Chapter 9
Xander would never admit to anyone, but tonight was a mindfuck.
Getting caught by the Krypt was not an experience he wanted to repeat. If they hadn’t escaped, they would have been done for. This rival crew would’ve tortured them for information. After all, that’s what the Hellraisers did.
And watching Jesse take charge like that? Not to mention, Val, quiet but holding on, despite the mess they were in. It made his heart race with the kind of adrenaline that made his blood run hot. And thank fuck, too, because it was freezing as fuck out here in the dark.
He pulled out his phone again but still, no signal. And they’d been walking for almost an hour. Surely they were far enough away by now? And near the back road that Jesse was aiming for.
“How much longer do you think until we reach a road?”
Jesse didn’t pause, his stride strong and sure. Xander’s eyes locked on his ass and fuck, this was not the time to be thinking with his dick. Bad enough that Val was walking beside him, and he could feel her arm brush against his.
“At least another hour.”
It was gonna be a long fucking night. They continued for another twenty minutes, Val now walking alongside Jesse. Xander focused on the man and woman in front of him, admiring the way the two moved. So sure and strong, despite what had happened tonight. Val especially. It was a wonder she wasn’t hysterical by now.
Suddenly, a sharp elbow hit him in the ribs.
“Ow.”
“Pay attention,” Sage whispered and rolled her eyes at him.
“I am.”
She shook her head and glanced at Jesse and then Val. The woman was far too observant for her own good. “That’s playing with fire.”
“Fire would be welcome right about now,” Xander hissed. “I think my nipples are frozen and about to fall off. My balls, too.”
Jesse let out a laugh and then shook his head. “Quiet.”
“Just trying to lighten the mood. Bad enough we’re stuck out here in the woods with god knows what animals, going who the fuck knows where.”
“I know where,” Jesse hissed. “Now shut up and move your ass.”
Jesse picked up the pace and Xander did as he was ordered. He wasn’t one for letting someone else take charge, but in this case, in this scenario, he was happy to be in Jesse’s capable hands.
They walked in silence for another half hour until Jesse suddenly stopped and raised a finger to his lips. No one move an inch.
“You hear that?” Jesse asked.
Xander didn’t hear anything. Except maybe the faint echo of water. A river? A stream? He tried to picture the map of the area and remembered that the old road was parallel to a river.
“Water.”
“Exactly.” Jesse nodded. “We’re near the road. Fuck, yes.”
Xander pulled out his phone again and there was one single bar. “Cell service is on but it’s faint.”
They continued walking through the brush, the scene in front of them getting brighter and brighter. There was a clearing ahead. That meant either a road or land that was occupied. Only one way to find out.
Xander checked his phone again and now there were two bars showing on his cell phone. He typed a group text as quickly as his frozen fingers could.
Xander: Krypt jammed all comms on site. They caught us, but we escaped with Sage and Val. Meet us on old route 2. We’re almost there.
Dante: Let me talk to Sage. Now.
Xander: She’s fine. Not until we’re out of the woods. Literally.
Sonny: On our way. We spotted guests fleeing the compound after you guys headed in. Then a whole shitload of the Krypt crew arrived. Twenty or so guys. The place is locked down tight.
Xander: We escaped. Barely. Thank fuck for Jesse
The closer they got to the road, the more Xander’s stomach unclenched. He tapped his tracking device and texted Sonny so he could locate them.
When they stepped out of the woods and unto a paved road, the relief by all was palpable. But the sound of a nearby car had them all on edge.
Sonny: One minute out. I see you.
“It’s Sonny.”
Jesse and Val kept walking, and Sage grabbed my arm. “I’ve never been so relieved.”
“Yes and no. Dante’s gonna rip mine and Jesse’s balls off.”
“He won’t,” Sage replied. “I volunteered for this thing. I knew the risks.”
The SUV came into sight and slowed down.
Sonny rolled down the window. “Get the fuck in and hurry. I spotted a Krypt biker on my tail.”
“Shit,” Jesse replied as we piled into the SUV.
Sonny hit the accelerator, hard, and peeled west, heading for the main road. Xander looked back and sure enough, he spotted the headlight of a bike in the distance.
“I see him, he’s gaining speed,” Xander murmured.
“Thank fuck for this V-8 engine. There’s no way can he catch up.”
“Where are the others?” Jesse asked.
“They headed back home. I offered to stay and wait it out in case you made contact.”
“That’s a risky move, Sonny,” Sage replied. “Avery better not hear about it.”
“She won’t,” Sonny bit out, then gave a rare smile. “And if she does, no worries. I know how to tame my fiery brat.”
Sonny drove fast and hard, dangerous considering the rough country roads, and all the twists and turns. Everyone in the SUV hung on tight.
Xander glanced back again but the bike was no longer in sight.
“Gage is the one you need to worry about. He’s gonna tear you a new asshole,” Sonny announced. “Going in there after Sage and Val like that. We were supposed to wait for their cue.”
“I told you, they jammed the cell service and as a result, the comms! We couldn’t just leave them like that!” Xander yelled.
“Calm the fuck down.”
“And we have no idea where Sam is at,” Jesse added.
“He’s with Dante, on their way home. He ran out with the other players. Thank fuck no one followed him, given that he headed across the road to where we were parked.”
“And he didn’t try to get Sage and Val out?” Jesse snapped. “What the hell?”
“Stop it,” Val interrupted. “Sam’s got himself in a bad situation and he’s doing his best. Do you think he wanted to be there tonight? I thought he was going to have a heart attack on the way over. Not all of us are used to mayhem and violence like you lot.”
The silence that followed Val’s outburst was sudden. But short lived.
“You’re pretty mouthy for a woman who claims to be so quiet,” Jesse snapped.
“You’re pretty stupid for a man who claims to be a criminal,” she snarked. “You walked into that gambling room tonight without a plan and no wonder the Krypt caught you. What the hell were you thinking?”
“We were thinking of saving your ass.” Xander turned to her. “And we did.”
“And nearly got us killed. If we hadn’t escaped from that shed, what would’ve happened?”
“But we did,” Jesse insisted. “And don’t worry. Next time, we’ll leave you to find your own way out.”
“Enough!” Sage shouted. “It’s been a long, stressful night. Let’s just accept the fact that things went ass up and be grateful we got out alive.”
Xander glanced at Jesse, who was sitting in the front seat beside Sonny. Tension was lined on every inch of his profile. Xander looked down and then realized Jesse’s hand was bleeding.
“Shit, you were cut from my knife. Wrap that up.”
“When I get home,” Jesse muttered and pulled his arm into his chest protectively.
“Now, you could?—”
“I’m a medic, I know! I said I’ll take care of it,” Jesse hissed.
The tension in the car was as thick as the fog that settled around them. It was nearing on four am and the first trickle of sunlight was peeking through the clouds. Xander couldn’t wait to get home to a hot shower, food, and a club meeting. No doubt, the Krypt would be coming after them given what happened tonight. And they’d have to prepare for an all-out war. Which meant, parties would have to be delayed. That sucked. Xander needed to fuck when he was stressed. And he was needing it now.
An hour later, they pulled into the Hellraiser’s compound, and were greeted by the man in charge. A furious looking Gage Hellion stood with his arms crossed and Xander knew that his ear were gonna be ringing for a week.
Jesse stepped out first, then Sage, Val, and Xander. Sonny was the last one.
“What the fuck happened tonight?” Gage bellowed. “And since when do you go rogue, Jesse?”
“I didn’t?—”
“You and Xander.”
“Krypt jammed the cell service. The comms,” Xander repeated for the third time tonight.
Jesse nodded. “We had no choice. We couldn’t just leave them in there.”
“Debrief, my office, now! Sage, take Val to your place.”
Sage nodded and she and Val walked off towards Dante’s cottage.
Xander watched her leave, Jesse standing beside him.
“She held up better than I imagined,” Jesse whispered to him.
Xander turned and stared at Jesse. The man looked exhausted and held up his wrist, now smeared with blood. But he never complained.
“All of us did. But it was a close call.”
Xander’s heart was pounding so hard just thinking about anything bad happening to any of them, Jesse in particular. Xander loved to tease the guy, and they bickered like crazy, but he couldn’t imagine the club—or his life—without him.
“Too close,” Xander whispered and leaned in, their noses almost touching. “Don’t do it again.”