He sighed. “Let’s just say it ain’t quite so black and white. But I give you my word, Cherry, I will help you. First thing first is turnin’ in that evidence.”
“Cops aren’t going to do anything,” Church called out from her table. “If you think Cabot hasn’t paid them off, then you’re delusional.”
“For once, I agree with your sister,” Heart said. “Only FBI locations I know of are in St. Louis and Kansas City. We should head there.”
“We?”
He nodded. “I’ll take you.”
“Oh no,” Church said, standing up and walking back to them. She waved a finger in Heart’s face. “I still don’t trust you to kill her and bury her body somewhere.”
Cherry gasped. Heart eased Church’s hand from in front of his face. “First, that’s rude. Second, once I give my word I stick by it. Cross my heart.”
“How cute,” Church snapped.
“I believe him,” Cherry said.
Church rounded on her and they stared at one another for a moment. Cherry wished she could understand the emotions flittering across Church’s face, but again, her sister’s mercurial moods shifted once more. Any hint of softness or vulnerability disappeared in an instant.
“Typical,” Church said in a cold voice. “I bust my ass trying to protect you and you walk all over me.”
“That’s not true.” Cherry laid a hand on Church’s arm, but her sister yanked away.
“You trust this stranger over me? Fine. This is it, Cherry. Don’t come running back to me when you find yourself all alone at the mercy of Warren Cabot.”
Church turned and stomped toward the door, but this time Cherry didn’t want her sister to walk away mad. As she followed, Heart’s uneven gait thumped behind her. She walked out of Woody’s Tavern just in time to see a black car with blacked-out windows drive by. Then everything happened so fast it took a few moments for her brain to comprehend what was going on.
“Get down!” Heart shouted.
Hands grabbed her from behind and pushed her from the front. She fell onto the hard ground with a bone-jarring thud as two bodies threw themselves on top of her. Several loud bangs sounded, followed by wood splintering. Cherry involuntarily screamed. Then the squeal of tires. Silence. And she found it difficult to breathe smothered under two people.
She wiggled, and slowly, she was freed. As she sat up, she looked first at Church and then at Heart. She didn’t know what to say.
“Are both of you okay?” Heart asked, although his gaze stayed on Cherry.
She nodded.
“Just ducky,” Church muttered.
“You need to get somewhere safe,” Heart said.
“We’ll go back to the cabin—”
“It’ll only be a matter of time before you’re found,” he argued. “Come back with me to Stevens. Let The Forgotten Rebels protect you. Then we’ll figure out how to get this evidence into the right hands.”
Church studied him for a long moment before nodding her agreement. Cherry was too stunned at her sister’s acquiesce to even think about protesting.
Chapter Five
Kix’s cell phone buzzed. He looked down and saw the private number from Warren Cabot. With a long-suffering sigh, he connected the call.
“Rockwood.”
“We have a problem.”
“We?” Kix questioned. He was used to the man’s doom and gloom.
“Last month my executive secretary infiltrated my office and downloaded several important papers linking us together.”
There wasn’t much that surprised Kix Rockwood, but Cabot managed to ruin his morning with one sentence.
“And it took you a month to tell me?” he demanded.
“I thought she’d be easy to find,” Cabot said defensively. “Had my head of security monitoring her online life in order to trace her credit cards or phone calls. But she disappeared off the grid.”
Kix ran a hand through his hair. “Nobody just disappears off the grid. Not nowadays.”
“Well, she turned up earlier today in Springfield,” Cabot replied. “She’s with her sister who made contact with a friend.”
“I take it the friend called you?”
“Money buys a lot of information.”
Kix snorted. “Some friend. So why are you calling me, Warren? Why now?”
“Things didn’t go as planned,” Cabot replied. “Tried to have her silenced, but she managed to elude Masterson’s bullets for a second time.”
“Jesus! Don’t fucking kill her, you idiot. You’ll never get the evidence back if she’s dead, and besides, you don’t know who she talked to.”
“Hmm. Good thinking. Anyway, she had back-up. A biker, I think, although not one of yours. There was a motorcycle with a snake on it. Sound familiar?”
Kix knew instantly whose bike that was, but that was for him to know and for Cabot to find out. “I can make some inquiries.”
“You do that,” Cabot ordered. “So you’re saying before the girl is eliminated she needs to be interrogated.”
“I can have my men—”
“No, you find out about the biker and take care of that end. I’ll have my man take care of my ex-secretary. I don’t need to tell you what would happen to both of us if she leaks out that information.”
“Which is why I’d prefer to take care of it myself. I don’t know who your man is, nor do I wish to test his hunting skills on something so important.”
Cabot chuckled. To Kix it sounded a bit desperate. “Just do your part, Rockwood.”
The call ended, and for a moment, Kix sat and thought. Killing a woman went against his nature, and to know that one of The Forgotten Rebels was involved with her changed the dynamic significantly. He sent a quick text message to Slade and then waited for his second-in-command to arrive. He didn’t have to wait long. A moment later, a rap sounded on the door.
“Come in,” he said.
Slade opened the door and shut it softly behind him.
“What’s up?”
Kix held up his phone. “Cabot just called. There’s been a security breech that he’s just telling me about. Seems the fucker kept documents on our trade and his secretary stole them.”
“Fucking hell!”
“He also told me to kill her.”
Slade shook his head. “Whoa. Hold it right there. I won’t kill a woman, no matter how much a bitch she might be.”
“Me neither,” Kix said. “Besides that, she’s with Heart.”
Slade looked puzzled for a moment. “Heart? From The Forgotten Rebels?”
“Yep. Cabot described his bike.”
“Shit. Is she his old lady?”
Kix shrugged. “The only thing I do know is that Cabot already has someone hunting her, someone who doesn’t have a problem killing women or men affiliated with us.”
“We need to talk to Wick.”
“Agreed.” Kix slipped his phone in his pocket. “Get Mac to start searching the cameras from Springfield traffic earlier, as well as any chatter about a shooting. We need to find this chick.”
“What are you gonna do?”
“I think I’ll pay my brother-in-law a visit. He’ll know what Heart’s movements were so we can backtrack that.”
“Okay.”
“I guess I don’t need to stress that this stays between us,” Kix said.
“Of course, boss.”
Kix nodded grimly. “Let me go wrangle Piper. She’ll be happy to see Wick. If Mac gets any hits, call me.”
Chapter Six
Heart shifted once more on the unyielding truck seat and tried not to wince as his knee protested the movement. Springs were poking into his back from where the old vinyl was thinning, making him wish they were over the two-hour ride from Springfield to Stevens.
“We’ve got maybe ten more minutes,” he said. “Near about two miles up on the right you can turn onto County Road M and take the back way to the clubhouse.”
Cherry nodded. Heart glanced out of the side vie
w mirror, making sure the sister still kept up with them while she drove his bike. Heart had no idea what to make of Church, but he was impressed that her first instinct was to protect her sister when the bullets began flying. He couldn’t help but wonder at the timing of the drive-by, suspiciously right after they arrived at Woody’s Tavern. He would’ve been happy to question the owner had his knee been functioning properly, and if the cops hadn’t been on their way. No way, however, did he or the sisters want to answer questions, so they’d hightailed it out of there as quickly as possible.
Cherry flipped on the blinker and slowed down, turning from the highway onto the county road. They passed by farmland interspersed with thick vegetation. The high humidity factor made Southeast Missouri very green, which in turn brought a lot of mosquitoes out of the woodwork.
“Just up ahead is the clubhouse,” he said. “It’s surrounded by few businesses and a concrete wall.”
“Keeping undesirables out, or keeping everyone in?” she asked.
“It’s private property and The Forgotten Rebels want to keep it that way,” he replied.
“Where’d you get the name for the club?”
“It’s from the vets who returned stateside after Vietnam. They were shunned by a lot of people who protested the war, so the men banded together and became their own support group.”
“And that’s why members have to serve?”
He nodded and then pointed to the clubhouse. Cherry slowed down and turned onto the gravel driveway, coming to a halt in front of a gate.
A man stepped out of a side door and Heart recognized TA. He raised his hand to wave as TA stepped up to the side window. Cherry rolled it down.
“What the hell, man?” TA exclaimed. He smiled at Heart, revealing a few missing teeth. “You sitting shotgun while a chick rides your bike?”
“Busted knee. I’m never gonna hear the end of this, am I?”
“Nope!” TA laughed. “Wick been pacing up and down, wondering where you’ve been.”
“I got sidetracked,” Heart replied.
TA looked at Cherry. “I see that.”
“Hardly, Brother,” Heart said, amused. TA got his nickname from the very thing he loved admiring … tits and ass. “Can you open the gate? Got to talk to Wick.”
“Sure, sure. We’ve got company, by the way. Kix, Slade, and Sissy are here visiting.”
Heart gave a mental groan. He’d been hoping to talk to Wick before The White Death showed up. TA turned to look up at the guard tower and circled his finger. A moment later, the gate slowly rolled open. When he stepped back, Cherry eased forward. Church revved the bike and followed. As soon as they were clear, the gate rolled shut. Heart saw Kix’s big motorcycle parked right in front of the clubhouse door.
“Listen, I gotta tell you something,” he said as she parked the truck. “Don’t be scared, but the president of The White Death is here. He’s married to my president’s sister.”
Panic engulfed her pretty face. “You lied!”
“No, no, I didn’t, Cherry. I had no idea they were here.”
“You promised Church and I would be safe.”
“Yep, and I aim to keep that promise. Kix’s a good man and more than likely he ain’t heard of you. Let’s play it cool and calm.”
She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel. “Oh my God. I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re going to stay calm and let me handle things, all right?”
She took a deep breath. “Church isn’t going to like this.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. “I reckon so.”
He opened the door and carefully got out, wincing a little as his knee jarred from walking again. He’d been sitting for so long his muscles were a little stiff. Hobbling around the truck, he smiled as men came forward. Some pointed at his knee, some obviously gaped at Church who expertly parked his bike. He had to admit, she had taken good care of it as well as fixed it up.
“Wick was about ready to call search and rescue,” Stryker said as he came out of the house. He was a big, bald-headed man who liked to wear big silver rings, better to tear flesh when fights happened. Right now he simply held out his hand in friendship and Heart shook it.
“So I heard. Got into a little altercation with a deer.”
“And may I say what lovely does they are.” Stryker smiled charmingly at Cherry and then Church, who approached them a little cautiously. He looked back and forth between the two. “Holy fuck, Heart. You landed identical twins?”
“Careful,” Heart said. “Church here can probably cut off your dick with her surly disposition.”
She flipped Heart off.
Stryker laughed. “I like her.”
“Cherry, Church, this disturbing looking individual is Stryker.” Heart leaned in a little. “They’re in a bit of trouble.”
All amusement died away.
“Yeah,” Stryker said. “Wick is sitting in with Kix and Slade right now. I don’t know all the details, obviously, but I know it has to do with Cabot.”
“What?” Church snapped. She rounded on Heart. “You said we’d be safe here!”
“You are,” Heart stressed. “I gave my word.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe your word.” She turned to her sister. “Come on, Cherry. This was a mistake.”
Even though he wasn’t touching her, Heart felt the anxiety pour through Cherry. Her body stiffened and her hands clenched into fists. Trying to ease her fears, he reached over and linked his fingers through hers, hoping his warmth and strength would give her reassurance.
“No, Church,” he said firmly. “You and Cherry are both safe here. You’re under my protection and The Forgotten Rebels always keep their oath.”
Cherry’s fingers tightened around his. He looked down at her their gazes locked. In that moment, something monumental shifted inside him, although he had no name for the slipping and sliding feeling surging through him. He pushed it aside as best as he could to concentrate on the here and now.
“Wick in his office?”
Stryker nodded. “I’m sure he’ll want to meet all of you.”
“That’s just fucking great,” Church muttered under her breath, but Heart heard. Irritation sluiced through him and again, he wondered how these two women could be twins.
The front door led through the recreation room of the house, which held the bar, pool table, big-screen TV, and various couches. Brothers lounged in various places, some with the club pussy draped over them. People greeted him, happy to see him back. He stopped short when he saw a new girl at the bar, and sitting in front of her was a man he hadn’t seen in a while.
“Darrell?”
The man turned and gave him a rueful smile. “Hey, Eric.”
“Heart,” he automatically corrected.
Darrell raised his eyebrows. “For real?”
“Cross my heart.”
Darrell chuckled. As he shifted on the barstool, a clank of metal had him glancing down. He saw metal where flesh and bone should’ve been.
“What the hell happened, man?”
“Some insurgents decided I didn’t need my lower leg anymore,” Darrell replied.
“Well, it does bring out your eyes.”
Darrell flipped him off. He slid his gaze to Heart’s right and seemed to linger on Church for a moment or two longer than was considered good manners.
“We have to go talk to Wick,” Heart said. “Talk to you later?”
Darrell shrugged. “Not going anywhere. Can’t ride my bike with this thing.”
He banged his artificial leg against the metal leg of the stool, and it clanked with a sharp pinging sound.
“I can’t ride either,” Heart said. “Busted my knee.”
“Difference though is that your knee will heal. I, unfortunately, am not part salamander, and therefore cannot regrow my leg.”
“And still just as optimistic as ever. Talk to you later, Darrell.”
Heart held onto Cherry’s hand as he led the wa
y to the back of the house, past the stairs and into a quiet corridor. Cherry trembled and he paused right outside Wick’s door to lift her chin with a finger.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he assured her. “I’m right here.”
“What if he tells you to get rid of me and Church?” she asked. “You’ll have to do what he tells you, right?”
“Not gonna happen.”
“It could happen,” Church snapped. “I’ve watched plenty of television to know you guys are only concerned with numero uno.”
“Really? That’s your expertise on my club?” Heart glared at her before he rapped upon the door. “Chill and let me talk.”
“Enter,” Wick called out.
When he stepped into the room, he immediately saw Wick sitting at his desk and in front of him, resting in two chairs was Kix and Slade. He gave each man a nod of acknowledgement. Cherry and Church followed him, and he closed the door with a soft click.
“Heart,” Wick said, sounding surprised. “I was getting worried.”
“Yeah, that was mentioned once or twice.”
Wick glanced at the women curiously. “If you don’t mind, this is a private—”
“Your meeting is about them,” Heart interrupted. “This here is Cherry and her sister Church. We all just escaped from being shot at.”
Wick surged to his feet. “What the hell?”
Heart faced Kix. “Might as well get to the point. If you’re here about Cabot Pharmaceuticals, then you’re here about Cherry.”
Kix stood up as well and looked at her. “The secretary?”
“E-ex,” Cherry whispered. She cleared her throat. “I think it’s fair to say I’ve been let go.”
“I see,” Kix replied. “Then you’re aware that Warren Cabot has placed a hit on you and your sister’s life.”
Church stepped in front of her, blocking Cherry with her body. “Two attempts so far. We came here because of the drive-by, but I won’t let you hurt my sister. You’ll have to go through me first.”
The noble gesture shocked Heart, but it didn’t seem to surprise Cherry all that much because she stepped closer to Church. Unexpected jealousy hit him. He wanted Cherry to turn to him for protection.
Take Aim and Reload (Forgotten Rebels MC Book 3) Page 4