STEEL: Night Rebels Motorcycle Club (Night Rebels MC Romance Book 1)

by Wilder, Chiah

  In her haste to reach her destination, she grew careless. Another steel edge sliced her knee like a knife and she cried out in pain. Sweat stung her eyes and mixed with her tears to dampen her face. I have to make it. You can do this, Breanna. You can. You only have a little bit more to—What the fuck? Under her, the sheet metal separated and the fake ceiling below was creaking. Ripping. Crashing. Then she was flying, and then…

  Boom! She landed on the commercial carpet with a thud. “Oomph!” She fell on her side, knocking the wind out of her. Her head was spinning. She tried to sit up but she couldn’t move. All she could do was lie there groaning. It was like a semitruck had crashed into her and run her over. Her whole body ached.

  I think I broke an arm or leg. With my luck, it’s probably both.

  “Nice of you to drop in.” Raley’s sinister voice chilled her. “You’ve caused me so much fucking trouble, you bitch.” He kicked her hard in the thigh and she groaned. “I’ve had enough of you.”

  He moved into her field of vision and that’s when she saw the gun. He’s fucking crazy! This is it. I’m going to die. Oh, Steel. Tears trickled down from the corners of her eyes into her ears. She took a deep breath and a shot of pain tore through her. “Are you insane?” she croaked. “You’re going to kill me here? I thought you were a smart cop.”

  “Shut the fuck up, bitch!” He kicked her again, and a desire to kick him in the balls hard and then pistol whip him seized her. Bending over, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her. She screamed out as her body spasmed from the pain, but he ignored it and kept yanking her along. He stopped and opened a cupboard, taking out a large metal box. Then he grabbed a fistful of her hair again and pulled her to the front door.

  Through bleary eyes, she watched him fumble with the lock. All of a sudden, as if a tornado had hit, the door flung open with such ferocity that it knocked him to the floor, knocking the gun out of his hands. Before he could get up, she saw Steel rush in, an assault rifle in his hand and the fierceness of a warrior in his eyes. He yanked Raley up by his shirt collar. She recognized Crow, Rooster, Goldie, and Diablo as they came in behind him.

  Her body relaxed. He’s come.

  “You fucking bastard! You killed my daughter. You took her from me. You’re gonna pay for every needle mark she had on her skin, for every person you gave that shit to. And I’m gonna fucking enjoy watching you suffer. You hear me, motherfucker?” Steel punched Raley in the face, then threw him to Diablo. “Take this piece of shit to the cell and prep him. I want at him.”

  Without a word, Diablo seized him and dragged him outside as Goldie followed. Her gaze flew back to Steel, and that’s when he spotted her lying on the floor. She knew she looked a mess with her clothes ripped, dirt smudges on her face, her body covered in dust and blood.

  “Baby.” He dashed over to her and worry laced his eyes. “You’re hurt bad.”

  “I think I broke some ribs. And I cut the hell out of myself in the air vent. I would’ve escaped if the bastard hadn’t come back.”

  He bent down and kissed her wet cheeks. “You’re a fighter. You’ve got the spirit of a warrior woman. You make me proud.” He slipped his hands under her body. “This’ll hurt, but I have to take you to the Hatałii to heal you.”

  “What’s that?” she whispered hoarsely.

  “The Navajo medicine man.” He picked her up and she bit her lip until she tasted copper. She didn’t want to cry out. She wanted to show him that she was truly his warrior woman.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  As Steel rushed Breanna to the clinic on the reservation, he called and told them he had an emergency. When he’d seen the yellowish fatty tissue in her wounds and the amount of blood she’d lost, he knew the thirty miles to Alina wouldn’t work, so the reservation clinic seemed the best choice. The medics were waiting at the front. They promptly transferred Breanna onto a gurney and wheeled her away.

  “Park this,” Steel said to Crow as he jumped out of the driver’s seat and rushed into the clinic.

  “May I help you?” A woman seated behind the counter looked up from her computer.

  “My woman was just brought in. Breanna Quine. I’m gonna have the Hatałii come in.”

  The woman nodded. The medicine man was a common sight at the clinic. For the Navajo, they believed in the combination of western medicine with their centuries-old traditions. She typed in Breanna’s name. “She’s not in the system quite yet, but I’m sure she’s in the emergency section.”

  “I need to be in there with her.”

  The young lady smiled. “You’re Steel McVickers, aren’t you?”

  He looked at her more closely, but he didn’t recognize her. “Yeah.” He raised his eyebrows.

  She laughed. “You probably don’t remember me, but I’m Sam’s little sister, Viola.”

  He scrutinized her face, then smiled. “Yeah, I can see it now. Damn, it’s been a long time. Last time I saw you, you were about twelve. You grew up nicely.”

  Viola blushed. “Thanks. You know, I used to have a major crush on you. You grew up nicely too.” She giggled.

  I have to see what the fuck’s going on with Breanna. “Thanks, sweetie. It’s good seeing you again. I just saw Sam not that long ago. I didn’t know he was in the tribal police. I gotta see my woman real bad. Can you let me go back there?”

  “Normally, it’s not allowed until she’s in the system, but for you… sure.” She pushed a button and the wooden door slowly opened. “It was good seeing you.”

  He winked. “Same here. Thanks.”

  He rushed through the doors and went up to the counter to see where Breanna was. After several minutes and a lot of people trying to help him, he finally ended up in her room. She looked pale as a ghost, and his heart twisted when she smile wanly at him. He leaned down and kissed her white lips. “How’re you doing, baby?”

  “Glad to be here. I really thought I was a goner.”

  He rubbed her shoulder. “Shh… forget about it. It’s all over and you’re safe.”

  “I’m just so tired.” Her eyes slowly shut.

  He kissed her again. “Rest, baby. I’m gonna have the medicine man come by after we see what the doc has to say.”

  At that moment, the doctor walked in. “Steel?”

  Steel smiled at his mother’s doctor. “Dr. Taya. Breanna’s my woman. Tell me what’s going on.” He glanced at Breanna, whose eyes where half-opened.

  She nodded. “Ms. Quine’s suffered three broken ribs, which will take about two months or so to completely heal. I’ll wrap them up, but she just needs to take it easy. She definitely needs stiches on her knees, elbow, and right leg, as she sustained some very deep cuts. We’re going to prep her and I’ll take care of that. She lost a lot of blood, so her count is low. We’ll give her a pint and that should bring all the numbers back up. I’m also giving her an IV antibiotic in case of infection. I want to keep her overnight to make sure she’s doing well. If not, then we’ll have to transfer her to St. Joseph’s in Alina.”

  Steel pressed his lips together and crossed his arms. “Do what you need to do. I’m gonna have the Hatałii come in after you’re finished with her.” He went back over to Breanna and kissed her. “You’ll do just fine. I’ll see you in a bit.”

  He left the room and called his mother, telling her to come to the clinic with the medicine man. Hanging up, he went out to the back of the building and lit up a joint. The cannabis mellowed him as he pressed his foot against the brick wall and smoked. After twenty minutes, he went out front and saw his mother and Herman Secody, the medicine man.

  Fifteen minutes later, Steel was in Breanna’s room with his mother and Herman. The staff had been told that the Hatałii was in the room so they would not disturb them while the ceremony took place. Steel held Breanna’s hand and smiled while she watched with wide eyes as the man in beads, jewelry, and feathers set a black case on the table.

  “Don’t worry, baby. He’s not gonna hurt you.”

  �
�Do I have to drink or eat anything gross?”

  Steel burst out laughing. “You’ve watched too many movies. He’s just gonna get things in balance again.”

  “Balance?”

  Herman walked to the foot of her bed. “I go beyond the Western medicine. I turn to faith healing and spirituality. I’ll chant and bring back the balance in your life. Since you’re injured, your body is out of sync. Medicine can cure the surface, but the chants, the medicinal herbs, and the ceremony will bring Father Sky and Mother Earth together again. When there is disharmony, the tie between the sky and earth is broken.”

  “You know, the Hatałii is a tradition among the Navajo and has been for centuries. The medicine men must train and apprentice for years before they can go out on their own. They are gifted with the power,” Steel said as he squeezed her hand.

  “Okay. I’ll open myself to it. This is important to you, isn’t it?” She smiled at Steel.

  “Yeah. I tried with Chenoa, but she lost her faith and the ability to hope,” he said softly. “I can’t lose you.”

  Herman took out a crystal, a large turquoise stone, two feathers, and a leather pouch. “These are my tools. I will chant as I perform the ceremony. That will heal you quicker and make your life better in the future. Your injuries were not of your choice or doing, but your life was out of balance before your injuries. Your personal injury could have been the error from lack of judgment or an unintentional contact with harmful creatures. When you are once again aligned with the universe, then you will be protected. I merely act as a facilitator that transfers power from the Holy People to you to restore balance and harmony.”

  “What’s the crystal for?” she asked.

  “It’s a powerful stone that breaks through the clutter around us and shines up, so the turquoise can unite the earth and sky, bringing together male and female energies. The feather lets all your worries, all imbalance, all tension fly away as if on the wings of an eagle. After the chanting, you will drink the tea made of sage and wild buckwheats that are in the pouch. Then you will sleep deeply and peacefully as they heal your physical wounds and work in harmony with your spirit.”

  During the ceremony, the medicine man’s clear voice sang out the words from the ancestors of the tribe. His soulful wails touched Steel, who held Breanna’s hand throughout the ritual.

  When it was finished, his mother went over to Steel. “I’m very happy about you and Breanna. I told you that my dreams never fail me.” She hugged him quickly and then left with Herman.

  “What did she mean about her dreams?” Breanna asked as she pulled the sheets under her chin.

  “Get some rest. That’s a story for another day.” He leaned over and kissed her deeply. “I love you so much. I’m never letting you go.”

  She closed her eyes. “I love you too. I can’t imagine what life would be like without you,” she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

  The herbal tea had kicked in; she’d be sleeping for hours. He quietly shuffled out of the room. When he jumped into his SUV, his body was on fire, fueled by hatred as he left the reservation and headed to the clubhouse. He’d make sure the crooked cop felt the intensity of his rage and the bottomless gulch of his sorrow.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Steel pushed open the metal doors and walked into the cell. Raley was tied to a chair, his face bruised and bloodied. Steel’s gaze slid up to the lowered beam above. “String the fucker upside down like a pig,” he said to Diablo and Goldie. They quickly looped a chain around the ropes binding Raley’s ankles and fastened it to two large meat hooks, then pulled him up until his head was hanging down, chest level to Steel.

  Raley’s eyes bulged and a perverse pleasure snaked through Steel as he saw, sensed, and smelled the fucker’s fear. He walked slowly over to a table and picked up some electric prods and two long, thin-bladed knives, watching as the crooked cop’s eyes followed his every movement.

  “You’re the worst scum there is. You fucking sell smack to innocent people and you don’t give a shit about the consequences,” he said in a chillingly calm voice.

  “It was the Demon Riders. They’ve been squeezing me for years. They had so much shit on me. They made me do this. They threatened my family. I didn’t have a choice. I wanted—”

  While he’d been babbling, Diablo had come closer. He slammed his knee into the agent’s face. “Quit talking like a goddamn pussy. Be a fuckin’ man and take responsibility for the shit you did.” Diablo hit him again. “I hate a whiny-ass fucker.”

  Steel laughed as Goldie, Crow, Skull, and Rooster grumbled their agreement. “I hate that shit too, Diablo.” Steel held the knife up so the light bounced off the blade.

  With blood dripping off his face, Raley twisted and moaned. “What’re you gonna do to me?”

  “Show you what happens when you fuck around in our territory. And I’m gonna give you the same amount of mercy you gave my daughter and all the others.”

  “If you kill me, the feds will be all over you. You can’t just kill an FBI agent and not have consequences.”

  “I never fucking cared much for badges, especially the crooked ones. Watching you die a slow, painful death will be worth whatever the feds want to bring on. Of course, that’s providing they find any evidence.”

  “I didn’t know she was your daughter. I swear. I can give you a lot of money.” His words were strained as gasps and cracks interrupted him. “We can work something out. I can be very useful for your club—”

  Steel glared at Raley. “Gag this piece of shit! I’m sick of hearing his pussy words.”

  Goldie stuffed a rag in the agent’s mouth, then took the prods Steel handed him and gave Raley a couple of shocks.

  “Now it’s my turn.” Steel locked his gaze on the FBI agent’s terrified one as he approached with a knife in hand. He bent down and put his mouth close to Raley’s ear. “I’m gonna skin you alive, you motherfucker. And I’m gonna do it real slow. I got a lot of time. And the shit you did to my woman? You’re gonna pay for that too. In the past, some Native American tribes killed their enemies by flaying them slowly. It’s been said that they could keep a man alive for six weeks.”

  Raley shook his head vehemently, twisting his body, tears pouring from his eyes as his deep grunts tried to push past the gag.

  “Let’s see if it’s folklore or truth.”

  “He looks like a goddamn jumping bean,” Rooster said, and everyone laughed.

  Except for Steel. He raged inside, the pain of losing Chenoa and almost losing his woman making his hatred palpable. It was raw, honest, and jagged.

  “Strip the motherfucker.” Steel moved back and watched as Diablo and Crow cut off the man’s clothes.

  He kicked away the pile of clothes as he placed the knife on Raley’s skin and began his task.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Two months later

  Breanna stood with her hand on the doorknob, willing herself to turn it and go inside. This was the first time she’d been back to the office since the incident with Special Agent Raley. She’d followed the doctor’s orders to a T, and when he gave her the green light to return to her job, she’d had mixed feelings. On one hand, she’d been bored out of her mind, but on the other, she was afraid the memories of that night would incapacitate her from doing her job.

  She concentrated on breathing deeply, visualizing her body relaxing and all anxiety flowing out of her. She swallowed hard and turned the knob. A blast of frosty air covered her, and she glanced around the room. Except for new carpet, the room looked just like it had a short two months before.

  “You’re back,” Joel’s familiar voice washed over her. “I wasn’t sure if you were ever coming back.” He smiled weakly at her. His gaze was tentative.

  “I was just waiting for the doctor to clear me. Has it been crazy busy around here?”

  “Yep. Janet and I have been slammed. We’re glad you’re back. The department kept telling us they’d send over a temp, but they never did. So,
you can see it’s the same song and dance.” He pulled out a paper cup from the dispenser, filled it with cold water, and drank it in one gulp. “You got a stack of cases waiting for you on your desk.”

  She chuckled. “It’s comforting to know some things never change.”

  He threw the cup in the trash. “I still can’t believe that Raley was the one orchestrating the drug and food stamp schemes. I never saw that one.”

  Breanna shook her head. “Neither did I.”

  “And he just took off. It’s strange, though, because he left all this incriminating evidence behind. He even left his laptop.”

  “Really? That is strange.” She rubbed her arms and looked around. “Is Agent Powers still here?”

  Joel nodded. “I think he’s transferring to Indiana next week. He closed the case on the food stamp fraud. It turned out that Roy’s Market was involved. You called that one.”

  “Breanna! How are you?” Janet rushed over and hugged her warmly. “You’re looking great. It’s so good to have you back.”

  “It’s good to be back. I wasn’t sure at first, but now I am.”

  Janet gripped her hand. “I bet it’s strange being here after the ordeal you went through.” She lowered her voice and leaned into Breanna. “And to think Agent Raley was doing all those horrible things and acting like he was Mister Cop of the Year.”

  “And making us sit through all those bullshit meetings. He should get life in prison just for that,” Joel said as the two of them laughed.

  “Welcome back, Breanna.” Agent Powers nodded at her.