“Tic, I want you at my side at all times,” King says to me. I give him a chin lift lettin’ him know I’ve got him. I was, after all, the only enforcer he’s brought with him today. Which may be our biggest mistake. Sometimes I wonder if we ever learned anythin’ from the situation with Riley, Sadie, and Skylar. We weren’t vigilant then and look how that turned out for us. But just like I always do, I keep my eyes alert and one foot in front of the other, and guard my Prez to the best of my ability.
We finally are graced with the presence of our informant. Joey Stockdone is the biggest game in town. And luckily for us, his dad was close to King and Sniper. They saved his life once upon a time. He has ears to the ground and knows all.
“I will speak to you, King, and you alone. No offense Tic, but this is for his ears only. Whatever he decides to share with you is on his head and not mine. I owe my loyalty to him and Sniper, it’s not meant as disrespect to you or the others.”
I look at my Prez and try to urge him with my eyes to not go into another room without one of us there with him. He told me to have his six at all times and I won’t let him go on his own, that would be me not followin’ orders. I am after all his bodyguard, I’m responsible for him when he’s put in my care. I won’t let him down by listenin’ to some punk tell me not to enter a room. Fuck that.
“Joey, I get where you’re comin’ from son, but it would be bad business for me to enter a room alone. If you don’t want my enforcer with us, I will be takin’ my VP in there. And Joey, don’t even think of denyin’ me this information. Your father would hate to have a visit from me where I tell him you’ve been uncooperative.” King says to Joey, makin’ sure to express his feelins through his eyes. He’s not in the mood to be fucked with.
“Fine King, I’ll let you make this call. I just don’t know how much information you wish to share. Sniper’s cool with me. Known you both my entire life, and I don’t fear that one of you’d put me in danger with what I’ve found out. If it gets out any way at all, it won’t just be me losin’ my life. That fucker is crazy enough to make me watch while he tortured every person I love and then play with me as well before he gives me the mercy of death.”
King turns to us, “Wasp, take Kid out and check the perimeter and keep an eye on the bikes. Tic, stay here where you have eyes on both doors.”
Then I watch as my Prez and VP follow Joey into what I am assumin’ is an office. Fuck, I’m not at ease not havin’ one of us go in there and check to make sure our leaders aren’t walkin’ into a trap. I pull my Ruger 9mil which was a present from Kori back when we first started datin’. This is my baby, my go to. The guys give me a hard time about havin’ a pussy gun, but this gun has never left my side and has always takin’ care of me and them. I don’t give a rat’s ass if they think it’s a pussy gun, its saved all of our asses at one time or another.
I stand guard at the post I was given but I still check out my surroundin’s. Comin’ up to the house were currently in, you’d think it’s a complete shithole. Vinyl sidin’ fallin’ apart, paint chippin’ and lord forbid they had to do any mowin’. It looks as if a jungle is tryin’ to grow. You know what they say though, about judgin’ a book by its cover and all that shit. This would be a prime example of that statement. You walk inside and there are pages inside the binder fallin’ to pieces. Beautiful cherry hardwood floors throughout the entire home. Looks as if it was painted just yesterday, that’s how well maintained they’ve been kept. Furniture looks new, like it’s just been delivered from a catalog.
We know Joey’s got an old lady who apparently knows how to make the inside a home worth livin’ in. But none of us have had the privilege of meetin her. He keeps his family in the dark to his world. It sounds good on paper, but that’s what Wasp did with Ashton, and to hear him tell it that was one of the biggest mistakes he’s ever made. If she’d been immersed into the club she may have been safe. It’s a guessin’ game for him—the coulda, woulda, shoulda shit. If you ask me life is full of the guessin’ game. You can only take life one day at a time and make the best decisions for yourself with the information you have to work with.
As I’m doin’ a check again on my surroundin’s I hear a very loud, boisterous voice scream. “You’ve got to be shittin’ me!” I know that voice, it’s the pissed off thunder of my VP. This instantly puts me on edge. What is it exactly Joey’s tellin’ them that’s got my VP growlin’? I want to abandon my post and go listen at the door like I used to when my parents were fightin’. Of course I had to, needed to know my Ma and brothers were gonna survive my father’s rage.
Before I have a chance to contemplate my next move, the door flies open and Prez gives me a look that says ‘don’t fuckin’ ask’, follow me and let’s ride. So once again like the dutiful soldier I am, I follow close behind on their heels. Lord forbid they let me do my job and go ahead of them. I swear they do this shit just to get us pissed. Our job is to protect them at all costs, includin’ our own lives. Unfortunately, they see it differently, they see it as if they’re the leaders of the club and it’s their duty to keep us safe. Fools don’t realize we need them, all of us. Their blood family and their made family. They are us. We wouldn’t be the club we are today if they’d not formed the Rage Ryders and took in all of us wayward boys. Troubled and tortured, they took us all in and gave us the meanin’ of family. Somethin’ my folks never did for me and my brothers.
***
Chapter 14
~Joey
I hope I’ve done the right thing telling them what they’d asked for. Going up against the man is not only dangerous—it’s a damn death sentence. It’s bad enough their enforcer Tic is on the radar. He despises Tic for claiming Kori and him not being able to use her as a bargaining chip for his debt to the Columbian mob. See, everyone thinks he’s untouchable. He’s not, there’s going to be a bloodbath soon. It’s going to soak our town in red, blood red. Unfortunately for my friends, men I’ve known my whole life. They’re fixing to find themselves deep in the middle of a shit storm. One I pray every single one of them makes it out alive for at the end of the day.
But with Kori no longer an option for settling this debt, the club having Tic’s back, means they’re all in more danger than even I can understand. I didn’t want to keep them in the dark, I just wanted to make sure everything I’ve heard is correct. I hope to God they go on the offense and don’t wait to be on the defensive end of this. I’ve tried getting in touch with my contact in the Columbian mob, I finally spoke to her right before the guys showed up. She’s going to see if she can whisper in her lover’s ear that they should back the guys. See, Kendra is the mistress of the head honcho. He’s either deeply in love with her or just plain out obsessed with her. Mancito’s family forced him into a marriage to bind the two biggest families into an unbreakable ally. Mancito married who his family forced him to. But he kept his lifelong sweetheart right there in the same home. Sharing a bed with her more than with his own wife.
Which from what I understand is perfectly fine with his wife Valentina. She too has her own lover in the home. They put on a good face for the organization, they’ve even become the best of friends. Neither of them being in love with the other, they came to an understanding. Neither willing to cheat on their side pieces, they’ve done in-vitro for the three children they share. I know, to the outside word that’s one fucked up situation but it works for them and keeps them both happy. You don’t want to get on the bad side of either one of them. They are both ruthless people when you get on their bad side or fuck with their children, or hell, even each other.
Kendra and I spent a lot of summers together when she’d come visit her grandparents and Aunts. I knew all about Mancito and Valentina’s arrangements, from her mouth to my ears. I’ve always kept my ears open, never knowing what I could hear that would keep me safe as well as those around me who I care for. I’ve also met Mancito, we hit it off, thank God. But I don’t have the kind of relationship with him that could keep King and his boy
s safe. Therefore, I have to rely on Kendra to whisper ideas into his head.
I pray for my friends that he listens to her and decides they’re the better option. He doesn’t want Kori for himself. He’d only take her to have a one up. Unfortunately, Kori’s father could care less whatever he would decide to do with her. There is no type of good in him, he’s pure evil—the spawn of the Devil himself. Hell, he’s probably more lethal and dangerous than Lucifer himself could ever fathom. I pray that my friends will somehow pull out of this situation and get rid of the man who’d do anything in his power to ruin them.
God speed my friends, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Chapter 15
~Tic
As we make it out to our bikes King gives us the universal sign for light ‘em up and let’s ride. I love the way excitement still rolls through my body as we get into our formation and hit the road. The road headin’ home is what I’m talkin’ about. I hate this feelin’ that’s been itchin’ me the entire time we’ve been at Joey’s. The sooner we get home, the more at ease I’ll start to feel. I’m at my Prez’s six so I’m the first to notice the way his bike is startin’ to swerve.
“What the fuck you doin, Prez?” I say over our intercom system that’s connected to each and every one of our helmets.
“Somethin’s not right with my bike, I can’t seem to control it! Get ready boys—this is gonna be a crash and burn. I’m gonna make my way towards the grass. Easier fall that this damn concrete!” King screams at us through his mic. “Motherfucker! Someone’s done a number on my sweetheart—I can’t control any part of her.”
Then not only do I watch as my Prez is attempting to avoid disaster, we all hear him wheezin’ from his chest out his mouth. Then I catch him out of the corner of my eye hit his chest with his fist. Fuck! He’s goin’ down and I’m not gonna be able to break his fall. He’s not steady at all on the bike where I can get close enough to soften his blow by usin’ myself as his shield.
As if I’m watchin’ a movie everything seems to go into slow motion as I watch my Prez close his eyes and collapse over his gas tank. Sniper bein’ the closest to him reaches out to grab him, but as he tries the bike veers off to the left and then is down, rollin’ with our Prez still attached to his bike. It’s as if all my fears are comin’ true. I watch as his bike skids to a stop, King underneath the bike, there’s no movement. As I race my bike to where he’s landed I don’t even take the time to throw the kick stand down. No, I let it drop to the ground with a ‘thump’ that echoes through me. My intention is strictly on King, but all the noises that surround me still make their way to my senses.
It feels as if it takes minutes to reach his side, knowin’ that it’s actually seconds. My heart leaps into my chest as I take stock of his condition. I can tell just by seein’ him that his neck’s broken. His eyes have lost their light, there is no life left in him, I’ve lost him! I’ve lost the only man who’s ever been like a father to me. One of the best men and brothers’ I’ve had the honor of knowin’. The best Prez any club could ever ask of havin’. He’s gone, and it’s all my fault. I knew somethin’ was wrong. I. knew. it. I felt in deep inside my bones and with every beat my heart took.
He’s gone! He’s fuckin’ gone! I’m speechless, I’m appalled and most of all I. Am. Pissed! I know Kori’s dad had somethin’ to do with this. I know it like I know my name is Sadistic. And it is time every motherfucker who touched my Prez, touched my girls and fucked with my club learns exactly why I’m called this. It is on! I’m bringin’ hell to their front door. I will deliver them to the reaper. One by one, till’ they’ve paid in blood. Their blood.
I watch as Sniper hits his knees next to his best friend’s side. In the most gutted howl I’ve ever heard, he screams, “NO! Not you, not you brother! Don’t you fuckin’ leave us, don’t you dare! You have no right to leave me like this—it’s us, us till the end, watchin’ our grandkids together while sittin’ on the front porch talkin’ bout the old days. It’s our dream, it’s our lifelong promise!”
Wasp grabs our VP and pulls up and into his arms for a grief-stricken hug. They hold each other tight. I almost forgot Kid was with us, till I looked over and saw him on the ground sittin’ on his ass. His life gone from his eyes as he looks upon his Pa’s body.
“Kid” I scream his name, nothin’ I get nothin’ from my best friend. He doesn’t even hear or notice me callin’ him or headin’ for him. As I get close and try to pull him into my arms he loses it. He starts to fight me, punchin’ me in the face—anywhere he can reach he gives me blow after blow. I take it, I take it because of the guilt swarmin’ my body. I take it ‘cause I know it’s not personal. It’s hurt and anguish. It’s loss and betrayal. It’s love of a son losin’ his father, his teacher and the only man who’s been there for every single aspect of his life.
Fuck me, how do we tell Skylar and his Ol’ lady? This will hurt them, possibly kill half of their hearts and souls. And all I can keep thinkin’ is ‘It shoulda been me’. This is my fight, my war and I’ve brought this to the table. I asked my brothers to fight this battle with me, and now one’s gone. Everyone is goin’ to lose it, this war I’ve asked for is goin’ to be bloodier than even I imagined. IT IS ON!
Chapter 16
~Wasp
As I’m takin’ in the loss and pain around me I see Kid losin’ himself inside of his head. He’s not gonna ever be the same again, I hope Riley can somehow bring him back to the now. We’re gonna need him, his sister and mother need the strength that boy has in him. He needs to grieve and then build that wall. That wall needs to be unbreakable, he needs to use his anger. It will be his drivin’ force to keep him sane. His girls are gonna need him to help them through this. If he can’t bring himself to that point, I’m gonna have to make sure he’s benched throughout this ordeal. We need retribution for our fallen brother. I need to find a way to bring that wall to him if he can’t manage it on his own.
We need strength and clear heads to plan our revenge, retribution and the blood bath that I know is comin’. I don’t wanna lay any more brothers to rest. In order for us to be a strong unit, we need to see past the hurt and use our anger to guide us. It will be what initially keeps us safe in the long run. Anger is an emotion that will bring on adrenaline. When you’re fightin’ you need all the help you can get. A clear head is the only way to go. As I’m thinkin’ all this about Kid, I see Tic out the corner of my eye, and dammit to hell if he isn’t puttin’ all this on his shoulders. Fuck! Is everyone gonna lose themselves inside their heads—heads I’m apparently gonna have to bash together until everyone gets to where we need to be.
My VP is fallin’ apart in my arms—I get it, seriously I do. King was not just my Prez, he was my savior by bringin’ my woman and daughters to me. For this, he will always have my undying’ gratitude and will hold a strong place in my heart.
“Sniper! I feel this loss too, but man, you need to stand up strong. We’ve gotta get our brothers and his family through this.”
“Fuck you, Wasp! You’ve no idea how strong this loss hits me. It’s been him, me and Jed through all of the evils we had as kids on the streets. Without him, I can’t do this! I can’t run this club—it means nothin’ to me without him. So fuck you very much!”
With those partin’ words, he goes to his bike, gets on and takes off. Leavin’ us here with King. Tic is at war within’ himself, and Kid’s lost to us. Tic took a pretty good beat-down for the few minutes Kid acknowledged the world outside of himself. But that was instinct, not him controllin’ his thought process.
I excuse myself to make a call to the club, I need my brothers here. We are stronger in numbers; I feel like the three of us are open season out here in the open. Exposed as we are with no backup, two grief-stricken brothers aren’t gonna help me control any situation we may possibly find ourselves in. I for one don’t wanna be a sittin’ duck. Since Tic and Kid aren’t thinkin’ straight and Sniper left us on our own, it’s up to me to think for
everyone else.
Chapter 17
~Kori
Riley, Sadie, Skylar and I were all messing around playing pool when the clubhouse phone rang. There wasn’t a prospect around so Skylar ran and answered the phone that was in the bar that was in the same room as the pool table was. I heard her answer then she got a frightening look on her face so I paid a little more attention to her side of the conversation.
“Okay Wasp, are you sure everything is alright? Sure, hang on, one of the guys are around here somewhere. Give me a few minutes and I’ll have one of them call you.”
“What was that all about?” I asked Skylar.
“Not sure, that was Wasp, all he’d say is he needs me to get Ryder to give me him a call immediately. I’m going to go outside and see if I can see one of the guys.”
Riley yells at her retreating back as she walked toward the exit in the back of the clubhouse.
“I heard the guys talking a little while ago about going to the shooting range. I’d start there and save yourself the trouble of searching the entire property.”
Skylar raised her hand over her head and waved her hand giving us confirmation she heard what Riley said.
“Wonder what that was all about? I got the heebie-jeebies while she was talking on the phone. Did you see her face? Whatever Dad said to her had her rushing. I hope it isn’t bad news.”
“Something’s off,” I said, “They never used to call the clubhouse when they were out on the road when I was with Tic before.”
“Still don’t that I’ve noticed,” Riley said.
Definitely something wrong, I have a horrible feeling whatever it is going to rock this clubhouse down to its knees. I have a really horrific feeling that my father is behind whatever it is. Always figures with him that something would be going right in my life and he’d find a way to screw it up for me. Is it wrong to hate your father? Honestly, I loathe the man, pray daily for him to die. Hopefully when the maniac has his Judgement Day it’s extremely painful. He deserves nothing less than that just for murdering my mother alone. Can I prove he killed my mother if I was in a court of law? No. Do I know for sure he was the cause of her death? Abso-fucking-lutely.
Taken by Sadistic (Rage Ryders MC #3) Page 5