“That’s why I couldn’t get in touch with Hank last night. They were out shopping and didn’t hear the phone.” Jack laughed again as one of the insoles fell out of Bob’s pants leg. I couldn’t help but laugh with him. We leaned together for support while trying to control our giggles. It wasn’t working. We fed off each other’s laughter, making it worse. By the time Rand came to get me, I was shaking with silent giggles, crying.
“Shit,” Rand said. “Why is she crying?”
“Just a fit of giggles,” Mrs. Janowski said. “Bob, adjust your insoles. It’s time to ride.”
Rand looked aghast, as if I had lost my mind. I suspected I had.
“Didn’t you ever laugh so hard you cried?” I asked as we walked back to his bike, wiping the tears away.
“No.”
“What about Emily?” I swung my leg up over the bike and settled behind him.
“No,” he grunted, revving the bike.
“That’s a shame,” I said, even though he probably didn’t hear me over the noise. Maybe that’s what was wrong with their relationship. Neither of them were happy people. It was a pity.
Brett could make me laugh.
It made me hope there’d be laughter in the future.
Chapter 18
At our next stop, we met up with the Comets at a rundown bar that reminded me of the Hog. I was instantly homesick. While I had plenty of complaints about the Hog, it had somehow snuck into my heart. The people, the horrible smell, the sticky floors. Jack’s food was always the best and completely bad for my waistline.
“Mars!”
I looked over to find my dad wading through the bikers with his helmet under his arm. I hugged him, thanking all of his beloved stars that he was here and okay. But I also wished he was safely at home. I hated that he was about to ride to Boston with us, knowing there was trouble ahead. He wasn’t a fighter or a sharp shooter. He was a teacher and a star gazer on the search for a wormhole. There was no telling what would happen. At least if he was at home, I could focus on what was ahead and not what might happen to him.
I silently cursed as the emotion ran its course; I now understood how Brett must feel every time the ladies and I try to help him. I guess I had always understood, but this put it into a new perspective, one that I hadn’t fully empathized with. However, my dad had the right as a parent to help his daughter. And I had the same right to face those who wanted to harm me.
But I’d cut Brett some slack the next time I saw him. He deserved that much.
“I heard about the Sledgehammer,” Dad said. “How are you holding up?”
“Better than I thought I would,” I said. “It’s weird. When Rand and I were at a gas station a couple of days ago, I felt a cold chill, like she was there. But I haven’t felt anything since. It’s as if she’s not around anymore.”
“Just don’t let your guard down,” he warned.
“No, I won’t.” I said the words, but I realized they weren’t true. I had let my guard down when it came to Annie. Yes, I was still afraid of her. And yes, she was still a threat. But my fear of her was overshadowed by the gatekeeper. I hadn’t even been keeping a close eye out for Annie. Even now, I felt no danger from her.
But maybe that’s because I was surrounded by a hundred bikers.
“A few of the Comets drove past the meet-up location,” Dad said.
“Did they see anyone?”
“Plenty of people, but they’re all dead.”
“What?” I gasped.
“It’s a cemetery.”
“Give me your phone,” I said. I had to call Brett and warn him. This went beyond anything I would’ve ever suspected. I thought it’d be an abandoned building or warehouse. But a cemetery? Goosebumps dotted my arms.
Brett picked up on the second ring. From the background noise, he was still on the highway.
“Hello?” he asked.
“It’s Mars.”
“Are you okay?” He sounded detached, as if he was speaking with his accountant.
“Yes, but I just found out the meeting point is at a cemetery.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“T researched it, found an aerial map of the grounds.”
“Are you still going to go?”
“Are you?” he countered.
“We’ve come this far, but I don’t like it. Something is wrong.”
“Actually, I was thought it was ingenious.”
“What do you mean?”
“If the same man who texted you is the same man whose clients include serial killers, then a cemetery is a perfect place to set up shop. Who better to dispose of bodies than him? And where better to lure his next hit than to the place where she’ll be buried and never found.”
“Brett—”
“Mars, turn around and go home.”
“I understand you want to protect me, but I’m not going home.”
“Then you give me no choice,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
He hung up.
What just happened? I tried to call him back, but I was sent straight to voicemail. What did he mean I gave him no choice and that he was sorry?
“Everything okay?” Dad asked when I handed the phone back.
“I don’t know. Brett has something up his sleeve. He just apologized.”
“For what?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling I’ll find out before we get to the cemetery.”
I didn’t like this. Not one bit.
I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the ominous feeling that started growing in the pit of my stomach. Maybe a quick walk around the building might help relieve the tension. I could use a stretch anyway. We were set to leave in ten minutes, so I had enough time.
As I walked behind the building, I noticed Rand leaning against the wall. It cast him in a shadow and I nearly missed him.
“Dad just told me some new information about the Boston address.”
“Yeah?” He lit a cigarette, eyeing me through the swirling smoke.
“It’s cemetery.”
“Are we still going?”
“Yes.” I dragged the toe of my shoe along the gravel, making a wavy line. “I called Brett to warn him.”
“And?”
“He told me to go home.”
“But you won’t.”
I shook my head. “He also said he was sorry.”
“For what?”
Sirens in the distance alerted me. I knew exactly where they were headed. From Rand’s expression, he knew where they were headed too. Brett had set the police on us. And from the growing sounds, there was a fleet descending upon us.
Oh, Dad and the ladies were going to get mixed up in all of this. I started to run back to the front to warn them, but Rand grabbed me and pulled me into the shadows.
“If this is Brett’s doing, he wants you arrested. To him, you’d be far safer in lockup than at the cemetery.”
“He’d have me arrested?”
“Did it to me once. Arrested me himself. The bogus charges were dropped later.”
“Why did he do that?”
“It was a few years back. Emily and I were fighting again. This time she was purposely baiting me.”
“Why?”
“Thought I was having an affair, so she said she was going to do the same. But she crossed the line by throwing a party so she could take her pick of men. Said she might try them all. Brett had heard and knew it’d escalate. He tossed me in lockup until I cooled down.”
“What happened with the party?”
“Brett showed up with his lights flashing and everyone took off.”
“And then you and Emily made up?”
He laughed sardonically. “We don’t make up. I fucked her until she remembered who owned her ass.”
I scowled. “I don’t know if you’re trying to offend me or shock me. But it’s not working. I know you love her, and there’s nothing wrong with a husband loving his wife.”
/> The sirens were upon us now. Rand put his hand on my shoulder. “Let them arrest the bikers. They’ll be back out on the street within a couple of hours with no harm done. I’m sure Brett gave them a false lead and it will be cleared up later.”
“But my dad and Mrs. Janowski—”
“They’ll be fine too. Trust me,” he said. “If this was Brett’s plan, he’s trying to slow you down. As it is, we’ll have hardly any time to spare. If you get arrested, we’ll miss the meet and Brett will win.”
I nodded. Rand was right. On the bright side, Mrs. Janowski would love a couple of hours harassing the poor police with endless questions.
“You don’t hate Brett as much as you let on,” I said. “What happened between you two?”
“Haven’t you ever met someone you instantly hated?”
Jocelyn came to mind. “But you were just children. You would’ve been five when he was born. How could you hate an infant?”
“He was red and weird looking. Everyone loved him. Even my parents, who didn’t love anyone.” Rand peeked his head around the wall. “Shit. We need a better place to hide.”
There weren’t very many places to choose from on the open parking lot. It made me nervous that Rand was eyeing the Dumpster.
“No.” I shook my head adamantly. “I’m not going to jump in there.”
“You already smell,” he said. “How much worse could it get?”
“A lot worse.”
Three men ran from the front of the building back toward us, with police in pursuit.
“I guess there are a few bikers who’d rather not be hauled in,” Rand said blandly.
When the police continued their chase without noticing us, I took a breath. The Dumpster was starting to look better.
Rand and I hurried over and opened the lid to find it thankfully empty, but extremely pungent.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” I said.
“Hold your breath,” he said as he tossed me in. I landed on my butt, quickly scooting over to make room for Rand as he hopped in next to me and closed the lid.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “The smell will blow off on the bike.”
“God, I hope so.” I buried my nose in the crook of my arm. “Do you do this type of thing often?”
“Only once. But that time the bin was full.”
I wasn’t going to ask what prompted him to hide with garbage. “Why did you say your parents didn’t love anyone?”
“We’re not having this conversation.”
“Why not? It’s not like there’s anything else to do in here.”
He cocked a brow, and I instantly understood his meaning. “Absolutely not! Anyway, no one in their right mind would have sex in a garbage bin.”
He smiled. “It’s the ones who aren’t in their right mind that have the most fun.”
“You’re trying to goad me so I’ll change the subject. It won’t work.”
“You’re going to regret asking.”
“How could I regret knowing about your family?”
He smirked. “My parents only loved drugs, alcohol, and whores. Happy?”
Far from happy. “You were exposed to that since you were five?”
“Since I was born. Had to be weaned off cocaine.”
I stared at him. I didn’t know what to say. It was such a sad, terrible beginning. No wonder he was so screwed up. But he was also a brilliant designer, so something good had to have happened.
“Your parents would actually . . .” God, I couldn’t even get the words out.
“My parents were addicts, Mars. Coke for breakfast, heroine for lunch, and whores for dinner.”
“Your dad brought prostitutes to your house?”
He smiled his sardonic smile again. “Mom loved her bitches.”
I didn’t know if it was the stench, the closed in space, or Rand’s revelation, but my stomach churned. I doubled over, retching.
“Shit.” Rand scooted over, giving me room. “I’m sorry. I should’ve never told you. I don’t even think Brett fully knows what wastes his grandparents were.”
“They’re dead, then?” I asked, wiping my mouth on my sleeve, not bothering to care anymore how disgusting I must look and smell.
“Died soon after Brett was born.”
“Overdose?” I don’t know why I kept asking questions.
He nodded. “I woke up one morning and thought they were sleeping. I had a bowl of cereal and walked to school. When I came home, they were still sleeping. Sometimes they did that. It took me three days to figure out they were dead.”
“What did you do?”
“I called Mike. He picked me up and brought me to his apartment to live with Lil and him.”
I pulled him into a hug. I couldn’t help myself. What five year-old kid could live through that and not be a . . .
“You are such a fucked-up mess,” I continued my thoughts out loud. There was no polite way to put it. No words that could capture it so perfectly as that.
He let out a surprised laugh. “I’ve been telling you that this entire time.”
“And now I understand why. I’m so sorry.”
He untangled himself from me. “Don’t be sorry for me. I only had a five-year sentence with them. It could’ve been much worse. Speaking of sentences,” he murmured, kneeling to peek outside. “It looks like it’s almost clear out there. I think the last of the squads will pull away soon.”
“How did they get a hundred bikers out of here so fast?”
“Transports,” he suggested. “It sounds like Brett gave them enough time to plan this in detail.”
“That was underhanded of him.”
“You’ll get him back,” he said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded, assessing me. “You’re not half bad.”
“You’re mostly bad, but you’re starting to grow on me.”
He laughed—a real laugh. One that came from his soul. And I felt like the luckiest person to have heard it.
He peeked outside again. “It looks safe. We should get out of here before the tow trucks come to collect all the bikes.”
“Anything to get out of here.”
He hopped out first then helped me. We jogged to his bike.
“Let’s get the hell out of here before they figure out the ringleader is missing,” Rand said.
“I assume you mean me,” I muttered, sitting behind Rand.
“We’re going to have to ride straight through,” he said. “We won’t make it in time otherwise.”
“I’m ready.”
As he pulled out of the lot, I prayed for a smooth ride. One backed-up construction zone could mean the end of the road for us.
Chapter 19
Rand made one pass by the cemetery before veering off, heading the opposite way and parking in a grocery store parking lot.
“It’s too dark,” he said.
I agreed. I hadn’t thought far enough ahead to remember how spooky a cemetery would look at ten o’clock at night. I realized it’d be dark, but I was more focused on getting there in time. And it wasn’t that I hadn’t fully understood that I was out of my element, but this drove it home in a way that made me cling to Rand.
He cursed. “I’m starting to agree with Brett. I don’t want you going in there alone. You don’t even have a gun or knife.”
“We drove all of this way. I have to do something.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“The message said to come alone or don’t come at all.”
“Then don’t.”
“I guarantee Brett is somewhere in there alone.”
“Good for him.”
“You do realize it’s your entire family on the line?”
“Because of Brett. He fucked up, and he can deal with it.”
“And what if he dies?” I asked, dread curling in my belly. “What then? Will you be able to find the gatekeeper in time?”
“What do you suggest? That I
just let you walk in there by yourself?”
Of course I didn’t want to step foot into the cemetery alone. What fool would? But the message was for me, not Brett or Rand.
Damn Brett for setting the police on the bikers. They would’ve come in handy right now. I could have gone into the cemetery knowing I had an army at my back. At Fenwig’s, I’d found out firsthand how deadly Mr. Wispy was, but not even he could harm one hundred bikers in one shot.
Think, Mars!
I had less than ten minutes before having to make my final decision.
“I’ll go in,” Rand said.
“You don’t even look like me.”
“Can’t deny that.”
“And you don’t have any weapons either.”
“Yes, but I’m stronger than you.”
“Muscles don’t stop bullets.”
“You’re not going alone.”
“I have too!”
“This isn’t your battle,” he said.
“It turned into mine. I’ve survived worse.”
“Is this why Brett cuffs you? Because you’re too dense to stand down? This is the one and only time I agree with him. You should be locked up for your own safety. I should’ve let the police haul you off.”
“Drop me off at the cemetery,” I said, ignoring his growing irritation. “Follow me in a couple of minutes later. Who knows, this might be a completely innocent meeting.”
He stared at me as if I was daft. “You’re going, unarmed, to meet a stranger in a cemetery at night and you think it’ll be innocent?”
Point taken. I was just tossing thoughts around. “Listen, I know damn well it’s a suicide mission going in there, but this is our only lead. Get me in there and stay as close as you can without giving your presence away.”
“You’re willing to put your life on the line for Brett?”
“And his family.”
“Brett doesn’t deserve you.”
“Yes, he does. But if you want to be that way about it, Emily doesn’t deserve you. Now drop me off before it’s too late.”
He turned the bike around and headed to the cemetery entrance.
“Stop here,” I said. “I’ll walk in.”
Biker Brigade Page 17