Chapter Twenty
Homicide
W E’VE BEEN SEARCHING for Melissa and my kids all over Frostford for three days now. Every fucking abandoned house, apartment building, warehouse, and storefront has been searched only to find nothing. The only thing we’ve found at those locations are garbage, junkies, dealers, a few pimps with their stable of girls, and rats. There hasn’t been a single fucking lead about my girl and our kids. Frustration, rage, fear, and worry fill me from the second my eyes pop open until I can’t go any longer and fall into a fitful sleep for two hours at most. I’m exhausted and at my wits end.
Dom has been checking in on a regular basis as well. Not only to see if we’ve found anything but to let us know what his contacts have found as well. Everyone is coming up with a whole lot of nothing. It’s as if my family has just vanished off the face of the Earth. Last night I was with Omen, Rooster, Grudge, and Marie after I almost crashed my bike because I’m so fucking tired. I broke down and cried for the first time in my life. Not a single one of them judged me or had a word to say as I literally broke right in front of them. Marie held me like a mother would her son and Rooster stood strong at my back. Omen and Grudge offered their silent support as well.
Right now, I’m sitting at the bar in the common room with a cup of coffee in my hand. As soon as I’m done eating my breakfast and drinking some coffee, I’ll be back out on the road. Marie isn’t letting me leave until I’ve eaten and had some coffee to keep me awake. While I got more than two hours of sleep last night, it wasn’t much more. She knows this and is pulling out her mama bear card. Telling me how I won’t be any good for Melissa and the kids if I’m so exhausted I can’t keep my bike up on two wheels instead of sliding across the road in front of me. Everyone is worried because I’ve been going nonstop for three, now four, days. Grudge also hasn’t left my side. When I’m out looking, he’s riding right next to me.
As I sit waiting for the Slayer Slits to bring me breakfast as Marie ordered them, my phone vibrates on the bar in front of me. Picking it up, I see an unknown caller showing up on my screen. Usually, I wouldn’t answer these calls and I’d send them straight to voicemail. Today, with my family gone, I hit accept and put my phone on speaker.
“What?” I bark out as Omen and Grudge flank me.
“Homicide, it’s been a little while,” Brenda’s voice comes through the phone. “How have you been? I bet I can answer that. I’m guessing you’re missing someone. Or maybe three someone’s you want to find really bad.”
“What the fuck did you do?” I growl as Omen puts a hand on my shoulder. “If my kids and Melissa are hurt in any way, I’ll make sure you’re death is slow and filled with as much pain as possible.”
“You have no say in this situation, Homicide. Do you know how fun it is to watch your entire club of pussies ride all over town searching for Melissa and those stupid fucking brats? You’re never gonna find them,” she says, laughter filling her voice as Brick steps up next to us with his computer and motions for me to keep her talking.
“How do you know we’re not gonna find them? We have more contacts than you could ever begin to realize,” I state, knowing it’s the truth and taunting her at the same time. “See, that’s what you never figured out about this club. You’re only goal was to become an ol’ lady of an officer to take everythin’ you could from him. What you didn’t realize is not only are we feared by most everyone for a reason, but we also have more allies than you can fathom. Other clubs, support clubs, cartel leaders, the mafia, and so many others. What do you have, Brenda? A few rogue thugs who will turn their back on you the first chance they get?”
“You know nothing about what I have or what I want. If you had only given in and been with me, none of this would be happening right now, Homicide. So, I guess you could say it’s your fault Melissa and your brats have been taken. Well, that and we plan on getting a ton of money for them. It turns out Dom doesn’t want her. Never made the deal Mad Dog believed he did. I don’t know the details. Anyway, he’s looking for a new buyer for her right now. Once he finds someone, you can kiss seeing your precious little skank ever again,” Brenda taunts me, making the rage I’m feeling rise even more.
Looking between Omen, Brick, and Grudge I smile at the piece of information Brenda just gave us. By her telling us what Mad Dog’s doing, she’s admitting to working with him. We now know for sure Mad Dog is in town, he has Melissa and my kids, and Brenda went running right to him. She’s also told us Mad Dog has been in contact with Dom. This is something he didn’t tell me the last time we talked. So, it must have happened after our conversation. Dom isn’t going to keep something like that from Rooster or me when he knows how bad I want my family back.
“Really? You think we won’t find my family before Mad Dog finds a buyer for her? I’m willin’ to bet you’re wrong on that. In fact, I’m willin’ to bet that no one will deal with him or you because we’ve been puttin’ out the word I’m lookin’ for my family. They’ve got pictures of them, their names, descriptions, and anythin’ else we could think to give them. The second someone realizes it’s my family, Mad Dog won’t have a leg to stand on as far as sellin’ them. Plus, we’ll be alerted and know exactly where you are. How long do you think it will take me to get to my family?” I return, letting the anger out in my voice as I hear Brenda’s breathing pick up as she doesn’t know what to say or do now.
I’ve completely thrown her off her game and this isn’t how she anticipated our conversation going. Now, she has to adjust everything before she gives anything else away. I want to laugh in her face, but we need to know where the fuck she is so I can get my family back and bring them home. I want to see them with my own eyes, hold them close, and make sure no one else touches them ever again. Melissa and the kids won’t be let out of my sight for a long time when I bring them home.
Honestly, before Brenda’s call, I was losing hope. So close to giving up ever finding them. Guilt fills me because everyone else hasn’t given up or lost hope. I feel as if I’m betraying them because I’m so discouraged we haven’t had any leads on them from any avenue we’ve tried. Now, my hope has been restored because this bitch is giving away more than she even realizes.
“Homicide, just give up. You’re never gonna find her,” Brenda finally says, her voice trembling because she doesn’t believe her words any longer. She knows she’s not gonna win this fight and it’s showing in subtle cues I’m quick to pick up on.
“I’ve got her location,” Brick whispers so Brenda can’t hear him despite the phone being on speaker.
“I’m done with this pointless conversation Brenda. Just remember that you made your bed and when the time comes, you’ll deserve everythin’ comin’ your way,” I tell her before hanging up the phone.
Before we can say a word, the door of the clubhouse opens. We all turn to see who’s coming in only to be shocked as hell. Dom stands just inside the door with two other men with him. I’m sure they’re his guards or something like that. A man like Dom has enemies and doesn’t travel on his own for any reason. That’s not to say he can’t take care of himself, because he can. I’ve seen the man fight and I’d be leery of stepping in the cage with him. He might have a polished exterior, but the man’s body is a deadly weapon. One he spends hours training to keep in top condition.
“Have you found out anything new?” Dom asks, stepping further in the common room.
“Let’s get Rooster and the others in here before we have this conversation,” Omen suggests before disappearing down the hallway to get his dad and the other members who are here and not currently out looking for my family.
Before Omen makes it back with the others, one of the Slayer Slits comes out and sets a plate of food down in front of Grudge and me. They made a full breakfast of eggs, toast, hash browns, and bacon. With a nod of my head, I pick up the fork resting on the plate and dig in. My stomach hurts because I’ve barely eaten anything since I found out my family was missing. There wasn’t time for me to waste on eating or anything else. Grudge also eats his food while we wait for everyone else. Neither one of us says a word as Dom takes a seat on the other side of Grudge while his men stay back a little bit.
It feels like forever, but Omen finally comes back to the common room with his dad and several other club members. After Omen makes sure the Slayer Slits are gone and can’t overhear our conversation, I push my plate away so we can get down to business.
“Just got a call from Brenda. She gave up some details we kind of wondered about but didn’t have the proof to confirm. The bitch knows where my family is and is workin’ with Mad Dog. Told me he called you, Dom, only to find out you didn’t make the deal for Melissa and wouldn’t be takin’ her from him. So, now he’s lookin’ for a new buyer for Melissa and my kids. Brick traced the call and found their location,” I tell everyone in as few words as possible.
“They’re not far from here. There’s an abandoned railroad station about five miles out of town. None of us thought to look there because the fuckin’ place is fallin’ to the ground. That’s where they are. Honestly, it makes sense because we didn’t think of it,” Brick informs everyone.
I want to slam my head off the bar in front of me because I did dismiss the idea of going there so fucking quickly.
“Dom, when did you get the call from Mad Dog?” Rooster asks, stepping up at my back.
“Not long after talking to Homicide the last time. I was already preparing to come here so I didn’t bother calling. I figured it was better to give that detail in person,” Dom answers, looking at me instead of Rooster. “I’ll do whatever you feel is necessary to help this situation.”
“I can actually think of one way for you to help,” I state, a plan forming in my mind. “Brenda is never gonna go away and we don’t hurt women. I know you don’t either. However, what if you take her off our hands once we get my family back? You can use her however you want and turn her into a slave for all I care. Get her away from us and I know you won’t let her get away.
“If we have Kat or Marie deal with her, it’ll hurt, but she’ll still get away. She can go underground and make plans to come back at us again. I don’t want to see her ever again. I don’t want Melissa to have to interact with her for any reason. By you takin’ her, we kill two birds with one stone. If she doesn’t want to behave for you, you can bring Kat in to handle the situation,” I say, laying out an idea for Dom and the others to think about.
“I’ll do it. I won’t make her a slave, but I’m sure I can find something for her to do while with me. Now, let’s put a plan in place to get your family before they move them. If Mad Dog knows she called you, I wouldn’t put it past him to move her so you don’t get the chance to get your family back,” Dom says, watching as Brick pulls down a screen in the common room so we can look at blueprints and shit before heading out.
***
W e put a foolproof plan in place. The abandoned train station isn’t very large, but there is a basement and I have a strong feeling that’s where Melissa and the twins are being held. With all of us in the club and Dom coming with the men he brought with him, there’s more than enough of us to surround the building with two teams going inside. The two teams can take out everyone inside while I find my family and everyone else can deal with any assholes who manage to get out.
Before leaving the clubhouse, we all gathered up our guns, ammo, and the comms we use when we’re out on a run or any type of mission like this. Not a single one of us will leave without having the comms in our ears so we don’t have to fuck around once we get to the train station. I want to be in and out as quick as we possibly can be. Melissa and my kids are my only focus going in. I’ll take out anyone I come across, but other than that, I won’t be focusing on them.
Now, we’re on our way there. Not a single one of us are on our bikes. We want surprise on our side and if we ride up there on bikes, the element of surprise will disappear. So, we’re all riding in vans with one of the Prospects following in an SUV for my family once we get them out of there. I’ll be taking them directly to the hospital no matter how we find them. I won’t be able to rest until I hear it from a doctor that they’re okay and no harm was brought to them at the hands of Brenda and Mad Dog.
It takes us about a half hour to get to the train station. Omen is driving one van while Brick is in the other one. They park on either end of the building before we all get out. I go straight for the front door with my gun already pulled and ready. Omen, Grudge, Dom, and two of his guards are with me. Rooster, Hammer, Carbon, Knuckle, Tease, and two more of Dom’s men are on the other door. Everyone else fans out around the building as they wait for us to breech the doors and enter the train station.
“On my count,” Rooster says through the comms. “Three. Two. One.”
Omen boots the door in and moves out of the way before any shots can be fired in his direction. We all move as one inside the train station. My gun is pointed out in front of me as we make our way through the rubble and mess that’s been left behind or fallen over the years. I see Rooster and the others out of the corner of my eye as they make their way in and through the main room of the station. There isn’t a soul up here as we move toward the hallway where the entrance for the basement is.
Finding the door after a few minutes, it’s partially open and I can hear screaming coming from down there. They’re loud and echo off the cement walls causing shivers to race up my spine. The only thing I can think of is someone doing something horrible to Melissa or her trying to defend our kids. The need to rush down to them fills me as I start to move down the staircase. I have to move slow because the steps are crumbling under my feet. Mad Dog and Brenda really didn’t think this shit through when they decided to keep my family here. Unless they were trying to trap themselves, Melissa, and the kids.
When I get about half way down the stairs, the pounding of boots echoes off the walls around me. We all make ourselves as small as possible against the walls to see who’s coming our way. I can’t stop the smile from filling my face when I recognize Mad Dog. The years haven’t been kind to him as I take in his appearance. His years of drug use, alcohol, and not giving a fuck about himself are more than showing. Fucking stupid fuck thinks he can pull one over on us.
“Stupid fucking bitch!” Mad Dog mutters to himself. “Putting me up against the Dirty Slayers without telling me that’s who Melissa belongs to now. Then going and adding fuel to the fire by calling that shit stain, Zeke. What the fuck was she thinking?”
I look between Rooster and Omen as we all smile like crazy. It seems Brenda is trying to pull a fast one and Mad Dog wouldn’t have gotten involved if he knew we were the club he was going up against. It might be a different story if he had any sort of backing, but clearly the two of them are alone in this.
“I’m more than a shit stain,” I say once Mad Dog gets close to me. “I’m the Enforcer for the Dirty Slayers.”
He startles and looks up at me before the step he’s on crumbles under his weight. Mad Dog falls to the floor and lands in a heap at the bottom. Brick rushes down to his side and checks for a pulse.
“He’s alive. Knocked the fuck out, but alive,” Brick announces as we all bust a gut and laugh our asses off.
No, this isn’t the time to laugh about anything involving the possibility of my woman and kids being hurt. However, Mad Dog is a fucking idiot and just proved it once again by knocking himself out.
“We’ll take care of gettin’ this piece of shit out of here. Go find your family and make sure they’re okay,” Rooster orders as we all start moving forward once again.
By the time we make it to the bottom of the steps, I find four guys sitting in a room watching porn. Two of them are rubbing one out as the other guys sit back and relax. Omen and I step up and fire shots in the back of their heads before a single one of them can make a move. Fucking lazy pricks. If I were working for Mad Dog, or anyone else, and heard him fall in the hall right near the door of the room I’m in, I wouldn’t sit on my ass and do nothing about it. I’d be out there finding out what the hell is going on. Apparently these guys have no loyalty or concern for the man who’s now being dragged up the stairs by the Prospects.
After taking out the four guys, we make our way further down the hall. There are no more screams coming from anywhere. I honestly can’t tell which room Melissa and the kids are in when there’s nothing but silence.
“Melissa!” I yell out, my voice echoing off the walls down here.
“In here,” Melissa’s voice greets me from the left.
There’s a partially open doorway and I turn in it to find Melissa holding our kids close to her. She’s got cuts and bruises all over her body but the kids look untouched. It doesn’t mean they haven’t been hurt, it just means I can’t see anything that’s been done to them right now.
I rush to Melissa’s side where she’s slumped against some sort of mattress or something. Brenda is laying completely still in front of her with a chain wrapped around her neck. My girl took the bitch out. I’m not sure if she’s dead or alive and couldn’t give a fuck either way. For a few minutes, all of my focus is on my family. I hold them in my arms with the twins between us. Melissa starts crying and buries her face in my chest. More people enter the room, but I don’t pay them any attention. I have everything I need right here in my arms.
“Let’s get you out of here, baby girl. We need to get the kids and you checked out,” I say, my voice full of emotion I try to hold in with everyone around.
Leading my family from the room, we make our way carefully down the hallway with Omen in front of us and Grudge at the rear. I hold Melissa’s head so her face is buried against my chest the closer we get to the room where Omen and I took out the four men. She doesn’t need to see that shit. The kids are between us and I make sure they aren’t looking as well. I murmur words of reassurance to Melissa trying to calm her down a little bit as we move to the stairs and then carefully up them.
When we get through the train station, I lead them straight for the SUV. Getting in the backseat with them, I make sure Zeke and Delilah are fastened in before pulling Melissa into my lap. Omen and Grudge get in the front seat and we take off for the hospital. Melissa’s sobs eventually start to slow before coming to a stop altogether. She’s half asleep by the time Omen pulls up to the hospital, but she needs to be checked over before I’ll take her home. This is more than I want our doctor to handle since they’ve been gone for days and we have no clue what’s been done to them in that time.