by Wilder, L.
“Okay.”
He handed me a small, black, circular object about the size of a bottle cap and said, “Here’s one of the cameras. You need to hide it the best you can without blocking the view.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“We wouldn’t be sending you in to plant these cameras if it wasn’t important, but I don’t want either of you taking any chances,” Gus warned from behind. “Get in and get out. Understood?”
Clay and I both nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Seconds later, I was following the guys out to the parking lot. Riggs went over everything one last time before giving me the cameras. I was putting them in my pocket when Caleb walked up to me. The poor guy looked like he was about to lose his lunch as he glanced down at me and said, “Remember what I said last night.”
“I will.”
“Just do like Riggs said. Don’t take any chances.”
“I won’t.” Seeing that worried look in his eyes was starting to get to me, so I eased up on my tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Before he could say anything else, I got in the car next to Clay and closed the door. Seconds later, he was pulling through the gate and driving towards downtown. I glanced back in my sideview mirror, and just like they promised, Riggs and the others were right behind us. I’d like to say that it made me feel better, but it didn’t. After all the warnings and concerned looks I’d been given, I was on the brink of freaking out. I thought I was managing to keep my nervousness hidden from Clay until he asked, “You doing okay over there?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“You wanna talk about how this is going to go down?”
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.” The first time I met Clay, I was a little intimidated by his size. He was taller than most of the guys in the club and built like a football player, but he seemed like a really good guy, always eager to give the brothers a hand whenever they needed it. While I’d often wondered why he didn’t wear a cut, I knew better than to ask. I’d forgotten that the guys were listening in when I turned to Clay and suggested, “I think it would be better if you waited in the driveway while I go up to the house and ask to see KeShawn.”
Startled, I flinched in my seat when I heard Riggs’s voice coming through my earpiece. “Don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“KeShawn isn’t going to be happy that I’m showing up there unannounced. It doesn’t make sense to make matters worse by showing up at his door with some guy, especially one the size of the fucking Hulk.” I took in a breath as I gave him a moment to consider what I’d said before I added, “If he waits out by the car, hopefully KeShawn will be less suspicious, especially when it comes to getting inside the house.”
“You’re probably right, but—”
“You’re going to have to trust me on this, Riggs.”
He let out a deep breath before saying, “Fine, but if I get the slightest feeling something isn’t right, I’m sending him in.”
“Deal.”
Moments later, Clay was pulling up in KeShawn’s driveway. I sat there for a moment to check out my surroundings, and the house didn’t look as bad as I thought it would. It was pretty rundown, with a dilapidated front porch and overgrown yard, but it still looked a hell of a lot better than where I grew up. Several cars were in the driveway, but there was no one outside—just an old stray sniffing around for scraps. After I unbuckled my seatbelt, I inhaled a deep breath and reached for the door handle. I figured it was best to give the guys a heads up, so I announced, “We’re here, and I’m about to go to the door.”
“We’ve got you both in sight. Just be careful and remember…don’t take any chances.”
“I won’t.” As I opened the door, I glanced over at Clay and said, “Wish me luck.”
I got out, and as soon as I started towards the house, the front door opened, and two men stepped out onto the porch. I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears as I continued forward, trying to pretend like my reasons for being there were completely innocent. As I approached the porch, I gave the two men a slight smile as I asked, “Is KeShawn around?”
“Who’s asking?”
“I’m Darcy Harrington. He wanted me to come by and see a Suzuki GSX-R that he wanted painted.” Neither of them moved. Instead, they both just stood there staring at me with their beady little eyes. “He’s expecting me to come by. Just ask him.”
One of them turned and walked back inside, while the other never took his eyes off of me. I glanced back at Clay and saw that he was leaning against the driver’s side door, watching as I waited for KeShawn to appear. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long. After just a couple of minutes, KeShawn came out the front door and over towards me. “Darcy, what the hell are you doing here?”
“You told me to come by and check out the Suzuki you wanted painted.”
With an aggravated grimace, he asked, “You got any idea what time it is?”
“Yeah, sorry about that.” I motioned back to Clay as I said, “I stayed at my boyfriend’s place night and thought I’d stop by on my way to work.”
“It’s not a good day for this shit. Got some stuff going on in my garage…a water leak or something.” He glanced behind him before continuing, “You’re gonna have to come back some other time.”
“Oh, I hate to hear that.” I had to think of something quick, or the plan was going to completely fall apart. “I’m not sure when I’ll have a chance to get back here. Are you positive I can’t take a quick look?”
“Not today. Like I told ya, it ain’t a good time,” he replied sounding annoyed.
“I understand. We’ll get together some other time.” I turned and glanced at Clay before looking back at KeShawn. “Before I go, do you mind if borrow your bathroom for a quick minute? My guy was in a rush this morning, and I didn’t get a chance to take care of things.”
He looked at me like I’d completely lost it as he asked, “Take care of things?”
“You know…that time of the month and all. I’d rather him not know, if you get what I’m saying.”
A disgusted look crossed his face as he nodded. “Yeah, go ahead, but make it quick. Me and the boys have something we need to take care of.”
“Thank you.” As I started up the steps, he opened the door for me. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“Down the hall on your right.”
I hurried past him, and the second I entered the living room, I took a quick glance around the room. Like the rest of the house, it was pretty run-down with old furniture that looked like it had been used and abused for years. The walls were dingy from all the smoking, and empty beer bottles and full ashtrays were scattered on the coffee table. I was just about to reach into my pocket for one of the cameras when two guys walked in. One was young, maybe in his early twenties, while the other was much older, at least fifty. They both gave me a strange look. “I was just looking for the bathroom.”
The older guy pointed down the hall and said, “It’s the second door on the right.”
“Thanks.”
I smiled as I walked past them and headed towards the bathroom. Just before I stepped inside, I noticed a small shelf in the hallway. I took a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, then reached into my pocket and took out one of the cameras. After I’d hidden it next to a picture frame, I slipped into the bathroom and closed the door. I was trying to think of a plan when I heard, “Good work on that first camera. You think you’ll be able to place the others?”
“I don’t know. It’s going to be tough. Two guys just walked into the living room, and there might be a couple more in the kitchen, but I’ll think of something.”
I’d only been waiting a couple of seconds when someone banged on the door. “What’s taking so long in there?”
“Sorry, I’ll be right out!”
Panicked, I flushed the commode and turned on the water at the sink. After I shut it off, I was about to reach for the door when I heard s
omeone shout, “Yo, Knuckles!”
“What?”
“You and Slade need to make a run to the sto!” the guy in the kitchen barked. “Need to grab some food for that bitch in the garage.”
“Wouldn’t have to feed her if we just put a goddamn bullet in her head,” one of the guys in the living room grumbled in return.
“Just fucking do it, man,” the man ordered. “You know Slayer will have your ass if you don’t.”
“Goddamn, man. I just sat down.”
“Enough with your bitching and move your ass. The both of you!”
“I’m sick of this shit.” I heard footsteps shuffling around in the living room, and just before they walked out, the guy yelled, “We’ll be back in fifteen.”
After I heard the front door slam, I waited a few more seconds to make certain they’d gone before peeking my head out into the hall. When I didn’t see anyone, I hurried back to the living room and searched for a place to put the cameras. Time wasn’t on my side, so I placed one on the TV stand between a couple of old books and another on the mantle. I was looking for a place to put the last camera when I heard Riggs say, “That’s good, Darcy. Now, get the hell outta there.”
“I’m on my way out.”
When I turned around, I was shocked to see that KeShawn had entered the living room, and he was watching me. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Umm…nothing,” I answered with my voice trembling. “I was just…looking to see if they were gonna say who won the Grizzlies’ game last night.”
“The Grizzlies didn’t play last night.” The moment he took a step towards me, I knew I was screwed. I could see it in his eyes. “So, I’ll ask again…What the fuck are you doing snooping around here?”
“I-I,” I stammered.
“Fuck! I should’ve known something was up the second you showed up here this morning.”
“No. Nothing’s up, KeShawn.” Trying desperately to convince him that he was wrong, I started, “I was just using the bathroom and—”
“You can stop with the bullshit.” He stopped in front of me and crossed his arms. “I know why you’re here.”
“What do you mean? I told you why I was here.”
“They sent you here,” he barked.
“They? They who?”
“Satan’s Fury.” He glanced out the window as he snarled, “I’m guessing your boyfriend out there is one of them too. Piece of shit. I can’t wait to put a fucking bullet in his head.”
“No, you’ve got it all wrong. He’s not one of them. Neither of us has anything to do with Satan’s Fury!” I cried. “I came here because you asked me to. You told me to come by and see your bike, so—”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear any more.” He shook his head with an aggravated growl. “They really don’t know who they’re fucking with, but they’re about to find out.”
He grabbed me by the arm and started to drag me out of the living room towards the kitchen. As we passed a couple of his men, he looked to them and said, “Call the others. Tell them to get their asses over here now! We’ve got company coming.”
Before they could respond, he pulled me through the back door and into the garage. Knowing Riggs and the others were listening, I tried to pull free from KeShawn’s grasp as I asked, “What the hell is going on with you? Why are you bringing me to the garage?”
“Coming here was a mistake, Darcy. A big fucking mistake.” He yanked me over to a door in the back of the garage, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. As soon as he’d unlocked the door, he gave me a hard shove, and my heart dropped the moment I spotted Kenadee bound to a chair in the middle of the room. Her face was bruised and there was blood on her clothes, but she was alive. She tried to speak but couldn’t with the duct tape covering her mouth.
Trying to keep up with my act, I looked over to KeShawn and asked, “Who is that? Why do you have her tied up like that?”
Without answering, he took his fist and slammed it into my stomach, forcing the air to rush from my lungs. “I told you. I don’t believe a fucking word out of your mouth, so stop with your bullshit!”
I was gasping for air and hadn’t even noticed he’d taken some rope from the back wall. He yanked my arms behind me and quickly tied them together, then pushing me back, he forced me down into a chair and tied my ankles. Once he was certain I couldn’t move, he walked over to Kenadee and grabbed a fistful of her hair as he turned to me and snarled, “I can’t believe you came here for her! The fucking whore who let my boy die?”
“Please, stop. Just let us go!”
He didn’t. Instead, he took a switch blade from his back pocket. My eyes were immediately drawn to the long, sharp blade that he pointed in my direction as he spoke, “You know, he only had two bullet wounds…one in the shoulder and one in the gut. No reason for him to bleed out like he did, but this bitch wouldn’t help him. She thought he was just some piece of trash off the street who didn’t deserve to live, so she just let him bleed out.”
Tears streamed down Kenadee’s face as she shook her head no, pleading incoherently against the tape that covered her mouth. Sadly, KeShawn paid her no mind. Instead, he took the knife and jabbed it into her left shoulder, causing her face to contort into a pained grimace as her muffled screams echoed through the room. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He’d actually stabbed her, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop him. He left the knife protruding from her shoulder; blood stained her pink t-shirt as it trickled down her side. I was still in complete shock, unable to even speak, when he took out a second knife and started towards her again. Horrified, I jerked at my restraints, trying to break free, and screamed, “Don’t! Stop!”
My pleas were all in vain. He’d already driven the second knife into her stomach. Kenadee’s tear-soaked eyes fixed on me in anguish as she slowly started to lose consciousness.
“Now, you get to feel what my boy felt…you get to bleed out nice and slow.” He turned his attention to me as he snarled, “You enjoy watching your little friend bleed to death while I go kill your boyfriend and all his brothers.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. I looked over to Kenadee, and it was like something out of a horror movie when I saw those knives sticking out of her. Knowing I had to do something before she bled to death, I searched the room for something that could help free me from my restraints, but there was nothing to be found. I was starting to freak out when I heard, “Darcy?”
“Riggs!”
“We’re here with you,” he said calmly. “We heard everything.”
“Kenadee…h-he…stabbed her…twice.” I was trembling all over. “It’s bad—really, really bad.”
“We know, and we’re coming. Just hold on.”
“Clay! He said he’s going—”
“Heard that too. We’ve got him.” Riggs sounded so unmoved, so rational as he said, “Now, just try to remain calm, and we’ll get to you both as soon as we can.”
CHAPTER 17
Rider
I was about to lose it. My worst fears had come true, and it was killing me that I couldn’t do anything about it. We were parked at an abandoned gas station, just two blocks from the house, but it felt like we were a million miles away. I wanted to get out of that fucking SUV and charge into Lewis’s place, kill every one of those motherfuckers, but that wasn’t an option. We couldn’t move until Gus gave the word and that wasn’t going to happen until he and the rest of the brothers arrived. I had no choice but to remain in the SUV alongside Riggs, Blaze, and Murphy and listen helplessly as Lewis dragged Darcy into that garage. I knew right then that things were about to get bad. I just didn’t know how bad. We all sat silently as we listened to Lewis’s every word, and it gutted us all when Kenadee’s pain-stricken screams echoed through Darcy’s earpiece. There was no questioning whether or not he’d hurt her. We knew he had, which meant we had to get to them both as quickly as we could. That only made the waiting that much ha
rder. My gut twisted into a knot as I listened to Darcy plead, “Okay…Please hurry.”
“We’re coming,” Riggs promised. “Just hold tight.”
As soon as he got off the radio with Darcy, Blaze lost it. “He fucking stabbed her—we’ve gotta fucking do something, now!”
“Gus and the others are coming, brother,” Riggs reminded him. “It won’t be much longer.”
“I’ll fucking kill that motherfucker. I’m going to rip him limb from limb for putting his hands on her.”
None of us were surprised by Blaze’s reaction. We all knew how much he loved Kenadee, and knowing that he couldn’t get to her right away was eating away at him. Hell, it was getting to us all. The whole thing was fucked up, and I hated that Darcy was caught right in the middle of it all. I hated even more that she wouldn’t have been there if it hadn’t been for us. We’d put her in harm’s way, and I’d never be able to forgive myself for that. The thought of something happening to Darcy made me regret not being completely honest with her the night before. I’d told her that I cared about her, but the truth was I’d fallen for her. Hell, even that was putting it lightly. I loved her, and I wanted to make her mine in every way, and now her life was in danger. I might have made a mistake by letting her help us like she did, but I refused to lose her because of it. I would get her out of there, safe and sound, and not only that—I, along with my brothers, would end KeShawn Lewis and the rest of the Disciples once and for all.
I wasn’t the only one who was set on taking them down. Murphy made his desire known the second he told Blaze, “We’ll get them all. Every last one of them.”
“Damn straight. I can’t wait to get my hands on that motherfucker.”
Murphy leaned over to Riggs and asked, “What about Clay? Where is he now?”
A couple of Disciples came out of the house shooting. Clay shot back a couple of rounds and killed one of them before we had a chance to tell him to get the hell out of there. Since then, we hadn’t heard a word from him. “I don’t know. I told him to head back to the clubhouse.”