Speaking of Tempest Elite, it's been so long since I've been away from my brothers I'd almost forgotten there is life outside our four safe walls. Over the last few years, I haven't been away for longer than a day or two at a time, and I hadn't realized how closed off I'd made myself to the world.
Then India attacked a rival club member in a bar, and my life hasn't been the same since.
She's still going on about what books she'd like to bring back to the cabin, and I can't help but smile at her excitement. In the last two weeks, she's gone from a closed-up little bud of a girl to a blooming red rose, and I take pride in my part in her transformation.
As soon as we hit the main highway out of the hills, my cell buzzes. It's a text from Bear. I ignore it. I don't want anything to mess up these few moments of peace I have with India. Once we arrive back at the club, I'll be pulled in for an update with Bear and possibly Hawk, our head of security, and Gunner, our sergeant at arms, and India will be off with Everly and the other ol' ladies who hang around the club on their day's off.
"You think there will be any trouble with showing up unannounced?"
I take my eyes from the road to study the seriousness of the question on her face. "It's my clubhouse, and you're with me. We don't need an invitation."
"Oh." Her lips form a plump, pink donut. "I don't want to cause any trouble."
"Don't," I start. My chest tightens at the way she's sliding back into her old self so soon after leaving the woods.
"Don't what?" She tilts her head at me.
"Why is it so hard for you to relax and let us take care of Cobra?"
When she stares a second longer then turns to look out the window, I know I've screwed up, but fuck it. India is in trouble because of my past with the Devils. She needs to let me handle them.
"I don't want to see anyone get hurt over me," she says. Her tone is stern, but I hear the shake in her voice.
I'd pull the truck over and make her see reason, but we're on the highway now, and there isn't a safe place. "Damn it, India. You need to stop taking credit for my fight with the Devils. We've battled over territory for much longer than you've lived in town." I reach for her face and run my knuckle down her cheek. It doesn't get me the reaction I'd hoped for. Instead, she turns even further away. "You don't get to feel guilty."
"Then I won’t," she says after a pause. "But you're the one who told me Cobra holds vendettas, and he won't let me get away with attacking him."
"Christ," I grind out. "I don't want you near anyone talking about Cobra today. Got me? Even Everly. He's not a man to be fucked with, and you'd be better off forgetting about him."
India starts to say something, but she shrugs instead. She doesn't speak to me again until we are safe behind the walls of the clubhouse, and even then, it's only to tell me she's going to find Everly on her own.
She's through the front door before me, and she doesn't stop until she's seated at a table in the bar. A few weeks ago, I dragged her in here kicking and screaming. Now, she's running ahead of me like she's graduated from needing my support and safety, and she's looking for more from someone else.
I don't have long to think about it before I hear my name called. Bear is standing in the hallway that leads to the first-floor bedrooms and his private suite. It isn't until I get closer that I see the lines on his face. He looks ten years older than when we left, and he's pale.
"What the hell is it?" I cross the space between us in two seconds, and Bear backs up into the hallways, so we aren't seen.
"You should have stayed in the cabin."
"I checked in this morning. No messages. Nothing for a week. What happened?" Fuck. The text in the truck. I’d been so wrapped up in proving to India she isn’t the source of all of my problems, I’d forgotten to check it.
Bear runs a hand over his chin, and I notice right off it's shaking. "It's Everly."
"What about Everly?"
Bear pulls me into the alcove of the hallway just before the doors that lead to his room. "Cobra took her."
My veins harden. Everly isn't just one of the ol' ladies. She's Gunner's daughter and one of us.
"Where's Gunner?"
Bear nods behind him. "Hawk has him locked up in my room. Kyle is on his way in from their house. We only found out a few minutes before you arrived. Cobra sent a picture to Kyle's cell."
"Any demands?"
"You know what Cobra wants as much as I do."
"Fuck." I punch the wall. "We can't let him take her. He'll kill India just to get to me."
"We know." Bear drops a hand to my shoulder, but I push it away.
"What does Gunner want to do?"
Bear shoots a glance down the hall before he answers. "He wants to wage war."
"Then, we should." Bear gives me a hard stare. "It's been six months since the Dark Angels told us about the turf war. It's time we give them what they want."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Bear asks. When I give him a hell yes, he pulls me out of the alcove so I’m facing India's back at the bar. Judging from her rigidness, she's been brought up to speed about Everly from Doc who's tending bar in place of Gunner. "You sure you want to put her in the middle of an all-out biker war?"
"India will be safe. We have enough members to keep eyes on all of the ol' ladies?"
Bear glares at me. "She's your ol' lady now?"
I give India another glance. She's covering her mouth with her hand, and I know what's going through her mind. She's blaming herself for this. "She is now. That's the only way I can keep her safe."
Bear looks in India's direction. Bree stands from the table of ol' ladies. She wraps an arm around India and brings her over to the table to sit with them. India doesn't know it yet, but she's one of us. There is no turning back. She's an Elite.
"I'm calling Church in five. I'll tell Bree to keep an eye on India. Spread the word about Church, would ya?"
I nod and let Bear pass me before I head to the bar. India spots me right off, and even though I motion for her to keep her seat, she stands and joins me.
"Did you hear? It's horrible."
I pull her into my arms and she rests her head on my chest. "Cobra isn't stupid enough to harm Everly. He only wants my attention."
"She's there because of me. This is all because I attacked Cobra at the bar."
"Christ, no." I take her face between my palms and angle her up to me. "Listen to me, India. What happened in the bar is only an excuse for the Devils to provoke us. Everly is going to be fine. We all will. But I need to meet with the members now. I need you to promise you will stay here with Bree so I can stay focused on getting Everly back."
She blinks hard and nods her head, yes. I know this is killing her, and agreeing isn't easy, but she does it for me. I kiss the top of her head and let her go. "Give me an hour. Then we can work out how to get some of your things from your apartment and be back on the road before dark."
India touches my forearm. "No. None of that matters now. Just concentrate on saving her. I'll be right here waiting."
I shouldn't feel good about anything when one of our ol’ladies is in trouble, but I feel good about India. If she hadn't been here, I'd be my usual hotheaded asshole, and I'd have all the members riled up.
She's keeping me calm and grounded. Two things I've needed for too long without knowing how much I needed them.
I nod to Bree when she glances back at me and mouths that she'll keep an eye on India. Being Bear's ol' lady, she knows what's going through my head. Being from the outside world, she also knows how difficult this adjustment could be for India.
I grin and turn for the double doors and the membership meeting on the other side.
Saving Everly is my top priority, and I can focus on that task knowing India is here, in my house, surrounded by my family.
Church has gone on for over an hour. We all have our thoughts on the best way to infiltrate the Devils' clubhouse while keeping eyes on the membership that doesn't live behind its walls
.
I'm assigned to the tactical group headed by Gunner. We're going in hot, a curtain of bullets shielding us from oncoming fire.
India isn't going to be happy about this plan. Bear offers to update her when he tells the rest of the ol' ladies they will be locked up in Gunner's house in the county with several of the prospects and Smokey for protection. Smokey knows his way around a fire like no other, and he'd be able to get the girls out while burning out any intruders if Gunner's house is attacked.
I need to deliver this news myself to India. Being new to my lifestyle, I'm sure Bear's description of our plan will sound horrific compared to what will happen in reality.
I trail Bear out to the bar and greet the table of women that has grown as members are called into the clubhouse, and they bring their ol' ladies and significant others for protection.
"Where's India?" I ask, surveying the group and not spotting her.
Bree stands. "She went to the bathroom a little while ago. I sent Rita with her."
"Bree?" It's Rita's voice I hear over my shoulder. "That was almost a half-hour ago, and I left her when she said she could find her way back on her own."
"Fuck," Bear and I say at the same time.
"I'll check the bathrooms," Bree starts when Bear tells her not to worry.
I don't bother checking either. India isn't going to be there. I don't even have to guess what she's done. Bear knows it too.
My heart is pounding. I can't breathe through the tightness in my chest, but neither slow me down. I grab Smokey and Hawk, the two strongest guys in the club, and tell them to follow me.
I don't even have to give orders, which is good since my mind isn't clear enough to make them coherent. Smokey and Hawk are geared up and meet me outside by my bike. The sweater India has been wearing over her dress is dangling off my handlebars.
I don’t have time to wait for Bear to decide his next move. I know where Cobra is, and I’m willing to bet he’s got Everly there too. When I peel out of the parking lot on my bike, I feel Smokey and Hawk at my back. Good. I’m going to need the help.
The whole damn game just changed, and I can only hope I'm not too late.
Chapter 9
India
I needed fresh air. The bar is stuffy with smoke and the smells of stale beer and fried foods, and all the chatter has my head spinning. When Everly sent me to the bathroom with one of the women she introduced as a friend, I followed. I intended to find a window or a back door, so I could stick my head out, but Rita stuck to me like hot tar on pavement. I had no choice but to send her back to the bar without me so I could sneak to the side door.
I never saw who grabbed me. I was observant, surveying the parking lot and area right outside the back door I found off the kitchen. I watched for movement and scanned while I breathed in the chilled air.
I never expected for the door to close, locking me out. I didn’t make it halfway around the building before someone grabbed my arm from behind.
I still don't know who has me. He clamped a hand over my mouth before I could scream, and as soon as he dragged me across the back parking lot and through a whole cut in the fencing, I’m shoved into an older model red truck and he tied a dirty rag around my eyes. I tried not to breathe in the fumes from the blindfold, but when he yanked my sweater off and shoved me down to the truck’s floorboards, I thought the worst, and I sucked in a big breath. He wraps twine around my wrists and anchors them to my waist. My ankles are next, then slams the door shut. I don’t hear the driver’s side open right away and I think I might have a chance to escape, but it’s short lived.
My head is spinning from the fumes, but I'm awake and alert. He’s driving fast, throwing me around until I climb back up to the seat. I can't see anything, and the sound is muffled by the fabric tied over my ears and the loud radio playing classic rock.
I used to love classic rock. I don't think I will ever hear it again and not remember this moment. If I live through whatever is coming my way.
Even if I see daylight day again, it won't be long before Scout kills me. I know how pissed he's going to be when he finds me missing. He's going to assume I left on my own. That's the beauty of this guy's plan, and maybe it's downfall. He doesn't understand my relationship with the club well enough to know they aren't going to come looking for me. Scout’s going to assume I made a run for it, and he’s going to let me go. If getting their attention is what he's after, this guy has failed.
A different beat of music mixes with the one from the radio, and I make out a gruff "Yeah" through the cab’s noise. He's talking to someone, but only in one-word answers. He's careful not to say enough to give anything away. There is nothing over my mouth. Nothing but fear keeping me from talking, so I take my chances that the person on the other end of the phone isn't working with my attacker, and I scream.
The impact along my cheek is swift, and the force sends my skull crashing into the window at my side. It's pitch black under the rag, but I see stars as bright as if I'd been staring at the night sky.
"Shut the fuck up, bitch." he growls, and I do because I know my place now. He's not fooling around. He's not afraid to hurt me, and from the sound of his chuckle, before he goes back to his one-word answers, he enjoyed hitting me way too much.
My head is throbbing. I feel myself fading in and out of full consciousness with each passing second. The fumes are overpowering and mix with the throbbing of my head. Leaning back against the headrest and closing my eyes is the only way I get the slightest bit of relief.
When I'm sure the call is over, I venture a question, knowing it will end with another strike and possibly a blackout. It's a chance I'm willing to take for answers.
"Why are you doing this?" I ask. My voice is so weak in my own ears, I wince.
Another chuckle. Another slap across the cheek, this one with less power but double the sting as if he meant to only remind me he is in charge. Then he pinches my chin between his fingers and jerks my face toward his. "You have all the questions, don't you, Bitch? Best you learn to shut that hole before you meet the boss."
I do what I'm told because one more hit from him and I will blackout.
I'm not sure how long we're on the road, but I do know we go from off-roading to highway and back several times before we slow onto a twisting side road and come to a stop.
After the way he put me in the truck, I'm cringing at the thought of what he'll do to get me out. I tighten my body, thankful I didn't provoke him into hitting me again, so I've had time to regain my ability to focus. He hasn’t opened his door yet, so when mine creaks open, I’m surprised. A pair of hands wrap around my upper arm. My ankles are freed, and I'm guided out of the truck.
"You sure no one saw you take her?"
The voice is different. Lighter. Kinder, if that's possible. It's male by the smells coming from him. Motor oil and cigarette smoke with a hint of something spicy. His hold is firm but not tight, and he's guiding me more than dragging.
"Yeah, man. I told you. They were in Church. No one saw, but I left an invitation for your boy. He'll get the message."
"You better hope he does."
"He can't miss it. I left a piece of her where he'll see it the second he notices she's missing."
I crane my neck to hear all of the words through the rag. I miss some of the conversation but pick up enough to know whoever these guys are, they are setting a trap, and I'm the bait.
We walk over gravel, then paved ground before a door creaks open, and the brightness of the sun is gone from behind my blindfold.
"You want me to deal with her?" my driver says, and I shiver at the thought of what his idea of dealing with me could mean.
A finger drags along my bruised cheek. "Fuck, Frog. What the hell did you do? Cobra said, keep her clean."
"She got mouthy. I shut her up. You want me to take her or not?"
"Nah. She goes with the other until they show. You need to be on lookout. Call the second you see them coming."
Mo
re words are mumbled too low for me to hear, then footsteps move away from me, and I feel my whole body relax, knowing my kidnapper is walking away.
There is no more talking. Only pulling me in one direction, then another. We stop for a second. I hear the click of a key in a lock, then the creak of a door. He shoves me in without removing my blindfold or the ropes on my hands. I'm left to find my way in the unfamiliar room. The door shuts behind me with a thud, and the terror takes over my body.
Using my hands, I reach out for the closest wall and feel my way along to a corner, then I slide down to my knees to sit. When my legs bend and go down, I land on something soft.
"Ouch."
It's a female voice. One I'm sure I've heard before.
"Everly?" I put every ounce of hope I have into calling her name. Her voice is weak, and I'm worried. I feel around the best I can with my hands tied together until I find a soft lump and work my way up. "Who's there?"
Scout
I never should have let her out of my sight. Fuck. I screwed up by bringing her back. I rev my engine and speed through a red light, barely missing sideswiping an eighteen wheeler.
This is my fault. I fell into the trap of comfort. I let my feelings for India cloud my judgment, and I let my focus wander to what could be, losing sight of the trouble right in front of us.
The same rookie move I made with Cobra. Now I'm paying the price twice.
Hawk is right on my trail, and Smokey is taking a route that will lead him to the back of the Devils' compound. Their space is more spread out than ours. Their clubhouse is an old grain warehouse on the outskirts of town with a few small buildings around the area for houses and businesses. Sneaking up on them is impossible. The best tactic is to come in hot enough most of the members get the hell out of our way.
Half a mile out, I spot their scouts and wave to Hawk. He knows what I'm planning, and he's off my right flank riding hard toward the two bikes on the hill. They'll get the call into their club that we're coming, but they won't be riding in as back up.
Scout: Tempest Elite MC Page 8