Never stuck my cock in her and just screwed her for a few minutes. You think ‘cause I fucked you for ten years, you mean something? How stupid can one bitch be? Get out. Need to disinfect my dick.” Ace laughed bitterly at Misty and shoved her roughly towards the door. And slammed it shut behind her, not caring she wasn’t dressed. Misty screeched her displeasure and hammered on his door. Ace continued dressing.
Drake looked up as Texas re-entered the room, Slick, Apache, Manny, Lex and Gid on his heels. Fish came in minutes later with Lowrider, Ezra, Gunner and Mac. Rock and Lex were last followed by Ace and Jacked. The four prospects remained outside, this didn’t concern them. Ace sat at Drakes right, and everyone else took their places.
“Got news today. News that ain’t good.” Drake began. “A few weeks ago, that bounty hunter struck a nerve in me. Somethin’ familiar and I checked her out.” He looked to Ace. “Thought she was Kayleigh.” The man’s head jerked towards him and Ace’s brow furrowed as he thought on the woman.
“Looked nothing like her.” Ace said shortly.
“Yeah. ‘Cept Artemis had the same ink as Kayleigh, the one I designed.” Drake rubbed his chin. His hand tapped on the file, and Ace’s eyes narrowed on it.
“Brother.” Ace snapped out. Drake slid the file to him.
“Artemis sent this.” He allowed Ace to pick it up and braced.
Drake’s body language gave off enough warning that everyone else braced with him. Ace flicked through the file, his face displaying nothing. He gazed at the photos for several long minutes and then closed the file and slid it back to Drake. Ace gazed at Drake, and then his gaze flicked around the room, and ugly crossed his face.
“Fuck!” Ace roared and sprang to his feet. Drake was moving when Ace picked up the edge of the heavy table, and launched it sideways, tipping it.
“Fuck!” Ace roared again, and Drake threw himself at Ace. The man struggled, punched and kicked out. Manny, who was closest, got his arms around Ace the same time Drake did, and Ace threw them both off. Other brothers moved to contain the man and still struggling and fighting they managed to floor him and grab his arms and legs.
“Lock him down!” Drake roared as they carried the fighting, raging man out of the room. There were women in the rec room looking terrified, Phoenix, Drake noted, looked calm and collected. Misty stood near his wife, and his lip curled up. Misty was whiter than white. Skanky biker whore, he thought and then turned his attention back to his struggling brother. They got Ace down the hallway and threw him inside his room.
Fury erupted as Ace began to tear up the room. Furniture smashed, and fists hit walls, and there was the sound of drywall being punched through. Drake and the others waited in the hallway for Ace to calm. They waited half an hour before the room grew silent.
“Get my woman.” Drake ordered Mac and opened the door. The room was destroyed, nothing recognisable left. Ace sat in a corner, blood on his head and hands. His tee was ripped and hung in shreds on his body. Holes were punched in the drywall. Furniture turned into firewood. The door opened, and Phoenix entered. Ace ignored her like he was ignoring Drake.
Phoe hustled across the room and sat next to him and drew Ace into her warmth. Ace wrapped his arms around her and slid down the wall, landing his head in her lap, Phoe stroked his hair and murmured soothing words. Ace broke. Tears to streamed down his face and Ace cried quietly into her lap and arms.
“My beautiful girl, my angel.” Ace rasped out through his tears.
Drake remained with his back to the door, which held several holes. He guarded his wounded VP with all the loyalty the man had shown him. Ace calmed and lay there gazing at nothing.
“Brother.” Drake muttered.
“All these years, I hated, loathed her, and she lay dead. Couldn’t stop loving her even though I hated her.” Phoe stiffened, not knowing what was going on and her eyes shot to Drakes. He gave her a look which said later. Phoe’s hands continued stroking Ace soothingly.
“Aware now.” Drake replied to his brother.
“Eleven years man, I hated her. Eleven years, my girl lay rottin’ and unknown.”
“We’ll find out. Call in markers, set that hunter on it. Artemis found this in two weeks, she’ll find more.” Ace raised his eyes to Drake, hatred blazing from them.
“Kayleigh would have gone nowhere with a stranger. You saw how she was with them. A brother had a hand in this.” Drake stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he followed the thought process Ace already had. Drake realised that Ace’s anger hadn’t just been because Kayleigh was dead, it was because a brother had betrayed him. Someone Ace shouldn’t have to worry about.
“Fuck, shit.” Drake muttered.
“Yeah one of them out there knows somethin’ and when I find out...” Drake slashed his hand, raising his eyes to Phoenix who’d gone pale. Ace cut his words on seeing Phoe’s face.
“She was pregnant. Kayleigh never told me. Why?” Ace cried the last word, feeling a world of pain.
“Don’t know Ace. We’ll find out, find everythin’ out. I swear on our cut I will.” Drake replied. Ace rose to his feet and pulled Phoenix up to hers. Ace grabbed her tight in a hug and buried his face in her neck. Phoe’s arms rose, and she held onto him. Ace let her go and walked away. Texas and Slick waited in the hallway.
“Had to lock down Fish and Apache.” Slick said, and Drake gazed across the hallway. Where he now heard similar sounds coming from Fish’s room.
“Get someone on him.” Drake ordered Mac as his eyes followed Ace. Mac chased after his brother. Drake knew Mac would take that job himself, he wouldn’t let anyone near Ace.
“Marsha’s locked in your room, Silvie’s with her. Marsha saw the photos, Fish didn’t hold back.” Slick continued. Drake nodded, and his eyes went to Phoenix. Drake threw his arm around her waist and dragged her back to the inner sanctum.
Lex and Manny had tidied it and righted the table and everything. Sitting his ass on the edge of the table, he drew his wife between his legs and held her tight. Drake began to talk, and she listened without judgement. Phoe held him tight as his own pain drifted out of him, at the image of a sixteen-year-old girl brutally taken from life.
◆◆◆
I glared at my phone as for the fifth time today Drake’s number flashed up on it. The damn man had been calling for five days now. He’d left multiple messages at the offices with Buzz, and despite being constantly ignored, the man remained determined. Determined to the point of getting Phoenix involved. I snapped open my phone and snarled, “What.”
“Wanna hire you.” Drake replied.
“I’m busy, and Rage can’t afford me.” I snapped back at him.
“Can afford you darlin’, you owe us this.”
“I owe you shit. You kept on about this Kayleigh. Now you know. I owe you shit.” I repeated.
“Owe us to follow it to the end.”
“How you figure that out?”
“You sent us the file, could’ve let sleepin’ dogs lie. Opened a can of shit this club wasn’t expectin’. So, you owe us to follow this to the end.”
“Your thinking is fucked up Drake. I don’t owe you or your damned club anything. But one thing I’ll tell you for free, start internally. From what I read of Kayleigh Mitchell, a brother’s involved and maybe not just one. Find your own lapdog.”
“Askin’ ya nicely woman.” Drake snarled down the phone with a bite in his voice. I laughed at him and then cut the call and drove away. The next three calls were from Phoenix, and while I cared about that woman, I ignored her. My phone beeped with a message.
I pulled up outside another ratty cheap motel and listened. Phoenix was begging me to follow through on this, I was the best, and we both knew it. She said Rage was in an uncontrolled chaotic and downward spiral. Ace and Drake watched everyone, and my heart hardened against Ace. Phoe asked me to get involved until this was resolved and save her happiness.
Phoenix didn’t need the stress. Three months pregnant, this shit couldn
’t be good for her. Sighing I sent a text that I’d be in Rapid City within two days. I threw the phone and cursed Phoenix to hell and back.
Chapter Two.
1st October 2014.
Shown to the small conference room at Phoenix’s HQ, I stared out of the window, bracing myself. The file in front of me detailed Kayleigh Mitchell's death, and I was tapping my fingers absently. I’d prepared myself as best as I could to meet with Rage.
I wore black jeans cut low on my hips, a skin-tight Harley tee and a black leather jacket over the top. One of my specially designed chokers, boots on my feet and my hair pulled back. Minimal makeup, I wasn’t into being a dolly girl. Instead, I was a walking arsenal. A Glock 42 strapped to one ankle and a hunting knife strapped to the other.
Strapped to my waist was a G20 Gen4 10mm auto and my shoulder holster held the same. At the back of my waist was another hunting knife. A third knife hung on the opposite shoulder. On my wrists were specially designed leather cuffs that with one jerk of a cord allowed triangular blades to shoot up from the leather. Allowing me to slash at someone’s arms if they held me from the back.
My choker had hidden blades too, built on the same design as the cuffs. The boots held hidden knives if my arms were incapacitated. Two of my rings held flip out sharp thin blades to gouge out eyes if needed too. Buzz had designed many of my accessories, and he was a total nutcase.
Between us, we made sure that I was covered no matter what, my belt buckle unhooked at a touch and held throwing stars. Hidden thin blades were in the elbows of my jacket. A walking arsenal indeed. I was ready for anything, thanks to Buzz and his insane genius. Who didn’t love Buzz’s insane genius?
I looked up as Phoenix entered the room, followed by Drake and Rage MC. I studied the men in front of me, and they returned the favour. Apache looked older but no less handsome than when I’d last seen him. His eyes held such pain, it was tangible. Turning from him, I studied Fish and saw the same pain, Fish wasn’t even trying to hide it.
Ezra looked tired, suspicious and unapproachable and Lowrider was just pissed. I allowed my stare to drift past them and spied Ace for the first time in many years. Time had seen Ace right, his hair remained just past his shoulders and was pulled back in a ponytail. Shoulders had broadened, and Ace was lean at the hips and waist, and his tee showed distinct muscle definition.
Ace topped six foot two and came across threatening. His whole aura was one of danger. His eyes were dead when they looked at me. Ace’s mouth was bitter and drawn tight, and his face expressionless. I thought I’d prepared; I hadn’t. Ace hit me straight in the gut, and my breath stuttered. Even like that, Ace remained the most fascinating man I’d ever seen.
Drake took my attention as he dragged a chair out and sat on it, Phoenix took one near me. One by one the others sat, Ace at Drake’s right hand and even without reading his cut, I realised he was Drakes VP.
“What precisely do you want?” I asked without preamble, tearing my attention from Ace and focussing on Drake.
“Wanna know who and what was involved. Bitches have no place in a brothers business, but brothers don’t whack a brother’s old lady.” Drake replied.
“Not the way Kayleigh Mitchell died.” I said and tapped the file.
“Not in any way, a brother manages his old lady, not for us to interfere unless he’s too weak. No one in Rage is weak.”
“So what do you want, spell it out, Drake?” I leaned forward, Drake needed to be very sure on this.
“Want you to investigate. Need the names of my brothers who were involved. Wanna know who else and then want you to walk. You don’t need to be involved in the next stage.” Phoe glanced at Drake but said nothing.
“And if there’s more than one brother Drake?”
“What ya got?” Ace asked, leaning forward. Eyes snapped towards me with an alertness that hadn’t been there when Rage entered.
“A sixteen-year-old girl was brutally…”
“No woman, you fuckin’ know somethin’.” Ace interrupted me. I ignored him and concentrated on Drake and then each man sat at the table.
“And what if someone here is involved?” The room turned hostile as Ace sat forward and Drake’s body stiffened.
“Then Rage will deal.” Came the soft promise back. The softness didn’t hide the lethal connotations in Drake’s voice.
“May not have an MC left Drake, by the time I’ve finished.” I said, checking my nails as if I was completely uninterested.
“There’ll be an MC left even if I stand with one brother and rebuild.” Drake stated empathically.
“Are you sure you want to open this can of worms, Drake?” I held his eyes. Pain and betrayal flashed in them and then was gone.
“Yeah, babe.” Drake gritted out.
“Last chance Drake, I start down this road there’s no coming back from this. I’ll see it through to the bitter end. Do you honestly want to do this?”
“Yeah.” He ground out.
“Even if it means there’s only one brother left standing and you re-start Rage MC.”
“Dammit woman, you want it in blood?” Drake bit out, frustration showing.
“You ain’t ready for this.” I whispered to him, sorrow in my eyes. Drake’s eyes caught mine, and I felt his inner flinch. Drake was aware there was a bigger betrayal ahead, he wasn’t ready.
“What the fuck do you have?” Ace cut in again. I switched my eyes to his.
“Lots of shit. But I’ll tell you this, Texas knows something.”
“Bullshit!” Drake snapped. Disbelief rang in his voice. Ah shit Drake, if you don’t believe Texas as a possibility, how would you manage the betrayals coming your way?
“Speak to Texas, he knows something. By the way,” I said, rising to my feet. “Rage forgot to look at several someone’s.” Ezra leaned forward.
“We did?” Ezra asked, sounding confused.
“Yeah, not just brothers at the MC.” I pushed away from the table. Pausing near the door, I looked back over my shoulder.
“This’ll cost Rage in more than my fee’s, and they’re expensive enough. My frontman will be in touch for the first instalment today. Pay by eight tonight, or I walk, and you don’t get me back at the table.” I walked away and left Phoenix’s offices. I hit the stairwell and began jogging down the stairs. As I reached the second set, footsteps echoed, and then I was pushed against a wall.
Instantly reacting, I pushed back, ducking low and drawing my knife and I had it at Ace’s throat before he could blink. His hands came up fast, and they shot up the middle of us and thrust sideways, knocking my arms outwards. Ace came at me fast but not fast enough, I bent low, rolled and pulled my Glock from my ankle. Landing in a crouch, I looked up at Ace, the gun pointed at his head.
“Question is Ace,” I sneered the last word, “is are you quick enough to kick me away before I pull the trigger and empty the clip?” Ace took two steps back. Wise move, keeping my weapon aimed at him, I strapped my knife back in place.
“You sittin’ on more than you’re tellin’.” Ace spat.
“Prove it.”
“Only wanna know who. Who do I kill for this? Weren’t no outsider woman.” I glared at him and my lip curled in disgust.
“No, it weren’t no outsider.” I mocked him and backed away, keeping my gun aimed at him. Easily, I turned my back on Ace, showing I wasn’t afraid and jogged down the remaining stairs.
I exited the building and kicked the door shut. My hands on my knees, I bent over and took a deep breath. My head dipped, and I breathed in deeply again. Straightening, I raised my eyes and saw Drake in front of me near his bike alone.
Drake’s eyes narrowed. I tossed him a jaunty wave and climbed on the back of my Harley Lowrider and kicked it into gear. With a throaty roar from the Lowrider, I sped out of the car park, Drake’s gaze following me.
I went home. I needed to go home for a few days and remind myself why I was doing this. Soak up the precious life there. Find my balance ag
ain, before Rage dragged me through shit that was years old. And still not settled. So I left.
◆◆◆
Ace, Apache, Fish, Ezra and Drake faced off against Texas. The man sat puzzled at the end of the table and scratched his beard. Texas ran one hand through his hair and shrugged.
“Ain’t aware what I meant to know.” Texas said finally.
“Think Texas, you saw somethin’, heard somethin’. There’s somethin’ you forgot.” Ace pushed.
“Lemme be, need time to think.”
“Time to think is gone. If I find out you’re hidin’ shit from me…” Ace let the threat trail off. Texas looked up and narrowed his eyes, he rose to his feet and paced towards Ace. Ace refused to back away. Texas got in his face.
“If you imagine brother, I was involved in Kayleigh’s death you better say so now. ‘Cause I be tellin’ ya, I knew nothin’ and got no clue what I’m meant to. Who’s to say the bitch isn’t messin’ with our heads.” Texas clipped out. “Was me who cleaned up your mess with Bulldog and others, I’m aware what we are.”
“Artemis been right so far, but the bitch knows more than she lettin’ on.” Fish agreed.
“Don’t think you’re involved, brother. But believe you got somethin’, that you ain’t aware you know.” Ace finally said. Texas gripped Ace’s arm at his elbow and drew him close, face to face.
“Lemme chew on it.”
“What do you think Artemis meant by there’s more than brothers at the MC?” Ezra asked, changing direction.
Apache stared out of the window at the rec room. It was a big space, it needed to be for the traffic that traipsed through it. Battered sofas and cushy chairs were dotted around, a pool table stood in one corner, and a bar lined the back wall. Either side of the bar were two doors that led to the brother’s clubhouse rooms.
Drake followed his gaze and cursed out loud. Sat on her ass at the bar was Phoenix. Next to her was Marsha, and Phoe was holding her hand. Next to them was Silvie, dotted around the room, draping themselves over brothers were the skanks.
The Hunters Rage Page 4
