Mayhem’s Fury (Iron Punishers MC #7)

Prologue

Tagging along with Tinker to see how the renovation was going at Haven’s design studio was my agenda for the day.

He said it was coming along and would soon be ready for its grand opening.

I had time on my hands today, so I thought I’d pitch in wherever I was needed.

I could swing a hammer with the best of them.

Gravel, Diesel, and Ink were joining me and Tinker. Entering the front door, we scanned inside for Haven. Not seeing her wasn’t anything to be alarmed about in general, but a wave of unease came over me. And based on Tinker’s expression, he had felt it, too.

Tinker opened his mouth and yelled, “Haven!”

Seconds later, a woman’s voice answered, “Back here.” It wasn’t Haven’s voice, though there was something familiar about it.

The five of us rushed to the back area of the store.

Entering the space, I noted two things. One, Haven wasn’t alone.

The woman from Punisher’s Eden was with her.

And two, Haven was crying and lying on the floor, and close by was an unmoving Rick, her ex-boyfriend—images of what may have happened flashed through my mind, causing me to become furious. My brothers were right there with me.

Tinker hurried over to Haven, took her into his arms, and asked, “What did he do?”

Before Haven answered, the rest of us chimed in.

“How did you do that?” Gravel pointed at Rick.

“What’re you doing here?” I asked Astrid. I noticed how she was hovering over Rick.

“Do you need a doctor?” Ink asked.

Diesel didn’t say a word, but he had his cell phone out, and he was tapping away on it.

Neither woman got a chance to answer because Rick groaned loudly. As soon as he did, Astrid stunned me. She drew back her leg and kicked him hard in the ribs, followed by the head. Her blow caused Rick to moan and then pass out again.

“Shut up, you filthy raping bastard. You’re lucky I didn’t cave your head in with the hammer. I should’ve,” she growled.

“You hit him with a hammer?” Gravel asked incredulously.

“Yeah, I did. I had to stop him.”

“Why are you here?” I asked again.

“I was passing by. I heard screams for help, so I came in to see what was wrong. I found that monster tearing off Haven’s clothes, so I knocked his ass out, then tied him up,” Astrid said very simply.

Her answer caused me to respond harshly, but I wasn’t able to stop myself. She could’ve been hurt along with Haven.

“You heard screams and came in. Are you crazy? Why didn’t you call the cops?” I asked angrily.

“By the time they would have gotten here, he would’ve already raped her and done God knows what else to her. He was too busy with her to know anyone else was here. I was fine. Although I was glad that the hammer and rope were here,” Astrid answered.

“And if they hadn’t been?” Ink asked.

“I would’ve figured something out,” she answered.

“She would’ve figured it out,” I muttered. I swear to God, the woman was asking to be hurt or worse. What was it with her and altercations?

“Well, since it seems only some of us know each other, let me introduce myself. I’m Ink. This is Diesel and Gravel. Thank you for what you did. Tinker, we need to get this fucker out of here.”

“I called for a vehicle. They should be here soon,” Diesel informed us.

“That’s my cue to leave. I hope you make him pay. Haven, maybe one of these days we’ll meet under better circumstances,” Astrid told her.

“Thank you,” Tinker said emotionally.

Something made me protest Astrid’s leaving. I opened my mouth and out came words I hadn’t intended to say. “Hold on. You’re coming with us. We need to ask you some questions. You ran away the other night.”

“I didn’t run. I told you I had to go. I was with someone. I don’t know what questions you could have about that night or this that I haven’t answered. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time,” Astrid nonchalantly said.

Diesel’s phone chimed. He glanced at it.

“The prospects are here. They’re in the back. Let’s get him out of here before someone sees us and asks what the hell is going on.”

“Babe, do you need to go to the hospital?” Tinker asked Haven.

“No, I just want to go home.”

Gravel and Diesel heaved an unconscious Rick off the floor and out the back door. The remainder of us left via the front door—no use attracting unwanted attention. While Tinker got Haven situated in his truck and Ink locked up, I was engaged in an argument.

“You may have been in the right place twice, but it’s still too much of a coincidence. Until we figure out what is going on with that bastard, we need you to stick around. That means you’re coming to the compound with us.”

“Like hell I am. There’s no reason for me to be there.

You have the culprit. Ask him why he felt the need to attack Haven.

All I did was come to the aid of a fellow woman.

Just like I did the other night at the strip club.

Women standing up for each other isn’t a reason for suspicion.

I would do it for anyone in those situations,” Astrid argued.

“If that’s true, then you should be willing to hang for a bit until we finish with his raping ass. Besides, Haven seems to like you. I bet she’d appreciate your support. She’s been through something very traumatic. I don’t know if any of the other women will be home to stay with her.”

It was more than likely that at least one would be, and if not, we could easily call and get someone there for Haven.

Hell, Annie was the logical choice, but I wasn’t sure how comfortable Haven was being with her aunt-in-law after the revelation that Tinker had thought of having something with Annie in the past. That news was still raw with Haven.

Tinker just got her back—no use stirring that mess up.

My argument seemed to make Astrid hesitate.

I stayed quiet and let what I said sink in. Finally, she sighed.

“Fine, I’ll come for a little bit, but I can’t stay for long. I have things to do that can’t be postponed,” Astrid grudgingly stated.

“Thank you. Let me walk you to your car. We’ll ride as a group. Just follow whoever is in the lead.”

Astrid strode briskly to her car. I had to be fast to get the door handle before she did, after she unlocked it.

Opening it, I held it as she got inside.

She cast me a puzzled look. Hadn’t she had a man open doors for her?

If not, that was a crime. I held back from saying anything, though.

The others had their engines running. After shutting her door, I hurried to my bike and started it.

Pulling into the street, we formed a small fleet.

The entire ride back, I dwelled on Astrid.

I had so many questions, and not all of them were ones that I’d ask as the enforcer for the club.

Yes, I ensured the safety of the club and all within it.

Anything unusual had to be investigated.

However, I wanted to know more than the routine stuff about Astrid.

She’d piqued my interest, something that hadn’t happened in ages.

I couldn’t recall it being this intense and immediate. Hopefully, I’ll have answers soon.

I surfaced from the memory of my second meeting with Astrid. It had been nine months since then, and here I was, still obsessing over her and seeking answers. After that day at the compound, when we dealt with Rick, Astrid had politely left after making sure Haven was alright.

I assumed that we’d see her soon. I planned to have our brother, Spawn, look into her.

He did and came back raising more questions than answers.

One of them was about Astrid’s history. It seemed that she’d been in the Navy.

Thinking of her attitude and confidence, it wasn’t a huge surprise.

What was a shock was the MOS she had. One’s military occupational specialty designates one’s job in the military.

In the Army, I had been a Special Forces soldier, designated as a sniper.

If someone thought Astrid had been behind a desk, doing a tedious office job, they were wrong.

According to what Spawn found, Astrid Tuttle had been a Navy pilot.

She flew the big jets, the ones used for combat.

Becoming a fighter pilot took years and dedication.

Most didn’t make it through the six to eight years it took.

According to Spawn, Astrid had shortened that period.

She entered the Navy at eighteen, having only one year left on her four-year degree.

After completing her basic training, the Navy sent her directly to Officer Candidate School (OCS), despite still having a year to complete her degree. She aced the twelve weeks of that.

After finishing OCS, she was ushered into flight school.

The primary and advanced training phases lasted eighteen months, followed by more specialized training that extended the commitment to a total of two years.

Spawn reported that she thrived there and was at the head of her class.

She’d finished her degree as planned. At the tender age of twenty-one, Astrid had achieved what many tried and failed at.

She was a Navy pilot flying F/A-18 Super Hornets.

Those damn things could reach speeds of almost twelve hundred miles per hour.

Knowing this made me want to know more about Astrid’s time in the Navy, but that’s where her history ended.

A large portion of her record was redacted.

Spawn assured me, given time, he could get it undone.

But it felt wrong for some reason. She hadn’t done anything terrible, or the Navy wouldn’t have honorably discharged her.

She’d been medically retired six months before her first meeting with Haven at Eden.

However, Astrid suddenly disappeared. Not even Haven, who had befriended her, knew exactly where she went.

All she told Haven was that she’d return and that she had business to attend to.

Again, I could’ve had Spawn track her down, but I didn’t.

One of the reasons was that I needed to get my head on straight regarding Astrid.

She affected me in a way no other woman had.

That reaction made me wary of her, while at the same time, I was hugely drawn to her.

I wanted to know every single tiny detail about Astrid.

But getting it from a report wasn’t the way. I wanted it to be from her lips.

One of the few times she returned was to attend Haven and Tinker’s wedding.

I’d finagled a dance out of her. I hadn’t been able to resist. While she seemed reluctant to dance with me, she did it.

Holding her close had been torture of the sweetest kind.

My erection had been immediate and lasted long after we ended our dance.

At least I kept enough space between our bodies that she hadn’t felt it.

Her movements had been rather stiff, and she kept her body well away from mine.

Most people would take her response to mean she disliked me and would leave her alone and forget her. However, even with the way she sometimes reacted, I got the sense that Astrid wasn’t immune to me or disliked me. That knowledge kept me dreaming of her, despite her long absences.

After nine months, I knew one thing for sure.

The next time Astrid returned to Bristol, I was going to do everything in my power to get her to remain here and to let me into her life.

If she’d trust just a little, I knew I could get through to her.

I wanted to know what made her so elusive.

If she didn’t return soon, I’d find a way to get her here, even if I had to track her down and haul her ass back. Enough was enough.