by Kara Kelley
“Someone loyal, unlike you, who fucking ditched your family.”
“You use the word family loosely, Father. And I went to jail for your family.”
His father laughed humorlessly. “You went to jail because you just had to be a fucking hero.” The phone went silent and Drew squeezed it in his fist so tightly he thought it might break into pieces.
He tossed his coffee cup into the garbage and got on his bike. No matter how much he didn’t want to be like the Grinders, he was heading there. Violence was the only thing his father understood.
First he needed to hide Addi somewhere just in case they figured out they’d fucked up and taken the wrong woman. But before he could tuck away his phone and ride back to her, it rang again.
“What?”
“Fitzie? You gotta help us.” It was Layla. There was a thump over the line and a whimper. “Save Brent! And tell Trevor he’s the father.”
“Enough, bitch.” Another scuffle and a slap. “Reaper, I gotta say your snub hurt.”
“Mauler.”
“We’ll be at the clubhouse in a few hours. You’ve got till noon tomorrow.” There was a scuffle and a scream in the background. “I really hope you choose the kid, though. This bitch is pissing me off.”
The phone went silent and Drew’s mouth dried. There wasn’t time. Looking up the number for Fell County Police, he shook his head. Carter may not be his favorite person, but he would protect Addi.
Chapter Sixteen
Addi
Drew had dropped her off at the main camp to hang out with Steven and Daniel before he came to town to talk to Trevor and she was glad. She had her own plan and with him so mercurial around people, especially people like Rebecca Snow, it was better she start her plan on her own.
The best way to deal with Drew’s problem was by utilizing Rebecca and her urge for fame and fortune. They’d offer her an exclusive interview with the real painter Andrew Trigger, and explain about his past and why he’d kept it a secret, if and only if she agreed to follow Addi’s questioning guidelines. Drew would finally tell the world the truth, while promoting his charities. The world would finally see what a good man he was.
“Your turn, Ads,” Steven said, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. “TALKS onto Daniel’s CAMP for the triple word score.”
She glanced up from her notes to see he’d clobbered both her and Daniel with his turn, but she still could have kissed him. His words gave her an idea.
She tossed an A in front of the M in CAMP and stood up from the table in the mess hall where they’d been hanging out playing Scrabble. She suddenly knew how they could fulfill Uncle Ray’s wishes for the camp!
“Where are you going?” Daniel crossed his arms, shot a look at Steven, and stepped in front of Addi. “We were under the impression that Drew wanted you here, where you’d be safe and out of trouble.”
“With us!” Steven added.
“Guys, I’m perfectly capable of handling myself. I’ve actually been doing it for years.” She grabbed her purse. “I’m going to talk to someone I think can help.”
“Who is this woman?” Steven asked Daniel.
“I don’t know, but our Addi would stay safe in this situation.” Daniel shrugged.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’m just going to the front gate to talk to Rebecca Snow. Not fight the whole town for Drew’s honor.”
“Rebecca Snow? I know that name.” Steven scratched his chin, his eyes narrowed in concentrations. “She’s a tabloid reporter, isn’t she?”
“She won’t be for long.” Addi smiled. “Not if she agrees to my plan.”
“I still don’t think you should go.” Daniel crossed his arms.
“Me either. Besides, we’re here to hang out. You need to show us around, talk about that hottie, and maybe go skinny dipping in that sparkling lake I saw.”
“And we will. Just as soon as I finish my chat with Miss Snow.”
Steven looked at Daniel with a frown. “She just agreed to skinny dip… she’s definitely not Addi.”
“God, you two!” Addi growled. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. Stop analyzing my every move.”
“You’ve changed since you’ve been here, Ads. Spill. We want to know what this hot biker has done to you.”
Addi smiled. “I’ll tell you all about it as soon as I get back. Promise.”
“That’s fine, just as long as you know we’re calling Drew.” Steven held up her cell phone in a wave. Daniel smirked, looking at his husband with both love and admiration.
“God, Daniel, you can use the time I’m gone to rip his clothes off.” She looked pointedly at her other best friend. “And you can call him all you want. It’ll be worth the spanking he’ll give me.”
Their jaws dropped. “Spanking?”
“Oh, don’t look so scandalized.” She rolled her eyes. “I friggin’ love that he daddy doms me.”
Daniel tipped his head back and laughed before turning to look at Steven with a serious look. “Maybe if I spank you when you screw up our deadlines and lose articles, you’ll become more organized.” Daniel winked at Addi.
“Only if you want me to lose stuff on purpose. I am thoroughly turned on right now, but don’t you dare expect me to call you Daddy.” He looked at Addi. “No offense but gag.” He shoved a finger down his throat.
Addi giggled and snatched her phone from Steven on her way out the door. “Spank him good, Daniel, he needs it.”
* * *
“Let me go, Carter.” He had her handcuffed to a hotel bed since the evening before. She had at least spoken to Rebecca and worked out a deal before he showed up, handcuffed her, and threw her in the back of his cruiser.
“Oh, you’re awake. We talked about this last night and my answer’s still nope. You wouldn’t have had to be handcuffed if you hadn’t tried to take off.”
Addi struggled against the cuff attached to her wrist and his bed.
“Drew asked me to take care of you and as much as I hate that dick, we have a common goal. Keeping you safe.”
“Carter Lerner, Drew’s the one in trouble, not me!”
“Yeah, I imagine he is, but I don’t give a fuck about him.” He jabbed a finger at her. “You on the other hand…”
“Why the hell should you care about me?”
“Because instead of telling you I had a crush on you when we were sixteen I made up that stupid bet and you damn well got hurt. Can’t a guy make up for the shitty things he did in his past?”
“By handcuffing me to the bed in a shitty motel?” Her voice rose in pitch.
“Don’t make it sound so lecherous. It’s for your own safety. I can’t have you taking off and getting involved in whatever mess Drew’s in. Okay? I want us to be friends, Addi.”
“Yes, me too, but handcuffing me is not the friendliest gesture, so how about letting your friend out of these shackles, Carter?”
“Not a chance, honey.”
She sighed and slammed her palm off the bed. Carter shot her a warning look.
“Why would anyone want to bother with me,” Addi said with a sigh.
“It’s not as simple as you think, Addi.” Carter’s face looked pained. “The Skull Grinders, his old biker club, have taken Layla and Brent. They’re hell bent on payback for him leaving.”
“What?” She broke out in an instant sweat and her heart pounded against her ribs. “Why Layla?”
“Because Layla was mouthing off that she was his ex and that he was still in love with her.” He ran a hand through his hair and groaned as he sat on the end of the bed. “They’ve given Drew a choice. Brent or Layla and the other one dies.” He looked gravely at her. “He has till noon today.”
“No!” She yanked hard on the cuff, growling. Carter stood, facing her in the bed. He opened his mouth to speak but before a word escaped his lips, the door burst open, splinters flying, and a big blond man wrapped his massive arms around Carter’s neck.
It took ten seconds for him to slump to the
floor. Addi screamed and the hulking man leaned over her, placing his hand over her mouth.
“Addianna?” He blinked as if waiting for a response so she nodded. “Don’t scream. I’m not going to hurt you.” She nodded again. As soon as he released her mouth, she gasped and scooted back as close as she could to the headboard.
“Did you kill him?”
The blond blinked again and looked at Carter. “Him? No, just choked him out. Cut off the blood supply to his brain. He’ll be fine, disoriented when he wakes up but fine.” He reached down and came back up with the handcuff key. A big metal thing that looked nothing like a regular key. “You’re coming with me.”
“And you are?” she asked as he unlocked the cuff around her wrist.
“Hacker is my patched name with the Skull Grinders.” He helped her from the bed by her arm and pulled her toward the doorway. “But my real name is Sean MacAfee.”
Addi’s eyes widened. Sean’s focus turned to Addi, his eyes softening slightly before he continued guiding her out of the motel.
“I know you’re his real girlfriend, Addianna.”
Addi threw herself to the ground. She’d taken Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and knew her strength was on the ground, but Sean caught her, twisting her arms behind her back. “Relax, honey. You won’t get hurt if you cooperate.”
When she struggled, he nudged behind her knee and her leg buckled, adding more pressure to her arms.
“Drew didn’t kill your dad and he saved you!”
“I know,” Sean said. “I’m going to let you go, but you need to listen to me. We don’t have much time.” He released her and put his hands in his pockets as a show of faith.
Addi got herself into a position with her legs shoulder width apart, her knees bent, and her arms up. She didn’t fist her hands, but kept them open and ready to hit him with the heel of her hand, preferably in the nose or cheekbone where his eyes would water and she’d gain a few seconds’ advantage.
“Andrew saved my life and now I’m going to save his and get justice for my dad.” He gathered a breath. “They’re luring him into a trap. They plan on killing both hostages and Andrew, and then going after Trigger.”
Addi’s trembling hand went to her mouth, adrenaline still pumping through her.
“I was more than happy to wait and let Mauler and Dingo kill Trigger and take over the Grinders before I handed the evidence I collected while in the club to the RCMP, but when I found out their plan for the woman, her kid, and Andrew, I knew I had to stop them. I work for a private security firm and I’ve gotten all the information to them. They’re with the authorities now presenting them with evidence, but there’s no time.”
“How do we stop them? I’ll do anything.”
“Walk and talk, Addi.” They headed to the car Sean had in the parking lot while he continued speaking. “So Andrew took off from the clubhouse one night, a week after they picked him up from the camp when he was sixteen. They couldn’t find him, but they’ve never stopped looking. Most of the club members are pissed at the old man’s obsession, but Trigger wants his son to run the club with him and take over eventually. They want the old man out and they’ll kill Andrew to make sure he won’t come claim his place.”
“He won’t be easy to take down.”
“I know that, too. But I’m afraid after they’ve killed the woman and her kid, he won’t fight them. Especially if he thinks they don’t know about you and his death will end everything and keep you safe.” He took his hands out of his pockets and pointed the fob at the car to unlock it.
Addi’s nose tingled with unshed emotion and she nodded, knowing it was true. He would give his life if it meant ending it all and saving her. Sean opened the passenger side door and waited for Addi to get in.
“If I show up with you and tell them I found the real girlfriend, it’ll confuse them long enough for me to take them down and you to get Layla and her son out safely. Hopefully before Trigger arrives. The boss trusts me, but they don’t. If I hand you over, it’ll hopefully prove I’m one of them. They’ll never expect me to turn on them then.” His eyes were a deep brown and with his blond hair he reminded her of a teddy bear.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Addi. I promise.” He took out a roll of duct tape. “But you’re going to have to pretend I will.”
Chapter Seventeen
Drew
Drew’s bike rumbled purposely loud as he drove into the parking lot of the Grinders’ clubhouse. It was an old house on a shitty street where the neighbors never complained and the yards were all overgrown. The place was even smaller and a helluva lot more run down than he remembered. The whole neighborhood looked like shit.
Drew watched for Trevor through the unfenced yard. He’d sent him down the alley that ran between the back of the houses. Trevor had walked his bike through to avoid alerting anyone but also to have his bike close in case they had to move quickly. Drew gathered a breath.
Parking his bike, he got off and plucked his helmet from his head. He watched for movement in the house through the filthy windows as he walked up the stairs onto the veranda with the peeling gray paint. Beer cans lined the windowsills like other houses might have flower boxes. He kicked a milk crate out of the way and frowned at the cigarette butts littering the ground. He shook his head. The way the place was falling apart it was only a matter of time before the whole damn thing burnt to the ground from one carelessly flicked butt.
He banged his fist on the door and walked in, his boots clomping loudly to alert his former brothers. The front hall had been opened up to join the front bedroom by removing a wall and creating a sitting room. There were a few chairs and high tables as well as a bar fully stocked with liquor. A big screen television took up one wall. More empty cans were scattered about the room, along with overfilled ashtrays and empty liquor bottles. Rhonda, the house mouse hadn’t cleaned up from the night before apparently. He wondered if she was even still around. She’d been young back then but maybe she’d moved on.
Drew stepped further into the clubhouse, hearing some pool balls clacking in the dining room where the pool table was housed.
“Reaper?” More pool balls cracking off each other. “We’re in here.” Mauler, cue in hand, reefer in his mouth, poked his head around the jamb. Drew followed when Mauler turned back into the room.
The dining room was open into the kitchen and Drew saw Brent at the table, tied around the waist to a chair. He grit his teeth, but remained outwardly calm. Dingo was across from him, leaning his chair back on two legs, chewing on a toothpick. The remnants of a meal sat on a plate in front of him. A full plate in front of Brent indicated he’d chosen not to eat.
“You okay, buddy?”
“Yeah,” Brent answered, shooting a Dingo a dirty look. “They’ve roughed up my mom though.”
“Shit, kid. You ain’t seen nothin’.”
“And he better not.” Drew stood taller and cracked his neck. Dingo gave him a half smile.
“I gotta say, Reaper, you’ve really grown into that name. You look scary as shit.”
Drew only grunted and walked to Mauler. “Where’s Trigger?”
He nodded toward the stairs. “In his office.”
Drew glanced into the back room that also served as a sitting room to see Layla was tied to a chair with her mouth taped. Some guy sat on the sofa beside her using a cell, probably to play games. It was only eleven, so they were passing the time. Drew was glad the guy was looking at his phone and the others at him rather than out the back, because Drew caught a glimpse of Trevor sidling up to the house.
When he’d told Trever that Brent was his son and he and his mother had been taken, Drew couldn’t keep him away. Trevor wanted his kid and his woman and he was willing to fight to the death if it came to that. Drew understood. He’d have been the same way if it were Addi and their child.
The thought gave him pause. He could easily see Addi heavy with child, glowing with life and sassing him. It made his heart beat faster. He w
anted that. He was desperate for it. But his gut told him things weren’t going to go well with the Grinders and he might not walk away from this. They wouldn’t stop looking for him and they’d kill Brent and Layla the minute he wasn’t around to protect them. That meant he had to end things, one way or another.
His skills hadn’t been honed in a long time. He learned to fight young in the club, and then in juvie and he’d continued to keep in shape, but besides helping Trevor with the occasional bar brawl that ended too swiftly, he hadn’t used his fighting skills.
How would he handle himself with Mauler and Dingo? They used their skills regularly. Drew scratched his chin. Mauler and Dingo were bullies, dealing with scared men who had crossed Trigger. None of them put up much resistance. They hadn’t the skill or brains for that. Drew wouldn’t back down and he certainly wouldn’t cower to them.
“Jesus Christ. We’re a little busy to be entertaining, Hacker,” Mauler said, slamming his cue down. Drew’s head spun. His jaw was tense and his eyes narrowed, but his heart was cracking off his ribs like a deer surrounded by wolves.
A big blond man had Addi’s arm clasped in his grip. Her hands and mouth were duct taped. He didn’t look like a Grinder except for the leather vest with the patch. It was the same guy who had been watching him in the Last Resort.
Addi struggled and yelped through the tape when he yanked her roughly. Drew saw red but kept his feet planted. He had to be smart, not impulsive.
“This is Reaper’s real girlfriend.” The blond’s voice was deep and condescending.
“How do you know?” Dingo said, jumping up and letting his chair slam back onto all four legs.
“Because I took the time to ask people rather than listen to the drunk and bitter rantings of the town lush. Besides, have you watched the news at all? These two are all over it.” He shook Addi and pointed between her and Drew. “She was on the back of his bike.”
The sliding doors to the back were open, letting in a cool breeze and their words flow out. Trevor could hear everything the blond man said, but Drew didn’t have to worry about Trevor rushing in to avenge his girl’s honor though. First, Trevor knew it was the truth, and second, he knew enough to stay put until the opportunity was right. Not too many people knew it, but Trevor had done a tour in Afghanistan back before he came to Fell County to take over his brother’s half of the bar after he’d been killed by a drunk.