21. West
21
WEST
“So what you’re sayin’ is you’ve no fuckin’ clue?” I laugh as Bronco hands me a wrench. In my spare time, I like fixing motorcycles — not that I get much time with that these days. When Hawk called me to ask if I could spare some time to help out, I jumped at the chance. Audrina was helping out at Faux Paws today, so it was the perfect opportunity to get my hands dirty.
“I get plenty of pussy,” Bronco says, causing me to roll my eyes.
“Uh, huh. What about that pretty friend of Aspyn’s? Payden?”
“Nah, that ship sailed, every time we tried to get together, somethin’ came up. Amber said it wasn’t meant to be.”
Amber is one of the regular bar staff at the clubhouse. She’s pretty quiet, a good worker, and doesn’t sleep with the guys, something I find amusing because all the single ones have tried to get her into bed.
“Amber?” I cock an eyebrow.
“Yeah, you know, she works at the?—”
“I know who Amber is, dipshit, what I mean is, how come Amber’s givin’ you datin’ advice?”
He shrugs. “We’re friends.”
“Right.”
“What? A man and a woman can’t be friends?”
“Not when the woman is attractive, I think it can spell trouble.”
“Like you and Audrina?” He laughs.
I look up from what I’m doing. “That’s different.”
He scoffs. “How come, Fabio ?”
“Because I always knew I was gonna pursue her.” The explanation is simple enough, but he cocks his head as if he’s thinking about it.
“I guess, bein’ so old and all?—”
I throw a spanner at him and he laughs, easily catching it before it lands. “Not a bad throw.”
“I’ll kick your ass before you call me old. So you got any more datin’ tips, since you’re a regular Cassanova?”
“I get all my datin’ tips from Amber, we kinda help each other out.”
“What?” I splutter.
“Well, she checks out potentials on my datin’ app, and I give her advice and shit.”
“Sounds like a perfect scenario.”
“Well, she can see through the bullshit, apparently we have our heads up our own asses half of the time.”
I chuckle. “Is she seein’ anyone?”
“Been through a few losers, she’s seein’ someone new, but neither of us can seem to get it right.”
I quirk a brow. “You lookin’ for an ol’ lady?”
He shrugs. “Can’t believe I’m admittin’ this, but shit kinda gets old after a while, ya know?”
“Sick of turnin’ tricks? Not a bad thing.”
“It ain’t that bad, right? Stuck to one woman, most of the guys have it worked out?”
“I’m pretty new at this,” I admit. “But when you get to the point when you’re not thinkin’ about gettin’ your dick wet every night by a different woman, that’s a kinda turnin’ point.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, even that shit gets old fast. The sweet butts can get clingy and want more, but I can’t get serious about someone who’s balled every guy in the club.”
“But it’s okay for you?” I laugh.
He gives me a side eye. “That’s not what I meant, and I’m all for women’s liberation. I grew up with a strong, single workin’ mom who rammed it down my throat for all she was worth, but those chicks just move on from one dick to the next, I want more than that.”
I’ve noticed him and Amber hanging out lately, but he insists they’re just friends, and she might be having a positive influence since Bronco used to be one of the most unruly of the MC. He and Nevada have grown up a lot these last few years, especially with Nevada settling down with Star.
“Nothin’ wrong with wantin’ more, brother. It sounds cliche, but when you meet the right one, you really will know. It’ll hit you outta nowhere. All of sudden, she’s the one grounding you to the earth, not gravity anymore.”
“Wow, heavy.”
I shrug. “I was young once and used to make fun of my friends when they fell in love, and I never really got it. I believed for a long time that women were just nags, good for nothin’ except lyin’ and cheatin’ because that’s what I knew,” I say. “But things change as you get older and you pull your head out of your ass and you start to realize that it ain’t all bad. In fact, when you find the right woman, it’s more perfect than you could ever imagine. Everything falls into place.”
He listens, and I genuinely think he’s serious about settling down. “Guess I have to actually go on a date to find out.”
“That’s right, and datin’ and fuckin’ are two different objectives, you gotta want the same things.”
“That’s just it,” he says. “I meet a woman and it’s all goin’ great, then it leads to sex, and then after that there’s nothin’. She’s not interested in gettin’ to know me other than in the bedroom. If we’re not havin’ sex then we’ve got nothin’ to talk about.”
“I’m sure that’s not true, maybe you’re lookin’ for love in all the wrong places? You’re unlikely to meet the love of your life on Tinder.”
He laughs. “You’re down with the datin’ apps, good for you.”
“Nope, but I’ve heard about ‘em.”
“I guess shitty bars and clubs don’t exactly spell marriage material.”
I snort. “Woah, cowboy, maybe you need to learn to walk before you can run.”
I don’t know how this happened, but I’m often the one the guys come to for advice. Cash is sometimes too close to them and will probably slap them upside the head for half the shit they talk about, but I try to listen and give some words of wisdom. Especially to Bronco, because it isn’t often you hear about a brother who wants to get caught.
Still, I think he and Amber would make a sweet couple. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and from what I know, she stays out of trouble.
“Not sayin’ I wanna get married tomorrow,” he sighs. “Just sayin’ shit gets fuckin’ old, same thing day in, day out.”
“What about work? How’s all of that goin’?”
Bronco and the club have been trying to secure a location for his tattoo parlour for a while now, he usually works for the club in one of the workshops when needed, or driving for Rock’s Truck n’ Haulage, but he’s been tattooing for a while now on the side.
“Cash said he knows about a shop comin’ up near Esplanade Avenue, it’s perfect for a tattoo parlour, but locations are highly sought after downtown.”
“Somehow I think he’ll get the upper hand.”
“I tend to think so, then I can really get shit movin’, fuck knows I’ve wanted my own joint since forever. I freelance here and there, but it’s not the same.” He runs a hand through his hair. "Plus, I’m not afraid of hard work, been doin’ it for a decade. Without the club, I’d never be able to afford to get my own shop.”
“Gotta appreciate that, and good things come to those who wait, or so they say.”
“Gotta believe it,” he says. “Or what the hell else we doin’ all of this for?”
My cell rings, and I wipe my hands on a rag before I see Cash’s name on the screen.
“Prez,” I say. It’s not often Cash calls me, but when he does, it’s usually for a job or to cover someone, like today.
“Hustler, it’s Audrina.” His words come out, but I don’t process them until he adds, “She’s... fuck man, I don’t know how to say this... there was an incident today at the shelter, she’s been kidnapped.”
My world spins as I stand and start to pace. “Kidnapped? What the fuck do you mean kidnapped?”
Bronco stands too, fishing his phone out of his back pocket as he starts dialing someone.
“She was at Faux Paws, and some random dude came in and there was a struggle...”
No. This can’t be happening.
This isn’t happening.
“A struggle? For fuck’s sake!” My keys are already in my hand as I stride toward my motorcycle. “What the fuck, Cash? Talk to me.”
“Come to the clubhouse.”
“I’m goin’ to the shelter.”
“No point, crawling with cops, Kylie called the police when she found...”
“When she found what?” My stomach drops.
Cash clears his throat. “They found some blood on the floor, her phone was found smashed close by.”
I feel like I’m gonna have a heart attack, the blood pumping in my ears and the adrenaline running through my body feels nuclear. Someone took my ol’ lady?
“Holy fuck, Cash, this can’t... this can’t be happenin’. What about Tilbury, our dog?” I swallow hard. Please, fuck no, she’s just a tiny little thing. What if he hurt her, too?
“She’s safe with Bella. She was playin’ in a pen with another dog at the time.”
I can’t stop the rage within me and the pounding of my heart when I think about how terrified Audrina will be. How worried she’ll be about Tilbury because that’s how she is, always thinking of others.
“I’m on my way.”
“Hurry, callin’ a meetin’ then headin’ out as soon as you arrive.”
I end the call and rush to my motorcycle at the same time Bronco runs back in. “Just heard.” He fires up his sled too. “Fuck man, I’m sorry, H.”
“Let’s just get goin’,” I grunt. The more hands on deck, the better because when I find the person responsible for hurting my ol’ lady, there ain’t no rock he’s gonna be able to hide under where I won’t find him and anyone else involved. I’ll make it my mission in life to find them all and fuck with their lives until they’re all screaming and begging me to stop, and even then I won’t.
My mind whirls as I race toward the clubhouse like a bat out of hell. I don’t even know how I got there; my mind is blank, and all I can think about is my sweet, pretty Audrina being hurt.
I rip my helmet off as soon as I park up, running toward the clubhouse doors. Priest greets me with a hug. “Dad, I’m sorry.”
“What the fuck, son?” I feel my throat thickening, but now ain’t the time for crying. Now is the time to get to work.
“It’s unprovoked, none of it makes sense.”
“What the fuck would someone take Audrina for? It’s to do with the club, it has to be, or... or her ex-husband." Heat sears my vision as I imagine John up to something just to get back at her. But this? Is he truly capable of this? I need to talk to Nevada. “Maybe he had somethin’ to do with it?”
“Everyone’s here, let’s go,” Priest says, rushing me inside.
When I get in there, all the women of the club are congregated, and I know this means we’re in lockdown. Fuck. Cash takes every precaution when it comes to the safety of the members.
“Where’s Bella and Jack?” I bark at Priest, frantic.
“They’re here, Dad, everyone’s here.”
Everyone except Audrina.
I bypass the ladies as they talk amongst themselves. Some are crying, and some are hugging one another and talking in low voices.
I get into the meeting room and walk straight up to Nevada. “Your dad have anythin’ to do with this?” I bark as he shoves me back.
“My dad?” he balks. “No fuckin’ way, he’s many things, but he’d never do anythin’ like this, step the fuck back!”
“You sure? He was pretty pissed the last time I spoke to him.”
“If I thought he was capable of doin’ somethin’ like this, I’d be around his place right now, choking him to death,” Nevada spits, annoyed by my accusation. I don’t care. John is clearly unstable and not to be trusted.
I glance toward Cash and Ryder, then Rock sticks his head in the door and says, “Prez? You gotta come see this.” Then his eyes flick to mine and he mouths, ‘Oh fuck.’
“See what?” I bark. “Is it the security footage?”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Nevada cusses. “Please tell me she’s alive, Rock.”
“She’s alive,” Rock says. “But... I gotta warn you, it’s confrontin’.”
He barely gets the words out before me and Nevada are moving toward him, Priest and Bronco on my tail, followed by Cash and Ryder. We hurry down toward the offices at the back of the clubhouse and I realize I’m shaking. I’m so fuckin’ angry that I know when I see this footage I’m gonna go ape shit. Halfway there, Bella intercepts me, little Tilbury in her arms.
“Thank fuck,” I say, taking Tilbury and kissing her on the head, in turn she licks me on the face. “Is she okay?”
Bella folds into my arms. “She’s fine. I’m so sorry, West, I really am.”
A lump forms in my throat. “You okay to watch her till this is over?”
“Of course.”
“I– I don’t know what any of this is about,” I say. “But I’m gonna find her, Bells.”
“I know you will.” She squeezes me on the arm.
I kiss Bella on the forehead. “Thank you.” I hand Tilbury back and charge forward after the boys.
Jett is sitting at the desk, his face grave as his eyes meet mine, then Nevada’s as Rock moves in next to him. “You sure you wanna—” Rock begins.
“Play the tape,” Nevada barks.
We watch as Audrina stands behind the counter talking to a man for a few moments — there’s no sound — then she turns and starts to run toward the back door, but the goon gains on her fast and knocks her to the ground.
He knocks my baby, the woman I’m going to marry, to the ground and lays on top of her. I watch aghast, unable to fathom what I’m seeing as Nevada tenses beside me.
“Oh, fuck.” Nevada stands. “Fuck, no, I can’t watch this.”
I hold onto his arm, dragging him back down. “Jesus Christ.”
“He doesn’t... touch her,” Jett says, careful with his words as he adds, “Not like that.”
I press my hands into prayer and hold them to my face, unable to breathe until I see the rest of the tape. Jett resumes the footage, and the man is on top of her, his back to the camera; in fact, he’s been careful to avoid the cameras, which makes me believe this was completely planned. Why Audrina? What is this about?
Nevada plants his hands on the desk in front, unable to look at the screen, but my eyes are glued to it. The fucker yanks her head up and drags her to her feet, his hand over her mouth as he places his arm around her neck in a chokehold and glides her across the floor like she’s a ragdoll. All the while she’s fighting.
My beautiful, sweet, kind, caring Peaches is fighting for her life, and nobody came. Nobody.
I feel a sickness wash over me that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
“What’s happenin’?” Nevada’s voice is broken, just how my soul feels.
I place a hand over his. “He’s taken her.” I don’t add that she passes out, folding into his arms as he scoops her up. He fuckin’ walks out the front door with her in his arms. “Who the fuck is that?”
Nevada wipes his eyes, and I feel the knot in my chest at his pain. I fuckin’ feel it. Audrina may be my woman, but she’s his mom.
“Who the fuck was that Jett, Rock?” Nevada barks, banging his fists down on the desk.
“We don’t know yet,” Jett says, looking grave. “He avoided all the cameras with ease, and when outside he had his face covered with a mask when they got into a van.”
“It’s the fuckin’ Cut City Boys, it has to be,” I say. “I researched them when I had a weird feelin’ about the men that attacked me havin’ matchin’ snake tattoos, remember?”
“Rock, Jett, Tag, look up everythin’ you have on the Cut City Boys,” Cash barks. “I wanna know who the fuck walked into the shelter and took Audrina within the hour, you got me?”
“On it,” Rock says, dodging into the office next to us.
“Gonna call a few of my guys,” Tag says.
Priest's hand is on my shoulder. “Dad, you okay?”
I shake my head. “No. I’ll be okay when this fucker’s head is mounted on my wall as a trophy.”
Nevada is still pacing. “What did my mom have to do with anythin’?” he jibber-jabbers. “I don’t fuckin’ understand. Hustler, is this to do with you? It has to do with you! Why else is my mom bein’ targeted?”
“I’ve racked my brain to think about anyone or anythin’ but I’ve come up blank,” I say. “I don’t fuckin’ know! Even in the joint, I wasn’t in there long enough to make enemies.”
“This has gotta have something to do with you or some vendetta against the club. No clue why Audrina is bein’ targeted,” Ryder puts in. “Need to think about the family dynamic, is there anyone that could be on the radar?”
Nevada meets my eyes. “No,” Nevada says. “My dad had nothin’ to do with it, I promise you, he may be many things, but he’d never hurt her.”
I don’t share his sentiments, but I keep quiet on that part, he’s upset enough. “Nothin’ from my side,” I say. “I don’t owe anybody shit, been doin’ my own thing for years, it makes no sense.”
“I’ll make a call to Rowan,” Ryder says. “Find out if he knows anythin’ new from the underworld.”
Rowan is the head of the Irish mafia, and if any powerplay has changed in the districts, he’ll know.
“What about Big Papa?” Priest says. Big Papa took off where the Devils, a rival and now extinguished MC, left off in the underworld. He does run drugs, guns, and organized fights, but was instrumental in helping the club stop human trafficking when the Italians were behind an elaborate smuggling set up a little while ago.
I turn to him. “You’re right, he’s the man who has the intel, if anyone is gonna know shit about gangs, he’s our man.”
“On it,” Bronco says. “I’ll find out what I can.”
“The pigs are all over the shop downtown,” Pipes puts in helpfully. “They haven’t unearthed anythin’ we don’t already know.”
“Her blood,” I whisper, more to myself because Nevada takes off, probably to go find Star or blow off steam, which I don’t blame him. “Her blood was on the floor, my sweet angel.”
Priest sits in the chair next to me, turning my shoulders so I face him. “And we’re gonna find her. We’re gonna find out what the fuck they want if it is these Cut City fuck faces, then we’ll find them and end them.”
I slowly raise my eyes to look at him. “They’re all dead.”
“I know that.”
“I mean it, I’m not lettin’ any one of those bastards go once we find ‘em.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Don’t have to let any of you know that we’re in lockdown,” Cash says. “Prospects will go run errands until we get back, but nobody is to leave this compound until we get back. Make sure all your ‘ol ladies know that, and any shit they need, you better get it now.”
Cash takes off. He’s just as livid as the rest of us, unease settled in his eyes that I don’t like. All I can think about is my doll, her face smashed against the floor as some perverted fuck lay across her. He could’ve raped her. He could’ve killed her. But he didn’t. If he’s got her, it’s for a reason. It’s some kind of payback, and I need to work out exactly what it is.
I hear a commotion at the door and then see Manny pulling Lace out of the room, her eyes transfixed on the screen where it paused, and Audrina can be seen in that asshole's arms.
“So it’s true?” she stammers, tears running down her face. “Someone has kidnapped Audrina?”
“ Chantilly, you can’t be in here,” Manny says gently. “We’re doin’ everythin’ we can to get her back, babe, you gotta trust we’re doing everything we can.”
“Why?” she goes on, clearly hysterical. “Why her?”
“We don’t know that yet,” I hear Bandit from another area of the room. “We’re workin’ on it, and we’re gonna find out everythin’ we can, okay?”
I had no idea everyone had joined us. All I can see and hear are my Audrina’s cries for help that went unheard. Now she’s fuck knows where.
Manny leads her away, her tears of agony resonating deep inside my chest. I swipe a hand over my face. I’ll shed tears when my baby is back in my arms and not a second before.
If these assholes wanted a war, they’ve fuckin’ got one.