by A. J. Downey
He went over and Reaver fastened one cuff around the unconscious guy’s good wrist and snaked it through the wrought iron support pillar for the back deck above our heads. He fastened the other one to my guy and held out a key on a necklace chain in front of the dude.
“Stop fucking around!” I hissed. The guy made to snatch for it and Reaver sent it sailing into the pool with their weapons.
“You never saw us.” I grated and the guy shook his head rapidly.
“Didn’t see nothing.” He agreed and we let ourselves in the back door just as Dragon and Dray came in through the front. They had bandanas of their own over their faces. Dragon wore dark wraparound sunglasses while Dray had his hat pulled down low over his face.
“Guy out front?” I whispered.
“Out cold.” Dragon muttered.
I took point going up the stairs, Reaver right behind me Dray and Dragon on his six. We had four doors between us and the master suite. We checked them all carefully and methodically.
The moment of truth had arrived. I prayed hard and harder that she was okay and stood to the side while Dragon made the breech. You never follow your own breech so I was first through the door, weapon pointed. Chadwick turned from the window, a glass of amber colored liquor in his hand. His security man held one hand to his bleeding side the other had a gun trained on me.
Ashton lay sprawled on the bed. It looked like she’d been tossed there carelessly. She was too pale and wan and I was half afraid she was already gone. Dray was hot on my heels, his gun pointed at the security man’s head, my weapon was pointed at Chadwick’s head and I felt it all drain out of me into the floor as that still quiet place crept in, filling me up. Dragon’s voice came from behind me.
“Now I know you were told what would happen if you touched her again, friend.” He said, and his tone was all business and decidedly unfriendly.
“I had nothing to do with this.” Chadwick said and took a sip from his glass. He had deep bruising around his eyes and a cut across the bridge of his nose. He looked… tired… deep lines bracketing his eyes and mouth.
“Maynard here got a little… overzealous, but I supposed that doesn’t matter to you much. I, on the other hand, heard your earlier warning loud and clear. Oh you can check on her, please do.” I caught Reaver out of the corner of my eye moving to Ashton. He put his fingers to her throat which bore a dark shadow of bruising and his shoulders slumped. My heart dropped, I squeezed down slowly on the trigger.
“She’s alive!” he declared and I snapped the tension out of my finger before the gun could go off.
“You’re lucky I have a stiff trigger.” I growled.
“So it would seem.” Chadwick pursed his lips.
“Reaver…” I said.
“Already on it,” he said and he was, he slipped his knife back into his vest and slid an arm carefully beneath my Sunshine girl’s knees and one behind her shoulders. He bent at the knees and lifted her. She looked frail in my best buddy’s arms.
“How can you not love someone like her?” I found myself asking aloud, my question was rhetorical but he answered it anyways.
“I don’t require love. Love is for the weak. I require obedience and when I don’t get it, corrective action is required. Ashton was, for the most part, a good girl. Was. Then she met you.” He smirked a knowing little smirk and swirled the liquid in his glass.
“Damn fine thing she did.” Dragon muttered.
“We’re taking her.” I said and Chadwick shrugged.
“I have no use for her anymore and her dying here would just be… messy. Difficult to clean up.” Reaver and I exchanged looks and even though I couldn’t see the lower half of his face his eyes said ‘I got this.’ Before he stepped back out of my sight.
“Take him with you. I have no use for disobedience. Feel free to be my correction.” He turned back to the window and sipped his drink. Dragon growled. I think we were all a little speechless. This was some serious James Bond level villainous shit.
Dray went up and fetched the bleeding man, pointing his piece at his bald head. The man was staring incredulously at the back of Chadwick’s. I almost felt sorry for him but then I glanced at Ashton, small and pale and frail in Reaver’s arms and all I wanted was to have him a broken and bleeding pile at my feet.
Yeah, this needed to end.
“Let’s move.” We backed out of the room, Dragon first, then Reaver with Ashton, Dray with the security man and finally me.
Dragon shot off a text and we went out the front door he hit the switch on a panel by the door for the front gate. Doc drove up in Derek’s truck.
“What did you do to her?” I demanded and the security man stared at me, lips compressed into a thin line.
“Phenobarbitol. She wouldn’t shut up.” He glowered at me, and we deadlocked into icy stares.
“Doc you get that?” I asked never taking my eyes off the security man.
“I got it.” he said from the open window of the silver pickup. Dray moved up to the security man.
“Your lucky day,” Dray said to him, “We aren’t like your boss. We aren’t in the business of hurting or killing people. Where’s your car?” the security man looked at Dray hard, you could see the wheels turning in his head, and he finally jerked his chin in the direction of his SUV.
“Keys.” I said and he pulled them out of his pocket. He continued to hold his side but didn’t complain about his injury. Doc and Reaver were already gone, tail lights blinking out as he made the turn out onto the street at the end of the drive.
I got into the driver’s seat, Dragon the passenger and Dray and the security man in back.
“What’s your name friend?” Dragon asked as I pulled out onto the street.
The man said nothing. We picked up Derek and the man seemed genuinely surprised. Derek slid his gear into the back and got into the SUV’s back seat sandwiching the security man between him and Dray.
“Had a good bead on that douchebag, why didn’t you give the signal?” Derek asked frowning.
“We’ve got other ideas.” I grunted, and we did.
We dropped Derek off at the bikes so he could watch ‘em. Dragon would have some of the rest of the MC come out and get ‘em. We were busy.
I drove us out to the rally point where we did all of our illegal dealings of yesteryear and did our nefarious but noble deeds of now. It was a remote piece of property out near some farms about an hour outside town. I turned off the paved road and bumped us along the long dirt drive watching the plume of dry dust and dirt kicking up behind us in the side view. My heart sank a little.
This wasn’t the kind of man I wanted to be anymore. Dragon and Dray were equally grim, but I could see it in the set lines of their expressions, they were as equally set on what needed to be done as I was. My phone buzzed in the hoodie’s pocket and I pulled it free.
Reaver: At the MC. Doc is working on her now.
“They’re clear.” I told Dragon and Dray.
Dragon got out and opened up the big sliding door, wrestling it to the side, and I pulled into the modest warehouse barn looking aluminum building. I shut off the engine.
“What branch?” I asked the security guy, watching him in the rearview. He raised his cold blue eyes to the glass and we stared at each other.
“Army.” One word but it was progress from the silence he’d maintained on the way over.
“USMC.” I muttered and sighed.
“Out.” Dray ordered and raised his gun to the man’s head to make his point. He slid out of the SUV, Dragon waiting for him. I thought about Ashton’s broken doll body on the cover of that plush bed and closed my eyes.
God give me the strength not to kill this fucker. I prayed.
Seems He was off answering somebody else’s prayer today.
Chapter 26
Ashton…
I opened bleary eyes to icy spring skies. I blinked, wait, no that wasn’t right… I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. Everything tilted on
its axis and I very nearly threw up.
“Easy Baby.” I opened my eyes again and those cold blue skies I’d seen resolved into Reaver’s eyes.
“Reaver?” I asked confused.
“Yeah?” he asked and I gasped and struggled to sit up.
“Ethan, did he hear me did I call him?” I continued to try to sit up but Reaver gently pressed me back into the bed.
“Shhhh, he’s here. He just went to the bathroom.” Reaver smiled ruefully and I lay back. My mouth felt cottony and so dry.
“Can I have some water?” I asked.
“Hey is she awake?” Ethan’s voice sounded through the small room and I went limp with relief, I opened my eyes and he was standing in the doorway, I frowned.
“Why can’t I remember anything?” I asked and it was true, I remember Maynard breaking down the door, I remembered fighting back, I remember grabbing the gun from the night table but then nothing after that.
“You were drugged Baby.” He said and came near the bed. He knelt down beside it and I reached out. He smiled and took my hands in his own.
“You came and got me?” I asked and my voice sounded small.
“Damn right I did.” His look was dark, murderous.
“I’m going to go get her some water.” Reaver murmured and slipped out leaving me and Ethan alone. I closed my eyes and sagged with relief.
“What do you remember Babe?” Ethan asked.
I quickly recapped everything I remembered and looked at him expectantly, willing him to fill in the blanks…
“I’m proud of you Baby.” He whispered and tears glittered in his silver eyes. He pressed my hand to his lips and closed them I blinked, taken aback.
“Proud of me?” I echoed.
“You’re damn straight. You fought like a wild cat. That son of a bitch had scratches all over him. You even stabbed him with Reaver’s stiletto.” I wiped his tears away with my fingertips and marveled that my big strong biker was crying in the first place.
“Oh.” I said softly and smiled, “I think I learned that from you too.” He laughed and it hitched in his throat from the tears and he leaned forward carefully and kissed me gently. I let my hand rest along the side of his face and kissed him back. He leaned back.
“How do you feel?” he asked eyeing me warily.
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” I admitted softly. Reaver tapped on the doorframe, a mug with a bendy straw sticking out of it in his hand. I smiled and waved him in. Ethan helped me to sit up carefully, shoving pillows piled on the floor next to the bed behind me to prop me up.
I think I hurt worse than I ever have before. I winced and took shallow breaths. It had never hurt so much to breathe in my life!
“Doc is on his way in. He might be able to give you something for the pain.” Reaver said gently, putting the straw to my lips.
“Go easy.” Ethan admonished and I took a sip, then another, and another.
“Did Chadwick send him? How did you find me? Is he dead, please tell me he’s dead and you killed him?” I laid back and looked at them anxiously. Both looked grim, Ethan had a look of satisfaction on his face.
“Chadwick said he didn’t send him but I believe that about as much as I believe that he’s a saint like me.” Reaver said and grinned wickedly. I smiled again I couldn’t help it. Reaver had that effect.
“You got a call off to me Babe. We got to the apartment just as he was pulling out. Dragon and Dray were on your tail the whole time. He took you to your husband’s house.” Ethan looked bitter as hell, his mouth twisting around the word ‘husband’. I couldn’t agree more.
“We went in after you like the ninja bad asses we are.” Reaver put in, “Your husband told us to go ahead and take you; that you weren’t worth the trouble. Trust me baby, you are so worth it!” he sang out the last in a falsetto and I tried not to laugh, laughing hurt, oh my god it hurt. Like a lot.
Ethan frowned at him.
“The bastard that attacked you looked poleaxed at that one,” he said eyeing me carefully. I sniffed, tears welling. Chadwick was planning something awful, it was how he was, I just knew it.
“Hey now, no tears. You’re safe.” Ethan sad softly, thumbing the moisture from beneath my eyes.
“He’s planning something awful. I can feel it.” I said.
“Yeah well, unlucky for him we’re planning things too and they’re probably way worse than anything he can come up with.” Reaver said and leaned nonchalantly against the door fame.
“We tried to play nice with that fucker. “ Ethan agreed looking me over and it was as if he were asking permission with his cool mercurial gaze.
“I don’t care what you have to do.” I said sniffing back more tears, “I don’t want to die and I don’t want to lose any of you which is what he’ll do. Do what you have to do.” I consented. Reaver pushed off the wall and went out without a backwards glance.
“Done Baby.” Ethan said and kissed my forehead and I was surprised to find I didn’t feel bad in the least for whatever was going to happen to Chadwick.
“What’s going to happen?” I asked, unable to help myself.
“Can’t say Babe, but as soon as Doc says you’re good to travel we’re going until some of this shit blows over.” He said and his look was grave. I nodded. Away sounded good.
“He might come after the club.” I said softly.
“We’ve thought about that. Don’t you worry, Dragon’s got the clubhouse on lock down. Your husband doesn’t know what he’s messing with.” He kissed the back of my hand where he cradled it between his two much larger ones. I closed my eyes. I was getting tired again. Doc came in a moment later.
“How’s my patient?” he asked eyeing me.
“Tired, hurt and scared for all of you.” I answered truthfully.
“Well, sleep if you’re tired, take these for the hurt,” he said holding out one of those little paper pill cups, “And as for the scared, don’t you worry about at thing. It’ll all be over sooner than you think.” He smiled at me and winked.
I took the paper pill cup and tipped the two tablets into my mouth, not caring what they were, trusting in Doc. Ethan held the mug Reaver had left on the dresser to my lips and I sucked water through the straw, getting the pills down. I leaned back against the pillows and closed my eyes, sighing out.
“Get some sleep Baby.” Ethan said and kissed my brow.
“Where are you going?” I asked, the stab of panic sharp and immediate.
“Just out to the common room. I’ll be back before you know it I promise.” He said. I nodded, lip between my teeth.
“Okay.” I said reluctantly. I really didn’t want him out of my sight. Not yet. I forced myself to let go of his hands and he stood up, following Doc out of the room and shutting the door behind them.
Anxiety gnawed at me. I closed my eyes and felt tears slick down my temples and into my hair. I hated Chadwick, I hated even more that I knew he was toying with us. Making these little feints and jabs intended to torture me psychologically as much as physically. I hated even more that these wonderful people, Ethan, Reaver, Doc, Dragon and yes even Dray and by extension everyone else of the Sacred Hearts Motorcycle Club were dancing on eggshells to keep me safe.
He could hurt any one of them. He would hurt any one of them. Chadwick saw himself as being above the law and had the money and the power to back it up. I sniffed and shuddered and tried not to sob. The pain in my side and the rest of my body was dimmed to a dull roar but it still hurt. I was sure I had at least one broken rib on the side that he’d kicked me on. I’d had one once or twice before and they were awful. Filling my chest and side with so much broken glass.
I don’t know how long I lay there, watching the light grow dim until it diminished completely with the setting sun. An hour? Two hours? It felt like an age. Where had Ethan gone? I was sure they were talking about the situation, what to do, how to do it and I was grateful, I really was because no matter how badly I felt I did not want to die, and a
s selfish as it might be, I couldn’t I wouldn’t go back to him. I had told Ethan I wanted to fight weeks ago and that was exactly what I had done, against Maynard, against Chadwick, against all comers.
I would be no one’s property anymore, I’d kill myself first.
The door opened as if he sensed my train of thought and he came to me, kneeling gently beside the bed. He took my hand gently in his and smiled thinly at me.
“We have a plan.” He said and I closed my eyes in relief at the determination and love shining out of his liquid silver gaze.
“Am I supposed to know?” I asked softly.
“Some,” he said softly, “You might not like parts of it, but everyone involved is on board and taking up for you. They know the risks and are willing to take them, it just depends on if you’re willing to take it too.” I fixed him with a hard stare.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be free of him.” I said and Ethan smiled his icy smile, the warmth leeching from his eyes leaving the cold killer behind, looking out at me.
“That’s my girl.” He said softly and brushed his lips against mine swiftly, and even in my broken, injured and hurting state I felt a thrill at the contact.
“So what’s the plan?” I asked.
“We called Hayden. We’re pretty sure he doesn’t know about her. We’re going to do some evasive maneuvering and set you up at her place to heal. She’s all in. Knows the risks and is willing to put you up.” I blinked in surprise. Hayden and I were becoming fast friends, sure but this was a lot to ask of anyone, especially a new friend you only saw at yoga and had gone to lunch with once!
“Okay.” I said cautiously.
“Once you’re there, you’re there until this is done,” he looked me over and it was as if he was willing me to understand.
“You aren’t going to be with me at Hayden’s are you?” I asked feebly.
“No Baby. The guys need me to watch their six. I promised you I wouldn’t let him hurt you again and I failed. There is no such thing as failure a second time around.” He swallowed.
“It should only be a couple of days.” I felt myself nodding rapidly, my hands clutching tightly to his where they rested in my lap.
