Rogue (Rogue Angels MC #1)

Chapter 5

5

Rogue

I called Council because we need to start planning what to tackle next. And maybe a little bit to explain my recent recklessness. Though I’ll avoid that for as long as I can.

I did what needed to be done helping the Devils.

All my execs know it. Even if they’re not saying as much. Blade is being especially quiet. He’s standing over by the window, drinking one of his green juice concoctions and casting me ominous sort of glances over the rim of his glass.

Today, there are no whiteboards covered with recon photos of our next target in the room, and the long, stainless-steel table that’s usually covered with files, folders and more photos is clear too.

Alice, our Sarge, is flipping through the file on Clive Krueger, the strip joint owner turned human trafficker whose warehouse full of abducted women we attacked last week. Our treasurer Creed is tapping his foot and looking at no one in particular. Judge, our Chaplain, has no trouble meeting my eyes as he stares at me from across the room.

We’re all old friends in here. All this titles stuff is something we didn’t bother with in the beginning, when Rogue Angels MC was just a group of likeminded friends working together to right injustices where we could. But that was back when there were only twelve of us. We’d get fed intel on who to go after from the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies that had exhausted their capabilities in a particular case and we’d get the job done.

But four years ago, what started as a man hunt for a high-ranking official who had a proclivity for child prostitutes, ended in us bringing down a nation-wide child trafficking ring. We got famous then.

We’d always been a club that welcomed anyone who had been wronged in some way, or lost a loved one, but after that our numbers swelled. To thirty members at last count and ten club girls who had nowhere else to go.

We started taking on bigger cases after that. Investigating from a distance, hiding behind computers and using fancy spy gadgets to track down our targets. Not going out into the streets as much as we once did. Until that’s all we’ve been doing lately.

But finally getting to kill the monster that hurt Angel broke something in me. It changed something. I’m not even sure what yet. But it was the reason why I had us attack that warehouse with virtually no pre-planning. And it’s the reason I want to do it over and over again now.

“So, the way I see it, we still have aways to go before this Clive Kruger guy and his sex trafficking operation is stopped for good,” I say. “Storming the warehouse and freeing all those women was just the start.”

Alice looks up from the file she’s reading and fixes me with her ice blue eyes. They go perfectly with her long platinum blonde hair, which she keeps braided like a Viking warrior woman. Her size and feminine appearance could and has fooled many into thinking she’s no threat. But of all my MC brothers and sisters, she’s the one I’d mess with last. Though that’s not the whole reason why she’s the perfect Sarge for the MC.

“The warehouse attack wasn’t a very good start on getting Clive,” she says. “We moved before we had all the intel?—”

“We succeeded in freeing those women though,” I interrupt. “That’s worth something.”

She gives me a bemused sort of look, complete with pursed lips.

“I’m not saying we didn’t do a good job,” she says.

“So, let’s finish the job,” I say. “He’s holding more women somewhere. That much is clear. There were only about thirty in that warehouse, and the intel told us he had many more than that. We have to strike now while he’s still picking himself up.”

Six years ago, everyone would say, “Hell, yeah!” to that and ride with me. Now they’re exchanging glances like there’s stuff they want to say, but are too chickenshit to do it.

Seeing those three Devil’s Nightmare MC guys fight to save the woman one of them loved was eye-opening for me too. They were there to fight to the death. I used to be that guy too. Not lately though. Not for a while.

“I’m all for saving those women, but the warehouse attack could’ve gone a lot differently,” Blade says, his deep bass voice reverberating in the silent room. “We got lucky when those security guys fled. Else we’d be mourning our dead right now.”

Judge clears his throat and I look at him expecting to hear more severe reprimands from him, but he doesn’t speak.

“And the LAPD isn’t very happy with us right now,” Alice says. “Isn’t that right?”

I shrug and nod, but don’t say anything. Truth is, I’m not currently in favor with my cousin Manny, the LAPD detective I called in to take care of the women we rescued and dispose of the men we killed. He’s mad that I didn’t give him any forewarning of the attack, and that I left the gate open. Most of the women were gone by the time they arrived and they’ve been trying to track them down ever since. I told all the execs this already. No need to go over it again.

“There’s nothing stopping us from going all the way with this thing now,” I say. “We track down Clive and make sure he drops all notions of ever owning brothels all over the city. In other words, we finish what we started.”

None of them look convinced.

“Come on,” I insist. “Six years ago, we’d have this thing wrapped up by now. What changed?”

Creed, Alice, and Blade exchange looks. Judge just keeps his eyes fixed on mine. He’s the most level-headed of us all and while he was peripherally involved in our original hunt for Ghost, he didn’t fully come to our side until a couple of years ago when an appeal on a ruling he made as a judge caused all his previous rulings to be overturned pending further investigation. This led to over fifty monsters he put away walking free and he couldn’t stay in the system that would allow that to happen anymore. He’s the most morally rigid person I’ve ever met. I count on him to be our compass because his never fails, even when all the rest of us lose our bearings.

“How can I put this…” Creed starts. “We’ve evolved, Rogue. We were reckless and wild in the beginning, because that’s what we needed to be then. But now, the scope of what we can get done is bigger. And we should be more careful and responsible.”

We’ve been careful and responsible for a while now. Only attacking when we were sure of success. Boring, in other words. Vanilla.

Not what Angel would’ve wanted for us. Avenging her is the whole reason this MC exists. And we’ve done it now. A thing that seemed impossible just two weeks ago. We can do other impossible things too.

“All the members handled themselves very well in the fight,” I say. “It wasn’t just that those security guys fled… we were effective. And ferocious.”

No one even tries to argue with me on that because we all know it’s the truth.

Alice closes the folder on Clive and his operation. “We need to know a whole lot more before we can move on him again. They know we’re after them now and there will be casualties next time. That’s the bottom line, Rogue.”

“OK, point taken,” I say. “The last thing I want is for anyone to get hurt. But that doesn’t mean I can’t go on my own see what the guy is up to.”

“I don’t want you to go running into danger either,” Alice says in an uncharacteristically whiny voice.

“You’re all welcome to join me,” I say. “It’ll be just like old times.”

I brace my hands against the table to stand, the bullet wound in my side protesting.

It’s not terribly painful anymore, but it’s not healed either. Which I kinda like. Because every time it aches, I’m reminded of the gorgeous doctor who stitched it up. Twice.

But then again, more or less everything kinda reminds me of her these last few days. From the sun beating down on my neck out in the lot, like it did the last time I saw her. Or the taste of coke, which she was drinking the first time I saw her. Also moonlight, which shone on the night I got shot and she fixed me up.

I don’t know the real reason why I can’t get her out of my mind. Maybe it’s her brilliant blue eyes, so pure and full of honesty, or her long, silky hair, or just the no-nonsense way she spoke to me when she told me I have to be more careful, sounding as though she actually cared. Most likely it’s just her rack and the legs for days.

It’s been a while since I’ve been with a woman. Longer still since I couldn’t stop thinking about one. That actually hasn’t happened since Angel. And it’s probably only happening because Angel isn’t occupying so much of my mind anymore now that she can finally rest in peace.

I’m halfway to the door before I realize Alice hasn’t replied and that they’re all just sitting there motionless, gawking at me.

“Is anyone coming?” I ask.

“Our time for being mavericks is done,” Blade says, sounding like one of those philosophy books he enjoys reading so much.

Then he just lapses back into the brooding silence that’s been his staple for years now. I’ve known Blade since sophomore year of high school when he first came to the Sacred Heart Academy where the rest of us went to school. He’s never been a light-hearted sort of dude, but his brooding and bad temper keep getting worse and worse every year lately. With all the good we’re doing, I figured he’d start to see the bright side more any day now.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, since no one’s in a hurry to speak again.

But before anyone can answer running footsteps in the hall turn into the War Room door slamming open.

“It’s Lotus,” Trinity says breathlessly. “She’s been attacked.”

I barely manage to ignore the sharp pain in my side as I turn too sharply to face her. “What? How bad?”

“I’m not sure,” Trinity says as she stands aside for me so I can go check for myself.

The others are right behind me as I reach the bar.

Minx is standing over Lotus, who is sitting at one of the tables. Blood is covering half her face and she’s shaking so hard the chair she’s sitting in is rattling against the floor. Other members are looking on with worried expressions on their faces. They part to let me through.

“What happened?” I ask Lotus.

“I was just going grocery shopping, we’re low on milk and stuff…” she says then pauses for a long shuddering breath that sounds like it’s hurting her. “They ran me off the road… pulled me out of the car… and just started kicking and punching me… there were four of them… dressed like the bad guys from some James Bond movie… all in black… with white earpieces…”

That sounds exactly like the guys we sent running only a week ago at that warehouse.

Lotus is one of our club girls, been with us for seven years, and I hate that this happened to her. The life she fled when she came to us for protection was exactly what she just described, but on pretty much a daily basis.

“Who was it?” I ask.

She shudders again and hands me a white calling card embossed with a golden logo of a hydra-type monster, but with cobra snake heads, and the words Hydra Unlimited printed across it. The calling card is soaked in Lotus’ blood.

“They said to tell you that you messed with the wrong people this time,” she says in a shaky voice. “That this was just a warning. Back off or people will die.”

The word sticks in her throat and she starts shaking worse.

I scoff. “Some threat, coming from men who go at an unarmed woman four to one.”

I’m expecting at least some outraged agreement from the others gathered around us, but all I see are stony faces painted with different shades of fear.

“We should never have helped the Devils,” Tito pipes up from somewhere behind my back. “Now they’ve fucked off going back home and these guys are hunting us. Hunting our women.”

If he has a point beyond stating this, he fails to make it. But more than a few around us grumble in what could be taken as agreement.

I glance at Blade. He’s got a very clear, I told you so , look painted across his face.

“How bad are you hurt?” I ask Lotus, ignoring both Tito and Blade completely.

“I think my wrist might be broken,” she says. “Maybe a couple of ribs too.”

I hand the Hydra calling card to Alice. “Have Skye dig up what she can on these people. And make sure everyone’s in or accounted for. No one leaves the clubhouse alone until we know more about this threat.”

She takes the card and nods.

“I’m taking Lotus to the ER,” I add.

“No, you don’t have to, I’ll be fine,” she says. “I just need to lie down?—”

I grin at her and shake my head. “Nonsense. You need x-rays and shit. Maybe a couple of stitches.”

And I need to make sure she gets taken care of.

I take her arm to help her stand. The pain in my side is bearable again. Welcome, even.

Tito’s not entirely wrong in his accusations. My hasty decisions definitely led to Lotus being hurt. Not that I expected anyone to go after one of my club girls.

Lotus is leaning on me heavily and limping as I lead her out of the clubhouse and into the dusky, velvety orange light of sunset.

About the only bright thing about this day is that I might just run into Dr. Melody at the ER. She told me she was starting a new job there this week. But that was before she left my clubhouse with a very frosty goodbye. So, I’m not sure how happy she’ll be to see me.

But I sure am looking forward to seeing her.