Jake (Demented Souls #16)

31

I t took Jake a few minutes to track down Lurch, who was at the house he shared with Kerry, in the office. Kerry let him in and told Jake that Lurch was in his office, pointed him in the right direction then went back to whatever she was doing. Jake stood in the doorway, watching as the older man scowled at something on a laptop screen to one side of the desktop, then down at the page in front of him, going back and forth a couple of times. Jake knocked on the open door and waited.

“What do you need?” Lurch asked with out glancing his way.

“You got a couple of minutes?” Jake didn’t know if it was his words or his tone, but Lurch stared at him for a second then motioned to one of the chairs across the desk from where he sat.

“Have a seat.”

Jake turned and looked toward where Kerry had gone in the kitchen and wondered how much she knew about the club. Better to be safe than sorry. He closed the door then went to the chair Lurch had indicated and sat.

“What’s going on?” He glanced toward the closed door then back to Jake.

“First, are you aware that one of the Kings of Destruction is on the ranch?”

“I am. I checked the camera when I got the alert he’d come through the gate. I saw Iceman and figured he was here to see your girl. Since he’s her family, I decided there was no need to intervene.”

Jake nodded and took a deep breath, held it a moment, then let it out, trying to push out his irritation that no one had challenged Iceman before he’d gotten to Lynnie with it. He hadn’t made it on the ranch undetected. Hopefully, no one else would either.

“I got a call from Hex. We’ve got a problem.” He’d already told the chapter president, and ranch foreman, about the problem Heather had left behind in Alabama when he’d gotten permission for her to come and stay. Now he just had to give him the latest information.

“Tell me.” Lurch leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest while he listened.

“I need to come clean about something first,” Jake said.

Lurch scowled.

“It’s not something that impacts any of us, or even the Souls directly, so I didn’t see a need to share it before. But in trying to find out about what was going on with Heather, I already told you I called Hex. He’s an old buddy from my time in the Army. LI need to fill you in on what I’ve found out.”

Lurch nodded. Jake had told him this much already.

“In looking into the club Hex is part of, the Savage Warriors, I discovered they’re not what they appear to be.”

Jake shifted in his seat as Lurch didn’t say anything but continued to watch him.

“I guess I never thought about it, because it surprised me to discover they’re like we are.”

Lurch’s brows shot up, but he didn’t say anything.

“Gizmo told me first, then I checked with my contact at my department, and they confirmed.” Jake knew he didn’t have to tell the president who he was under. They all knew they were with someone but rarely knew exactly which one. Usually the tech sergeant of the club had info on them all, that had been Gizmo, but that was in Tucson. It looked like he was becoming that person here. It wasn’t a position he’d particularly wanted, but he seemed to be the best fit, so far. He’d have to have that discussion with Lurch at some point, but not now. This was more important now. “The Warriors are like the Souls. I didn’t say anything before because the fewer people who know, the better. Maintaining cover, you know how it goes.”

Lurch nodded, then waved one hand in a rolling motion, indicating for Jake to get on with it.

“Anyway, Hex called me this morning. The Sons have put out a reward for Heather.”

“Reward?” Lurch leaned forward, placing both elbows on his desk.

“Reward, a hundred thousand dollars for her to be returned to them, with ‘no permanent physical harm’.” Those last four words made Jake sick to his stomach, but he knew Lurch needed to know. He didn’t know if he could tell Lynnie what they meant, but Lurch wouldn’t have to be told. He would get the implications.

“Fuck.” Lurch let his head drop forward. “You’re right. We have a problem. There is no way we can let them, or anyone looking to collect that reward, get their hands on her. She’s sweet and from what I’ve seen, pretty tough and resilient, but I don’t know if she could come back from that. Does she know?”

“Some of it. I told her about the reward, but not how much or the conditions.”

Lurch tilted his head from side to side, as if considering something. “You might want to reconsider telling her; if she gets stubborn about maintaining her freedom. And I know from experience women can get touchy about their freedom, not that I blame them, because some men are always looking for ways to control them.” He held up one hand before Jake could say anything. “I know that’s not what you’re doing and I’m sure she will too, but sometimes, fighting any restriction is so instinctual, they don’t stop to think about the why or anything else.”

Jake nodded. “Right now, she’s agreed not to leave the ranch alone. I don’t want to tell her she can’t be alone ever, because that would make us all crazy in no time, but I’d like to set things up, so people check on her regularly. The next couple of days should be easy though, since Iceman said he’d be around to help out. He’ll spend most of his time with her.”

“Does he know about the reward?”

“He does. That’s why he’s here. He wanted to make sure we knew, and needed to make sure she’s safe.” While he might have a few issues with the man, his need to make sure Lynnie was safe wasn’t one of them, though his trying to run Jake off could have become one.

“He going to stay in the trailer with her?”

Jake pulled a face. “Probably not. Honestly? I don’t think I want him to, even if she wants it. I offered him my bunk, if he wants it. Or we could find him an extra tent. He said he wasn’t sure what he would do yet, said he may just bunk in the bed of his truck, as long as the weather’s clear.”

“Whatever. We’ll figure it out. There’s plenty of food and another set of eyes while we get things figured out wouldn’t be amiss.” He leaned back in his chair again, watching Jake for a few seconds. “Anything else?”

“I think that’s it, at least for now. I’ll keep you updated on anything I hear from Hex. Or anything else I find out about the Sons. We should look into some kind of surveillance or alarm on the gate to let us know when someone comes in. If only to give us a head’s up.”

“Sounds good. And I’ll see what we can do about the gate.” He turned his attention back to the computer screen. Jake left, heading back to see Lynnie and see what she and Iceman were up to.

He found them seated at one of the picnic tables, drinks in hand as they chatted. Jake had been a little frustrated when he’d found the trailer empty, but knowing she would likely be with Iceman, he hadn’t worried. Much.

After going through the bunkhouse, to make sure they weren’t inside, he spotted them when he’d stepped out the front. Relieved, he’d grabbed a drink from the cooler, checking in with the brothers working on lunch to make sure they didn’t need any help, then went to join his girl.

When had he started thinking of her as his girl? He shook his head as he realized it had been before she’d even gotten to the ranch. He briefly wondered how she’d take it if he called her that out loud, then decided to find out.

He went to where they sat on opposite sides of a table, stepped over the bench, and settled in beside Lynnie. He threw his arm over her shoulders, leaned over, and kissed her cheek.

“What are we up to?” he asked as he sat.

“Not much. We were trying to decide what to do this afternoon.” Lynnie dropped her head on his shoulder as she spoke.

Jake liked that she didn’t change the way she acted or touched him in front of her cousin.

Lunch was called and they all got up to get plates before returning to their table and dug in. As they ate he contemplated what they could do. Then an idea struck him.

“How about we borrow some of the bikes from the ranch and go out riding?”

“Riding?” Lynnie asked, her nose crinkled as if she wasn’t sure of the idea.

“Yeah, but not like the ride yesterday. These are dirt bikes, and you’ll get your own bike or if you’re not comfortable on your own on only two wheels we can get you a four-wheeler. It’s fun, but a different kind of fun than the kind of ride you’ve been on recently.”

“Oh! That kind of bike. I’d prefer a four-wheeler, but I’m in.”

“Let me go let someone know what we’re doing. I’ll meet you in that barn,” he pointed to the barn where they kept the bikes and equipment, “in about five minutes. If you brought your helmet, you might want to grab it, but we’ve got extras, if not,” he said to Iceman before dropping a kiss on top of Lynnie’s head, standing hand leaving the table.