23. Angel
ANGEL
The door closes. I wait for a moment before opening my eyes just to make sure Rogue has left. I will appreciate his protection for the rest of my days, but he can’t possibly know how it feels to know the life of your sister is in your hands, and only your hands.
I heave in a breath, slipping into my jeans and tank in the dark.
Rogue doesn’t know what the Scorpions do to women who aren’t protected by their crew.
The only thing keeping my sister alive is the fact they want me back whole, clean, pure and tradeable to those sadistic fucks who want to buy me for their dirty kicks.
As long as there is a chance they’ll get me back they know I’ll go willingly to the buyer as long as they don’t hurt or kill Ari.
But only if I can get there and it’s going to be a problem with Rogue’s men, who he probably has all over this club guarding the complex in case the Scorpions come back.
My eyes dart around the room looking for anything I can use for a disguise.
I rummage through the closet, homing in on the black Glock snugged into a black leather holster, which gives me an idea.
A dangerous and crazy idea that rolls around in my mind for less than a minute. It’s my only shot. And I know exactly where I’m going now, but only after I’ve got Rogue’s spare gun holster and gun securely around my waist.
Weaponed up and dressed in his jacket, I leave the bedroom and head down the hall to the window at the very end. The only one that will get me down the rain drain and into the back area so I can circumvent the guys guarding in the front.
I look up at the window and realize it’s too far above my head.
I backtrack, undeterred and duck into the club room, glancing around for the chair I recall seeing in the corner.
A few minutes later, I’ve hefted it into my arms and have it pushed against the wall and am climbing up to get to the window.
The latch may be dusty, but it heaves with a good push upward allowing me plenty of space to look out and spot the drainpipe below.
This is my only hope of going down without getting caught.
I slide one leg and then the other over the window ledge, glancing down with feet dangling before inhaling a deep breath, grabbing hold of the drainpipe and tentatively pushing off the windowsill to slide down the pipe, praying it holds my weight as I use my feet against the wall to balance myself on the way down.
I wish I had grabbed Rogue’s oversized chaps to keep my thighs protected as I take the slide. I hit the ground with a thud, thankful it’s not full of cactus thorns and instead just sunbaked dirt, which is hard enough on my feet.
The Royal Bastard bikes are out in front. I’m tempted to jump on one of them and hightail it out of here just like in the movies, but nothing in my experience has taught me how to ride a motorcycle and getting myself killed before I get to my sister is not going to help anyone.
Instead, I take to the shadows, avoiding the front where the sentries are still watching just in case the Scorpions show up again.
I’m careful to duck against the building to avoid the cameras I know show up on the little screen on Rogues’ watch.
“Rogue said to lock everything down tight. Him and Hayze are heading out shortly to go get Angel’s sister from the Scorpions.
We’re going to have a skeleton crew here for a while. ”
My chest tightens so hard I can barely breathe.
The Scorpions will be able to hear the rumble of their bikes far down the road.
I’ve heard other crews roar into the desert and the Scorpions always knew way ahead of time whether they were friendly or not.
Every sound causes my chest to tighten, trying to stay still, scanning the surroundings, trying to find a way out of the club grounds Rogue has had completely surrounded in his efforts to keep me safe.
The front and back are both covered. I’m sure his men will have the alley across the street guarded so I head toward the adjacent neighbor’s fence.
A tall neighboring barrier keeps my sights on finding anything I can use to propel myself up and over.
At first glance there’s nothing. I begin to panic, caught in the middle of the property, sure to be found and stopped at some point by Rogue’s men, but desperation kicks in.
At some point I’m just going to have to go no matter how hard my heart is pounding.
There has to be a way to get to my sister before those bastards hurt her, and they will if Rogue shows up without me.
All I need is to find a way to one of their bars again, this time without Rogue’s interference.
I know the Scorpions will take me back. At least for my sister’s sake I have to hope the deal is still on and the safety of their own sorry asses is on the line if the buyer finds out they’ve lost me and aren’t getting me back.
Either way, I have to get to my sister before the guys leave on their bikes to head across the desert and try to rescue my sister.
What if they can’t find her, what if the recruit told them exactly what the Scorpions wanted him to think and the Royal Bastards ride right into a trap that’s been completely orchestrated.
No matter how much I try I just can’t dispel the thought of the evil Scorpions talking amongst themselves that night.
Don’t worry, we have a backup plan. Jed will tell them whatever we want him to say.
It’s all that I keep thinking about as I drag an old wheelbarrow tucked into the trees, apparently a practical place for the guys to do a little hauling in the backyard, but right now, the only way out of here for me.
I drag it close to the fence, grateful turning it over is easy and standing on top of it gives me the easiest and most opportune way to get some height, hoist myself up and over the fence and run like hell, trying to disappear in the night.
Even having to backtrack, the bar the Scorpions used to bring me to, make me dance, and collect a little cash isn’t terribly far.
This time, I don’t take any chances of being caught or deterred from what I came here to do.
I walk right in the front door, glancing around to find one of the Scorpions and when I see him it’s all downhill from there.
“Help me! Please!” I scream through the open door.
Every person in the club, the Scorpion fucks in the back, the others sitting at the bar enjoying a drink, the half-dressed dancers on the bar, even another woman the Scorpions bring here sometimes, and the bartenders serving drinks all stop what they’re doing as I belt out another scream.
The two Scorpions move quick, but I’m faster. I don’t want an audience, I just wanted their attention and now that I have it, I move, racing back out the front door, down the street, and then run the opposite way I came knowing they’re right on my ass.
I run until I’m spent, letting them think what they want, but without a prayer in hell of not being caught in the next couple of minutes, if even that.
When one of them snatches me by the hair, he yanks, drawing me to a stop, panting, out of breath and with only one hope in the world.
That they’ll take me to the Scorpions and that I’m not too late and they’ll still have my sister to trade.