by KJ Dahlen
Sara was trembling. “He— he killed him?”
“No,” Deke replied. “He did send him to the hospital though. With the word, Sorry carved into his chest. I spoke to Barnes Copeland and he did tell me that Corey is not talking. He refused to say if he knew the assailant.” He stood up.
Sara pushed Hound back a little and stared at Deke. “So what does this mean?”
He shrugged.
“It means he was like pretty god dammed mad at Mr. Black?” Zipper supplied.
Sara blinked. “So why? Do we know why?”
Deke shook his head. “We don’t.” He then narrowed his eyes. “But...”
Sara held still, feeling like another blow was coming. “But?”
“We sent two men out to welcome Corey home.” Deke glanced briefly at his clock. “In fact, I think he is being brought in through the back way as we speak.”
“W-what?” Sara stared at him with wide eyes.
Hound pulled her tighter to his side. “Deke apparently, has had him brought here.”
Sara gasped and pushed all the way out of Hound’s grasp. “You had him kidnapped?”
“Well...” Zipper spoke up. “Coreynapped.”
Hound glared at him.
“Sorry.” He looked away.
Deke finally replied, “I feel he has lots to hide and if he’s done what I think. He won’t report us.”
“What you think?” Sara placed her hands up to her mouth. “You all could go to jail. This man is well known! He’s—”
“—a piece of shit,” a voice came from the door.
Sara and Hound turned around to see Bones come into the room.
Deke nodded at him. “He talked?”
“Hell yeah and a bigger pussy I have never fucking met.” Bones looked disgusted.
“What did he fess to?” Hound asked.
“He did have a crew destroy her house and he had her bakery torched. Along with all other kinds of crap he has pulled on her including...” His voice trailed away.
“Including what?” Deke growled with impatience.
“Setting these two up for the nuptial bliss they found themselves in.”
Sara gasped.
Hound stepped closer to Bones. “He set that up.”
“Oh yeah, paid 10 k to have it all done. Paid another 25 for the torch job.”
Sara sat down hard in the chair.
Hound turned back to her. He came over looking concerned. “Sara?”
Her hands shook. “So, it was all Corey?”
“Apparently,” Bones told her. “He fessed up like before we even got here. He was terrified that this was it we were there to off him. He said the man that attacked him told him he’d better make it right or he wouldn’t be among the living for long.” Bones walked over to her chair. “So we were wrong. Your brother did not do this to you. Though he sure as hell put a scare into Mr. Fluffy.”
Zipper snickered.
Deke glared at him.
Bones outright laughed at this. Then he looked back to Sarah. “What we can’t figure out is who is after the Moores. We can’t figure anymore that it’s your brother.”
Sara was in shock. No, she never believed Derick had done it. But the way he knifed Corey’s chest? He could kill. He had. Yes, she saw what they had in that file but deep down, she never wanted to believe any of it. “I-I don’t know. I never knew he was this...” She stood up. “I need to...” She turned and ran out of the office.
“Sara!” Hound called from behind her.
“Hound,” Deke called to him.
Hound stopped and looked back at him. He wanted to go out the door, but this was his prez and he wouldn’t disrespect him.
“There’s some other evidence that Zipper is compiling.”
“And...” Hound felt frustrated that he couldn’t go after Sara as he turned all the way around to face the desk.
“Someone left a car bomb under Gambler’s truck at the hospital.”
Hound almost staggered back at this news. “What?”
Nodding, Deke sighed. “Whoever this is... they want to hurt you all.”
“Is there any more?”
Deke’s mouth formed a grim line.
Bones answered this, “We found this in The Moore’s mailbox at your mom and dad’s house.” He handed over a piece of paper.
Hound took it and looked down at it.
There will be no more Moores. Death before Dishonor.
Hound looked back up at Bones and Deke. “I don’t understand this.”
“Not much to understand,” Deke admitted. “This is the threat and so far, he got to Black Jack, Raine’s house, Gambler’s truck and he got too close to the Moore’s house twice now.”
“So, no one leaves here,” Bones stated. “Until we can set a trap or find this guy or guys.”
Deke agreed as he nodded his dark head. “I have men at the hospital watching your mom and dad. I have men at each house. But by now, if this asshole has been watching, he knows you all are here or are going to be.”
Hound pushed his fingers through his hair. “Ok, well I need to find Sara then I’ll call my mom. Have you told Raine and my brothers about this?”
Bones nodded “We all made the calls. They know to keep a lookout and we have escorts for every family member that isn’t here yet.”
Hound nodded. “I just do not know who would...”
“Back in Maine, I know you all had a good rep. I can’t understand who would hate your family so much.” Bones shrugged.
Hound rushed out and headed to... he paused. She couldn’t get into his room. He went out to the main room. He looked around.
No Sara.
He rushed into the kitchen.
Reva and Melora were there and turned when he bolted in through the double doors.
“Have you seen Sara?” he asked them.
“No.” Reva looked concerned. “Is everything—?”
He rushed out again, and went to the entryway. Looking out, he thought he saw someone outside of the fence. He pushed the doors open. Rushing forward, he wondered how Sara had managed to get there as he knew it was her, the closer he got.
Suddenly, a man wearing a dark hood, a very large man grabbed her up from behind.
Sara had been looking at Hound so she hadn’t seen her attacker. Then she screamed. A gloved hand came up around her mouth.
“Sonaofabitch!” Hound shouted. “Let her go! I’m gonna kill...”
The man pulled her through the tree line and they disappeared.
Hound grabbed his phone and swiped it as he ran to his cycle. “Deke, intruder outside east fence, grabbed Sara. I’m going.”
“The hell you are!”
“Deke, she’s my woman. I can catch him if I go...” He slid onto his bike and held his phone to his ear as he got his keys and kicked his stand. “Open those gates or I will with my fucking bike.” He started his engine up.
“Shit!” Deke exclaimed. “We’re coming.”
Dropping his phone, Hound ripped out of the lot and headed toward the gates. Standing up a bit from his bike, he swung his arm around in the air so the gatekeeper could see him. “Open it!” he shouted as he barreled forward.
The gate screeched as it slid open.
“Shit!” He didn’t know if he would make it in time. If it didn’t open two more inches, he would be blood metaled against that iron length of fence.
It moved over a bit, then some more. He headed on and refused to close his eyes as his bike flew through. “Fuccckkkk!” he let out as a bit of metal scraped his tire and he had to right his cycle from the swerving. He turned his bike to the east.
No one on the road.
He heard bikes coming up behind him, but he paid no attention. He slowed down to the copse of trees where the attacker had taken her. Hound had to decide whether to stay on the road or stop to trek it on foot through the trees.
A man came out of the tree line, tall, wearing a black jacket and he was carrying Sara. Her hair hung d
own over his arm as she looked passed out.
Hound braked his bike and slid a bit till he could slow it down. He turned and just as he did, the bikes behind him rolled ahead to where the man stood.
Hound would kill this sonofabitch. He would make sure he was dead before he even hit the fucking ground. He slowed his bike to a halt and turned the key as it coasted to a fast halt. Instantly, he grabbed his piece from his waistband. He kicked the stand and hopped off.
The man seemed unconcerned as he carried her forward.
The other two bikers were Bones and Deke. They too, had gotten off and were aiming their weapons at him.
“Set her down,” Hound ordered through his aim of his gun.
“I can’t, she’s out cold. That fucker hit her.”
Hound blinked and lowered his gun a bit. The man was a different build than her attacker and no hoodie either. He took a closer look at him. “Derick Bassette?”
“Yeah, her big brother. So, lower your fucking weapons and get her some medical help!” he shouted.
Hound tucked his gun into his waistband and rushed over to take her from him. The man looked like he might not let her go, but he finally released her into Hound’s arms. “S-sara?” he said as his voice cracked. “Fuck!”
“Come on, back to the Club,” Deke ordered and turned to Derick. “You too. We need answers.”
The man shook his head. “I’m not leaving anyway till I know she’s ok.” He turned and walked away.
“Well fuck.” Bones put his gun back into his vest. “Did he just leave—?” At the roar of a bike starting up, Bones’ words were drowned out.
Razor rode a cycle over to the road.
Hound got on his bike with Sara on his lap and he started it up while trying to keep her in place. He then slowly turned his frame and eased up along the road. He was still in a hurry like he’d been on his way here, but he was afraid he would dump her and the bike, so he slowly headed to the gates. With a three cycle escort.
Chapter Fourteen
Hound rushed her inside to see Cassie and Reva in the entryway.
They looked a bit startled but told him to put her in the first room in the hall.
Reva rushed forward and tapped in the code. “These damn things,” she grumbled then moved over so he could carry her through. “I will see about getting Raine in here.” She turned and headed back.
Deke and Bones came in.
Then Cassie. She lingered in the doorway looking concerned. Her phone buzzed and she looked down at it.
“Raine is arriving now,” Deke told Hound as he swiped his phone closed and looked over at Cassie.
“The twins are here. I’ll go and stay with them.” She kissed him on the cheek and disappeared down the hallway.
Hound gently laid Sara down and began checking her out. She had a terrible cut on her cheek. He grabbed a wipe from a pack on the nightstand and dabbed at it. “Dammit,” he said.
“You really care about her,” a voice came from over his head by the bed.
“Fuck yeah. I-I love her.” Hound realized he just answered without thought. Yes, dammit, he loved her and he should have been there to protect her.
“Wow,” Derick replied.
Raine came in and stepped around the tall stranger while eyeing him. “Move Duggan,” he ordered.
Hound was reluctant but he did it. He rushed around the bed as Derick stepped aside. Hound then scooted across it and took Sara’s hand. Fuck, his heart was racing. He didn’t even check for a pulse he’d been so upset. Their dad had taught them all basic and even more than basic first aid, they all could administer aid, do stitches, triage and even get a bullet out if needed. But his mind had gone stark blank as if all his training and knowledge had up and evaporated when he saw her pale face and her arms hanging down as Razor/Derick had been holding her.
Now all he could do was to keep his eyes glued on Sara.
Raine set a bag on the bed and dug in it, producing a pen light. He peeled her eyelid back and flashed it in one then the other. “Good, she isn’t down too far.” He then tapped her wrist and looked at his own wrist that held that watch that Black Jack had given to him years ago.
Hound was smoothing her silky hair and getting his breath back. He vowed to always be with her and never let this happen to her again.
“Ok, her pulse is good. A little slow but not alarming.” Raine looked at her cut. “Mmm...he decked her pretty good.” Then he grasped her head and felt around. He nodded to Hound. “Raise her up.”
Hound scooted closer, tucked his arms around her curvy form and raised her.
Raine felt around at the back of her head. “No bumps or blood. Lay her back.”
Hound gently laid her back onto the pillows.
Raine then placed his hands on either side of her creamy neck and moved it from side to side.” Okay, neck is fine.” He lowered his hands to her rib cage.
Hound actually growled as his brother’s hands lowered.
“Oh, shut the fuck up. This is not groping,” Raine snapped. He lowered his body to hers and felt all around her mid torso.
Hound glared at him. He knew it was stupid but he couldn’t think straight and seeing any man’s hands on her...just made him see red. He let out a breath. “So... she’s okay?”
Letting out a groan, her eyelids fluttered.
“Yeah,” Raine said. “But she is going to have a bad headache and her eye will swell up in about an hour or so.” He stood up. “She will need aspirin and rest.” He finally looked over at Derick. “Who the fuck are you?”
Razor stared back at him. A hard glint in his eyes.
“He-he’s my...” Sara whispered.
They all looked back down at her.
Hound scooted closer. “Sassy? Babe? You okay?”
Sara blinked and then shut her eyes. “Yeah...” She gulped. “Derick?” she called with her eyes closed.
The man took a few steps over. “Yeah, Sassy?”
“Where...”
He sighed and sat next to her. “I’m sorry, sis. I...” he couldn’t finish. “I got there too late.”
“T-too late?” she asked.
Hound stared at him. “Too late for what?”
Derick looked up at him, then over at Raine, Deke and Bones. “I’ve been trailing him for a year. He already said he would kill you all. I actually didn’t come intending to help you.” He shrugged. “Though, I probably should have. I came for my sister. I didn’t want him anywhere near her.”
Deke stepped closer. “Who? Who are you trailing?”
Derick let out a sigh. “My father.”
Sara’s eyes popped open. “What?”
“The man who...Not dad, Sara.”
She looked confused.
Hound stared at him. He was lost here. Hell, they were all confused.
“So you know who is after the Moores?” Bones asked.
“Yeah.” Derick nodded. “And I think he was only after Sara because he has probably seen her with Hound.”
“You know my name?” Hound looked up at him.
Derick shrugged. “Sure, he talked about all of you a lot. In fact, he was...is obsessed with it. With you all.”
“So?” Raine spoke up with a growl. “Are you going to tell us who you are fucking talking about?”
Derick looked over at Deke. “I think I will wait till all the Moores get here.”
Hound stared at him. “Why?”
He raised his dark blue eyes to Hound.
Hound studied him closely for the first time... Stunned, he sucked in a breath and looked over at Raine. “Well shit, how could this be?”
“How could what be?” Sara asked. “Please! Please tell me what is going on?” she yelled then grabbed her head.
“No yelling or moving rapidly,” Raine ordered. “It will cause nothing but pain.”
“No shit,” she snapped.”
“Wow, still mouthy even if you’re all grown up,” Derick noted with a half smile.
This was
the first smile or any kind of expression that Hound had seen from him up until now. If what he thought or guessed was true. He knew already what that smile would probably look like on this man.
“I know, I know. But I need—“
Derick stepped back as he kept his eyes on his sister. “You need rest.”
“Y-you aren’t leaving?” Sara’s eyes filled with tears. “Derick. You are my only family. Don’t leave.”
He lowered his head. “I know. I went off on my own to find the truth. It took me years. I never meant to leave you for so long.”
Hound shook his head. “It doesn’t make any sense. I know what you are but not who you are.”
Raine, Deke, Bones and Sara looked over at him.
He met Derick’s eyes. He saw much misery there before the man hid all of it. He shuttered his expression too.
“I agree.” Hound nodded. “I think all the Moores should be here.”
“Well, Dad and Mom won’t be,” Raine advised him.
“Okay, well they may not do too well with this shock anyway, right now.” Hound let out a breath wondering what and how this had happened.
“What shock?” Sara asked in frustration.
Hound shook his head as he patted her hand. He wasn’t sure but he had a guess and that guess would upset everyone in this room. He couldn’t say until this Razor confirmed it.
“Gambler and Judge will be arriving in a few minutes,” Deke informed them.
Hound looked up at Sara’s brother. He was puzzled about this. He didn’t know how to put the pieces together though to form a whole picture. But one thing he knew. This was going to affect the whole family. But it was the ambushing and the hatred that kept him wondering.
“Well, I have to be there.” Sara tried to get up.
“Oh, no you are not,” Raine told her. “You have to stay put.”
“I will!” She sat up then held her head and cried.
“Dammit Sara.” Hound laid her back. “We will have everyone come here. Ok?” He looked up at Deke.
The prez nodded. “These rooms aren’t small but we are all rather large to be in one room all at once. But yeah.”
“I don’t...” Sara trembled. “...care. I have to be there. He’s my brother.” She looked over at Hound. “You said I was a Moore now. That I’m family so I need to be there!”