Chapter 10
TRIGGER
Riding through the quiet streets after the fight, Tiny silent at my side, I can’t stop replaying that kiss. Her lips were soft but demanding like she wanted to claim me, and the heat of her body felt like it burned straight through to my soul, making my heart pound against my chest. Time stood still when her lips claimed mine. Her taste still lingers, something sweet and dangerous. I can hear her soft voice speak to me. What is it about this woman I can’t get out of my head?
When we pull into the Clubhouse gates, Seth nods us through without a word. The hum of the engines fades as we park in the garage, but the tension between me and Tiny feels loud enough to fill the silence. His eyes are on me, sharp and unrelenting, and I know that look, it’s the one he gives when he’s about to tear into someone. Probably me.
I climb off my bike, hang my helmet on the handlebars, and shoot him a glare. “What?” I ask.
“How long has this thing between you and that woman been going on?” His voice is even, but the weight of his accusation hits me like a punch.
I scoff, walking past him. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit.” Tiny replies.
I walk past Tiny and head down the corridor into the bar. It’s quiet in here tonight, thank fuck for that. I go behind the bar and grab a bottle of Crown and two shot glasses. Pouring two fingers in each, I slide one to Tiny. I knock mine back in one smooth motion, the burn doing nothing to numb the storm in my chest. I think about what to tell him. I knock back another shot before I say anything. Tiny still hasn’t touched his drink. Instead, he is still staring at me, leaning against the bar, arms crossed, waiting for an answer.
I sigh, “Fuck. Man, you’re relentless.” I come around to the other side of the bar with the Crown in my hand and take a seat. “That was the first time I even touched that woman.” Tiny raises an eyebrow in disbelief. “Yeah, tell me about it. That’s the woman who ran me over a while ago and wrecked my bike.” I confess with a sigh. I watch Tiny out of the corner of my eye, waiting for his reaction.
“No, shit?”
“No shit,” I rub a hand down my face, exhaling hard. “Her name is Aerianna. I don’t even know who she is just that she’s a crazy ass driver and now works at the casino as a dealer.” I scrub my hands down my face. “I don’t know what to make of this.”
Tiny snorts, finally taking a sip of his drink. “I don’t either, but the way she clung to you like a spider monkey tonight makes me think she isn’t all in the head.” Tiny laughs.
“You’re such as asshole.” I shake my head, but his words pull a reluctant smirk from me. I take a swig of the Crown in my hand and set the bottle on the bar top. “I’m going to check on my sister and head to bed.”
“Ok, Brother. I’ll see you in a few hours. Remember we have Church at ten.” Tiny reminds me. “To talk about what we found out tonight.”
I salute him lazily, smirking as I turn and head down the hallway toward Elise’s room. Pausing outside her door, I listen for any sign she’s awake, but the silence reassures me that my sister is asleep. It’s late, and the last thing I want is to wake her. Tomorrow, I’ll check in properly. For now, I need to deal with the storm brewing in my chest.
When I reach my room, I close the door with a soft click and lock it behind me. The weight of the night settles over me as I shrug off my cut, Aerianna’s scent still clinging to the leather. It’s faint, but it’s enough to stir something primal in me. I hang it on the back of the door like I’m trying to preserve it, even though I know it’s just an excuse to keep her close. My boots hit the floor with dull thuds as I toe them off, followed by the rest of my clothes until I’m down to my boxers. I bypass the bed, my body too wired to crash just yet, and head straight into the bathroom.
The hiss of water fills the small space as I crank the shower on, letting the steam build until it fogs the mirror and wraps around me like a second skin. I step in when the water’s hot enough to sting, hoping it’ll wash away more than just the blood and grime of the night. But the heat does nothing to ease the ache twisting inside me. My muscles are sore, but that’s not what’s eating me alive. It’s her, Aerianna. That woman is in my head, under my skin, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to shake her.
The way her body brushed against mine earlier. The memory ignites something deep and dangerous. She looked at me like I was the only man in the room, and when she kissed me, it was like she was daring me to lose control. I remember the feel of her lips, soft, demanding, full of fire. If Tiny hadn’t barged in when he did, I’d have taken her right there on that filthy floor without any fucks given.
The thought alone is enough to stir me, and before I can stop myself, my hand wraps around the hardness she’s left in her wake. Closing my eyes, I see her on her knees, her grey eyes locked on mine, her lips parting to take me in.
My grip tightens as I pump, the fantasy consuming me. Her taste, her heat, the way her body would feel beneath mine, it’s all I can think about. It doesn’t take long before I tremble, my release crashing over me like a wave. My head thuds against the cool tiles, my breaths coming in sharp, uneven bursts.
What the hell is this woman doing to me? I don’t even know her, not really, but she’s already got me so twisted up I don’t know which way is up. Does she feel the same pull? Is she as consumed by this as I am? Or am I just another mark, another distraction in her tangled world?
I shut off the water and step out, grabbing a towel to dry off. The air in the bedroom feels cool against my skin as I walk naked to the dresser. I pull on a clean pair of boxers, the exhaustion finally catching up with me. Collapsing onto the bed, I can’t stop my mind from circling back to Aerianna. The way she looked at me, kissed me, consumed me. Sleep comes slowly, and when it does, she’s still there, haunting my thoughts.
I’m good and fucked when it comes to this woman.
A fist pounding on my door drags me from sleep. I was dreaming about Aerianna. The woman has my head in knots, and I don’t know what I’m going to do. The raging hard-on I’m sporting is going to hurt like a son of a bitch today.
The pounding continues, more insistent this time. I yank the door open, coming face to face with Torch.
"Shit, bro." Torch chuckles, eyes dropping to my tented boxers. "Put that beast away. You’re late for Church."
"Yeah, give me ten." I slam the door in Torch’s face before he can say anything else. The fucker loves torturing us with his jokes. Since he and Daisy got together and had the twins, he’s mellowed out some, but not by much. Especially when his twin, Jax, is around with his Ol’ Lady, Rose. Those two are goddamn terrible together, always pulling pranks on everyone, even the Ol’ Ladies.
They got Red and Nadia one day, and you would have sworn Red’s face was going to burst into flames from embarrassment. Let’s just say Red and Nadia have learned not to have sex in his communications room without locking the door first.
Shaking off the thoughts, I head to the bathroom and take a much needed piss before washing my hands and brushing my teeth. I need coffee, too. I throw on a pair of jeans hanging in my closet, then slide a white T-shirt over my head. Once my socks and boots are on, I grab my cut and put it on. The leather fits like a second skin. I pocket my wallet, keys, and phone before heading out.
I walk down the hallway toward Elise’s bedroom to check on her when I hear a soft giggle and a male voice coming from across the hall in Pretty Playboy’s room. Instead of checking on Elise, my mind jumps to the assumption that she’s in his room. Rage consumes me, and I pound on his door hard enough to rattle the walls. I don’t give a fuck if he’s my brother by the patch that’s my sister he’s fucking with.
The door flings open to a pissed-off Pretty Playboy, standing there naked, chest heaving. "What the fuck do you want?"
I shove him aside and step into his room. On his bed, naked, are Pearl and Sadie, two of the Club Bunnies making out. Neither of them covers themselves when they see me. If anything, they get more into it, licking and sucking on each other’s nipples while playing with their clits. Normally, I’d throw caution to the wind and join them, but ever since I met Aerianna, they don’t do it for me.
"You’re late for Church," I grunt, stepping out of his room before he can say anything.
Yeah, I thought it was my sister in there. Was it a dick move to barge in like that? Yeah. Do I give a fuck? Not really. But I am improving. I knocked instead of breaking down his door like I wanted to. Progress, I guess.
I grab a cup of coffee from the kitchen and head into Church. Pretty Playboy slides in behind me, scowling. I don’t say a word, just take my seat and blow on my coffee before taking a sip. When I glance at him, he huffs like a spoiled child. I grin. Yeah, I’m an asshole. But at least I’m a consistent one.
Capone slams the gavel on the table, signaling it’s time for Church. Normally we meet three times a week, but with the shit going down with my sister, we have it when it’s necessary to update everyone.
“What’s the update?” Capone asks, diving right into business.
“The guy I fought last night sang like a canary when he came to. Said Lattimer has been hiding out underground, and the only way we can bring him up is with a shipment of girls. He said Lattimer has been peeking his head out of his hiding spot every few months but dives right back in like a weasel when we get too close. He has tabs on us somehow, but the guy didn’t know. That tells me we have a snitch.”
Fury erupts in the room.
Capone slams his gavel down, “Now wait a fucking minute!” He shouts. “Before we go accusing someone of being a snitch, we need to figure some other shit out. I know each and every one of you sitting here or prospecting for us. None of us would put this club in jeopardy, and every single one of us would put our life on the line for the patch.” He slams his fist on the table in frustration. “Red.” Capone barks. “What do you have?”
Red pushes his glasses up onto his face and clears his throat. “I’ve checked out what I could find on Elise’s boyfriend.” His sympathetic gaze lands on me. “He’s a piece of work, Trigger. I don’t know how we keep finding these fuckers but we do.”
Red tosses a stack of photos on the table, and we each grab one. He looks familiar, but I can’t place where or how. Standing around six foot one, he has thick, broad shoulders that isn’t muscle. It’s the kind of bulk that comes from too many beers and late-night fast food runs. His once athletic frame had gone soft, but his arms still packed enough power to leave marks when he lost his temper.
His dark brown hair is long and greasy, as if he couldn’t be bothered to run a comb through it. From this photo he is sporting a five o’clock shadow, not the kind that made a man look rugged, but the kind that made him look like he never gave a damn. His hazel eyes are bloodshot from whiskey and too many sleepless nights, carrying the restless energy of a man always looking for his next bet, his next excuse, his next fight, and he reeks of desperation.
A tattoo snakes up his forearm, some ink he probably got in a drunken haze, though it had long since lost its meaning. His stance is of a man who thinks he owns the room, but underneath it is an undercurrent of agitation, like a wolf pacing in a cage. He’s wearing wrinkled jeans and a faded T-shirt. Everything about him screams recklessness, a man who has never learned his lesson and never wants to.
“How the fuck did my sister get mixed up with this asshole?” I question aloud, not expecting an answer.
Red speaks up, “It appears they met at a bar, and he laid on the charm. He was on the prowl for a woman like Elise, and when he sunk his claws into her, that’s when things turned bad.”
I look at Red. He won’t meet my eyes, so there is something more he isn’t saying. “Spit it out, Red. Just rip the fucking band-aid off.”
“His name is Jonas Mercer.” Torch snorts. I know he has a smart-ass comment but refrains from speaking. “After I got his name, I dug deeper and, Trigger, you’re not going to like what I found. He is the brother to Josiah Mercer.” Red’s face turns a deep shade of red out of anger and controlled rage.
A cold, suffocating silence falls over the room at Red's words. My heart drops into my stomach. Jonas Mercer. The name slams into me like a freight train, and for a moment, I can't breathe. The brother of Josiah Mercer, the monster who did unspeakable things to Syvannah, Exleigh, and Nadia. The same guy who almost killed Kensi. The one who’s responsible for the bloodshed and the wreckage left in his wake.
I should've known something was off. My sister was always so stubborn and independent, never willing to listen. She never saw the signs. Shit. How deep is she in this mess? I stand up abruptly, pacing, my mind whirring with a million thoughts at once. The room feels too small, too suffocating.
“Red, what else do you know? What else have you found?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady but failing.
Red’s jaw tightens as he digs into the files he’s brought, tossing another photo on the table. This one’s an old mugshot. Jonas Mercer’s eyes stare back at me, filled with malice and indifference. It’s not just some petty criminal shit. He’s been in and out of trouble for years, each time pushing further into darker, more dangerous territory.
“He’s tied to some pretty heavy players,” Red continues, voice tight. “Drugs, extortion, the whole fucking network. But it gets worse. I’ve been following his financials, and it looks like he’s been living off Elise. He’s been using her, feeding off her trust. She was an easy target for him. He knew exactly who she was. How to pull her in.”
A sick feeling twists in my gut. “How long has this been going on?”
“About six months now,” Red says. “But things have escalated recently. He’s gotten more involved with Lattimer’s operation. That’s probably why he’s keeping an eye on her. She’s a pawn in a bigger game.”
I can feel the anger building, rising like a fire in my chest. Elise. My little sister. How the fuck did she get wrapped up in this?
Capone speaks, his voice steady but laced with authority. “We need to find Jonas. Fast. If he’s been working with Lattimer, this shit’s bigger than we thought.”
I nod, my mind racing. “I’m going after him. I’ll make sure he talks. If he’s using Elise, he won’t walk away from this.” The words come out through clenched teeth. Every muscle in my body is wound tight with the urge to go out and find him, but I know this isn’t something I can do alone.
Capone holds up a hand. “Not alone, Trigger. We do this right. We get our ducks in a row before we go charging in.”
I shake my head. “I’m not waiting. I don’t give a shit about the plan. Not when my sister’s in danger.” The tension in the room ratchets up another notch. I can feel everyone watching me, feeling my pain, my need to move, to act. But Capone isn’t one to be ignored.
“Listen to me,” Capone says, his voice sharp. “We’ll find Jonas. We’ll hit him where it hurts. But you’re not going after him until we’re ready. Understand?”
I hold his gaze for a long moment before nodding. I can’t promise to hold back, but I can follow orders. For now.
“We need answers, and we need them now,” Capone adds, his tone still commanding. “Get the rest of the Club in motion. This ends tonight.”
I know Capone’s right, but all I can think about is Elise. Is she already in too deep? Has Jonas already done enough damage that she won’t be able to escape? My mind races, and I know there’s no turning back from this.
If it comes down to it, I’ll burn everything to the ground to protect my sister.
Tiny slams his fist onto the table, causing it to rattle. “Are you fucking kidding me? Elise is tangled with Josiah’s brother? The one who raped and tortured, Syvannah and Exleigh and kidnapped Nadia? The one who tried to kill Kensi? What the fuck is going on?” Tiny turns his attention to me. “Do you think Elise was the leak without her knowing? The two of you talk all the time. Do you think that’s why he targeted her, to keep an eye on the Club without us knowing?”
The blood drains from my face as realization dawns on me. “Where is my sister now?”
“She was in her room the last time I checked on her.” Pretty Playboy answers. I pin him with a menacing glare, and he holds his hands up. “Hey, brother, that was last night. As you saw firsthand this morning, I was too preoccupied to hit on your sister, so I didn’t check on her. I assumed she was with the ladies.”
Capone nods at Pretty Playboy, “Well, now that you aren’t preoccupied, you can go check on her and bring her here. We need to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.”
Pretty Playboy shoves away from the table grumbling about dickheads need to make up their minds. Stay away from her, keep her close, check on her, don’t check on her as he walks out the Church doors, slamming them behind him.
The room remains tense as the doors slam shut behind Pretty Playboy. Everyone knows things have escalated far beyond just a simple investigation. We’re in deep. Too deep to back out now.
I try to focus and push aside the feeling of dread that’s creeping in. My sister’s caught up in this mess, and now I’ve got to figure out if she’s involved in something more dangerous than I realized. The mention of Jonas Mercer, Josiah’s brother, sends a cold shiver down my spine. Everything makes sense now. Elise was always trying to shield herself from her past, but this guy, he’s connected to everything I thought I had left behind.
Capone’s voice cuts through the silence. “We can’t afford to waste time. Trigger, you need to figure out where this fucker is hiding. We can’t trust anyone right now. If your sister’s involved, we have to make sure she’s safe. If she’s been manipulated, we’ll deal with that after.”
I nod, swallowing the anger rising in my throat. This isn’t just about the Club anymore. This is about my family, my blood. If I find out Jonas has been pulling strings from behind the scenes, I’m going to make him wish he’d never crossed paths with my sister.
Tiny slams his fist on the table again, clearly agitated. “And if Elise is the leak, Trigger? What are you going to do then?”
The thought cuts through me like a knife, but I push it down. Don’t think that way. Not yet.
“I’ll deal with it,” I say through gritted teeth, knowing the weight of those words. It’s a promise I never wanted to make, but it’s one I might have to keep.
Capone stands, his eyes hard as stone. “We’ll take it one step at a time. Right now, we are focusing on Lattimer and Elise’s boyfriend. Once Pretty Playboy gets back, we’ll start gathering intel on where Lattimer might be hiding.”
As Capone gives orders, I can feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me. My sister is in this mess, and she doesn’t even realize the depth of the shit she’s standing in. I have to protect her, no matter what the cost. Even if it means doing things I’ll regret later.
Capone lights up a cigarette, inhaling deeply before exhaling a slow stream of smoke. He doesn’t smoke much these days, only when shit weighs heavy on his mind. Today is one of those days.
“While Pretty Playboy is gone, we have some other business to discuss.” His voice is steady, but the room picks up on the shift in energy. “I received a call from Jameson, our National Chapter Prez, this morning. The Bloody Scorpions are causing a fuss in Hawaii, and he wants me to send two of you down there since we are the closest.” Muttered curses ripple through the room. Grumbles of fuck and shit as brothers exchange glances. No one likes dealing with the Scorpions, and Hawaii isn’t exactly around the corner.
“Red and Aftermath, you two are heading down with Kensi and Nadia. Use this trip as an all-expense paid honeymoon for Aftermath and Kensi.” Capone smirks before adding, “While you are there on your honeymoon , check up on shit. I expect daily reports so I can keep Jameson in the loop. And don’t let the girls know what’s going on.”
Red leans forward, arms resting on his knees. “What about Matthew?” The concern in his voice is clear. His and Nadia’s little boy means everything to him.
Capone takes another drag from his cigarette. “Danyella and Monica are going to keep him for you while you’re there.”
“As long as Nadia doesn’t mind leaving Matthew, I’m in. How long will we be gone?” Red says.
“Two weeks minimum,” Capone replies, stubbing out his cigarette. “Maybe more if shit gets messy. Aftermath, are you good with this too?” Capone asks.
Aftermath leans back, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Oh, I’m definitely down for it. But I can’t guarantee my Ol’ Lady will stay out of trouble. We all know how she gets. She doesn’t find trouble, trouble finds her.” Laughter erupts around the room, heads shaking in agreement. Kensi doesn’t go looking for trouble. Trouble damn near has a tracking device on her.
"Try to keep her on a leash," Capone says dryly, but even he knows it’s a lost cause.
"Yeah, good luck with that," Red chuckles.
The laughter fades while the weight of the mission lingers. Hawaii might sound like paradise, but if the Scorpions are making noise, it won’t be a vacation for long.
Before anything else can be discussed, Pretty Playboy comes barging into the room, slamming the doors open. “Prez, we have a problem. Elise is gone.” He’s breathing hard, pissed off and scared.
The words hit me like a freight train. Elise is gone. My mind blanks for a second as everything else falls away. I can’t breathe, can’t think. My little sister... gone. The very person I’ve been trying to protect, the one who I thought was safe... gone.
I stand up so fast that the chair screeches back. My fists are clenched, and my entire body is tense with the need to act, to do something . The room falls dead silent as I glare at Pretty Playboy, waiting for him to explain what the hell happened.
“What the fuck do you mean, gone ?” I manage to growl through clenched teeth, my voice low and dangerous. Every muscle in my body is screaming at me to move, to find her, but I’m trying to hold it together.
Pretty Playboy rushes to explain, sweat beading on his forehead. “I went into her room to bring her here, and it’s trashed. Clothes are scattered everywhere, the furniture is smashed. She didn’t go without a fight. At the same time I was heading back here, I got a call, Trigger. An anonymous tip. They said she was taken. It looks like she was snatched, man.”
A low growl escapes from my throat. My blood is boiling, my heart racing. I’ve failed her. I should have checked on her, should’ve made sure she was safe. This is on me.
“Where’s the tip coming from?” I demand, ignoring the stunned silence around me.
Pretty Playboy shakes his head, panic in his eyes. “I don’t know. They hung up before I could get any more details. But I’m telling you, someone knows we’re looking for Lattimer. This has to be connected.”
Capone slams his fist on the table, his expression hard. “Everyone, stay calm. We need to think. Red, Aftermath, you’re still going on the mission to Hawaii. We can’t afford to keep you all here, especially with the situation escalating. But, Pretty Playboy, I need you to help Trigger on this. Get a team together and search for Elise. No stone unturned. I want answers, and I want them now .”
I don’t wait for anyone else to speak. The urgency in my chest is like a fire, burning through me. I’ve never felt this kind of panic, this kind of fear. Not even for myself. Not when I’ve faced down the worst shit imaginable. But for Elise. I can’t lose her.
I turn to Capone, my eyes wild with rage. “I’m going now. You don’t need to tell me twice.” The words spill out, a mixture of frustration and pure, unbridled anger. I can’t sit here any longer. I need to find her. I need to get to the bottom of this. I’ll tear apart the entire goddamn city if that’s what it takes to get her back.
Before anyone can stop me, I’m out of the room, heading straight for the garage. I don’t care about the mission to Hawaii. I don’t care about anything but finding my big little sister, Elise. The Scorpions, Lattimer, whatever the hell it takes to get my sister back. I’ll make them all pay for this.