Iron Fury MC Boxed Set

by Bella Jewel

  Malakai exhales. “She’s right about that, never said a word, never interfered. Right now, it’s the best we’ve fuckin’ got. We gotta go, and we gotta go now.”

  “Charlie,” I growl, forcing her to look up at me. Her eyes are scared, full of a fear I’m all too familiar with. “We gotta get out of here. Get what you need. Two minutes. We roll.”

  She nods. “I’m … I’m sorry … I didn’t …”

  “No time for that. Get what you need.”

  Everyone moves with lightning speed. I pull out my gun from my bag, shoving it into my jeans, and all the other guys do the same. Within five minutes, we’re ready to go and the fire is put out. We’ll leave the tents and everything. It won’t go anywhere. We switch the lights out and step out in front of the cabin. It’s dark, and it’s going to be a fucking rough journey down to the road. It’s only short, but in the dark, it could be dangerous. We have flashlights, and I take the lead. I know the path well.

  Charlie is behind me with Malakai behind her.

  We move as quickly as we can.

  We’re only about ten minutes into the journey when I see it. The faintest flash of light. It comes from about a hundred yards ahead. Not enough to be a headlight, we’re likely not close enough to the road, but enough to be a flashlight. Someone is on this path.

  “Lights out. Now.”

  I hiss the words, and in seconds, the lights are out.

  “Nobody move.”

  “What is it?” Malakai orders. “What the fuck do you see?”

  “Look ahead.”

  I can’t see who’s looking and who isn’t, but the light can be seen again, flashing aimlessly around. Someone is close; whoever was tracking her phone wasn’t far away. That’s not a good fucking sign. Maybe they didn’t need the call after all. Maybe all they needed was her number. I have no fucking idea how many there are, or what we’re about to be up against.

  “Get the girls off the track, behind a tree, now,” I order in a hissed voice.

  “You heard him, girls, move,” Maverick orders, using the light on his phone and holding it low.

  He gathers the girls.

  “Koda,” Charlie whispers, and I feel her fingers tug on my jacket.

  “Go. Don’t make a sound.”

  “But …”

  “Charlie. Go.”

  She does as she’s asked, following Maverick off the track. I don’t know where he takes them, but a few minutes later, he’s back. We all huddle as close as we can. “Only advantage we have right now is that they haven’t seen us yet,” I say, my voice low.

  “I think we let them go past,” Mason murmurs. “When they’re gone, we keep movin’.”

  “No,” Malakai growls. “Fuckin’ no. I want to get my hands on whoever is comin’ up this track. Be the key to gettin’ in.”

  “Malakai is right,” I agree. “We have the advantage of a sneak attack.”

  “And if there’s a fuckin’ bunch of them?” Boston growls. “Then what?”

  “Unlikely, if there was, they’d be comin’ in loud and proud. Only saw one flashlight, which makes me think someone is tryin’ to get hold of Charlie before Benjamin does. Someone wants that money,” I tell them, voice low.

  “Koda is right,” Maverick says. “If it was Benjamin, he would have been smarter about it. Someone has done their own trackin’. Someone who knows her, possibly through him, someone on his team. Someone steppin’ out to find her before anyone else. Money does that shit to people.”

  “Right, so we wait and fuckin’ take whoever comes past down?” Mason hisses.

  “That’s right,” Malakai confirms. “Separate either side of the trail. And wait. Use force if you have to. I want whoever is fuckin’ out there, but I want them alive.”

  “Clear, Boss.”

  We all separate, me going to squat down beside a large bush. I can’t hear the girls, which is good. Too dangerous for them and we can’t have anyone blowing this cover. This is the only chance we might have at getting our hands on someone we can send on the inside. Adrenaline courses through my veins and my hand clenches around my gun.

  Fucking prick.

  We’ll take him down, one way or a-fucking-nother.

  The flashlight comes closer, and two voices can be heard. Male. Two is dealable. They’re speaking softly to one another, and it’s hard to make out the words. They obviously got a location from the phone but are trying to navigate up there. It won’t be easy, and that, once again, works in our favor. I hold my gun up, eyes focused, ears sharp.

  I won’t fucking hesitate.

  The light gets closer, and the voices get clearer. The sounds of boots crunching are close, really fucking close. They’re nearly on top of us.

  “Fuck me,” a voice says. “They are fucking hiding her well. How long does this fucking path go on?”

  “Who fucking cares?” the other voice growls. “We’re going to fucking take her and get that money. Couldn’t give a fuck what we have to do to get there.”

  “And if there’s fucking loads of protection up here? What then? We get our heads fucking blown off?”

  “There won’t be loads of protection. This place is protection enough. Whoever has her was fucking stupid enough to leave her phone on her.”

  “Wrong.”

  I recognize Malakai’s voice. It’s sharp, hard, and angry. “She most certainly does have protection, and you stupid fuckers are goin’ to wish you didn’t step foot on my land.”

  Gun fire.

  It echoes loud and angry across the quiet night. Fuck.

  They’re shooting. Without question.

  They’re armed.

  I stand, flicking on my flashlight, and aiming my gun straight toward two big, very fucking angry men. One spins around, raising his gun and aiming. I move quickly, dropping down just as the gun fires. Pain burns through my bicep as the bullet hits my arm. I roar in pain—it’s like fucking fire and it fucking burns. I raise my gun, but the guys are quicker.

  Malakai pops two shots into one man’s kneecaps, dropping him with an agonized roar. Maverick points his gun at the other one who has it raised. “Drop it, or I’ll blow your fuckin’ head off.”

  The man looks around and then lowers his gun, muttering a fuck as his friends bellows in pain. I clutch my arm, panting in agony as blood fills my hand.

  “Koda, you hit?” Malakai barks in my direction.

  “Yeah. All good. Arm.”

  “Secure these fuckers and let’s get the fuck out of here before anyone else shows up.”

  Boston pulls out a rope that he must have packed on our rush out and jerks the man’s hands behind his back, tying them so tightly he hisses and mutters a few curses. Mason deals with the man on the ground, putting a boot into his kneecaps twice before tying him. The man roars louder, rolling around in the dirt.

  “Get up, fucker, or I’ll leave you out here for the wild animals,” Mason hisses.

  The man gets up, bellowing in pain, blood pouring from his legs. Mason and Boston roughly stand him between them and Maverick grabs the other man, shoving him a few times before yelling out to the girls. A flashlight comes on, and a minute later, they appear.

  Charlie rushes over. “You’re shot.”

  “I’m fine,” I growl, the pain making my body break out into a cold sweat.

  “Let me help you.”

  “I said I’m fuckin’ fine,” I bellow.

  “God, you’re such an asshole. Malakai, give me the gun, I’m going to shoot him again.”

  “Enough,” Malakai growls. “Koda, you good, brother?”

  “Fine,” I grunt out.

  “Let’s move.”

  Charlie flashes her light at me. “I’m walking behind you in case you pass out. Argue with me, I’ll punch you right in the arm and give you something to cry about.”

  Fucking hard bitch.

  Fucking beautiful hard bitch.

  “Watch it, Charlie,” I pant.

  “Move, Dakoda.”

&n
bsp; I move, because I need to get this fucking arm sorted. One agonizing step at a time, we shuffle down a path that usually takes half an hour. It takes us nearly two. By the time we’re at the bottom, I’m sweating and shaking. Charlie is close behind me. “You OK?” she asks, her voice genuine.

  It’s gone beyond me to argue with her.

  “Nah.”

  “Malakai, how many trucks do we have?” she asks.

  “Two. Enough to get us all in. We’re goin’ to leave the other trucks here. In case they’re bein’ tracked.”

  “Good idea,” Maverick mutters. “I’m throwin’ these fuckers in the tray.”

  “Maverick?” Charlie says, dropping the tailgate as he shoves the bound man toward it.

  “Yeah?”

  “Make sure you drive wild. Make them suffer for shooting Koda.”

  I look at her, and her eyes meet mine.

  Then she’s gone.

  Fuck me.

  Girl is fuckin’ growin’ on me.

  God dammit.

  ~*~*~*~

  THEN – KODA

  “Here to see my brother,” I say to the pretty young blond at the desk.

  She stares at me, brows raised. “Well, you’re just like him, aren’t you?”

  “Identical twins, funny how that works,” I mutter.

  She blinks and then nods, looking a little sheepish. “Your brother has requested no visitors …”

  My fists clenched. “I’m the only family he’s got left, I have a right to see how he’s doing.”

  She smiles but she looks nervous. “I understand that, but we have to respect his wishes during his recovery. Some patients prefer to be left alone; they find it helps them better focus and fix themselves.”

  “Look, is there any chance you can go to him and ask him if he’ll consider seeing me? It’s really important, wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. It’s in regard to his storage. Will you at least ask him?”

  She hesitates. “I’m not really supposed to …”

  “Please,” I say, leaning over the counter. “I’m only asking you to check with him, not let me in. If he doesn’t want to see me, that’s okay, but please ask. He’s the only family I have, and he’s my twin brother. He needs me, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.”

  Her cheeks flush a little and she nods. “Of course, I understand that. I have family, too. I can only ask, though. And I will only do it once. You can’t come back in here and demand to see him again if he says no, do you understand?”

  I nod. “Please, just tell him it’s an important issue in regard to his storage. He wouldn’t want to lose his stuff, I know he wouldn’t.”

  She nods. “Give me ten minutes.”

  I watch her go and sit down, praying the mention of the storage will jerk my brother into agreeing to see me. I wanted to do this on my own, without him knowing, but I didn’t realize how deep he’d gotten himself. Guilt clenches my chest. He is going to let me help him, or I’ll do it on my own. It’ll be a whole lot easier for me with his help. I can only hope he’ll give it to me.

  Fucking pray, actually.

  Because I don’t know where to fucking start.

  It takes fifteen minutes for the receptionist to come back, and when she does, she walks over to me. I stand.

  “He agreed to see you, but only once. As you understand, we have to respect his wishes. You’ll have only half an hour, as it isn’t visiting hours, however we try to always allow our patients whatever makes them feel well, and if seeing family is that, we’re always open to it. I’ll need you to sign in, and then I’ll have you escorted out to see him.”

  “Thanks,” I mutter, signing everything I need to sign and then allow them to check me over to make sure I’m not carrying anything. I follow an old, angry looking nurse out into the gardens where they allow visitors.

  I see my brother straight away, and already in the week I’ve not seen him, he looks better. He has more color to his face, although he does look like he’s in a good deal of pain. Coming off drugs will do that. It’s a spiral downward before things pick back up. Still, he’s improving, and that’s all that matters.

  The nurse leads me over to the table and mutters, “Half an hour,” before disappearing into the garden with some other patients.

  I sit down across from my brother, and already his eyes, the exact same as mine, are piercing into me. “You got my fuckin’ attention,” he hisses. “What the hell are you doin’, Dakoda? Other than playin’ with fire. You have no idea what you’re gettin' yourself into.”

  “Firstly,” I growl, leaning in close, “you’re my brother, and if you’re goin’ down, I’m comin’ with you. What I’m tryin’ to do here is to make sure you don’t go down. Far as anyone knows, I’m you. No one knows you’re in here.”

  His brows go up. “What the fuck have you done?”

  “What is necessary to get you safe. Whatever shit you’re dealin’ in, it’s dangerous.”

  “It’s also none of your fuckin’ concern.”

  “Braxton, you and I both know I’m not backin’ down from this. I can walk out of here and do this on my own, guessin’ every step of the way, or you can have my fuckin’ back and help me. Tell me what I need to fuckin’ know. Tell me why the fuck you have fuckin’ weapons in your storage unit.”

  “So you did fuckin’ find them. You take anyone with you? Anyone else see those?”

  “No, and I don’t plan on involvin’ anyone else. I’m livin’ at your house, alone now, and it’s only a matter of time before someone comes lookin’ for you. At least, that’s what I’m guessin’, and I’d be right, wouldn’t I?”

  His jaw clenches, and I know damn well I’m right, because I look the exact same way when I’m backed against a wall with nowhere to go.

  “As I said,” I continue, “I’m your brother, I love you, but I’m goin’ to do this with or without your help, and there ain’t fuck-all you can do about it. Prefer to keep my life, so I’d prefer your help, but as I said, I’ll do it no matter what.”

  “You’re fuckin’ insane, Dakoda,” he hisses. “You have no fuckin’ idea!”

  “Then fill me in,” I growl. “Tell me what you’re fuckin’ doin’.”

  He exhales, running a hand through his hair. “You’re goin’ to get yourself killed.”

  “Means you walk away safe, so be it.”

  “Fuck,” he growls. “Fuck. Right, I’ll tell you but only because I’m not goin’ to have it on my shoulders if you fuckin’ die. If you choose to go into this, know that risk is fuckin’ massive.”

  I nod. “What are the weapons for?”

  “I stole them.”

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  Fuck. Me.

  I wasn’t expecting that.

  That changes things.

  Fuck.

  “Why the fuck—that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of weapons. Fuck me, what the fuck were you thinkin’?”

  “I wasn’t,” he barks. “I was scared, and at the time it seemed like a good fuckin’ idea. It wasn’t.”

  Of course it fucking wasn’t.

  “Start from the beginning and make it quick. We only have twenty minutes left.”

  “Started dealin’, way to make cash, get drugs, it seemed fine. New drug hit the scene, bigger dollars, but it meant dealin’ with larger people. I got into it, knew people, thought it would give me the cash I wanted. At first, it was fuckin’ incredible. I did a good job, got in deeper, got up higher, and started dealin’ heavier. But I was addicted and gettin’ into trouble, takin’ drugs when I was meant to be sellin’ them. Shit started spiraling and I owed some big people some big money.”

  God damn.

  “So, when the man running the show asked me to transport a shipment over the border for him, I agreed. Weapons. Big dollars. He was goin’ to pay me well for it. But I was never goin’ to fuckin’ give it to him. I was high, desperate, fuckin’ stupid. I thought if I stole the shipment I could sell it off. I’d be abl
e to pay for the drugs I desperately wanted, pay everyone off, and walk away forever with a fuck load of cash. More than he was offering. I knew people, I had contacts, it seemed like a good idea at the time …”

  “Not a fuckin’ good idea.”

  “I was high as fuck, addicted, and desperate,” he growls. “Understand, my brain wasn’t fuckin’ workin’ like it is now.”

  “What happened?”

  “I took it, hid it, and now I got people huntin’ my ass. Huntin’ me hard. Not only do they want their shit back, they want my head. I’m as good as dead. Day you found me, tried to overdose. Figured it was easier than enduring the torture they were goin’ to deal. Didn’t matter if I gave it all back and more. I was a dead man for the pure sake of it.”

  Fuck.

  This is far worse than I could have ever imagined. Far fucking worse. Right now, I don’t have a clear answer on how to get him out of this shit without risking both of our lives. I thought it was drugs, thought I could pay off the right people, fuck up the others, and get him out of it. But he’s dealing with big people. Top dogs. Dangerous men.

  “Who were you workin’ for?”

  “Don’t know his name. Just know they called him Shanks. Never met him. Never saw him. But he’s runnin’ a big operation. Fuckin’ deadly. Dangerous. He’s fuckin’ over mafia, cartel, motorcycle clubs, you name it, he’s tryin’ to fuckin’ take what’s theirs and he’s succeeding.”

  Fuck me.

  One man can’t take that kind of shit on.

  I don’t know what fucking options I have here except to fucking change his name and run.

  Might be the only way.

  No way we can take on something that size.

  “Leave it with me, let me see what I can work out.”

  “Not goin’ to work anything out, Dakoda. You simply cannot compete with somethin’ that size, I promise you that. You’ll die in the process.”

  “I said leave it with me. Right now, nobody knows you’re here. I won’t come back, in case I’m followed.”

  “They’re goin’ to kill you on sight. Get out of that apartment. If you have a chance, it’s that nobody knows you exist. Go home. Away from where they’re lookin’, and do your work from there. Don’t put your face out there. It’ll get blown off.”