by Mary Potter
“Right,” I whisper with a nod. “They all look distracted. Now?”
“Now.”
Viper and I burst into the room, guns drawn. Our entrance is sudden and loud enough that everyone jumps. Viper goes straight for the broad man at the door, but my eyes are only on Mandy as I make a beeline for her.
She scrambles to her feet and fumbles at her belt, but it’s too late. She’d gotten too comfortable, too sure that we’d never find her, and she wasn’t weapon ready. I wrap my arm around her and swing her around to face the woman at the window, who is raising her gun.
The woman falters and then shoots, the loud bang making everyone in the room flinch. A second bang rings out, and I feel something whiz straight past me, making me jerk to the side as I try to keep hold of Mandy, who is jerking at her side.
Then she turns the gun toward Viper, shooting at him in rapid succession as she starts to calm, confident that she has the upper hand here. Viper dives down, leaving the guy he had already knocked out cold on the floor, jumping up during a pause to swoop in and fell her with a hard hit to the base of her neck. Her gun clatters to the floor.
Just like that, we have them. I breathe, trying to calm myself. That was ridiculously easy.
“R-Reaper?”
I look down. Kyra is staring up at me, looking utterly stunned.
“Hey,” I reply with a nod. “Sorry we’re late.”
Tears spring to her eyes, but I ignore them as I pass Mandy to Viper, who scowls as he slaps a pair of handcuffs on her. I bend down and slice through the ropes binding Kyra with the knife in my boot. As soon as she’s free, she throws herself at me, her arms winding around my neck as the tears finally fall.
“I’m sorry,” she sobs. “I’m such an idiot. I should have just stayed where I was.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
She lets out a watery chuckle.
“Not great on the comfort thing, are you?” she teases weakly.
I roll my eyes at her, but I can’t help the small grin on my face. We found Kyra. It’s almost over.
“Drop your weapons.”
At the sound of the new voice, Kyra and I look up. Viper stiffens as a gun rests against his skull, and he releases his grip on both Mandy and his gun. Mandy pushes away from him with a sneer.
“What do I have to do to squash you ?” Chains sneers. I hadn’t even heard him enter. Where the fuck did he come from? “Every time I turn around, you’re interfering. Fuck you, Reaper. You’re not getting away with it this time.”
Every part of me is frozen. Chains has his gun trained on Viper. I’d dropped my own when Kyra jumped at me. We’re all completely at his mercy right now, all because Viper and I had been too stupid to watch what was happening outside before we made our move. If we’d just waited, we would have gotten Chains in our attack too.
But now we’re hostage to him, instead. I feel sick and angry at myself. Today was supposed to be about taking this guy down, not fucking getting caught by him.
“Chains,” I say, letting Kyra go. “What are you doing here?”
“Why else?” Chains snorts. “We had a runaway. It’s time to take her back. We’ve got someone very patiently waiting for her.”
Kyra’s breath catches.
“I’m not going with you,” she breathes. “I’m not a sex slave.”
“Yeah?” Chains asks, quirking an eyebrow up. “Then you won’t mind if I splatter this guy over the wall?”
He pushes his gun against Viper’s skull, who winces.
“And then I’ll get your boyfriend,” Chains continues, nodding to me. “So better choose soon, sweetheart. Either you come with me, or these two die.”
I want to shout at him. I know he won’t keep that promise. As soon as he has Kyra in his grasp, Viper and I are dead. He’ll have no reason to keep us alive. With us out of the way, he can assume control of Devil's Mayhem with little difficulty. My father is too far away and too preoccupied with my mother’s health to fight him, even if I die.
But I hold my tongue. Our position is too precarious right now. Viper is in the most direct danger. I’m not going to antagonize Chains while he has a gun on my VP.
“Well?” Chains asks Kyra.
Kyra is pale as her eyes dart from me to Viper. She’s trembling too. I think she’s shocked by the casual cruelty of Chains and his threats. I try to catch her eye to silently tell her not to give herself up when we’re doomed anyway, but she’s looking everywhere, cataloging our chances. I know as well as she does that they don’t look good.
Finally, she draws in a deep, shaky breath.
“Okay,” she says quietly. “If you leave them alone, I’ll come with you.”
I grit my teeth. Fucking stupid.
“Good choice,” Chains laughs. “But don’t get your hopes up about Reaper rescuing you a second time. Your buyer doesn’t live in this country, so you’ll be going international. Exciting, right?”
From the despair on Kyra’s face, she didn’t find that exciting at all. I silently apologize to Emma. Not only could I not protect her mother, but I won’t be able to find her afterward. I hope Tex and the others will do their best for her when I’m gone.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Chains leers, and I feel Kyra shudder. “Time to go.”
For a long moment, everything hangs in the balance. There’s very little any of us can do. We’re all stuck. Viper and I have no access to weapons at this point, Kyra is about to be taken, after all our efforts to rescue her, and we’re going to die. I meet Viper’s eyes. I can see the same regrets in his eyes. There was so much left to do.
And then I hear it.
For a moment, I think I’m hallucinating. I can hear the roaring of the engines making their way down the road, and through the window, I can see the sand that’s being disturbed. For a split second, my heart sinks, thinking that Chains called for reinforcements.
But Chains jerks back, paling. These aren’t his men.
The truth dawns on me slowly. They’re my men.
I stare in shocked awe as the bikes come into view. When Viper told Tex and Fury to round up everyone trustworthy to fight Chains, I hadn’t expected to see so many. I was certain that, when I was through with the club, there would be barely any of us left.
But they’re here. Most of my brothers and sisters are riding toward us, determined to help bring down the man threatening us. It’s awe-inspiring, and it leaves me with a deep appreciation for them all.
“Chains?” Mandy asks desperately. “That’s them. Reaper’s guys. What do we do?”
Chains is frozen. Then in a flurry of movement, he shoves Viper forward, knocking him off balance. A glint of metal by my hand attracts my attention, and the gun is in my hand before I realize it.
Bang! I barely remember to aim, and Chains yelps, lurching to the side as the bullet scrapes his arm, tearing his jacket. Blood wells from the wound. He stumbles back and then turns and flees.
“Chains!” Mandy shrieks. “What the fuck? You left me behind!”
“Stupid bitch,” Kyra mutters. “I told her.”
The comment is unexpected that I can’t help but snort. Kyra looks up and gives me a tired grin.
Part of me knows that I should be going after Chains, but I’m exhausted. All the adrenaline of the past few minutes is wearing off, and there’s part of me that can’t believe I’m still alive. I was entirely certain that we were both done for.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Viper coughs, pulling himself up. “This floor is disgusting, by the way.”
“Looks like almost everyone is out there,” I comment, looking out the window.
“They’ll get Chains,” Viper states confidently. “He’s an idiot.”
I smile as I see the red and blue lights coming up in the distance, just a minute or so slower than my guys. No, Chains definitely won’t be getting away with this.
********
In no time at all, Kyra, Viper, and I are sitting on the steps of the run-down buildin
g, watching as police and club members alike comb the area. Watching the police take Mandy away, still in her handcuffs, was cathartic. The only thing that would make it better is if we could get Chains too.
I know it’s only a matter of time. After all, he left his bike here, not bothering to waste precious moments starting it with the entire club bearing down on him. I’m confident that he won’t get far. He’s not in the greatest shape, physically, and the heat will get to him before long. It’s one of the reasons I don’t really care about joining the search. They’ll find him with or without me, and he’ll be joining Mandy on their way to the cells.
That means our first objective has been cleared. We’ll still have to storm Night Pleasures to clear out any other assholes that are hanging around, but without Chains in our way, Devil's Mayhem can now take full control of the club, as we should have before now. It’s officially back under our ownership.
Griffin and the mansion are another story entirely.
Fury, who stood to the side and stared as his sister was led away, was directed toward the mansion without half our members. He shouldn’t have to stay and watch his sister get arrested, no matter what she’s done. He should be calling in with a status report soon.
“How are you doing?” I ask Kyra, pulling my thoughts away from Chains and Griffin.
“Better,” Kyra says with a tired smile. “Kicking myself for my own stupidity. Impatient to see Emma.”
“She’s on her way,” I reply, bumping my shoulder against hers. “Harpy and some of the other girls have gone to pick her up.”
“I know,” Kyra sighs. “I just… I thought I’d never see her again. I just can’t wait to see her again.”
I nod. I can understand that.
“We’re all safe,” I reply.
We look up as we spot motorcycles roaring toward us, and Kyra leaps to her feet, grinning as they get closer. I sit back, and when my phone vibrates with a call from Fury, I answer it with a small smile of my own.
“What’s going on?” I ask. “And speak up. It’s noisy here.”
“I can hear,” Fury replies, trying for a joke, but it falls flat due to the tremble in his voice. “Look, Reaper, I just got to the place. It’s completely empty.”
My stomach drops.
“What?” I hiss, glancing at Kyra to make sure she can’t hear.
“Just packed up and gone,” Fury repeats. “They’re fucking gone. Completely gone, man. Griffin must have known we were coming for him.”
“Where is Griffin now?” I ask sharply.
“I called his work.” Fury snorts. “He’s on an undetermined leave of absence. No one knows when he’ll be back.”
While we were so focused on Chains, Griffin and his mansion slipped through our fingers. I can’t help but feel like we won a battle, only to lose a fucking war.
“Anyway, I’ll look around some more because it looks like they left quickly. They must have left when you pulled Kyra out.”
“Maybe,” I reply quietly.
I look up. For a moment, I think about not telling Kyra about this. Then I shake my head. There’s been more than enough secrets going around.
“Thanks, Fury,” I tell him. “You guys head back and get some rest. We’ll be finished here soon.”
“You don’t want me to come back and help with the search?”
A shout goes up nearby, followed by a bellow of fury. I smile grimly.
“No, we’ve got it covered,” I assure him. “Go rest.”
Griffin might have slipped away like the slimy bastard he is, but at least we have Chains. For now, I want to get home, sleep, and forget about all this for a few days.
I can figure Griffin and his motives out another day.
Chapter Twenty-One: Kyra
Reaper drops me at his home and then leaves, a look of grim determination on his face when he tells me that he’s heading to the police station. I don’t question him.
A sort of quiet panic had come over me when I realized that Griffin was gone and that the mansion I had been held in was empty. Somehow, despite all the effort that Devil's Mayhem put in, the only one saved in all this was me. Everyone else at the mansion was gone. If Griffin is sly enough to disappear like that, then the chances of catching him will be close to zero.
I shake my head as I watch Reaper disappear through the gate. None of this matters right now. What does matter is the person who is waiting inside for me right now.
When I step inside the house, it’s quiet. The door creaks sharply in the silence, making me wince, and I head toward the living room. As I get closer, I can hear muffled sounds, and I’m struck by an odd sense of déjà vu. The only thing different is that Reaper isn’t with me.
Carefully, I push open the ajar door. The room looks a little different now. Most of the furniture has been uncovered, and the heavy curtains have been thrown open to allow for sunlight. The room has a fresh smell too. Eyeing the cleaning clothes nearby, I presume that Carla must have been tidying up for lack of anything else to do.
Right now, though, she’s curled up on the couch with my daughter, who is pressed close to the babysitter’s side. They’re watching something on the television, but despite the laugh track that sounds out and the forced smiles Carla tries to give her, Emma isn’t smiling at all. I feel that sense of guilt again. I did this to her. I was too concerned with my own pride.
I take a deep breath and step fully into the room, making two pairs of eyes snap toward me.
“Mom!” Emma cries, all but throwing herself toward me.
I huff out a breath as she crashes into me, almost toppling us both over. Emma is trembling slightly, her hands clutching at my shirt as though she never wants to let go. I wonder how much she knows and how much she’s guessed.
“Hey,” I say with a small chuckle, smoothing her hair down. “Sorry I’m late.”
“You’re really late,” Emma corrects with a note of admonishment in her voice.
I glance toward Carla, who is still on the couch. There’s a question in her eyes, silently asking me if I’m okay, and when I nod, she relaxes, sighing quietly in relief.
“I’m sorry for worrying you,” I comment, flicking my gaze up to Carla to include her in that too.
Emma pulls back, though she doesn’t release the white-knuckled grip on my shirt. There’s a petulant look on her face, and her eyes are narrowed in a childish glare.
“Why did you leave?” she demands. “Reaper told us we weren’t allowed to.”
I wince. “I know, honey,” I say, kneeling down. “But sometimes adults do stupid things. I was upset about something, and I was reckless. I’m sorry for that. But I’m okay now, alright?”
Emma’s bottom lip trembles, but before I can see the inevitable tears, she throws her arms around my neck and buries her face in my shoulder. I flash a quick smile at Carla.
If I could turn back time, I’d stop myself from ever going with Mandy, if only so that I wouldn’t have put my daughter through this. She’s been such a trooper through it all, but she’s only ten. I should have been paying more attention.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, closing my eyes. “From now on, I promise that I’ll be more careful.”
********
It’s late when Reaper returns. Emma has long since gone to bed, and Carla has left entirely for her own home. I’m sitting at the table, calculating what I’m going to pay Carla for the last few days. She’s gone above and beyond what I would have asked of her. She protected Emma when I didn’t.
When I hear Reaper’s slow, heavy footsteps, I look up from my work with a small smile.
“Hey,” I greet.
“What are you doing?” he asks. “It’s late.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” I admit. “I just needed to think about something else for a little while. How did everything go with Chains?”
Reaper instantly scowls and leans on the table.
“Bastard knew nothing useful,” he mutters. “But his headquarters were raid
ed. He’d left his vice to hold church, and the police got them all. Fuckers all had records and were arrested on the spot.” He snorts. “I thought we might prove a connection to Hell’s Riot, but no luck there. And fucking Griffin is gone.”
I ignore the way my stomach twists at this news and concentrate on the rest of it.
“Hell’s Riot is what again?” I ask slowly, trying to remember if it had been mentioned before now.
“The bastards that killed Lacey,” Reaper grunts.
My breath catches. Lacey, the woman Mandy had told me about. Reaper eyes me for a moment and then sighs.
“Mandy told us what she said to you to get you to leave,” he continues. I grimace at the reminder. “I’m sorry.”
“No,” I return instantly, shaking my head. “Don’t. You’re not the one who has to be sorry. You barely know me. You didn’t owe me anything, especially after you saved me twice before that. I was just being a jerk.”
Reaper snorts in laughter. “Yeah,” he agrees, and I give him a mock glare.
“You’re not supposed to actually agree with me,” I scold.
Reaper laughs at that, and the sound startles me because I’m not sure if I’ve heard him laugh so genuinely before. It’s a deep, belly laugh that makes me feel warm just to listen to him.
“Do you want coffee?” I offer.
“Nah,” Reaper says, shaking his head and striding to the fridge. “I’m going to have a beer. Want one?”
Logic tells me that it isn’t the best idea, but anything to dim the storm of emotions within me is a good thing in my books, so I nod and take the bottle he hands me. As he opens his bottle, he eyes the work I was doing and raises an eyebrow.
“Finances?” he asks.
“I’m figuring out how much I can pay Carla,” I explain. “After all this, she definitely deserves as much as I can afford.” I sigh and take a swig of my drink. “Not that I can afford much. We only just scrape by at the best of times.”