Chapter 11 Brick
T hey were all dead.
Every fucking member of the club. Judge. Titan. Every man I’d come to know and consider a brother since I prospected for the Desert Titans nearly twenty years earlier.
I rushed inside the clubhouse, not pausing to consider that I would be facing my worst nightmare. That awful, gut-churning feeling that Ginny and I had since we left the safe house was grounded in reality.
The Crimson Skulls had come for us, and somehow, they got the jump on Judge and everyone else. I couldn’t pause to consider it right now as I dropped to my knees, staring into Judge’s lifeless eyes. He’d been dragged toward the door and left to die as a warning.
The Crimson Skulls MC were back, and they intended to take over Vegas, our territory, and wipe the Desert Titans from existence. Tonight, they nearly succeeded.
My gaze swept over the bodies, taking in the carnage. Bodies of the fallen were strewn across the bar, riddled with bullet holes. Blood splatter covered the walls.
This was a massacre.
I could tell there hadn’t been any warning. No way to fight back. My club brothers had been playing pool, throwing darts, and drinking at the bar. They’d been taken unaware. That pissed me off because we knew the Crimson Skulls were out there after the threat against Ginny. How did Judge not prepare the clubhouse for war?
It took less than five seconds to make this assessment.
And that’s when I smelled gasoline and a fuck ton of it. The stench of rotting eggs burned my nostrils. I had the presence of mind to jump up and bolt toward the door as something exploded behind me.
My body catapulted forward and slammed into the wall closest to the door. Every bit of air in my lungs was forced out of my lungs as I grunted. My head throbbed, and I could feel the trickle of warm blood as it dripped into my eye.
Fuck!
My ears were ringing. The high-pitched noise made it impossible to hear anything outside the building. I didn’t know if Mike’s truck took any damage when the explosion occurred. Were Mike and Ginny okay?
Disoriented, I tried to push myself to my feet. I had to get outside to Ginny. Unable to support my weight, I collapsed, groaning as I rolled onto my side. Thick smoke began to clog the air around me. Confused, I felt the air growing warmer.
My vision blurred and refocused as the ringing in my ears began to fade. I thought I heard Ginny screaming my name.
“Ginny.”
It was the only word I managed to say before I fucking passed out. But before I did, I saw flames traveling closer.
And I hoped help arrived before I was roasted alive.
“THERE HE IS,” AN UNFAMILIAR male voice announced. “Got him back.”
Back? From where?
“Brick!”
Ginny’s tear-filled voice cut through the fog in my head.
“Ginny?” I mumbled, slowly opening my eyes. I was flat on my back outside the clubhouse with a paramedic on my left and Ginny kneeling beside me on the right.
“Oh, thank God.” Tears slipped down her flushed cheeks as she clutched my hand to her chest.
“You okay?” She had a scratch on her cheek. Now that I was checking her over, I could see more scrapes on her skin. “Fuck, baby.”
“I’m okay. Just a few scratches from broken glass.”
“Mike’s truck?”
“Yes. When the clubhouse exploded, the force of the blast shattered the windows.”
“Where’s Mike?”
“Trying to sort things out with the detectives called in.”
Shit. That was the last thing we needed.
I heard Mike shouting as a couple of guys in official-looking FBI jackets walked up to us.
“Are you Brick Mayfield?”
I nodded. “Why?”
“We need to speak to you downtown.”
“I’d rather not,” I groaned, preferring not to leave Ginny.
“It’s not an option,” the shorter guy with spiky dark hair informed me.
“You’re wanted in relation to the triple homicides that occurred tonight at three separate locations in the city. Reported gang activity.” I received a glare from the one who spoke, taller and more athletic in build. “Motorcycle gang, to be exact.”
I snorted. “Well, as you can see, I’m a bit busted up from someone blowing up my fucking clubhouse.”
Neither man appeared to care.
“We brought Dag Holden in an hour ago. You might want to cooperate.”
Dagger? Shit!
“The fuck?” I asked, sitting up as my entire body ached.
The detective with the spikey haircut shrugged. “It’s in your best interest to ride along willingly.”
Yeah, I bet they fucking wanted me to go without causing a scene.
“Brick.”
I turned to Ginny and slid my arm around her. “She goes with us.” I wasn’t leaving her alone and vulnerable. The Crimson Skulls could be close, watching to see how this shit all played out and for a chance to get to her during the chaos that unfolded.
Big Mike looked like he had enough shit to deal with without adding Ginny to the pile he had to juggle.
The taller FBI agent gestured to the road, where I could see a dark car with heavily tinted windows. These two agents hit every fucking cliché I’d ever seen or heard about the FBI.
“Ginny, we’re takin’ a ride.”
“You sure you’re okay to get up?”
I probably looked as bad as I felt, and that was shitty. But I could handle it. I’d been through worse. “Yeah, Babygirl.” I lowered my voice so only she could hear. “Best if we don’t stick around for the Crimson Skulls to find. Yeah?”
“Good call.”
Ginny gripped my hand the entire ride. I kept the conversation minimal, not wanting to say anything that could be used against the club, me, or Dag. We pulled up to the local precinct, and the two agents exited. They led us inside and immediately separated Ginny from me.
“Hey,” I protested as Ginny was ushered away. I knew they would do it, and it meant she was safe. Hard to argue with that. Still, I had to appear frustrated by it.
“Time for a chat, Mayfield.”
For the next two hours, I answered zero questions and rattled off a few of my own. At the end of it, they booked me for not cooperating. Something else I knew would happen.
Now, I had to make bail. I could cover it, but I decided to use my phone call with an old friend of Judge’s. Someone I met only a few times but I knew would want to know about the Crimson Skulls, the attack on our clubhouse, and Judge’s death.
Maddog, president of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Graven Bastards MC.
“YOU OWE ME,” MADDOG replied as soon as I stepped from behind bars. They took the time to process me and wait for the bond to be posted before politely shoving me out.
Hell, you’d think they planned to watch me and gain intel. I shook my head, knowing they played a predictable game. But I couldn’t chance they’d find Butcher before I did.
That motherfucker would pay. So would every CSMC member. Was I only perpetuating more violence? Probably. It couldn’t be avoided.
The feds kept Dagger separated in another holding cell, so we met up at the same time. I slapped his back, leaning in close to whisper into his ear. “We’ll find Audrey. Mike is already on it.”
Dag nodded, but I saw the tension in his jaw. He wasn’t leaving it up to Mike alone. We’d cover that as soon as we left.
I turned to Maddog. “Appreciate you coming and helping us out.”
“It ain’t charity. Got a proposition for you. Let’s take this outside.”
I followed him out of the station and toward his bike, noting he’d somehow managed to have our bikes ready for us. Mike probably played a hand in that since we’d left them at his place in Orick. There certainly had been enough time to get it here since they detained me for twelve fucking hours.
I rubbed the back of my neck, wondering when I’d hear from Ginny. The feds were polite enough to let me know they released her but that Mike had given her a ride. Where? No fucking idea.
“I’d like to hear it,” I assured him, “but I need to make sure my ol’ lady is safe first.”
“She is. She’s at the clubhouse.”
“Ginny is at your clubhouse?” I stared at him, surprised, not understanding how that happened so quickly.
“Known Big Mike a long time. When he heard you called me to make bail, he contacted me. They’re both waiting for us.”
Dagger shook his head. “I can’t. Need to find Audrey.”
“We can help with that, too.”
Dag folded his arms, ticking his chin at Maddog. “Why? We’re not part of your club.” He dropped his arms. “I’m wasting time.”
“Give me thirty minutes. If I can’t convince you, I’ll have my club help search for Audrey.”
“You don’t understand. The Crimson Skulls took her.”
Dagger was pissed, and rightfully so. Nothing would stop me from hopping on my bike and going after Ginny if it were me.
“Come on,” Maddog urged. “I think you’ll want to hear this.”
“Dag?” I asked, staring at my best friend. If he said no, we’d find another way to get Audrey back.
“Let’s go.”
The ride to the GBMC clubhouse didn’t take long. We pulled up to the gate and paused as a prospect opened it. I rolled to a stop outside and parked in the long line of bikes already in a row.
“You’re clubhouse is a casino,” I deadpanned.
“Renovated. Still a work in progress,” he added.
I never got a chance to respond. Ginny rushed from the entrance, running into my arms as I set my helmet down. “Babygirl,” I rasped, holding her against me. “You okay?”
“Yes, now that you’re here.”
I didn’t care if everyone was watching as I took her mouth, possessing it as I slid my tongue inside and branded her as mine all over again like I’d done at Christmas and again at the safe house when we first arrived there.
“Hot damn. Get a fucking room,” someone called out.
I cupped her soft cheeks in my hands as we separated. “Got shit to sort, Ginny. Need you to wait for me.”
“I will.”
Good.
Maddog ticked his chin toward the old casino. “Follow me. We take this shit to church first.”
Dagger cracked his neck. “About fucking time.”
Maddog didn’t waste time with introductions. Instead, he ushered us all into their chapel and picked up a gavel, ordering everyone to take seats. “Church is in session. We’ve got some serious shit to bring to the table tonight.”
Men took the seats around us. I’d seen Skeletor and Creature before. I didn’t know the others.
“We got a vote comin’, but first, let’s hear from Brick and Dagger.”
He gestured to me. I leaned forward, staring each member in the eye. “Earlier today, my entire club was attacked and killed. Every fucking member, including my president and childhood friend, Judge. I want fucking retribution.”
Fists pounded the table as the men in the room grew vocal, offering their rage on our behalf.
“They started this war sixteen years ago. Most of you probably heard about it, but they made it personal when they gunned down Hesh, my mentor and sponsor. He’s also my ol’ lady’s father. She lost him too young.”
Several of the Graven Bastards nodded.
“Dagger and I are all that’s left. There’s a hit on my Ginny, and they’ve taken his woman, Audrey. We can’t let that stand.”
“I want their fucking blood on my hands,” Dagger growled.
Not a man in this room wouldn’t want the same in his shoes.
Maddog stood. “Got two votes. Here’s the first. All those in favor of helping Brick and Dagger get those Crimson Skulls motherfuckers and make them pay, vote yes. Against it, vote no.”
The vote went around the table. No one voted it down.
Maddog slammed the gavel down. “We help. It’s unanimous.”
Graven Bastards stomped feet and pounded the table again.
“Second vote. We patch in Dagger and Brick. They take the Devil’s Ride and join the Graven Bastards.”
Again, each man around the table voted. It passed unanimously.
“Brick, Dagger, you’re loan wolves and need a pack. We welcome you to join us. Let us know if you accept.”
“Hell yeah!” I stood, glancing at Brick.
He shot to his feet. “This isn’t easy. Feel like I’m turning my back on my old patch. But I believe Judge would want this. I’m in.”
Hollers and whistles erupted around us as the Graven Bastards, our new club, welcomed us with open arms and promises of violence.
I couldn’t wait for the bloodletting.