“Yeah, that’s what Braden said,” Leo muttered, but he was already talking to the disconnected emptiness of a hang up.
* * * *
North checked his magazine then popped it back into his gun before sliding the piece back into its holster. He stalked out of his room in the clubhouse back into the main area that housed the bar, a pool table, old ratty couches and a huge flat-screen television where various members sat watching it. Two of his officers sat at the bar, his VP John Draven and Skids, who happened to be Axe’s best friend.
He caught their attention and nodded for them to follow then he entered into church, waiting. A moment later, they came into the meeting room and he closed the door behind them.
“What’s up?” Draven asked. When North had been voted in as president of the club, he’d quickly nominated Draven as his right hand. John Draven was a couple of years younger than Axe but North wanted young blood to lead the Red Wolves and bring the club into the future by becoming a legit. Draven had proven himself above and beyond loyal to the club.
“Axe turned traitor,” he said, deciding blunt honesty was the best scenario.
“The hell you say,” Skids growled.
He knew Skids was going to be defensive, so he picked his words carefully.
“It’s true,” he said. “He was seen shaking hands with Gray Dog and he almost killed the witness to hide his disloyalty.”
“Fuck,” Draven muttered. “Why? Why would he do that to the colors?”
North shook his head. “I don’t know a hundred percent but he’s been the most opposed with us getting out of the extortion business. Skids, has he said anything to you?”
“No,” Skids said angrily. “Not a fucking word. Are you sure about this, North?”
“I am. I talked to the witness myself. That’s why I gotta be sure about you, Skids. You and Axe are close.”
Skids straightened his spine, threw his shoulders back. “My loyalty is to this club. If Axe violated that trust, then I’ll be the first one to take him down.”
North narrowed his eyes and studied the man. He saw only clear truth shining back and he slowly let out his breath. Dealing with one traitor was hard enough. He didn’t want to think about dealing with two.
“All right,” he said. “He’s out there now but the sheriff has a warrant out for his arrest. We have to find him before the law does. This is a club matter.”
“Agreed,” Draven said.
“Yeah,” Skids seconded.
“For now, let’s keep this between us,” North said. “We have too many guys who’ll shoot first and I want the pleasure of kicking Axe’s ass myself.”
“Get in line,” Skids snarled and stomped out of the room.
North and Draven shared a look and followed. They left the clubhouse, heading toward their bikes when the sound of a gunshot ricocheted over North’s head. Flinching, North ducked and a searing pain sliced across his scalp as he fell backward. Blood poured down his face. People scrambled from all over, yelling and firing back at the unseen assailant. Skids threw himself over North, protecting him from any further attacks.
Fuck, my head hurts…
It was the last coherent thought he had before oblivion claimed him.
* * * *
As Givon raced out of the door, his cell phone went off. Impatiently he glanced at it and saw North’s name.
“Get to Leo’s office,” he answered without waiting for North to greet him. “Axe took Merrie—”
“It’s Draven, Sheriff.”
Givon’s blood turned cold and he came to a complete stop. His heart thundered in his chest. There was only one reason why Draven would be calling from North’s phone. Not many knew how close they were and not many would know his nickname in North’s contact list.
“What happened to him?” he asked quietly, steeling himself.
“Someone shot him. Skids and I are thinking it was Axe. We’re at Destiny General right now.”
Fuck! Givon had to choke down the bile that surged up from his gut. He really didn’t want to ask this next question but he had to know. He forced himself not to react at all and, as best as he could, he asked the next question.
“Will he live?”
“Yeah, luckily it was just a deep scratch that needed some stitches,” Draven answered.
Givon sagged in relief.
“But Axe split on us,” Draven added, “and we have no idea where he is.”
“Okay,” Givon replied. “Stay with North. I’m on my way.”
“You don’t need to come. I called you ’cause I knew you’d want to know.”
“And I appreciate that. But going after the president of the club is personal. Axe blindsided him so he might attack again. Tell North I’m on my way to pick him up.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
As soon as Givon stepped out of his truck, Leo grabbed his shirt and punched him in the jaw. Givon flew back, hitting the side of his truck, hard. A tiny fraction of satisfaction coursed through him but his blood still burned with anger. Leo curled his hand again into a fist, and just as he went to charge someone’s arms came around him from behind, trapping him, and North Tabion put himself between them.
“No, Leo,” Braden said tightly. “This won’t help anyone.”
“It’ll make me feel better,” Leo snarled.
“He can arrest you for assaulting an officer,” North reminded him.
“Then I better get in a few more punches and make it really worth locking my ass up.”
“Stop it,” Braden warned him. “We have to concentrate on Merrie.”
Givon pushed himself away from his truck and stalked toward him, gently probing his bruised jaw.
“Are you through?” he asked Leo.
Leo wanted to punch him again, but Braden’s arms were steel bands around him. Slowly, sanity returned. He gave a quick nod and Braden’s eased up on his hold.
“What happened to you?” Leo asked North, pointing to the bandage around North’s head.
“Axe took a shot at me.”
“What?” Leo gasped. “Why is he after you?”
“Because if I get to him first, I’m putting a bullet in his fucking head,” North replied coldly.
“I did not hear that,” Givon grumbled.
“Did you see Merrie?” Braden asked.
“I didn’t even see him. Luckily for me, the fucker is a lousy shot.”
“I’d like to see your security recording,” Givon said to Leo.
Leo turned to stomp back into the office, not bothering to check if Givon was following or not. Moments later, he crowded into the small room with the other men, watching the scene play out. The camera set angled from the corner of the waiting room, catching the front door and the reception desk. Axe was clearly seen coming in and pulling out a gun. The dialogue wasn’t recorded but no words were really needed to see the terror on Merrie’s face.
“Shit,” Braden whispered.
“After our talk, I went looking for him all night,” North said quietly. “Since the shooting, the club members are out hunting him as we speak. When they found out he’s turned traitor then when he shot me… All they want is to get their hands on him.”
“I don’t really care about your motorcycle club,” Leo said.
North glared at him.
“Where would Axe have taken Merrie?” Leo persisted.
North shook his head. “I don’t know. We’ve checked all his haunts.”
“Personal property?” Braden asked.
“He rents a room at the clubhouse,” North answered.
“I’ve got all my deputies out searching and I can deputize a few other men,” Givon said. “But this is a big county with lots of woods. I take it you guys want to come out on the hunt?”
Braden tapped Leo’s arm. “One of us should stay behind, in case she comes back like she did the first time.”
“I’ll go mad if I stay here,” Leo told him.
“How about we take turns looking?”
“Fine,” Leo said. “But you’re staying behind first.”
He left of the small security room as the other men followed, although he didn’t acknowledge them. When he walked back outside, Detective Christianson pulled up in his car.
“What’s wrong? I got an urgent call from Sheriff Halloran.”
“Axe took Merrie at gunpoint,” Leo told him. He pointed at North. “And tried to kill him.”
The detective paled. “When?”
“Half past eleven. I didn’t realize it until about noon.”
Leo opened his truck door, rummaged in the glove box then pulled out a map of the county and spread it out on the hood. “Okay, tell me where everyone is.”
“I have Charlie scouting along Route 18, including the Devil’s bar,” Givon said. “Cynthia and George are patrolling the east and west.”
“By the way,” Braden asked Givon, “what happened to your department leak?”
“It would’ve been easy to fire the boy,” Givon replied. “So I’m not going to make it easy.”
“You could arrest him,” Braden suggested.
“For running his mouth? I’d rather teach him a lesson.”
North snorted. “Believe me. You don’t want this ass riding yours. Poor bastard.”
Givon smiled, cold and evil, giving Leo pause. Back when they were in high school, he remembered some kid smashing Givon’s windshield with a baseball bat over some stupid thing or other. The next day, the kid had replaced the window himself while Givon had stood by watching. No one had ever figured out what had happened to make the guy fix what he’d broken, but damned if anyone ever messed with Givon Halloran again.
So Braden stayed behind while they all broke up and headed out searching. Leo hadn’t a clue where to search, except where the Demon Devil’s hung out, so he headed toward the bar where Deputy Charlie Earenflight was also patrolling.
He remembered the turf war that had raged when the Demon Devils settled into Destiny twenty years ago. Braden was off at college but he’d deferred his own schooling for two years to help Clip with the ranch. It had been a dangerous time, even to go into town for groceries. He hadn’t thought highly of either motorcycle club. Things had settled down, especially when Old Patch had taken over the Red Wolves. But the animosity hadn’t completely gone away.
He drove by the bar on Route 18 several times, hoping that he would see something—anything. The parking lot remained empty except for a couple of bikes. He passed Charlie a time or two and waved at the deputy.
Where would Axe take Merrie? Had he hurt her? Was she crying or suffering? The questions tormented him until he thought he’d go mad. He’d promised her she’d be safe. He’d told her that he and Braden would protect her.
God, he was a stupid fucking fool.
All he could do was pray that he’d get the opportunity to make it up to her. He couldn’t live without her.
After a few hours of driving around, hoping to see Axe or Merrie, he went back to change places with Braden. When he walked into the house, silence greeted him. He experienced the crushing weight of one possible future—one where Merrie might never be back. It hit him so hard he sank to his knees. He let out a roar of pain, wincing when all it did was echo back.
* * * *
Twilight dusted the sky when Braden, Givon, North and the other two deputies arrived back at the house. Leo had every light turned on, thinking it was like a candle in the window, leading the lost back home.
As everyone piled into the living room, Leo saw the frustration on their faces. He turned toward the kitchen to find something to do—maybe brew some coffee—when the sheriff’s phone buzzed.
“Yeah?” Givon barked. “What? Where? Holy shit. All right. We’re on our way.”
He hung up and turned.
“What?” Braden demanded.
“She’s safe,” Givon said.
Relief, sweet and sharp, rush through Leo.
“Where is she?” he asked.
Givon sighed, the only indication that something wasn’t quite copasetic.
“Givon?”
“Seems like Gray Dog rescued her.”
Absolute silence met his statement. Leo saw that even North was dumbstruck.
“Excuse me?” Braden demanded, breaking the disbelief in the room.
“She’s at their bar on Route 18.”
Without another word, Leo left—just walked right out of the door toward his truck. He slid behind the wheel just as Braden got into the passenger seat. The two glanced at each other and Leo knew he must look just as relieved as his brother did. Leo started up the truck and took off.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Evening had just broken over the land when Merrie heard an engine rumble up to the door. She’d tried all day to snap the zip ties holding her captive but the thick plastic was unbreakable. Due to her efforts to break free, she’d rubbed the skin around her left wrist raw and it bled slightly. After a while, she’d given up. It was either take a break or tear off her hand, and she wasn’t ready to do that.
Tired of standing, she had to pee, plus hunger gnawed at her gut. But all those discomforts fled as she waited for Axe to come back inside. What would he do with her now? Panic wanted to take over her brain but she forced herself to stay calm. Composure allowed her to think and if there was a way to get out of this mess alive, she had to have her wits about her.
Axe didn’t walk into the cabin right away. Footsteps reached her from outside as he walked around for a few minutes, skittering some rocks and cracking some branches. Then she heard another vehicle and her heart began to race. Maybe someone had figured out where she was! Maybe they were here to rescue her!
She strained her ears to listen.
“Did anyone follow you?” Axe demanded.
“What the hell did you do, Axe?” Detective Christianson demanded. Merrie frowned at the familiarity he seemed to have with her abductor.
“None of your goddamned business,” Axe retorted. “I got North! I did it—”
“You got shit, Axe. You nicked him and now he’s out hunting your ass.”
“No! You lie!”
“Out of the two of us, who’s the fucking douche bag? I assure you it’s not me.”
“Then you gotta help me,” Axe pleaded. “You gotta—”
“I don’t have to do shit. I knew this was going to be trouble the moment you called asking for my help.”
“Yeah, for some dumb reason I thought you might actually be of use.”
“I was lying low, trying to let all this fucking bullshit blow over. But no! You have to go shoot the Wolves’ president and kidnap the girl.”
“There’s a warrant out for my arrest!” Axe shouted.
“I know!” Detective Christianson shouted back. “Where’s the girl, Axe?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it fucking matters! I’m taking her back.”
“You can’t!” Axe protested. “She’s my only hope now of getting out of this alive.”
Merrie didn’t hear anything for a moment and she could only imagine what was going on.
“Put the damn gun away,” Axe snarled. “You’re not going to kill your little brother.”
Brother! Nausea churned in her belly.
“I’m no longer your brother,” the detective said. “I’m a cop. And I’m here to arrest you and take the girl back.”
“You wouldn’t dare. DCI will be on your back faster than you can blink.”
“I know. But I can’t turn my back on this anymore. I’m still a cop and I still value my badge. I may have been buying myself time until retirement, but I have to do the right thing, regardless of you being blood. Now, where’s the fucking girl?”
A moment later, the door opened and Detective Christianson swore as he put his gun back in its holster. He pulled out a Leatherman tool and flipped out the knife. He sawed through the zip tie, careful not to nick her. Finally freed, she rubbed her cut wrist as best as possible with the
fingers of her other hand.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry for this,” Detective Christianson told her with regret in his voice. “I knew my brother had fucked up but I thought time would just…wash it all away. I thought it’d blow over and you’d be safe again.”
“Can you take me home? Or to the sheriff’s station?”
He nodded. “Of course, I—”
“She ain’t going anywhere!” Axe bit out as he came into the cabin.
Detective Christianson took a step toward his brother and as quick as lightning, Axe pulled a .38 pistol from behind his back. The detective held up his hands and Merrie did the same.
“Put the gun down,” Christianson said. “You’re not going to shoot me and turn this into an even worse situation.”
“Fuck you,” Axe snarled. “I ask for your fucking help and all you give me is shit. Never once in all my life have you ever helped me, Clark. Just this once, why couldn’t you have been a decent brother? You take off and become a cop and you’re ashamed of who I am?”
“Of course I’m ashamed. Look at you. You’re pathetic. I’ve spent my whole career putting criminals like you behind bars. And you think I should be proud that my brother is a goddamn extortionist? A goddamn crook? Fuck you, Andrew.”
Axe fired the gun.
Merrie screamed and jumped back as blood splattered everything, including herself, the bullet hitting Detective Christianson directly in the chest. He gave one little gasp before crashing face first where blood rapidly pooled around him. Axe pointed the weapon in her direction. Merrie literally stared down the barrel of a smoking gun.
“Come on,” Axe muttered. “I’ve got one last card to play.”
Shaking, she did what he’d ordered. The last thing she wanted was to wind up like the poor detective, murdered in some small dingy hunter’s cabin in the middle of nowhere.
He must have run out of zip ties. Instead of using them to tie her up, he used some bungee cords to twist around her arms and hook her to the interior of the van. If she didn’t have the bulky cast on her right wrist, she might have been able to free herself, but as it was, she didn’t have the strength to unhook the restraints.
Along Came Merrie Page 15