by Jax Hart
I’m just about to open the front door when Meat tears down the driveway on his bike, stopping short and getting off faster than I would’ve thought he could’ve. He’s big for an aging man in his fifties and built like a tank. But he’s still living hard, and it shows on the deep lines in his face. “What is it now?”
“You can’t go, Shanna. He sent me to stop you.”
“Oh yeah? Then he can try to stop me himself instead of sending you to be his spy and messenger. You think I didn’t notice you tailing me to school every day?”
He doesn’t flinch. “It was for your own protection.”
Ignoring him, I shove the front door open, run upstairs and open my closet. I grab my duffel bag and start packing. I feel his presence behind me, but I don’t turn around until I zip my bag closed. “Move.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I mean it, Meat. I’m not playing here. I need to go to LA and get answers, get closure.”
He stands in my doorway like a giant with his arms crossed over his chest. “I can’t let you go, Shanna.”
I know I’ll never get past him. He’s been a second father to me all these years; I couldn’t hurt him if I wanted to and he knows it.
“Why? Could you please treat me like an adult and just tell me what the hell is going on?”
He takes a deep breath, “It was a hit. Your mother was run-off the road. They did a good enough job of making it look like an accident, but word on the street says otherwise.”
My bag drops to the floor, my feet sway as I fall onto the bed behind me. “Why would anyone do that? She was out of this life—has been for a long time.”
“To send a message.”
“For who?”
He shrugs at the same time Duke finally returns my call.
“Babe? I heard.”
“Then you know I’m coming.”
“You can’t Shanna,” he warns.
“She was my mother.”
“Yeah,” he snorts, “mother of the year that one was.”
“I know she slept with your father.”
He’s silent for a moment, “They were all so screwed up… into heavy drugs, taking hits like it was candy. But what they did—doesn’t change what I feel for you.”
“You say that. But I don’t feel it. We’ve hardly spoken since you left two weeks ago.”
He sighs into the phone, “I know baby doll, and it’s killing me. I can’t get into it—but shit’s going down that I need you far away from.”
“She was my mother. I need answers.”
“I swear, I’ll get them for you. But you need to trust me.”
The faded bedspread twists in my hands, “I don’t know if I can. I believe that you’re being sincere. But I’m so sick of you—Meat and Pops, treating me like some helpless female when all I want is the truth.”
He sighs into the phone “Give me a few days. I need to handle the shit-storm that’s brewing. I swear to you—Shanna, I’ll make this right for you somehow. I’ll make sure she’s buried properly. But, I need you to stay there for now. You mean the world to me. You’re my angel. I’d slay a man with a million cuts, watching him bleed to death if anyone ever hurt you.”
But his words don’t reach me. I’ve gone numb. Just when I thought my world was finally making sense, it all fell apart. Hugging my knees to my chest, I cry alone in the dark, dreaming of the smell of frying pancakes and Saturday mornings until sleep finally takes me to a place without pain.
IF I’M NOT CAREFUL, people could die tonight—myself included.
“You don’t have to ride with me.”
“I do brother.”
I bow my head, praying to God I’m making the right move. “Alright then, let’s go.”
Tucking a hunting knife into my boot with a few extra clips for my Glock, I lead Smith out of the warehouse, to the back gate cloaked in darkness.
I smell the butt of his cigarette before my eyes make out his shadow. My hands instinctively, reach for my Glock with the speed of lightning, “Back the fuck up.”
“Duke, it’s me.”
“Will?”
Without lowering my gun, I walk closer to the only man I trust in the Sacramento chapter of the club my father burned to the ground. My old man trusted Will—writing he was the only honest one of them all. He never let his head get cloudy from girls or drugs.
But he also knows the dirt. It’s no wonder, they make me do “favors” holding my balls, prepared to break them any second.
“He’s going to go after your girl if you do this.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’ll never be safe until I put an end to this shit.”
He throws his butt on the ground, snuffing it out with the heel of his boot. “Fuck. I thought you might say that. All right then. Let’s ride.”
“Are you betraying your club? Going against your brothers on this? They’re going to gut you.”
“No, they won’t. This is a coup brother and I’m about to coronate you our new leader.”
“Fuck. I don’t want this. I have a girl that I’m planning on making my bride. She’s too good for this life.”
“Buck-up boy. It’s your destiny. Take it. Zach’s leading us down the wrong path; you’re the only one the club will follow. You’re our blood but been livin’ on the outside; you’re not tainted by all the bullshit that’s been going on. It has to be you.”
Lowering my head, I let his words sink in. I’ve dodged this moment for years. Evaded my place in the MC, mostly to stick it to my old man. But he’s gone, and vengeance will be mine. Shanna’s mother wasn’t the only victim here. I just received intel—that my proud, stubborn son-of-a-bitch father’s death was a hit. His heart attack was legit, but someone on the inside of the hospital snuffed out his life before he had a chance to fight for what was left of it.
Zach’s been stirring the pot; luring me out ‘cause he knows I’m his greatest threat—the one man who could take his kingdom. But the question is: Will she be my queen when I take the throne? Lifting my head to the moon like a wolf I give my answer.
“Ride.”
Smith and Will bow their heads grinning like mother-fuckers, “Amen, brother.”
“Shut the fuck up Smith. You’re gonna have to earn your patch. I’ll be right back.”
Jogging back inside the metal gate to my office, I unlock a storage cabinet and take out his coat putting it on with pride. I’m glad I held onto it when I was seconds away from burying it with my old man.
Ride or die.
It fits me like a glove and still smells of old cigars and bourbon. I couldn’t save my men in Iraq, but I’m gonna make damn sure I save this club, the women Zach stole and Shanna. She’s not gonna be safe until Zach is handled—put-down like a rabid dog.
“I’m gonna get that mother-fucker,” I tell my old man, tipping my head back and raising it to the sky. I’ve never killed anyone in cold-blood before. I don’t intend on starting now, but I will if it comes down to it—I don’t wanna touch my girl with the fresh stain of blood on my hands and soul. But I’ll do anything to keep her safe—even if that means becoming a killer.
“It’s too quiet.”
Both of my knees are planted in the rocky terrain on the side of a hill as I crouch low, scouting the cabin a few hundred yards away.
Cloaked in darkness and leather, I move with the ease of a hunter; slow and deliberate.
“Is this a trap, Will?”
“I swear on my old lady's tits… it’s not, and the Cortez girls are inside.”
“Alright. Let’s do this.”
My head is tucked low as I sprint out from under the brush, pushing branches aside with one hand while keeping my Glock poised and ready to fire with the other. Smith and Will flank me as we rush to the back of the log cabin and wait.
I nod my head at Smith and in the next second he lifts his leg. His boot crashes against the back door, knocking it wide open.
Silence follows.
No one shoots, the
place seems empty.
“Will?” I warn with a hiss, “What the fuck is going on here?”
He shoots me a quick look and darts past me inside.
The thud of his heavy boots on the cabin floor the only sound besides hooting owls.
“They’re here.”
My shoulders sag in relief as I round the corner and enter. My eyes adjust to the dim light and as I walk over broken beer bottles and syringes to the next room, I change my mind.
I’m gonna kill every last one of them.
Two girls are gagged and bound with their shirts, and bra’s cut open. Fat tears roll down their cheeks as they take us in; wondering if we’re savages too.
“Shhh, it’s all right sugar. This is a rescue mission darlin’. I’m gonna cut you loose and get the two of you outta here. Okay?”
They slowly nod their heads with eyes still full of mistrust.
“Make this quick. The guards must have gone out for more booze and cigs.”
I take the first girl by the hand and cup her face gently, “Do you need water? It’s a hike down to the dirt road where my truck is.”
“Yes, please,” she answers in a broken whisper.
Smith cuts the other girl loose while I lead this one over to a sink. “Drink,” I tell her as I hold the hair off her face as she greedily slurps from the faucet.
“What’s your name?”
“Carmen. Thank you. They were planning on selling us to the cartel as sex slaves.”
“But they wanted to get their fill first and break us in before then. Thank God, you came in time.” The other girl informs us.
“What’s your name, sugar?”
“Yasmin.”
“We need to go. Now.” Smith warns taking her by the hand and leading her out into the night.
I grab Carmen, following behind while Will follows with his gun drawn.
“Shit,” I curse as the flash of headlights sweep across the lawn followed by the sound of tires crushing gravel in the drive.
“Run! Faster!” Will yells out as quick pops of gunfire ring out.
But the women are weak from being held captive, and they stumble through the brush, slowing us down. I’m left with no choice but to turn around, take aim, and fire.
“I thought you said… your men weren’t gonna stand with Zach.”
“These pricks still haven’t earned their patch. They are complete shit-heads who follow Zach like puppies.” Will yells between rounds.
“Fuck!” A bullet whizzes by my head, “Go… go, run!” I yell pushing Carmen down the hill.
“Go ahead! Get them outta here. I’ll stay back,” Will yells.
“Here take these.” I push the keys to the truck into her hands and race back up the hill. I was trained never to leave a man behind. It’s in my blood.
Will shoots me a grin as he rolls out from behind a tree firing in rapid succession.
“What the fuck old man? You turned on us?”
“You got two choices kid.” I stroll into the light like Cary Grant in an old film. You’d never guess I was just shooting to kill. The punk lowered his gun and pissed his pants when Will shot his friend in the side. He’s bleeding like a motherfucker, but he’ll live.
If we let him.
The butt of Will’s gun kisses the prick’s temple.
“No.”
“Ya’ sure. It’s your call, Prez.”
I grunt, pressing the heel of my boot into the dirt, “Get ‘em into the truck. We’ll deliver them to Cortez with the girls. It’s his call since it’s his girls these two fucks were about to hurt.”
My glance drops to the schmuck squealing like a pig as he rolls around in a puddle of his own blood.
“Leave this one. He’ll bleed all over my damn truck, leaving DNA and shit everywhere. I’ll call it into a contact of mine.”
“Duke?”
“Hey, Christy—shit. There’s no easy way to say this.”
“What did you do?” She sighs.
“I got those girls. They were up in the mountains. He was gonna ship ‘em to the border in a few days…”
“… what’s the collateral damage? Fuck it. Just get the hell out of there. Cover your tracks and text me the address.”
“Will do sugar. I’m sorry. Next time I’ll let you in.”
“There better not be a next time.”
“Well… that’s the thing. Zach is out. I’m in.”
“Christ.”
“I know. But I’m givin’ you my word, Christy. I’m gonna run shit differently.”
“You better,” she huffs.
My feet deftly maneuver the rugged terrain and I’m back at the truck, vaulting over the side into the bed. My knuckles rap on the window two times.
Smith puts it in drive. My eyes cut up to the sky; I wish I were with her tonight.
My fists clench, pounding the cold metal in frustration.
My life just took a turn I didn’t see coming.
I’m gonna have to deal with Zach, clean up the mess he made out of the MC and unload those hot cars. I won’t be able to get back to her for weeks… maybe even months.
She better fuckin’ wait for me. The ink sky turns red. My thoughts straying back to the night I watched my girl get out of that prick’s ride.
She smelled like him.
Tasted like him.
I almost took her like an animal. I was wild in my need to mark her mine.
Fuck, I wish I had.
The college boys swarm to her like bees to a honeycomb.
My head bangs against the back of the cab.
I don’t deserve her. She’s young with the world at her feet. She wants nothing to do with the club life. Hell, she went to college to escape it. Before I swept into her life like a tornado—she was getting herself out. She had plans to move to LA.
I feel a single tear trickle down my face.
I should let her go.
I love her enough to do it. My baby bird needs to fly and tying her to me—to the club for life—would be cruel. I’d clip her wings and put her in a cage. She’d purr at my touch but spit fire after; resenting all I represent. There’s not a chance in hell my Shanna wants to be an old lady especially to the President of Creed. But that’s who I’m gonna be before the sun rises.
Christ, my balls are so full—it hurts to zip up the fly of my jeans. My hormones have been on overdrive. Fuck. I want her so bad.
But I’m older now; wiser. I can’t ever touch her… take her, and be able to walk away. It’s just as well I left when I did.
She’ll be pissed for a while. Hate me even. But I’m doing right by her, even if it breaks me more than the war did.
My cell rips me out of my thoughts, “Yeah?” I mutter.
“You made a big mistake fucking with me like this. You think you’re gonna take the club from me? I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you—but not before I make your woman my bitch. I bet she’s got the sweetest, tightest pussy, eh? I can’t wait to introduce her to my huge cock.”
“I’m gonna rip your balls out and shove ‘em down your throat. You’re done Zach. Go out with some dignity, or you’re gonna go out in the dirt.”
“Fuck off Duke. I put your old man and your old lady’s mama there already. You think that you’re gonna get the best of me?”
“You’re a dead man. Run-motherfucker, ‘cause I’m coming for you.”
“I don’t think so. I saw you coming. Saw this coming—I have my loyal brothers still. They warned me what was about to go down, so I struck first. I was gonna do this the nice way and frame you for working the cars. You would’ve done time and be out of my way. But you are goddamn stubborn. I had to get dirty. I even sent a pledge up to Springdale. Fuck, he should’ve been a photographer. The pics he got of your girl… damn they are hot. She likes to show off that body, huh?”
“Stay away from her.”
“Too late, brotha. I’m staring at her sweet tits right now. She loves undressing in front of the window.”
I
roar. Enraged that my girl’s in peril and I’m hundreds of miles away. My fingers frantically scroll until they find Meat’s number.
“Yeah?”
“Where is she?”
“Asleep.”
“You sure? Check. Zach’s coming for her.”
“Fuck. I figured. I called in reinforcements from Canada. The house is surrounded. But I’ll warn the men.”
I hear the hinges on her door squeak as Meat opens her bedroom to check on her.
“She’s out.”
My breath hisses out through my teeth. She’s never gonna be safe until Zach is dealt with and even then, she’s always gonna have a target on her back if she’s with me.
My throat burns. I always knew a man who’s damned doesn’t deserve an angel. But I thought… maybe God had forgiven me for what I did.
For what I carry.
I thought I loved Trev’s wife. When we served together, he invited me home every holiday and like an idiot—I went.
I should’ve stopped going when my feelings for his wife became more than friendly. I was young. A fool. Looking back, I know I didn’t love her. It was the idea of what she represented that I craved for myself.
But Heather’s touch was a balm on my war-weary soul and fatigued body. My eyes lingered on her longer than necessary. And if my hand brushed against hers when passing dishes at the table, I told myself it was innocent.
When she dropped a cup and bent down to retrieve it—giving me a view of her plunging neckline where her satin bra cupped breasts peeked at me; I knew she was just as hot for me.
The first time I bent her over the couch and jerked her panties to one side, plunging in deep—I knew I was going to hell.
Trev had drunk a case of beer and passed out in their bedroom. I knew he was twenty feet away, but she felt too good to stop. I took her bare in the middle of the damn living room on Thanksgiving Day, only pausing to reach down to grab the remote. The football game in surround sound covered her cries every time my dick hit a touchdown against her G-spot.
Feeling my best friend’s wife’s sweet pussy clench around my cock like she was made for me—made my eyes roll back in my head.