Outlaw Revenge

by London Casey

  “Come on,” Gaige barked. “Hurry up.”

  Gaige had his boxers and jeans back on. Emily rushed to dress herself and went to the bathroom to fix her hair the best she could. She saw Gaige in the reflection, standing in the doorway, much like the first night they were together.

  “That won’t matter, beautiful,” Gaige said with a sly smile.

  “What won’t?”

  “Covering it all up… your screams probably echoed throughout the clubhouse.”

  Emily’s mouth opened and her cheeks burned.

  Gaige wrapped his arms around her stomach. He kissed her cheek. “We have to get moving. I’m fucking serious.”

  “Okay,” Emily said.

  They exited the room and clubhouse.

  Gaige had Emily’s hand tight as they walked through the parking lot. It seemed very busy to Emily. Motorcycles were coming and going. Guys who worked the salvage business were working. She wondered if those guys knew the real purpose of the compound.

  When Gaige nodded to a deep ramp, Emily froze.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “Underground garage. Good for business.”

  Gaige walked and took Emily with him. She trusted Gaige but still wondered how many people walked down this very ramp and never came back out alive.

  Inside, Gaige slid a key into the locked door and turned. He looked at her like he wanted to say something, but instead he just opened the door.

  Emily looked inside and saw a man sitting on his ass against a wall. His right leg, arm, shoulder, and face were all torn up. His clothing ripped, his skin bleeding.

  “This is Vinny,” Gaige said. “He’s the one who killed Rachel.”

  “Fuck you,” Vinny called out.

  Emily felt her heart pounding. She became dizzy for a few seconds and started to shake.

  “No,” Gaige said to her. “No fear, beautiful. This is the fucking piece of shit that shot at all of us. This is the fucking piece of shit that put all those bullets in your best friend.”

  Emily looked at Vinny. He looked back at her. His eyes were empty and evil.

  “Too bad,” Vinny said. “I wished we would have blown your fucking heads off. Then we could have taken your pussy and really had some fun.”

  Gaige took his gun out and pointed it at Vinny. “Keep running your mouth.”

  “Fuck you,” Vinny said. “You want to fucking kill me, do it. Come on. Settle the score. Like I give a fuck about some bullet holes in pussy.”

  Emily started to shake more. Her blood was boiling like she never felt before. Staring at Vinny, she heard his voice, but it was like it was far away.

  “You think your crew is going to come looking for you?” Gaige asked. “They’re holed up, afraid.”

  “Then just fucking kill me. Maybe I’ll meet that bitch on the other side… get some pussy…”

  Vinny laughed and it was all Emily could take. She dove at Vinny and started to attack him. She made fists first but after just a few punches, she hurt her hand on one of Vinny’s teeth. She then switched to slapping and clawing, hitting his face as hard as she could. Gaige wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back.

  “Fuck, beautiful,” he called out.

  But Emily wasn’t done. She managed to wiggle free from Gaige and went back to Vinny. She kicked him in the stomach, the chest, and the face, over and over. Tears flooded her eyes and she broke down crying. All she could picture was Rachel begging her to go to the fight. Then Rachel standing there with Blaine. And then the sound of the gun… the sight of Rachel’s body on Blaine…

  Emily kicked one more time and then fell to the ground. Gaige scooped her up and turned her away from Vinny.

  “Fucking hell,” Gaige whispered.

  Emily wept, her arms around Gaige’s neck, holding him tight.

  “It’s okay,” Gaige said. “I told you it would be okay. He’s going to die for what he’s done.”

  Gaige put Emily down and he crouched down with her. He wiped her tears away and moved the hair out of her face.

  “Look at me,” Gaige said. “Look me in the eyes.”

  Emily did. “I’m sorry…”

  “No. You needed to do that. You get the feeling now. You understand it.”

  “Yes,” Emily said. “Yes.”

  “I’m going to fucking kill him,” Gaige said. “You don’t have to watch. Not this one.”

  Not this one…

  Emily closed her eyes. She knew what that meant. She wouldn’t have to watch Gaige kill Vinny, but she would have to watch him kill Max.

  Emily opened her eyes.

  Gaige stood and turned, taking his gun out again. He walked to Vinny and put the gun to his temple.

  “You motherfucker,” Gaige growled.

  Emily couldn’t look away.

  The door to the room opened and Shay came rushing in.

  “Gaige. Don’t fucking do it, brother.”

  Gaige looked back, rage in his eyes. “Why the fuck not?”

  Shay looked at Emily, surprised, then back to Gaige. “We have company.”

  “Who?”

  “Chief Jerry,” Shay said. “And he’s looking for…” Shay turned his head to Emily. “You.”

  “Me?” Emily asked.

  “Goddamn,” Gaige said.

  He stood up and put his gun away. Emily fought to her feet. She reached for Gaige.

  “It’s okay,” Gaige said. “It’s probably just about your friend.”

  “No,” Shay said shaking his head. “No fucking way. He’s… just hurry.”

  Emily ran with Gaige from the room after he locked it. They hurried from the underground garage and when Emily saw the chief, her heart sank. He was in plain clothes and looked like death. A cigarette hung from his mouth, the smoke billowing around him.

  Miller, Blaine, and Nate stood with the chief.

  When he looked up and saw Emily, he pushed from his car. His cigarette fell from his mouth and he started to run at Emily.

  “You!” he cried out. “It’s you!”

  Emily ducked behind Gaige. Gaige put a hand out but that wasn’t going to stop Chief Jerry. He swung and punched Gaige in the mouth, knocking him out of the way. The chief then had Emily by the shoulders, shaking her.

  “Where is he? Tell me. What the fuck did you do?”

  Emily shook her head.

  Miller and Nate came to Emily’s aid while Blaine held Gaige back from attacking the chief.

  “Come on, Jerry,” Miller said. “Damn.”

  Chief Jerry released his hold on Emily. He stuck his hand in his pocket and took out a piece of paper and gave it to Emily.

  “What is this?” she asked.

  “I found it… in an empty fucking crib.”

  Jerry hung his head and began to cry.

  “What the fuck is this?” Gaige asked.

  Blaine sighed. “Someone took his baby.”

  “What?” Emily asked.

  “Yeah,” Blaine said. “Someone broke into his house and took his baby. Read the note, Emily.”

  Emily opened the piece of paper.

  There’s no ransom, I just took what was mine. Emily took my son when she left me. She won’t give him back… so I need a son to raise. It’s nothing personal, just business. Tell the MC and Emily that when she brings me my son, you can have yours back. If you get your officers involved, I’ll put a bullet in your son’s head.

  Emily dropped the paper and started to cry.

  “Where’s your son?” Chief Jerry asked.

  “You have a son?” Blaine asked.

  “Jesus Christ,” Miller growled.

  “There’s no fucking kid,” Gaige yelled. “She told her ex that because he was going to beat her death. She told him she was pregnant and then she split. I’ll take care of this.”

  “My son is gone,” the chief said, staring at Emily. “In the hands of someone else…”

  Gaige hugged Emily tight. “I will take care of this. I promise.”

&
nbsp; “What are you going to do?” Chief Jerry asked.

  “I’m going to fucking kill him,” Gaige said.

  “Shit,” Miller said. “Gaige…”

  “Good,” the chief said. “But mark my words. If my son is hurt… or…” His bottom lip quivered. “… dead… I’ll take this entire MC down. I’ll team up with Strokner and put all you fucking assholes behind bars.”

  “That won’t happen,” Miller said. He put a hand to Chief Jerry’s back. “Go home, Jerry. Comfort your wife. Give us a chance here, okay?”

  “A chance,” the chief said.

  “I can call him,” Emily said. “Arrange to meet.”

  “To exchange kids,” Gaige said.

  “I thought you said she didn’t have a kid?” Blaine asked.

  “She doesn’t,” Gaige said. “But we’ll fucking kill him before he knows what’s happening.”

  “Not now,” Miller growled. He put an arm around Chief Jerry and walked him to his car.

  Gaige looked at Emily.

  “I’m so sorry,” Emily said. “I’m a fucking mess…”

  “We all are,” Blaine said.

  “We’re all in this together,” Gaige said. “Okay? You need to calm down and make the phone call.”

  Emily took a deep breath. She reached for her cell and then made a startling realization.

  She was about to become an accomplice to murder.

  twenty-four.

  Gaige sat at the table, his hands folded as the rest of the members placed their votes on the protection of Emily, the death of Max, and making sure the chief got his son back before all hell broke loose for Back Down Devil MC.

  “We’re not going to discuss how or why,” Miller started. “I hear that once and you’re out of here. Got that?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “Aye,” Shay whispered.

  “Emily made the phone call,” Gaige said. “I listened to it. This Max guy is alone and he’s an asshole. His mind is fucked. He was running with a crew in northern California that fell apart. He’s been looking for Emily since she left. Like I said, he used to beat the fuck out of her, okay? One night he went after her and she told him she was pregnant. It was the only way she managed to save her life. She took off and he kept chasing her, looking for their child.”

  “And he doesn’t believe there’s no kid?” Blaine asked.

  “No,” Gaige said. “He’s going to be out at the edge of town. Right where Strokner wants to poach our land. He said he’s there now, waiting.”

  “For what?” Nate asked.

  “For Emily to show up with their son,” Gaige said. He took a deep breath. “Or for a semi truck to pass by so he could throw the chief’s baby in front of it.”

  “Dammit,” Miller said.

  “What do we do?” Griffin asked. “Seems sitting here is a waste of fucking time.”

  “Vote,” Miller said. “Anyone against this?”

  Nobody protested.

  “Get it straight,” Gaige said. “We’re going out there to face this guy. Emily and I take the lead with Miller and Blaine for protection. The rest of you create an ambush. I get the kill shot on him.”

  “What if it goes bad?” Jace asked.

  “I get the fucking kill shot,” Gaige said. “I made a promise to Emily. She and I will do it. We get the baby from him and then let us take care of him.”

  “Anyone against killing this guy?” Miller asked. Silence filled the room. “Okay then. Let’s get moving.”

  “Shay, bring the ride. We need to make sure he thinks there’s a kid with us.”

  “Aye,” Shay said.

  The room cleared out. Gaige finished his smoke and found Emily waiting at the bar for him. He took her hand and didn’t say a word. There was nothing left to say. Either this would go right or it would go very wrong. Death would be dealt; Gaige just hoped it was at the hands of Back Down Devil.

  The crew loaded up on their motorcycles and set off. Miller and Gaige were side by side, leading the rest of the crew. Gaige didn’t like the idea of Emily sitting behind him. He worried she would feel too vulnerable, but there was no other option. It was risky going out like this, considering Gaige had killed a member of Eight Under and had another member alive in the underground garage. But if they couldn’t save the chief’s baby, then Back Down Devil would have to face investigations from the police and from Strokner.

  All the thoughts caused Gaige to grip the handlebars of the motorcycle tighter. The ride felt like days, chasing the horizon with two wheels and the open road.

  Once they started to approach the bend where Max said he would be, everyone except Gaige, Miller, Blaine, and Shay took a left and went up into the bare land. They knew where to go, when to stop, and how to approach Max with caution.

  Soon Miller and Blaine began to slow down, hanging back so Gaige and Emily could take the lead. Shay stayed close to Gaige. The dark car windows would keep Max from seeing that nobody was actually in the car with Shay.

  This would have to somehow work.

  Gaige rode alone with Emily. It felt right, even if they were moving straight into a dangerous situation. Once around the long bend, Gaige saw a figure standing on the side of the quiet road. Gaige went to the opposite side of the road and stopped the motorcycle. He climbed off and Emily handed him the helmet. He looked at her and gave a quick nod indicating it was Max. There was no opportunity now for words of hopefulness. It was time to end it all.

  As they crossed road, Max stood holding the baby in one hand and a gun in the other. He bounced the blue bundle in his arm, his eyes wide and bloodshot. This guy was high. Really high. The situation was much more dangerous now. A clouded fuck of a mind would only make Max act crazier.

  Max pointed the gun at Gaige. Gaige put his hands up.

  “Take out your gun,” Max ordered. “Your knife, too.”

  Gaige moved slow, reaching into his leather. He took out his gun and put it to the ground. He then took out his long knife and placed it next to the gun.

  “What about you?” Max asked Emily.

  “Max, I don’t carry anything,” Emily said.

  “Come here, baby, I want to feel.”

  Emily swallowed and sidestepped near Gaige.

  “Go,” Gaige whispered. “Now.”

  “Come on,” Max yelled. “I’d hate for something to happen here…”

  He looked at the bundled blanket in his arms and smiled.

  Emily stepped forward and stared at Max. Gaige wanted to ambush the scene. But he couldn’t. Even if Max just dropped the infant, he could be hurt. Gaige didn’t want that on his soul and he wanted to prove to the chief that Back Down Devil could take care of the outlaw justice that was sometimes needed in life.

  “I’m going to put my gun in my back pocket,” Max said. “Then I’m going to search you, baby. If anyone dares to try a fucking thing, I’ll blow this baby’s head off.”

  “I thought you wanted to be a father,” Emily said. “Is this how you treat…”

  Max put the gun to Emily’s forehead. Gaige jumped forward and Max met eyes with him.

  “Come on,” Max said. “Walk one more fucking step. I’ll paint you with her brains.”

  Gaige curled his lip and stayed put.

  Max put the gun behind him and then ordered Emily to turn around. Gaige then endured the sight of Max rubbing Emily with his free hand. Her shoulders, her arms, and waist. He touched her ass and smiled, making Gaige’s blood boil. Max continued down to her ankles and then up between her legs, making it obvious he was rubbing Emily.

  “Hey!” Gaige yelled.

  “Oh, is that wrong?” Max laughed.

  He stood and moved his hand along Emily’s side. When he touched her breast, he groaned.

  Gaige took a step and said, “No more. We’re here for a trade.”

  Max put his nose to Emily’s hair and inhaled. “Yes, we are.”

  Max pushed Emily forward and hurried to take the gun out of his back pocket. He pointe
d it at Gaige and Emily.

  “Where’s the fucking kid?” Max asked. “Our kid.”

  “Coming right now,” Gaige said.

  Gaige pointed and Shay came up the road in the black car. Max’s eyes lit up. He wiped his face with the back of his hand holding the gun.

  “Windows down,” Max said. “I want to see…”

  Gaige backed up and knocked on the driver’s window. It slowly came down, revealing Shay.

  “Everything good?” Shay asked.

  “Perfect,” Gaige said.

  “Show me my son!” Max yelled. “I’m getting… it ain’t good here, man.”

  “Okay,” Gaige said. “Put the windows down, Shay.”

  Shay gave Gaige a look. Gaige made his way around Emily. Max’s eyes were glued to the car. Gaige would have one shot at this.

  The back window came down and showed nothing.

  “Where is he?” Max called out.

  “He must be afraid,” Emily said. “Let me check on him. He’s probably hiding on the floor. He does that when he’s afraid, Max.”

  “Why’s he afraid of me? I’m his fucking father!”

  “Maybe it’s the gun,” Emily said.

  “It’s not for him. It’s to protect him. Help him.”

  Gaige smiled. Emily was doing this perfectly. Gaige was almost next to Max. Again, if Max wasn’t holding the baby, this would have been simple. Gaige could easily tackle him and beat the fucking piss out of him. But Gaige needed to protect the baby.

  Emily walked to the car and looked inside. “Hey buddy. Can you sit up for me?”

  “He’s really there,” Max said. “He really is…”

  Gaige saw Max lower the gun and this was his opportunity to move. Gaige kicked Max’s hand, sending the gun to the ground. When Max turned his head, Gaige threw a timed fist, connecting with his jaw. It sent Max spinning and when he opened his arms, Gaige caught the blue bundled blanket. Gaige was on his knees and Max was on his ass.

  “Liars,” Max said. “I knew it. Now we all can die.”

  Gaige heard cries in the distance and looked to see Griffin holding a baby. Landon and Erik had their guns drawn as they rushed through the bushy area.

  Gaige’s head spun. When he put the blanket down and opened it, everything came together.