Hinder (Midnight Saints MC Book 3)

by Iris Sweetwater

  Then, I headed there. On the way, I chastised myself for not having a better plan. Then it hit me, I’ll go back to the bar, get the Diablo to tell me where his brother works and surprise her at work the next day. It was only Thursday after all. So, I turned my bike around and headed back to the bar. Just my luck the Diablos were still hanging around.

  “Where’d you go off to?”

  “To see my old man,” I told Tony as I marched past him to the other table. “Where does your brother work?”

  “Why should I tell you?” the Diablo asked.

  “Because my girlfriend is his intern, and I want to surprise her tomorrow. So if you don’t want my fist in your face, you’re going to tell me.”

  “It’s called Fisk and Hunt. It’s downtown, you can’t miss it. Hey, I’ll call my brother and tell him you’re coming down. That way, if he’s banging your girl, he has time to put his pants back on.”

  I raised my fist, but Tony caught it and twisted it behind my back.

  “Go cool off. He’s trying to bait you into starting a fight, and we’re not going to play that game.”

  “If your brother touches her, I’m going to kill him. You hear me?”

  “Oh, I’d love to see you try, the Shadow Order will be on your ass so fast, your buddies here they won’t even be able to get to you in time. Then, when you’re dead, he’ll use your girl as much as he wants, for whatever he wants.”

  “Jed, back away!” Tony warned. “Do not fall for this shit. Sophie is a smart girl; she won’t let anyone use her like that.”

  “Okay, look, we want Maxum, and we think she knows where he is, if you don’t want her harmed then maybe you’ll tell us.”

  “I don’t know where he is. No one does,” I said.

  “Someone does, and our money is on the dark-haired vixen. She knows where her daddy is, and she’s going to tell us.”

  “The only one who knows is her sister, Kara, and she’s not telling anyone,” Tony said. “She took him somewhere, and no one here knows. If you really want to find Maxum, find Kara first.”

  “If we find your girl, she’s dead.”

  “She isn’t my girl anymore, but, if you hurt her, I will have to kill you.”

  Chapter 26

  Sophie

  It took me a week to get settled in at the office. Carlos was a hard ass, but he was still one of the hottest guys I’d ever seen. I didn’t mind it so much when he rode me hard if it meant spending time with him.

  It was a lazy Friday evening, most everyone had already gone home. I was in Carlos’ office filing papers, it was taking me longer because I was too busy daydreaming instead of actually filing. As far as I knew, Carlos had already left, so I had the whole office to myself.

  “Hello, Sophie!” I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of Jed’s voice. I looked up and he was holding a big, beautiful bouquet of red roses. Maybe I had been wrong about him, maybe he was just trying to keep me safe from the war going on between the MCs. I blushed, feeling guilty for thinking about someone else, when I should have been thinking about him this whole time. I stood up slowly, put the files in my arms on the desk and straightened my tight pencil skirt.

  “Jed? What are you doing here?” I closed the filing cabinet and put the papers I hadn’t filed on the desk. I wanted to go and hug him. I mean he brought me flowers, but I stopped myself. I needed to hear him out first and make sure it wasn’t going to be another flop with him.

  So, I fiddled with my hair. Pulled the stick out and let it tumble down my shoulders, of course that reminded me of the time I borrowed one of his toothbrushes to use as a hair stick. He was looking even more handsome than I remembered, and suddenly all thoughts of Carlos went out of my head.

  Jed was a prince, or as close to one as I’d ever get. “What are you doing here?” I asked again.

  “I came to apologize. I think you misunderstood what I meant, and I should have come sooner, but I was a dummy.”

  “Misunderstood what you meant?”

  “Our phone call, the one where I told you not to come.  I didn’t mean I don’t want you; I only meant it wasn’t safe for you to come around. I did make reservations at a hotel for us, for this weekend. It’s far from any danger, and it’s better than my place.

  “You made reservations for us?” I sounded so dumb in my head, but I was confused by this sudden development. How we went from not speaking to a romantic weekend getaway.

  “I really like you, Sophie. I should have said so before. I never ever meant to hurt you, and I’m sorry if I did.”

  “Oh, you didn’t. I mean sure, I was hurt and mad, but you’re here now, and you have flowers.” I was rambling. I never rambled. He made me nervous. Those are the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. You spoiled me, Jed.” I took the flowers and kissed him. “I can’t wait to spend another weekend with you.” I was just so shocked, and I knew I needed to seize this. This moment, this opportunity.

  It was something I hadn’t known I wanted now, but Jed had made me realize I did want it. I didn’t need to wait.

  “Me too. Are you done here?”

  “No, but I can come into the office early on Monday to finish up.”

  “Great, then come with me and let me treat you like a queen and let me show you that I care deeply about you. I never meant to hurt you and make you feel used. Of everything, I hate myself most for that.”

  “I should have given you time to explain yourself, instead of jumping to conclusions. I mean, I know it was dangerous there, they’re fighting a freaking war.”

  Jed

  “There’s something else you should know.” He felt safe in telling her now, spilling his guts. He didn’t want any more secrets or animosity between them, and she seemed pretty on board.

  “What?” She stepped closer to him, and the look on her face was so easy to read. She would think this was about Maxum, good or bad, but it wasn’t. I wouldn’t dare tell her Kara was gone with him. She would likely do something stupid I could hardly save her from.

  And as much as I knew if things progressed I would always side with her. I thought her better off without Maxum and his problems; no matter his character.

  “You’re not safe here.” I lowered my voice. “Your boss isn’t who he seems to be.”

  “What?”

  “He’s with an MC, not mine, and he only took you on as an intern to keep an eye on you because you’re Maxum’s daughter. You’re not safe here.”

  “What are you talking about?” Of course she wouldn’t take this well. She didn’t even believe Maxum had betrayed us for another MC and done all those awful things. I could no longer deny it, whether it was drug-induced madness or cruelty he had in him, his whole life.

  Instead of pressing her, I waited for it to sink in, motioning for her to go ahead and come with me. “We can talk about it more later. Figure out a plan together.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. Are you sure? He doesn’t look like a biker.”

  “Do I?”

  “No.”

  “Trust me, Sophie, now come on, let’s get out of here.”

  “Shadow Order, actually. You should listen to your boyfriend. Of course, he came too late to warn you. Of course, now that she knows, I guess the wait is over, time for me to take you to Maxum.”

  “You don’t know where Maxum is,” I countered, not liking the threat here, so out of my territory and comfort zone.

  “Oh, but I do. See, he escaped the trunk of the car that bitch put him in thinking she could snuff out a man like him. Now, he’s got Kara locked inside instead. He got her cell phone and called me and told me to bring Sophie.” The lawyer stepped into the office. He held a gun. “I’m taking her to Maxum, and if you try to stop me, I’ll kill her.”

  “What do you mean?” Sophie blinked as she looked between me and the man she thought was just her boss and nothing more. I should have known even an adopted daughter of an MC Prez would never be safe on her own. The idea of her having a norma
l life, away from those like me and worse, was almost comical now that I could see it before my eyes.

  There would be no escaping—in more ways than one.

  And now, I needed to think quickly, to make sure I had the chance to protect her the right way or some other day. To make sure we both lived to see that. Assuming she forgave me for what I hadn’t told her—not that I knew the details about the car . . .

  “My father is with the Midnight Saints; they’re detoxing him.” Sophie’s voice trailed off without any confidence.

  The lawyer laughed. “No, Maxum is with us, and we’re plotting the demise of the Midnight Saints. Make a move and I kill her.” He put the gun against her temple as he warned me again, his eyes darting between us.

  “Fine!”

  “I’ll be okay. Maxum would never hurt me,” she told me. I was stunned that she wasn’t seething at me. And she was so brave for someone who never wanted to be or tried to be part of this life.

  That was good because she would have to be brave for longer than I liked.

  “He would never let anyone hurt me.”

  The man holding the gun just laughed, chuckled, at her naivety.

  “Alright, take her, I won’t try to stop you,” I gritted out, though my eyes were on her, pleading with her to understand that I wouldn’t leave her to rot. I’d get to her. But I couldn’t let him shoot her now and lose that shot.

  “I can’t take that chance.” The lawyer struck me over the head, and I fell to the ground, the world going dark. I let him do it for her safety.

  Sophie

  I screamed, but I wasn’t allowed to go to Jed. Carlos put the gun to my back and told me to walk out calmly. I did as he said.

  If he knew Maxum, then he couldn’t be all that bad of a guy. Just angry at the Saints for what they were doing to The Preacher.

  “You’re a God-fearing man, right? Why would you do this?”

  “Shut up!” was the only thing he said. He poked the pistol into my back, reminding me it was there. I looked around for someone who could help me. Though if I got anyone else involved, they’d probably get knocked out or even shot, so I took a deep breath and walked forward, one step at a time.

  Even if he had his stuff from me, maybe Jed would come for me. Maxum may not have meant to hurt me, but whoever he had been aligning himself with, in his drug-obsessed state, could hurt me. And that was enough to make me at least a little frightened. Jed would wake up—likely with a concussion—and maybe tell someone to come to my aid.

  But I needed every possible plan just in case. I needed to stay observant.

  There were security guards at the entrance. Maybe they would see the gun and save me. Then, I would demand to know where my father was, and I would go there myself. I would convince him, somehow, to come with me and go to rehab. The path he was heading down was leading him further and further away from God and if he let me help him, I could get him back to God’s path. He could be the preacher he used to be. I just had to get free from this guy and his gun.

  He seemed to remember the guards too, and so he directed me to a back exit where there were no guards. So much for my plan of escape.

  I just had to be brave and get to Maxum; he wouldn’t want me harmed. He was just mad and a little crazy. I had to believe that. I just had to hold on to that.

  As I stood in the elevator heading for the lobby, I prayed.

  Chapter 27

  Jed

  When I woke up, they were both gone. I got to my feet, my head hurt from getting struck by the gun. I waited a few minutes to clear my head and then carefully headed back to the MC. I wasn’t able to drive, but I had brought a limo to take Sophie for our romantic weekend getaway, so I would take that back to the club. I’d get aspirin there and be ready to ride.

  It had to be good enough for now.

  “Change of plans,” I told the driver as I slid into the back seat. “I need you to take me to this address. I’ll call you again when I need you. The getaway will have to wait.”

  “Is everything okay, sir? That’s a nasty bump on your head. There’s ice in the champagne bucket, if you wrap it up in your pocket square it should work as an ice pack.”

  “Thank you, and no, everything is not alright. If I told you, you’d want to involve the police, and they can’t be involved in this. I have my own people to deal with it.” I flashed some extra cash where he could see it looking back at me, and that put a thinly veiled smile on his face.

  “Of course, sir.” The driver was a friendly old man. He started the car and drove me to the clubhouse. With the ice pack still against my head, I stumbled in.

  “Jed! What happened?” Seth asked, already ready to pound some skulls by the look of him. He could always be relied upon and would understand, more than any other, falling for someone I shouldn’t.

  “They took Sophie, and Maxum escaped. Tony, he has Kara!” I called out, knowing it would turn more than one head.

  “I knew it!” Tony punched his hand. “Why was she so stupid?”

  “Seth, go to the bar, if those assholes are still there, beat the hell out of them. Take as many guys as you need. There were only four,” Austin ordered, taking charge. It made sense; Tony was going to lose it. And I couldn’t blame him. I wasn’t in half as deep with Sophie as he was with Kara, and I felt a need to see her, to find her, to know she was safe.

  “Tell me you have tracking on her,” I demanded of Tony. Wherever she was, Maxum would be. Their hatred of each other said that.

  And wherever Maxum was, was where Sophie was being taken.

  It was the one mistake they were making, being so easy to find them all in one spot.

  “I do.” He grabbed his phone and checked it. “They’re at an abandoned warehouse downtown.”

  “Let’s go.”

  “Jed, cool your heels, if we’re going to do this, we can’t do it half-cocked. We have to have a solid plan and plenty of backup. Give me an hour to make a plan.”

  “Do you think Kara and Sophie have an hour?”

  “I need to make a plan.” Tony began to pace. “Okay, we know they are in the warehouse, if we wait till the cover of darkness—”

  “If we wait that long, it could be too late, he may not want to kill Sophie, but can you say the same thing about Kara?”

  “Jed, shut up and give me a minute to think!” Tony snapped. He was becoming agitated, and I could tell he was as scared as I was that we would lose our girls more permanently than we had before.

  “Okay, what does Maxum want with them?”

  “He has Kara locked in the trunk. I think he wants revenge on her. I’m not sure why he wanted Sophie.”

  “He probably thinks she was involved in the shit we pulled on him, but she wasn’t. She was tricked by us, but he doesn’t know that,” Austin chimed in. I didn’t like the sound of that. It cut me deep after hearing that; surely, he wouldn’t hurt her. I had to doubt that already, but if he thought she helped trick him, then she was dead.

  “What’s the plan, Tony?” I asked with anxiety written all over my features.

  “I don’t know yet.” He began to pace again. “We go there, we take everyone who can shoot a fucking gun, we call the Crypt Keepers in too. He just declared war, if we think about it. And we’re answering the call. I want every last motherfucker involved in this. This time I don’t just want their bikes burned; I want their corpses burned.”

  “Tony, she’s still alive, man. Chill out. If you go half-cocked, you’ll get everyone killed, and if you ride drunk, you’ll crash your bike, so go get some coffee.”

  “I got to go get my bike, and change clothes. I’m not exactly dressed for war,” I said.

  “Yeah, what’s with the fancy duds?” Austin scoffed at me, and he would probably let me have it, razzin’ me if we weren’t in such a dire situation.

  “I was planning to take Sophie for a romantic getaway this weekend. I arrived at her office and we were talking when her boss came in with a gun.”

&n
bsp; “Well, don’t worry, with a little luck you can still have your weekend getaway. I’ll take you home, we don’t have time for you to walk there,” Austin offered. “You better be level-headed when we get back,” he told Tony.

  I got on the back of Austin’s bike, and we headed for my place. He dropped me off. “Hurry the fuck back!”

  I ran into the house, stripping as I went. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a black shirt, and exchanged my loafers for boots. I grabbed my trusty, gold-plated revolver, my prized possession, and knew I would be hitting targets tonight. Then, I headed for my bike.

  Seth, Tony, and Austin were pouring over a map of the area where the warehouse was, when I got there. They filled me in on their plan.

  “Don’t worry, Jed; Midnight Saints’ girls are tough. They’ll survive long enough for us to get there. Hell, last time I went to rescue Kara, by the time I got there, she was walking out like no big deal. Give her enough time, she’ll find a way out. She’s Maxum’s daughter, after all.”

  The Crypt Keepers arrived, ready for fuckin’ battle.

  We had never been so close to a war before. But just like Troy, what better reason was there to go to war than a woman?

  “We sent a scouting party ahead,” Prez said.

  Tony looked around and noticed Eric wasn’t amongst them. “Don’t suppose Eric was in that scouting party.”

  “He’s the one leading it. We have more beef with those guys. They infiltrated our club, and we can’t abide by that. So, I sent Eric to teach that asshole a lesson or two.”

  “He’s armed, he’s got a pistol.”

  “A pistol? The Crypt Keeper MC laughed. “Eric isn’t afraid of no pistol. He’ll pistol whip the guy with his own pistol for being an asshole.” Tony and I laughed. I could tell Tony liked the Crypt Keepers’ Prez. I did too.