by L. Wilder
She came around the bar and sat down on a stool beside me. As I started to explain my plan, Cassidy’s body grew tense with worry. When I was almost done talking, she sat up straight in her chair and leaned forward. She glared at me with an expression of total disbelief, as she tried to make sense of what I was saying.
Her face flushed red as she spat, “Have you lost your damn mind? Do you honestly think that I would help you get yourself killed? What kind of sister do you think I am? Hell will freeze over before I help you do this!”
“Cassidy… I love him… I really love him. Do you honestly think I want to go get myself killed now that I finally found the one? If we play this thing right, we can help them get these guys. But, I can’t do it without you. I need your help with this. It’s the only way. I’ve thought it through. You have to trust me.”
“I just don’t know, Henley. What if something goes wrong? I’ll never be able to forgive myself if something happens to you,” she said. However, I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was about to give in.
“We’ll get in and we’ll get out. Just trust me on this.”
“Fine… I’ll help you, but I’m not happy about it.” Filled with relief that she agreed to help me, I jumped up and hugged her tightly.
“Thanks, Sis. I knew I could count on you,” I whispered. “We need to go before Maverick gets back. Let me go get my stuff, and I’ll meet you in your room in five minutes.”
After I grabbed my purse, I headed down the hall to Cassidy’s room. I didn’t take time to think about what we were about to do. I knew I just had to swallow my nerves and get this thing done. I walked into her room. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, waiting with a pained expression on her face.
“Don’t go backing out on me now, Cass. This is a good plan.”
“I’m not backing out, Lee Bug. I’m just worried, that’s all. Come on,” she said as she stood up and reached for her keys. “Let’s get this thing over with.”
Cassidy was quiet while she drove me to the campus parking lot. My car was still parked in the front row of the Fine Arts Building. It had been sitting there since the day Clutch took me to the club. I prayed that the tracking device was still there and working. It was the only way they’d know that I had returned home.
I put my things in my car and sat down in the driver’s seat. I looked up at Cassidy and said, “I’ll park the car in my usual spot. You pull around back and wait for me there. I’ll come down the fire escape once I get everything ready.”
“What if someone is already there waiting for you? This is crazy, Henley. I should’ve never agreed to go along with this.”
“No one is going to be there, at least not yet. Now, stop worrying.”
“That’s easier said than done. Just make it fast, okay?” she said with a shaky voice.
“Promise. I’ll call you once I am inside, so we can talk the entire time I’m in there,” I assured her.
My mind was racing as I drove to my apartment. I tried building up my courage by reminding myself that I was doing this for Maverick, for the man that I loved. Unfortunately, it didn’t help settle the nerves that were causing my hands to tremble against the steering wheel. I took a deep breath, and tried to concentrate on all the things I needed to do. I tried to convince myself that there wasn’t much to it. I just had to park the car in front of the apartment and then, rush inside to get everything ready. I needed to try to make the place look like I was returning home. I needed to turn on the lights and TV, straighten the place up a bit, and then arrange the bed to look like I was lying under the covers. Once everything was set up, I’d slip out the back down the fire escape. Cass would be waiting for me in her car, and we’d wait to see if anyone showed up. The plan was simple. The problem was nothing with me ever seemed to go like it was supposed to.
Several cars were parked in front of my small apartment complex, but thankfully my spot was still empty. I eased the car into park and slowly opened my door, looking around for anything that might seem suspicious. The streetlights gave off just enough light to create an eerie feel to the entire parking lot. I really wasn’t sure what I should be looking for, but I let my eyes roam over the area, hunting for anything or anyone that might be lurking in the dark. I was still searching the area, for God knows what, while I walked up the steps that led up to the front door.
Before I walked inside, I looked back to make sure Cassidy was pulling her car around back. After I saw her taillights heading down the back alley, I stepped anxiously through the door. My legs felt heavy as I walked over to the main elevator. I tried to push back my terror as the doors closed behind me. There was no time to let my fears get in the way. I had no idea if that tracking device on my car was actually even working, but I didn’t want to take any chances. If these guys think I’m back home, who knows how long it will take for them to come looking for me.
When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out into the empty hallway and crept over to my door. I didn’t know what to expect, but I never thought it would be like this. I felt like an intruder in my own home as I unlocked my door. The familiar smell of lavender and fabric softener surrounded me as the door creaked open, but being there didn’t feel familiar. I was scared. I felt so out of place, and I hated that I felt such fear in a place that I’d always loved to be.
As promised, I took out my phone, and called Cassidy. “I’m here.”
“Please hurry, Henley,” she pleaded.
“I’ve got to straighten up a bit. Just hold tight,” I told her as I looked around the room. Several of my school papers were scattered along the floor, along with several overturned lamps and chairs. I quickly started cleaning up the mess, trying to make it resemble the place I’d called home for the past three years.
Once I had everything picked up, I turned on several more lights and the TV, setting the volume loud enough for it to be heard out in the hallway. My adrenaline was in overdrive as I raced to my room, and stuffed several pillows under the comforter. I tried my best to make it look like a body was lying there under the covers. I happened to remember a wig Cassidy bought the year we decided to be twins for Halloween, so I pulled the old costume box out from under the bed, hoping the wig was still there. Luckily, I found it buried at the bottom of the box. I quickly grabbed it and kicked the box back under the bed. I placed the wig at the top of the pillows, spreading out the hair in hopes it’d help, but I wasn’t sure anyone would truly believe it was me. I glanced around my small apartment. Everything was set.
I picked back up my phone and said, “Cass… you there?”
“Yes! Are you done?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m on my way down.”
“Keep your phone on until you get in the car,” she ordered. “And be careful.”
“Okay. I’m coming now,” I told her as I eased the window up leading to the fire escape. Holding tightly to the ledge, I stepped out onto the railing.
The stairs clattered and shook as I ran down the steps, and I thought I had made it free and clear, until I saw a man standing in the shadows. I froze. Panic surged through my body when I realized that he was staring right at me. My breathing became rapid, and I thought I might pass out from fear, but I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. There was still a chance that I could make it to the car without him catching me, so I took another step down the stairs. When I did, he began walking towards me… “Holy shit! Cass! Someone’s here!” I whispered into my phone.
“Get your ass to the car! Now!” she cried.
“I can’t! He’s coming this way! Call Maverick. Call him, now!” I was in trouble. He was one of them. I’d run out of time, and there was no one here to help me.
Chapter 23
Maverick
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HENLEY WAS NOWHERE to be found, and I was getting pissed. I told Smokey to keep an eye on her, but he had no idea where she’d run off to. I would have to deal with him later. I figured she must be somewhere with Cassidy, so I headed to Big Mike’s room. H
e’d be able to trace her in a matter of seconds. I had lifted my hand to knock on the door when my cell phone rang.
Before I could answer, Cassidy started screaming, “You’ve got to get over here! Now! He’s going to get her! He’s so close. Oh my god, Maverick!”
“Slow down! Tell me what’s going on!” I demanded. Hearing the panic in her voice made my heart pound against my chest.
“There’s no time! He’s about to get Henley. She’s trying to get down the fire escape, and he’s about to get her!” she cried hysterically. The sound of Henley’s name made my heart stop beating in my chest. I needed a minute to think, to focus on what she was saying.
“What fire escape?”
“The one at our apartment. She was trying to help you, and…”
“I’m on my way,” I snapped. Without knocking, I opened Big Mike’s door and shouted, “Get your ass up. Now!”
He turned from his computer and asked, “What the hell, man?”
“Gather up the guys! Henley is in trouble. We’ve got to get over to her place! NOW!” I shouted. I couldn’t hear his response over the loud beating of my heart, as I went along the hall, pounding on all the doors until I got to Cotton’s room. I knocked as I opened the door, not even giving him a chance to acknowledge my presence and said, “We got trouble.”
“And?” he questioned as he stood up to face me.
“Henley… Cass just called. They are at their apartment, and they’ve got company. We’ve got to get over there,” I told him as my voice rattled with nerves. None of this made any fucking sense! Why? Why would she do this? Just a few hours ago she was lying in the bed kissing me, and now I might lose her. I might fucking lose her!
“Don’t… don’t go thinking the worst… We’ll get her,” he assured me.
“I won’t lose her,” I told him as I headed for my bike. This was my fault. I should’ve talked to her, explained how things worked in the club. I was too fucking stubborn, and now it might be too late.
With my brothers following close behind, I raced over to Henley’s apartment. The road blurred before me as my imagination ran wild thinking about what might be happening to her. I pushed the throttle forward, increasing my speed to a dangerous level, but I didn’t give a fuck. I had to get to her. It was the only thing that mattered.
The loud rumble of our engines had to draw the attention of everyone in that apartment complex, but there was no time to go in quiet. Every second counted, and we were running out of time. When we parked our bikes in front of her apartment, there was no one in sight. I instantly spotted Henley’s car, but there was no sign of Cassidy anywhere. I turned back to Clutch and said, “Cassidy… find her.”
“Cooter and I will check around back,” he told me as they walked towards the back alley leading to the back of the building.
“Let’s move it,” I ordered, and my brothers followed me into the apartment building. While Cotton and I took the elevator, Guardrail led the others up the stairwell. I only had one thought on my mind as I waited for the doors to open… get to Henley. I prayed that I wasn’t too late.
Chapter 24
Henley
‡
I WAS SO close… just a few steps away from the car when his hand reached out and grabbed me. I tried to jerk free, pulling as hard as I could, but it was no use. I expected him to kill me right there, end this thing once and for all. But seconds later, my feet were dragging against the pavement. He reeked of sweat and cigarettes as he pulled me closer to him. My shoes clanked loudly against the metal steps as he yanked me towards the top of the fire escape. I didn’t make it easy for him. I kicked. I screamed. I tried to claw myself from his arms, but it was no use… I couldn’t get away. When he finally managed to get me back inside my apartment, I panicked. I knew my time was running out.
My back was pressed firmly against his chest with his arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I couldn’t breathe. He was so much stronger than I was, and there was little I could do to keep him from squeezing the life out of me. I kept trying to fight him, doing anything I could to work myself free. I could feel my blood pulsing in my temples. My eyes were blurred with tears as he tightened his grip around my chest. I tried to call out for help, but nothing came. I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs to even make a sound… not a cry… not even a whimper. I knew I had to do something. I had to try to get away from him before it was too late, so using everything I had, I reared my elbow back, slamming it into his lower abdomen. The heat of his breath blew against my neck and with a loud grunt, he loosened his hold. I was finally able to get away from him. Tears streamed down my face as I gasped and coughed, trying to fill my lungs with air.
“She’s a feisty, little thing, isn’t she?” a man snickered from behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know who the man was. I would never forget the sound of that voice. Still panting for breath, I turned to face him. His arms were crossed over his chest, and I instantly recognized the python tattoo that wrapped around his arm. It was him. The man that killed Skidrow.
“You bitch,” the man next to me growled as he straightened his stance. “You little, fucking bitch. You’re going to pay for that shit.” He glared at me with such anger, such hate that it made my blood run cold. He wanted me dead. Plain and simple.
He stalked towards me with his hand raised into a fist, and I saw it coming, but I was too dazed to react. The blow to the side of my face was so powerful, that I momentarily lost my vision. I was reaching out for something to grab onto, when he came at me again. I knew it was coming… I could hear the sounds of his feet shuffling towards me, but there was nothing I could do about it. I felt suspended in time, everything became a blur. He hit me with such force that my head jerked back, and I lost my footing. With my arms flailing in the air, I fell back and my head collided against the kitchen counter. Lights flashed across my eyes as I dropped to the ground with a loud thud. Nausea instantly washed over me, and I thought I was going to be sick. I could hear them both laughing, as I tried to roll to my side, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even think. My mind was in such a fog that I thought I’d heard Maverick’s voice calling out to me, but I couldn’t see him. I couldn’t feel him. Everything was just black and the darkness consumed me.
Chapter 25
Maverick
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“SHOOT THE BITCH, and let’s get the hell out of here,” a man shouted from Henley’s apartment.
“I think we should have a little fun with her first,” the other one laughed, and my blood ran cold. Their laughter fueled my rage, and I don’t even remember kicking down her door. Henley was behind it, and I had to get to her. My mind was on auto pilot. I didn’t even think before I kicked the door down, splintering it on its hinges.
Adrenaline soared through my body as I charged into the room with my brothers following close behind me. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Henley sprawled out on the floor with blood pooling around her head. My eyes shot to the man who was standing over Henley, and without hesitation, I aimed my gun at him. Our unexpected invasion caught him off guard, and he had little time to react. His eyes darted towards my gun, and panic washed over him as he watched me squeeze the trigger. The imminent dread he felt caused his body to tense as the bullet hit him directly between the eyes. Satisfaction washed over me as his lifeless body dropped to the ground.
I rushed over to Henley’s side, dropping down to my knees, and I placed my fingers on her neck, praying that I could find a pulse. It was faint, but I could feel her heart beat lightly thumping against the tips of my fingers. Relief surged through me when I realized that she was still alive. My heart ached as I studied the bruises covering her face, and I wanted to beat that fucker with my bare hands and shoot him all over again.
I tried to pull my shit together as I turned to Cotton and said, “She’s alive, but she’s lost a lot of blood. We’ve got to get her to a hospital.”
“I’ll call the ambulance,” Cotton snapped as he grabbed his phone from
his pocket. Then he turned to Smokey and said, “You boys get this mess cleaned up before they get here.”
“On it,” Smokey told him as they quickly began disposing of the body.
Guardrail had managed to wrestle the other man to the ground, and quickly bound his hands behind his back with zip ties. When he was finished, Guardrail grabbed his arm, tugging him upright. He looked over to Cotton and said, “I’ll get this one over to the club. Stitch is already getting things prepared for our guest.” The guy could barely see as Guardrail led him out of the apartment, and I knew his night of hell had just begun. Stitch would have him wishing he was dead in a matter of minutes.
I took a cloth from the counter and gently pressed it against Henley’s head. She was so still, almost lifeless. I was watching her slip away, and I couldn’t stand the thought of losing her.
“Henley… baby, wake up,” I pleaded, but I got no response. She didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t give me any sign that she was still with me. “I need you to wake up, Henley. You’ve got to wake up!”
Cotton walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Maverick, you’ve got to keep it together, brother. She’s going to need you when she comes around,” he explained.
“Why did she do this? Why would she risk her life like this? It doesn’t making any sense,” I asked as I took her hand in mine.
“You know why she did it. She did it for you, brother. She did it for the Club. And she was able to accomplish something we haven’t. Because of her, we might finally get some answers. She’s one hell of a girl,” Cotton said as he looked over to Henley. “She’ll be alright, Maverick. She’s a lot stronger than you think.”
There was a knock on the front door, and the room fell silent. Cotton glanced around one final time, before he let the medics in. They rushed over to Henley and one of them asked, “Can you tell us what happened?”
“There was a break-in. We don’t know much more than that,” Cotton explained. “We walked in and found her like this.”
