Deceived

by Camilla Isles

  He was just as she remembered. Overweight, balding, with a smirk etched across his face. His bland brown suit and tie matched his demeanor.

  “Well, there you are Lexi. I’ve been going over your reports.”

  “Nice to see you too Carl.” Lexi quickly gained her composure despite being startled at his appearance.

  Carl chuckled. “Sounds like you gained some moxie since you left corporate headquarters.”

  “Oh, I’ve gained more than that,” Lexi said with no amusement in her voice or eyes. “I know I need to catch up on my reports. There were circumstances that kept me from the office the last few days, but I should have no trouble getting caught up today.”

  “And what circumstances kept you away?”

  “It’s personal Carl.”

  “Well, alright then,” he said while standing up. “If I help then we can get the reports finished even sooner.” He walked around the desk towards Lexi. Even his cheap cologne repulsed her.

  “I can work faster on my own, but thanks for the offer.” Lexi quickly walked the other way around her desk to avoid him.

  “Have it your way Lexi, but I want to see those reports soon. I’ll check out the restaurant and make some calls, and then I’ll be back,” he said as he strolled out the door.

  After he was gone, Lexi waved her hand in front of her face to dispel the hideous odor he left behind. Okay, she thought, the faster I get these reports done the faster he’ll get out of my life. Only Carl Richards had other plans.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Eli arrived at Chancey’s Tavern and walked towards the back to the warehouse office to see Rose. He met Dog on his way back to the Tavern.

  “I was heading in to check on Rose. How is she?”

  “I wouldn’t bother her right now Eli. I brought her some coffee and snacks and she’s not in the mood to talk.”

  “Can’t blame her,” Eli said. “I’ll give her some time then. Blaze, Journey, Laser and I are heading out to pick up some supplies for the warehouse. Think you can hold down the fort here? I promise I’ll hire a new bartender soon. No member should have to work the bar.”

  “No problem Eli. I’ve got it covered,” Dog said.

  Rose listened at the door as the two men walked out of the warehouse. Good, she thought, now I don’t have to worry about being interrupted during my hunt.

  Rose knew there were items in particular that she was looking for in some of the wood boxes in the warehouse. Of course, nothing was labeled. You don’t label stolen shit. She heard they kept a diagram of where items were located, but she’d have to search on her own for what she needed. She walked to the back of the warehouse where a pallet full of boxes sat covered with a tarp. She figured it was as good a place as any to start. She pulled the tarp away and noticed one of the boards on the wood boxes had been pried loose. Likely to see what was in the box before taking it. She moved the loose board and peered into the box. Bingo she thought.

  ****

  Eli, Blaze, and Journey took off on their bikes with Laser driving the box truck behind them. They were heading out to meet a new supplier of stolen goods. Usually Eli liked to have a large group with him when meeting a new supplier, but the guys came highly recommended from another charter. Besides, the group needed a breather after the last week.

  His thoughts led back to Lexi. She seemed quiet this morning, not her usual sassy self. Eli was worried that everything that had occurred might be scaring her off, especially the carving on Rose’s face. If someone had done that to Lexi, he would have killed him or her. Eli knew his world was in stark contrast to what Lexi was use to. He wanted her to feel comfortable with his life, but unfortunately, a multitude of brutal acts had taken place right out of the gate since they met. Eli knew Lexi was meant for him; he just hoped she felt the same way.

  ****

  Lexi was deep in thought, working on catching up on her spreadsheets and reports when Carl sidled into the room.

  “How’s it going,” he asked.

  “Oh--you startled me,” Lexi said as she looked from her computer screen to Carl.

  “Did you forget I was here?”

  “No.” I wish I could she thought. “I’m just concentrating, trying to catch up,” she said looking back at the monitor.

  Carl walked over and stood behind her, then bent over to look at the screen. This was so coming back to her now, his subtle moves. He liked to look down women’s dresses or shirts as he pretended to look at the computer screen.

  “I really can’t work with you peering over my shoulder.” Lexi couldn’t believe she said that. The more demure Lexi would never in a million years opened her mouth, but she was no longer that person.

  “What did you say?” Carl retorted.

  Lexi pushed back her office chair and looked at Carl. “I said I can’t work with you looking over my shoulder. Do you want me to finish these reports or not?”

  “I don’t think I like your tone Lexi.”

  “I’m sorry Carl. It’s been a crappy few days and all I ask for is some quiet time to get things caught up.”

  “Fine. I’m leaving for lunch. When I get back this afternoon I’ll expect all the reports to be finished and ready for review.” And with that, he walked out the door.

  Finally Lexi thought. Maybe this won’t be as bad as I imagined. She had no way of knowing how bad it could get.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The Hell Hounds clubhouse was an abandoned building eight miles from town. The Hounds didn’t have a nice warehouse to store their goods or a tavern to let loose in like the KOBMC. But they were coming into their own when they started dealing cocaine.

  So far, the club had used the money to buy all new Harleys for the members and fixing up the abandoned building, adding furniture and hooking up running water and electricity. It was a far cry from a year ago when the members only rode crotch rockets and were scraping by selling hot auto parts.

  When Zane took over as president, the Hounds discovered new growth and more money coming in than they could ever imagine. Zane was a no nonsense type of leader however. He had no trouble cracking heads, whether it was someone on the street giving him lip or one of his own. He didn’t tolerate dissension and he would make damn sure his men understood that whether he had to beat them into submission or burn their balls with a lighted cigarette.

  So it was no problem for him to cut the girl’s face the other night. Three of his men grabbed her outside the Tavern. He told them he didn’t care which of the bitches they got; it didn’t matter to him, as any would do. When they brought him to her, she was out cold. Once they got her in the van, one of the members clocked her to shut her up. It did the trick. Good, Zane had thought. I don’t have to hear the bitch scream while I carve her up.

  So he went to work, slicing through the delicate skin. He was impressed with his handy work as blood dripped down her face and onto her red blouse. When he was finished, he told his men to take her back to the Tavern so the KOB could admire his work as well.

  This should keep them from messing with me he thought as he sat in their clubhouse with three of his men. The rest of the Hounds, about five of them, were on a run. He would need to do more recruiting soon if his missing guys didn’t show up.

  Even if they weren’t responsible for his missing men, he took pleasure in slicing up the bitch, he thought to himself. The KOBMC is just a bunch of pussies anyway.

  This was one of the last thoughts he would have before the bullet punctured his lung.

  ****

  Lexi worked through lunch and finished her reports around 5pm. She couldn’t believe Carl hadn’t come back at some point, but she was glad he hadn’t. It allowed her to catch up on her work and fortunately it had taken her mind off the fact Carl was around.

  Lexi decided to call it quits for the day. If Carl wanted to see the reports, he’d have to wait until tomorrow when she was back in the office. Lexi’s back ached from sitting too long in her chair. All she wanted to do was to take a
nice long bath and sip a glass of wine.

  Lexi walked into the restaurant’s kitchen to speak to Raul, the cook.

  “Raul, I’m leaving. If Carl Richards comes back looking for me, tell him I’ll see him tomorrow, but that the reports are done.”

  “Can do Momma. Have a good evening.”

  “I plan to Raul. See you tomorrow.”

  Lexi headed for home. She couldn’t wait to see Eli this evening and feel his strong hands working out the kinks in her shoulders. She might tell him about Carl tonight. She hadn’t decided yet. But circumstances beyond her control would give her no choice.

  ****

  Rose slipped out the back of the warehouse so Dog wouldn’t see her. Her vehicle was still in the Tavern’s parking lot where it had remained since she was abducted and brutally disfigured. She stealthily got behind the wheel and drove out of the lot before any of the KOBMC could see her. She had a job to do and she didn’t want any interference.

  It hurt to leave, knowing in all likelihood she’d never see the Tavern or the people she’d come to love again. Tears stung at the still fresh cuts on her face. She’d removed the bandages, wanting to ensure her wounds were the last thing they’d see on this earth. The two pistols and cartridges of ammo lay on the car seat next to her. One of the members had taken her to a shooting range a few times about a year ago. He remarked on good a shot she was. Rose liked how the gun felt in her hand and the power it instilled in her. Now she was ready to put her skill to work.

  She knew where the Hell Hounds clubhouse was located. Most people knew and kept their distance. Not a difficult thing to do since it was located far out of town without any nearby neighbors, just the way the Hounds wanted it.

  Rose parked her vehicle past the building about half a mile. She pulled into a wooded area where her car wouldn’t be seen from the roadway. Rose loaded the cartridges into the guns and made sure the safety switch was off.

  She walked towards the building, making sure to stay at least 20 feet from the road in case she needed to duck out of sight. Once she got near the building, she scoped it out. There were four Harleys parked in front so that meant approximately 6 or 7 were gone. Fuck! Rose wanted the entire crew there, but she knew they probably wouldn’t all show up until dark and she was in too much pain to wait that long.

  However, the main person she wanted was there. She could tell Zane’s bike anywhere. His had the skull and crossbones painted on the Harley’s gas tank. HE was here and that made up for the other missing club members.

  Rose took a deep breath, trying to calm the hammering in her chest. She didn’t want her nerves to mess up any shots. She knew she wouldn’t leave alive, and she had resigned herself to that hard truth. Now if her heart would just oblige. She took a couple more deep breaths and her heart rate lowered. Okay, she thought. Let’s do this.

  First, she listened to ensure no other bikes were coming down the road. Then she climbed the front concrete stoop that run the length of the building. She peeked in the dirty window. It was hard to make out, but she saw the backs of two men that were sitting at the makeshift bar. Tables and chairs filled the rest of the room, with one long table located on the very right. At the end of the long table sat Zane. He wasn’t doing anything, just staring off into space in deep thought she guessed. Where’s the other one, she thought. She waited another minute, continuing to peek inside the window, hoping the fourth guy would show up. He’s probably in the shitter, Rose thought disgustedly. Then she heard voices. She peeked in once more and saw the fourth man walk up to the two men sitting at the bar. She looked over at Zane; he ignored the men and simply sat there.

  Rose gripped the guns, one in each hand. They felt good; strong and powerful. It was time for her vengeance and the only thing she hoped for was a quick death.

  She walked in front of the window. Nobody from the inside noticed her shadow as she did so. The next few seconds were a blur as Rose entered the front entrance and immediately started shooting. She knew exactly where each man was and where to aim. With her right arm, she aimed towards Zane and with her left towards the three men grouped together. Through the smoke of the gunfire she saw Zane slump so she turned that gun towards the other three. Before she knew it, her ammo was spent, although she kept pushing the trigger.

  Rose stood perfectly still. The quiet in the room was deafening after the earsplitting gunshots. She waited as the smoke drifted lazily towards the ceiling. Finally, she made out the three men clustered on the floor. Blood was oozing out onto the floor from multiple wounds. She had aimed down to hit their chests or backs, larger targets she thought, but she hadn’t accounted for the steps leading down into the main room. So instead, the bullets had entered through the heads of two of the men, and the neck of the other. They were all three dead almost instantly.

  Then she heard a gasp. She turned immediately towards Zane, pointing the empty guns at him. His head lay on the table and he was looking straight at her. He was attempting to get his gun in his pants, but was too weak. Blood leaked from his mouth and onto the table. Rose had shot him in the lung and he was suffocating to death.

  Rose walked over and removed the gun from his pants.

  “Looking for this?” Rose said.

  “You’re dead bitch,” Zane gasped.

  “Well here’s the kicker. Unlike you, I don’t care if I die or not. So I figured, why not just take some Hounds along with me? And guess what, I got the biggest Hound of all.” Rose swung the business end of the gun in Zane’s face.

  “I’m glad I cut you.” Zane sputtered blood as he tried to talk. “I only wish I had murdered you instead.”

  “Well you know what they say; hindsight is always 20/20. But here’s the thing. You didn’t kill me. Instead, you left your mark on me for everyone to see. So I’m going to return the favor in kind.”

  “Stupid cunt bitch!”

  “Oh now, is that any way to talk?” Rose said as she removed a pocketknife from her jean’s pocket.

  She pulled his head up by his hair and started carving her initials on his cheek. Zane started gasping and moving violently in the chair. Rose let go of his head, which fell back onto the table. She didn’t have the stomach to do it anyway. Shooting someone; that she could do. But the needless carving. Fuck it. She put Zane’s gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

  Rose stood back and looked around. She hadn’t planned on living through this blood bath, but she had. The thought of ending her life by her own hand crossed her mind, but she couldn’t do it. It was then she realized, scarred or not, she did want to live. Suddenly her heart rate shot up and she felt almost faint.

  Get it together, she thought.

  Rose climbed the steps to go back out the front entrance. The door had remained open during the shooting spree. She peered out and listened for any motorcycles. When she heard none she ran to her car. She still had the guns, even Zane’s, and threw them on the front seat. She felt nauseous but she told herself she’d puke later. Key in the ignition and the engine purred. She backed out onto the road and hoped she wouldn’t pass any of the remaining Hell Hounds down the road. She lucked out. Not one Harley did she pass.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lexi relaxed in her soaking tub, allowing the warmth of the water to permeate her tired muscles. She lay with her head on a towel and a wine glass on the edge of the tub, taking sips from time to time. She needed this. Some time alone so she could think without being bombarded with reports and the presence of Carl Richards. Her eyes closed, she drank in the tranquility of a quiet house and how warm the wine felt going down her throat.

  Suddenly her cell phone tinkled. She dried off her hands with a nearby towel and reached down to pick it off the floor where she had laid it. It was Eli.

  “Hello handsome. I’m laying here naked in a tub. Where are you?”

  “Sounds like I should be there,” he chuckled. “Now you’re getting me all hot and hard with that statement.”

  “Then you better hurry because the
water’s getting cold.”

  “Wish I could darlin, but we’re running a bit late. The guys and I just finished up with the shipment and need to head back to the club. I should be there in a few hours or less.”

  “Okay, if it has to be that way I think I can wait,” she said with a smile.

  “I love you,” Eli said.

  Lexi’s heart jumped. He had never said that before. While he said it for the first time over the phone and not face to face, she took that as Eli’s vulnerability. He had to be strong for his club, but she was glad he felt close enough to her to show his weaker and less self-assured side to her.

  “I love you too Eli,” she said.

  There was a slight pause, like a sigh of relief, and then Eli said, “Okay babe, I’ll see you in a bit.”

  He sounded so upbeat Lexi thought as she hung up the phone. She couldn’t wait to see him.

  By this time, the water was cool so she pulled the drain and got out of the tub. She dried off, lathering her body with a lavender smelling lotion. She put a housecoat over her naked body. No sense in putting on too many clothes since I’ll be shedding them quickly when Eli gets here, she thought.