by Debra Kayn
The trio rounded the corner, and Remmy spotted Ink on his Harley sitting smack dab in front of the bank. He took his first inhale of air without effort and scanned the area. Two older vehicles parked on this side of the street sat empty.
"This way." Remmy stepped off the curb.
The flash from the barrel of the pistol to his left came first before the sound. He dove for Natalie, taking her to the ground. Her scream cut off at impact as he lay on top of her. He removed his pistol and shot toward the man who'd popped up in the passenger seat of the assumed vacant car.
More shots came from behind him and from his MC brothers across the street. Mr. Kraum pitched backward. His head bounced against the curb of the sidewalk, a bullet through his forehead. Remmy aimed in the other direction, seeing two men crouched below the open doors of the second vehicle.
Natalie cried out, and he kept shooting, making every bullet count, but in his position, he couldn't get a good bead on the men. His gun clicked empty. He ejected the spent magazine, and reached back to his pocket to retrieve a full one.
"Don't try it," a male voice said through the gunfire coming from Bantorus MC.
Remmy glanced behind him. One of the shooters walked toward him, his gun pointed at Remmy's head. He searched for Ink, Cutter, and Germ, and found them approaching from the other side, armed and willing to face off.
"Get up, nice and slow." The Latino motioned with his pistol. "Tell your brothers if they make one move, the woman dies."
Remmy stood, bringing Natalie with him, putting her behind him. "Bantorus, back off."
The other three members lowered their arms and stayed in position, blocking the street. Remmy's fingers dug into Natalie's hip, reassuring him that she was alive.
"You're a hard man to find," the Los Li member said.
The dark skin, the signature black shirt, and the void of emotion on his face let Remmy know that he faced the newest crew from Los Li.
"Your familia must be impressed," Remmy muttered. "Shooting at women must make your momma proud."
"Clever." The man tilted his head. "Except my mother's dead."
"Yeah, news that your baby boy joined up with Los Li has that effect on people." Remmy wanted to keep him talking.
The more he got into the man's head, the less he'd be noticing Natalie behind him. If he could distract them enough, Bantorus could move in.
"Do I get a name?" he said.
"Gomez. Remember it, and maybe it'll be the last name from your lips." Gomez waved his gun. "Get in the car."
"I'm not going anywhere." Remmy caught movement behind the two men in front of him. "You've got about ten seconds before the sheriff and his men investigate the shots. There're employees at the bank who have a clear view of you. Someone is going to see you."
The man smirked. "The bank is experiencing a breach of security and the employees and one customer who were in there at the wrong time are being entertained in the back room. They can't see a thing. The robbers will disappear in a few minutes as soon as we're out of town."
Jesus Christ.
"Now, unless you'd like Mrs. Oman to lie beside Mr. Kraum—who we no longer have to pay to work for us, I'd suggest you get the fuck in the car," said the other, younger man.
Natalie's muffled cry hit Remmy's ears. He held on tighter to her hip, making sure she stayed behind him. He wasn't shocked over the news of Kraum being a traitor. Everyone had a price and apparently, so did big shot attorneys for a mining company.
"Let my men take my woman, and I'll go with you," Remmy said.
Natalie gripped tighter on his vest. "No," she whispered.
He squeezed her hip and looked out to his men. The frustration and inability to reassure her killed him. Ink's gaze bored into his, speaking volumes of his commitment not to let Natallie be harmed. Cutter rolled his knife in his hand, jumpy to use it. Germ's mouth twitched and his chest heaved in frustration.
Let my woman go, and I'll leave with you," Remmy repeated, and hoped his MC brothers understood that he would not be letting Los Li get ahold of Natalie.
Whatever happened, their first job was to get Natalie out of here and to safety. They were not to protect him, and they were not to stop him from dealing with Los Li.
"Let her walk. You make one move toward her, and there will be war. My club will come after you, your familia, and take you out, one by one," he said, pushing the threat.
The two men glanced at each other, and Gomez ordered, "Let her go."
Remmy turned and forced Natalie to look at him. "Go to Cutter, lady. Keep walking and don't look back. Whatever you hear, keep going."
"No," she said, shaking her head.
"Need you safe," he growled out.
"Don't leave me too," she whispered, her voice breaking.
"Never. In my head. In my heart," he said, watching her soften to the verge of tears. He had to get her out of here before she crumbled in shock and fully understood what was happening.
She grabbed the front of his vest. "Baby—"
"Go. Don't look back." He peeled her hands off him and pushed her away. "Run."
Natalie stumbled away from him, covering her mouth. Cutter moved forward and wrapped his arm around Natalie's waist, turning her away from the scene in the street and forcing her to keep up with him.
When his woman and his MC brothers turned the corner and were safe from harm, Remmy faced Los Li. "You know I'm going to kill you for even approaching my woman."
"You're welcome to try, but now I want you to put down your pistol, remove the weapon in your boot, and toss your knife to the curb." Gomez pointed him to the blue, two-door car. "Then you'll get in the car."
Remmy followed all the directions before walking over and pushing the front seat forward and folding his large frame into the back. Relieved to have Natalie out of the way and safe with his club, he shook his head in disgust. Los Li failed to bring in their signature black sedans and instead took him out in a beater. They'd slunk into town like the cowards they were and decided to attack Bantorus MC directly by taking a member. He gazed out the window, watching his exit out of Federal, and decided he'd already won. Los Li could have him, because he was confident that Natalie was safe. That's all that mattered.
Chapter Twenty Nine
After being shuttled to the clubhouse by Sheriff Colby with a Bantorus MC escort surrounding the sheriff's car, Natalie stood inside the main room and pushed Risa's hands away. She didn't want to sit down. She didn't want to drink. She didn't want to listen to everyone bitch about Los Li and the trouble the Mexican mafia brought to the club again.
She needed Remmy.
"Stop." She fisted her hands. "I don't care what Bantorus MC's plan is, I won't stand here while you discuss what to do. We need to go after Remmy. I-I know what color of car he's in. It's blue and shaped like a Honda. Old, because there was paint gone on the front of the car. The three men were Latino and young, no older than thirty."
"Mrs. Oman, you have to understand. Even the sheriff's department has to go lightly when it concerns Los li." Sheriff Colby. "I've put a couple of my deputies out on the road to see if they can track down the vehicle, but if I put out an APB, the only thing it'll do is bring more trouble down on everyone, including the town. Unfortunately, we don't have the man power and by the time I called in for help with the state police, the trail would be cold. We need to keep the investigation contained to Bantorus MC, and they'll let me know if and when law enforcement is needed."
"That's crazy." She stared at all of them. "They'll kill him. They already killed Mr. Kraum—she inhaled deeply—and the longer you stand around here discussing what to do, the less chance that someone can save Remmy."
"Kurt says Remmy wasn't kidnapped, he voluntarily left. I can only go off what he's telling me, and so far, he does not want to call in a kidnapping," Sheriff Colby said.
"He was protecting me." She shook her head. "He went with Los Li, because he'd do anything to keep me safe. Everyone knows that. That's the on
ly reason he'd go. God, this is so stupid. I don't care about the club or the law. Remmy needs help."
"Honey," Risa stepped forward again. "Look at me."
Natalie gazed into her eyes, but her sight lowered and settled on the scar on Risa's cheek. Her throat spasmed and she swallowed bile.
"It's the ugliest thing you can look at," Risa said. "It makes me sick too."
"Jesus Christ," Kurt muttered, moving to Risa's side.
Risa put her hand out and stopped Kurt. "Honey, listen to me. Those men killed your husband. Your brother in law. Now they have your other brother in law and Remmy, and if Bantorus is going to save them both, they need time to get more information, so they can bring Remmy home to you."
"They have Will, too?" She snapped her gaze to Kurt. "Is that true?"
Kurt's eyes nodded. "It's true, sweetheart."
"Oh, God." She slipped her hand onto the back of her neck, missing Remmy's touch that everything would be okay.
All these weeks, and he'd kept her safe. But, he'd given up his own freedom. The freedom he craved and lived for. All for her.
"Please," she said. "Help me save him."
A man she'd never seen before stepped in front of her. "Natalie, I'm Lee. Risa's my sister in law and Taylor from Pitnam Bantorus MC is my step mom."
She frowned. "Kurt's brother?"
"Yeah," he answered.
Shorter and more bulky than Kurt, he also had lighter colored eyes, but the stone hard expression matched Kurt's serious demeanor. She understood the reasons behind the seriousness, but Los Li's terror from the past was over. Remmy needed everyone's help now.
"Will you help me?" she asked.
He nodded. "Bantorus MC will never let one of their men fall, but we need time."
"I need him back." She wanted to scream.
Nobody understood her. Remmy wouldn't willingly go with Los Li, unless he was saving her. He'd sent her away, and forfeited his life. For her.
"Give us a few minutes to talk through what we need to do, make plans, and then we'll get your man back. I promise." Lee squeezed her shoulder.
She cried out, because his touch, though gentle, reminded her of Remmy. There was nothing she wouldn't do to have him here, right now, forever. "Remmy said before that I was a target. I can go with you. M-maybe they'll trade him for me and—"
"Okay, that's enough." Kurt cupped the back of Natalie's head, brought his lips to her forehead. "Enough, sweetheart. You're safe, and we'll bring Remmy back to you."
"And Will." She leaned into Kurt, absorbing his strength. "I know it seems like he was always fighting against me, but he was angry over losing his brothers. He's a good guy, and doesn't deserve this."
Kurt eyes softened and went to his old lady. "Stay with her."
Risa slipped her arm around Natalie. Glad for any kind of movement forward, she held on to her friend. In her panic, she'd only thought about herself.
"I'm so sorry," Natalie said. "I've hurt you, and you can't forget what happened."
Risa hugged her to her side. "It's okay, honey. Stay strong. You're going to have to dig deep and pull every bit of strength you have in your soul, but you will survive. We'll all survive."
She took the advice to heart, but she was also honest with herself for the first time. She could be strong, but she was stronger with Remmy in her life. She could exist alone, but she'd only flourish in life if Remmy made it back to her. He was in her head and her heart, and without him, she'd be half-empty. Her feelings had nothing to do with wanting him, but needing him.
Chapter Thirty
In the barren office of an abandoned gas station, Will Oman lay unmoving on the stack of tires in the corner. Remmy, stretched out on the floor, kicked Will's dangling foot with his boot.
"Get up, Oman," Remmy said, closing his eyes against the rush of pain moving caused him.
After Remmy got the back of his head knocked in by one of the Los Li's men wielding a tire iron, he hadn't been able to move without throwing up. He pried his eyes open and focused his vision on Natalie's brother in law locked in the room with him. He had no idea if Will was dead or severely beaten unconscious.
Blood covered Will's face and his head sagged to the side. Remmy stared at Will's chest until he recognized the steady rise and fall of him breathing. His eyes blurred and he squeezed them closed, trying to clear his vision. After Gomez had pulled behind the gas station, Remmy had fought each one of the men, thinking he had a chance, until a fourth man came out with a tire iron.
At least they hadn't shot him.
They obviously had other plans than to kill him. He kicked out at Will's leg again, riding the wave of nausea that followed. He'd never hand over Bantorus MC or Natalie. They'd have to kill him first, and he'd make sure he took out a few of their men before that happened.
His head continued to pound and he touched the bridge of his nose. Shit.
There was no doubt that below the swelling, his nose was broken. He heaved himself to a sitting position and promptly turned his head and threw up. Gasping for breath, he wiped his mouth on his arm, willing himself to stay on his ass and not fall over. The hit to his head must've caused a fucking concussion.
A low groan came from the corner of the room. Remmy forced his eyes open. Will's head straightened and fell back to the side. At least the son of a bitch wasn't dead.
Remmy rolled on his ass and got to his hands and knees. He held himself still, letting the room right itself again. The concrete floor dug into his knees and the cold soaked into the palm of his hands. He stretched, reaching for the rolling tool cart, grabbed the top, and hoisted himself to his unsteady feet.
Several minutes ticked by, and he pushed himself forward, falling hard against the tires. He grabbed Will's shirt and shook him.
"Hey, wake up." He let go and slapped at Will's bloody face. "Get up."
Will roused, groaning louder. Remmy grabbed him to keep him from falling off the tires. The only injuries on Will that he could see were a busted nose and swelling on one of Will's eyes. The rest of him looked fine.
Blue eyes blinked at him, and he watched as panic swept over Will's features. He let go of him and stepped back, getting his feet underneath him.
"It's okay. I'm not one of the guys that hurt you," Remmy said.
Will sat up straight and touched his nose. "I know who you are."
"Good." Will leaned a hip against the rollaway, unsure if he could stand long on his own.
"Is this your club that has me?" Will asked.
"Fuck no." Remmy stretched his back, grimacing. "Tell me what they're doing with you and how many guys we're dealing with."
"Four." Will spotted the mess on the floor and closed his eyes an extra beat. "I don't know what they want. They show up once a day with food, take a few punches at me, and then leave."
"Where do they go?"
"I don't know." Will grimaced. "Where's Natalie?"
"Safe." Remmy pressed him further. "What did they say when they brought you here?"
"Nothing." Will shifted and slid off the tires. "They stopped me on the way to my car one morning a couple...maybe 3 days ago."
"Try over a week," Remmy said.
"Shit." Will rubbed his head. "Everything's fucked up in my head."
"Do they give you food in the morning or night?"
"How the hell should I know," Will snapped.
"Think. Do they bring you fast food? What kind of food?"
"Uh." Will lifted his shirt and gazed down at the bruise along his stomach. "Burgers or sandwiches."
"So, later in the day," Remmy mumbled.
He had to figure out the schedule. With Will alive, they could team up and fight their way out. Two against Four. The odds were growing.
All they had to do was remain alert and one-step ahead of Los Li. Adrenaline fueled him, and he rotated his head on his shoulders, pushing through the pain. He'd have to remain strong if he wanted to fight his way out. He patted his pockets searching for his gun, his wal
let, his chain, his phone. They left him nothing.
He turned around and opened the drawers in the rollaway. To his disappointment, each one was empty. He slammed the last drawer, and moved to the pile of boxes. Tossing papers to the side of the room, he grew frustrated with the lack of supplies he could use. There was nothing he could turn into a makeshift weapon to help him attack Los Li.
"If you're feeling better, help me look for something to use to protect ourselves." Remmy shoved an empty filing cabinet out of the way and picked up a wooden chair. It was better than nothing.
He picked the chair up over his head and sent it crashing into the wall. A leg broke off. He went about making kindling out of the wood and stacked the long skinny pieces against the back wall, beside the tires, and on top of the filing cabinet. Wherever he might go when a fight broke out, he could use the wood to stab someone. It wasn't much, but they'd help.
"Here." Will tossed him the metal 3-ring out of a notebook binder. "Who are these guys and what do they want with me?"
Remmy kept searching for anything to use as a weapon. "Los Li, a gang affiliated with the Mexican mafia."
"Shit. The Mexican mafia?" Will tossed a grease rag to the side.
"Yeah," he said.
"What's that have to do with me?"
He'd prefer to keep the info to himself, but there was nothing to lose anymore. Either they were going to get out of here alive, in which case, Will would need to know everything to try to stay out of Los Li's hands, or they'd both be killed. If that happened, it didn't matter if Will knew the truth. He deserved to die knowing his brother wasn't a murderer.
"Last summer, Los Li came after Bantorus Motorcycle Club. In their attempt to gain our land, they went to your brothers and convinced them if Bantorus was out of the picture, your brothers would be able to purchase the property we're on and have access to a silver vein they believe runs west and north of our property." He tossed an empty box to the side. "The deal went bad, and your brothers were murdered by Los Li."
Will had gone still halfway through the story. "The investigators say differently."