Chapter 23 #2
In between sobs, Toni tries to bargain. “If he does what you say, will you let us leave? I don’t think this MC is the right place for us.” Right now, I find myself agreeing with Candyman. She is a stupid bitch.
“You going to agree to that, VP?” another male voice asks. I hadn’t realised there was anyone else there. “I mean, if he gets us access and gives us the passwords, we’ll be good.”
There are two men in the room. That’s got to be vital information, right? I just hope that tiny microphone is picking this up and transmitting.
“Okay,” Candyman says, but I’d place everything I own on that being a lie.
I’d bet my life on Toni ending up as part of the MC, and not as an honoured guest. She’d be their property.
Just like I am to the Kings. Though I wouldn’t swap my club for his any day.
I’ve already had a taste of how abusive they can be.
But his lie seems to convince Toni. “Stupid,” I murmur under my breath, stunned that she seems to believe him. And I can’t comprehend it when she coaxes, “Ace, sweetheart, just do what Candyman says. Then we’ll get out of here and start a new life. Anywhere you want to go.”
“I want to go home to my dad.”
“Not going to happen, kid. The sooner you realise you’ve said your last goodbye to that motherfucker, the better. I’ve got a fuckin’ bullet with your dear daddy’s name on it. It’s a fuckin’ shame he didn’t come stay with you and your aunt this weekend. Else he’d already be dead.”
I might not like her, but I cover my head with my hands when I hear Toni scream again.
In a voice that’s barely recognisable and sounds like she’s struggling for breath, she pleads, “Please, Ace, just give him something.”
“I can’t,” Ace states, his voice breaking. “I’m not going to betray the Kings.”
“Fuck, this isn’t working. Your daddy ever give you a beating, kid? Cause I’m going to let you feel my belt. Take him, Oscar. Pull his fuckin’ pants down and bend him over the desk.”
It’s Ace’s cries that get to me, sending me out of my mind.
I reach for the earpiece, take it away from the window, and place it in my ear.
Then, without a thought for myself or what the fuck I’m doing, I launch myself at the door and into the room.
Candyman’s poised, his belt held ready to swing, and Ace, poor fucking Ace, is forcibly held over a desk with his naked ass in the air.
Throwing myself at Candyman, I take him by surprise, snatching his belt away from him. “You let him go.” I stand menacingly, waving the belt like a weapon.
The two men start to laugh. Ace gasps out, “Trixie?”
With Toni’s eyes fixed on me, it might be wishful thinking, but I believe she’s mouthing the words, thank you.
But what can I do? There’s no way I can save myself and Ace, let alone her. I do get the satisfaction of whipping that belt around Candyman’s face, but that’s the limit of any physical protest I can make, as I’m quickly overpowered.
Trapped in Candyman’s arms, held tight against his body, my back to his front, he snarls, “Who the fuck is she?”
I expect Toni to betray me, but she stays silent.
And this time, I’m certain it’s hope that’s in her eyes.
Candyman seems to accept that she doesn’t know me, so he throws me at Oscar, who catches me and imprisons me just as easily as his VP had.
He then advances on Ace, pulls him upright, places both hands on his shoulders, and shakes him hard.
Then he asks again, “Who the fuck is she?”
“She’s my mom,” Ace states, taking all the wind out of me. “Or the closest thing I ever had to one.” Oh, dear God. I had no idea he thought that of me. It’s a ruse he’s made up, trying to get us free.
Candyman gives an evil grin. “Yeah? Thought she was dead. But that just gives me another option. How would you like to watch your mom being raped, kid?”
I try to signal with my eyes to Ace that it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before.
While we’re supposed to keep it child-appropriate when he’s around, how do you stop a kid from coming down for a glass of water late into the evening?
He’s seen me being taken by men before. I could try to pretend to enjoy it.
That would make it less traumatic for him.
“Hold on, we’re coming. You fuckin’ hear me, Trixie? Trix, you’ve got to be hearing this. Just hang on. Keep him away from my son.”
It takes a moment for me to realise that it’s Freak speaking into my ear.
I stop fighting immediately. “You want me, Candy?” I deliberately use the pet name Toni had adopted. I lick my lips. “Seems like I’m in for a treat being taken by a real man.”
I know men can be led by their dicks, though I’m uncertain whether my delaying tactic will work. It depends on whether getting off is more important than getting the information he needs out of Ace. I’m astonished he hasn’t asked how I got here…
Candyman suddenly comes to his senses and roars, “How the fuck did you know where to find him?”
Oh, yeah, there it is. I go for complete honesty. “I’m his mom.” I shrug, playing on Ace’s claimed relationship. “I sewed a tracker into his jacket.”
Candyman backhands Ace. “You little asshole. You knew it was there the whole time.” He then narrows his eyes at me. “You got the Kings as backup? Is Freak your ol’ man?”
“Freak doesn’t have an ol’ lady,” Toni butts in. But still, she doesn’t disclose who I really am. Am I really starting to like this bitch?
Knowing I’ve got to buy time, I slip the strap of my crop top off one shoulder slowly, licking my lips as I do. Then, I tease with the other.
Candyman licks his lips. I’ve got him.
Wishing I didn’t have to be so forward in front of Ace, and hoping he’ll understand and forgive me, I slide the other strap down, pulling my crop top with it, exposing my tits.
“Fuck, man. We haven’t got time for this,” the man he called Oscar butts in. “If she’s in league with the Kings, they’ll know where he is. They’ll be coming for him. We need to find out what the boy knows first.”
I’ve underestimated Candyman. He snarls, launches himself at me, and throws me down. I hit the floor hard and try to scramble backward, but the wall halts my progress. “You’re not in fuckin’ control. That’s mine, bitch. And I’m going to fuck you until you bleed…”
His words are cut off as gunfire sounds from outside.
He kicks me in the side, breaking a rib, I’m certain.
“Fuckin’ bitch. Oscar, go see what’s happening.
” Then he turns back to me, pulling me up by my hair, ripping out a few strands on the way.
“You did bring the fuckin’ Kings with you.
” He takes out his gun and places it at my forehead.
“Well, now there’s no way you or the kid are going to leave. Say your prayers, bitch.”
Two shots sound. I fall to the ground. It takes me a moment to realise I’m not dead, but I have got the weight of Candyman’s corpse on top of me. It’s Freak who’s pushing him off, and pulling me up. Hastily, I try to cover my tits.
“You fuckin’, crazy, wonderful woman,” is all he says to me, before he turns and manages to stop Ace’s unsteady launch toward him. “Son, I fuckin’ love you. But now let’s get out of here.”
“How did you…?”
He preempts my question. “We used the fire escape you told us about. We’re getting out the same way, while the others are keeping the rest busy.” He ushers both me and Ace forward, having to step over Oscar’s body on the floor. I look up and mouth a thank you to Tempest, who’d accompanied Freak in.
“What, what about me?” Toni breathes out, clutching her broken arm to her, and bending forward as if nursing broken or bruised ribs.
Freak looks like he’s going to leave her, but it’s me who, for some unknown reason, comes to her defence. “Freak, I don’t think she knew who Candyman was, or what his club does. He poisoned her mind with lies about who he was, and the Kings.”
He looks at me incredulously. “You want us to rescue her? After she stole my kid?”
“She’s misguided, stupid even. But she doesn’t deserve to die here, Freak. She thought what she was doing was right.” I do know why I’m defending her. Nobody deserves to suffer at the hands of the MDMC. If the Kings don’t believe she can be redeemed, she’ll meet her end with just a bullet.
“We’ve got no time to fuckin’ argue.” Tempest takes matters into his own hands. “I’ll bring her along. Her fate can be decided later when we’re safe.” He pulls her up by her good arm. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help her ribs, and he quickly covers her mouth to stop her screaming.
As I’ve got at least one of mine badly bruised, possibly broken, I have little sympathy, and don’t even mention it as Freak ushers me and Ace toward the fire escape.
At the fire door, he puts himself in front of me, and I, without thinking, put my arm around Ace as his dad opens the door gingerly.
He then makes the sound of an owl hooting.
Within seconds, a similar bird echoes from below.
Feeling Ace trembling, I mutter, “Didn’t realise we were in a spy movie.”
My words make Ace snort, earning us a pointed look from Freak.
Forcing myself to ignore the pain, I descend the rusty stairs, belatedly realising I’m in bare feet, my shoes forgotten long ago. With my chest screaming at me at each intake of breath, I focus on reassuring Ace and keeping him close to me.
Tempest grunts from behind, constantly shushing Toni to be quiet, as she complains every step of the way. I force myself to remember, she’s more badly injured than I am.
When we reach the ground, a battle is going on around us, but Woody and Paint are waiting and lead our foursome in the opposite direction from the fighting.
We arrive at an SUV, and not the one I drove in.
Tempest takes the front seat, Freak riding shotgun.
Toni, Ace, and I are pushed into the back.
I make sure I’ve taken the centre seat. I want to keep a distance between Ace and his aunt.
Woody and Paint disappear, presumably to join the rest of their brothers, while Tempest guns the engine and heads back to our compound.
Freak cranes his head around to stare at Ace for a moment, as if he’s afraid that if he looks away, his son will disappear. It’s a couple of moments before he speaks. “You okay, kid?”
Ace swallows hard, his voice not quite as firm as his words. “I’m good.”
We’re crammed in the back, my leg is touching his, so I can feel him shaking.
I tell him gently, “I don’t think you’re quite there yet, Ace, but you will be.
” Freak’s eyes meet mine. I’ve never understood before how men seem to communicate without using words, but when he grunts, I know exactly what he’s trying to convey.
Ace has been through a traumatic experience, and it will take time for him to regain his equilibrium.
I respond with an almost imperceptible nod. We’ll all be there for him.
Sensing Ace needs comfort that I’m in a position to give, I suppress my wince as I slide my arm around him and give him a squeeze.
For a moment, he leans into me, then he responds like the teenager he is and pulls away.
“I said you were my mom in there, as I couldn’t tell them you were part of the Kings.” Not unkindly, he adds, “But you don’t need to act like one.”
Chuckling softly, I reply, “I know, buddy. I’m just happy we got you out of there.”
He leans as far forward as his seat belt will allow. “Thanks, Dad, Tempest, and you, Trixie, for rescuing me.” There’s an audible swallow as he adds, “I knew you’d come.”
Again, Freak turns and looks straight at me. And once more, I understand him. He’s showing his gratitude. If it hadn’t been me enabling us to track Ace, he’d still be looking for him. But speeding through the night like fugitives isn’t the time for anything other than sharing headline information.
Toni shifts, winces, and whines in distress. I notice she’s cradling her arm.
“Tempest? You got bandages in here?” I ask, knowing that most of the club’s transport is fitted with first-aid kits.
“Under my seat,” he answers.
Momentarily undoing my seat belt, ignoring the pinging that starts and the sharp pain that makes it hard to breathe, I find it, pull it out, and, sitting back, refasten my belt.
I explore the contents. I locate a bandage of the length that I need and use it to fashion a sling.
I help Toni put it over her shoulder and gently assist her to slide in her broken arm.
I also find some tramadol and offer her one.
Freak throws me a bottle of water, which I pass first to Toni, then surreptitiously use it to take the painkiller I’ve palmed for myself.
“I’m so sorry, Freak,” Toni gushes, breaking the silence that’s fallen, and clearly feeling more comfortable.
“Before my dad died, I didn’t know about Candy, the same way I didn’t know about Josie or Ace.
I only discovered the latter from his deathbed admissions, just like I said.
Candyman, or Brian, as I first knew him, came and introduced himself to me.
He said he was my half-brother, and I…” her voice catches.
“I believed him. His explanation was plausible. My dad had already turned his back on one baby. Why not another from before I was born? I knew he was a biker. He didn’t hide who he was.
But he spun me a story about how terrible your club was, and how we needed to get Ace, our nephew, away from you. ”
Unlike when he turned to look at Ace or me, Freak sits still as a stone in the front seat, his head facing the windshield.
With no reaction, she leans forward, grabbing her ribs to support them, and looking past me to Ace, tells him, “I thought I was doing the right thing. He convinced me your dad was in a bad club, that you were being corrupted...” her voice trails off.
Like his father, Ace says nothing. But he does creep his hand into mine, squeezing my fingers.