“Damn, we were taken on March twenty-sixth, almost three weeks, now.” Jada let the tears fall, it was too much. Three weeks and she wasn’t even done. She still had to deal with these guys. They seemed like they had good intentions, getting them to safety, but could she really trust it? Mazie had been like that too. Add to that all the stuff with Maddie’s dad. If he turned out to be a good guy like these men were saying could she really just leave and only have an extended family role in her life? She hadn’t been kidding before, she had raised Maddie as if she was her own child. But she wasn’t her parent, at least not biologically.
“Hey,” Jinx said, waiting for Jada to look up. “Why don’t you just take it one step at a time. That seems to work for me.”
“See, that’s a problem,” Jada let out a long sigh, “each thing that pops into my head is major. There isn’t one I can weed out and concentrate on right now.”
“Okay, I can get that. Would you mind telling me how you and Maddie were taken, to begin with? Tuck has been looking for Maddie for a long time, and he couldn’t find you. Any idea how those guys did?”
“Not even the first clue. We were sleeping, it was a normal day—Maddie went to daycare, I went to work. We came home, I made dinner, we watched a little tv, and went to bed. I didn’t even have a feeling I was being watched, Jinx. Nothing was different in our lives. Mazie hadn’t come around in a few months, and I was finally starting to feel a little safe. Then BAM! Some asshole is yanking me out of my bed, another one was holding Maddie in his arms in the hall. Before we left the apartment, I begged them to take my backpack.
“The next place we went Mazie was there, and shit, what they did to her, I still can’t process. They took Maddie away but made me watch every second of it.” The scene of her sister’s rape and murder played over in her head.
“It’s okay, Jada, you don’t have to talk about it. We can get you help, connect you with a counselor, help you deal with it in your own time.”
“You know she might not have been the best sister or mother, but damn, no one deserved what they did to her, what they planned to do with me after those other bikers took Maddie. I just…” Jada choked out but couldn’t finish. Jinx leaned forward and squeezed her hand.
“I have a kid about Maddie’s age, a little boy, his name is Hunter. Cutest thing I have ever seen in my life before meeting this little girl. I call him Hunt. He wants to grow up to be a biker, just like his dad.”
Jada didn’t have any idea why Jinx was telling her this. It made sense he had a little boy because of the harness and the helmet he used with Maddie. He also had a way about him that said he’d been around little kids before, and it didn’t bother him. When he kept on talking, Jada started to get mad. It was probably better than the fear and desperation she was feeling a moment before, but it still sucked.
“His mom and your sister would have a lot in common. I’ve been trying to get him out of that situation since he was born. She likes to use him to get the things she wants from me and others. The courts have her back and have tied my hands. I wish my kid had someone like you in his corner, watching out for him. You love that little girl, I can see it. Your sister, what went down, what you saw, will stay with you for a long time, I can tell you that from experience. But you need to move past it, get help or deal with it whatever way you can because Maddie needs you to be strong. She looks to you to make sure every move she makes is okay. You’re her guide in this world, her home base. I wish I could tell you things will get better from here on out, that we have you and the two of you are safe, but that isn’t true. The Vultures have Tuck right now. We’re trying to get him back, but we’re pulling at straws. We don’t even know if he’s still alive. And Maddie still has a target on her back as bright as a neon sign. If they want information, she’s the only one they can use against Tuck to get it.
Jada held up her half-empty coffee cup and said, “Shit. Do you have anything stronger to put in this?”
Jinx held up his hand and laughed a little. “Sorry, fresh out of the good stuff for now, but I promise you as soon as we get back to the Clubhouse, your first drink is on me.”
“I’ll hold you to that, and thank you for what you said about Maddie, I needed that.”
“Not a problem, only speaking the truth.”
“I hope you get your little boy, Jinx. No kid deserves to be yanked around like this. They’re meant to be cherished, not used. If you need someone not connected to go have a not-so-friendly chat with his mother, I’m your girl. I’m a pretty good shot, too.”
“Yeah,” Jinx laughed, “I noticed that you have some skills.”
“Oh,” Jada said putting her hand on her forehead, “I can’t believe I just said that. I killed two people today. Who does that? I’m not in the military, this wasn’t a war. I killed them in cold blood, I don’t… Damn! What am I supposed to do with that?”
“Jada, this is war. I can assure you, those men deserved exactly what they got. Neither of them would have thought twice about putting a bullet in either you or Maddie. You protected what’s yours, nothing wrong with that as far as I’m concerned. You also saved my brother. He might be a dick, but we kind of like having him around, for entertainment purposes.”
“What’s his deal, anyway?” Jada couldn’t resist. “One minute, he’s almost kind, and the next, it’s like he snaps into asshole mode.”
“He has his own story, shit we all do. I will tell you he got screwed over recently, and I think he’s taking that shit out on you.”
“Great! I guess my fun is only starting then. Can you tell me what’s going to happen next? Where we are going to go. Maddie needs a routine—sleeping, eating, exercising—it helps with her condition. I don’t think it will be good to keep moving her around like this.”
“Brass and Creed are working out the details for that. By the time we get back to Defiance, everything will be sorted out. Link and Tal probably have the Old Ladies jumping, making preparations for the two of you as we speak. I know we keep saying it, but you’re going to have to keep your mind open and trust us a little. Our Club is filled with good people. They might be a little rough around the edges, but they are good where it counts.”
“Rough like you or rough like Brass?” Jada questioned.
“Honey, all of us would be considered pussycats next to Brass, but he’s a good man, deep down.”
“How deep? I mean, is it shovel-worthy or do I need heavy machinery to find it?”
“I can’t answer that for you, I’m still digging,” Jinx chuckled, “and I have known the man for years. Sometimes, it takes a spoon other times it takes a bulldozer.”
And just like the bulldozer Jinx just mentioned, Brass came into the house, barking orders. He wasn’t so much talking to either one of them but talking at them, giving information.
“Her story checks out, BR’s are here, and Creed is loading up the bikes. I’m going to ride with them, make sure none of the Vultures get on your tail.”
“Nah, man,” Jinx said, getting up, “I’ll ride with them. Your bike is too pretty, they’ll spot that fucker a mile away. I’ll ride with the boys and meet you back home,” Jinx said, walking by Brass and slapping him on the back. Once he was gone, Brass looked at her.
“You good?”
“Just peachy”, Jada said sarcastically.
“Glad to hear it, princess. You might want to wake Maddie up, take her to the bathroom or some shit, do what you girls need to do because once we get in the van, we won’t be stopping.” Brass started walking out of the room, toward the foyer.
“Yes, sir,” Jada said, sarcastically, saluting his back. Would it really hurt him to ask instead of demand things all the time?
He turned around and leaned against the doorway separating the two rooms.
“Listen, I know you think I’m being a dick, hell, even I know I’ve been one to you, but you don’t know everything that’s going on. I’m just trying to make sure you and Maddie get back to Defiance as safely as pos
sible. Just cut me some slack and turn down the bitch dial.”
Oh, that was it! She had hardly been a bitch to him this entire time. He was the one with dual personalities. Jada only brought that particular part of her out when provoked by his actions or words. Hell, Jada considered herself pretty much a passive person, not this raging lunatic he seemed to bring out in her. Unfortunately, that part of her was leading right now.
Getting up from the couch after gently moving Maddie, so she was laying down, Jada walked over to Brass, coming so close to him, he backed up a couple of steps, so they were both out of the family room. But that didn’t stop her, she kept moving until she was so close, she could feel the heat of his body on hers.
“I’ll make a deal with you, I will dial back the bitch when you dial back the asshole. I don’t need this shit, I’m dealing with enough on my own, already. And your buddy just laid more crap into my lap. You coming at me soft, then like a bull in a china shop, that shit needs to stop. You talk to me real like I’m a human being who deserves a little respect, and you’ll get the same in return. Otherwise, why don’t you have one of your brothers relay your orders to me, at least they seem to know how to deal with a woman.”
Brass bent, so he was only inches from her face. Jada could smell the sweet minty scent of his breath and licked her lips. She hadn’t been expecting the kiss that followed, but deep down, she knew she had wanted it. This man conquered her mouth like that bull she was talking about earlier. He took no prisoners and broke down every wall she had ever built, melting her on the spot. Jada had been kissed before, but she had never once been taken by a kiss. He commanded her with his lips and tongue, and she was helpless to do anything but obey. She could feel the excitement building in her lower belly and the result of that excitement gathering in her panties. When he pulled away, she instinctively whimpered, leaning forward again for more, but he moved.
“I know how to deal with women just fine, Princess, always remember that.”
He turned, opened the door, and walked right out of the house, leaving her standing there in shock, her fingertips pressed up against the lips he had just devoured with his kiss. It took her a couple of seconds to process what had just happened, then she muttered, “Asshole” to the empty room.
Chapter Nine
Brass couldn’t believe he had just done that. Kissing Jada had been a huge mistake because now he wanted more than just a little taste, he wanted it all. He wanted to spread her out, make Jada open and ready for him, so he could fuck her right out of his system. That kiss had blown his mind, and the hard pole between his legs didn’t feel like it was going to go down anytime soon.
The guys were all standing in the garage, including the two BRMC members, Rooster and Buzz. Brass had worked with these guys before, both a little crazy with just the right amount of arrogance mixed in. He had met Rooster in the ring more than once even came close to losing to the man a time or two. Brass had barely made it into their earshot when Jinx, called out.
“You need to lay off that chick and calm your shit down, dude. She’s ready to snap, and if you keep pushing her it’s going to happen sooner rather than later, and until we get back to Defiance, she needs to keep herself together for that kid. Got me?”
Brass didn’t acknowledge Jinx; they might be friends and brothers, but he wasn’t about to get into the reasons he was pushing Jada so hard. He would try to tone it down, for the sake of the mission, but he doubted that was going to happen. He wasn’t going to lie about it to his brothers or let the BRMC members know anything about what was going on between him and Jada.
“What you, got?” Brass asked, looking at Jinx and the others. They had been around each other enough that Jinx knew the topic of him and Jada was officially off the table. That didn’t mean Jada and her role in this was; he had only gotten the basics before he went inside. Talon had confirmed her story checked out, now he wanted the rest. He knew from experience, Jinx would have spoken to her, gathering information gently without Jada realizing what was going on. Creed had the rest and Brass wanted it all.
“Her full name is Jada Maria Baxter,” Creed started, “born in Spokane, Washington to one Maria Baxter. Father listed on her birth certificate as unknown. Maria worked and still works as domestic help for one Nathanial Linkus. Jada is twenty-six years old, and her employment history shows she’s worked for a chain department store since she turned sixteen. As of five years ago, she worked out of the same store. After that, she transferred to different stores around the Missouri area, the frequency is undefined. But Tal found at least seven moves and was still counting. She does hold guardianship papers for Maddie Baxter. We think The Vultures tracked her down through her job and medical insurance.”
“Why are we just finding this shit out now?” Brass asked the most obvious question. “How does she have guardianship of Maddie, and we didn’t know about it?
“Best Tal can figure out is Maddie was born Matilda Linkus. Three months after she was born, Mazie changed her name to Maddie Baxter and had someone, someone fucking good, alter the records. Her birthdate was changed by three days as well as the state and hospital where she was born. The original birth certificate was hacked two weeks after the name change and put back to valid with no changes.
“Tal said whoever did the job was good, Peyton level good. If he hadn’t known what he was looking for, he wouldn’t have found it.”
“How did the Vultures find it?”
“I don’t think they did,” Jinx spoke up. “Jada said after they were taken from her apartment, they went somewhere, and her sister Maize was there. We already know the chick was using people like Hawk to give Tuck grief. I would bet she mouthed off about her connection and the kid’s whereabouts to the wrong person, the Vultures got wind of it and decided to use it to their advantage.”
“What about Maize, do we need to set up an extraction?”
“No, man the gang made a point with her and made Jada watch. Messed up shit.”
“Fuck,” Brass said. “What about the kid? Did she see that shit?” Brass knew exactly how the gang dealt with women they deemed a problem. It would have been long, drawn out, and brutal. Just the fact that Jada was forced to watch sickened him, but thinking Maddie had to watch made him want to throw up.
“No, Jada said they took her out of the room. But the little girl knows, said her mom did a bad thing and wouldn’t be coming around anymore. Asked me if it was okay she didn’t want her to? That her mom hurt her Aunt Jay like those men did.”
“Damn,” Brass said shaking his head, “what else?”
“You guys have been made, you already know that,” Rooster answered. “The Vultures know the three of you are in the area, asking questions.”
“Well, we weren’t exactly hiding. The fights were just a front to get information,” Brass said.
“Yeah, man, kind of figured that out, but someone clued in the Vultures that not all the information you were getting was bad like they hoped. A contingency of those fuckers is riding around looking for your asses. Orders from high up are to shoot on sight.”
The Vultures wanting to take them out wasn’t a new thing, but their usual MO was to play with their capture first. Having orders to do them quick and dirty wasn’t normal.
“Okay, what next?”
“We were planning on taking them to the Clubhouse and putting it on lockdown, but we don’t want to tip off anyone we have them. After they find their men at the warehouse, they’ll assume it, but we don’t want it confirmed. Tal said some new faces have been showing up around Defiance, asking questions. No cuts displayed but a few have been identified as lower members of the Vultures or known associates. We’re thinking about taking them to one of the safe houses in Tennessee.”
“They can stay with me,” Brass blurted out.
“Dude, you live at the Clubhouse. I just said we don’t want to let those fuckers know what cards we’re holding. Jada might know something about Tuck or where he’s being held without even r
ealizing it, and we haven’t had the chance to get down to it with her. We need time before all hell breaks loose again.”
“No, man, I stay at the Clubhouse, but I have my own place. No one knows about it, Tal covered the sale for me under a shell company. It’ll be safe for them, plus close enough if we run into problems, the brothers can come riding to the rescue. If we’re in Tennessee, it limits our options and puts us relying on outsiders, no offense,” Brass said looking at Rooster and Buzz.
“None taken. I’d feel the same way if it was my family,” Buzz said. “We’re just here to bring in your transport and provide a distraction, so you can get out of Dodge. If that kid is Tuck’s, that makes her part of our family too. Caine wants his niece taken care of; we have a couple of guys waiting to transport you across the state line into your home state. You won’t notice them, but they’ll give you a signal when you get close. Caine ordered another group to wait for you further in the state. He and Link have men stationed every fifteen to twenty miles along the route, all with eyes wide open to make sure that little girl gets where she belongs.”
Brass held out his hand and shook first Buzz’s and then Roosters hands. “Appreciate that, man. Let Caine know we won’t let anything happen to his niece.”
“We have no doubt about that,” Buzz said, speaking for the both of them.
“Okay, we need to get the girls loaded up. I’ll call Tal and let him know to send the Doc to your house and have the Old Ladies gather some shit Jada and Maddie might need. With the new faces in Defiance, we’re going to have to be careful about who goes out to your place. I hope you kept it habitable, I’ve seen your room at the club man, and no chick is going to want to stay in a pigsty like that,” Creed jeered, pissing Brass off.
“Fuck you, I have someone who cleans it up once a week. Bell knows how to keep her mouth shut.”
“Bell Holt? Triggers Old Lady?” Creed asked.
“One and the same. She drives up to see her sister, and I throw her a couple of bucks to keep the place clean and her mouth shut. It’s been working out just fine if you guys didn’t get wind of the place. I’ve had it for over a year now.”
Brass: Ruthless Bastards (RBMC Book 6) Page 6