Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
TORCH
P anic clogged my throat and punched me in the gut when Country ordered me to follow him. I knew something had surfaced about Wrenley and those….
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Breathe, motherfucker.
But you left her out there unprotected. They’ll get her. They’ll hurt her.
Reaching up, I roughly tapped at my temple.
Shut up, shut up, shut up.
I’ll get them. I’ll make them pay.
She’s safe here.
There’re brothers everywhere.
A hand clamped onto the back of my neck, and I went to grab my knife until I heard, “Relax, brother. We’ll handle whatever it is,” from State.
Country glanced back but then kept heading toward Tech’s room. He threw the door open and stepped in.
I nodded to State and unclenched my jaw. “I’m good.”
He gave me a quick shake before he let go, and we entered the room.
I went over to a chair at the table where Country and Quake already sat. State pulled out a seat and joined us as Death and Blaze walked in.
Death closed the door after him, and they both stayed standing with their arms crossed over their chest.
“What we got, Tech?” Country asked, leaning back.
Tech pressed a button, and voices filled the room.
“Plank?”
“Harred, I need advice.”
“What the fuck are you calling this cell for? You use the other ? —”
“My son could be in trouble! There’s a girl we need to get rid of ? —”
“Shut the fuck up. I’ll speak to you when I can.”
The call ended.
A girl we need to get rid of.
A girl we need to get rid of.
I stretched my neck and scrubbed at my face.
They’re going to get her because you’re useless.
They’ll touch her, hurt her, and there’s nothing you can do about it, you worthless ? —
“Who called Plank and when?” Death asked as his hand slid onto my shoulder and squeezed.
Breathe, motherfucker, and find out the information.
“Torch?” Country called.
“I’m good,” I got out through clenched teeth as I ran my hands up and down my thighs.
Tech cleared his throat. “Chester Handler, who is Tony’s father and a real estate tycoon. The call happened just a few moments ago. Once I heard the conversation, I did some diggin’. Chester owns a few warehouses in the area where the main drug supply is comin’ from.”
State scoffed. “Which means, he’s lookin’ the other way while Plank and whoever the fuck else he’s workin’ with produces and ships the shit out from Chester’s properties. How fuckin’ uncanny that the prick after Wrenley has a connection with Plank.”
“Damn weird. Though, it could be good for us since Chester’s already fucked up and called Plank’s work number. Clued us in that they’re workin’ together. But what’s this about another cell Plank mentioned?” Quake asked.
Tech grunted. “He must always have it on him or hidden in a damn good place, or else Wreck would’ve found it when he searched the guy’s place. From what I remember Wreck sayin’, his work cell was just sittin’ on the kitchen counter, which was how he tapped it.”
“Now we also know that Mitch saw Wrenley with Torch. Brother, were you wearin’ your cut?” Country asked.
I nodded.
“Means Chester will tell Plank about Wrenley and her association with the club. Plank knows who Wrenley is since he knows Raya,” Death said.
The fucker had questioned Raya about the dead drug dealer and rapist Elio.
I bounced my leg up and down, fighting with myself to stay in the room and not go on the hunt.
“What’s the plan? I need a plan.” I cracked my knuckles. “Can I hunt yet?” I asked the carpeted floor.
“I wish you could, brother. But this is bigger than we thought if Plank’s gonna get involved.”
“He can disappear too,” I suggested with a sneer.
I wanted their blood.
I needed their blood.
Now.
“He’s been a problem for too long,” Death said.
He agreed—Plank had to go.
“He’ll get what’s owed to him,” Country stated. “We dig some more and wait a little longer. We’re nearly there, brothers. We’ll have them in ways they can’t get out of. Tech and Blaze, make Plank a priority. Get Wreck back in if we have to. I want that cell. I’ll talk with Jones about what’s happenin’. For now, Torch, glue yourself to Wrenley. She’s not out of your sight. Death, you’re at Raya’s full-time for now.”
I thumped my palm to my forehead before I ran it roughly over my buzz cut.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
It was all I was doing.
But I could. I would. For her.
My obsession.
Addiction.
Wrenley.
So, while my brothers did the groundwork, I’d keep her safe.
Taking in a huge inhale, I pulled images of Wrenley to the forefront of my mind, calming myself enough to stop the other thoughts.
“We’ll get them, brother,” Country reassured again.
“And then we make sure they hurt,” Blaze snarled.
Country nodded. “They will.”
My sweet obsession and I sat in the living room on the couch while we watched some television show that I wasn’t paying attention to. My focus was glued to Wrenley as she rubbed herself against me once more.
She’d been attentive since I walked out of Tech’s room at the compound.
She knew something was up and had set out to help settle me.
It was working.
She had my full attention now.
Especially after we got here and she’d changed into her denim shorts that displayed her long legs nicely. They were now curled to the side of her on the couch while she rested against my side.
My fingers idly played with the hem of those shorts.
She was safe here. At least I hoped no one was foolish enough to come here. Not when there was Death, me, and Harley.
Are you sure no one will come here?
They’ll get to her because you’re a fool.
I blinked out of the haze and watched Wrenley’s hand running up my chest.
She already knew my body.
Wrenley could tell that my mind had drifted into the darkness, and she wanted to drag me back out with her touch.
My obsession was perfect.
She eased the itch under my skin to hunt, hurt, and kill.
There’d come a time when I could, though, and I liked that she’d accepted that side of me too.
A knock sounded on the door.
I stood with my knife in hand but paused when I heard Death coming from the hall. He shot me a glance and tipped his chin up as he stopped at the door.
Tucking my knife away, I stayed standing even when Wrenley took my hand in hers.
Death looked through the peephole.
“Fuck,” he clipped low. “Plank and Jones,” he told us.
Tensing, I allowed Wrenley to pull me down to sit next to her.
I couldn’t kill him.
I couldn’t kill him.
Death unlocked and opened the door. “Yeah?”
“Leland Thomas?—”
“Death,” my brother said harshly. “Just Death.”
“You can’t tell me?—”
“Plank,” Jones said and sighed. “Death, we got a call saying there was some trouble down the street, and the description of the woman being harassed matches Miss Wrenley Moore. Someone said she was being detained and then got dragged to a car. We’re here to check if she’s okay.”
I ground my teeth together and lifted my upper lip in a silent snarl.
Bullshit.
All bullshit.
This was Plank’s way to check Wrenley was here and who she was with.
Damn, they worked fast. How did Plank pull this off with Jones? Though, it wouldn’t surprise me if Plank showed Jones a forged complaint.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
“Wrenley’s fine,” Death told them.
“We’d like to see for ourselves,” Plank responded.
Death glared but stepped back and waved them in. Jones entered first and then Plank.
My body damn near vibrated with the need to kill him for even looking at my obsession.
“Raya,” Jones greeted her as she moved up beside Death.
“Hello.” She curled into my brother as he placed an arm around her shoulders, and then she waved a hand toward the living room. We were in clear view of them standing near the door. “As you can see, my sister is okay. I don’t know who called the station, but they lied.”
“We’ll be the judge of that,” Plank snarked. I tensed when he took a step our way. His gaze flicked to me before he turned back to Raya. “You just had to get your sister involved with these bikers. You should be ashamed.”
Raya’s head reared back. “Excuse me?”
“Plank,” Jones warned.
“Get the fuck out,” Death snarled.
“Please excuse my partner. He doesn’t mean any disrespect,” Jones tried even when his jaw tightened from his partner’s words.
Stab him.
Burn him.
Kill him.
He’s staring at what’s yours. He has no right.
I inched my hand around to my knife.
Wrenley stood and moved in front of me. “I don’t like the way you spoke to my sister or how you’re judging us. You came here to check on me. I’m fine. Now you can leave before I ring your captain and make a complaint of harassment against you.” Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Pride and elation swam through me.
But it was mixed with fear since I knew Plank wouldn’t like her threat.
Christ, I breathed just as fast as she did.
My hand ached for the knife.
I wanted to plant it in his neck and watch him bleed out.
“Plank, let’s go,” Jones tried.
Smart.
I was two seconds away from doing something that could fuck things up and disgust Wrenley.
I rose behind her and rolled my head back and around before I thumped my knuckles into my temple, gaze locking onto Plank.
He’s looking at her.
A knife to the eyes will fix that problem.
Plank snorted. “You’re all the same.”
I slowly pulled my upper lip off my teeth and glared.
“Fuckin’ leave,” Death ordered once he saw me.
“We’re going,” Jones said.
I drummed my fingers into my palms.
Not yet. Plank can’t die yet.
But he would.
He shot me a wary glance before he stormed out.
Jones watched him leave and quietly said, “I know this visit was something Plank set up, but I don’t know why.”
“Country didn’t call?” Death asked. Jones shook his head. Death nodded. “He probably thought Plank wouldn’t move this fast. You’ll be hearin’ from him. I’d tell you now, but with him out there, I ain’t riskin’ him gettin’ suspicious.”
Jones hummed. “I’ll wait to hear from Country. Look, I haven’t seen Plank this worked up. You need to keep an eye out.”
“We will.”
Jones quickly left while I took some deep breaths, and Death shut the door, locking it.
Wrenley turned to face me.
Plank had looked at her.
He wants to get rid of her.
Reaching out, I dragged her into my arms and held her close, touching my forehead to her shoulder as I ground my teeth together.
No one will hurt her.
I’ll stop them.
Wrenley wrapped her arms around my waist as Raya spoke. “Is there anything my sister and I need to know?”
“Same rules, darlin’. Stay away from Plank. Both of you. If, for some insane reason, we’re not around and Plank is there alone, you run. He’s into shady shit. Trust no one but each other and the club, yeah?”
“I hear you, honey,” Raya replied softly.
“Wrenley?” I muttered.
Her arms squeezed me. “I heard. I’ll be safe. You don’t need to worry.”
But I would until the threat was dealt with.