40. Shane
40
SHANE
H eckler was calling when we arrived to the place Stripes told us about. The place looked abandoned, like he said, so he had to kick in the door a few times before it finally opened.
“Oh, man. Are you serious?” Roadie was griping, waving his hand in the air before him as he walked inside. “This place is covered in dust and probably rat shit. I got allergies.”
“Cry me a river,” Stripes sent right back.
My phone was still ringing so I answered, starting to walk right back on the gravel driveway we just came down. “Give me some good news.”
He laughed. “I’ll do that, no problem. Prez is going to pull through, and we have him locked up tight. He is hidden and no way anyone can find him.”
I stopped because what. Did. That. Mean? I was scared to hope. “You shitting me?”
“I would never shit you. We are heading your way, or I should clarify that we are heading to stop that second van. Thinking we can cross paths with them in Albuquerque. You think you can meet us?”
“I’m thinking you’re going to get there way sooner than we can.”
“You got the other van?”
“We got the other van.”
He let out an amused grunt. “That is fan-fucking-tastic.”
I looked back. The warehouse was lit up so there was electricity. The guys were starting to bring Estrada’s men inside. And as I watched, I saw Tracey start to grab one of the guys and after a second’s hesitation, Claudia took the other end of him. Together, they carried the man inside. He dipped low to the ground, but Tracey was a strong woman. She was holding her own. Claudia struggled, but out of sheer spite, she held up the guy's arms and head. It was almost comical to watch.
Corvette moved in and relieved Claudia before she did head damage to the guy.
Once they were inside, I asked in a low tone, “You know anything about this Tracey?”
“That’s Granddad’s niece? The one they grabbed?”
“The very one.”
“Not really, but she’s not really in the community anymore. I thought she wifed up with someone? Out in West Virginia? Doing hair, right?”
“Could you ask around, see if you hear anything about her.”
“Sure, but what’s the reason? What are you looking for?”
“I don’t know, just a wonder right now. Boise said Estrada’s guys were treating her differently. And she wasn’t too tore up when we found her. Makes me wonder. She helped bring in one of the guys just now too.”
“Yeah, yeah. Consider it done. I’ll call the computer guys, have them do a search.”
“Good. That’s a good call.”
“See you, Boss. Call me when you got things figured out where you are.”
“Will do.”
I was heading inside when Tracey stepped out, and she did it in a way like she’d decided this was her time to talk to me. There was a purpose to her step, and she stood in the middle of the door. Her head lifted. Her eyes met mine, and she asked, “Thinking we could have a talk before you lay into those guys back there?”
Well, then.
I stepped back and to the side. “After you.”
Her head went back down, but everything about her was reading she knew exactly what she was doing. Her shoulders were set. Her gait was strong, stable. She led the way, taking us to the far end of the parking area, and then farther down a walking path, past a few trees.
She noted where the road was, and the driveway, seeing we were hidden if anyone came out looking for us.
I sent a text to Boise.
Me: Be a minute.
Boise: You want me to start questioning? One of them is waking up.
Me: Have at it.
She had settled back on her heel, watching me text.
I gave her a nod. “I’m all yours.”
She opened her mouth, but a blood-curdling scream filled the air.
Boise must’ve decided to start with the hard questions first.
“I’ve noticed that I’ve not been offered a phone.”
“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you first.”
Her head moved up and down, chewing on that. “Right. Well, I’d like a phone. I’m sure you’ve talked to Granddad, told him I’m good, but I’ve got a man that’d take it a certain way that I’ve not notified him as quick as I could’ve.”
“About your man, he someone I should know about? My man was set on you guys for a bit before we pulled up. He watched while he was waiting for us, and he told us that you were getting different treatment from Estrada’s men. I’m wondering if you’d be open to sharing with me the reason for that treatment. That being said, I’ll share that I’ve been told they treated you differently. I’m assuming it was better considering how Claudia lit into them and you didn’t.”
“Right.” She was back to chewing on that information, looking like she was literally chewing the inside of her cheek. “So, I’m not a part of this fight, but since they took me, thinking I was one of your women, I’m thinking this changes things a bit. Having said that, you need to know that my man works for someone who works with Estrada. They found out, and freaked. It’s why they were trying to call Estrada, or I’m assuming, because I educated them as soon as I learned who they were.”
Well. Fuck.
Things made more sense now.
“You’re from West Virginia. In my books, that ain’t considered east. The people who Estrada has aligned with are known to be in the east.” I gave her a once-over. “And Russian. Assuming you’re not from where he lives in Mexico or those guys might not have mistaken your identity.”
Her lips parted, half in a grin, half in a grimace. “Look, I come from biking stock. Grew up with my dad riding for his club. My loyalty is strong with you, but I’m in a situation where I don’t feel fully prepared to share the name of my man or how it is that he’s partially in employment with Estrada’s ally. Also, saying all that considering the very abrupt turn of events because up until a few days ago, the belief was set that the Red Demons motorcycle club was the reason Estrada was so powerful in the States. It gets out that he doesn’t have you anymore, and well, I’m just giving a subtle hint that could affect other relationships he’s got but I still don’t feel comfortable giving you my man’s name. Tip my hand too much and I’m not real sure if I’m in enemy territory or with friends of my family. I can say that I don’t mean you any harm and you letting me call my man would go a long way with some people.”
Now my lips parted because she was asking for a show of faith without giving me much.
Goddamn it all again because I already knew what I was going to do, and seriously hoping this wouldn’t kick me in the ass later on. I gave a nod. “Okay. I’ll dispatch a guy to take you back and give you a phone. We’ll get you where you need to go.”
“I appreciate it. A ride to the nearest town and hotel, and a phone for a call will be all I need. I’ll be good after that.”
“Nearest town? Not to see your uncle?”
“I was planning on checking in with him via the phone, but guess I could ask you. He’s okay?”
“He’s okay. He’s in Frisco at one of our places.”
“Good. Keep him safe, but the nearest town and a call to my man is all I need.”
We were heading back as we heard the engines first, then the headlights started showing. A line of motorcycles was coming around the corner.
Crow and the rest of his charter had arrived.
But the first to me was Machete. He parked, almost catapulted himself off his bike, and he was marching right to me.
“Now, Machete–”
Punch !
A right hook landed on my face. I went with the punch, but threw my hands up because Machete was my brother and I understood his anger. “I’m sorry–”
“Goddamn you, Ghost.” He threw another punch, hissing as he did.
I dodged that one, and evaded yet another as he tried to get me with an upper cut.
“Stop!” I stood my ground, because I was the boss now. Whether he was weighing that into his anger or not. Vice Prez and I might’ve thrown down a few punches back his way, just to have some fun. I couldn’t, not this time, not with what we still had to get to. “I had to make sure they were alive to question. That’s why.”
“Goddamn you, Ghost!” He stopped swinging, but he was still riled up. He had wild eyes and he was looking around. “Where is she?”
“Machete!” came from inside.
“Claude!” he yelled right back, moving toward her, but slower and grimacing. He was pressing a hand up to his bandaged shoulder.
Stupid fucker. Throwing punches when he just took a bullet there?
Stupid fucker that was my brother, that’s who he was. I loved the guy. I’d do worse, I knew that much.
“She’s fine. She was more worked up. They told her they killed Kali.”
He threw me one last look, and not a happy one, before Claudia cleared the doorway. She sprinted for him, tears rolling down her face. She launched herself, her legs wrapping around his waist. He caught her, bullet hole be damned, and he carried her off to the woods.
They’d need a minute.
Tracey had been watching, and she cast me a grin. “Some days I really really miss this life. Feels damn good to be back, even if it was for a minute.”
I gave her a half grin back, still hoping I wasn’t going to regret letting her walk. “Even being taken hostage?”
She grunted. “Hell. That was the fun part.”