by Jess Winters
She could see why her dad had pulled her away from that life.
14. Tanner
Where the hell had he taken her? Tanner rushed through the garage and stomped up the stairs, hoping that he’d find her up there. His heart sank when he saw that the place was empty.
He was shocked that such a thing could happen. They’d been like a brotherhood for over thirty years, so for Sid to break away and do something like this, it was gut-wrenching. He wasn’t sure if the Red Valley MC would ever be the same again.
He paced throughout the garage, and searched each of the workstations. There was nothing. No clue of where he could have taken her.
Had he taken her? He wasn’t sure, but his gut was telling him that was the case. Beyond that, the blood on his porch could only belong to Scarlett.
If the tire tracks hadn’t been there, he’d never have known. But Sid was dangerous, and if he wanted something, he always went after it. Tanner’s heart was thrashing in his chest at the thought of something happening to her.
The sun was beginning to set, and it’d only be a matter of time until dark. Tanner took a seat in an old beat-up chair and stared out towards the parking lot. Where would Sid have taken her?
He tried to consider all the times that Sid had had an issue with someone. He’d never killed anyone outright – yet, but there had always been somewhere special he’d taken them to deal with them. He’d mentioned a farm, or a dirt road.
The sound of a motorcycle in the distance caused Tanner to jump from his seat. Relief flowed through him when he saw Brighty pulling up without a helmet or goggles, which indicated he’d left home in a rush. His bike came to a screeching halt in front of the garage doors.
Tanner ran out of the garage and stood in front of Brighty’s bike, which he’d only just turned off. His face was red, and he couldn’t tell if it was anger or windburn.
“The keys are missing.”
“Not just the keys, Brighty! Didn’t you check your phone?” Tanner asked, desperate for some answers. “Scarlett’s missing too.”
Brighty kicked the pavement beneath him. “Shit! That fucker. I should’ve known he’d pull some shit like this.”
“Where would he take her?”
Bright shook his head and took a step back, clearly surprised by Tanner’s tone. It was rare that he ever raised his voice.
“I’m not sure of the exact location, but I have an idea where he could’ve taken her. It’s not smart to chase after this, though, Tanner. Sid’s a dangerous guy.”
“He’s an old piece of shit, and if he has laid one finger on her, he will get what’s coming to him.”
“We don’t have any definitive evidence that he took her.”
Tanner pulled out his phone from his side pocket and opened up his messaging app. He tapped the voice recording that Scarlett had sent him and played it. Brighty’s expression fell as he listened.
“Holy shit.”
Tanner couldn’t blame him. It was unbelievable that one of their brothers would do such a thing, especially one that had been in Red Valley as long as Sid. “I know, man.”
Brighty fell back against his bike, as though bewildered.
“You have to tell me where he took her, Brighty. I need to know.”
Brighty locked eyes with Tanner. “You going after him?”
Tanner slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Yeah. I am.”
“Follow me. Now.”
Brighty didn’t say another word, before passing Tanner and heading towards the stairs at the end of the garage. He was silent as he led the way into the office area and walked towards his desk. There was something in his expression that Tanner had never seen before - it was a grimace, as though he was in pain.
He watched as Brighty opened a drawer and pulled out an old pistol and some ammo. “You’re going to take this with you,” he said, and dropped it on the desk between them. “I don’t know what you’ll be walking into with Sid.”
Tanner shook his head and stepped back. “I don’t know if I can use that.”
“I’ve taught you how to shoot. That’s all you need to know.”
“That’s not it,” he said, his voice low. “I mean, against Sid. He’s one of us.”
“Not anymore, he ain’t.”
Tanner glanced down at the gun and inhaled deeply. “Where’s he keeping her?”
“It’s an old place, I think. It’s his grandfather’s old farm, all overgrown now. Just off the highway.”
“How will I find it?”
Brighty leaned on both hands and brought his eyes up to meet Tanner’s. “Follow the dirt road, and right towards the end there’ll be a trail. If you take Sydney Street down, you won’t miss the dirt road.”
“Have you been there before?”
“Not in over ten years, but I think that’s where he’ll have her. I’ll meet you there with a few of the others.”
Tanner stepped forward and reached for the gun. “I’ll hold him until you guys get there.”
“All right, Pistol. You got this.”
Tanner cocked his head for a moment, but Brighty made no other motion. It was clear to Tanner that he’d just earned his name. Pistol.
“Keep her safe until we get there, all right?”
“I will, Brighty. Thanks.”
He placed the pistol in his back pocket and grabbed the ammo. He’d never shot another man, and he’d never planned on it, either. If it was to protect someone, though, he figured it was the right thing to do.
15. Tanner
It was dark by the time he got to the barn. So, this was where he’d have brought her. Tanner had heard stories about it from Sid, but he had never thought he’d have the opportunity to see it for himself.
He parked the Mustang at the end of the trail and walked the rest of the way. It was a long distance out of town, and he was hoping that he knew what he was doing. Sid had always been one of the wildcards of the group – he was the kind of man you didn’t mess with.
Tanner was silent as he pressed on. He saw the silhouette of Sid’s truck, and clenched his teeth at the thought of him hurting Scarlett. He pulled the gun Brighty had given him out from its holster and lowered it to his side.
The last thing he wanted to do was use it.
He was silent as he neared the barn, which had a light in the center. He decided to creep around the side and clenched the gun in his hand when he saw Scarlett, barely conscious on the old, rotted floor.
Tanner could see streaks of blood along her face and her shirt was torn at the edges. Likely from when Sid had grabbed her. Tanner shifted closer to get a better view from in between the old oak logs.
“You can try all you like to find your way out of this place. It’ll take you a few days of walking, so I hope you’re up to the task, sweetheart.”
Scarlett glared at him from the floor, but remained silent. It was obvious she wasn’t fully able to comprehend what was happening to her.
Tanner was silent as he lowered himself towards the ground. He rapped against the side of the barn with his fingers, trying to get her attention. Nothing.
Scarlett was unable even to turn around. His muscles tensed as he saw her trying to pay attention to what Sid was doing. The switchblade in Sid’s hand gleamed in the low light hanging above him.
There was nothing in the barn except old equipment and cobwebs. Sid either intended on killing her, or leaving her here – a place where no one would find her. Tanner rose slowly and gripped the pistol.
He wanted to shoot Sid.
Tanner went to the entrance to the barn and kicked open the door. He pointed the pistol at Sid, who turned around pulling his head back quickly. Tanner stood still and nodded when Scarlett raised her eyes to his.
“What the fuck is this about, Sid?”
“C’mon, man. It’s nothing,” Sid said and lowered the switchblade in his hand. “What’re you going to do? Shoot me because of her.”
“Doesn’t look like nothing, Sid. And yeah. If y
ou take so much as one more step towards her, I’ll shoot you.”
“I’m your brother, Tanner. This is all just a misunderstanding,” Sid told him, putting his hands up in the air. “I’m not going to hurt you, or her.”
Tanner took another step closer with the pistol aimed at Sid’s broad chest. “Then why the fuck is she bleeding, Sid?”
“She did that herself,” he said, smirking. “Go ahead. Ask her why she’s bleeding.”
Tanner lowered his eyes to Scarlett. “Hey, are you okay? Listen, I—”
For an older man, Sid was fast. He rushed Tanner and knocked him down, causing the pistol to fly out of his hand. Tanner pushed back and threw Sid off.
He heard the smack of Sid’s side against the ground as Tanner rose to his feet. He ran towards Sid and out his foot against his side. Sid grabbed Tanner’s leg and pulled him down until they were at eye level.
Tanner felt a rush of pain as Sid elbowed him in the side. Tanner gasped and punched Sid across the face, to get him out of his space. He rolled on top of Sid’s chest and brought his fist down.
The sound of the motorcycles didn’t even get his attention as he brought his fists down into Sid’s face over and over again. He could feel the warmth of blood in the cracks of his fists and the rawness of his knuckles against Sid’s facial bones.
He felt hands grasping his arms.
“Tanner, stop!”
Tanner came back and looked up to see Brighty, wide-eyed and screaming at him. He stared at Sid’s bloodied and broken face as they pulled him away, barely even able to feel his own hands.
Epilogue
The wind howled outside their bedroom window and the rain pattered against the outside of the house like something alive. There was a time when Scarlett had been afraid of thunderstorms, but that was in the past. Before him.
It was still unbelievable that she was with him. He’d given her something she never thought she’d find – a true sense of home. After her father had left, everything had changed.
Her mother had already found someone new, and was living her best life. Now, it felt as if it was Scarlett’s time to find her own path. He was a part of that now.
She nudged closer in his arms and closed her eyes. His bare chest was warm against her face as she rose up a little with each of his deep breaths. It wasn’t a perfect bed, nor a perfect town, or a perfect life – but it was theirs.
The sound of his heartbeat was enough to lull her to sleep. She touched the scar that straddled her hairline and her stomach dropped. Despite the fear that had entered her life, she knew that she was safe as long that she was next to him.
She hadn’t meant to follow in her father’s footsteps, but she couldn’t help but wonder if it was in her genes. There was the open road, the sound of the motor, and the leather that came with it. She had never felt more alive.
As it was, she thrived in her love of the open road and the man who’d brought her with him. That was enough. Their love was enough for her.