Chapter 5 Raven #3
Crow stood, pulling out his gun, pausing to ensure no one had spotted us yet. “Stay sharp. Raven, Hawk, Carrion, you’re with me. Talon, Claw, Cuckoo, I want this place lit up like a goddamn fourth of July celebration.”
“Fuck yeah,” Claw exclaimed.
“I’m gonna enjoy this,” Cuckoo added, pulling out a lighter and touching it to an alcohol-soaked cloth partially stuffed into an empty bottle.
He threw the Molotov at the row of bikes.
Glass shattered, breaking into sharp shards as sparks scattered over the whiskey-soaked ground.
Fire erupted along the trail, the hungry flames climbing up the rubber and chrome of the motorcycles with eager flickers.
A few shouts could be heard as DDMC members rushed outside, hollering at one another to contain the flames.
Crow didn’t stick around for what happened next, rushing up the steps that led to a door on the northern end of the building.
I rushed after him, drawing my own weapon and aiming at anyone who dared to cross our path. Kicking down the door, Crow entered. The first guy to pop his head around the corner got a bullet in his brain—no cut, so no one useful.
Somewhere close, a woman screamed.
“Shit!” Crow cursed, running through the lower portion of the compound until he located the stairs. Bullets exploded from our guns. We hit several more men, none with distinguishing marks, cuts, or tattoos. Where was the rest of the DDMC?
At the top of the stairs, Crow turned left.
I stayed tight on his six, watching for trouble.
We didn’t hesitate to kick down the door, standing back as multiple weapons opened fire in our direction.
Crow dropped low, his eyes fading to white as he used his crow’s enhanced hunting senses to pinpoint Brianna’s exact location.
He found it, calling the crows to join in the upcoming mobbing.
There was only one window at the back of the room, facing the east. The exhilarating feel of my crow’s freedom and his ruthless hunger for a fresh kill pushed through our bond. Several more crows joined in, cawing out their excitement as we raced toward the window.
Slam!
The glass cracked, splintering as more crows pressed against the pane and clawed at the surface, shattering the barrier within seconds.
Black birds swarmed inside, attacking the men in the room surrounding a young woman on a bed. Brianna. It had to be. I didn’t get a good look at her face. It was too dark. She screeched, swinging her arms and kicking her legs as I noticed the two motherfuckers holding her down.
Torn clothing hung from her body as she lashed out. She’d been beaten. Bruises, scratches, blood—they stood out on her pale skin, marring the surface. I couldn’t tell if we interrupted an assault or if this was only a repeat of continued acts of violence. Either way, they wouldn’t survive.
Heart thundering in my chest, I saw her tear-stained face as she met my gaze, shoving her long hair out of eyes.
And everything around me faded for several heartbeats.
Thump, thump . . . thump, thump.
Green eyes. A heart-shaped face. Babygirl.
A burst of happiness lit me up inside . . . until I realized what finding her here meant.
I never put it together. I didn’t see the connection before now.
Crow never said Bella’s last name and I never thought to ask. There’d been too much distraction and chaos over the last few days. Brianna Hart. Bella . . . Hart.
Noooooooooooo!
My crow burst free from my body, flying off in a bloodthirsty rage.
I. Lost. My. Shit.
A Kraaa exploded from my mouth that shook the walls as I rushed forward, shoving my gun in my holster and ripping the two blades from behind my back, pulling them free of their sheaths and gripping the handles in my fists.
I preferred hand-to-hand combat over guns and viciously attacked the two men who held her down, my fury consuming me as a red haze fell over my vision.
The first was pulled from Brianna’s side; his throat slashed open swiftly as I flicked my wrist, slicing the blade in a wide arc.
Satisfied he wouldn’t survive, I shoved his body to the side, watching as he slid several feet in a crimson trail.
I vaguely realized he twitched, grasping his neck as he bled out.
The second I kicked to the ground, dropping onto his chest, ripping apart the guy’s chest and abdomen with my blades before backing away and letting the crows feast on his flesh.
His screams filled the room as the crows grew bold, almost drunk on the feeding frenzy, pecking away at his eyes and vulnerable organs.
The third man in the room tried to run out, and we caught him, noticing the Dirty Death MC cut he wore. The two men who had held down Brianna also wore the same cuts. Their club would answer for this. The basement would run red with their blood before the night was over.
Brianna trembled, rocking on the bed, covering her ears as she wept. My chest grew tight at the thought that I had traumatized her further. Her fear tainted the air, and my crow hated it. Returning my blades to their sheaths, I approached the bed with my hands in the air. She didn’t notice.
I have to get her out of here. She’s terrified.
The crow’s worry and mine merged.
I scooped her up, snarling at anyone who ventured close, even my mc brothers. I couldn’t explain my reaction. The need to protect her was so fierce I would have fought any man in my way, friend or foe.
My chest ached, my lungs burning as I struggled to pull oxygen in, desperate to breathe as I clutched Brianna tighter against me.
Mine. MINE!
“We need to move!” Crow shouted, spurring me into action.
I ran out of the house, clutching the young woman I’d had the fortune to meet three times in my life. She appeared dazed, confused, and incoherent. I worried she could mentally break down. I had no way of knowing what she’d endured before our rescue. It tore me up.
As I joined my brothers, I noticed Cuckoo’s wig was askew, and his makeup was half wiped off, probably from sweat. It was still hot as fuck outside, even for summer.
“All clear?” Crow asked, exiting the house.
“Yeah, Pres,” Talon answered. “Got us a couple of prisoners to interrogate. They’re already on their way back to The Roost. Claw and Hawk just left.”
Cuckoo opened his mouth wide. “Caw!”
Poor timing. Cuckoo thrived on that shit.
Carrion pushed off the nearest wall, emerging from the shadows. “Got a problem, Pres.”
That was the first time I heard him speak since we arrived.
“Talk to me.”
“Found this.” He shoved a piece of parchment into Crow’s hand. The words were smeared like the paper had gotten wet, and the surface crinkled. “It was in the trash. Same room with the girl.”
Nodding, Crow read over the words, his brows drawing together in a frown.
“The numbers are coordinates.”
“To where?” Crow asked, his voice gruff.
“The kidnapper? Or the DDMC hideout? Don’t fucking know,” Carrion answered.
“Okay.”
His dark gaze held Crow in place. “It’s important. Check it out right away.”
“I’ll take care of it as soon as we’re back at The Roost.”
Carrion gave a brief chin lift and left, returning to the shadows before I heard his bike rumbling down the road. He would be in the basement when we returned.
Carrion loved his toys. He had as much skill with blades as I did.
“Let’s roll out. Brianna needs to see Falcon.”
He read my mind. “I’m right behind you, Pres.”