by Debra Kayn
The stink of the crowd grew stronger. He sensed Deputy Floreck moving beside him, and he said, "Keep them the fuck back, or we're going to have trouble."
"Yes, sir." The deputy raised his hands and motioned for the crowd to spread out.
Risa slid her robe off her shoulders and let the material pool at her feet. Kurt unsnapped his holster and let his hand fall to the side. He'd clear leather in a split second if even one man stepped out of line.
Risa's soft erotic laughter for the crowd pierced his gut as she sank into the water. She deserved more than dealing with the vulnerability that weighed down on her from stripping for men.
Deputy Floreck moved to the edge of the tub and signaled for the men to take their turn with Risa. If something went down now, he'd have a hell of a time stopping it.
His gaze went to each man putting silver over Risa's naked body. Kurt shifted his weight to the balls of his feet, ready to lunge if anyone made a move. Even an arm's length away from Risa was too close. He glanced at the crowd.
He couldn't watch both places at once. He moved closer to the tub. Risa smiled, giving him a slight shake of her head to stay back.
Hell with that. He stood at the foot of the bathtub and ignored the men's leery glance as they each approached his woman. They could go fuck themselves—, which they'd do anyway when they got home. He wasn't stepping a foot away from Risa.
Time ticked slowly, and when he'd finally had enough, he was surprised to find that he only cut the last man's time with Risa short. They'd succeeded in stalling the men, and another deputy was keeping the crowd at the end of the street after the show.
Risa planted her hands on the edge of the tub. Kurt stepped closer, scooped his hands under her armpits, and pulled her out of the water.
"Kurt, wait. The silver." She stood in front of him, cupping her hands, and scrapping her fingers across the length of her thighs, flicking the shiny glittery pieces of minerals off her hands and letting them sink in the water.
"I don't give a damn about the silver." He wrapped the silk robe around her. "Let's get you dressed and out of here."
Risa walked with him, glancing over her shoulder at the crowd at the other end of the street. "How long did the show last?"
"A couple of hours." He unzipped the gazebo, checked to make sure it was safe, and guided her inside. "Hurry, angel. I'm not feeling confortable having you outside now that the show is over."
She stepped inside. He blocked the opening, not even wanting to zip the canvas. Anxiety riddled his thoughts, and the excess energy made him jumpy. He wanted to call the club, but even taking the time to check his phone and take his eyes off his surroundings was risky.
A shadowed form headed his way. He removed his pistol and kept his arm at his side, turning to hide his weapon. The moving blackness took shape, and he slipped the gun back into the holster.
Deputy Floreck held a plastic sandwich bag out in front of him. "We've gathered the silver."
Before he could tell the officer where to shove the silver, Risa stepped out of the gazebo fully dressed. "Thank you, but tonight's show is on me. Can you make sure the silver gets split equally between the men that are here tonight? When they ask why I'm returning the silver, let them know that this was the last show I'll be performing. Silver Girls is officially closed, and the girls are retiring from the entertainment business."
Deputy Floreck looked down at the bag. "But, Miss Risa—"
"You heard the lady." Kurt put his left arm behind Risa and guided her past the cop.
A half a block away, he said, "Proud of you, angel. You've stalled the men from leaving town."
She skipped along beside him to keep up with his longer strides. "It just came to me that if I made the announcement now and the miners waited around for their silver to be returned, it'd keep them away from the club and buy us more time."
"Yeah, time is what we need." He stopped at the Harley and got on, holding his hand out for her to climb behind him. "Put on your helmet and hold on. We're on our own until we reach the fenced area around the club and the militia members have our back."
The moment she settled in behind him, he started the bike and drove around the block, and headed out of town. Under the viaduct, he sped up. A moving target was harder to hit than a slow one.
His throttle hand ached, and he adjusted his position. A quarter mile out of town, the houses became fewer, the trees thicker, and the canyon running both sides of the roadway narrowed.
They were boxed in. Only one way in and one way out.
Risa laid her heavy helmeted head on his back and tightened her arms. He shifted into a higher gear and gave the Harley room to fly.
The high pitch of sirens from the distance tensed every muscle in his body. He peered ahead of them, but they were still too far from the club to see any flashing lights when the reflection in his side mirror brought his head around to peer over his shoulder.
A flashing sheriff's car was gaining on him. He sped up. He wasn't stopping until he got to the club.
Risa patted his stomach and yelled. "It's Sheriff Colby. He's the only one who drives a SUV patrol car."
Kurt slowed down and allowed the sheriff to pull out into the opposite lane. He glanced over and the sheriff stuck his arm through the open window and motioned him to the side of the road.
Deciding to do what the sheriff asked instead of bringing the whole side of the mountain down on them when the militia and his men had orders to shoot first and ask questions later to anyone driving up to the club, he slowed down and stopped.
Sheriff Colby parked in front of him, exited the car, and walked to Kurt. "Mr. Ramchett, I need you to come in with me for questioning on the murder of Robert and Chad Oman."
"What the fuck?" He let his hands fall between his legs.
Risa's arms tightened. "What's he talking about?"
"Some bull shit. I was in town with Risa." Kurt moved to start the motorcycle. "Exactly how am I a suspect?"
"You need to come with me, or I'm afraid I'll have to put you under arrest to bring you in." Sheriff Colby's hand went to his holster. "It's just for questions, Kurt. As of now, we're only checking out all leads."
"I'll come into the department in the morning. If you haven't noticed, it's dark, it's getting cold, and Risa just finished a show and would like to go back to the club and warm up." Kurt shook his head.
"We just need to talk with you." Sheriff Colby stepped away to answer a call on his radio.
Kurt turned to Risa. "Hold on. We're getting out of here."
"No, Kurt." She put her hand on his arm. "You were with me tonight and the whole town saw you there. Maybe you can just answer his questions, and then we can leave."
Sheriff Colby held the phone down at his side. "Deputy Floreck is sitting at the edge of town to escort you to the sheriff's office. I can take Risa to the club, and then meet you back at the department."
Kurt tightened his lips. "Can I make a phone call first?"
"Make it short," Sheriff Colby said.
He had no idea what this bullshit was all about, but he wasn't going to have Risa stuck in town at the police department if they decide to question him all night. He tapped the screen on his cell.
Remmy picked up the call. "Prez?"
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Quiet and non-eventful."
"Good." Kurt glanced at the sheriff. "Listen closely. In about two minutes, you'll see the sheriff's rig pull up. Risa will be with Sheriff Colby. Escort her into the building and put Cutter and Germ on her. I do not want her left alone. I'll be in town getting questioned—"
"That's enough." Sheriff motioned for him to put down the phone.
Kurt looked away. "Watch her, bro."
"With my life, man," Remmy replied.
He disconnected the call, helped Risa off the motorcycle, and walked her to the patrol car. Putting her in the front seat, he kissed her. "Don't get out until you see Remmy, understand?"
She nodded and c
lung to his hand.
"It'll be okay." He kissed her again, and closed the door. He pointed at the sheriff. "Anything happens to her, and you won't have a chance to question me on bogus murder charges, because I'll kill you."
Colby stood on the other side of the vehicle, looking at Kurt over the roof. "Kurt, you can't be—"
"You heard me." He waited until the sheriff got into the car and drove off before getting on his Harley.
He rode away, watching the sheriff's car head up the road in his rearview mirror. Once they were out of sight, he floored the Harley. The Oman brothers were dead, and he had a good idea who did it. Maybe Los Li were losing their touch. He'd never known Los Li to leave bodies behind in their dirty work.
What would be their purpose to kill the mine owners? Lee had warned him they were coming after Bantorus tonight. He shifted gears, driving past the deputy's car, and headed to the Sheriff's department. If the sheriff thought he was involved, it meant Los Li still had unfinished business with Bantorus and hadn't given up on taking over Federal.
Chapter Twenty Six
Numb from Colby wanting to question Kurt for murder, Risa shifted in her seat. "What's going on? Kurt didn't kill anyone."
Colby turned off the flashing lights. "Right now, we're just bringing him in for questioning."
"He was with me the whole day and in town with me during the show. Everyone can vouch for him," she said. "Just because he's a biker and new to Federal doesn't make him guilty."
"If everything checks out, he'll be free to leave." Colby's eyes flashed in sympathy. "It's my job, Risa. You have to understand that."
She sank back against the seat. No, she didn't understand. Nothing made sense.
The plan to strip, keep the miners in town, and then go back to the club and hold out until morning to show Los Li that Bantorus protected their territory, thus making it impossible for the Mexican mafia to get their hands on illegal dealings within Federal had to succeed. Her stomach burned and she pressed her hand against her abdomen. Now there was a murder and Kurt was a suspect. That wasn't part of the plan.
The radio squawked. Risa rubbed the base of her neck. The Bantorus members were going to freak when she arrived and informed them of what happened. She'd have to organize them fast and calm their anger. Each one of them had to follow Kurt's instructions and stay at the club, and not go hell bent to save their president.
Kurt would be back soon. The main objective was to keep the clubhouse safe and the member, plus her girls, contained and unharmed until Kurt returned.
Sheriff Colby leaned over the steering wheel and peered up into the sky. "What the hell?"
A puttering chop, chop, chop motor sound grabbed her attention and grew louder. She braced herself on the dashboard of the car and spotted the blinking lights in the sky. A helicopter flew low, right above the treetops in the dark.
"Is that life flight?" Risa shifted and looked out the side window at the helicopter flying above the mountain.
"No, there's no active emergency call." Colby reached for the radio.
A fireball lit up the sky. Colby dropped the receiver. An earsplitting boom rocked the car, followed by rapid explosions. Risa screamed. Grabbing for Colby, she shook his arm while keeping an eye on the firework-like sparks shooting up into the sky. "Drive! It's the club."
Panicked and scared for everyone at the club, when the incoming shards of glass hit her in the face, she still didn't know what was happening or feel any pain. The car veered off the road and pitched her forward into the dash at the sudden stop.
Explosions deafened her. Afraid to move, to breathe, she stared out into the night. Kurt would know what to do. He'd help everyone. She gasped and cried out at the sudden pain in her hand from hitting the dashboard.
Her door opened and a blacked clothed arm reached in. She flung her arms, scrambling to get away, reaching for Colby. In the glow of the interior dome light, Colby stared straight ahead, blood rolling down his face. "No, no, no..."
She clawed at the person removing her from the car. "Colby! Wake up. Please, wake up."
Ejected out of the car, she threw her body forward, rolling on the ground. She landed on her back and stared up at a booted foot milliseconds before that boot landed on her stomach. The air in her lungs disappeared. She couldn't inhale or exhale. Heavy weight pressed down on her chest, and she could do nothing as she felt herself leaving the ground and being carried over someone's shoulder. Tears rolled out of her dry eyes and even in the dark, her vision went in and out.
The only part of her working was her heart. The hard pulse beat inside of her.
Tossed into a vehicle, she landed with a gasp that brought her air and pain. Curling onto her side, every blessed mouthful of air caused a stabbing agony to her side.
"Go into town and drop us off at the building. It'll be the last place anyone looks," a man's deep voice said. "Once the sheriff is found dead and everyone's attention is on the accident, we'll drive toward Montana. We can't risk leaving now in case the roadblocks are in place. We'll wait them out."
"What about the girl?" another male voice said.
"Boss wants her, and then we'll include her in the shipment to Mexico. Chica will bring boss money with her skills," the first man answered.
Risa panted in short breaths to ease the agonizing pain. She had to get help. The club blew up and who knew how many lives were in danger. Colby was dead, and—Oh, God, she had to stay strong. Somehow, she had to get to Kurt at the sheriff's department. She clamped her teeth against the agony and reached behind to her pocket. Her fingers touched her cell, and she struggled to stretch her arm enough to retrieve the phone.
She lay with the phone pressed against her chest, trying not to pass out. Dizzy and lightheaded, she'd be of no use to anyone if she failed.
There were too many things she had to do. The girls were alone and needed guidance with the bikers. Her mother, although Risa no longer felt obligated to give her time, every person needed someone in their life to ask for help. Most of all, she couldn't lose Kurt.
Even going an hour with Kurt's slow smile aimed at her had her missing him. Something about the way he protected, watched, listened, and followed her gave her the security to know that no matter what she did—good or bad—he wasn't leaving. He was her everything.
That unconditional love she always dreamed about seemed impossible before he rode into her life, and she damn well wasn't going to let anyone take her from him. She had to get away.
The van—now that she could see she lay in the back next to a box, careened around the corner, sending her rolling. She moaned and closed her eyes, afraid the two men would hear her. When she opened her eyes, the van stopped. She pushed the button on her cell, waking it up from sleep mode, and tapped her contacts, and then Kurt's name.
The front door on the van opened and shut. She held the phone to her ear. She was running out of time. Come on, come on.
The rear doors opened at the same time the ringing stopped. "Two men shot Colby. I'm in a van. I don’t know where. God, Kurt, a helicopter blew up the—"
"Give me the fucking phone," the one man who seemed to be the decision maker said.
Ripped out of her hand, she lunged for him, but the stabbing pain in her ribs had her falling back, struggling to breathe and stay conscious. Her head swam and bright lights flashed in her vision. She groaned, and before she could try again, he dragged her out of the van and forced her to walk in front of him. Each step killed her.
"Take the van and hide it. Then come back here and help me deal with her." The taller man with a long mustache pushed her up on the sidewalk.
She blinked, focusing her eyes. The acrid smell of smoke filled her nostrils, and a burst of energy filled her. They'd brought her back to the Sterling Building. She was only two blocks away from the sheriff's department. She could escape and go find Kurt.
The man pulled on the front plywood door the firefighters had installed, and pushed her inside. She gazed around in the d
ark coughing. Everything was ruined, but the brick holding the building erect. The floor, the walls, the ceiling...all gone. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into what used to be her office.
Inside the now boarded up windowless office, she couldn't see a thing.
"Stand there and don't move."
The man rustled around in the dark. A flick of a lighter happened a second before a flame lit up the area. He lit a kerosene lamp and set it over on the floor across from her. Then he stepped back to her, and put her against the other wall, where her old wooden desk used to sit. There was nothing left, but two smoke blackened metal filing cabinets.
The fire inspector declared the building a total loss. The final report suggested an electrical fire, probably started by the old ceiling fixtures upstairs. Kurt and she knew better. She had no doubt she was looking at a member of Los Li, and they were responsible for the fire, the bombing, Colby, and probably the Oman brothers at Meghoni Mine.
Kurt had done everything he could to keep her safe, and now he was going to find out, he'd lost her too. He was going to go insane when he returned to find everything and everyone gone. She coughed. The pain buckled her knees and she almost fell.
She hugged her middle, bent over from the exertion. "Who are you?"
"Doesn't matter." The man smirked, making his already evil eyes darker. "Once Los Li finishes with you, everything you know now will be forgotten."
Even though she knew who he belonged to, until he validated his gang, she wanted to believe none of the happenings tonight were real. On the verge of hyperventilating because of the pain in her middle, she forced herself to stand up fully and find a way to save herself, so she could save Kurt.
Compared to Kurt, the man was small. Not much taller than her and slim enough his pants hung on his hips. She raked her teeth over her bottom lip, pushing past the pain. There was still hope. All she had to do was get free.
The man picked up a broken burnt two by four board off the floor, put her phone on the floor, and smashed the cell into several pieces. She squeezed her eyes closed and reopened them, hoping to find out she was having a nightmare.
