When she finished, the crunch of leaves was the only sound.
Victoria was right. They were heroes. Maybe she wasn’t being fair in her assessment. All she saw was guns and danger.
“You’re right,” she said after some time. “But let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s talk about you all. What was the final verdict on graduation?”
Victoria huffed. “She’s going to graduate at the end of this semester, and I’m still looking at spring.”
Irene laughed when Victoria turned to flip off Taylor, who laughed.
“You should have taken all your core classes first,” Taylor said.
Irene glanced at her cousin. She knew different. Despite how she might act, Taylor had worked hard to get everything done. She was trying for an internship, and if she got it, it would be a big deal.
“Well, at least you all will still be near each other,” Irene said,
She stopped on the path and turned around. Something faint reached her ears.
“Did you hear that?” Irene asked.
They shook their head and glanced around. She scanned the area. Nothing seemed out of place, but she wasn’t much good when it came to outdoor stuff.
“Oh, a creek!” Victoria rushed through a clearing to the water’s edge.
Irene looked around once more before following the women to the water.
It was clear and sparkled in the bright sun. Despite the cooler air, with the sun beating down on them, she actually found herself sweating more than she would have thought in jeans and a t-shirt. She glanced down at her clothes.
“You know,” Taylor said. “I don’t think I’ve seen you so dressed down in a long time.”
Irene stared at her in shock. “I wear t-shirts all the time,” she said.
Taylor shrugged.
“Yeah, but usually you’ve got a skirt or cute pants on,” she said. “It’s just nice to know you can slum it like the rest of us.”
Irene frowned. She was sure she had worn jeans at least a few times in the last few months.
“What about my yoga pants?” she huffed.
Victoria coughed out a laugh. “You mean the pink ones with the rhinestone hearts?”
Damn! She had forgotten about that.
“Look, it’s fine.” Taylor slung an arm over her shoulder. “You’re just not a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. It’s just nice to know you can be.”
Irene gritted her teeth. This was her mother’s doing, and she hadn’t even realized it. All those years of church clothes and being a proper lady. Saying the right thing and doing the right thing. All so she could get a guy like Todd, a man who could shit all over her. Well, that was it for her. She might have stepped into this forest a prissy girl, but she was leaving a hardened woman.
Not giving herself the time to chicken out, Irene whipped off her shirt.
“Whoa!” Taylor said from beside her. “I said I like it, but if you want to wear something else, no biggie.”
Irene slipped off her shoes and socks, then her pants. She turned to the stunned younger girls.
“I don’t know about you all, but I’m feeling a little hot.” She grinned. “And I was promised some skinny dipping.”
“I don’t really know,” Victoria said. She made a face at the water.
Irene climbed up onto a rock and peered down at the depth below. Perfect for a jump.
“Don’t be such a chicken,” she said. “It’s just a little creek water.”
She jumped.
“Holy shit,” she shrieked when her head broke water.
It wasn’t just cold. It was frigid.
Already starting to go numb, Irene swam back to the bank where the women were standing in horror.
She didn’t stop until she reached her bag. A t-shirt served as her towel. She rubbed her body to gain back some feeling.
“Are you okay?” Taylor asked.
Irene nodded. Her teeth were chattering so hard, she didn’t think she could even talk. She laid down the shirt on the ground and sat on top of it. When her hand touched the soft leather, she sighed. She pulled out the big coat and wrapped herself in its warmth.
Almost instantly, she started to warm up.
“That’s a nice leather jacket you’ve got there,” Taylor said with a smirk.
Irene glared at her and snuggled down deeper. Ryder’s smell filled her nose, and somehow it all seemed like it would be okay.
* * *
Ryder waited outside the Los Malos parts shop. He could hear Cage from around the corner and wanted to ring his neck. Rolling around in here with his stereo blasting was just asking for trouble, but then, his younger brother still had a lot to learn about life. For some reason, he just seemed hell bent on making things hard for himself.
Cage cocked an eyebrow at Ryder when he got out of the car.
“What?” Cage asked.
Ryder shook his head. He really was getting too old for this shit.
“Let’s just get this over with,” he said. “I’ve got to cruise by Irene’s bakery before I head home.”
They stepped into the shop, and it wasn’t much different than many other bike shops he’d been to. Parts hung from the walls, rested against the wall and even dangled from the ceiling. The scent of motor oil and leather filled his nose, something he was more than familiar with. They stopped at the desk in the back, and he was surprised to find a teen boy working the counter. The boy glanced to the side before looking back at Ryder and Cage.
“Can I help you?” the boy asked.
“Yeah.” Ryder leaned down. “I’d like to talk to Carlos.”
The boy’s eyes went wide. He shifted around nervously. “Abuelo doesn’t work here anymore.”
His eyes shifted to the side again.
“Tell your grandpa it’s important,” Ryder said.
The boy’s brown skin lightened several shades, and for a second, Ryder wondered if he was going to pass out.
“Go out the front door and meet me out back,” the boy said quietly.
He glanced up and noticed a camera. Whatever it was, the kid didn’t want it recorded.
Ryder nodded. He and Cage walked out the door.
“Think it’s a setup?” Cage asked quietly.
“Could be,” he said. “But that kid seemed scared. Something’s going on here. Just be ready.”
Ryder pulled out his own holstered gun and held it low at his side. No need to frighten the boy more than he already was if there wasn’t a need.
They walked around the side of the building. The sight of Carlos greeted Ryder, gun in hand and pointed right at his head.
“Drop it,” Carlos barked.
Ryder dropped the gun to the ground.
“You too, kid,” he waved the gun at Cage.
Cage grumbled behind him but dropped the gun to the ground. The boy came out from behind his grandfather and pulled the guns away.
Ryder relaxed when Carlos lowered his gun.
“Can’t be too careful these days,” he said.
Ryder raised a brow. “Having trouble?”
“Already had it and lost,” the old man said and sat down on the crates. “My nephew took over a few weeks back. Pushed me out of my own damn shop.”
He shook his head, defeated and worn.
“Is he back in the game?”
Cage moved next to Ryder. The teen stood closer to his grandfather.
Carlos turned his tanned, leathered face up to them. The creases were deep, and it was clear that the recent turnover had been hard on him.
“Worse,” he said and laced his hands in front of him. “It all started a few weeks ago. A man came in saying he wanted vengeance. Lot of money he was out thanks to a shady partner and did we want in? I said no.” He scrubbed a hand across his face. “But Paco didn’t agree. Thought it was a good opportunity for money. Said he was sick of the shit pay he was getting from the shop.” He shook his head. “Stupid fucking kid. What the hell does he know about leading a group like this? Hell,
most of these kids haven’t done shit, and he’s taking them out joyriding at night, breaking shit. Lucky they haven’t been fucking shot by someone.”
“Guess that explains a lot,” Cage said.
Ryder frowned. “Not really. If most of them weren’t in before, then they wouldn’t know the tricks of the trade. How are they doing the break-ins?”
“Abuelo,” the teen said. He shook his head in warning.
“Hush,” he said. “You go inside and keep an eye out.”
The teen glared at Ryder and Cage as he walked inside.
“Go ahead and get your guns,” Carlos said when his grandson had cleared the corner.
They holstered their guns and stood with their backs to the building.
“This man that came,” Carlos said, leaning in a little. “He never gives a name other than Wolf.”
“Wolf?” Cage laughed. “What, does he like to howl?”
Carlos glared at him. “You think this is funny? This man has the Devil in his eye and blood on his hands. When he meets with the man that owes him money,” Carlos shivered, “I don’t know what he’ll do but can guess they won’t find the body.”
A chill ran down Ryder’s spine.
“And he’s helping them break into businesses?” Ryder asked.
Carlos shook his head. “He brought in someone else from out west. An older guy named Blitz,” he said. “Not much better and has a reputation with the women.”
Carlos frowned, and Ryder could guess what sort of reputation that was. Rape in biker gangs wasn’t all that uncommon.
“Sounds like your nephew is really gathering some winners,” Cage said.
Carlos nodded. “You can see why my grandson is so concerned. I’m already on borrowed time,” he said. “After they pull tonight’s gig, I’ll likely be gone.”
Ryder stepped forward.
“What’s going on tonight?”
“Tonight they make their move on this ex-partner.” Carlos walked slowly to the back door of the store. “If I was you, I’d go home and lock my doors.”
With that, he walked inside.
Ryder and Cage made their way back to their vehicles. The road was clear, and the sun had just set over the horizon. He checked his phone. No call from Irene. Maybe she was just charging her phone to call or resting from the long walk or avoiding him yet again. Worry ate at him.
He jumped when it buzzed in his hand.
“Hello,” he said, hoping it was her.
“Ryder,” a distinctly male voice came over the line. “This is Charlie.”
He was surprised. Not only was he hoping for Irene, but he hadn’t thought Charlie would ever come through on anything.
“What’s going on?” He held up a hand to stop Cage from stepping into his car.
“Had a guy come in today looking for some really specific stuff,” Charlie said. “Took me all day to figure out who it was. He’s going by Wolf these days, but back when we knew him, it was Kert. He was on Ando Tamm’s old team. Changed quite a bit over the years, but I’m sure it’s him.”
Ando Tamm. Jess’s criminal father. She’d done her best to leave him behind and make a better life for herself and her sister, yet somehow Ando’s past kept dragging her back into the muck. Considering he’d recently died in prison in an accident, that particular ability was even more impressive.
“Fuck,” Ryder said. He paced back and forth. “When did he leave?”
“About three hours ago. Wouldn’t have sold them the stuff if I had figured it out sooner,” he said. “The man he had with him was a little sketchy. Seen him around town, and I know of his brother’s group out west. Apparently he’s decided to do a side job.”
“What did they buy?” Ryder nearly shouted into the phone.
“Asked if I had a blow torch and some stuff that would blow up rock,” Charlie said. “Ando’s girl, though, she’s with your brother Kace now, right? It wouldn’t be very smart of Kert to blow up an ex-cop’s house to get to his woman.”
Ryder grunted as he remembered the man on the bike outside of Irene’s shop.
“He’s not,” Ryder said and rummaged in his side bag. The memory of the guy on the bike outside Irene’s shop came to his mind. “He’s going after an easier target, her sister Victoria.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. All these years and that bastard still couldn’t let it go. It hadn’t been any secret that there was no love lost between Ando and Kert. Getting yourself locked up and then finding out that your underage daughter is sleeping with your partner will do things to a friendship. It was no surprise to anyone that Ando was able to run Kert off, even from prison. Whatever dirt he had on him must have been enough to make him tuck tail and run.
Now he was back and apparently seeking his revenge.
“Anything I can do?” Charlie asked.
Ryder paused. He didn’t like taking Charlie’s help, especially given he had previously screwed him over. He looked to Cage and then back to his bike. There wasn’t going to be a ton of time. If they were going to make a move, they’d do it when it was dark. At best he had a couple hours. It was an hour to ride there and, if he ran like hell, an hour to the cabin. The only thing he didn’t have was an exit strategy.
“Know anyone with a helicopter?” he asked.
Chapter Six
Irene woke up with a start, groggy and exhausted from the long day.
It had taken more than a few hours to hike up the mountain to the cabin, and with her refreshing dip in the water, her muscles ached like never before. This was turning into the camping trip from hell.
It didn’t help that, as she suspected, neither of the women had packed anything but candy and soda to eat. So for lunch, they all scarfed down peanut butter sandwiches like they were going out of style.
When they finally reached the cabin, she nearly cried.
The running water had been amazing. A hot shower helped a little with her muscles, and she was able to wash the fish smell out of her hair. They checked the cabinets and found several cans of tuna and an unopened package of crackers. Next time she saw Ryder, she was going to kiss him square on the mouth.
A rustling outside brought her completely awake. All day she had been hearing things but seemed to be the only one. She looked over to her cousin and Victoria beside her in the bed. Both had their eyes wide open. She placed a finger to her lips and slid quietly out of bed to the window.
Careful not to rustle the curtains, she peeked out the side. She could hear soft mumbling from around the corner and could just make out the shadows of three men. Quietly, she unlatched the window and lifted it just a crack. Their words came in much clearer now.
“Jesus, Wolf,” one man whispered. “You never said we’d be chasing after a bunch of women. I don’t like this.”
One of the larger men moved forward. “Paco, that bitch has my share of the money Ando stole, and I’m getting it one way or another.”
Irene looked back to Victoria, who was shaking in the bed. Taylor put an arm around her to help comfort her. Whatever was going to happen, they needed to get out of there. She motioned for the women to quietly get dressed.
After grabbing her bag, she moved just under the window, so she could listen to their conversation.
“The men are at the base, setting things up now,” another man said. “Here soon, the whole bottom half will be a raging inferno with no way out but into our arms. Fucking cops and rangers will just think they were fried.” She swallowed. Over and over she’d tried to get a signal to call Ryder earlier, but none of them could get any bars. Now, she wondered if these men had anything to do with it.
“Still think we should just bust down the door,” Paco said.
“Probably get some buckshot in your face if you did that,” Wolf said. “Don’t be stupid. The burn will work.”
“I don’t like waiting,”
“Let’s give it a little time before we smoke them out,” Wolf said.
Irene crawled over to the younger wome
n.
“We need to get out of here,” Taylor whispered.
She couldn’t agree more, but they needed to be smart about this. If the men were going to block their only way out, then that meant they were going to have to take their chances in the woods.
“Take out all the clothes in your bag,” she said quietly. “Layer up. Double socks. Everything. Pack blankets, food, matches, anything you can find.”
Victoria shook as she pulled the things out of her bag. Irene took a deep breath.
“Look at me,” she said to the two women. “We can do this. These are just stupid thugs. We’re smarter than they are and faster.”
“They have guns,” Victoria whispered.
Irene nodded. She was right. They likely did have guns.
“So, we’ll just have to make sure to stay ahead of them,” she said and gripped both of their hands. “I promise, we’ll get through this.”
Taylor gave a firm nod. She was solid, and Irene knew that she could count on her. Victoria looked at her hand. This wasn’t her thing. Jess was the tough one, and Irene knew it. After a bit, she gave a nod. In the end, there was no choice. Her thoughts on eat or be eaten had taken a whole new turn.
* * *
Faster than he’d ever ridden and faster than the law allowed, Ryder made it to the mountain. He sneered at the bikes all in a row at the trail head and rolled his own across the way, hiding it in some brush. Wasting no time, he slung his pack on his back and started to run.
He pushed himself like he’d never done before. He needed to make a two-hour hike an hour hike.
It was dark, but he knew the way. He’d gone this path so many times he could almost make the trip in his sleep.
The click of a gun being cocked cut through the night. He stopped dead in his tracks.
“Don’t fucking move,” someone barked from the darkness.
A man moved out of the dark and into the light of the moon. He couldn’t totally make out the man still, but the leather jacket with patches, tattoos and sheer size, almost as large as Ryder, suggested he was a biker. Ryder only hoped he wasn’t a Los Malos.
Allen Securities 04 - Ryder Page 5
