Swerve Chapter 11
I felt like I was living in a dream that had turned into a nightmare. When I came over tonight to demand answers from Electra, I hadn’t intended to kiss her or to end up in a firefight with her and Agent Boone at my side. I sure the fuck hadn’t expected to watch her bleed from a bullet wound.
As Electra’s eyes closed and she slumped over, sheer terror hit me. I lurched forward and reached for her. “Wolverine!” I shouted in a panic.
“She’s passed out, that’s all. Her pulse is strong, and she’s breathing, brother. But I’d feel better back where I have more equipment to deal with shit if she takes a turn. Let’s go,” he said.
I watched as he swept her up in his arms. Rhodes was trying to argue, but we ignored him.
“Grab that luggage,” I instructed.
Crash and Cowboy did it. As we hurried outside, I was thankful I’d driven my van.
And somehow, since it was parked down from the house a bit, the men hadn’t shot it to pieces.
Working together, I got myself into it while Wolverine loaded Electra into the back seat of it. Rhodes tried to take her away from him.
“Listen, you can come with us or stay here, but she’s going with us. We can protect her. But if you’re going, get in. We can’t afford to have your car seen near or entering the area we’re headed to. You have five seconds to decide,” I barked.
He paused a moment or two, then silently climbed in to sit in the back and hold on to her. I would’ve preferred to be the one to do it, but I needed to drive. My van was equipped for me, making it difficult for others to drive.
We took off in a roar. As we did, I wondered if anyone had heard the commotion and called the cops.
She had a place outside of town, and there was no one closer than a mile and a half away.
Hopefully, they hadn’t, but it was even more of a reason to leave.
The last thing I wanted was the cops asking us questions.
It was hard to tell what Boone would tell them.
He’d probably lie and get us thrown in jail.
I was so concerned about getting Electra to our compound that I pushed the knowledge that she was FBI to the back of my mind.
I’d deal with that later. I fought to drive within the speed limit and obey all traffic laws.
My brothers surrounded us. Heads were on a swivel.
We remained alert to white vans or anything suspicious.
They could change vehicles or have reinforcements anywhere.
I glanced in my rearview mirror. Boone had Electra clutched to him. His mouth was against her temple, like he had been kissing her. Anxiety mixed with love was written all over him. My gut clenched. I fought to hold my tongue and not demand that he let go of her. Suddenly, his gaze met mine.
“Where are you taking us?” he asked.
“I told you, somewhere safe.”
“That’s not good enough. I need to know.”
He frowned and touched his ear. I recalled him doing it before the shooting. It registered that he had an earpiece.
“Whoever you’re trying to raise, forget it. You can’t,” I informed him smugly.
“Oh, and how the hell would you know that?” he shot back.
“Because this vehicle and where we’re going will have a disruptor preventing outside communication. I can guarantee you that Micro would have activated both as soon as my brothers arrived.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “Your brothers sure arrived timely. How did they know to do that? There’s no way they could know you were in trouble unless…” Suspicion entered his gaze.
“Don’t go making up stories in your head, G-man.
My club isn’t to blame for what happened.
There’s a good explanation for their arrival, and once we get Electra fixed up, I’ll ask.
Just be thankful they were, and that we’ve allowed you to tag along.
If I had my way, your ass would’ve stayed back there,” I muttered.
“Why bother to help either of us? You could’ve left us there to fend for ourselves,” he responded.
My body lurched in rejection of the idea of leaving Electra hurt or anywhere I wasn’t, especially when she was in danger.
I chose not to answer him. Silence stretched between us as I scanned the perimeter.
I noticed he took time to do the same. When he was done, he glanced down at her and lifted a hand to tenderly push her hair back and rub along her cheek with his thumb.
I knew I shouldn’t ask. The answer would only drive the knife in my heart deeper, but I did it anyway.
“You sure seem to care an awful lot for your subordinate. I would think the FBI would frown on that kind of fraternization. I thought they didn’t allow lovers to be in that kind of position.” My hands tightened on the steering wheel. Just leave it alone, Swerve.
Boone glared at me. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.
And my relationship with Electra is none of your fucking business.
Don’t mistake the fact that I let you take her out of there to mean anything more than I need her patched up and a minute to figure out our next move.
That’s all. We’ll be on our way by morning at the latest. Maybe even tonight. ”
I snorted. “You let us. There was no letting about it. She was coming, and there would’ve been nothing you could do about it.
While patching her up is a priority, running off is stupid, especially when you don’t know if your safe house is blown.
And why would it be? Shouldn’t you and your FBI buddies have a ton of those? ”
Boone shifted his gaze away from mine. A sick certainty hit me.
“You have a leak. Someone in your organization informed those men where to find her. You don’t know who to trust, and that means all your usual places are blown.
Son of a bitch, what the hell is going on here?
Why are people after her? She said she has enemies who want her dead.
Why her? I get some wanting to kill an agent regardless, but why Electra specifically? ” I barked.
Before he could answer, a low moan came from her.
I craned my neck to see her better while switching my gaze back and forth.
I had to stay on the road and not run over any of my brothers.
More time had passed than I realized. It was close to twenty-five miles between her house and the compound.
The scenery told me that we were ten minutes out from our destination.
A rustling sound drew my eyes back to the mirror. Electra was shifting around and groaning. Suddenly, she gasped, her eyelids flew open, and she tried to sit up. Boone held her down.
“Whoa, relax, Ellie, you’re safe. I’m right here. It’s Rho. Don’t move too much. You’ve been shot. We’re with Swerve,” he told her.
I thought the last part was more to warn her than to orient her. Was he afraid of what she might say in front of me? I wanted to punch him for calling her Ellie. A nickname indicated a closeness.
Electra looked around my van. When her eyes met mine, she froze.
I couldn’t fathom what she was thinking.
As for me, my mind flashed to that kiss we shared.
I hadn’t had time to process it, but I would.
Something told me that kiss changed how we handled what was to come.
She’d responded. There had been no hesitation.
“W-where are we?” she asked.
“We’re headed somewhere safe. We had to get you outta there before those fuckers came back. Your buddy Boone still hasn’t said why they’re after you. But I guessed that the FBI screwed up, and someone said something they shouldn’t have. He doesn’t have a safe place for you,” I informed her.
She looked over at him. They exchanged a look that was as if they were reading each other’s minds. It smacked of a long and intense familiarity. Had she lied about him being her lover? When she broke their connection, I was happy.
“Swerve, where are you taking us? You and the club shouldn’t get involved in this. You have no idea how dangerous these people are.”
“Then tell me about them. Who are they, and why target you specifically?”
“Swerve, it’s best if you know nothing. That way, when we leave, you won’t be a target. You should let us out and go,” she answered.
“Like hell, I will. You and I have unfinished business,” I growled.
Her widening eyes told me she knew I was referring to our kiss.
“What does that mean?” Boone asked.
“None of your goddamn business,” I snapped.
Further talk was halted by the arrival at the gate to our compound.
We sat out in the middle of Cowan Swamp outside of St. Augustine.
It granted us privacy and plenty of places to deal with unwanted pests.
The bikes ahead of us entered the code, so all I had to do was roll through behind them, and the bikes behind us followed suit.
Since it was evening, the clubhouse was lit up.
I didn’t know who was inside, but we were about to find out. I drove straight to my parking spot.
“Wait for Wolverine,” I instructed them, so they wouldn’t attempt to get out. I didn’t want her walking.
Without delay, I reversed my chair after hitting the button to open the side door.
When I got on the platform that would lower me out, I pressed the next button.
It was too slow for my liking, but I had no choice short of having someone pick me up and carry me, and that wasn’t happening. I heard the door open.
“I’ll take her,” Wolverine told Boone. There was some rustling, then my brother spoke again.
“Swerve, I’m taking her to Sick Bay. Meet you there.”
“Be right there,” I stated.
By the time I was out of the van, they’d gone inside along with Boone and most of our escort. The only one waiting for me was Scorpion. He sidled up to me as I pushed myself to the door of the clubhouse.
“Why did you guys go there?” I asked him.