CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Spider
The time to leave their bed came too soon.
He was going to leave her sleeping but he realised it wasn’t what he wanted.
He wanted her to be there when he left, he wanted to see her beautiful eyes one last time before he had to look into the face of evil.
The face of fucking Strange or rather, Dalia Mitchellson.
The evil bitch who had kidnapped his son.
That was why she was here with him, in Kid’s office, watching as Glass carefully reopened the upper end of his wound.
“I want to repeat one more time, this is not a good idea. I’ve taken every precaution to prevent infection, but placing a foreign object in a wound is asking for trouble.” Glass snarled.
“Thanks for agreeing to do this, Glass. I know it’s a gamble but we have to be able to track him and listen in when he meets with the kidnappers.” Kid tried to soothe her and it seemed to work.
“That poor baby is the only reason I agreed to this madness.” She muttered.
“While Glass is working on getting you wired I need to update you on what we learned yesterday.”
Satisfied with Glass’s response Kid went back to business.
“You disappeared before I could fill you in.” His prez gave him a hard look and he nodded, it was true, he did duck out.
“Fish was able to hack into the house’s server. We have the layout of the house and grounds and they are definitely staying there. There are twelve of them in the house and not all of them are gangsters, there are what looks like mercenaries with them. Rush was locked in a room and ignored for the most part. Unfortunately there’s no audio so we can’t tell what was said or planned.” He paused for a beat.
“They’re sharp though, they made Lia and Buzz hanging out at the lookout point and watched them until they left. They obviously bought the tourist thing because they didn’t pursue.”
“Good, at least we know where they are and how many of them we’re facing. We can prepare for that.”
Spider hissed as Glass probed his chest. “Ouch!”
“Hold still and it won’t hurt as much.” She grumbled.
He gritted his teeth and shut up because he didn’t want Vee to worry.
“The girls played their part perfectly. They’ve been playing on the beach and distracting the guards while Fish did his thing. Yesterday afternoon they built a massive castle type structure right below the house. Like Star suggested they dug a moat around it. They built it above the high water mark so it’s still standing. The beach will be dark but you should be able to see it as it gets closer to dawn. The reason I’m telling you is threefold, one, the moat is the perfect place to hide with Rush when shit hits the fan, and two, the girls left you a present hidden in the base of the tower on the left front. You’ll be able to defend yourself and Rush. And thirdly, Simon and his men will dig in close to the castle as well.”
He breathed out a sigh of relief, not having a weapon during the meet had worried him more than he’d let on to his brothers.
“Great, I’ll try and manipulate the location of the meet by staying as close to the castle as possible.” He glanced at his woman and she gave him a small smile.
His chest ached and he knew it was because Glass had cut a big fucking hole in him. The ache sort of grounded him, kept his mind from wandering to the worst case scenario.
“Done.” Glass said. “I strapped gauze over the site, it won’t impede the audio and will keep the wound as clean as possible. Do not get it wet or dirty or take a strike to the chest. You really won’t like the results.”
Without another word she packed her shit and left as quietly as she had arrived.
Kid stood and walked around his desk, a bullet proof vest in his hand.
“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be. Everyone is in place, we have eyes on you from the girls’ house and the brothers and snipers have been deployed and are ready. Dom and his people have been in place all night, ostensibly fishing. Simon and his men dug in around the castle about two hours ago and his divers will be in the water and swim to shore as soon as the fuckers are seen heading towards the beach. Star and Rico are keeping eyes on the situation with high altitude drones. We’ve covered every angle we could think of to get you and Rush out of there safely. Stick to the plan, brother. Don’t deviate, not for fucking anything. You do not leave the beach under any circumstances. And you wear this fucking vest, don’t care if the fucking bitch complains about it, you keep your shit covered. You got me, little brother?”
His prez had his hand clasped around the back of Spider’s neck and had his forehead pressed to his. Their eyes met and held.
“I got you, Prez.” Spider’s voice sounded rough even to his own ears.
He tried to lighten the mood a bit. “I just had a thought, Simon and his men are like trapdoor spiders waiting patiently under the sand. Those fuckers are going to shit themselves when they spring the trap and emerge.”
He got the laughter but it was a bit forced as well.
“I’ll be driving you to the meet, brother.” Sly stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder. “The slut never said anything about a driver so we’ll take that one. I won’t be able to go on to the beach with you but I will be ready to get you and Rush out of there. We’ll be taking a cage no one has ever seen us driving. Siener (Psychic) finished it just in time for today’s outing. Her name is Raptor which is the short for Velociraptor. She’s fully bulletproof and he says she has teeth, speed and sand capability. I’m not totally sure about what he means with teeth but I’m sure we’ll find out should someone take pot-shots at us.”
Kid grinned and patted his back. “She definitely has teeth, big ones. Siener and Fish built and installed an on-board computer that will talk you through whatever situation you encounter. It’s like riding in a cage from the future. Try not to wreck it.” He warned.
The Raptor was a weird looking vehicle. It looked like a cash in transit van had a love child with a Porsche Cayenne, it was decidedly odd looking.
“Is this thing even registered?” He asked Siener who stood to one side, his arms crossed over his wide chest.
“Ja, brother, got it done through a connection. She’s totally street legal and the metro pigs won’t ever catch her, should you need a quick getaway.”
The brother didn’t smile or wink so Spider took him at his word.
Turning to his old lady he pulled her close, hugging her then kissing her. Taking comfort in the taste and feel of her.
“Please be careful, honey.” She whispered against his lips.
“Absolutely, love, I’ll be back with Rush before you know it.” They both knew he was talking out of his ass but it was what they needed in the moment.
After one last hug he turned to Sly and gave a nod, he was ready.
Getting in the vehicle he settled in the luxurious seat and buckled up. When Sly pushed the starter button the engine started with a deep powerful growl.
“No wonder he said nothing will catch her, listen to all that power.” Sly patted the steering wheel then guided the vehicle out of the darkened compound.
They had minimal lights on in the buildings, all security lights were focused on the walls and areas close to them.
The ride was smooth and they reached the empty beach parking area in more than enough time. They sat in the cage and they both scanned the dark bush around them.
A throaty female voice startled both of them. “There are no threats in an eight hundred meter radius around the vehicle. I detect two heat signatures near the exit of the path to the beach. I’ve been informed they are friendlies. I have access to the beach and if needed will be able to extract you and the child within minutes.”
“Uhm, who are we talking to?” Sly asked with a confused frown.
“I am Raptor.”
They looked at each other then back at the console where the voice was coming from.
“Hi Raptor, you’re talking to Sly and Spider.”
“I am aware. My programming includes a list of all officers. You are going to be late. It is time.”
“Thanks, Raptor.” Spider said as he raised his eyebrows at Sly, unbuckled, opened his door and got out. Reaching in he grabbed the strap of the laptop case and slung it over his shoulder. After a lot of discussion the decision had been made to go with the laptop and not the satellite phone as previously planned. The laptop will give them time should they need it.
Without a word he turned and started the walk down to the beach.
It was still dark but there were indications that the sky would soon start to lighten. Because the sand was so light it was easy to discern the difference between the path and the surroundings.
The sand was dry and loose and he had to slog through it to get to where the sand was harder and easier to walk on. He kept scanning his surroundings, not that it made any difference if they started shooting at him.
Suddenly he heard him.
His boy.
Crying.
He walked faster, his eyes narrowed on where he could see the outline of the sandcastle the girls had built. The fucking thing was massive.
“I can hear Rush crying, I don’t see them yet but I can hear him.” He reported to whoever was listening.
Finally he saw them, several dark figures walking out from between the dunes up ahead.
“They’re coming out of the dunes close to the sandcastle.”
The darkness was slowly being invaded by light and he was able to see more of his surroundings and the fuckers waiting on him.
The slut was standing in front of a line of men. She had Rush in her arms but his boy didn’t want to be there. He strained away from her.
“The men with the slut and the gangsters are armed with automatic rifles with suppressors. This might be a problem.”
He kept walking until he reached the outer edge of the castle, he slowed and stopped close to the side where a weapon was hidden.
“I’m here for my son. I have what you asked for. Let’s do this shit so I can take him home.” He called out.
“Where the fuck is the money? We told you to bring the fucking money! And we didn’t say you could wear a bulletproof vest.” A fucker shouted and as he stepped out from behind the slut with a gun pointed at Spider he recognised him. Frankie September.
He ignored the comment on the vest.
Spider rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You do realise that if I brought the ten million you asked for in cash it would have to be transported in a cash in transit van. There’s no way I could’ve managed that.”
“You lie…” Frankie started but a hard accented voice stopped his tirade.
“September, shut up and search him. I have a feeling Mr Walker didn’t come alone like he was told.”
“I am alone. A friend drove me here but he’s not going to interfere.”
Spider kept his voice even and calm as he slipped the strap of laptop case off his shoulder and set down on the sand next to him.
September jerked him forward, ripped at the vest and he groaned when the fucker smashed it against his newly reopened wound.
“What is wrong with his chest?” The man who stayed in the darkness asked.
“He was stabbed a while back, it should have been healed by now.” Strange threw in.
“It would have been, until you decided to jump me at the beach. Your actions reopened the wound and dirty seawater got in. I’ve been battling an infection ever since. Feel free to check.” Spider shrugged.
“Remove the vest and let’s see your chest.”
He did as ordered, dropping the vest on the sand not too far from him. His shirt was jerked open and the gauze Glass had taped to his chest was ripped off. He hissed as the tape ripped his chest hair out and jolted the wound.
The fucker in front of him whistled through his teeth. “He’s not lying. It’s a knife wound and a nasty one.”
There was silence and then the voice came again.
“How do you propose we do the exchange, Mr Walker?”
Spider bent, ignoring the pain in his chest, and picked up his laptop then tapped the case.
“I will transfer the funds to any account you select. When the money is in your account you give me my son and I walk away. Easy.”
Laughter greeted his words.
A dark headed man stepped from behind Strange, moving up to stand beside her. His accent, the darkness of his skin, hair and eyes pointed to an Indian heritage, one of Gopal’s men.
“There is nothing easy about what’s about to happen, Mr Walker. You will transfer the money as per your agreement with the woman but once it’s done you and your son belong to me, to The Foundation. You will do as I say or I start hurting the kid.”
“That’s not what we agreed on.” Strange interrupted angrily. “He’s mine, you can take the brat, I don’t care, but he is mine.”
“If my son isn’t handed over to me I won’t do the transfer.” Spider snarled. “This is not Foundation business, it is personal business between the bitch and me. I have no problems with you or your organisation, all I want is my son.”
He made sure to tip his head down a bit as he spoke, letting those listening know they had a massive problem.
He hadn’t foreseen what happened next. Knowing what had been done to his boy’s mother he should have.
The fucking bastard snatched Rush from Strange, threw him on the beach and put his heavy booted foot on his chest, the automatic rifle shoved against his forehead. The fucker was a dead man as soon as he could get his hands on a weapon.
His boy was terrified, screaming and gasping for breath as the fucker started to put pressure on his chest.
“What are you doing?” Strange shouted, waving her hands about. “He’s making so much noise people are going to hear him and come and investigate.”
“Shut up, bitch. This is no longer your operation.” The fucking dead man hissed at her.
“Stop! You’re hurting him. Who the fuck are you and what do you want? Leave my son out of this, please.” Spider begged.
The fucker lifted his foot a little and it sounded like Rush was able to breathe easier, not much, but easier.
“I am Rahul Gopal and I was sent here for you. You will give us whatever we ask for or your son dies.” His voice was emotionless, as if he was talking about the weather.
“What do you want?”
“We want the Iron Dogz MC and every one of their businesses, country wide. You will facilitate it for us or you will be given a front seat when your son is introduced to his new owner. He will most probably not survive his first fucking but sometimes they do. It depends on how careful his new Daddy is going to be.” The bastard shrugged as if Rush being violated and dying didn’t mean a thing.
Horror unlike any he had ever felt curled through his gut. These people had to die.
Frankie fucking September started laughing like a fucking hyena.
“I’ll do it, right now. Give him to me, I’ll show this fucking dog just how we’re going to train all those brats they have running around their compound. They will beg to take any cock, crawl to suck my dick.” Throwing his head back he laughed as if it was the biggest joke.
None of them expected what happened next.
“You stupid bastards. You’ve ruined my entire operation!” Strange suddenly screamed, pointing her firearm at Frankie.
“This is your fault, Frankie. You brought these bastards in and now look, they’re going to take my prize. Nothing is going the way I planned.”
September laughed as if she had said something hilarious but then her gun made a soft popping sound and a round hole appeared in his forehead. His eyes were wide, a surprised look on his face, as he fell to the sand. Dead.
Rahul Gopal lifted his foot off Rush, twisted and swung his rifle at the bitch. His men did the same, all their attention was on Strange. Frankie’s men were howling in outrage and charged towards her, she didn’t flinch as she shot them down. Methodically, one after the other.
Spider knew this was the only chance he had to save his son. They had to use the chaos the bitch had created.
“NOW!” He shouted as he grabbed the discarded vest and dived to where his boy was lying gasping and crying on the sand.
Around the castle the hidden pods popped open silently and Simon and his men started taking out the men from behind. The snipers joined in the carnage taking place on the beach.
Grabbing a sobbing Rush tight in his arms, shielding him as much as possible he rolled, then rolled again until they fell into the deep trench around the sandcastle. He immediately shoved a hand into the base of the tower, felt the plastic bag and pulled it free.
Around them bullets were flying, men were screaming and he heard the sound of feet running through the sand.
“Rush, sweetheart, Daddy needs you to be quiet for a little while. Okay? I’m going to get us out of here but you need to be quiet.” He softly begged his son as he quickly armed his weapon.
Grabbing the vest from where he had dropped it he draped it over his sobbing son and prepared to check on what was happening on the beach. He popped up and had a quick look before ducking down again.
It was now much lighter, closer to dawn, he popped up again and he could make out who was who on the beach. Strange was down and so were the gangsters. Some of the men in the black tactical gear was fighting with Simon and his men but they had several casualties. Rahul Gopal kept throwing glances towards where Spider was hiding with Rush.
That was a problem. The bastard had to die, if he didn’t he would try to move the fight over to them so he could use them as a shield.
He needn’t have worried.
Simon, his guys and the watching snipers were onto them.
They herded them down the beach, away from the sandcastle.
He heard him before he saw him.
The sand crunching under his boots gave him away.
Swinging around he pulled the trigger as the dark clad bastards’ gun spat fire at him. The piece of shit crumpled and fell face first onto the sand and lay still.
Spider turned to check on Rush and hissed in sudden pain. The piece of shit had shot him. He was hit and had to get the two of them off the beach, fast.
“I’ve been hit, I need Sly to come and do a pick up.” He gasped.
Not long after he heard the deep growl of Raptor coming down the beach, men scattered as Sly raced along the hard wet sand then swung up on the beach towards where he was hiding.
Holding Rush in his arms he readied himself.
He wouldn’t have much time to get the two of them into the safety of the vehicle. He jumped out of the trench as Sly slid to a stop and the passenger door swung open.
“Run brother, get your ass in here!” Sly called out.
Later, when he thought about it, he would have no idea how he got out of that trench in one bound. But he did it and ran towards the vehicle in a crouch, Rush clutched close to his chest and still wrapped in his vest.
“Fuck!” He shouted as his leg buckled just as he got to the open door.
Dragging himself up and into the cage hurt like a son of a bitch but he did it. Got them in and the door closed.
Sly immediately raced away from the firefight.
“You okay, brother?” He asked as he concentrated on driving.
“Got shot, fucking twice.” He griped as he gently rubbed a hand over Rush’s head and kissed his forehead, trying to calm his crying son.
“We need medical assistance, my passenger is bleeding on my upholstery.” The cage’s voice informed whoever it was in contact with.
“Sly, drive to the beach house where the crew is. We have Glass waiting to take care of them.” Fish gave the order and Spider finally allowed his tight muscles to relax.
It fucking hurt.
But he didn’t care how much it hurt. He had his son, he was a bit battered but they were safe.
They had both made it off the beach, and that was the important part.
His boy was going to need careful handling but he knew Vee was up to the task.
“You have any idea if those bastards made it off the beach?” He asked Sly.
Before he could answer the car did.
“None. There were several casualties. Two have been arrested by the ICI taskforce. One of them a woman.”
“Damn, I saw she was down, I was hoping she was dead.” Spider gritted viciously.
No one said a word after that and he was grateful when they rolled up to the front door of the now brightly lit up house His body and leg ached.
Spider was helped out of the vehicle and he limped into the house still holding his son.
Rush refused to let go, clinging to him.
Sitting down on the gurney set up in the middle of the lounge he looked down at his son and winced. He was bruised and his eyes swollen from the constant crying and he was filthy. He smelled.
“Baby boy, you need a bath so badly.” He smiled down into tear filled blue eyes the same as his own.
His baby’s crying stopped, he gave a little sigh wrinkled his nose and whispered. “Stink.”
Spider nodded. “You do, you really do. We need to clean you before we go home.”
“Spider, I need you to hand him to one of the girls so I can take care of the bullet wounds to your side and your thigh. You’re bleeding all over my shit.” Glass said as she smiled at Rush and poked his belly. His boy gave her a wary look.
“I’ll take him.” Star stepped up and bent until she was face to face with Rush. “Remember me, baby? You come with your Aunty Star and we’ll get you cleaned up while Aunty Glass takes care of your Daddy’s einas (owies). I’m sure you’ll feel better once you’re clean and don’t stink.” She winked at him and Rush gave a little giggle.
He obviously remembered her from the clubhouse and knew she was a friend.
The resilience of kids, it was amazing.
He stretched his arms out to her and she took him to the bathroom to clean him up.
Lying back on the gurney he groaned, finally allowing the pain to roll over him as Glass and Pet stripped him to allow her to have a look at his wounds.
He half listened to Glass as she poked at his chest, side and thigh. Apparently he was lucky, both of his new wounds were superficial.
The women bustled around him as the device was removed from his chest, then his wounds were stitched up. Pet helped him back into his pants and a clean tee was pulled over his head.
By the time it was done the sky was filled with light and a new day was dawning.
Standing in front of the big picture window he looked out over the beach. It was once again pristine. No sign of the bloody fire fight that had taken place not even an hour ago.
The boat that had been lying at anchor was no longer there either.
Cuba came and stood next to him.
“They cleaned it up damn fast.” He muttered.
“I saw they had a team with metal detectors picking up the casings and another lot was sweeping the beach. The bodies were bagged and loaded in a rubber duck and taken to the boat that was anchored out there. Those ICI fuckers are thorough and quick. They took the bitch and another prisoner with them when they retreated to the house.”
“I don’t care what the fuck they do as long as I never see that bitch again.” Spider snarled.
The deep rumble of bikes shook the early morning silence.
“Oh yes, I forgot, I was supposed to tell you that your brothers will be escorting you and Rush home.” She grinned and pointed over her shoulder. “That will be them now.”
His dad and brother walked into the lounge and the worry disappeared from their faces when they saw him standing at the window.
Star brought Rush to him, now clean and smelling fresh and he held his son against his aching chest, never wanting to let him go.
“Glass came and checked him over before she left, he’s dehydrated, bruised and has a bad nappy rash but it’s all superficial. She left a script for electrolytes and cream for the nappy rash. She said to tell you he hasn’t been touched like that.” Star reported with tears in her eyes.
“Thank God.” He whispered, hugging his son to him.
Ice and his Dad looked as relieved as he was.
“I’ll call Ms Bosman when we’re back at the compound to let her know we’ve found Rush. We’ll work on how we did it later.” Ice said as he softly patted his back.
“Thanks brother.”
“If there’s nothing else to be done here I suggest we head back.” Bulldog said as he clasped Spider’s shoulder.
“I’m done here.”
Shortly after he was in Raptor with Sly and Rush was strapped into a car seat in the back.
The ride home took longer as the roads were starting to get busy.
Finally they turned into their drive and pulled up to the gates.
He sighed with relief as they drove through and the gates shut behind them.
They were home. His boy was home and finally safe.