Chapter Eighteen. #2
“I reckon he’s used the back roads and headed for Nemo Rd. Once there, it’s anyone’s guess,” Bow replied.
“Fuck, we don’t even know what he’s driving!” I exploded. We had nothing. This asshole had Amy, and we had no lead.
“The I90. He’d head there,” Drew considered.
“That would make sense,” Inglorious said.
“Agreed,” Drew nodded.
“Get on your bikes, start looking, this fucker’s not going to go far,” Inglorious ordered.
“We’re running around like headless chickens,” I snapped.
“Or we can stand here throwing bitch-fits. I’m calling the allies, do what you want,” Inglorious retorted.
I wanted to throw punches, but Inglorious was right. Action was better than inaction. We’d search, no matter how blindly that was.
◆◆◆
“I saw a building; it was three stories high, square, with lots of offices. But they’re empty, derelict.
There’s broken glass and furniture. It appears people just upped and quit.
I could see paper blowing in the wind. Animals live there now.
The weird thing is, there was a golden apple with a bite taken out of it on a desk. ”
“Repeat that,” Onyx ordered Aurora-Victoria.
“A golden apple, with a missing bite. Does that mean something?” she asked.
“Might do. I’ll get back to you,” he said and cut the line.
“Onyx! Wait!” I yelled, but he’d gone. I was on a joint call with the Presidents of the MCs, Delta Force, Hawthornes, and The Juno Group. They’d all scrambled to find my missing woman. One noticeable exception was Drake. Ace stood in his place.
“Does anyone have any idea?” I asked.
“No. We’ll keep looking. I’ll alert my brothers and see if they recognise anything,” Scythe said.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
The call dropped, and Inglorious and I were left. “Onyx’ll call when he knows something.”
“Asshole could have had me meet him,” I replied.
“And if Onyx is wrong, he’d have pulled you away from your current search grid.” Inglorious sighed.
“Inglorious, I can’t lose Amy.”
“You won’t. We’ve had enough shit, this won’t happen,” Inglorious promised, but it was an empty one. And I knew he couldn’t keep it.
Onyx
My boots stomped as I strode down the hallway toward the office. Guards lined the walls, all glaring at me. This asshole would see me now. I didn’t give a fuck he was in a meeting. I’d made it clear I wanted Salisbury, and when his men blocked me, I’d used force until he called them off.
A man in a suit stopped me. They all wore suits, but this one was expensive. “Onyx.”
“This can’t wait, Sebastian.”
Sebastian Frost stared. “The only reason you aren’t dead—”
“Don’t go there, Sebastian, you can’t afford a war with us. Salisbury won’t want one,” I warned.
The office door opened, and there was the other prick. Felix Locke. People thought these were Salisbury’s bodyguards. I knew differently. I held Felix’s gaze as I waited for the other assholes, Vaughn Webb and Cash Ashwood.
“Let them in,” Salisbury called, finally breaking the stand-off. Felix moved aside, and I entered with Venom, my VP, and Viking, my enforcer, behind me.
“Busy day, all your boys together,” I said and sat down.
Clive Salisbury stared at me coldly. “I doubt this is a social visit.”
“Where the fuck is Amy Wright, and don’t waste my time,” I snapped.
Salisbury held my gaze. “Won’t you have a drink?” he asked with an edge to his voice.
“Sure, whiskey neat. Make it snappy, I don’t have all day, Sebastian,” I ordered.
Salisbury remained calm. “Bad manners will prolong this unpleasantness, Onyx, and you know I abhor disrespect.”
Sebastian placed my glass down on a coaster on Salisbury’s huge ass desk. His pulse throbbed in his throat, the only sign Sebastian was fuckin’ angry. I hid a smirk; I loved putting these bastards off guard.
Salisbury picked up his own glass and tilted it towards me before drinking. I returned the silent salute and downed a swallow. Shit, that was the good stuff.
“Now, you’ve interrupted a very important meeting. What can I do for you?” he inquired.
“Had to be with the big five of South Dakota’s Underworld here,” I replied.
“Are you here to discuss that, Onyx? Because I swear, I heard you mention a woman.”
“Amy Wright, where is she?” I demanded.
“Who?” Salisbury asked after a long pause.
“Don’t fuck with me, Salisbury. You took April Graham and now Amy Wright. For some reason, you’ve suddenly developed a death wish towards the allied MCs,” I stated.
“And you think I’m a fool or playing dumb. Speak your mind, Onyx,” Salisbury retorted.
“Amy Wright, a survivor of the zeppelin crash, was kidnapped about an hour and a half ago. We know you’re involved.”
“How?” Salisbury demanded, but I caught the look he sent Felix. Salisbury was confused, or pretending to be.
“A golden apple with a bite taken out. Does that ring a bell?” Yeah, it did. It was a paperweight that sat in his office in Sioux Falls. Made especially for him and one of his most precious pieces, but nobody knew who gave it to him.
Salisbury sat up straighter from where he’d been relaxed. “How’s that linked to Amy Wright?”
“Aurora-Victoria saw it in a vision,” I said.
“Ah, now that name is very familiar. I’ve offered her seven figures to work for me, and she turned me down. Shame, Aurora-Victoria could be so useful. May I ask what she saw?”
“Are you saying you don’t have Amy?”
“Exactly, and I’ve no idea who she is. Why on earth would I want a crash victim? Tell me what Aurora-Victoria saw,” Salisbury demanded.
He was genuinely curious; I could see it in his eyes.
Aurora-Victoria rang his bell. I described what she’d told me, and he swapped glances with Sebastian.
At my back, Venom and Viking remained steady, but I knew behind them were Vaughn and Cash.
Despite being outnumbered, it would be a bloodbath if someone drew.
“I don’t have this Amy, that’s the truth. Does the building seem familiar to any of you?” Salisbury inquired, glancing around.
“Yes. Vaguely, give me a moment,” Sebastian muttered and left the room.
“How intriguing, the one true and great psychic having a vision about me,” Salisbury murmured. “Has she had any others?”
“How the fuck would I know, Salisbury. Aurora-Victoria’s the old lady of a Rage MC brother, not a Rider of Vengeance,” I retorted, and Salisbury’s brows drew close.
“I believe we’re helping you here, Onyx, and not asking for payment or a marker. Remember that,” he warned.
I ground my teeth together. That was true. I settled for a glower, which Salisbury ignored. Jesus, did Salisbury have any fear factor?
Sebastian returned and headed for Salisbury. He bent low and murmured in his ear before Salisbury nodded.
“We have two places that fit that description. One in Sioux Falls, which I don’t think is a relevant target.
The second is in Black Hawk. It is near the section of the city with the sinkholes.
Once they began opening up, the building was no longer viable.
As that part of Black Hawk is also off-limits, someone could hole up there and not be seen,” Salisbury said.
I nodded and jumped to my feet. I walked between Venom and Viking and opened the door.
“Onyx, given the urgency, I’ll forgive you this time. But if you ever force your way into my office again, there will be repercussions,” Salisbury warned.
I turned slowly. “Remember who had your back ten years ago, Salisbury. You were alone then.”
“A favour that has been repaid many times, Onyx.”
“You might think the debt settled; I don’t,” I declared.
We held each other’s gazes, neither willing to look away.
“You have somewhere to be and a damsel in distress to rescue. See yourself out,” Salisbury said. And with that, I was dismissed. I walked off without another word.