Chapter Nine #2
The biker leered at her as his foot hit the step. She fired, almost hitting his foot. The two men raced up the stairs, now pissed. They made it to the door when one of the bikers stumbled backward and yelped as his feet left the ground and he was thrown off the porch.
The woman with the gun smiled widely as the other biker pushed past her, unaware of the man on the other side of the wall. He stopped when he felt the gun at his temple.
“I believe you trespassed here,” the man sneered. “Back up slowly.”
The biker held up his hands as he walked backward. “We didn’t mean any harm. My sister likes to cause trouble…”
“Your sister knocked on my door, and Rachel allowed her in. She told you to leave,” the man growled.
“Give me my sister, and we’ll go,” he bargained.
“I’ll call the sheriff and see if they can come and investigate,” the woman suggested.
The bikers moved to their motorcycles and got on, sending vicious stares their way.
“Next time you decide on barging onto our ranch, be aware I won’t be responsible for your safety. Did you see the no trespassing signs as you raced down the driveway?” the man asked. “In case you can’t read, it means we shoot to kill and ask questions later.”
“What about the car?” the biker asked.
“I’ll have it towed to the Blue Moon Bar. You can pay the bill upon receipt,” he told them.
The older man who threw the first biker from the porch kept his gun trained on them until they finally started their bikes and left.
Tara let out a sigh of relief and watched as the woman with long brown hair put her hands on her hips.
“It’s about time you showed up,” Rachel said, kissing the man and smiling at the older one.
“It seemed like you had it under control. Who’s our guest?” he asked as he turned to face her.
Swallowing, she stepped forward. “I’m Tara. I’m searching for a man named Garrett Johnson.”
The man frowned and glanced at the older guy. “Why do you need to see him?”
“It’s important. I need to talk to him,” she insisted.
The man took out his phone and made a call. The woman smiled and steered her toward the kitchen. “Why don’t we see if Delaney made any treats while we wait? If not, you’ll have to deal with packaged cookies because I can only bake cornbread.”
“I’m fine,” Tara said as she sat at the kitchen table. Her hands trembled, and she placed them between her legs.
“I have soda, tea, juice, and water. You’re lucky I came in when I did. Usually, I work from home, but since we recently made some repairs, I needed the invoices. I’m Rachel. You met my fiancée, Matthew, and the older man is Mac.”
“Thank you for helping me. May I have a soda? Riley doesn’t buy it. It’s too expensive,” Tara said as she licked her lips.
“Sure. We’re in luck. Delaney made chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal raisin. She must be on a baking streak,” Rachel said, pulling cookies from a jar and putting them on a plate. She set them in front of Tara and returned for the drinks before sitting down.
“Thanks,” Tara said, taking one of the cookies. She bit into it and closed her eyes as she chewed.
Rachel chuckled. “I feel the exact same way every time I eat one.”
“I can’t remember the last time I ate a homemade cookie or a store-bought one, for that matter. It tastes amazing,” Tara said, opening her soda.
“Do you want to tell me why two bikers chased you here?” Rachel asked gently.
Tara set the soda down. “My sister’s in trouble, and it’s because of Garrett Johnson.”
Rachel’s eyes narrowed as she peered at her. “What kind of trouble?”
The kitchen door swung open, and a massive man with black hair and a beard strode in, followed by Matthew and Mac. He stared at her, appearing pissed.
Tara gulped and shrank in her chair.
“It’s all right,” Rachel told her. “He won’t hurt you. Matthew will kill him and bury him in the backyard, right, honey?”
“You got it,” Matthew said, peering at Garrett with his brow arched in warning.
“I’m Garrett. I hear you wanted to talk to me about something important,” he said with his arms crossed.
“I’m Tara, Riley’s sister. You have to help me,” she said. “Riley—”
‘I already gave your sister money. If she sent you back here for more, I’m afraid you’re shit out of luck,” he said sternly.
“No. You gave her money, and she gave it to the bikers so they’d let me go.
Now they have her, and I can’t get her out.
The room doesn’t have any windows, and the door opens from the outside.
They won’t feed her. They only gave me one sandwich and made me pee in a bucket.
She told me to take the bus to Corpus Christi and to use my fake ID to get a hotel room.
She got really mad when she found out I got one and it’s not like her to tell me to use it,” Tara blurted out.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, sweetheart,” Garrett said, sitting down. “What happened? Start at the beginning.”
Rachel rubbed her back and handed her a paper towel. Matthew and Mac took seats across from her.
“Riley works at The Taco Shack in town, and on the weekends, she works at the bar to make some extra cash. Dad showed up at our apartment and tried to take me home. I ran to the bar to tell Riley. One of the bikers claimed I scratched his bike and took me to their clubhouse. They held me there until Riley came with the money. They asked her questions about you. She told them you gave her the money because you hit her with your truck, but they didn’t believe her and tried to keep both of us. Riley distracted them while I escaped.”
“Where is this clubhouse?” Matthew asked, glancing at Garrett.
“I don’t know exactly. They took me by motorcycle the first time, and I walked back to Embers. I’ve kept off the main roads and hid to keep them from finding me.”
“Wait a minute. You walked to get here?” Garrett exclaimed.
“I went to our apartment first. I found the note you left for Riley about her friend’s car. I stole it because I knew I’d never be able to walk all the way here, too,” she sobbed. “Will I get in trouble for stealing it?”
“Shhh, we’ll figure something out. I know you’re exhausted. Do you think you can show us where they took you?” Rachel asked gently.
“Rachel, may I speak with you?” Matthew asked as he jerked his head toward the living room. “Garrett, you might as well come, too,” he said as he rose from his seat. “Mac, why don’t you get Tara a refill or some more cookies?”
“Will do, boss,” Mac replied as he smiled at her.
Matthew led the way into his office and shut the door after Garrett entered.
“Rachel, you can’t go and promise we’ll save her sister. We need to let the police handle it,” Matthew admonished her as he sat behind his desk and tapped on his computer keyboard.
“As far as you’re concerned.” Matthew glared at Garrett. “You’ve stayed here one day, and you have embroiled us in a scandal,” he said, angrily.
“I call bullshit,” Rachel said as she plopped down across from her fiancé.
“I’m going after her,” Garrett announced. “Shit. Why didn’t she tell me she needed the money for her sister?”
“Do you think it might be something more? She works at a biker bar. There’s no telling what she witnessed, and they threatened her sister to keep her from talking,” Matthew surmised.
“It doesn’t matter why she’s there,” Rachel argued. “She’s a woman in trouble. You know…”
“It’s why I think we should call the police,” Matthew interrupted her, giving her a stern glance.
“I’m taking Tara, and I’ll get her out. Don’t involve the police,” Garrett said. “I gave her the money and caused this shit.”
“We don’t need trouble here,” Matthew warned him. “I don’t want attention drawn to this place because I hired you.”
Rachel scowled. “Matthew, he needs your help.”
“We barely know him, and you can’t go around here making empty promises to young women,” he scolded.
Rachel rose. “Don’t you take that tone with me, Matthew Cartwright. This young woman needs your help.”
She took out her phone and dialed a number. “Hi, Rebecca. When will you and Julio arrive home? Oh, I didn’t realize you planned to come today. Listen, we have a situation here.”
“Rachel, hang up the phone,” Matthew growled as he came around his desk, attempting to stop her.
Rachel gave him the finger and walked out of the office, telling Rebecca all about Tara and her sister.
“Don’t make me regret hiring you,” Matthew gritted out. “One thing you need to know. You’ve caused an argument between Rachel and me. Therefore, you’re on my shit list.”
“Let me make it easy for you. I quit,” Garrett said, leaving the office. He heard Matthew let out a string of curse words as he entered the kitchen.
“Come on, sweetie. I need to pack up my stuff, and then we’ll figure out how to get your sister,” he said, helping her from the chair. The poor kid rose and weaved in place, as exhaustion and adrenaline overtook her.
“How will we save her? They’re scary,” she sniffled.
“I’m scarier,” he assured her, leading her into the living room.
“She’s not going anywhere,” Rachel said, putting her arms around her shoulders. “Julio will be here shortly and I’m taking Tara back to our house to rest. She’s about to fall over.”
“I need her to show me where they’re keeping Riley,” Garrett explained.
“I’ll ride with you and after she shows you, then you can bring us back home,” Rachel offered.
“Like hell you will,” Matthew said, as his eyes shot fire at her.
“Last time I checked, you don’t own me. I’m not letting a young girl suffer after what I’ve witnessed. Julio and Rebecca will be here shortly. I’m sure you guys can work it out.”
“I swear, one of these days,” Matthew muttered and stared at the ceiling. “The police need to handle this.”
“And what? Let her get killed while they have a shoot-out?” Garrett barked.
“You think they’ll kill her?” Tara’s voice rose, almost hysterical. “She’s all I have left.”