Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
STEVIE
Walking Glory, the sun is shining and I feel good. Closing my eyes, tilting my face up to the sky, Glory stops to sniff a tree.
I am taking her for her hour long walk now as Logan is coming over tonight and we are having takeout and a movie night. My plans include having a hot shower, and shaving in all the right places, to be ready for him. I even went out and bought some sexy underwear.
Waving to the elderly couple who also live in my condo building as they walk together, her arm linked with his. I smile. It is sweet to see them out and about. I hope that when I am their age, I am still able to be independent, and enjoy my life.
Glory yaps, calling me to move, and I flick her ear.
“Stop being a grouch.” She yaps, talking back to me. “You are so.”
“No,” she whines.
It is crazy how with the noises she makes, it actually sounds like she is saying human words.
“Yes, you are.” She huffs, turning her head from me.
My phone dings with a text.
Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I unlock it to read the text from my aunt.
Aunty: Do you want Cale and I to come and collect Glory? You and Logan can have time together without her being a distraction.
I type out a reply.
Me: Thank you for the offer, but she loves him being here and he loves her. She doesn’t bother us, just sleeps on her bed, like a lazy bag of bones.
Aunty: Okay, let me know if you change your mind. Cale and I are going out to dinner, but we can collect her if you need us to. Have a great night, love you.
Me: Love you too. Have a good night. Give Uncle a hug from me.
It was easier to call him Uncle, and if I am being honest, it feels right. I spoke to Katie at work, and told her that both Cass and Cale feel more like parents than my aunt and her boyfriend.
It feels right in my heart to see them as my mom and dad. Mine were terrible at taking care of me, and they were more concerned about what they did in their own lives. Whereas, Cass and Cale are always there for me.
I pocket my phone, my heart feeling full and happy that I have my family and Logan, and by extension I have the Rugged Skulls. They made me feel so welcome at the BBQ, once we rejoined them of course, after Logan made me fully sated.
Glory stops at a dog water station, lapping at the water.
An uneasy feelings rolls through me, ruining my happy vibe. Just when I am looking around me, my phone dings with another text. Pulling my phone out, I frown seeing Valarie’s name.
Val: I know I don’t deserve your time but can you meet me? I want to talk.
There is a GPS pin attached.
Me: I have plans. We can meet another time.
Val: Please? I need to see you. It is about Logan and my crew.
The unease intensifies, and my curiosity wins out.
Me: Fine. Be there soon.
Tugging on Glory’s leash, I call her name.
“Come on, baby, I need to cut this short. I have to be somewhere.”
She whines, telling me she is not pleased that her walk and outdoor time are being cut short.
We get back to the condo, and I make sure that the room temp is cold enough for her, and she has plenty of water and some treats that I know will take her an hour or two to chew through.
Moving into my bedroom I strip from my walking clothes and dress in jeans that I roll up to my ankles, and an old ACDC T-shirt, with a plaid shirt over the top, slipping my feet into Converse.
Double checking on Glory, who is lounging on her bed, I leave, taking the elevator down to the underground parking.
Once in my car, I let out a breath, my stomach knotting as my anxiety builds. What does Val have to tell me about Logan and her crew? I can’t help but feel like she is leading me to heartache and more hurt.
But I need to know.
Looking at my phone, I have the urge to call Logan. I think I need to inform him of what is happening but he is busy finishing up some custom bikes today, and meeting with a new client.
I do not want to bother him while he has so much to do. Especially knowing I will get to see him later tonight. Maybe I can cook him some dinner— he does like steak and potatoes.
Starting my car, I jump when loud K-pop music starts to play. Damn it, Demon Hunters. The song is catchy and should only be listened to loudly. I turn the volume down and switch to a different album and then enter the address into the car’s GPS.
I see that I am forty minutes away from where she wants to meet, which seems odd to me. Why not just ask me to come to her house?
Fudge, I have a bad feeling about this.
“Call Logan,” I instruct my Bluetooth.
It rings four times before it goes to voicemail. I try again, and again it goes to voicemail.
“Shit. Okay, I can do this. I can fight if she hits me. Right?” I talk to myself.
I may not like fighting, but I will defend myself if attacked.
I try to calm my breathing while I drive, taking my time, changing lanes on the highway as I drive more out into the desert
If this was a murder mystery book, I know that people would be screaming at me to stop and turn around.
Or call a friend to come help me. Putting faith in a friend that has hurt me is not a good thing, but a piece of my heart, a far corner, is hoping that Val calling me here is her reaching out to build a bridge between us.
I frown when I arrive at an old building. Spying a faded and cracked sign saying it was once a garden center, and parking my car, I climb out, very aware of my surroundings. Looking around, I see one car which I knew belongs to Val, but she is not here.
“I am going to have to play the dumb chick who walks into an abandoned building knowing there is a serial killer out to get her.” I murmur to myself.
Keeping my phone in one hand and my keys in the other with one key poking out between my fingers for self-defense, I will go down fighting if needed.
Moving closer to the building, I push through the dirty glass door, which creaks, making me wince. I should turn back and tell her to stuff her information.
The blood is rushing through my ears as my fear and anxiety escalate.
“Val,” I whisper yell.
My heart is hammering in my chest so hard it hurts as I step further inside. To my surprise, the place is clean, and there is furniture, even empty food cartons on the coffee table and a freaking throw on the chair.
“What have I walked into?” Moving further in, I call for her again, “Val.”
A noise comes from behind me, making me jump and yelp. Spinning around, the hand with my keys in up, ready to strike.
I see a man leaning against the door frame, grinning at me.
“She said that you were stupid enough to believe her.” He speaks.
“W-who are you?” My voice shakes, my fear rising.
I quickly look around for a way out of here, but he smirks and I see two men step up behind me.
Well, fuck me with a flagpole.
“Who I am should not be your concern right now, sweetheart. Come with me.” I shake my head, backing up a few steps but the men behind me grip my biceps, making me wince in pain.
I am marched through the building, my heart trying to escape and make a run for it. My feet stumble, when I catch my foot on a rip in the flooring. I get yanked back, and I cry out from the painful grip.
“Where are you taking me?”
The man looks over his shoulder grinning, but it does not put me at ease; it is a smile that makes me want to be sick with fear.
“Don’t worry,” he says, voice low and almost amused. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
The hallway stretches ahead, the place looks lived in, with furniture and food containers around, but there is also an odd smell that lingers in the air that I cannot work out.
Every step feels like it echoes off the walls, announcing my panic to the whole building. I try to steady my breathing, but it keeps stuttering, tripping over itself the way my feet nearly did.
Oh my god, I am going to die here, I can feel it. Cass will be so disappointed in me for coming here with no help; she will be heartbroken when I die.
Sweat gathers on my brow, and my lips tremble, but I force the tears to not fall, not yet.
I glance at the doors we pass, wooden windowless, each one shut tight. No way out.
I am screwed.
“Please,” I manage, my voice cracking. “Just tell me what you want.”
The men holding me don’t slow. Don’t loosen their grip. But the man in front of us, he grins wider, and something in his eyes glint—something that makes my stomach twist.
“Want?” He winks “Oh, it’s not about what I want.”
He stops in front of a door, and he leans in and I pull back, not wanting to be this close to him.
“Are you ready for your big entrance, sweetheart?” He laughs. “Fuck, this is going to be good. It is time that Phoenix, hell, all of Arizona, belonged to the 749.” I frown at his words, not really sure what he means.
Who is on the other side of the door?
He grins at the two men behind me, who hum in agreement with him.
I try to break free, not willing to go down without a fight, but it is futile since they are stronger than me.
“Don’t bother, bitch,” one hisses in my ear, and I let out a whimper.
“Bring her in,” is called form the other side of the door.
Shaking my head I cry, pulling back and fighting, but they tighten their grips on me. The door is pushed open and I am forced into a room, which is bright, and I am hit with the smell of sweat and copper. Blood.
The first thing I see is another man, dressed in baggy jeans, a plaid shirt, with a sickly grin on his face. A gasp whooshes out of me when I see him holding a fucking gun pointed at Valarie’s head.
“VAL!” I cry her name.
Her head slightly shakes, tears roll down her cheeks, and then I notice she is staring straight ahead. Frowning, I turn my head to see what she is staring at.
My heart drops into the floor beneath me, and my hand goes to my mouth in shock at what I am seeing.
Logan is standing on the other side of the room with his brothers. A wall of leather and denim glare at Val’s crew. Guns raised. Blood splatters their clothes and skin.
They are a wall of anger and rage, but look in control, unlike Val’s crew, who look fidgety.
“Baby.” Logan’s voice is deep, I hear the anger mixed with worry in his tone. “Are you hurt?”
Shaking my head, my voice is stolen from me as tears roll down my cheeks. My heart feels like it cannot beat any faster in my chest, which is feeling tight.
“Good. Now that the people she’s hurt are standing in front of her, I’ll take it from here. Her days of causing damage end tonight— this bitch needs to die— don’t you think?” He laughs like it is an everyday conversation.
“No one needs to die; let the girl go and she will leave the state,” Racer speaks, his voice calm and controlled while I am anything but.
I focus on Logan and see regret and anger looking back at me.
“Oh, but she does. She is not needed anymore.” The room instantly stills, the temperature chills, Val sobs, and her cries break my heart.
She hurt me but I would never wish her dead.
A loud bang echoes around the room, making my ears ring.
Shouts of alarm mixed with loud gunfire have me shaking, covering my ears with my hands, as they ring. Then I am thrown to the floor, and I cry out as my back hits something hard behind me.
Curling up into a ball, my body shakes as each gunshot rings out around the room. I hear my name being called but I can’t focus on the voice. Everything is so loud.
My fear takes over, and my vision starts to get dark.
Pain I have never felt before slices through my thigh, and a scream rips from me. Waves of hot and cold rush over me, and my body shakes as I cower, while people scream and loud bangs keep going off.
I open my eyes, looking for him, but it is a bloodbath. People are on the floor, even though the pain is excruciating, I am glad that no one from the club is down.
Val is on the ground, blood seeping around her head like an evil halo, dead. Oh, God.
“No… no, no, no. Logan,” I call to him, my tears blurring everything. “LOGAN.” My voice is scratchy.
He runs to me, dropping to his knees. “Hey, I’ve got you, baby. I’m here. Pres, we need to fucking go; she has been shot. There is blood everywhere,” he bellows to his brothers, his voice shaky.
I cling to him, shaking, my fingers gripping his cut. “Logan, he killed her. He shot her.”
“I know, baby. I know.” He cups the back of my head, one hand pressing down on my wound, making me cry out. “Fuck, I’m sorry, baby, but I need to add pressure.” I nod, but say nothing.
The room goes deathly quiet. The only sound is of feet shuffling, and leather creaking, as men step closer to Logan and me.
“A prospect is on his way with a truck; we will take her to the hospital. This wound is too much for Bolt, or me,” Rogue instructs, while he wraps something around my thigh, right before unbearable pain hits me.
“Careful, brother.” Logan’s voice is deep and full of warning.
“Sorry, sweetheart, but I needed to add a tourniquet,” he instructs.
“Call Palmer. He needs to meet us at the hospital. He will want to know what happened to his cousin, and he needs to get our side of things,” I hear Racer explain. I know what he means.
They want me to lie, but I will not lie to Grady. We are close and he will have my back.
“Baby, we need to move you, okay? This is going to hurt, but we need to get you to a doctor.” I nod against him, and he scoops me up gently.
Even though he goes slow, the pain is excruciating. I cry out, and my fingers ache from how tightly I am holding onto him.
I feel someone take a hold of my lower legs, straighten out my injured thigh, and peeking up, I see Savage. His face is grim, and blood is splattered on his neck, and face.
“We got you, baby. No one stand alone.” His voice is soft.
His words resonate through me, as each of the men walk with us. I feel the sense of family, and safety with them.
“Do not look.” Logan’s voice is sharp when I turn my head to look at the room.
Val really is gone; I set eyes on her one last time before we leave the room. Bodies lie on the ground, blood covers the floor, both making my stomach churn.
I feel drained, and my body wants to sleep as I lie limply against Logan. Once placed in the back of a truck, we are off, and commands are called out, but I focus on Logan’s breathing. The sound of his heart beating calms me.
Their voices fade, as does the pain, and the darkness takes me under.