“I didn’t…” He started.
“No doubt brother.” Drake cut him off.
“Not a single one.” Fish supported Drake. Ace gave them a curt nod.
“That’s somethin’.” Ace muttered.
“The disc’s are cut short before anyone else is named. Still got no idea who was involved.” Drake said softly. Drake was pissed, this was ripping Rage apart. Brothers were spying on fuckin’ brothers. Artemis had warned him, Drake hadn’t listened.
“This shit is fucked up. Brother lookin’ at brother. Suspicions everywhere, no idea how Hannah found out what she has. But that woman is after revenge for her baby sister.” Apache muttered.
“I wanna hear the discs.” Drake shook his head.
“They’re dark brother. Real dark. Not gonna expose you to that.”
“Already been exposed. I want Thunder found. Like yesterday, I want him fuckin’ found. Wanna listen to what my girl suffered.”
“These are worse.”
“Not arguin’ brother. Get me the discs.” Ace said firmly.
◆◆◆
Three days later, Ace and Drake were sat on stools at the compound bar when Dylan Hawthorne walked in. He’d a file in his hand and walking over he handed it to Drake. Drake dipped his head and opened it. He then passed it to Ace who read through.
“Marker.” Ace said, and Hawthorne nodded.
“I’ll take it.”
“Exhumation plans?” Drake asked.
“Already in motion, should have them in a couple of days, they’ll come here. Do what you gotta do.” Hawthorne said and walked back out.
◆◆◆
Ace stood in front of a grave that had a wooden stick as a marker, a grave so overgrown no one would’ve known it was there. Kayleigh had lain here for eleven years. Unloved, un-mourned, forgotten. It had taken longer than a few days, took a week. But finally, they had the order to dig her up and bring her to a grave of their choice with a proper marker.
Ramirez stood by Ace just watching as the crane began pulling up the dirt-covered, stained, cheap coffin. Drake, Apache, Fish, Slick, Mac and Gunner stood with them watching.
Drake had banned the old ladies, saying it was too much for them. Marsha had pursed her lips and walked away, Silvie had frozen him out for two days. Two gravediggers stood duty watching and making sure the coffin was raised correctly.
The crane groaned, and one strap slipped, and they froze, then it recovered and carried on hauling the cheap coffin to the top. It reached the top and began swinging towards the racking placed on the ground for it to be placed on. Halfway across there was a snapping noise and one strap gave way.
The two gravediggers leapt forward attempting to either grab the coffin or balance it. But one fell, and the weight of the coffin sent the second man reeling. Ace watched with horrified eyes as the bottom end of the coffin hit the ground with a hard thud.
Then a second breaking noise echoed, and the lid of the coffin shattered on impact and fell forward. The release of the lid meant the corpse inside fell forward, on top of the first gravedigger scrambling to his feet.
He shrieked, no better word for it and shoved Kayleigh’s corpse off him scrambling backwards. Drake reacted instantly moving his body in front of Ace and jerking his head downwards. Apache moved just as quickly and covered Ace’s other side, his hand going to the back of Ace’s neck and holding his sons head against Drake’s shoulder.
“Fuck, shit, fuck.” Fish shouted in a shocked voice.
“Jesus, who the hell is that!” Slick yelled equally as loudly.
“Slick?” Drake questioned over his shoulder.
“That’s not Kayleigh.” Slick said sounding both horrified and curious. Ace struggled to raise his head.
“Ace no.” Apache muttered and looked over his shoulder, and his body tightened.
“What is it?” Ace asked.
“Ramirez check.” Drake ordered, but the cop was moving. He heard a retch and then noise as Ramirez moved closer. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a gravedigger moving swiftly away, hand over his mouth. Wonderful, the gravedigger had thrown up. Drake hoped it wasn’t on the body.
“I don’t think she’s Kayleigh.” Ace yanked free with everything he had and stared at the corpse laying on the ground. His own stomach heaved, and Ace took a couple of deep breaths and then shoving past Drake he moved closer.
Ramirez knelt near the corpse, one hand holding a handkerchief to his nose as he studied the corpse. The wizened features were familiar, it was a woman, eyes shut thank god, although sunken. Ace looked at her hair, short red curly hair. The feeling hit him hard, and Ace bent over gasping. Apache crouched near him, his hand on his back.
“Breathe son, breathe.”
“There’re no wounds on her body to match what Kayleigh suffered.” Ramirez said, confirming what Ace had realised.
“It’s not Kayleigh.” Ace forced out. Ace met Drake’s eyes and saw Drakes held knowledge at the awareness in Ace’s. Drake got it, he’d guessed, he’d fuckin’ known. Ace’s brother had doubt’s the whole time. Ace felt fury well up, fury at Artemis who’d played them and fury at Drake, his brother who’d suspected the truth.
“Brother?” Slick asked confusion in his voice.
“Meet Hannah Mitchell.” Ace forced out glaring at Drake. Slick and Apache rocked back. Fish stared at him and then Gunner and Mac, seeking answers they didn’t have.
“She’s got a broken neck.” Ramirez said, straightening up.
“Meet Hannah Mitchell.” Ace repeated, and that sick feeling in his stomach intensified into a burning need to vomit.
“Who the fuck is Artemis?” Fish asked.
“Two guesses.” Ramirez snapped his mind making the connection and coming to the same conclusion Ace’s had made a few minutes ago.
“You had suspicions.” Ace bit out. Drake nodded.
“Artemis is Kayleigh?” Slick breathed finally catching on.
“Artemis looks nothing like her.” Fish denied.
“We saw the photos of her wounds. Kayleigh’s had extensive plastic surgery, bet that repaired most of the damage to her body too.” Drake replied.
“We’ve seen her red and brown, she’s using washout dyes or something.” Mac nodded.
“Holy shit, no wonder Artemis didn’t want to get involved with us.” Gunner said, shocked.
“Fuckin’ Artemis.” Ace ground out.
They heard pipes rev on the hill above them and they looked up. Hair gleaming red in the sun and dressed in black from head to toe a tiny figure sat on a Lowrider. Artemis looked straight at them, and they stayed motionless as she pointed a handgun straight at them. Ramirez’s hand went to his hip, and he unhooked his own weapon.
Deliberately the gun took aim at Slick, Gunner, Ace and Mac and made motions as if Artemis had shot the weapon. Then placing the gun in a shoulder holster, she put her foot to the bike and sped off.
◆◆◆
Kayleigh Mitchell had just declared war, and they knew it.
Chapter Five.
18th November 2014
Three days later, Drake’s phone rang, and he glanced at a blocked number. He showed the screen to Ace and then answered and hit loud-speaker. They sat in the inner sanctum discussing what to do with Artemis, who’d gone to ground.
“Yo.” Drake said.
“Hi, how you doing, Drake?” Artemis asked softly.
“Pretty fucked up Kayleigh.” Drake replied and saw Ace’s jaw clench.
“Yeah that coffin breaking, fucked things up a bit, didn’t it?” Artemis laughed.
“Not thinkin’ anythin’ funny babe in that.”
“Don’t imagine you do.” Artemis agreed.
“You declaring war Kayleigh?”
“What do you reckon? It’s time justice got served. You should’ve backed off when I gave you a chance, Drake.” Artemis said breezily.
“You kill your sister?” Drake asked. Artemis drew in a sharp intake of breath.
“Fuck no. Hannah died a week after I got out of the hospital. Poor Hannah had a car accident. Easy to make records disappear. Hannah hadn’t done one thing for me when I was alive. I thought my sister could help in death.” Fuck, that was harsh. Ace winced.
“Want you to come in Kayleigh. I’ll meet you anywhere. Your choice.”
“Kayleigh Mitchell is dead Drake, Rage MC killed her. Betrayed by those Kayleigh loved.”
“You’re Kayleigh Mitchell.”
“No, I’m what was put back together of Kayleigh. Girl’s got no resemblance to me, there’s nothing of Kayleigh Mitchell left alive Drake. If you’re hoping to find that child somewhere inside me, forget it. Kayleigh’s honestly dead and buried. Call me Frankenstein or Artestein. Hannah’s body may be in that grave, but Kayleigh was buried with her. Remember Drake, in Phoenix’s office, I asked if you really wanted to do this?” Artemis asked curiously.
“Yeah.”
“Told you it could mean the end of Rage, and you told me you wanted the club clean. And I said you weren’t ready for the truth Drake.”
“You did.” Drake replied heavily and rubbed a hand across his face.
“I’m gonna make Rage clean Drake.” Artemis said and cut the connection.
“Ready the brothers, I’ll contact Hawthorne and Ramirez. Artemis is coming for Rage and RC will burn.”
“Drake.” Blaze hammered on his door. Drake rolled over and kissed his wife before getting out of bed and yanking his jeans on. Phoe mumbled and rolled back over, showing her naked body. Drake twitched a sheet over her and opened the door that Blaze continued to hammer on loudly.
“What the fuck, prospect?” Drake snarled at Blaze. The man wore boxers and looked pissed.
“Get out here now.” Blaze demanded and walked away. Drake growled and followed Blaze to the rec room where he stopped dead. Fuck! Drake set eyes on what had upset Blaze. On the wall to the left of the clubhouse doors dripped red paint, spelling out words.
“One, two Artemis is coming for you.” Drake read aloud. What the hell?
“Freddie Krueger. Remember, Kayleigh was obsessed with those movies.” Fish said appearing at Drake’s shoulder. Blaze’s shouting had woken him. He glared blearily at Blaze, rubbing his eyes.
“Jett had the door.” Drake snapped out and headed back to the hallway Jett’s room. As he passed Gunner's door, Drake stopped, written in dripping red paint was the word ‘Eeny.’ Drake kicked open the door and Gunner lay bare-assed naked on his bed.
“Gunner.” Drake roared. The man didn’t twitch. Drake marched over and put his fingers on Gunner's throat. Gunner’s pulse was steady.
“What the fuck?” Fish asked.
“He’s drugged. There’s a needle mark.”
“Drake!” Blaze shouted. Drake followed the shout to Manny’s room. On his door was more paint saying ‘Meeny.’ Drake punched the door open and found Manny in a heap next to his bed. Fish checked for a pulse and nodded.
“Artemis must’a surprised him.” Fish muttered. Drake stomped to the next painted door, Jacked’s, his brother lay in the same condition as Jett and Gunner. His door said, ‘Miny.’ Jett’s door was ajar and Drake found his prospect drugged but healthy. No paint.
Drake stormed back to his hallway and punched through the connecting door. He saw now what he’d missed following Blaze. On Slick’s door was ‘Moe.’ Drake’s gut tensed and he pushed in the door, to his relief Slick lie in bed breathing. Drake tried to wake him and failed. Slick was drugged too.
Fish called from Mac’s room. Drake looked at the door and frowned. Painted on the door was the word ‘Catch.” Mac had stayed at his apartment last night.
“Get Hunter and get him over to Mac’s.” Drake ordered Blaze. Drake exchanged glances with Fish. The shit had hit the fan.
“I’ll get Slate to Apache’s, Ace spent last night with him.” Fish strode away to wake the prospect. Pipes roared, and Drake heard Hunter ride out. Artemis hadn’t touched the prospects apart from Jett, and that was because she’d wanted entry to the clubhouse.
Legs moving as fast as they could, Drake ran up the stairs to the next floor, Drake discovered ‘A Murderer’ on Lex’s door. The brother wasn’t in his room. Rock stumbled out half-awake, demanding an explanation. Drake brusquely gave Rock an answer and sent Rock to Lex’s house on the other side of town. Ezra shoved his head out of his door, grumbling at the noise. Drake found ‘By the’ painted on Ace’s door, Gid’s had ‘Toe’ on his.
Artemis had stormed the clubhouse and marked the brothers for death. Those she blamed for her torture. They all couldn’t be involved, but which fuckers were guilty? Texas came storming up the stairs, his hair and eyes wild.
“Axel’s gone.” The man boomed. Drake rocked back against the wall and began to slide down it. He’d handle losing anyone, but Axel was the nearest thing Drake had left to a father. Not a chance in hell had Axel been involved in what happened to Kayleigh. Axel’s heart was too damn big. Drake glanced at Axel’s door and didn’t see a red mark on it. Fuck no, not Axel.
“No!” Drake croaked. Texas frowned.
“What the fuck brother?” Texas reached down and dragged Drake to his feet.
“She took Axel?” Drake ran his hands over his face.
“Who took Axel? Drake, what the fucks going on?” Texas asked, confused. Drake pointed at the doors.
“Artemis came last night, marked those brothers she thinks are guilty. Axel’s gone, you said.”
“Shit brother sorry, I didn’t realise. No, the fuckin’ idiots went after his pain in the ass kids.” Texas said explaining more carefully to Drake. The colour came back into Drake’s face as nausea faded.
“Artemis doesn’t have Axel?” Texas gripped Drake’s arm tight, reassuring him.
“No brother. Need to get Axel back, before whatever shit his fuckwad kids have got into this time, kills him.”
“Can’t. Artemis drugged half the brothers. Even took Jett out. Got Blaze tryin’ to wake ‘em.”
“Fuckin’ Axel and his timin’.” Texas cursed. “Who’s not here?”
“Apache and Ace, Gid, Lex and Mac, you and Axel weren’t here last night either. Marsha and Silvie are at home. Get Fish to call them. Remember Artemis said not just brothers at the club. No idea if she’s targeting the old ladies. We’ll deal with Artemis and then Axel’s fuckwad kids.” Drake muttered. Phoe came racing up the stairs, hair wild and dressed in one of his tee’s.
“Half the brothers are drugged!” She exclaimed.
“You’re going home and calling Liz. You and kids locked down with Marsha and Silvie.” Drake ordered. Reading Hall, their home, the safest places Drake could think of for the women. Take an army to get through the Hall’s security. Phoe didn’t argue, just nodded and raced back down the stairs.
“Artemis won’t go after Phoe. She’s proved that.”
“Wanna risk Phoe brother?” Drake asked heavily. Texas shook his head. Phoe got harmed, it wouldn’t be just Rage riding out for revenge, Hellfire would tear up the world for her.
“Need to account for Mac, Gid, Apache, Ace and Lex.” Drake said, running a hand across his face. His gut churned. Artemis wasn’t making a statement, the bitch was making a move.
◆◆◆
“Sent you a link. I suggest you get your brothers together. Payback starts today.” Artemis said coldly an hour later and cut the line. Ace looked at him, eyes narrowed. Her last words worried him.
“Bitch’s up to something.” Drakes phone pinged with a text, and he opened it to find a website. Drake threw Texas the phone and called for his brothers. Those who’d been drugged were awake, if barely. They slouched in chairs in the rec room and slowly made their way to the inner sanctum. Lex, Mac and Gid were still unaccounted for. Drake had Slate, Blaze and Hunter out searching for them. Jett was still messed up. The prospects were safe from Artemis.
As website opened to a grey room, Lex and Mac walked in. Relief hit Drake’s gut. Only Gid was missing now. Drake turned his a
ttention back to the laptop. No distinguishing marks, just dark walls and one spotlight on a man sitting in a chair. A hood covered his head. He wore jeans and a white tee smeared with blood, he wore a Rage cut.
“Fuck.” Drake swore. His gut told him who sat there before Artemis strolled into view and whipped the hood off, Gid. The man bled from his nose and mouth, but other than that, Gid looked fine. Gid’s hands were tied behind him, and his legs were tied to the chair, which was bolted to the floor.
“Shit, that’s Gid!” Ezra said paling. Artemis looked at the camera and gave a slow smile. Artemis wore black head to toe, her hair tied back, even wore black gloves on her hands.
“This is one way Drake, I see you logged in. This is how it’s gonna go. Gid here is gonna share what he’s been up to, and Gid’s been a very naughty boy.” Artemis slapped him hard across the face, and Gid spat blood at her. She laughed.
“Now, now Gid, you shouldn’t spit at a lady.” Artemis tutted at him and wiped it off her tee.
“Don’t see no lady.” Gid grunted.
“Hard or easy way, motherfucker?” Artemis hissed, grabbing Gid’s face in a firm grip and tilting his head towards her.
“Fuck you.” Gid cursed her. Artemis grinned again.
“Today you’ll have it easy, show your brothers what a traitor you are. Let’s see you spill your guts. I’ll know if you turn the laptop off Drake. If you do, you’ll wish you never had. Anyone leaves the inner sanctum, I’ll know. Test me if you don’t believe me” Artemis said and pulled a needle from her pocket. She flicked the cap off and jammed it into Gid’s arm. Gid cursed and Artemis shot the serum in it into his arm.
“This is a special mixture of Sodium Pentothal, homemade, only takes a few minutes to kick in.” Artemis told the camera, and Drake felt Ace twitch next to him. Gid’s head sank to his chest, and he began cursing and then Gid fell quiet.
“Have you hidden Misty?” Artemis asked him.
“Yes.” Gid replied. The air in the inner sanctum turned electric.
“Tell me why.” Artemis ordered.
The Hunters Rage Page 10