by Tl Reeve
“Great, what about—” The one question he wanted to ask lay on the tip of his tongue, but before he could voice it fully, the line went dead. Well, he’d know about Fawn when he arrived in Los Lobos. After placing the phone in his pocket, Kru maneuvered his bike onto the highway. Next stop, South Dakota.
Chapter Two
Rapid City, South Dakota
I’m going to love hearing your sister scream. I’m going to make her bleed then fuck her bloody corpse.
Gabby Salvador pitched forward in bed, gasping for breath. Her hands clung to the covers as she panted. She shook with fear as the shadowed voice continued to echo in her mind. A cold sweat drenched her body as she pushed away the blankets and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The nightmares had grown worse over the last week she’d spent in a Podunk town, in a backwoods state.
Her legs felt like Jello as she stood, making it hard to get to the bathroom. Her heart pounded a rapid tattoo as she flipped on the light. The loud buzzing noise filling her ears for one blessed second caused the man’s voice to vanish. Gabby closed her eyes and leaned against the counter, trying to get herself under control. The riotous emotions coursing through her were new. Being a girl who cried about shit and did the whole emotional thing wasn’t her. She’d been the one sent to the principal’s office at least once a month, for fighting. Most of the time, however, it was because she couldn’t stand the squealing, overly peppy girls who yelled about everything. Thinking back on it, shoving their panties in their mouths hadn’t been the best way to approach the situation, but it had been fun.
She smirked a little. Her brother, Craven, blamed himself for her attitude. When she was a little girl, her parents had died in a tragic drive-by shooting. Craven, almost fifteen years her senior, had taken her in. By then, he’d been a member of the Vipers, working on choppers during the day and tearing up Las Vegas at night. She’d stayed with Alicia, Poppa’s old lady, at night when her brother wasn’t around, which he tried to keep at a minimum. Several times, he’d made comments about her not needing to live his life. Gossip reigned supreme with the sweet butts on whether or not Craven would take Gabby to the local state agency and sign over his right so she could be adopted. If any of those rumors were true, her brother never followed through.
Instead, he’d tried to guide her through her growing pains. Alicia had been the one she went to for female issues and, when she started to date, Craven made damn sure the boys knew in graphic detail what’d happen to them if they hurt her. She hadn’t had any kind of sexual relationship with a guy until she was twenty, and then she’d only done it to piss her overbearing brother off.
Maybe sleeping with a Killerz wasn’t a great idea. Craven pissed her off. The one girl she thought she’d be friends with for the rest of her life only liked her because of Craven. Even worse, she only discovered the girl’s plot, after Gabby caught her “friend” screwing him in his garage!
Gabby stared at her reflection in the mirror. Dark circles rimmed her brown eyes while frown lines bracketed her mouth. Her normally lightly tanned skin looked ghostly white. A lump formed in her throat. Even though they argued often about what she should do and what she wanted to do, she knew her brother loved her. They were family and, now, she was alone. She sobbed quietly, embarrassed by how weak she felt, after always being so strong. Her whole life had been about the Vipers. They’d been her family, but she couldn’t turn to them now. With whoever was trying to find her, and, in his words, “make her bleed,” going home would put them all at risk.
Stripping off her clothes, since she’d never fall asleep, she turned on the water and stepped into the shower. The warm water washed away the last vestiges of her bad dream. As she worked shampoo into her hair, she tried to think about who’d want to see her brother dead and who had the most to gain from it. Kru had surprised her when he came into Craven’s office with his gun drawn. She knew what he was there for, and it wasn’t a courtesy checkup. Someone purposefully put a hit on the president of the Vipers.
Yet, her brother was already dead by the time he arrived. The memories from the night her brother died assailed her. Gabby’s hand had been covering her mouth. Her eyes were wide as the shadowed figure killed her brother. Blood, so much blood poured from him. She didn’t know how long she sat there listening to her brother gasp and choke while she watched him slowly die. She still didn’t know how she willed herself to stay in place and not make a sound or gather the courage to stand and check on her brother, even knowing there was no help for him.
She’d meant to cut her brother’s hands apart and call Player—knowing her brother wouldn’t want the police to handle shit, but the door to the clubhouse opened again. Gabby raced to her hiding spot behind spare bike parts and waited. When Kru froze, staring at the knife, she ran. She knew the layout of the clubhouse inside and out, but somehow, he kept finding her. In a last-ditch effort, she’d run for the rear exit and opened it before letting it close with a resounding thud. At the same time, the sound of the guys returning comforted her. Kru had to leave or else face off with a bunch of pissed-off bikers.
Still, even knowing someone within the Vipers would protect her, she ran to her car—she had no bike because her brother didn’t allow her to ride—and followed Kru. She didn’t know what she’d say to him when she found him, or where he was going, but if he’d been there to murder Craven, maybe he knew who was behind the hit. Rational thinking be damned. Self-preservation? Who needed it?
Stepping out of the shower, Gabby wrapped a towel around her and walked into her room. The hotel, not quite sleazy but not the Ritz Carlton, still had an old-school knob television mounted to the dresser. Beside it sat a fifteen-inch refrigerator she’d stocked with plenty of drinks and snacks. She didn’t plan on staying there long. Once she talked to Kru and asked him some questions, she’d head home.
On the nightstand, her phone rang the familiar tune for Alicia, and she answered. “Hey,” she said, her voice still a little husky from lack of use.
“Aye, there you are. We have been so worried about you. Where are you?” Those first few days on the road, she’d refused everyone’s calls, including those from the person she considered a mother figure.
“I’m fine, I promise. I have been trying to figure out who had Craven killed,” she answered, fiddling with the edge of her towel. “How are you and Poppa doing?”
“He’s so worried about you, mi hija.”
Her lip trembled. Tears blurred her vision. “I know,” she sobbed. “I’m so scared. However, I can’t come home until I know why.”
“They found Kru Hawthorne’s knife at the scene. Poppa, Hombre, and Black Jack are looking for him now. That son of a bitch will roast when my old man finds him.”
How much should she say to Alicia? Should she tell her she knew for a fact Kru didn’t kill Craven? Hold the tidbit close to her chest? In the end, some protective part of her said she needed to tell the truth, even if no one believed her. “It wasn’t him,” she murmured.
“Mi hija, I know you liked him, but he’s a very bad man who does very bad things,” Alicia replied, her tone soft but filled with motherly love.
Like they all didn’t do bad things? Anger spiked in her. “Alicia, you need to listen to me. Kru isn’t responsible. Someone else killed Craven. Someone who threatened to kill me next.”
“Who?” Alicia demanded. She heard Poppa snarl in the background. “Why would they want to kill you?”
“I don’t know,” she hedged, not wanting to give Alicia all the details. “I’m getting to the bottom of it, though. Do you think Poppa will help me?”
Poppa’s gruff voice grew louder seconds before he spoke to her. “Girl.”
“Poppa,” she replied.
“Where are you?” he snapped.
“Safe for now,” Gabby answered. His low curse sent a thread of guilt snaking through her. “I need your help.”
“Come home, Gabby.” He sighed. “We’ll protect you
.”
“You can’t protect me if you don’t know who the killer is,” she implored. “I need to know the truth and I need your help.”
“We already know who did it, Kru accepted the contract on your brother. He killed Craven.” The conviction in his voice made her stomach knot.
“No, Poppa. Kru didn’t do it. I know for a fact he didn’t.”
“Gabby,” he said. “I know you’ve had a crush on him for years now, but the man is no good. He kills indiscriminately, never caring who is good and who is bad.”
“You have to believe me. Trust me,” she pleaded. “I don’t know who did it, but it wasn’t Kru.”
Poppa cursed again. “Fine.” His tone was filled with resignation. “What can I do to help?”
Hope bloomed in her chest. “I need you to add money to my account. I need to buy a few things then I’ll call you when everything is taken care of and we’ll get to work.”
“Where are you?” he asked again.
“I can’t say. I told you as much. As soon as the money is in my account, I’ll call you back. I love you, Poppa,” she whispered.
“Alicia and I love you, too, girl. Hombre, Black Jack, and I will be waiting for your call. Be safe.”
“I will,” she said, then ended the call.
A few hours later, after the money had been transferred, Gabby left the hotel. She didn’t know the area well enough, so she stopped at the front desk and asked the clerk for help. With directions in hand, she slid into her Camaro. She checked her mirrors then drove out of the parking lot. The midmorning sun glinted off the cars around her, but didn’t quite warm her. Having only the clothes she’d worn the day Craven died, she made a point to purchase a few things from the local tack store, the closest place to the hotel. Western wear was not her style at all. She needed leather. She needed to feel normal in the most basic of ways.
She turned left at the light and followed the directions she’d been given. As she drove, she thought about the last conversation she’d had with her brother. He asked her to go to college and start her own life. Leave his behind. They’d argued. God had they argued over her moving on. If he didn’t like the life she lived with him, then he should come with her. Make a clean break. The stubborn ass Craven was wouldn’t do it. He gave her all kinds of excuses. The biggest one…he was too old. At forty-one, her brother had never married. She’d never understood why, but she’d seen him with plenty of sweet butts. Gabby wondered if she’d really cramped his style all those years ago.
Swiping away the tears from her cheeks, she turned right at the next light and followed the line of traffic into the outlet mall. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it had the stores she needed. One of the main reasons she’d been at the clubhouse the night Craven died had been to retrieve the books he kept on a thumb drive. For the last couple of years, and after some prodding from her, he’d saved everything he did to thumb drives, sometimes making several copies.
Since she hadn’t had the time to grab her laptop or any of the other thumb drives, besides the one she had on her, her first stop was the office supply store. Once she got a laptop, she grabbed some clothes, a burner phone, and hair dye. She needed to change her look. Her bright-purple faux-hawk stuck out like a sore thumb in the conservative town. However, it didn’t mean she had to go with plain, either. She made quick work with her choices then paid and left. On the way home, she called Alicia.
“Mi hija?” Alicia answered, relief filling her voice.
“Hey, can I talk to Poppa?” she asked, switching her phone to speaker so she could drive.
“Are you okay?” The worry in her friend’s voice tore a hole in Gabby’s heart.
“I am. I have an idea, but I need Poppa and the guys.”
“I’m here, girl,” Poppa said. “All of us are.”
“I am going to check on Craven’s finances. All of the sticks are at my place, and in Craven’s home, too, in the safe. I want you to look through them. See if you can find anything.” She entered the fast food drive through and ordered some lunch.
“That food isn’t good for you, Gabby,” Poppa admonished.
“I know, but I need a quick fix and fuel so I can work.” What she really meant was she needed a way to keep her mind occupied instead of concentrating on the menacing voice filling her dreams.
“I’ll grab them,” he answered. “Anything else?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I’m not even sure if going through the books will produce anything substantial, but if it does, we’ll have our proof.”
“Okay,” he grunted. “We’re going to check a few things here, too. I’ll keep you in the loop. I’d tell you to be safe, but I know you too well. You’re more like your brother than you’ll ever know.” Grateful the girl at the window offered a distraction, she clicked off her phone, ending the call.
After returning to the hotel, she set up her new computer then hopped online. The Wi-Fi wasn’t high speed, but it got the job done. She looked through different newspapers in Las Vegas, but found no mention of her brother’s death. She then checked her email and Craven’s. A few messages about a charity run Craven had been working on for months. A couple of more for business deals. Nothing again popped as suspicious or out of place. Her email was filled with condolences she didn’t have the strength to read.
Gabby flipped to the newspaper and an idea hit her. She grabbed her phone and scrolled through it until she found Kru’s number then typed a quick text into her burner phone. My name is Cassandra Rios, reporter for Hardcore Biker. I’d like to interview you about your time with the DOBs and your relationship with Craven Salvador, president of the Vipers. Before she could chicken out, she hit send and waited.
Chapter Three
Los Lobos
Kru stepped onto the porch of Kalum’s home and knocked on the door. Kalum, Fawn’s mate, answered and held the door wide for him. He waited for the day to come when kids roamed the house and Kalum hid them from his presence. The guy didn’t like him. Then again, Kru didn’t like himself either lately.
It had been a week since he’d come home, and though his sister Fawn had hugged him tight and cried on his shoulder, welcoming him, she held herself apart, too. He hadn’t expected anything more. “Kalum,” he grunted.
“Kru,” he responded. “She’s in the living room.”
“Thanks. Don’t forget to lock your door.” Not waiting around to see if Kalum would say anything else, he went in search of his sister. She was exactly where he said she’d be. Her legs were tucked under her, a book in her lap—something she’d bought from the bookstore in town when she grabbed coffee the other day—and a collie lay at her feet. “Hey.” He walked over to the big bay window and glanced outside, making sure no one was out there that shouldn’t be. Old habits die hard.
“You know, it’s been a week. I think you can settle down on the whole watch your back thing,” Fawn teased. “About the only ones watching us are the cattle.”
“Yeah,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “You can never be too sure.”
“You’ve been in the human world too long, brother. Come sit with me.” She chuckled then patted the couch next to her.
Her hazel eyes sparkled with mischief. Her skin glowed, too. Being mated looked good on his sister and he was happy for her. “Yeah, maybe.” He sat beside her. “So, why did you want to see me?” His question had been a little gruffer than he intended.
“Do I need a reason?”
“No, sorry.” He relaxed against the couch. “Are you happy here, Fawn?”
“I am. Kalum and his family are good people, Kru.” She touched his forearm. “I don’t know what you did in the human world. I only know you’re different, now. Harder, I suppose. I know a lot of it is because of what you watch me go through. However, we’re safe here. You’re home. Give Drew a chance, okay?”
He nodded. When he’d arrived the week before, he’d met with Drew. The first question he had
for Kru had been, what kind of work are you interested in? They’d discussed him becoming a pack tracker. He had the skills and aptitude for it, but the thought of any more blood spilled by his hands made him sick. For the four days it had taken him to get home, all he could see was Craven’s blood. He went through the list of potential people who held grudges against him and would stoop so low. He had quite a few, yet none of them would frame him. No, they’d full-court press him, and eventually he’d be executed. In all honesty, he waited for it to happen.
So Drew went in another direction and gave him the address of Ross Luparell. Construction work. What the hell? He’d still get to beat things, mostly inanimate objects, to his heart’s content. As he exited Drew’s office, he’d decided to stop by Ross’s place. They had a new build to work on. What were the odds? Contract killer turned construction worker.
“The guy seems okay, but then again he’s a Tao. Doesn’t hold a lot of weight with me.” He shrugged.
She sighed. “The sins of the father aren’t of the son. You need to unclench and relax a little.”
“How long did it take you to unclench?” he asked.
“A while, but I had help.” She lifted her chin to the breezeway. There, her mate leaned against the jamb. His arms were crossed. He appeared relaxed, but Kru knew better.
“So what are you saying? I need to find a chick to bang and I’ll feel better?” Actually, it didn’t sound half bad right about now.
Kalum took a menacing step forward. “Watch your mouth, son.”
“Or what?” Kru stood and a wave of dominance rolled off of him, as rage burned in his gut. It wasn’t Kalum standing before him anymore. Years melted away and Gill’s menacing form stood there, looming over Kru, the runt. “You going to beat me. Or beat my sister and force me to watch?” He chuckled. “You don’t scare me, old man.”
Fawn went to move past him and he lifted his arm, keeping her behind him. “I ran away from men like you a long time ago. You think you’re big and bad ass? Can throw your weight around, still? Well, I’m not a little runt anymore.”
