They had already shot up The Iron Horse during the club’s Christmas party. If they had more weapons and ammo, they could do so much worse. Slade had a feeling that D’s crew was slowly taking out some of the nomads one by one. But he couldn’t be sure, since Diesel never talked about it. He kept that information locked down tight. And he could understand that since D wanted to keep the club off Shadow Valley PD’s radar. For the most part.
But the DAMC owed the Warriors a lot of payback. For more than just shooting up The Iron Horse. For setting Zak up and sending him to prison for ten years, for assaulting Kiki and Jazz, for kidnapping Jewel, for fire-bombing the bakery, for destroying Jag’s sled. And so much more. From what Slade understood, their rivalry started decades ago.
But it was hard to keep the club legit and not exact revenge on the Warriors. It was a fine line they walked trying to keep everyone out of prison but seeking retribution on the rival MC and, not only that, trying to keep everyone safe at the same time.
It was probably why Diesel didn’t trust him. Slade was an outsider and there was a lot of weight on D’s shoulders to keep everyone protected. Really, it was too much for one man to handle and Slade now understood why he had his crew, his “Shadows.”
“Gimme ‘is cell. Gonna text one of ‘em an’ make a demand.”
If they texted D, the man would probably tell them to just fuck off and do whatever they wanted to Slade.
“Maybe we should tell ‘em we wanna sit-down for a truce. Still demand some guns an’ ammo as payback for Black Jack.”
“Think they’ll believe we wanna truce?”
“Know they’re tryin’ to keep their club legit. Buncha fuckin’ pussies. Might be willin’ if we tell ‘em we’ll wipe the slate clean. Have a feelin’ Diesel’s crew’s huntin’ us down. Haven’t heard from a couple members lately. Makes me wonder what the fuck happened to ‘em.”
“Think they’ve been takin’ us out?”
“Gotta feelin’ someone is takin’ us out or tryin’ to.”
“Fuck.”
“Right. So let’s use this piece of shit to lure a few of ‘em here. Got six of us. We’ll tell ‘em we got two an’ to send two. Know they’ll send more. Means we’ll get to take out more. Gotta get the prez, VP, an’ enforcer here, for sure. Wipe out the top first. Then we’ll gather our brothers an’ sweep into their territory an’ take ‘the rest of ‘em out. Take Shadow Valley, take their businesses. Hell, take their women. Fuck ‘em all.”
Chapter Thirteen
Diamond chewed on her bottom lip. Church was packed with all of the club members, prospects and DAMC women. Everyone was there except the older women who were instructed to remain at the farm with Ace, Rooster and Moose.
The demand that Your Ass-Holiness sent by mass text said to be at church by four PM. No exceptions, no excuses.
It seemed to be an emergency church meeting, but normally the women were not allowed at the meetings, so this had to be more than that. Something big.
Di’s heart thumped in her chest. This had to do with Slade. No doubt.
Diesel, Hawk and Zak stood at the front of the room by the bar and a low murmur circulated through the common area.
Sophie had baby Zeke on top of the bar in some sort of rocking carrier to keep him quiet and content. Even from where Di stood with Jewel, Bella and Kelsea, she could see Sophie’s face was pale and she looked worried. The woman only had eyes for Zeke and Zak.
And Di could understand why. Those two were her life.
Di needed to know what was going on. She couldn’t take the wait any longer. She was about to freak out like a lunatic and demand that Diesel tell them why they were all summoned to the clubhouse when she asked Jewel, “Do you know what the hell is going on?”
Jewel turned worried blue eyes to her but shook her head. “No. He hasn’t said a fucking word to me. Sometimes that shit drives me crazy. Whatever this is about is new, though. Something must have happened recently.”
“Think it has to do with Slade?”
Jewel curved an arm around Di’s waist and gave her a squeeze. “Don’t know for sure, sis. But I can’t imagine it doesn’t.”
Di met Ivy’s eyes across the room where the redhead was pulled against Jag’s chest. Di gave her a look and lifted her chin at her brother. Ivy shook her head slightly and shrugged.
Hell, Ivy didn’t know anything either, which meant Jag didn’t know squat.
Diesel, Zak or Hawk needed to start talking soon or Di was going to lose her freaking mind.
She blew out a relieved breath when Hawk finally shouted, “’Kay, listen up an’ listen good. Got more Warrior shit goin’ down. Need everyone not involved to stay here at church ‘til this current shit’s dealt with. Got me?”
A murmur swept through the room.
“Got all the businesses on lockdown right now ‘til it all gets sorted—” Hawk stopped abruptly when Diesel grabbed his arm.
D pinned his gaze on Bella and said, “What you hear ain’t for your ol’ man’s ears, got me?”
All eyes landed on the brunette as she straightened, and it was hard to miss her spine stiffen and her lips flatten.
“Gotta hear an answer, Bella. Nothin’ can leave this room. Can’t keep this shit to yourself, can’t keep your loyalties straight, gotta go.”
As if one, all the women in the room sucked in a collective breath. D had always been close to his cousin and very protective of her, so none of them ever expected Diesel to say something like that to her. Never. But they all understood the club business had to remain just that, in the club. Especially if it concerned anything illegal or something that could be conceived as not on the up and up. Even though Bella’s ol’ man was Zak’s brother, Axel was still a cop. And that could mean trouble.
And with Diesel drawing the line in the sand with Bella, it became clear that there was something going on that they didn’t want the police to find out about. This made the pit in Di’s stomach deepen and she dug her fingernails into her palms to keep from dropping to her knees into a bundle of nerves.
It was also clear that none of the brothers up at the front of the room would continue until they heard Bella’s answer.
Diamond felt sorry for Bella having to choose sides. These were instances where it was impossible to remain loyal to both her man and her family. And that had to tear her apart.
“Won’t leave this room,” Bella finally said with a frown.
Watching the woman struggle with her conscious drove it home that Diamond was struggling with it, too. Knowing Slade had Warrior blood in him made it hard for her to stand by him, but it was also hard to push away her feelings, to just turn away from him like he meant nothing to her.
Because he did mean something to her, that was for damn sure.
But the club meant more. The DAMC would always be her foundation, her rock, one that she could rely on no matter what happened. And she couldn’t toss that aside. She wouldn’t.
As she glanced around the full room, the fact that she loved this club, loved this family as much as any of the patched brothers, was cemented deep inside her.
“’Kay, then,” Hawk yelled out. “Here’s the deal... D got a text from Slade’s phone. Someone who only identified himself as a Warrior stated they got Slade.”
A roar rose throughout the room. Hawk lifted a hand and Diesel pounded his fist on the bar to get everyone to quiet down.
“Said in exchange for Slade they want a sit-down...”
“For what?” came an outraged voice from the other side of the room.
“A truce.”
Grumbles and curses rose around Diamond. She didn’t believe they wanted a truce, either.
It had to be a set-up.
“Since findin’ out that Slade’s father was a Warrior, we really don’t know where his loyalty lies. Could be usin’ him to lure us in. Could be they really want a truce. Can’t imagine that’s true, though.”
“Sneaky fuckin’ bastards,” Crash yelled out.
A whole lot of answering “yeahs” were shouted.
Hawk raised his hand again. “Not only want a sit-down, want some guns an’ ammo as payback for Black Jack’s... disappearance.”
Black Jack was the Warrior who kidnapped Jewel. He was also one of the Warriors who assaulted Kiki and raped Jazz. Everyone had been told he escaped when Diesel, Hawk and Zak, as well as D’s crew, went after him.
Apparently, that wasn’t true. Diamond hoped they took that fucker out. And made him suffer while they were at it.
Di’s eyes slid to Bella. Her face was pale, and she was leaning against Crow who had an arm around her.
Maybe it would have been better if Bella had left, the more details she heard the more she had to keep from Axel. And Diamond didn’t want anything pulling those two apart. Axel was good for Bella and if anyone deserved happiness, that woman did.
Di turned her attention back to Hawk as he continued, “They want Z, me an’ Diesel to meet ‘em. Told ‘em that Z ain’t showin’ up no matter what they fuckin’ want.” Hawk did a chin lift toward Sophie and the baby. That motion spoke volumes. There was no way Diesel or Hawk would send the man who was not only the president of the club into danger but a new father.
“You sure they got ‘im? Ain’t a trap?”
“Could be a trap. Like I said, could be usin’ ‘im to lure us in. Could be he’s on their side settin’ us up. But D demanded a pic so we could use the lat an’ long to find ‘im like we did Jewel, but they refused. So he demanded to talk to Slade instead an’ when they put the phone up to ‘im he said not to come get ‘im. But fuckers cut ‘im off before he could say anything else.”
Di’s stomach churned.
She closed her eyes and tried to push aside the image of Slade being injured or worse in the hands of the Warriors. She fought down the nausea caused by the possibility that Slade might not come out of this alive. The Warriors could kill him without a second thought.
But she wondered how they got him. Why was Slade even their target? Could it be that he really was setting the DAMC up? That he truly was a Warrior like his father?
Was he on a path of revenge for his father’s death?
She didn’t want to believe it. And she knew that was foolish on her part, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted to believe that Slade had honor and loyalty. No, she didn’t want to believe it, she needed to believe it.
She needed to hold on tightly to that one thin thread of hope.
“Here’s the deal,” Zak said, taking over from Hawk. “Everyone’s gotta stay here. Got Ace with Moose an’ Rooster out at the farm watchin’ some of the women. Otherwise, you’re all here for the duration. Don’t want ‘em doin’ a surprise attack when we’re dealin’ with this Slade shit. So, no one’s leavin’ here, got me?”
“Who’s all goin’ an’ where do they got ‘im?” Dex asked.
“Don’t know yet. They’re gonna text the location to us when we’re ready. Told ‘em we need time to gather the guns an’ ammo they want. Told ‘em they need to keep Slade alive while we do that or the deal’s off the table.”
Nash yelled out, “You really gonna go in an’ work out a truce with those fuckin’ bastards?”
The room got so quiet that Di could hear herself breathe.
Hawk and D’s gaze met, then Hawk surveyed the room. “Ain’t dealin’. Gotta plan. Gonna keep it on the D.L. for now. Like Z said, for safety’s sake, everyone gotta stay here until we return... with or without Slade.”
“If he’s a Warrior, gonna take ‘is ass out, too,” Diesel grumbled loud enough that Di heard it. His eyes, cold as ice, landed on Di, slid to Jewel who still had her arm wrapped around Di’s waist, then quickly moved on, his jaw tight.
“I hope Slade wasn’t playing us,” Jewel murmured. “He better not be luring my ol’ man in there so the Warriors can take him out. I don’t like D risking his life like that. He already got shot by Black Jack. He was lucky that time. He might not be so lucky this time.”
“Sorry,” Di murmured to her sister.
“Isn’t your fault, sis.”
“If he was playing me, playing all of us, I’ll take him out myself,” Di assured her.
Jewel gave her another squeeze, then released Di and turned to Bella. “You have to stay true, Bella. I don’t need D ending up in jail or prison. Promise me you won’t say anything to Axel. I can’t lose him. Not now, not ever.”
“I feel the same way about Axel, but... I promise,” Bella said, her voice a bit shaky.
“I know you need Axel in your life, but I need D just as much. And now maybe more...”
Di studied Jewel as her sister’s words drifted off. Now wasn’t the time to ask twenty questions on what she meant, they had to get through this first. Hawk and Diesel, and whoever else, needed to go in and get Slade out of there alive. They needed to get in and get out alive, too.
Di was surprised that Diesel would not only risk his own life but his brother’s for a man he never quite trusted.
Maybe there was something Diesel wasn’t telling everybody. He wasn’t known to be the most talkative or the most upfront.
Di’s head jerked backward when Diesel called out, “Diamond, get the fuck up here.”
After a quick glance at Jewel and Bella, she worked her way up to the front. It seemed as though their little speech was over, and the brothers and prospects were breaking up into groups, either heading into the kitchen for some food, grabbing a beer or beginning a game of pool or darts. They were all stuck there for the long haul and if anyone knew how to make the best of a lockdown it was the men of DAMC.
When she finally got to Zak, Diesel and Hawk, her gaze roamed over all three of them. Their faces were solemn, and she felt a niggle of fear deep in her gut. If it came down to Slade surviving or these three, she knew her choice. It would be heartbreaking but no matter how frustrating the three men in front of her were, she loved them all.
“You have to do what you have to—” she started.
“Shut up an’ listen,” D barked.
Di frowned and reevaluated her previous thought. Someone needed a good kick to the nads.
“Get your phone out.”
She scowled at him but did as she was told even though her first instinct was to give him the finger and tell him to go to hell.
“Text ‘im. Tell whoever’s got his phone that you’re Slade’s ol’ lady an’ you need to see a pic of ‘im for proof he’s okay.”
She glanced at her phone that was gripped tightly within her fingers then back up at D.
“Do it!” he shouted, making her jump.
“Jesus, D,” she snapped. “Take a fucking chill pill.”
“Shit’s serious, woman. Ain’t got time to waste.”
“I didn’t think you liked Slade enough to be so concerned about him.”
“Ain’t doin’ it for me. Doin’ it for you. Doin’ it for your sister who’ll never forgive me if your man don’t come back in one piece.”
Your man. Diamond looked up at him in surprise. “You said he could be a plant.”
“Don’t know that for sure. If he ain’t, then he’s a brother like the rest of us. If he is, we gotta deal with ‘im. One way or another, we’re goin’ in to get ‘im. How he comes out depends on if he’s DAMC or a Warrior.”
“D—”
“Text ‘is phone now. No more lip.”
Di glanced at Hawk, who gave her a reassuring nod, but remained quiet.
Diamond fought to keep the tremble from her fingers as she texted a message that she knew Slade probably wouldn’t get, but most likely a Warrior would.
This is Slade’s ol’ lady. Need proof he’s OK. Need 2 c a pic.
“What good is this going to do?” she asked the three of them while she waited for a response.
“Faster than pingin’ his phone. Hunter knows how to get the meta... whatever from a pic. How we found Jewelee,” D answered.
“Then what?”
“Then we ride,” Haw
k said, his voice as cold as D’s eyes.
She looked at the newly engaged man. “Is Kiki okay with you doing this?”
“Women don’t make decisions ‘round here,” Diesel reminded her.
“Right. How could I forget?” she answered him with an eye roll.
“I’m not okay with it, but do I have a choice?” Kiki said as she moved up behind her. “Honestly, do any of us have a choice if we want to get Slade back?”
“But—”
“Di, he’s not a Warrior,” Kiki said softly, but Di didn’t miss the club’s attorney giving Hawk a look that clearly said she hoped she was right.
Di’s phone dinged, and after looking at it she lifted it to show Diesel. “Seems they feel the same way as you, D.”
The answering text stated, Bitches don’t make demands.
Z leaned closer, read the text then cursed while dragging a hand through his already disheveled hair.
Hawk shook his mohawked head. “Every time I think these fuckers are too stupid to breathe, they prove me wrong.”
Everyone froze when Di’s phone dinged again. She looked at the text. It was a photo.
Her emotions clashed. She was glad they were stupid enough to send a photo, but it was the photo that made her stomach drop out and her knees wobble.
“Hawk!” Kiki yelled, trying to catch her as she began to crumble.
Hawk grabbed Diamond and held her up as D grabbed her phone and studied the photo.
“Motherfuckers,” D barked.
He showed the phone to Hawk and Z.
“Babe, take her,” Hawk said to Kiki. “Jewel,” he shouted, “get up here an’ help your sister.”
Jag pushed Kiki aside and hooked Di under her armpits, pulling her tight against him. “Got ‘er,” he grumbled. Then he exploded, “Fuck, those assholes must die.”
Diamond sucked in a breath and used her brother to steady herself. She closed her eyes and a noise escaped her before she could stop it.
“Jesus, Di,” Jag muttered near her ear, taking most of her weight. “Gonna sit you down somewhere.”
“Not on one of those disgusting couches!” Kiki exclaimed, rushing away. Within seconds she was back with a chair from the nearby meeting room and Jag lowered her carefully into it.
Down & Dirty: Books 4-6: Dirty Angels MC Box Set 2 Page 56
