Chapter Twenty-Four
Cleo probably should’ve listened to Wraith’s orders, but her gut instinct was telling her this girl wasn’t involved.
The last thing Cleo wanted was her to get hurt any more than she’d already been.
She tiptoed down the hall to the opening of the living room.
When the soft knock echoed, she froze, staring at the door.
Slight movement to her left caught her attention.
The girl had moved from the couch and was huddled in the corner, shaking.
“Cleo? It’s me, Reyna.”
Cleo immediately lifted her finger to her lips, silencing the girl. Her eyes were wild with fear and welling. Did she know Reyna? This is bad.
“Come on, girl, open up. It’s cold out here.”
Her stomach twisted, but she didn’t move a muscle.
When she heard a second loud gunshot in the distance, she jumped and spun around to the end of the hall.
The light from her bedroom shined over the back door, and she zoned in on the lock, which was slowly shifting.
Her heartbeat pounded in her chest, and she ran to the end of the hall.
She’d have only a few seconds once it was unlocked.
When Wraith had the door replaced, he insisted on heavy duty double locks. She wasn’t opposed but wanted to keep the old-style chain. He’d given her a whole speech about it not being worth shit, and anyone could bust it open. They’d compromised and installed both.
Thank God!
The door opened only a fraction and the chain tightened. When she saw a hand slide between the door and the frame, she charged forward, slamming her body against the wood and crushing his hand. A loud, screeching, pained shout sounded before the hand disappeared.
She drew in a breath and closed her eyes.
For a brief second, it was completely silent. Maybe it was wishful thinking, or she was trying her hand at manifesting. Maybe they’d left.
Cleo was completely unprepared when the door burst open, sending her to the floor and sliding down the hallway.
She scrambled to get to her feet, stumbling, but only made it into the living room when she was tackled, and her face slammed against the floor.
She kicked her legs, swinging her hands behind her back, but it was a fruitless effort.
He outweighed her and easily pinned her down.
“Help!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Shut the fuck up,” the man snarled, grasping the back of her hair and yanking her head back. Her breath got caught in her throat, and pure panic set in.
His heavy body jerked forward, and he screamed, groaning like a wounded animal.
“Fuck!” His grip loosened, and her face fell forward.
His body jerked over hers, and mixed in with his pained groans she heard a breathy whimper.
Cleo struggled to turn her head just as he collapsed over her back, and she felt all his weight bear down on her.
Her breath shallowed, and shifting her body, she crawled out from under him.
He was lying flat on his stomach, twitching slightly, and his voice made a gurgling sound.
Her gaze shifted down to the floor. There was blood spilling onto the edge of her carpet, soaking it red. His black jacket appeared wet.
Cleo slowly angled her head to the opening of the kitchen. The girl stood silent, staring down at his body, a bloody knife gripped in her palm.
Holy shit!
****
The bikes roared down Grizz’s driveway, kicking up rocks and wheels threatening to slide out of control.
Headlights shone their way, and a small car came toward them.
He was fully prepared to slam head on. There was no way they were getting away.
For all he knew, Cleo was inside that vehicle.
They were only a few feet away when the car slammed on its brakes, coming to a jolting stop.
Bikes circled around the car, and Gent pulled out his gun, shooting the tires on his side while Cue covered the other.
“Get out of the fucking car!” Cue shouted, aiming his gun at the driver. He glanced up at Wraith. “Just Reyna.”
Wraith jumped off his bike, as did the others, and he raced to the front door. He charged forward with all his weight and power, busting it open. The first sight he got was a body, a man lying on the floor.
“Wraith.” Cleo’s voice was small, laced in fear. She rushed toward him, and he circled his arms around her, hugging her against his chest.
“What the fuck?” Cross said.
Wraith shifted his gaze to the kitchen. A girl was standing frozen, wielding a knife, and her hand and arm were drenched in blood. Her shirt had streaks and speckles of red all over her.
“Drop the knife.” Ace growled.
When the girl didn’t move, Wraith shifted Cleo behind him and pulled out his gun, aiming it at the girl.
“Put down the fucking knife.”
“No.” Cleo grabbed his waist. “Don’t hurt her.”
Cross slowly moved closer and held up his hands. “Not gonna hurt her.” He kept his stare on the girl. “There’s a dead guy, and you’re holding the knife. Makes you a threat. You put down the knife, he puts down his gun. We ain’t gonna touch you.”
The girl had been almost zombie-like since he’d stormed through the door. But her eyes moved to Cleo as if waiting for permission. Or reassurance.
“Tell her, Cleo,” Cross said.
Cleo inched forward, but Wraith stepped into her path. That was as close to the stranger as he’d allow. The girl was pale, in shock and distress. And unpredictable.
“Tell her,” Wraith muttered.
“No one is going to hurt you, I promise.”
She stared back at Cleo for a few seconds then dropped the knife to the floor and stepped back.
Thank fuck.
Cross retrieved the knife, and Wraith lowered his gun to his side. Ace walked deeper into the room, eyeing the body on the floor.
“We know him?” Cross asked, and Ace shook his head.
His president circled the body, then looked over at the girl.
“You know him?”
She stared back at Ace but didn’t answer or make any move. Cue and Oak came through the door.
“We got Reyna and two other guys at Grizz’s.”
“Is the old man okay?” Wraith asked.
“Yeah,” Cue said, surveying the dead body in the middle of her living room. “Said he fired warning shots, and that was enough to make them stop. They’re secured.”
“Get Joker and the other prospects. I want them in here with Cleo,” Ace said, eyeing the girl.
Cleo tried to pass him, but Wraith grabbed her wrist. “You stay away from her.”
She jerked her hand, but he refused to let go. Cleo inched closer, scowling.
“She saved me. That guy was on top of me, and she stabbed him, protecting me, Wraith.”
His gaze shot up to the girl. She still hadn’t moved, but she wasn’t looking at him. The girl was staring at Cleo.
“If she wanted to hurt me, she would’ve.”
Wraith gave a curt nod and watched Cleo walk to the girl. Cleo gestured to the chair at the table, and the girl sat down.
*
Ace was doling out orders to the prospects.
They would clean up and take any soiled furniture out into the field behind Grizz’s property.
He’d used it as a burning pit for years.
They’d sent several members out to survey the area.
Cleo only knew of two people at the house.
Grizz had gotten two. But there could be more.
Wraith waited and watched Cleo. She made the girl tea and sat with her. She still hadn’t said a word. Not even to Cleo.
“Wraith.”
He glanced over. Cross and Cue were in the doorway, and his VP gestured for him to come outside. Ace started toward the door, and he followed, stopping next to Joker.
“Cleo is never left alone with the girl.”
Joker gave a curt nod. “I’ll watch her myself.”
Wraith walked outside but left the door open. There were several members hanging around the entire property. They called everyone in.
Wraith walked to the edge of the house, meeting with Ace, Cross, and Cue.
“You get anyone else?”
Cue sighed, sharing a look with Cross. “Yeah and no.”
What the fuck did that mean?
“Had Cue and a few others take a ride through town. Figured maybe they had people surrounding other areas.” Cross said.
Wraith looked over at Cue.
“About two miles down the road where the northern clearing is, I noticed a small light. We drove in and found a camper. Looks similar to the one from Burke’s video cameras that he saw weeks ago.”
“Anyone there?”
“Yeah.” Cue cocked his brow. “Two dead guys.”
Oh fuck!