Hinder (Midnight Saints MC Book 3)

by Iris Sweetwater

  After some time, Maxum suddenly pulled over onto the side of the road, pulled a gun from the glove compartment, turned around, and shot the lawyer in the head, point blank. “We have to make one more stop.” “Oh my gosh! What did you do that for?” I didn’t know how it could get any worse. This monster, he was real, and I had called him Father far too long. What had I done by believing him so long?

  “Shut up!” He said again as he pulled back onto the road. He pulled over to the river. “Help me get his body.”

  “I’m not going to be your accomplice to murder. You murdered him! He only ever did what you ordered. Why would you murder him?”

  He didn’t answer, instead, he dragged the body out of the car. Maxum searched his body, taking his wallet and keys to his bike then he dragged him and dumped him in the river.

  “You’re everything Kara said you were. You’re bone sober, and you just murdered a man. You’re a monster. I can’t believe I ever thought you could go to rehab and change back into the man you once were.”

  “Rehab?”

  “Yes, that was my plan, to get you to rehab, but then Kara messed that up when she grabbed you and tried to detox you on her own.”

  “Detox me, is that what she said? She and her boyfriend stood by and watched as their enforcer tortured me for days. Then when we were finally getting somewhere, she gets pissed off and drags me off and locks me in a fucking trunk, in a fucking junk yard, leaving me to die in there.”

  I didn’t know how much I could blame her with what I know now. She was an abuse victim. Abuse that had gone on for years, and nobody even believed her.

  “You didn’t give her much of a choice. You made her hate you, and now I understand her more than I will ever understand you.”

  “You want to understand me? Fine, I’ll tell you my plan. Sophie, God wants me to bring justice to the scum. To purge all these groups, and that’s what I intend to do. Now, if your boyfriend gives me the hundred grand, I’ll spare him, but everyone else in that God forsaken club is dead. Every man, woman, and child, because if I don’t kill the children, they will rise up again and start the cycle once more.”

  “Children? Men, I can understand, but the women and children? You’re going too far; you’ll never be able to come back from that.”

  “It’s God’s will, Sophie.”

  Chapter 30

  Kara

  I was left alone with the Shadow Order and a few Blue Diablos. Some of them were looking at me like fresh meat; others were just glaring.

  They argued over what to do with me when the Prez of the Shadow Order stepped into the room. “She’s mine.” He snarled at the others. “I want to see just how good this whore is. Maybe she can work for us. Make us some money.”

  “I don’t think that’s what Maxum had in mind,” I spat at him, making sure to get a nice, thick, glob up with it out of disrespect. On the outside, my behavior would seem like madness, baiting him, or maybe suicide. But it was anything but.

  I knew what I could do. I knew how I would be allowed to do it.

  And hopefully it would also stall everything, until backup came. And Tony would be held back enough by Austin, to not lose his shit and get killed before we could be together again. So I could tell him I was so fucking sorry.

  “He said we could do what we wanted.”

  He leered at me, sending most of the others away, though a couple lingered. Maybe they liked to watch.

  “What should we do with you? Guess Daddy doesn’t love you. He has a new daughter now; one he can shape into exactly the kind of girl he needs.” He began to unbuckle his pants. “He did say you’re a whore, so let’s see how good you are.”

  “Touch me and die,” I warned. “My boyfriend is on his way. Your boy should have killed Jed when he had the chance, by now, he’s probably made it back to the MC and they’re probably on their way to come rescue us.”

  “Oh, we’re hoping they come, but don’t expect a rescue, you’re mine now. We got a big surprise waiting for them when they arrive. Until then, you’re going to entertain us, and if you bite me bitch, I will punch your teeth out.” He grabbed me by the hair.

  What he told me not to do would be exactly what I would do.

  It would create a distraction, chaos, possibly a way out.

  Just as he was about to whip himself out and shove it down my throat, a gunshot went off outside.

  “They’re here!” The Prez let go of my hair and quickly fixed his pants. Then he grabbed a shotgun and ran outside, screaming expletives about not being able to tonsil fuck the whore.

  Unfortunately, he didn’t forget to lock up in his anger.

  I was stuck.

  Well, at least I was alive and untainted.

  I could hear guns going off, then there was an explosion. I held my breath as everything became quiet, then I heard more gunshots.

  The war was on. I heard feet running and people shouting, then more gunshots followed by screams and explosions.

  Where were the explosions coming from?

  Did someone have grenades they were throwing? Or were they blowing up cars? The screams became more frequent, and I heard one guy constantly screaming.

  Another explosion even closer now. Then shouts. I thought I recognized a voice, but I refused to believe it. The sound of pounding, a lock and chain breaking . . .

  Then the door opened, and a familiar face entered.  “Eric!”

  “Kara! Are you okay?” Eric asked, entering the room. I had been so worried his injuries had been worse than it seemed or that he would have been followed and caught before he got the Crypt Keepers.

  He was a sight for sore eyes. “Did they hurt you?”

  “Eric! Thank fucking god. Nothing I can’t handle. Maxum took off. He and Carlos took Sophie.”

  “We’ll find him.”

  “I don’t know where they went. They took off in a car, that’s all I know. It was a black car, maybe a Lincoln?”

  “We’ll find him. We’ll get her back. I promise.” I knew to trust him. If anyone in the MC life was honest and true, it was Eric.

  “What’s going on out there? I keep hearing explosions.”

  “Yeah, we figured out their plan, so we’re setting their traps off. Tony and the Midnight Saints are on their way. We made it first. By the time they arrive, all the traps will have gone off, and then the fun can begin.” He sneered, and I couldn’t help but smile with him. We would win the war thanks to him.

  I impulsively pulled him in for a kiss.

  “Kara, I don’t want any beef with Tony . . . ”

  “Shut the fuck up, Eric, you just saved my life. All our lives. I know I’ve been such a bitch to you. Playing around with your heart, but I want you to know you did mean something to me. Still do. I’m having Tony’s baby, and I love him, but I can feel it. Someday soon, someone is going to love you the way you deserve. So much more than you can imagine.”

  “Fuck, Kara, are you trying to make an enforcer cry like a baby?”

  I laughed, a strong, real laugh, despite the pain of my throbbing face and sore body.

  I felt alive.

  “When I tell you to run, run. Go hide in an alley or something. In a building. Somewhere that’s not here. When all this shit is over, Tony or I will find you.”

  “Fuck that! I’m not hiding. I’m not a pathetic damsel, pregnant or not. I want blood, I want revenge, and I’m going to get it. Besides, they took Sophie, and I don’t trust Maxum. I’m going to hunt him down, and this time, I’m putting a bullet in his brain.”

  As if in response to what I said, two guys came in, Blue Diablos, but they were jumped from behind by two Crypt Keepers and quickly taken down.

  “Fine, but at least take Jed. He’ll want him just as badly.”

  I nodded. I didn’t know much more than that they fucked, and Jed had become a love sick puppy right before I took Maxum. I guess they must be more serious than that.

  “Go! Run! Run!” Eric said, giving me my opening as he ca
me out, guns blazing. I didn’t have to be told twice. I ran for the exit and made it outside just as I heard familiar rumbles.

  The Midnight Saints were here.

  Tony . . .

  There he was, riding up in all his glory, his blonde hair pulled back by the wind, Jed by his left and Seth on his right.

  I ran to him. To them all.

  I could see the look in Tony’s eyes as I paused in the middle of the chaos. I didn’t know yet if I was forgiven, but I could see the love still there. The relief that I was okay and thus our baby, though his eyes flashed as his headlights shone in my face, revealing the likely bruising.

  The moment passed, and I climbed on Jed’s bike, knowing the true reunion would have to wait.

  “Kara, where is Sophie?”

  “They took her, come on, they can’t be that far ahead. We’re looking for a black Lincoln or some shit.”

  We searched the road for any signs, but except for some skid marks where a car pulled off on the side of the road, there was no sign of a car. They must be going eighty miles an hour. Jed picked up his speed. Then, he got out a pistol and handed it to me.

  “You know how to use this?”

  “No shit!”

  “Shoot the tire when we get close enough to the car. We’re coming up to the river, then it’s another mile ‘til we hit the highway.”

  Chapter 31

  Sophie

  Jed arrived with Kara on his bike. Her face was all beat up, and she had one eye nearly swollen shut, but she looked like she was ready to take everyone on. I had to admire her strength. Her tenacity, her courage; she was more than I ever guessed she would be. And I realized I didn’t hate her so much. I admired her.

  “Jed! Kara!” I called as they screeched to a sudden halt, nearly throwing themselves off the bike.

  “Where did he go?”

  “I don’t know, he chose to leave me behind. I think he felt I was going to be in his way if I refused to help him.”

  “Help him with what?” Kara asked, annoyed and disgusted. I got it now.

  Jed interrupted the thoughts, though. “Sophie! Are you okay?” He dismounted his bike and ran to me and took me into his arms. Once I was wrapped in his arms, I felt safe, and secure and I let the tears fall. He hugged me tightly and stroked my back. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah, he didn’t hurt me.” I pushed away and wiped my eyes.

  “You have blood on you,” Kara said, taking her turn to hug me awkwardly. “I was so worried.”

  “It’s not mine. He shot him. He just turned around, pointed the gun, and he shot him,” I said. I was still in shock over what I saw. “The blood isn’t mine, it’s Carlos’. He shot him, and then he pulled over and dragged him to the river. Then, we argued, and he ended up dumping me off. I don’t know where he is going.”

  “Shot who?” Kara asked.

  “The lawyer. Carlos.”

  “Good,”  Kara said.

  “You were right, you were right about everything. I’m so stupid, and now he wants more money.”

  “How much?” Jed asked.

  “A hundred grand.”

  “I’ll give it to you,” Jed offered.

  “Jed, no, we’re going to kill that son of a bitch. Where did he go?” Kara asked, like she was ready to run after him on foot, even pregnant and injured.

  “I don’t know. He said something about purging the clubs. He said God wants him to wipe out the scum.”

  “I don’t buy it.” Kara shook her head. “We need to get out of here.” Jed looked at Kara as if some unspoken message was passing between them.

  “No, we need to call the police. The body is fresh in the river, and I was a witness!” Were they crazy?

  “If we nark on Maxum, he’s going to come after her and kill her for it,” Kara said, talking to Jed instead of me. I blinked. Would he really be able to kill me?

  Maybe, after all I’d seen, maybe he could.

  “We can keep Sophie safe,” Jed said, his arms now around me protectively like a shield.

  “How?” I looked back and forth between them, knowing only they knew this life. I wanted normalcy, but Maxum had marked my life, at least for now. I wouldn’t have any for a while.

  “You need to be a member of the MC, or at least be under our protection.” Kara was the one to tell me, her arms crossed and looking skeptical. I couldn’t blame her, but isn’t this where I was headed all along?

  My father, the Prez, now wanted me dead; my boyfriend the treasurer of the Saints. It made sense no matter how much I might object.

  “I’ll come with you.” I looked into Jed’s eyes and then kissed him. Then all of us got on Jed’s bike and sped away.

  I knew where we were going now; back to the clubhouse.

  “I want to go back to war!” Kara argued loudly from behind me, trying to get Jed to hear her. He ignored her, though I heard his chuckles all the way back.

  Finally, when we pulled up, Jed began scouring the place, to make sure no enemy was lying in wait for us. Shivers ran down my spine, expecting Maxum to pop up out of every dark corner. Jed turned to Kara. “You know Tony would shoot me if I let you go back to that.”

  Kara grumbled but did not argue.

  Jed made sure we were locked into the club in darkness, the assumption that everyone was at war. A couple other scared women had stayed behind, ordered to pay the men, prospects guarding them.

  Kara got some coffee, and we all sat down together, Jed hanging onto me sweetly and quietly. Meanwhile, Kara and I caught up on years we missed being sisters. Trying to kill time until we found out the outcome.

  Until she found out the fate of the father of her child.

  Chapter 32

  Kara

  I watched him come through the door, clothes dirty and torn, and thought for a moment he was a mirage.

  “How many?” Jed stood up to ask. “How many did we lose?”

  “Less than the Crypt Keepers. No officers. Though, Seth has to get a finger stitched back on.” He nodded behind him. Seth was tough as ever, even though his hand was covered in blood, a bloody cloth wrapped tightly around.

  “Eric?” I had to ask. I couldn’t live with myself if he saved me yet again, only to die.

  “Eric is fine, led everyone valiantly after they lost their Prez.”

  The silent grief was deafening. Losing a Prez was devastating.

  “Where’s Maxum?” Tony asked harshly, the hatred somehow even worse now, rolling off his tongue like balls of fire.

  “Gone,” Sophie chimed in. “Killed Carlos and dumped me on the side of the road when I wouldn’t act like he wanted. He wants all the MCs to pay for their sins. He says it’s God’s work.”

  Tony glared daggers at her as if Maxum could feel him on the other side.

  “We will find him, together,” I offered, saying so much more underneath. I wasn’t fucking leaving again.

  Tony walked up to me, and I met him in the middle, our limbs entangling to the point of becoming one being.

  “I didn’t mean it,” he said gruffly. I knew what he meant.

  “I know.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Let’s get married.”

  “Okay.”

  “That’s it? Just okay?” Tony teased. Though, a smile wouldn’t reach his eyes. He would blame himself for the senseless loss of life. Though, I was sure it made the Shadow Order and the Blue Diablos think twice, about fucking with us.

  “Yes!”

  “We will grieve soon, but first, a trip to Vegas, baby.” His eyes shined, and I had never allowed myself to be so vulnerable. But loving someone like this, someone you could lose so easily, wasn’t weak. We were stronger together.

  “Hey, Tony, why don’t you take my car.” Jed tossed him his keys.

  “Thanks, man.”

  I used a ton of makeup to cover my bruises. We packed up and hit the road in Jed’s sports car.

  “Should I take you to
the doctor? I’m a little worried about the baby. You just went through something traumatic.”

  “The baby is fine. I’m fine. We made it out, that’s what matters, right? But if you insist, I’ll see one in Vegas real quick. Tell them I got mugged or something.”

  “Fine.”

  “I was stupid,” I whispered, unable to keep it from coming out.

  “Hey, we’re not going there.”

  “We had him, we had him right where we wanted him. I should have just crushed him right then and there.”

  “Kara, we’re the good guys, so we’re going to win the war. We just have to be patient and, in the meantime, live life to the fullest. That’s all we can do. That’s all anyone can do. Let’s just relax and enjoy our weekend away from the MC, away from the war. It’s a beautiful scenic road in this sexy car, can life get any better at this moment? Now, do you want a white dress and the whole shebang?”

  “Do I look like the white princess dress kind of girl?”

  “Well no, but I thought I’d ask anyway.”

  “Maybe some black lace, or hot pink. Something short.”

  “Easily accessible.” He teased with a wink, and I laughed, letting my body fill up with it.

  This was right. And I wouldn’t let Maxum take anything more, anything good, from me.

  Epilogue

  Sophie

  “Congratulations,” I said shyly, Jed’s hand on my back as I walked up to the newly married Kara.

  They had just gotten back from their elopement and as long as a honeymoon they could be allowed. After all, the MCs were still at war.

  From what I understood, the Blue Diablos had retreated to lick their many wounds, and the Shadow Order were regrouping and waiting for Maxum’s next orders. Everyone seemed to be sure it had to do with making sure Kara and I were dead. In his head, we would be the worst offenders—those who knew better willfully aligning ourselves with evil.

  Though that was mostly true about him, a fact Jed was still trying to help me work through, as well as a well-paid online therapist I’d started seeing.