Spartan (Forsaken Sons MC Book 1)

by Jessica Joy

  This woman.

  “Tessa, I can’t put you in danger. I need you to be safe Tessa. I can’t do this if I’m worried you’re getting tangled up in any of this shit. I don’t want any of this to touch you. I can’t let any of the Club mess get near you and Evan; I won’t let anything like that ever happen again,” I say, looking down at her, my eyes pleading with her to understand.

  “Sawyer, we’re already in it… But I know it’ll be ok,” she pauses, grabbing my face in both her hands and pulling my gaze to hers. “It’ll be okay because you’re here to keep us safe. Because Gage, and Axel, and Cotton, and Tully are here to keep you safe. I have chosen to love the man,” says her eyes saying how much she truly believes it, “and to love the man I must love the Club too. I’m in this with you to the end, until Evan is safe, until Lexi is safe.”

  I close my eyes as her words sink in, let the warmth of her hands soak into my skin. She’s won and we both know it. I don’t want to accept this, but I know my beautiful woman has the right of it.

  She stands, pulling me up off the bed with her. “I know I’m no battle-hardened Valkyrie, I have no intention of leading the charge.” her smile at the thought becomes infectious and I can’t help but feel one start to grow at the thought of her in shining armor like some Joan of Arc. “But let me be there when you rescue our baby, let me be there to soothe my sister, just let that be the part I can play.”

  I can never say no to this woman. As much as I need to keep her safe, I could never truly deny her anything. The gods can smite me if I ever stand between her and her boy. I reach down and slip off my father’s silver ring, it’s heavy weight a reminder of his presence. I look back up at Tessa and she is smiling at me, soft and warm, reassuring me in every way.

  “Tessa, you can’t begin to know what you’ve done for me, what you’ve done to me,” I say, punctuating the ending with a gentle kiss to her lips. “If you’re coming with then you’ll need some protection for when I can’t be there.” I take her hands and flip them palm up. “My father, the man who made me who I am, has been keeping me safe through all my life,” I place the ring in her palms, looking more like a bracelet in her small hands. “He can be there for you when I can’t be.” I close her hands around it, feeling a sense of rightness and calm filling me as tears stream down her cheeks. “

  “I love you Tessa. Fuck, do I love you.”

  “Sawyer…” she mumbles, attempting to collect herself. “Sawyer, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just promise me you’ll stay in the car,” I ask and then in a lighter tone, “And that you love me too,” I end with a smile.

  “Oh, do I ever love you my biker man,” she replies, slipping the ring on her thumb so she can reach up and grab my face, pulling me down for a kiss. I lose myself in the softness of her lips, the smooth wonder of her tongue caressing mine. I can tell there is so much more she wants to say, but her kiss says more than a thousand conversations. I can feel her love, feel her need, feel her happiness. We both lose ourselves to the moment, holding each other, kissing, feeling each other, willing the moment to last forever.

  A banging at the door shatters the peaceful quiet of the moment, “fuck off,” I growl, lips still against hers, not wanting to break the kiss.

  The heavy knocks come again, “Sawyer, get up, we got shit to deal with,” calls Axel’s voice through the door.

  I deepen the kiss for a moment, stealing her breath and claiming her mouth as thoroughly as I possibly can. I let out a frustrated growl as I break the kiss and pull back.

  She gives a soft laugh and slaps at my chest before pulling back. “later, you beast,” she giggles as she gives me a sweet peck of a kiss before she saunters over to the door to let in the insistent Axel. He pushes past her and strides into the room before she can say a word. She turns and rolls her eyes at his back as she closes the door.

  “What’s going on Veep?” I ask, the residual warmth of Tessa slowly fading.

  “Get dressed; there’s a change of plans. Tink just picked up a call between Dice and David; they’re pulling up the timing tonight. David will be there in an hour, so we only have a few minutes to get on the road. We'll have to book it to get in place and settle before he shows up if we want any chance of pulling this shit off,” Axel says, clearly annoyed and on edge.

  Show time it is then.

  Chapter 28

  Tessa

  Forty-five minutes after getting the call, we are all parked just down the street from the Pikesmen’s garage; streetlights starting to flicker to life in the dim light of dusk. Axel parks the giant, black, SUV a block short of the shop. Sawyer is checking over the gun in his lap for the fifteenth time and Remy starts bouncing his leg once Axel kills the engine. I can see the full-size car with Cotton, Tully, and Gage across the parking lot at the cross street just ahead of us. They are on the opposite side of the street from the garage and between the two positions, there shouldn’t be a way for David to make the delivery without passing one of the vehicles. The sudden click-clack of a Sawyer’s gun makes me jump and Axel snaps a look over at him.

  I guess I’m not the only one feeling a little jumpy.

  We wait, and wait, and wait. Almost thirty minutes pass before I see David’s truck coming down our road on its way to the garage.

  “That’s it! That’s his truck! It’s him!” I shout, entirely too loud for the enclosed space, sending the boys jumping in the silence.

  “Jesus Tess. Give me a heart attack why dontcha?” Axel barks from the driver's seat. He starts the SUV, dropping it into gear and with a rumble he pulls closer to the shop. I watch, leaning over the front seat and Sawyer’s shoulder as David pulls into the parking lot, getting out of his truck and heading into the shop.

  “Why aren’t they moving? Why isn’t someone going to the truck? He’s in there! I know he is!” I all but shout as I try to crawl over the center console. Thinking better of that path, I move to claw open my door, desperate to get to my son. Before I can push the door open, an arm reaches around my waist and I’m dragged back across the bench seat.

  Holding me against his solid chest, I hear Remy in my ear, “settle Tessa. Settle.” his arms move and wrap around my shoulders, pinning my arms to my sides as I struggle against him. Knowing I’ll never be able to break his hold, I kick out and try to connect with anything or anyone I can.

  “TESSA! Stop!” Sawyer growls loudly through his teeth. “You need to settle before you draw attention to us. Stick to the plan, remember your promise.” his deep voice cuts through the panic screaming through me and my eyes snap to his. He pins me with a fierce look of warning, and with a deep breath I feel the fight drain out of me as I settle back against Remy’s chest. The heavy weight of Sawyer’s ring resting between my breasts brings me back into the here and now. I give a little nod to him, fingering the silver chain he gave me to wear the oversized ring. I smile back at him, acknowledging that I lost my cool but I’m here now.

  “Babydoll. We have a plan. Cotton and Gage have farther to go, they will circle around the back and cut in along the far wall. There is a door at the far corner of the shop that doesn’t show up on any of the blueprints Tinker was able to find. That’s our best bet where they have Lexi. Our boys will head in there while Remy and I take care of David. Once the four of us are inside and are in position, Axel will check the truck for Evan. Got it?” Sawyer explains in a cool voice, all emotion seems to have drained from the men leaving a sense of expectation vibrating in the air. He reaches back and gives my ankle a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be just fine Babydoll.”

  “They’re moving,” Axel says. Remy releases his hold around me as I relax and move back to the center to see out the windshield. We watch as Gage and Cotton disappear around the back of the building. The only noise is the quiet idle of the engine as we wait for them to come back into view from the shadows. After what seems like an eternity, we see a quick double flick of a flashlight from the shadowed corner of the building, Gage’s signal ind
icating they are all set.

  Axel lets off the brake and rolls the SUV in the entrance to the garage’s parking lot. Sawyer and Remy pop the doors, smoothly stepping out of the SUV and drawing their guns, heading to the near side of the building. I see Sawyer signal around the corner to Gage as soon as they are in position. There is a brief pause before Sawyer and Remy head into the garage.

  “They should each have one man to deal with before they reach their respective doors. We figured one guard for the mystery door, and at least one mechanic roaming around,” Axel says, his eyes searching for any signs of movement around the building. When I don’t respond he looks over his shoulder and shoots me an encouraging smile. “They got this Tessa. Sons handle their shit, and handle it well. We know what we’re doing.”

  I lose sight of Sawyer as he moves past the windows and my heart jumps into my throat. There is no doubt in my mind that I will not be taking a full breath again until everyone is back in their vehicles. A bright flash through the windows followed by the series of pops makes me jump, my knuckles white on the leather of the seat.

  Jesus, what was that? Gunshots? Of course it was that you stupid girl, those weren’t toys they were carrying.

  No less than a minute or two after the gunshots, movement along the far edge of the building catches my attention. Focusing to follow the movement in the dim light, I see David sneaking out from the far side of the building and making his way toward his truck.

  He’s going to drive off, I know it! He’s going to take Evan and I’ll lose any chance of getting him back!

  Feeling the panic start to take hold again, I look over to Axel and see he is focused on the near corner of the building, waiting for the boys to come back out. He doesn’t see David and he isn’t moving. I have to do something.

  I throw the door open, “SAWYER!” I scream, hoping he can hear me. In a heartbeat Sawyer rushes from the shop, his eyes searching everywhere and locking in on me. Pointing frantically at David’s truck I scream, “SAWYER, the truck!” David, clearly having heard me, is frantically running across the lot to his truck.

  Sawyer sprints for the truck and I see him raise his gun, ready to shoot David as he rips open the door and dives inside. Sawyer takes aim but then pulls up short, lowering the gun as David pulls the door closed behind him.

  Evan. He knows Evan is in the truck and won’t risk hitting him.

  Sawyer pivots and shoots low at the rear tires as the truck jumps the curb, speeding off down the street with a shower of sparks in tow.

  Remy rushes out of the garage at the sound of the gunfire, and they both make a beeline for us, quickly climbing in. “The fuck back in truck Tess!” Axel shouts as the boys mount up. Axel guns the engine, the SUV leaping onto the road, doors slamming as the boys grab a hold of the handles and we buck our way down the street. Even with the flat tire, David is speeding down the street, clearly hoping to lose us in the unfamiliar territory but the shower of sparks from his rear rim is like a beacon for Axel to follow. I have a rough idea of where we are, I’ve rarely been to this part of town, but I can guess where David is heading.

  “He’s heading for his plating shop,” I say. Axel grunts in response as he weaves through the streets after the truck. We aren’t gaining much ground on David despite the blown tire. I don’t understand it, regardless of the tight corners and bends he’s trying to lead us through we should be gaining more on him. After a few more twists and turns, Axel misses a turn and a chorus of screamed curses echoes through the small space, he guns it and tries to catch up the next block down. The pulse of the streetlights whipping past as we drive pulls my attention to a flash of red near Sawyer.

  Blood, there is blood on his face.

  I take a moment to look at him, and see that he isn’t hurt, so it must be someone else’s mess. I turn my attention back to the road, trying to figure out where we are. Three turns later I finally recognize a gas station with a green dinosaur and I guide him back to the correct route a couple of shortcuts later we can see the bright red sparks ahead of us pulling into the parking lot of a multi-story industrial building. I recognize the logo painted above the giant doors facing the street.

  “That’s it! That’s his shop!” I yell. Axel whips the SUV into the parking lot slamming on the brakes, tires skidding on the gravel as the car slows to a stop in front of the building. We all fly from the car and run toward the corner of the building, toward where we saw David’s truck pull in. I see Sawyer turn to me with a determined look on his face as I hit the ground running and I already know what he’s going to say.

  Fuck that shit.

  “Don’t even fucking start,” I snap at him as I run past him, hot on Remy’s heels. I hear his loud sigh behind me before he takes off after us. I’m hardly halfway to the door before Sawyer runs past me, growling his displeasure as he passes.

  Yeah, yeah, scary. You can spank me for it later.

  Sawyer and Remy sprint ahead as Axel and I bring up the rear. Axel keeps checking behind us to make sure we don’t get caught by surprise, a heavy backpack bouncing on his back as he runs.

  When Axel and I round the corner, we see Sawyer and Remy flanking a door next to the loading dock, guns drawn and ready, waiting to enter. Sawyer looks up and Axel’s gives a quick pointed shake of his hand, signaling them to head inside. Remy reaches for the handle and shakes his head, throwing up a little ‘X’ with his hands.

  Must be locked.

  Axel jogs up and pulls something from his backpack. He motions Sawyer and Remy back a step and aims what can only be a shotgun at the door, firing two quick blasts at the wall and lock. Sawyer quickly yanks the mangled door open before he and Remy disappear into the darkness beyond.

  My ears ring from the noise and I can’t breathe as I wait, straining to hear any sound through the ringing. What feels like hours pass before Remy appears in the doorway again and motions Axel and I inside.

  When my eyes adjust to the dim light, I glance around to get my bearings. Crates of parts are stacked along the walls and there is a little office in the corner to the right. To the left and in front is the loading dock doors and a path to the workshop floor. The whole area is a tall two stories with a metal roof and trusses. There are lines of machinery hanging down over large, gross looking, vats. Everywhere you look there are bare hooks or hooks with parts hanging on them, apparently, they dip into those vats of liquid. Everything smells like chemistry class; oil, solvent, acid.

  At the far end of the workspace, toward the front of the building, what looks like a jacuzzi from hell is letting off steam and bubbling. A catwalk runs around the perimeter of the building, I’m assuming to give access to the ventilation and overhead machinery, with an access stairway leading up from the corner farthest from where we’re standing. Every surface of these vats, especially down by that terrifying bathtub, looks like a corroded battery.

  Movement catches my eye near the loading dock, and I see Sawyer and Remy heading deeper into the shop, their black clothes blending into the darkness. As soon they pass the first set of vats, a rattle of gunfire erupts from somewhere deeper in the shop.

  “Fuck, contact left, catwalk!” I hear Remy shout. The higher pitched crack of his pistol ringing out; a thunderous boom, boom, boom, chasing right after. The clank of metal on metal with a rattle of the catwalk telling the ending of a story. A new rattle comes from further down the building; an anguished shout coming from one of the men.

  “Shit, get to cover!” I hear Sawyer shout.

  I can’t help the scream at the chaos as I jump up instinctively. Axel grabs my arm and drags me behind a giant bag on a pallet full of some powder, it doesn’t even shift as we huddle behind it.

  I hear the louder and lower report of Sawyer’s gun as I hear Sawyer’s voice calling out over the echoes. “He’s got the baby! Watch your fire!”

  The warehouse goes silent as the gunfire stops all at once, echoes slowly fading. Once the silence reasserts itself, I have to fight the urge to recoil as Davi
d’s acidic voice calls out.

  “Call off your dog’s Bethany!” he practically spits my name.

  “Give up the baby David. All we want is Evan and then we’re gone,” Sawyer calls back, slowly creeping from his hiding place. A shot rings out and he dives back behind the stack of crates. A spark goes up off the cement just in front of where he had been a moment before.

  “David!” I yell, my terror at the thought of someone not leaving this warehouse alive outweighing my fear of confronting him again.

  “That’s right, you bitch. Call my fucking name,” David sneers, sending off another shot, this one embedding itself into the workbench Remy is hiding behind, a shower of wood covering him. I bite down on the meat of my hand to contain the cry that threatens to escape me at his words. Silence falls through the building again and after a moment, I see Sawyer and Remy both slip from their hiding spots, working their way down the center aisle. I hold my breath, bracing for another round of shots, but when nothing happens, I sag back against the solid bag.

  Raised voices coming from the other end of the shop draw my attention but I can’t quite make out what they are saying. The one comfort is that they’re talking and not shooting at least. No sooner than the thought crossing my mind, shots ring out again and I feel Axel tense next to me. When I look over at him, he meets my gaze with an unreadable expression on his face. His flexing jaw and bouncing legs betray his thoughts.

  “Go,” I urge him. He hesitates for a moment, looking torn between staying to protect me and going to help his Brothers. With a huffed breath he pulls a small handgun from the backpack and pushes it into my hands.

  “You know how to use one of these?” he asks. I take the gun from him, check the safety, eject the magazine, check it, slam it home, cock the gun, and release the safety in one fluid movement before looking back up at him with a nod. Axel takes one last almost approving look at me before returning my nod and running off down an aisle between the racks and vats.