Chapter 19
In case Baker had backup or the property owner were to drop in, we didn’t question him at the farmhouse.
Instead, we packed his ass out of there.
Our reinforcements arrived with Devlin and Draven driving a van.
We tossed a still gagged and bound Baker into the back cargo area.
Astrid rode with them because she wasn’t dressed appropriately to ride.
I hated to do it, but her safety came first.
The twenty minutes or so to get home seemed to drag.
I didn’t think I was ever as glad to see that compound gate as I was this time.
Madden was manning it. We parked outside the clubhouse.
The van came to a stop. Before I could get to her, Dravin got out of the van and opened Astrid’s door before she could. He gave her a stern look.
“Damn it, Astrid, you gotta let us do this. You’re ruining our practice. What happens when we find a woman we want to impress, and we don’t, because you keep us from practicing being a gentleman? You’ll kill our chances of getting an old lady,” he groused.
She smiled at him. “I’m sorry, Draven. I had no idea it was that important. I promise to do better.”
“Thank you,” he told her.
I refrained from taking his head off when she kissed him on the cheek.
Another man under her spell, yet I was the main one.
It was my bed and my house that she occupied.
It would be my children she’d bear. I could allow Draven a crumb.
I put my arm around Astrid and brought her against me.
Her smile warmed the coldness inside of me until the rear doors of the van were opened and Sarge and Crusher dragged a struggling Baker out. Seeing him wiped the warmth away.
“We’re taking this bastard to One. Anything you want to say or do before we do?” Crusher asked me.
Letting go of Astrid, I strolled over to Baker. His gaze never left mine. I leaned close. “You’re gonna regret ever pursuing the truth about your stupid brother. And you’ll doubly regret ever laying a finger on my woman. She’s my old lady. I’ll gladly kill for her. We protect our own,” I snarled.
Straightening, I shoved hard on his chest. No one held him, so he stumbled backward before falling on his ass. Glancing around, it appeared all the members of the Marauders and the Punishers had come outside as we dismounted, and that was fine by me. Several snickered when Baker fell.
“I hope your ass feels ten times worse than mine does,” Astrid chimed in to say.
Not wanting to delay the next part longer than necessary, I nodded to Sarge and Crusher. “Go ahead and take him to One. I’ll be there as soon as I settle Astrid in.”
“You got it. Take your time. We’ll keep him busy.” Crusher smirked, cracking his knuckles.
They didn’t delay in dragging his lurching body back to the van. The thump as they tossed him inside was loud. The two of them got in the front and drove off.
“Where are they going? What is One?” Astrid asked.
“Let’s go inside. We need to talk. It’s cooler and you can have a drink or something to eat. Plus, you have others waiting to see you, especially one,” Ink told her.
“Oh my God, Aubrielle! Is she alright? Move! I gotta see her,” she snapped at a slow-moving Marauder who stood between her and the clubhouse door. He got out of her way, but he had an amused look on his face.
I had to jog to keep up with her. Barging inside, we found the common room bare.
Devlin flew past us and down the hall. I bet he was told to tell the women Astrid was safe.
I guided her to the table I’d spent time at earlier.
I eased her onto the chair I’d used. Before I could call for a drink, a cold water bottle was thrust into my hand by Hail.
“Thanks,” I said, breaking the seal and handing it to her. Astrid gulped down a quarter of the bottle before she paused.
“Lord, that tastes good. The crap he gave me had a metallic taste,” my woman muttered.
The sound of excited chatter filled the room well before the mob of women and kids entered it.
They were exclaiming over Astrid and hurrying over to greet her.
She was hugged by Cheyenne before she could rise from the chair.
One by one, they welcomed her back and asked if she was okay or needed anything.
She graciously declined food and thanked them for being there.
The last one to approach was Aubrielle, who did so reluctantly. Her discomfort was apparent. Again, Shadow was with her. What the hell was my brother up to? Did he truly like the woman, or was he working his way into her pants? I was almost convinced it was the former.
Astrid held out her arms. “Come here. I’m so glad to see you. Please tell me they took care of the bitch, Cherisse.”
Astrid’s welcome and remark caused Aubrielle to break down in tears, and she buried her face into my woman’s shoulder as they hugged.
It was kinda wild how close they’d become in such a short time, but then again, look at how fast the members connected with their old ladies when they found them.
I let them murmur for a good three or four minutes before it was time to get down to business.
“Fury, I hate to interrupt, but I need to go take care of things,” I told her.
The two women parted, but they remained holding each other’s hands.
“You never answered me what One is and what happened to Cherisse, the psycho bitch? Look at Aubrielle’s face!” Astrid demanded.
“Hold on. Cherisse is secure. She’s out where they took Baker.
That’s all I can say at present,” I told her, hoping she’d realize I wasn’t going to reveal more in front of Aubrielle.
It was already risky for her to know we had anyone here.
I thought we could trust her, but you could never be too careful.
Comprehension spread over Astrid’s face, then it was locked down. “Okay, I understand. But later, I’ll want you to give me all the details. I presume you’re headed out to speak to them.”
“I am. I’ll leave you here with the other ladies. Rest. If you want to lie down, go to the house. If you need anything, there will always be someone here.”
“Good, that means Aubrielle will be well looked after while I’m with you,” Fury said calmly.
Oh shit, why didn’t I see this coming? Wait, I did.
I’d ignored answering myself as to whether I’d allow it.
It wasn’t out of the question. Plenty of old ladies across the various clubs had witnessed and even been involved in interrogations and punishments like what was about to happen. I automatically shook my head.
“Don’t shake your head at me, Mayhem. I’m going with you.
It’s me those two wanted to hurt, possibly kill.
I have the right to confront them and to participate in this meeting.
Don’t tell me out of all those clubs you’re friends with, that it has never happened.
I heard about Lunatic over in Georgia and Harlow in Tennessee from the ladies.
There’s even more like them. They strike me as ladies who don’t back down. ”
Goddamn, what had these women been talking about when they were without us men?
Like when I questioned the guy at Eden, I didn’t want Astrid to be exposed to the complete Mayhem.
However, her words ran in my head. We had to be entirely open with each other for our relationship to last. I glanced over at Reaper.
“Hey, don’t look at me. This debate is between the two of you. All I can say is, I have no problem with her joining us. I believe she can more than handle it. If she has enough, she can leave.”
With my president’s permission granted, it was up to me. Astrid gave me an expectant look. I saw as we stared at each other, the need in her. She not only wanted, but needed, to confront them and be a part of whatever was decided about these two.
“Alright, stop giving me that look. You can go. However, anytime you’ve had enough, tell us and we’ll get you back here,” I told her.
Astrid came up out of her chair and threw her arms around me. “Thank you. Now, can I have a kiss?”
I had no reason to hesitate on this request. There were cheers and whistles as we did.
It took a while to be able to leave her heavenly lips.
Once I did, we jumped into heading to the One.
The other ladies were staying here with the kids.
Aubrielle was reabsorbed into their midst. She told Astrid to be careful before she was swept away with the women and kids.
Shadow watched her until she was out of sight.
With them tucked away, nothing was preventing us from beginning.
I led Astrid outside. She’d be alright to ride on my bike the short distance to the rear of the property, where we had two storage buildings.
They both had underground bunkers, but the one we referred to as Storage One had an additional surprise—an interrogation room.
We converted the extra space after this land was acquired from the Army.