Chapter 82
Reaper
I drive through town trying to spot Zac’s truck, but it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Unfortunately, neither Python nor Smoke has been able to see him on the cameras around town either. He’s got to be holed up somewhere.
Stopping at a stoplight, I punch the wheel in frustration and feel the skin on my knuckles split from the pressure. “Where the fuck are you hiding, Zac?” I growl as I wait for the light to change.
I’m on the edge of the industrial district. Something in my gut says he’s around here. There aren’t many abandoned buildings in Junction Creek but there are a few. As I wait for the light, a familiar car drives past me and heads west.
What the fuck is she doing here?
It looks like she’s changed her appearance some, but it’s definitely her.
I dial Python and turn, following behind her but staying back far enough so that she hopefully doesn’t notice me.
“Whatcha got?” he asks as he picks up my call.
“Do a check on Crystal’s car. I could be mistaken, but I’m pretty sure I’m following her right now.”
“Fuck. That bitch would be stupid to step foot in one of our towns, but brains was never her strong suit,” Smoke says, and I realize Python must have put me on speakerphone.
“Shit. She’s here and she’s heading west on Plankton Road. Judging from your tracker, you are indeed following her unless someone else is using her car,” Python replies.
“It’s most likely her since the title is still showing up in her name. Looks like she has been staying in a motel a town over from Junction Creek for the past week,” Smoke says, and I curse silently.
“Send her coordinates to the others. I have a feeling she’ll lead us to Lark. Inform Thor. Since she was his club’s bunny, he needs to be in on her punishment if it really is her.”
“You got it, Pres,” he replies, and the line goes dead.
Fuck, I silently curse again. Worry eats at me. Lark’s been gone for eight hours now and a lot can happen in that amount of time.
I continue following Crystal through the industrial district until she pulls up to a dilapidated warehouse and parks. I drive past and park when I’m out of sight before dialing Python again.
“Does the town have any cameras around the old Johnson warehouse that we can use?”
“Only a couple,” he replies, “but we have your body cams all online so we can see what you’re seeing.”
Shit. I’d damn near forgotten about those. “How long until the others arrive?”
“Razor’s the furthest out at twenty minutes but that was a few minutes ago.
“I’ll scope out the place until they get here.”
I hang up and watch as Crystal pulls a couple of large bags out of the backseat of her car.
Squinting, I try to make out what’s on the side of the plastic bags.
Unlocking my phone, I quickly pull up my camera and zoom in.
She picked up take out? How many people are in there to warrant at least six bags of food?
And I bet Lark won’t get any of it.
God, she must be starving by now since she’s missed supper and I know her lunch break was cut short today.
When Crystal walks into the warehouse, I quickly cross the parking lot, thankful for the cover of darkness.
All I have to do is avoid the few streetlights.
Peeking into the window by the door, I frown when I don’t see anyone.
It’s a good thing Smoke’s cameras will be able to pick up heat signatures because I’m not seeing much inside for light.
Since there are no other windows along the front of the warehouse, I creep along the outskirts until I come to one.
Peeking inside, I spot Crystal walking further into the warehouse with the takeout bags, but still, there’s no sign of Lark.
Pulling out my gun, I attach the silencer and climb back down the hill.
I do a pass around the building, scoping out as much of the layout as I can—where the windows are, where the exits are and how many are there, where the exterior lights are.
Everything. Spotting a nearby hill, I climb it to try and get a better vantage point which is where Devil, Nathan and a few others find me five minutes later.
“What’d you see so far?” Devil asks me as he squats down next to me.
“Just Crystal taking in about six fucking bags of takeout food. Haven’t seen anyone else. There are two entrances—this one and another on the back side by the docks,” I relay to them as I gesture to the main door before telling them everything I’ve spotted so far.
“Here, Reaper. Smoke asked me to bring the coms devices,” Nathan says as he passes me a small bag.
I hand them out before putting mine on and handing the rest back to Nathan. Then I dig my keys out of my pocket and toss them to him as well.
“Here, Nathan, just in case I need you to bring my truck around later. You stay here on watch. When you see the others arrive, signal them and pass out coms to them, then have them take up spots around the exterior in case we need backup. Devil, Patch, Axe, Beast, you four head through the front door and then span out. Cannon, Atlas, and Gunner, you’re with me.
We’ll go in through the back. Everyone ready? ”
They all give me a chin lift and we split up.
Gun at the ready, I lead my guys around the back of the warehouse and peak through the broken window of the rear entrance.
I frown as unease swirls throughout me. There’s no one in sight.
Do they seriously not have someone stationed at each exit point?
If so, then that will make things easier on us.
Gunner tests the handle and gives me a nod, letting me know it’s unlocked.
Switching places with him, he opens the door and we all slip inside.
I wait a few seconds, letting my eyes adjust. Gunner signals that he’ll stay by the door and the rest of us carefully pick our way through the loading area of the warehouse, careful not to step on broken glass and other shit that’s scattered across the floor.
Reaching the overhead doors leading into the rest of the warehouse, I scan ahead and notice light coming from a door up that looks like it’s slightly ajar. Doing a double check of the area again, my frown deepens when I still don’t see anyone else on guard. Is this a trap?
Needing to push forward just in case Lark is here, I signal to the others and we silently cross the room.
As we get closer, I can hear people talking quietly.
My frown morphs into a scowl when I recognize Crystal’s voice, but as for the others, I don’t recognize them.
We listen for a few moments and from the tones, I think there are three men and Crystal inside.
Holding up three fingers and then one to the others, they all nod.
Slipping closer, I peak through the crack in the door and relief flows through me that their backs are towards the door.
But then I notice they’re all watching monitors while they eat.
Easing the door open wider, I slip inside.
One of them must see me out of the corner of their eye, because he shoots to his feet and lunges at me.
Pulling my arm back, I slam the butt of my gun against his temple, knocking him out, but I don’t have time to make sure he stays down because the other three lunge for us as well.
Crystal spins and her eyes widen when she recognizes us.
She turns on her heal and darts for her phone which was on the table in front of her.
“I don’t think so,” I growl as I grab her hair and pull her back towards me. Grabbing her hands, I yank them behind her back and place my gun to her temple while the others secure the other three men. Looking them over, none of them seem familiar. Are they more of Richard’s men? Or someone else’s?
Once they’re restrained, Cannon and Atlas take her and restrain her.
Setting my gun down on the table, I scan the monitors.
Of course, the cameras on Lark are on the largest screen, but before focusing on her screen, I look at the others, trying to get an idea of how many men are still in the warehouse.
“Are these five seriously the only other people here besides Zac, Richard, and Kelly?” I mutter and hear someone scoff behind me.
Looking over my shoulder, I notice Cannon and Atlas have gagged everyone and Cannon’s shaking his head.
“My bet is that Cox is running out of men to do his dirty work. Remember what Dane said? He only knew of four others that still did this kind of work for him and I’m betting these are those four.
As for Zac? I don’t think he thought we’d put up much of a fight.
He’s completely focused on our Queen, but maybe we can use that to our advantage. ”
Frowning, I turn back to the monitors. Lark is tied to a bed in the middle of the room and there are three boards filled with pictures on damn near every square inch of them.
But what has my heart beating faster is the way Zac is hovering over her, with a syringe in his hand.
Behind him, Richard and Kelly are looking on with smug satisfaction.
Richard’s holding a pile of papers in his right hand and I’d bet anything that’s the forms Lark needs to sign to hand everything over to him.
On a table next to them, is an open briefcase and there’s even more syringes inside it.
“Found their control station. Looks like Lark’s being held in the center of the warehouse. From what I can see, there are only two exits, and the only windows are those that are in the doors. Zac, Richard, and Kelly are in there with Lark.”
“Heading that way,” Devil replies. “What’s our game plan? You know we really only have one by the sound of it.”
I chew on my lip as I contemplate if there’s any other way, but Devil’s right. “The only option is to storm in. Shoot to take down, not kill. Those bastards are going to pay for putting their hands on my Old Lady.”
Looking at the screen, I mentally map where I need to go to find Lark and then I push off the desk and grab my gun. I pat my pockets, double checking the extra magazines are still there and turn, surprised to see Gunner at the door.
“Smithy took over the rear exit. I’ll stay here and guard these assholes.”
I give him a chin lift in thanks. Cannon and Atlas follow me through the warehouse, guns drawn.
Hang on just a little bit longer, Darlin. We’re coming.