Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
APEX
It’s fucking incredible how a one-hundred-pound dog and one woman that’s not much bigger can take up an entire king-size bed. I adjust the blanket around me and try yet again to get comfortable on the too-small couch.
I roll on my side and bring my knees up so my ass isn’t hanging off the side. I sigh and close my eyes, but all I see is Danica screaming for my help.
Cursing, I throw the blanket off and grab my jeans.
I slip my legs back into them and grab my lighter off the coffee table. I quietly slip out the door and close it carefully so I don’t wake Haven. I’m just finishing rolling a joint when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I light the joint as I answer the call.
“Talk,” I’m not known for being a talker.
“Heard you were visiting the old lady. Got anything you need to tell me?” Our national President Bulldog’s suspicious voice meets my ears, and I grin.
“Jameson, nice to hear your voice.” I take a long pull and wait.
“Start talking!” I laugh as I blow out the smoke in my lungs.
Pissing him off is my favorite pastime. I’m sure it’ll get me killed one day.
“I need to update my status.” That gets him to calm down.
“You settling?” Not a chance in hell, but the reason is still gutting me, so I clear my throat before I speak again so I don’t sound like a complete pussy.
“She’s dead, Jameson. They killed my old lady.” I’m not sure why I thought I’d be able to hide the emotion that chokes me up.
I take another hit as the words I spoke drop like the bomb they were.
“Do you want to claim retribution?” I huff out a laugh.
“What do you think?”
He curses softly.
“My condolences, man. I can’t fathom what you’re feeling.” I take one more hit as he talks, then stomp out the roach.
“Just update my status and talk to Duchess about the new Prez of the Harlots. She can fill in the blanks. I’ll be off grid for a while, but I’ll check in when the dust settles.” I wait for him to acknowledge he heard me, but all I get is static over the line.
“Hello?” I hear a few beeps and then the phone goes dead.
Ice runs down my spine as I stand up straighter and look around.
Something is wrong. I feel eyes on me, but can’t see anyone. I keep my movements steady as I open our door and quickly close it. I grab my gun as I slip my feet into my boots.
“Haven,” I call out to her firmly.
I use the barrel of the gun to move the curtains just enough to see outside.
“Mmm,” she mumbles as she sits up in bed.
“We gotta go. Grab your shit.” I see a car that wasn’t in the lot earlier, and out of the side of my eye, I catch three figures in masks creeping along the building.
“NOW.” I back away from the window and toss my own shit into my bag.
“What’s going on?” She asks as she puts Diesel on a leash.
“Out the back.” I point at the closet, and she frowns.
Diesel starts to growl, and I know we’re out of time.
I shove her inside the closet as the front window explodes. I have the closet door closed and the secret latch pushed when a small explosion rocks the walls.
“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?” I don’t bother answering her with the dog barking and the shouts coming from the room.
I shove her into the emergency hallway and close the hatch behind me.
“RUN!” I take off, hoping she follows.
The tunnel we added during our renovations was meant for situations like this.
An escape route that dumps into a ravine where we have a truck hidden for emergencies.
We opted for a cage, thinking that if we were running motorcycles, it would give us away, and on the off chance we had to dispose of a body, then we’d be prepared.
Thank god for small favors because Diesel doesn’t look like he’d be up for an early morning ride on a bike, and I highly doubt his mama would leave him behind.
When we reach the exit point, I slow down and move the grate and false wall by shouldering it with all my force. It’s been collecting runoff dirt and overgrowth since we built it. It takes five good shoves to move it, and it won’t squeeze through the crack.
“You and Danica built this?” Haven asks as I seal it back up so no one gets trapped inside.
“We did. There’s a truck hidden under a tarp and fake underbrush about half a mile that way. Let’s hustle. Can you shoot?” I pull a gun and offer it to her.
She takes it with confidence and checks the chamber and clicks.
“Very well.” I grin at him.
Just like your cousin.
“Good, that’s one less thing I need to teach you. Let’s go.” I take the lead, and she lets Diesel off the leash to run ahead.
“Will he come when called?” The last thing I need is for him to play hero and get shot in the process.
Haven whistles, and the dog is at her side and between her legs like a trained military officer. She must see the shock on my face. She shrugs with a small smile.
“Corvin’s father founded Royal Dog Academy.” I raise an eyebrow, impressed.
“And he’s fully trained?” She nods and pats her leg.
Diesel instantly moves to the side she tapped, and he watches her hand signals. He darts off and stops about fifteen feet away and crouches to wait.
“Fully trained in hand and verbal commands, but it’s the everyday stuff he fucking sucks at.” She sighs with a little grin, and I wonder what mischief he’s gotten into that she could be so proud and sick of his shit all in one sentence.
We reach the truck and I start uncovering it when Diesel growls.
I pull my gun and search the woods, but I can’t see much cause of the dark and overgrowth. I feel Haven bump my back with hers and then her whisper in my ear.
“I can’t see shit.” I nod and hate what I’m about to ask, but right now, he’s our best defense.
“Can he scout?” She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she lets out another whistle, and I hear him move into the woods.
We stay back-to-back, covering our sixes and listening for any sounds. After a few minutes, Diesel returns and bumps her thigh with his nose.
“Clear.” I sigh and lower my gun.
I pull the last of the tarp off the truck and open the door. Haven and Diesel get in, and as I’m locking it, three small pops meet my ears before the burning sensation tears through my back, shoulder, and arm.
I slam the door shut and scream at Haven.
“Keys on dash. GO!”