I hoped I wasn’t going to be gone for a couple of days, but I really didn’t have a clue what I was walking into.
I needed to get Raven out of whatever she was in and get back to Alice as soon as possible. Something with the way Boink talked told me that this wasn’t going to be an easy fix. Then, I would be back in Kales Corners.
Fuck.
*
Alice
Alice,
Got some shit to take care of.
I’ll be gone for a bit.
Call me if you need anything.
-Wrecker
I flipped the paper over, hoping there was something more to the note than that, but it was blank.
I read it over two more times and finally set it down.
He was gone.
He was gone, and I had no freaking clue where the hell he was or when he would be back.
How the hell long was “for a bit?”
Two days? Four days? A month?
I mean, come on, throw a girl a bone here. I had spent days with the man, gotten used to him being around, and suddenly, he was gone without a reason. I’m sure it was club business, and I knew this is what Nikki and Karmen talked about when they said it drove them crazy when Nickel or Pipe would mumble about “club business” and they would just have to accept it.
I laid my palms on the counter and bit my lip. Well, now what was I supposed to do? Somehow, the man had come into my life like a freight train, and now, he was gone like a thief in the night. Though his note implied he would be back, but not when.
What was a girl to do when her bearded man went away indefinitely?
*
Chapter 18
Wrecker
“And why did you bring her here?”
Boink shoved his hands in his pockets. “She’s scared, man. What the hell was I supposed to do? As soon as I mentioned that Raven was missing, she freaked the hell out.”
“I don’t know, but you didn’t need to bring her here. Now we have another fucking chick we need to take care of. You assholes can’t seem to do anything for me without tripping over some chick needing help.”
Boink plopped down on the couch. “Hey, you’re the one who’s shacking up with his own chick that needs help.”
“We aren’t talking about me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Is that how that goes?”
I pointed toward the bedroom that Mayra was in. “I’m not taking care of whoever that is in the bedroom. You brought a chick into this that doesn’t have jack shit to do with what is going on.”
“She might have information about The Ultra. She has to know something that is going on since she about shit her pants and turned white as a damn ghost.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. I had been in Riverton for four hours, and I hadn’t figured a damn thing out about Raven. “Pump her for all the information you can, then get her the hell out of here.”
“But what if she’s in trouble with The Ultra now that she talked to us?”
I dropped my chin to my chest. Fucking hell. I didn’t want this. I didn’t fucking sign up for this shit when I got voted into being the president of the Fallen Lords. “I fucking hate all of you bastards. Herd these bitches like God damn cats into the clubhouse.”
He held his hands up.
There was only one answer. “Find out what she knows, then take her back to the fucking clubhouse. Once we find out that The Ultra isn’t on her case, we turn her loose. I’ve got too much fucking shit going on right now to deal with another chick.”
“You won’t even notice her.”
That was a load of shit. I could only image the wagon-load of issues this chick had. “Load her up and get back to the clubhouse.”
“You don’t need me here?”
I leveled my gaze on him. “Because you did such a fucking good job of helping me already.”
“I did everything you asked me to do, Wrecker. They made a move I didn’t think that they would. How they figured out she was with the Lords is beyond me.”
“Cause I’m sure you weren’t as inconspicuous as you thought. Sitting on the same fucking barstool for three weeks and ordering the same thing puts you on their radar because even drunks aren’t that routine.” I’m sure he showed up as soon as Raven clocked in and then left as soon as she left. The club belonged to The Ultra, and I knew they kept tabs on everyone who came into that club. Up front was a bar and club, but behind the scenes, it was a hell of a lot more than that.
“What the hell was I supposed to do?”
“Something different that wouldn't have gotten Raven God damn kidnapped.” I grabbed the keys to my bike and slid my sunglasses over my eyes. “Head back to Weston with Mayra. If I need any help, I’ll let Pipe know.” I couldn’t blame this all on Boink, but he was the one available for me to yell at so he was going to get the brunt of my wrath.
I walked out of the hotel room without a backwards glance and jogged down the steps to my bike. I patted the pocket of my vest and pulled out a card I was hoping I wouldn’t have to use. I had to basically promise my first born child and my Harley to get my hands on this number. After I got it, I was told to only use it if I was absolutely out of options.
Oakley Mykel
555-647-8893
I was going to go directly to my problem now. Using Raven had backfired completely, and I had made a whole new mess to clean up.
There were two things I needed to do.
Get Raven out.
Get off The Ultra’s radar.
*
Chapter 19
Alice
“How long on that hash, Bos?”
“However long it takes.”
I rolled my eyes and leaned against the back counter. It was Friday afternoon, and my shitty mood had worn off on Bos. We were both acting like bears with prickers in our paws. I missed Wrecker while I wasn’t quite sure why Bos was being an ass more than usual. “Well, can you make that about thirty seconds? The customers actually want to eat today.”
“Well, I want a vacation home in the Alps, but I’m still here cooking hash for you.” He rattled the plate down on the pass-through and glared at me. “Hash, darlin’.”
I grabbed the plate and set it on my tray along with the other three plates of food for the table. “I thought we were friends, Bos. Am I going to have to take you out for a drink tonight?”
“You feeling the need to get a little artistic on another ex-boyfriend’s car?”
Now it was my turn to glare at him. “You’ve met all of my ex-boyfriends. You don’t think he warranted me painting a pretty picture on his car?” I batted my eyelashes and popped the gum in my mouth.
“Not sure what exactly he did to you, but if he was as much of a pussy as he was that night, you should have drawn one of those vajayjays on his car.”
My jaw dropped, and my gum tumbled onto the floor. “I don’t think I ever thought I would hear that word come out of your mouth.”
“You and Nikki used to say it all the time.”
I tilted my head to the side. Nikki and I talked a lot when we were working, but I really doubt that every other word out of our mouths was vajayjay. “How about we just forget you ever said that and move on.”
A huge grin spread across his lips. “Vajayjay.”
A shiver coursed through my body. “Eww.” I dropped down to pick up my gum and tossed it in the garbage. “We are not friends anymore.” I grabbed the tray of food and balanced it on my shoulder.
“Oh no, I’ll have to find another friend to take me out to bars and get arrested with.”
I flipped him off and spun around. “I don’t have to take this kind of abuse.”
I delivered the food to the customers who were waiting and heard the bell above the door ding. “Grab a seat, I’ll be right with you.” I topped off table three’s cups with soda, then pulled my notepad out of my apron as I walked to the customers who had just come in. “What can I get you fellas?”
Two handsome men w
ith dark, tanned skin sat at the booth with no menus in front of them. They were dressed in nice suits that Kales Corners had never seen the likes of before. You could tell they were definitely just passing through.
“We’ll just have coffee,” the one on the left said.
“Uh, just coffee? We have some pretty good hash as long as Bos gets his ass moving and makes it,” I talked loudly.
Bos grumbled from the kitchen, and a little smile crossed my lips. I loved giving that man hell.
“Coffee,” the one on the right grunted.
I tucked my notepad back in my apron and gave them a tight smile. “Be right back, fellas.” If all they wanted was damn coffee then they should have just stopped at the gas station right off the interstate.
“What do they want?” Bos grunted as I grabbed two cups and the coffee pot.
“Have no fear, nothing you need to do. They just want coffee.”
“They here just for coffee?” he questioned.
He was just as suspicious as I was. “I know, right? They’re going to be super disappointed when they taste the sludge I’m about to serve them.”
Bos stepped to the side and looked at them over my shoulder. “Be careful around them, darlin’. They might be part of one of those sex rings.”
“You mean trafficking rings, right? Cause a sex ring sounds like some people's personal kinks.”
His gaze connected with mine. “You ever serious in your life, girl?”
I hooked the coffee cups though my thumb and shrugged. “If I was serious all the time, I would be crying constantly.” I made my way back over to the table with the mysterious two men and set the cups down in front of them. “You two sure you don’t want anything else to eat?”
The serious one who had grunted “coffee” at me shook his head. He held his phone up at me, the flash went off, and then he put it back in his pocket.
The other one tossed a twenty on the table, and they both stood up. “We’re done here,” somewhat nice guy said.
They walked out of the restaurant without a backward glance and got into a big black SUV.
“What in the hell was that?” Bos demanded.
I grabbed the empty cups and watched them back out of their parking spot and head in the direction of the interstate. “I ain’t got no clue what the hell that was.”
“Call your fella.”
I turned to look at Bos. “My fella?”
“The guy with the massive beard. Call him and tell him what just happened.”
“He’s out of town, Bos.”
“Don’t fucking matter,” he barked. “Call him, Alice. What just happened is not normal.”
I haven't talked to Wrecker since he left three days ago. He had texted me twice, and I had replied each time, but he never texted me back right away. His note had said to call him if I needed anything, but I didn’t want to bother him with something that might turn out to be nothing.
“Girl, I see your mind working all weird shit in your head right now. Call. Him. Now,” Bos demanded.
I stuck my tongue out at him and set the coffee pot and cups down. “All right, all right. Don’t get your Depends in a twist. It was probably nothing but a bunch of bored business dudes being assholes.”
“Those were not the kind of businessmen you think they were, darlin’.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I fired off a quick text to Wrecker.
You busy?
I waited a full ten seconds before he replied. Not if you need me.
Jesus. Talk about melting my heart in five words. Something happened at the diner. Bos is freaking out and said I should call you. Can you talk?
About to go into a meeting. Call right now.
I tapped on his name on the top of my screen and connected the call. “If I look like a fool, Bos, I’m kicking you in the nuts.”
“Babe?” Wrecker said quietly.
Shit. “Uh, hi.”
“Who you kicking in the nuts?”
I slid my finger across my neck and glared at Bos. He flipped me off and disappeared into the depths of the kitchen. “Bos. I might sound like a fool in ten seconds.”
He chuckled low. “Tell me what’s going on. I’m a few hours away, but if you need me, I’ll have someone there quick.”
My little heart fluttered at his words. Focus, Alice. “Um,” I shook my head and gathered my thoughts. He had said that he was about to go into a meeting, so I needed to spit it out so he could get on with his shit. “About five minutes ago, two guys walked into the diner, sat down, and ordered coffee.”
“Okay.”
“When I brought them their cups, one of them pulled out their phone, took a picture of me, and then they left.” The line was silent, but I could feel something change.
“What did they look like?” he growled.
“Uh, well. They had really nice suits on. Ones you wouldn’t see in Kales Corners. Not like prom suites either, not polyester. More like Italia—”
“Alice,” he snapped, cutting me off. “Their faces.”
“Oh, um. They were really tan. Looked like they were maybe Italian. One was somewhat nice, and the other just sat there and said one word to me. Very rude, if you ask me.”
“You get a look at their vehicle?”
Something wasn’t right. He was much more concerned about this than I had thought he would be. “Uh, big, black SUV. I think it was a Suburban. I know that because my mom used to have one. Not that nice, but you know what I mean.”
“Which way did they head?”
“Toward the interstate.”
“Is Bos still there?”
“Yeah, we’re working, Wrecker.”
He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “I need you to do exactly what I say, Alice.”
I nodded and realized he couldn’t see me. “Okay,” I replied.
“I’m going to call Brinks. He’s going to come and get you. Stay with Bos until he gets there. Do not leave with anyone besides Bos and Brinks, you hear me?”
“Yes, Wrecker. But I don't—”
He cut me off. “I told you to just do what I say, Alice. I don’t know what just happened, but I know that it’s not good.”
A chill ran down my spine. Wrecker sounded worried. I had never heard that tone from him before. “Wrecker, tell me what is going on.”
“That’s the thing, Alice. I don’t have a fucking clue what is going on. Just do what I told you, and I promise you’ll be safe.”
I gulped and glanced back in the kitchen to see Bos watching me closely. “I’m scared, Wrecker,” I whispered.
“Babe, I got you. Swear on my life, nothing will happen to you.”
I closed my eyes and tried to get a grip on my anxiety that was going through the roof. “Stay with Bos, wait for Brinks. I can do that. What happens after Brinks gets here?”
“He’ll take you back to the clubhouse. You’ll be safer there than at your house. There are too many variables we can’t keep you safe from there.”
“Okay,” I whispered. This was crazy. Wrecker was supposed to laugh at the guys and tell me to get back to work. Instead, he was freaking me the hell out. His tone was firm and unyielding. I wasn’t going to argue with him about this. “So, Brinks will be here in two hours?”
“Probably quicker than that because I’m gonna tell him to break every damn speed limit to get you.”
I dropped my chin to my chest and sighed. “Will I see you soon?” I wasn’t going to calm down ‘til I saw him again.
“Hopefully tonight, but I can’t make any promises, babe. Just stay close to Brinks until I get back. I trust him with my life, and I know he won’t let anything happen to you until I get there.”
“Wrecker,” I called. Hell, I was going to do it. I couldn’t hang up with him without telling him what I was feeling.
“Yeah, babe?”
“I…I…fuck.” The words were right there, but I was terrified to say them out loud.
“I hear yo
u, babe. You don’t need to say it out loud. I feel it.”
He could feel that I loved him even though I couldn’t get the damn words out. “Get back home to me.”
“I’m always with you, babe, I’m always there.” He disconnected the call, and I dropped the phone from my ear.
“What’d he say?”
I opened my eyes and saw Bos was standing right in front of me. “I have to stay with you until Brinks comes to get me.”
“It’s not good, is it?” he asked quietly.
I shook my head. “He didn’t know what was going on, but I could tell that he was worried. He’s sending Brinks, who he trusts with his life, to look after me until he gets home.”
“When is that going to be?” he demanded.
“You sound like me, Bos. I just want him home, too, but he said he didn’t know for sure.”
Bos nodded. “Only saw the guy for about three minutes, darlin’, but I knew that he was in love with you. He won’t let anything happen to you.”
My eyes bugged out, and my jaw dropped. I knew I loved Wrecker, but I guess my brain hadn’t gotten that far into thinking that he loved me, too. “You don’t know that, Bos. I don’t know what I am to him, but I doubt that he loves me.”
He rested his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t ask me how I know, but I know it. Same way I knew that Pipe loved Nikki. These guys you ladies keep falling in love with may seem tough as nails, but I know when they do something, they don’t half-ass it. If he’s pulling every string possible to keep you safe, I know that he loves you. Don’t doubt it, darlin’. Just accept it and know you won the damn lottery when it comes to men.”
I swiped away a stray tear that streaked down my cheek. “I have never heard more sappier words in my life, Bos.”
He took his hand off my shoulder and flipped me off. “Yeah, well, you ain’t never gonna hear ‘em again cause you gotta be damn sassy about it.” He turned to walk back into the kitchen. “You got two hours ‘til Brinks picks you up. Get these customers out of here, and we’ll head back to your place.”
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