by Jayne Blue
“Everything okay with Jeannette?” I knew she’d been released from the hospital. Her bruises were superficial but she’d been scared to death. Brax said she’d woken up screaming for three nights now. Brax’s bloodshot eyes told me he’d stayed awake with her. It was nothing less than I’d do if it had been Mallory. A shudder went through me just thinking about what else I’d do if it had been Mallory.
Brax had shown unbelievable restraint. We’d asked him to. Until we had solid proof of who we were dealing with, we just didn’t have the numbers not to play it smart. God, I couldn’t think about that. My fists curled at my sides and I let out a hard breath.
“She’s gone,” Brax said; his eyes flicked downward.
“What do you mean, gone?” My mind went a thousand places.
Brax shrugged. “She’s got a kid, Kel. She’s scared for him. I tried to talk her down but she’s got her mind made up. She went to stay with her sister in Fort Wayne.”
I stepped forward and put my hand on Brax’s shoulder. “We’ll get this shit handled, Brax. Then we’ll get her back here.”
Brax looked up; pain etched deep lines in the corner of his eyes. “She’s not coming back, Kellan. She’s already got a new job lined up and met with her advisor to see about transferring her college credits to a school down there.”
“Shit. Dammit, I’m sorry, Brax.”
“I couldn’t even make a good effort of trying to talk her out of it. I don’t want her hurt. Right now, it looks like keeping her far away from me and this club is the best way to do that.”
“Just hang in there. We’ve been through worse. You’re the last person I need to tell that to.”
He shrugged as we turned and headed back into the Den. It was only then I noticed the three bikes parked on the other side of the dumpster. Colt was back. And he’d brought friends from Green Bluff. Their timing couldn’t be more welcome. My blood boiled with each step though. The fucking Hawks had succeeded in scaring off one of my best employees and Brax’s girl. I’d be damned if I’d lose anyone else over this.
“Sly and Dex have come out from Green Bluff,” Brax said. “That’s why I was coming out to get you. Colt’s got some information he wanted us to hear altogether.”
I could guess what it was. Sly was the president of the Green Bluff charter. Dex was his V.P. They wouldn’t have ridden all the way out here if shit weren’t serious.
I heard deep laughter coming from the bar. A big dude with dark hair and a beard peppered with gray leaned against it on his elbows. Tate stood behind the bar and handed him another cold one. He heard us come in and turned. He stood up and turned toward me. He was one big fucker. Broad shouldered and wolfish. Dex. This was Dex. I knew him by reputation. Not long ago, he’d been set up and done hard time for some other bastard’s crime in order to protect the club. He was a man I’d been dying to meet.
“Kel!” Colt came out from the back room. Sly Cullinan came with him. Sly was tall, blond, with a boyish face and a deep dimple when he smiled. The kind that chicks went for. He looked pure California and larger than life. It was his leadership that made it possible for the other charters to get out of the one percenter shit and make a go of it with bars like mine and the gym Colt ran. Cast iron balls, that one. And he’d proven more than once he had this club’s back. I slapped Brax on the shoulder. Sly and Dex being here could only improve things.
We made introductions and Colt invited everybody back to the big conference table. Colt took the head of the table as was his right. Sly and Dex might run the original charter, but Lincolnshire was all ours and Colt was in charge. I sat at his right hand.
“You’ve done a hell of a job with this place,” Sly said. “I actually think I like your set-up better than mine.”
I smiled. “Awe, that’s probably coz all you’ve got are those California pussies hanging around. Probably got more smart cars parked in your lot than bikes.”
Sly smiled back, flipped me off, and we had a good laugh. It was like that for a while as we talked about the club’s numbers, issues Colt had with the gym, and new trainers they were sending out to work with some of the fighters. Sly was hoping we’d grow big enough to host some title bouts down this way. Some major promoters were hoping to siphon those off to Cleveland or even Detroit, but Colt and Dex had some ideas on how to keep things local. They were good ideas too. I could see Colt’s wheels spinning and his eyes lit up. They were talking numbers that made my own head spin. The kind that would change all of our lifestyles for good. That is, if we could figure out how to keep our people safe.
Then finally, when we’d covered the day to day, things got quiet around the table. Colt leaned back in his chair and shot me a look. I knew we were getting down to the real reason the Green Bluff boys made the trip. I looked over at Brax. His mind wasn’t here. He was taking Jeannette’s decision hard. I decided to cut the shit.
“Colt’s filled you in on what’s been happening to my crew here,” I said.
Sly spread his hands on the table and gave me a grim nod. “Yeah. He says you’ve had some trouble.”
“They’ve had some similar shit going on in Grand City,” Dex said. “One of our guys, Sawyer just took over the charter up there.”
Colt raised a brow. “No shit? Sawyer’s got himself a president’s patch? That’s a story I’d like to hear.”
Sly smiled. “I’ll save it for him to tell you himself. Just like you, I was sorry to see him go, but it’s been for the good of the club as a whole.”
“No question it’s the Hawks?” I asked, changing the subject back to what mattered to me most right now. No one had said it yet, but I wanted everything crystal clear and out in the open. No room for misinterpretation about what we might have to do next.
A look passed between Sly and Colt. I knew it had to do with whatever prompted Colt to leave Green Bluff and head back for Lincolnshire. It was better if I didn’t know the details. But it had been big and bad enough to drive him away from his charter. It was selfish of me, I know, but I was damn glad it happened. My town, my club was better with Colt wearing that Lincolnshire president’s patch.
“They’re part of it,” Sly said. “They’ve got reasons to make trouble for the Great Wolves. But they’re still small time around here. You know they don’t have the numbers or the muscle to take over this town without help.”
“That doesn’t mean they don’t have enough to ruin this business,” Brax said. “We’re barely operating. All of our best people are too scared to come back to work.”
“It’s gotten worse, Colt,” I said. “Since you left. Jeannette’s not coming back.”
“Shit.”
Brax thumped his fist on the table. “I was waiting for the right moment to tell you. And I wanted to hear what the game plan was. You boys out here to bring us more muscle? You know we got pretty much decimated when Colt took over.”
I bristled. My eyes darted to Colt’s. I wasn’t sure where Brax was going with this but I was damn sure I didn’t like it.
Brax put a hand up in surrender. “I’m not saying Colt’s at fault for that. Just the opposite. Everyone at this table knows that. Shit. I’m sorry. I’m just saying I’m getting pretty fucking sick of waiting around to see what these shit heels are going to do next.”
“Understood,” Colt said. “That’s why these boys are here.”
“You need to be ready for what might be around the corner,” Sly said. “The Hawks are small time. Like you said though, they’ve got just enough juice to make some waves around here. You’ve got to deal with that any way you see fit. Whatever your play, we’ll back you. You need to protect this club and your business. You take the lead on that and we’re behind you. But you gotta decide if a club war is really the best thing for everyone concerned.”
“What do you suggest we do, sit around with our thumbs up our ass while we get a soft reputation?”
“God, no,” Colt said. “But what Sly’s saying is the Hawks are the tail. The head of the snake
is something way bigger.”
Sly put his palms on the table and spread his fingers wide. Then he looked up and met my eyes.
“Yeah. Our intel is that the Hawks are in deep with the Russian mob. You’re sitting on prime real estate here with Lincolnshire being a port city. We were afraid they might try stirring trouble up here and in Grand City. It looks like you’re seeing the first wave. You can make a move on the Hawks. That’s your right. But it’s not going to keep your business safe until we stomp out the head of that snake, like Colt said.”
“Well, I don’t give a flying fuck about their bigger picture,” Brax said. “I just want those fuckers clipped. Am I hearing you right? We’ve got club endorsement to deal with our local problem?”
“Of course you do,” Sly said. “That’s never gonna change. We’re here to help you figure out the best way to do that. You wanna go over there and bust heads, we’re up for it. But we’ve also got some ideas about how to smoke ’em out. Cut off their backing. Trouble with that strategy, it’ll take more time.”
“You want us to shut down The Wolf Den until then?” I dug my thumbnail into a groove in the table. My blood simmered.
“Fuck. No.” It was Dex who answered. “The Den is too important. I know what this town was like twenty years ago. I’ve never seen a turnaround like this. You’ve done it faster than even Sly did out in Green Bluff.”
Colt smiled and a look passed between us. We were moving in the right direction.
“Sawyer’s got some shit cooking in Grand City that should take some of the pressure off you down here,” Sly said. “In the meantime, what do you need here? We’ve been talking. I’m thinking of sending some guys down to help you out with the numbers for a while. Three or four of mine and I’ve talked to the Emerald Coast charter. They can send up that many too.”
Colt nodded. “That’ll be a big help. Thanks, man.”
“What about the cops around here?” Dex asked. “How much blowback you gonna get when you take care of your own business?”
Everybody looked at Colt. Once again, his precarious relationship with his brother came to the forefront. Jase had proven more than once he could look the other way when it was necessary. But he’d only be able to do that for so long before it started affecting him.
“I can deal with that for now,” Colt answered. “When we have to, we’ll take the fight to the Hawks. They’re in Monroeville, not Lincolnshire. Twenty miles and a state border will be all we’ll need to keep things quiet in our own backyard.”
Sly nodded. “Good. Then we have a plan. I’ll reach out to Emerald Coast and tell my guys to start packing.”
Brax’s face changed. Some of the hardness left it now that he knew we just might get the temporary help we needed to get things in order. After that, the conversation drifted back to the Den receipts and some new fighters Colt had lured in to train.
My stomach started to growl and I checked my phone to see what time it was. It was well after six. No messages from Mallory yet. I signaled Colt. I needed to step out and try and get a hold of her. I just hoped nothing bad happened with her old man today.
I didn’t get the chance to even slide my chair out from under the table before I heard shouting coming from the main bar. Sonny was out there. We were closed for business but it sounded like somebody wasn’t taking the hint.
“Shit,” Colt said. “I told Sonny no interruptions.”
“I’ll handle it,” I said. I got up and started for the door. Before I got there, it flew open.
“Sorry, boss,” Sonny said. “I tried to stop them.”
My heart turned to ice in my chest. Justin pushed past Sonny. His eyes were wild and all color had drained from his face. Behind him, I saw Mitch. Sonny had a hand on his shoulders, holding him back, but I saw enough. The kid’s eyes were red-rimmed from crying.
“Shit,” Brax said. He’d gotten up when I did and stood at my shoulder.
“It’s Mallory,” Justin said. “She’s gone.”
A red haze filled my vision before all hell broke loose.
***
My gut twisted as Justin filled me in on what they’d found at the house right after I left.
Right after I left!
“They were watching,” I said, not recognizing my own voice. It came out low and hard. Colt had a hand on one of my shoulders, Brax the other. “They knew Mallory was alone.”
“I wanted to call the cops,” Mitch said. The kid was surprisingly composed, considering. Sonny had gotten him a bottle of water and he sat perched on one of the bar stools. He looked enough like his sister it made it that much harder for me to get through the next few minutes. She filled my thoughts. I knew exactly what she’d say at that moment. At least Mitch hadn’t been home when it happened. Thank God. No matter what else happened today, I’d damn sure keep that kid safe.
“Justin said you guys would be able to help my sister better than the cops would.” Mitch raised his eyes to meet mine. They were just like hers, pale blue with dark, black irises, older beyond his years. And his were stone cold as he swallowed hard and stared through me looking for answers and assurances.
“Yeah,” I said, my eyes flicking to Justin. His jaw clenched and he gave me a slight nod. “Justin was right.”
We’d spent the last hour and a half coming up with a game plan to deal with the Hawks. A way to break them without losing the ground we’d made pulling away from our past. That was all out the window. We were going in now and we were going in hard.
Colt nodded toward Sly and Dex.
“Take ’em in the back,” I said to Sonny, gesturing to Justin and Mitch.
I looked at Justin. “You need to sit tight and stay with Mitch, no matter what.”
“Get her back, Kellan,” Justin said. “Swear it.”
My lips were tight as I bit back the bile rising in my throat. “I swear it. This ends tonight.”
“You keep them safe?” Colt turned to Sly and Dex.
“You sure you don’t want us to ride out with you?” Dex said. I saw his fingers twitching near his sidearm. Sitting by the sidelines didn’t suit him any better than it did me. And we really did need the numbers. We had no idea what we’d be walking into when we got to Monroeville and the Hawks clubhouse.
“I absolutely want you to ride out with us. But we need every guy we’ve got. You two are the only other people I trust to keep Mallory’s people safe and out of trouble,” I said.
Colt looked down. “There’s one other person.”
“You sure?” I walked back from the door. “You know damn well there’s no way we can keep this from getting messy.”
“Yeah, he’s sure.” A voice came from behind me and I turned. Jase Reddick stood in the doorway, packing but in plain clothes. He looked more like Colt than I’d ever seen him, his face stoic, his dark eyes flashing. Him being here, putting himself in the middle of club business could land hard on him. His job. Maybe even his freedom. But when Colt called, he came. That was the kind of thing I knew I’d never forget.
I let out a breath and walked over to him. I took his hand and pulled him in close, slapping his back. “Thanks, man.”
Jase nodded. “Just put an end to this. Keep it out of my city. Never tell me about it. And take these.”
He handed four small black cylinders to Colt. Colt took them and gave Jase an eyebrow raise. “Shock grenades? Not a half bad idea, brother. What if somebody figures out these belonged to you?”
Jase shrugged and shook his head. “I said don’t tell me about it, but was your plan really to go in there guns blazing? Jesus. And don’t worry about it. Let’s just say they’re from an off-book supply I have. Figured with a brother like you they might come in handy someday.”
I didn’t have to say anymore. Everyone in that room knew what had to happen. Sly stepped forward and slapped Colt then me on the back. We shook hands hard. Then Colt, me, and the rest of the crew headed outside leaving Justin and Mitch behind. Justin looked at me with a fire in his e
yes that let me know he wanted to come with us. Bad. I couldn’t help it made me smile a little. Under different circumstances, he might have made a good prospect. For now though, his job was to keep Mitch close and he knew it.
I mounted my bike. Colt did the same next to me. Brax pulled up on the other side of me. Sly rode up beside him. Everyone else took their place in line. We all checked our weapons. Mac pulled up in the Jeep with Dex. Just in case anyone couldn’t ride after this was all over, we needed something with four wheels too.
Colt snapped the strap on his helmet and pushed his hands into his leather gloves.
“Everybody know what they need to do?” Colt said. Sly’s back stiffened. I knew it was weird for him not leading the charge. Colt had been his sergeant at arms back in the day. I saw a slow smile spread over Sly’s face as he watched Colt now.
Colt got nods and thumbs up from everyone. “We go in, we get the girl, we make it so those fuckers don’t come back. Everyone clear? Best thing we’ve got going for us is they don’t know we’re coming and we’re not afraid to play dirty. Keep your shit sharp!
“Didn’t think we’d be back to this life so fast,” he shouted to Brax, Sly, and me over the roar of seven engines.
“Me either,” Brax said, reaching over to slap me on the back. “Feels good doesn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I said through gritted teeth as I revved my engine. “It does.”
“Don’t get too used to it, motherfuckers,” Colt said. “But yeah. Right now it does feel kind of good.”
Then the seven of us tore out of the parking lot ready to take back what was ours.
Chapter Twenty Six
Mallory
A slick finger ran across my cheek and jawline. I gritted my teeth and tried to stay still.
“You sure we can’t sample the merchandise?” Flat-nose said. That’s what I called him in my head anyway. Flat-nose. He was the asshole who’d come to my front door and shoved that foul-smelling rag into my face.
“You know Sergei doesn’t like it when we mess with the girls before he gets a look at ’em.”