing I knew, his body was pressed against the back of me. It seemed ludicrous that this was all happening with the sound of gunfire in the air all around us. “I’m gonna fuck your tight ass before I turn you over to Wildman, bitch,” he grit the words into my ear. Then I felt his nasty tongue there, lapping up the side of my forehead.
I let out a scream and jerked my head away, but it turned to a cry of pain when he roughly forced me around and pointed me toward the chaos going on down the road. “Walk.” He shoved me ahead of him and I stumbled, but managed to stay on my feet.
“What’s the plan, bro?”
The other man’s laugh was evil. “Get the fucker’s attention.”
“Shit!” Suddenly we were stopping. “It’s Dark Menace.” The driver’s gaze was on me, but his comment was meant for the man behind me. “Did Wildman set us the fuck up?”
I gasped from the vicious squeeze around my wrists. “What are you to Wildman?”
“Nothing.”
The pressure around my wrists intensified until I thought my bones would break. “I won’t ask you again, bitch.” He lifted me until I was on my toes. It was tell him, or let him dislocate my shoulders.
“He…was…my…stepfather…at…one…time,” I gasped out.
“And Stone?”
“I just work for him,” I responded, grateful when he let me back down on my feet.
The next thing I knew, his mouth was grating next to my ear, “You expect us to believe that shit?” He gave me a rough shake. “He fucking you?”
“None of your fucking business!” I screeched at him, refusing to tell him the truth. I couldn’t take it anymore, and kicked back with my foot, catching him in the shin with my heel. At the same time I jerked my wrists from him and broke free. For a second I was stunned, and just stood there as he bellowed out in pain and grabbed his leg, and then I was running as fast as I could toward the chaos in front of me.
I heard his swearing behind me, but knew his friend was hot on my tail. I wouldn’t get far, not in heels, but I gave it my best try. I was surprised at how far I’d managed to make it when I heard a shot ring out. It wasn’t just any shot, it had been aimed at me, and the reason I knew that was because it had grazed my upper arm. I came to a dead stop with a high-pitched cry, and grabbed my arm where it was already bleeding.
I was aware of two things happening at once. The shooting stopped, just stopped, yet neither side left their cover. Separated by a dirt road, Dark Menace was using grave stones to shield against the oncoming fire from the Red Devils, and the two men who’d kidnapped me were closing in from behind. I had no doubts that one of them had fired at me. Whether they meant to kill me or just stop me wasn’t clear. I cried out when my wounded arm was grabbed roughly, and I was forced to stand there until the man I’d kicked caught up to us. Without a word, he back-handed me, causing my head to swing to one side.
I would have fallen but for the other man’s grip, my vision blurred from the force of the hit. I felt my lip swell almost immediately and the blood run down the corner of my mouth, yet I managed to find the strength and anger to remain on my feet. I thought about the gun that was tucked in my garter and the screwdriver at my waist, and knew I wouldn’t give in without a fight.
“Holy fuck!” Someone on the side of Dark Menace swore.
I was aware that some of the men from both sides were breaking away from their group, while all guns remained aimed and ready to fire. My gaze lit on Wildman for a second before landing on Stone, my salvation. His expression was positively wild, as his gaze ran over my appearance. Just knowing that he was there and that he would protect me brought tears to my eyes. When both he and Wildman realized that they’d moved in my direction they drew to a halt and pointed their weapons at one another.
“Today you die,” Stone swore at Wildman.
“If I die, she dies,” Wildman promised, laughing. “Those bastards are working for me.” He indicated my kidnappers. “They get paid for following my orders.” He glanced our way. “If I tell you to shoot her, you put a bullet in her head.” Then he turned his smug look on Stone. “You die, she lives.”
I gasped, and cried out, “No!”
Stone’s gaze flickered to me briefly before going back to Wildman. There was angry mumbling among Stone’s men. Stone ignored everything but the evil, murderess bastard facing him.
“What about we both die and she lives.” Stone’s comment drew a scowl from Wildman. “I’d rather kill her myself than let you have her.” The message in his eyes when he met mine said to trust him, and I did. I fucking loved him.
I reached for the screwdriver slowly, ignoring the narrowed warning in his gaze. Even if I didn’t kill one of my kidnappers, if creating a distraction could end all of this than I was willing to try anything. Wildman was the only one I wanted to see dead, but right now he seemed to be holding all the cards. The smug look on his face revealed that he thought he’d already won.
As Stone and Wildman squared off, their men stationary with their weapons drawn and ready, I got the tool free and thrust it behind me blindly. My satisfaction at the howl that followed was short lived. The man who had the gun pointed at me fell backward to the ground, with the screwdriver sticking out of his gut. His friend became enraged and started to raise his gun toward me. The savage look on his face told me that I was dead. I could only stand in shock and wait for the bullet to end my life.
Then, without warning, the biggest man I’d ever seen stepped out of the bushes on the side of the road. His fierce gaze locked onto me, silently warning me not to give his presence away. He didn’t have to worry, I was stunned into silence. The man was terrifying, dressed all in black biker gear and cut that emphasized his powerful muscles. With stealth and menace he moved straight toward the biker who had his gun aimed on me. Without stopping, he wrapped his huge arms around the man’s neck and gave a violent twist, and just like that, the man was dead and floating to the ground. He never knew what hit him.
“Thank you,” I said softly, aware that the giant had saved my life. He g
ave me a brief nod and turned away, heading in Stone’s direction.
“Looks like your numbers are going down,” Stone said to Wildman.
I’d heard what Stone said, but I was watching the giant who’d saved me walking away, before a movement out of the corner of my eye drew my attention away from him. It seemed we’d all forgotten about the other kidnapper, lying on the ground. He wasn’t dead, but he was close. Still, he managed to reach for his gun where it had fallen when he went down. I didn’t even think about what I was doing when I reached for my concealed weapon beneath my skirt. As he raised his gun to shoot the departing hulk in the back, I raised mine and fired two shots after the first one missed. He fell back without a word.
I returned my gaze to the huge biker, who’d spun around when I’d fired. It didn’t take him long to assess the situation and realize that I’d just saved his life. My killing of the kidnapper seemed to be the catalyst that re-launched the fight between the two clubs again, as gunfire erupted from both sides and I watched Stone dive for cover.
“Hawk—!” he yelled out, casting a glance our way.
There was something in his harsh tone and an urgency in his expression that conveyed itself to the man I now knew as Hawk. He reached me in two big strides, grabbed my uninjured arm, and spun me around to go back to the van. I was forced to almost run to keep up with him, and when we reached the van he picked me up as if I were a rag doll and deposited me inside.
His fierce gaze pinned me to the spot. “Stay.” With that one hard word he slammed the door shut and left me.
****
STONE
This was fucking messed up! Hearing that lone shot in the distance had warned us all that separate from what was going on. When I’d glanced up to see Rachel, everything in me froze. Seeing her roughed up and bleeding made me want to fucking destroy something. How the fuck had Death Vaders gotten their hands on her? There was going to be hell to pay when this shit was over and I got back to the club. Thank fuck Hawk had snuck away to deal with her situation. I had faith that the big man would take care of her with his life.
I’d meant what I said to Wildman—I’d kill her myself before letting him get his filthy hands on her. The fucking coward had grabbed one of his own men and used him as a human shield when the shooting had started up again. By the time he found cover, the Red Devil was riddled with bullet holes. Wildman had tossed him away like garbage. The fact that his own men hadn’t turned on him yet for the treatment of one of his own revealed they were just as fucked-up as he was.
I glanced down the road toward the van where Hawk had just stashed Rachel. He was hanging around in the vicinity, but had managed to find a good spot to return fire, which gave us two angles against Wildman. Now the bastard had to protect his front and one side, and that made him vulnerable.
I couldn’t wait to end this and get to Rachel. I was fucking proud of my girl for having the courage to take out the Death Vader. She’d saved Hawk’s life and that meant she was protected for life by both clubs, and that he fucking owed us big. Without knowing it, she’d given us more in that moment than some brothers did in a lifetime. Once I got my hands on her I was fucking going to love on her and show her how happy she had made me.
As the bullets whizzed past and brothers on both sides took blind aim at whatever moved, I fired several rounds in Wildman’s direction, knowing that he was the key to finishing this. So far we’d got a fucking break. Rebel had met us as planned, informing us that the Red Devils were going to meet the Predators at their old clubhouse to finalize shit and patch them over. That meant Lynch would only have to deal with the Predators and could hopefully convince some of them to come over to our side. I would have thought Wildman would have already patched them over, but he was a wild card and did things his way.
Knowing that the Red Devils would be leaving their new clubhouse gave us the advantage. It was always better attacking the enemy out in the open. In spite of the interior map Rebel had provided, anything could happen once we were inside. So a last minute change had us waiting for the fuckers in an old cemetery down the road from the factory. Once they’d come around the corner we’d made our presence known in a loud way. Getting the drop on them, we’d managed to take out four of their members straight away.
We had the additional advantage of being able to use the headstones for cover, but this shit was getting old. We could shoot it out all fucking day as long as the ammo held out, but I’d had enough. I thought about what I was getting ready to do. It was a deadly fucking move for us, but I knew that once I said the word my brothers wouldn’t hesitate to do it, and once we started the war wouldn’t end until one side was obliterated. Phantom Riders weren’t aware of the move I was about to make, but I had no doubt that they’d follow once they realized what was happening.
The air was thick with blue smoke from gunfire. It stung the eyes and nose and filled the lungs, keeping the adrenaline pumping like hot liquid through our veins. Territorial property wars were what we lived for, and winning was what we did best. I made sure the clip in my gun was full and took a deep breath. It was now or never, time for some of us to meet our maker.
“Finish off!” I roared, moving forward a couple of stones in front of me. Movement on both sides of me told me that my brothers were with me, and that they understood they were to set their sights on one Red Devil and end him before moving on to the next. Once we reached the last row of headstones closest to the road, a few trees were all there was between us and the Red Devils. I waited until my brothers and the Phantom Riders were positioned, and gave the final order. “Now!”
We rushed the Red Devils with guns firing in a blue haze of smoke that camouflaged us briefly during our attack. What fucking surprised me was that some of the Red Devils stood from their protective barriers and returned fire with as much enthusiasm as my brothers. Both sides were issuing a challenge that they were the invincible warriors in this fucking war, stronger and more powerful than the other. The only one not showing himself was their fucking leader, and he was the devil I wanted.
I knew where Wildman was hiding, and I made my way toward him, firing my pistol any time I saw his head, thankful he was firing blindly. That didn’t mean that I couldn’t get hit from another brother, and that’s exactly what fucking happened when a bullet grazed my leg. I barely acknowledged the burning sting, keeping my focus on Wildman. As I moved closer, it dawned on me that none of his men were making any attempt to protect him, and that was to my benefit. Most club president’s had loyal members who would surround their leader under a direct threat to end his life, whether his men liked him or not.
This was going to be one time that Wildman’s anarchic way of running his MC would be his downfall. No more fucking luck for him. I could taste victory as I neared the place where he was going to die. The commotion surrounding me revealed a lot of fallen brothers on the ground. Some were involved in fist fights, others rolling around in an effort to gain the upper hand, a few checking on their fallen brothers. War was winding down and Dark Menace and Phantom Riders were left standing.
Wildman finally showed himself, and I threw myself to the ground and rolled when he came out shooting two guns. I came to a stop on my side, took aim, and fired, hitting him in the side. He staggered back slightly, before righting himself and continuing to shoot in my direction. The ground around me was spitting dirt where the bullets hit. I fired again, this time hitting him in the leg. He went down, and my next shot went into his shoulder right above his heart. This time he stayed down.
Silence followed. I took a second and fell back, listening to the murmurs of voices, even laughter. Then Hawk was there, reaching down to help me to my feet.
“It’s fuckin’ over, brother.”
I knew he was talking about Wildman. We both looked in his direction. “It will be over when the fucker’s dead,” I commented, searching out my VP. I found him crouched before one of Hawk’s men, who was sitting against a tree. “Max!” He glanced up and I motioned
him over.
“Fuckin’ glad this shit’s over,” he said after reaching me.
“Me, too, bro. Listen, put Wildman in the van.”
Max glanced to where the Red Devils’ prez lay. “He ain’t dead?”
I shook my head. “Not yet, but he will be. I want him to suffer before he dies. Take him to the club.”
“I owe your girl,” Hawk said once Max took off.
“You owe the club, man,” I grinned, correcting him.
“I’m sure you’ll collect when the time comes.” He took a long look over the bloody mess in front of us. “I’ll gather up my brothers and we’ll head home.”
I knew Hawk meant all his brothers, including his dead. Luckily it appeared that he would only be dealing with wounded. “You might want to clean up before you go. You’re welcome to come back to the club, clean up, and party a little before you head back.”
His grin was slow in coming. “We’ve made arrangements at a safe house not far from here.” We shook hands and did the half-man-hug. “Thanks for the offer.” He started to walk away and then paused, remembering something. “Your woman is locked in the back of the van.”
My grin widened. “You locked her in?”
“Had a feeling she wouldn’t stay put if I hadn’t,” Hawk explained.
I had a feeling that he was right. In fact I knew he was. I knew my woman. Since Max was busy handling Wildman, I searched out Reggie. There was a bloody bandage wrapped around his upper arm. “Hey, you okay, brother?” I questioned, walking up to him.
“Fuck yeah.”
My gaze scanned the bodies lying around. I estimated that about twelve Red Devils littered the ground, which was fucking saturated with blood. Death Vaders’ van was going to come in handy. I turned reluctantly to Reggie. “How many did we lose?”
“Two, Prez—BJ and Stitch.” Fuck! Not what I wanted to hear, they were good men. “Have a whole lot wounded. Ginger is waiting for us at the club.”
Dark Menace MC: Stone Page 20
