Biker's Little Secret: Carolina Devils MC

by Brook Wilder

  “Thank you. The room is really nice.”

  Marlow knocked on the open door and the women took that as their cue to leave.

  ♦♦♦♦♦

  They both flopped down back on their bar stools.

  Alina couldn’t help but speak. “The poor man seemed really taken aback.”

  “This was probably the last thing he was expecting.”

  Looking around, Alina nodded. “It’s a lot to take in all in one day.”

  “Sorry about earlier. Hammer doesn’t have much tolerance for females who speak their mind. I should have warned you about that.”

  “I wanted to come with him to get Jaden.”

  “Jesus, why would you want that? The Grim are really dangerous men.” The panic in the woman’s voice made Alina wonder if she was even making a good choice in wanting to accompany them to the meeting.

  “I’m just worried about him. Hammer agreed to take me but only because he needs someone who speaks Spanish. I doubt they’ll say anything useful but if they do, I’ll be able to tell him.”

  The woman stared at her open mouthed. “You’ve never been hurt a day in your life, have you?”

  Glancing away, Alina had to admit the truth. “No. Never even got spanked as a child.”

  “Then you don’t know what it’s like to feel real pain.”

  Holding up a hand, Alina stopped her. “I had friends that did though. One of my best friends was raped and almost beaten to death when we were in high school. I helped take care of her afterwards and she was never quite the same.”

  “I can easily imagine how something like could break a person.” Shelby’s eyes were huge and compassionate.

  “In some ways it’s harder to see someone close to you harmed. I remember feeling helpless and wishing I could do more.”

  Shelby mumbled knowingly. “You see this as your opportunity to do more for someone you care about?”

  Taking another quick drink of her soda, Alina nodded nervously. “I guess so. I know I might get hurt, but to me it’s worth the risk.”

  “You really do care about Jaden?”

  “I know teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites but he’s mine. I can’t help it. He so smart and polite and sweet. It’s difficult not to get attached to him.”

  “Yea all the club whore adore him. Of course, Hammer doesn’t like us getting to close to him. Probably doesn’t want him to get attached to any of us in case we don’t stay.”

  Alina glanced away, thinking it might be because he didn’t consider such women a very good role model. Then again, she couldn’t really say where he stood on such an issue. Perhaps it was more her bias than his.

  “Jaden really needs a mother.” Shelby’s words sounded sincere.

  Alina blinked, looking up at the woman. “I’m not trying to compete with his mom or anything like that. I’d settle for just being a good role model.”

  “Jaden never had a mother. I thought you knew that.”

  “I was aware that none was listed as a contact on his emergency form. That usually just means the non-custodial parent lives out of area.”

  “Well his mother died giving birth to him. It’s just always been Hammer and Jaden. Hammer tries to be a good father. Everyone knows how hard he works to make sure his son has a decent life but it’s got to be hard on him.”

  Alina rolled that around her head for a minute. That must be why Hammer looked so thunderous when she asked about Jaden visiting a grave.

  Shelby continued trying to make her point. “Hammer inherited the club from his father when he was about twenty-years-old. He grew up in this MC. It’s all he’s ever known. Most of the guys here grew up the same way. They played together as kids. When they say they’re brothers, they mean it a little more than most patched brothers.”

  “I guess I’ve been pushing him pretty hard. That can’t have helped.”

  “They have seen hard times but they’ve always stuck together. No matter what the world throws at them, they handle it. When you are a third gen biker, life can be real shitty. Hammer reinvented this club into something we can all be proud to be part of.”

  “I can’t tell how important the club is to him, and Jaden as well. The little guy’s got his whole bedroom decked out in biker paraphernalia.”

  “I know people in the outside world don’t have a high opinion of bikers. It seems to me that the world is broken into two categories. There are nice middle class folks who set up college funds for their kids and think getting a parking ticket is a big deal. Then there are people like us. Our guys haven’t had any advantages in life. They do what they have to in order to survive and take care of us. They try not to be total criminals but they straddle the line between legal and illegal enough to earn the 1% badge they wear.”

  “Are you trying to tell me something?”

  “They need women who really love them much more than the average guy on the street. Many of them never had that. Their fathers were pretty brutal and their wives left with alarming regularity. The girls usually went with their mothers and the boys stayed with their fathers. Our guys are much sweeter with women than their fathers and grandfathers but it’s left them struggling to learn how to love.”

  “Again, I don’t know why you’re telling me this.”

  “If you can’t get behind the whole concept of some disadvantaged people coloring outside the lines to survive, you should turn away now. Hammer doesn’t share himself often. I’d hate to see him get hurt by someone who just can’t understand him or give him what he needs.”

  “You really care about him too?”

  “I do. It took a long time to see that it wasn’t a romantic kind of attachment. It’s more like a protective kind of love. I see his strengths and his vulnerabilities and I don’t want to see him gutted by a woman who just can’t accept him for the domineering, pissy bastard he really is.” The teasing quality of her voice, left Alina smiling.

  “I think I’m falling in love with him. I can’t imagine expecting him to be anything other than what he is. In fact, I think he’s pretty neat just the way he is. Once we get Jaden back everything’s going to be just fine.”

  Sliding closer, Shelby’s voice dropped to a whisper. “There’s something you ought to know about the Grims. They’ve been locked in a blood feud with the Kingsmen for over a decade. If Miguel can kill you or Jaden, he’ll do it in a heartbeat. Don’t take any chances while you’re there. If anything seems off, let Hammer know right away. If you can get Jaden the hell outta there, make a run for it. Hammer and the others will be able to mount a more effective fight once you two are free and clear, understand?”

  Alina wrapped her arms around the other woman as she whispered in her ear. “Thanks for that, Shelby. I appreciate it more than you can know.”

  Alina felt Shelby’s hand slip down the side of her pants. Something small and cold touched her skin then the woman’s hand pulled back. “That’s a little something for good luck. Stay safe.” Without looking, Alina knew it was a pocket knife.

  “You ladies finished fondling each other all up?”

  Alina turned to see Hammer pinning her with an annoyed gaze. Shelby quickly slid away as Hammer strolled over. Jerking her up by the arm, he pulled her shirt off and opened the front of her jeans. Plucking the knife up, he spun it effortlessly in his hand before stuffing it into her jean pocket. Whirling her around, he crammed a soft holster with a small gun inside into the small of her back and slid the holster strap down low enough to be hidden under the waistline of her jeans. He slipped a Kevlar vest onto her naked body and made sure it was secure before pulling her shirt back over her head.

  “Don’t touch that gun unless I give you the signal, got it?”

  “Whatever you say.”

  “So now you’re going to suddenly get all compliant on me?”

  “Go to hell?” She queried more out of curiosity than anger.

  “That’s my girl. Ready to hit the road?” He beamed approvingly at her. It warmed her g
ut and made her smile.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Keep up the sassing and I’ll leave more than one handprint on that pretty white ass of yours.”

  Smiling, she bit back the retort that sprang to mind.

  Chapter 17

  The Exchange

  Within an hour they were stood inside the abandoned warehouse they had agreed upon for a meeting place. Showing up without the girl was a risk, but then again Hammer doubted Miguel was going to bring Jaden. Hammer ran through the plan in his head. The club had agreed to give up territory and he’d brought a quarter of a million dollars with him as a peace offering as well as his Sergeant at Arms and new patch.

  Miguel had always been one to respect the green and no club president would consider passing up territory over a dispute about kids. Though his VP was probably prepared to do just that, Hammer suspected Miguel might bend just the bit they needed to make a deal.

  Looking over at Alia he could tell she was extremely nervous. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her to him. “Pretend like you cuddling me and let me know if they say anything interesting.”

  Tilting her head up, she nuzzled the side of his face. When the Grims arrived, they were murmuring.

  “Someone commented that the girl’s not here and another person said it didn’t matter because the gringos are going to all be dead soon. Someone commented on my tits.”

  “Hammer, nice to see you with a new bitch. We don’t usually bring them to meets. What’s up?”

  Ignoring the inquiry, Hammer got right to the point. “We tried to find the girl. Seems my son bought her a bus ticket to California a couple of weeks back.”

  “We checked all the bus stations.”

  “Probably before they got her ticket. They had her at their tree house for a couple of weeks to let the blowback die down. You know how kids are. They think they’re goddamned grownups these days. Have another look. She’s just a kid. She can’t be that hard fuckin’ to track down. I got a better deal for you today.”

  Miguel rubbed his chin. “Hey man, I’m always up for a better deal. Especially if you throw that pretty little bitch in on the trade.”

  “Might could see fit to toss her your way in a few months when I’ve had my fill. God knows, I don’t keep them around for long. I only care about my dumb ass son. Today I brought you a quarter of million dollars and am prepared to disavow all claim to the territory south of I9. I’ll throw in your Sergeant and new patch to sweeten the deal.”

  “I’m impressed, gringo. That’s a lot of territory to trade for one foolish little boy.”

  “I agree. Unfortunately, he’s the only family I got. You give me proof that he’s alive and unharmed and I give you the cash and your men. I’ll follow you back to your clubhouse alone and pick up my son.”

  Miguel tossed him a tablet with a flash drive sticking out the side. Hammer saw that he’d loaded up a video. Pressing play he saw his son sitting in a dimly lit room. The young kid appeared roughed up a bit but otherwise fine. He spoke, sounding self-assured, though his eyes held an element of fear. “Don’t waste your time looking for the girl. I made sure she’s free and clear of this whole mess. None of us even know where she is right now. I made sure we’d have nothing to tell, in case they tried to beat it out of us. Sorry, sir. I screwed up by getting myself caught.”

  Hammer’s hand shook slightly. Alina took the tablet from him.

  “Can I watch it again?”

  Miguel nodded, turning his attention back to Hammer.

  A few swipes of her fingers and Alina transferred everything from the tablet’s hard drive to the flash drive. Covering the screen with her hand she moaned. “Poor kid, he’s just a baby.”

  Reaching it back to Miguel, she gently tugged the flash drive out at the last minute just before his hand touched it. If he noticed, he gave no indication. The man’s eyes were pinned squarely on Hammer. He made no effort to conceal the fact that he was clearly enjoying the big biker’s grief. The hatred was evident as he scrutinized the man she loved.

  “I want my son. Don’t hurt him.” Hammer’s voice sounded desperate.

  “I’d never hurt Jaden.” Calm, cool and collected was the voice that answered him.

  Hammer escalated quickly to anger. “You’d hurt him just to get to me.”

  “He’s all I have left of her. You really think I would destroy that?”

  Hammer snarled. “She chose me. ME.”

  “But my little preciosa lived to regret that decision, did she not?”

  Hammer glowered at him indignantly.

  “You failed to keep her safe. If not for that, my anger would have faded long ago.”

  “You’ve got some nerve, Miguel.” Hammer was fuming as Alina tried to make sense of their cryptic conversation. Were they both interested in the same woman at one time? That’s what it sounded like. If so, Jaden’s mother had certainly made the correct choice in staying with Hammer. Miguel seemed like a real nut job.

  “He needs someone to teach him to be a real man. Someone to teach him honor.”

  “Like you and your VP. Did Jaden tell you about the day they found the girl?”

  Miguel stared at him.

  “Your VP murdered his whole family. She ran screaming from the house and Jaden just took off with her blood soaked body. I thought la familia was everything to you guys.”

  “I was led to believe his family is in Mexico, visiting with relatives.”

  “Well you now know better, don’t you? I will never stop coming after you to get my son back. He will never be yours.”

  Turning to Alina, Miguel asked. “Would you like to seek the protection of my club?”

  Shaking her head, she didn’t know quite how to respond to his out of the blue and rather bizarre request.

  “So be it, señorita. Please know this is nothing personal.”

  “I am sorry, Hammer. But you must know by now that I never bargain for what I can have free for the taking. Unlike you, I am a businessman before all else.”

  Before Hammer could respond he turned to his men and ordered. “Kill them all. Take the money and then clear out the rest of the vermin from that shithole they call a clubhouse.”

  Hammer hurled Alina behind him as gunshots erupt all over the room. She knew everyone was worried about them storming the clubhouse and finding the kids there.

  Alina quickly shoved the flash drive into the jean pocket and pulled out the revolver. Unsure quite what to do with it, she examined the side for the safety latch. Carefully moving it, she began looking around for something to shoot. Only then did she realize that Hammer had her wedged into a corner, protecting her with his own body.

  Before she could consider her next move, strong hands were grabbing her. As she was pulled away, Hammer stayed in front of her, shielding her. His shooting only slowed for a few seconds here and there to drop a clip and reload. The acrid smell of gunpowder soured in her nostrils with so many guns all going off in the same enclosed area.

  Someone threw her into the back of SUV and Hammer climbed into the vehicle behind her. She pressed her nose to the glass and could see men from several high vantage points, shooting down the Grims as they pursued them. Hammer had snipers in place to cover them. Decker jumped in and tossed the duffle bag of money onto the floorboard. “Hit it.”

  The engine was already running, and the car jolted into motion at his rough words.

  “Shouldn’t we be shooting?” Alina felt like she should be doing something.

  “You leave the windows up. They are made of ballistic glass. As long as they stay up, we’re safe.”

  Hammer queried. “Any causalities?”

  “Couple of our guys caught a bullet but none are dead quite yet. We do win the quick draw championship for today though.”

  Hammer murmured. “Miguel is a real piece of shit.”

  “Roger that. And the two fuckers who went after Jaden got away. We did nail a few of their guys but no officers.”

  Th
e person in the front passenger seat spoke. “The team at the Grims’ clubhouse came up empty handed. There was only a handful of guys there but no Jaden.”

  Hammer’s fist pounded the floorboard with one hard punch. “Fucking hell. I need my son.”

  Though she thought him inconsolable, Alina touched him gently on the shoulder and he turned, pulling her to him. “Thanks for the warning that all the gringos were going to die. Decker developed a plan for if something like that happened. We stood two men deep and the ones out of the Grims’ line of sight, drew their weapons. They stepped out the moment things went bad and it gave us the edge we needed.”