Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Ace
I can tell the moment something shifts between the two of us. Liz is cuddled into my side and we’re lying on my bed. I have to get up and get my shit around soon and I don’t want to. For the first time ever, I want to tell Kayne to shove this ride up his ass and stay in bed with my woman. Knowing I can’t, I grunt before rolling out of bed.
Liz is sound asleep and doesn’t stir. I wore her out over the last twenty-four hours and a sense of pride swells inside my chest. I silently fill my go-bag with a couple of changes of clothes, guns and ammunition before zipping it shut. I pad into the bathroom, take a piss and wash my face and hands. I stare into the mirror and the man staring back at me isn’t full of vengeance or pain. From the scars on my knuckles and across my body to the memories deeply rooted in my mind, I can push all of those back and focus on the future and what that will look like with Liz in it.
Shaking my head, I hang up the hand towel. I don’t have time for sappy shit right now. I didn’t snap a man’s neck yesterday and undo everything I’ve done because of a woman. Right now, I need to be the cold-hearted asshole everyone knows. It’s the only way to make it through this meeting without having Liz near me.
Fuck.
I can’t go ten minutes without thinking about her. What has she done to me?
I open the bathroom door and quietly exit my bedroom. Leaving Liz in there sleeping without having a goodbye. If I woke her, I wouldn’t have left. This is the best way to handle this situation. I hope she understands that when she wakes up. If she doesn’t, then she’ll be free to leave, but I will drag her back here kicking and screaming.
Blayze, Stryker, Talon, Kayne along with Poison and the prospect Stone are sitting on their bikes waiting for me. There is no sign of Holly or Siren but I don’t question it, maybe they thought the same thing I did. I throw my bag in the saddlebag, toss on my helmet and gloves and wrap my Savage Saints bandana around my head to keep the chilly wind off my face for a while. The sun is just peaking over the horizon and while it’s summertime, it’s still cold in the mornings in Michigan.
Kayne twirls his right pointer finger in the air and that’s our cue to roll out. We all fire up our bikes, the vibrations rumble under my feet and take off down the driveway. I glance in my side mirror and see Liz standing at my bedroom window, watching me. There’s a haunted look on her face but my focus has to be on what’s coming up and not what’s behind me. Until the thing coming up is put behind me and then I can focus on what’s in front of me, which is Liz.
Several hours and a few pit stops later, we reach our destination in East Bumfuck, PA. Night has fallen while we ride up the steep mountain leading us to a set of rolling gates. Once we reach the top, the gates open welcoming us inside The Krymson Destroyers compound. Tank and Cobra bitched about us being in the middle of the woods with creepy crawlers at our Clubhouse but this place takes the cake. My ears pop from the steep incline and my head is swimming from the elevation change. I pop my kickstand down and turn off my bike. Looking at my brothers, they’re all battling the elevation change too. I shake my head and remove my brain bucket, hanging it on the handlebars of my bike.
Chainz, the Krymson Destroyers President comes outside with a few guys we haven’t met yet on his heels. Music is coming from inside the Clubhouse and He saunters down the porch, heading right for Kayne and Poison. Blayde and Stone quickly dismount their bikes and cut Chainz off before he can reach Kayne. “Easy brothers, we’re friends, not enemies.” Chainz holds his hands up, offering peace.
“Blayde, Stone, it’s good. Chainz isn’t stupid, are ya?” Kayne asks, lighting up a cigarette and blowing out the smoke like he doesn’t have a care in the world, but his stiff body language says otherwise.
“Fuck off Kayne,” Chainz replies with a grin. Kayne gives him one back and dismounts his bike after Poison climbs off. “Welcome to Krymson Destroyers Clubhouse. We have booze, women and music available to you.” Chainz spreads his arms wide, proud of the place he’s built from scratch.
“Thanks, brother.” Kayne shakes Chainz’s hand and together they head inside with Poison tucked under Kayne’s arm.
Blayde and Siren follow suit with the rest of us bringing up the rear. Jealousy hits me when I look at the two couples walking off together and it makes me long for a fiery redhead I left at home, thoroughly satisfied. Once we enter the Clubhouse, I look around for Tank and Cobra but don’t spot them anywhere.
Turning to one of the men who came outside with Chainz, I shout over the loud music, “Where’s Tank and Cobra?”
“I’m not sure but if anyone knows where they are,” Freedom trails off, pointing to a woman at the bar talking animatedly at Chainz. “She’d know.”
I cock an eyebrow and wait for an explanation but one doesn’t come. I turn my attention back to the scene at the bar. The nosy chick crosses her arms over her chest, releases a loud huff and turns her back on Chainz. He shakes his head when his eyes land on a beautiful woman with dark hair. She rests her palms on his chest, calming him down.
I step closer to the scene in case I need to help out Stryker. Chainz relaxes from the woman’s touch, then nods his head. The music is cut off and silence descends onto the Clubhouse. “Kayne, Blayde, I know you had a long ride to get here and want to relax, but a few of my men are in trouble. I need to hold Church and want you there. Will your Ol’ Ladies be ok out here with Raven, my Ol’ Lady?”
Poison steps forward pointing at her cut. “I’m not sure how you do shit around here, Prez, but this patch states I’m a full member. Where my brothers go, I go.”
Chainz cocks an eyebrow but nods his head. “Fine. Is she a patched member too?” He asks pointing at Siren.
“No, she’s my Ol’ Lady,” Blayde speaks up. “She’ll stay out here with Raven.” Siren nods her head and Raven leads her to a table occupied by a couple more women.
“Let’s get down to business.” Chainz leads us down a long hallway and into their Chapel. Once the door is shut and Chainz takes his seat at the head of the table, he brings down his gavel. “Tank received some intel earlier about Dia that was meant to take both of them out. Luckily, Elle overheard this information and relayed it to me. Cobra, Fuel, Hound and Reaper found him on time but our Prospect Denny suffered a serious blow to the head and now Dia is missing. They’re towing her car back here to the Clubhouse and we need to have a game plan to get Dia back. Her husband is a worthless piece of shit that will hurt her if given the chance. We can’t let that happen.”
“What do you want us to do?” Kayne asks.
“We need to dig up anything and everything on Ben Cross and Cross Shipping. An informant told us about Steam and Savage Saints MC. Steam was deeply involved in the Black Market Railroad and used our ports along with theirs to move kidnapped and abducted women and children. Kayne, Blayde, Rooster and I will work on the documents Hound found. Freedom, Taz, Crusher and Poison will work on looking through all the security footage of the possible abduction. The rest of you, check our stockpile of weapons, make sure they’re good to go and pull whatever contact you have to bring this fucker down.” Chainz slams his gavel on the table, ending the meeting and we all get to work.
After a little while Rooster speaks up from his laptop. “I’ve found something.” He rises from his seat, blinking a couple of times before heading to the maps strewn across the table. He looks them over before grabbing one that has blood splatter on it and laying it over another. “They’re here.” He points to a warehouse in the business district just outside the city.
“Are you sure?” Chainz asks.
“Positive, Prez. I’m the best in the business.” Rooster answers cockily.
The church doors burst open and Tank comes barging in with four other men I don’t recognize. My defenses rise, itching to hit someone.
Tank blinks rapidly at the frenzy of activity. “Tell me you found something.”
“We think we found her.” Chainz taps his finger on the bloody map. Tank leans in to look. He’s pointing to a warehouse in the business district on the outskirts of the city.
“How do you know?” Tank cocks his eyes at him suspiciously.
“I tracked the van’s movement with street cameras,” Rooster speaks up. “It was last picked up making a right turn at this intersection.” Rooster points to the map on the table.
Chainz picks up the map our prisoner Lucas used to circle the locations of the Black Market railroads used to move girls. Drops of his blood stain the page, but it’s clear enough. Chainz lays Lucas’s map over top of the bigger map.
“Fuck.” Tank growls, seeing what Chainz is showing him. “If this is true, my father didn’t take her. Ben did. We need to move up the attack,” Tank growls.
“We can’t go in there halfcocked. We send someone ahead to scope it out first.” Kayne cuts a sideways glare in Tank’s direction.
Tank’s fists clench at his sides and he’s having a tough time holding in his rage right now. “Fuck that. I can’t sit around for twenty-four hours knowing she’s in danger. I’ll go alone if I have to.”
“You’re a loose cannon right now, Tank. We send Cobra to run reconnaissance.” Chainz orders.
“I agree. Stryker will go with him.” Kayne looks at Stryker who’s nodding in agreement.
“Fuck no. If anyone is going, it’s me.” Tank growls
“Tank, you’re my right hand but you’re sitting this one out.” Chainz is not giving him an inch. “Cobra and Stryker take the lead. Recon both locations. The rest of us head out at midnight.”
I leave Church after all the weapons are locked and loaded and find a quiet spot outside. There’s a nip in the mountain air that feels good against my heated skin. I pull my phone out of my cut and send a text to Liz. I know it’s late but I really need to talk to her. It’s been a hot minute since we left and I haven’t had a chance to let her know we made it.
Me: Are you up?
Liz: Yes. I’m at work but can take a break.
I check the time. It’s eleven pm and she should be getting off her shift soon. My phone rings and Liz’s name flashes across the screen. I slide the green button and answer.
“Hey,” I pause waiting for Liz to respond.
“Hey yourself. How’s it going?” Her soft sultry voice has me wanting to keep her on the phone until I can see her.
“It’s going as good as it can be. How’s work?”
“Eh.” Liz pauses, “My boss didn’t show up at all tonight so that’s a plus. Except there is this asshole biker sitting at the bar, bitching about everything.” Liz holds in a giggle.
I laugh knowing who she’s talking about. “If Tex gets out of line, grab him by his bolo-tie and tell him you’ll fuck his mother if he doesn’t stop.”
Liz snorts, “What are you talking about?”
“It’s a running joke with Tex. He gets super sensitive when you joke about his mom. It’s how we get him to quit bitching all the time. Try it. I’ll bet he shuts right up.”
“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”
A comfortable silence surrounds us as I listen to Liz’s breathing on the other line. “Do you miss me yet?” I ask teasing her.
“Maybe. I do know my lady bits are glad to have a break.” Liz giggles again when I release a low growl.
“Woman, I’ll make your lady bits scream when I get back home.”
“Promises, promises.”
“A promise I plan on keeping, Little One.”
Liz’s breath catches in her throat. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Ace. I’ve already lost too much on broken promises.” A loud crash comes through the phone with a woman bitching and grumbling. “Shit, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Liz hangs up before I can respond, leaving me staring out into the darkness of the night, wondering what that was all about. Who promised her something and broke it? I have the urge to wrap my fingers around their necks and squeeze the life out of them for hurting my woman, whether it was intentional or not.
Midnight comes and we are rolling through the city. It’s quiet except for the rumble of our Harleys. What Liz said on the phone has been playing on repeat in my head and I’m crawling out of my skin wanting to seek vengeance on her behalf. Chainz and Kayne take the lead, followed by me, Tank and Hound as we take a sharp left to Cobra’s location. Rooster, Blayde, Fuel, Crusher and Freedom continue toward Stryker’s’ location. A van with a prospect driving follows each of our groups. Once the two of them had done their reconnaissance, they called back to have us meet in smaller groups at each location. It’s been a pain in the ass to rein Tank in, but I can’t say I blame him either. I’d move hell or high water if Liz was in danger.
We stop around a half mile from our target location. We’ll go on foot from here and have the element of surprise on our side.
“Stay close to the buildings.” Chainz orders. “Kayne, Poison, Ace and Tank through the front. Hound and I will disable their wheels and then Hound will cover the back and I’ll meet you inside. Remember there are innocents in there.” Chainz reminds us of the plan.
“My woman’s in there, watch where you shoot.” Tank growls.
“We get her out and then we find Ben. Everyone clear?” We all nod and draw our weapons. Tank is antsy as we approach the doors. Cobra stops us with his hand up and checks his watch.
Once Cobra lowers his third finger, all hell breaks loose. We enter the building and bullets drop the unsuspecting guards. We enter another room and Tank loses his shit when he sees that his woman is trapped in a fucking cage. He aims his gun at the lock, ready to pull the trigger when Chainz stops him. I don’t hear what words are exchanged but soon after, the cage door is open and Tank is inside kissing Dia. I turn away, letting them have their moment.
“I got this.” I turn back around when Poison steps around Tank. I’m on alert, ready to fuck someone up if Poison gets hurt. Kayne feels the same way, he is standing right beside Poison with his hand on her back, guiding her to the three other women trapped.
Once they coax the women out and have them moved to safety, Kayne and Cobra go after the other men who ran away. I stay with Poison and watch her back as we take the women to the Clubhouse. Once they’re inside and settled, Kayne, Chainz and a pissed-off Tank come in. Hushed words are exchanged before Kayne commands our attention.
“It’s late, brothers. We’ll rest our heads tonight and take off first thing in the morning.” Relief fills me. I’m itching to go home and see Liz.
I make my way to the room Chainz has for me and lie down. I don’t bother to strip out of my clothes as I flop onto the bed. My body is beyond exhausted but my brain won’t shut the fuck up. My phone buzzes in my pocket and it takes a lot of effort on my end to pull it out. It’s from an unknown number. I read the text and my heart sinks to my toes.
There in full color is a picture of Liz in her tight little shorts and tank top tending the bar with a caption.
IS SHE WORTH THE PAIN I’M GOING TO brING YOU FOR KILLING MY brOTHER?
Well, fuck.