Chapter 10 Bella
The ride to my house was somber. Ten bikes rumbled down the road, stopping a street away and pulling over to the side as Crow gave instructions.
The motorcycles turned off the road and parked out of view, facing the street for a quick getaway if needed.
It was the first time I had seen so many bikers together all at once, and they were an intimidating group of guys with their tattoos, leather cuts, and fierce expressions.
No one cracked a smile. The meeting with Boris and his subsequent takedown was the only way to find out my sister’s location and any additional information about Crow’s father and his death.
“What if he gets away?” I asked Crow, leaning into his side.
“We’ll get him. I can promise you that.”
“But—”
“Hey, we got this. Trust the club. Trust me, darlin’.”
“I do.” Truly, I did.
“Good.”
The next forty minutes were the longest of my life. I kept jumping at the tiniest sounds, constantly scanning the front yard and street for Boris, and chewing my bottom lip into ribbons.
“I need you to remain calm, Bella. You’ll have to act natural, or he’s going to get suspicious. We need him to talk to you first. See if he says anything useful before we close in. Think you can do that?”
After a few deep, cleansing breaths, I nodded. “Yes.”
“I hear somethin’, Pres.” Hawk ran to our side, dropping next to Crow. “I think that fucker is early.”
“Of course, he is. It’s a strategic move to control everything around him and gain the upper hand over Bella.
” Crow’s hand caressed the side of my face before he dropped it.
“Stay strong, baby. I’m gonna be in the shadows right next door, hiding behind your neighbor’s truck.
There’s not much light under the carport and I’ll be hidden but close. ”
Everyone scattered, following Crow’s quick orders as he gave instructions.
I nervously paced in my backyard, my feet shuffling across the sand.
This summer was so dry no one had much grass.
The fire pit sat unused, surrounded by lawn furniture under the canopy I erected back in March.
Sweat clung to my skin as I tried to ignore the oppressive heat.
My nerves weren’t helping the situation.
“Bella,” Boris greeted, scaring me when he barked my name. I turned to see him on my driveway, his expression unreadable. “Come.”
Stalling, I knew I needed to get him to say something about my sister. “What does your boss want? I did as he asked.”
“No questions. Follow me.”
“No,” I replied with frustration. “I want to know where my sister is. I’m tired of this.”
Boris quirked a dark brow. “You refuse?”
I threw my hands up in the air dramatically as he crossed his arms over his chest. Muscle rippled with the movement, proving the reason his boss liked having him around. Boris was stout, strong, and loyal. “Tell me where Bree is,” I demanded. “I want to see her.”
“Then come.”
“Are you saying that’s where we’re going? To see Brianna?”
“Yes. It’s not far.”
“How far?”
He gave me a stern look. “Ten minutes away. Come.”
I followed Boris to the street, careful not to betray where I knew Crow’s club members were hiding. The same black van Boris drove to the post office in Las Vegas was parked in front of my house. He opened the side door, indicating that I should jump in.
“Why can’t I ride in the front with you?” This didn’t seem right. Something about his demeanor was off. Were his orders to get me inside his van, take me to some remote location, and kill me?
Boris snarled when I backed away. “Get in the van.”
My head shook, and I slowly backed up, noticing something was in his hand. “Where’s my sister?”
“You will regret giving me trouble,” he replied quietly, his voice menacing. “My boss won’t like this. All I have to do is text. Your sister will pay the price, and you will be punished.”
Punished? “You’ll kill us both. Why should I go anywhere with you?”
Yeah, I was getting pissed. What was really going on? I still hadn’t seen anyone other than Boris. Whoever I talked to on the phone never showed their face. Was this the work of only two men? The Devil’s Murder MC could take them out fast.
Boris took advantage of the moment and rushed forward, lifting his hand as I saw the needle he intended to plunge into me.
“Don’t fucking move, asshole.”
I took one more step backward and met a solid chest. Crow.
“You alright, darlin’?”
“I am now.”
Boris chuckled, tossing the needle into the van. “You will regret this, Austin Derek Holmes Jr.”
Crow stiffened. “You seem to know my name. Anything else?”
“We know all about you and your little club.”
“And what does that have to do with Bella and Brianna?”
Boris shrugged. “Get in the van, and I’ll take you to my boss. He can answer all your questions.”
“I’m not stupid, you shithead.”
Boris reached inside his jacket and pulled out a gun, whipping it out faster than I could blink and aiming the barrel at my chest. “You’re going to walk away and allow Bella to get in this van.
Become involved any further, and I will shoot her.
My boss doesn’t care about the girls. They are nothing more than pawns. ”
“I see,” Crow replied, his voice far too calm. His gun pointed at Boris’s face. “Why don’t you try to grab her and see what happens?”
I never expected Boris to open fire. He smiled coldly, pulling back on the trigger. The loud boom of the gun firing echoed in my ears as I hit the pavement hard, crushed by the weight of Crow’s body.
Chaos exploded around us as Raven, Hawk, and the other members of the Devil’s Murder came out of hiding, rushing into the street. I hit my head hard when we landed, and my vision grew blurry.
I couldn’t focus enough to see what was happening. I could hear people running and shouting, and then I was picked up, carried away from the van as Crow spoke low in my ear.
“You’re gonna be alright, Bella. Fuck, I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t know what he meant. Was I shot? I didn’t feel any pain other than the throbbing ache in the back of my head. “Where’s Boris?”
“On the run. We’ll catch him.”
Crow propped me up against the side of my house, his anxious expression causing my stomach to flutter with worry.
“I hit my head.”
“I know, baby. Are you alright?”
“Just hurts a bit,” I answered, blinking a few times as my vision cleared. That whack on the head was painful, but it wasn’t pounding as hard now.
“It’ll be okay. We’ll have you fixed up in no time.”
Huh? “We’ve got to follow Boris. Bree doesn’t have long.”
“I know. Already on it.”
I winced as I heard more gunfire, and Crow turned me around, my back meeting the stucco exterior of my house.
“You know what, beautiful?” Crow asked, shielding my body with his own. “This is one hell of a second date.” Amusement danced in his eyes briefly before the raging storm returned, his gray eyes burning with the need for retaliation. “Gonna have to leave you now.”
“What?” I asked, shocked.
His lips meant mine in a fierce kiss, crushing my mouth before his tongue pushed through, dominating my will until I surrendered. Dazed, I didn’t fight him as he pushed me toward one of the other bikers.
“Get her out of here, Cuckoo,” Crow bellowed, rushing in the opposite direction, away from me and toward the gunfire.
Strong arms circled my waist and lifted, carrying me away from the gunshots and danger.
“Have Falcon check her injuries!” Crow shouted before he vanished into the dark.
What the hell just happened?
“Come on, sweetheart. Got to get you away from here. Orders from the pres.”
Cuckoo practically carried me down the street, his dark eyes alert as he constantly looked around us until we reached his motorcycle.
“Don’t think of runnin’ off. First, I’m fucking fast. And second, I’ll enjoy your struggles far too much. Sit on the bike, doll. We’re headin’ back to The Roost.”
As much as I wanted to run after Crow, that was stupid.
I was a little dizzy and could still hear a gun being discharged sporadically. I knew the chase was on. Boris wouldn’t get far.
“Put this helmet on. Crow will kick my ass if you ride without one.”
With a sigh, I strapped the helmet on and slid behind Cuckoo, wrapping my arms around his waist.
Whatever went down tonight, I hoped I’d see my sister by morning.
As we pulled away from the curb, I saw something fall from the sky.
A massive black bird landed a few feet away, hopping a few times before tilting its head, and uttering a loud caw.
How odd. I looked upward, catching a few more of the birds and their wings spread wide, gliding through the air like a black omen of death.
Shivering, I wondered if they found something dead on the ground and hoped my sister was far away from these scavengers. Nothing was more foreboding than a murder of crows.
“SHE’S GONNA BE FINE, Pres,” Raven assured me. “Cuckoo won’t let anything happen to her. His crow is the best fucking protector I know.”
“Yeah. That’s why I told him to take her back to The Roost. Still don’t mean I like it,” I added, taking cover behind a shed.
“How long are we gonna play with this piece of shit?”
“No longer than we need. Let’s go.” I crouched down, closing my eyes as I felt the presence of my brethren and focused on their location.
“Fly,” I whispered, the dark sky filling up my vision.
My body felt weightless, gliding through the air as I stared down at the city below.
“Find the man with the scorpion tattoo.”
The flutter of wings was the only reply as the crows swooped down, and I followed, the breeze rustling through the feathers of the black birds. Through their eyes, I scanned the neighborhoods below, catching the dark figure who paused to reload his weapon, doubling back around to his vehicle.
My eyes snapped open, and I turned to Raven. “He’s returning to his van.”
“Then we’ll beat him to it.”
The two of us moved quickly through the shadows, the rest of my brothers joining us as we waited for Boris to make his move. The motherfucker thought he was slick. Must have been under the impression he wasn’t going against one of the most ruthless motorcycle clubs in Nevada.
When Boris reached for the handle of his van, we sent in the crows. Not one. Not just three or four. With our combined reach, we sent in over twenty, emerging from the shadows as they began to mob. Boris started yelling, fighting them off, but he couldn’t swat them all away.
Mobbing crows were bloodthirsty and desperate to subdue their prey with as little injury as possible to their bodies. They were fast and merciless and always went for the spot most vulnerable—the eyes.
Pecking away at his hands and face, they ruthlessly speared his flesh with their beaks until the task was accomplished.
Cries of pain and shock erupted from Boris’s throat.
His terror was so palpable that I could almost reach out and touch it.
Claws ripped the skin into ribbons around his face, neck, and shoulders.
He swung his arms, but the effort was wasted.
Blood began to drip down from the two sockets remaining, hollowed out, soaking the dark fluid into his clothing.
The disfigured face was only a horror now.
The crows had taken his eyes.
“You should have cooperated, you worthless piece of shit,” I spat. “Now, you belong to us.”