13. Onyx
ONYX
The Desert Riders don’t have a camp between Phoenix and Tucson anymore. They’ve long since pulled up permanent stakes after the feud with the Rivalry, the MC club out of Vegas.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t still run through these canyons. My jaw clenches, knowing I should have found Pearl and Carver. They run these canyons at least a few times a week and would know every single shortcut, cop stop or hideout the Desert Riders or Scorpions have.
But I know the approximate vicinity of where the Scorpions are. Some small club tucked in the canyons. At least the info I got last week gave me that. I have to believe that either the Scorpions or the Desert Riders took her, and my money is on the Scorpions since her ex was running dope for them.
Who knows, maybe it’s both. Either way, but I’ve got my money on the Scorpions and soon their VP is going to be talking to me.
The camera and all the alarms back at the club would have alerted us to an intruder long before they got there.
Shine had to have gone willingly. Someone lured Shine out, held something over her head to get her to leave the safety of our club and go for a ride with them.
I’d put good fucking money on that.
It’s cooler in the morning, but still, now that the sun is up, getting hotter than hell.
I keep riding another hour and I see the peak and turnoff that sounds like what my informant described last week, hoping to come in the back way, but already knowing that at some point, their guards are going to see me, and I’ll be patted down and taken to the prez or the VP or to some unknown place where they hold prisoners like me.
Maybe that’s where Shine is. Hopefully she’s still safe.
Please let her be safe. It’s the mantra I’ve been rattling around in my head the entire ride.
The rumble of bikes coming in from every direction spins up so much reddish-brown dust into the air that it’s hard to see until they’re right in my face.
The Scorpion colors stand out vividly in front of me. “Get off the bike,” one of them growls.
I do as I’m told.
Slowly getting off, standing my bike up, and removing my helmet so they get the message. I’m not scared of you. Stay calm, levelheaded. You have what they want and we’re just going to make a little deal.
“What are you doing out here, little girl?” The big burly guy looks me over as two of his friends grab my arms, keeping me locked tight like a vice, while he looks me over like I’m his next meal, sending a shiver of fear right down the length of my spine.
This could go very wrong too. Maybe I’ve placed too much hope on them wanting their dope back.
Not that I have it to give, but they don’t need to know that and I can’t worry about it now.
What’s done is done. I’m here now, without backup and now it’s time to lay down my cards, wager the bet and see how the Scorpions want to play.
“I’m Onyx, VP of the Royal Harlots, Phoenix Chapter.
I’m here to meet with your VP, regarding some product they recently lost.” I don’t tell them they can get it back; I just let the sentence infer there’s a chance.
They saw the news. Nothing was mentioned about the bricks, because they were smoldering ash.
If there’s a chance that dope still exists and they don’t want to get on the wrong side of their prez or VP, they’re going to take me to him.
The big burly guy’s eyes narrow. He knows I know that hurting me now, at least seriously, could end very badly for him with his boss. Especially if he knows anything about the dope.
He doesn’t need to know the whole fucking stash went up in flames. Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. They weren’t there. Let them think what they want, at least until I get my eyes on Shine, make sure she’s okay.
Then we can garner a deal. One that draws them out, somewhere safe for the Royal Harlots and Royal Bastards. Then we’ll see how these assholes hold up next to us.
Level the playing field, but in order to do that I have to focus on Shine, because if they’ve hurt her…
I try to dispel the fears as the men sear right through me with their angry eyes.
“Pat her down real good, one of you grab her bike and let’s take her in,” he growls, reaching over to pull the rifle from the side carrier on my bike.
“Nice, you know how to use this big gun little girl?”
My jaw locks tight as the bald one with an earring runs his hands over the length of me, cupping my breasts and making them bounce.
“Nothing there but tit,” he says, sliding his hands down my waist and running a hand to the back of my pants.
“Yeah, now we’re getting somewhere,” he says, pulling the gun out and turning it over in his hands.
“Nice … let’s see what else you have, doll. ”
I know he’s going to find most of them, I just hope he doesn’t find them all. One by one, he finds the knives, in my left pocket, in the pocket of my vest, the one strapped to my leg, and in the side of my boot.
He glares at me as he runs his hand along the seam of my crotch far longer than is needed for any search. “You sure you don’t have anything buried up there? Maybe I need to get my dick wet and see for myself?”
“Hurry the fuck up,” the burly man growls, cutting baldy’s fun short and sending a wave of relief through my panicked veins.
The entire time we ride I pay attention, trying to recall each and every turn, tall with cactus and dry brush as we navigate the terrain.
Two men stand as we approach an old wood-framed house, watching as we slow and I’m ordered to get off the bike.
Another biker takes my ride and makes sure to give me a leer that causes my heart to race.
“Inside,” the burly one says. “Slow and easy, don’t make any sudden moves.
” We pass by two more sentries as we walk into the living room.
Although it’s hotter than blazes outside the house feels damp and cool.
Men in Scorpion colors sit around on couches, and four others at a small table with beer cans all over it are playing cards and look up as they walk me through.
And Shine, bound and gagged, sits on the floor with her back against the wall, her T-shirt ripped down the middle and half open, exposing her lacy bra that I’m surprised is still on.
But the Scorpions are smart, they know she’s worth a trade and that we’re protected by the Royal Bastards.
They hurt Shine and they know one of their own is going to get the same treatment.
If they can prove she killed their recruit then they have the right to kill her too, but they can’t know that. What I don’t understand yet, is why her. What do they or did Ness have on Shine?
We all live and die by our missions, creed, loyalty and rules and the Scorpions are no different.
An eye for an eye. It’s the motto in the southwest and no one, not even the Scorpions or their family, will be immune if they touch the property of the Royal Bastards like that without just cause and it doesn’t appear any of the bastards wanted to take that chance.