Chapter 7 Raven
“What the fuck are you sayin’, Eagle Eye?”
“These coordinates show the hidden location of Undertaker’s main residence.”
Crow frowned. “Why the fuck would it be written down on a piece of scrap paper in the trash? In the same fucking room that we found Brianna in?”
“I can’t answer that for you, Pres.”
“I don’t like this,” I growled.
“It’s fucking suspicious,” Hawk agreed.
“A trap,” Claw added. “Undertaker is playin’ us.”
Crow began pacing the room, mulling over this newest information in church.
“I don’t know what to make of this, but I don’t doubt Undertaker is settin’ us up somehow. That’s why I haven’t gone back to my house yet.”
Carrion pushed off the wall in the corner as his giant frame moved silently forward. “You need to send someone to check it out. Told you not to wait too long.”
Crow sighed. “Fine. Claw, ride out with Jay, and check into this.” He pulled out a ring of keys, slipping one off. “Here’s the house key. Keep a low profile. Wait until it’s dark, and let me know what you find. Be thorough.”
“On it, Pres.”
“Church is dismissed.” He picked up the gavel, slammed it down, and left the room.
I hadn’t seen him this agitated since he returned.
It was hours before I saw him again.
Crow poked his head inside the guest room where I had stayed with Brianna again while she slept, gesturing for me to join him out into the hall.
“Eagle Eye found a bunch of shit on that flash drive.”
“I knew he would,” I confided.
“Yeah, I hear you. The mayor is dirty as fuck, and he’s in deep with the Dirty Death MC.
He owes them a chunk of change, and they’ve been using him for their dirty work and to avoid the feds.
Buyin’ and sellin’ properties for cheap and then raisin’ the prices, selling them to adjoining property owners who don’t want to lose their businesses because of the economy, charging high rents. ”
“The mayor? What the fuck?”
“Yeah. Brianna worked as one of his staff.”
“So she saw things she wasn’t supposed to, huh?”
“Yeah, she did.” He shook his head. “She got too involved trying to help out another girl she worked with named Callie.”
“What were they doing?” This sounded bad.
“You know the missing girls from the Vegas area? The ones that have been on the news?”
Fuck. “Yeah.”
“Callie’s sister is one of the missing girls and they connected the DDMC and the mayor to the disappearances.”
That explained why Undertaker kidnapped Brianna. She got in his way.
“Brianna found a bunch of emails, documents, and bills of sale, and she gathered up all the evidence. She was plannin’ to take it to a guy she knew in the FBI.”
Fuck, babygirl. Why did you risk your safety like that?
“They must have gotten to her before she could hand the intel over.”
“Yep. They kidnapped her from her apartment, threatened her, and when that didn’t work, they beat her. Eagle Eye said there’s access to video feeds used at the capitol building downtown. The lower levels lead to tunnels underground, including a room they use for sick shit like this.”
“Fucking hell,” I cursed.
“There’s footage of the mayor. He watched it happen. Just let those assholes beat her and he had a young woman with him. He made her suck him off while he fucking watched.”
“What!?” I exploded. “I’ll fucking end him!”
“It gets worse.” He clenched his fists, rolling his shoulders back in agitation. “They were going to kill Brianna and Bella, Raven. They’re on a hit list. Brianna knew too fucking much, and when Bella got involved, they decided the girls needed to be silenced.”
“Fuck!” I roared, slamming my fist into the nearest wall. “Are they coming to The Roost?”
“Eagle Eye thinks it’s a possibility. We need to get the girls into hiding.”
“Okay. Done.”
“Undertaker wants Brianna. He’s willing to do anything to get his hands on her. He almost did when we rescued her. Brianna would have been gone if we delayed another few hours.”
Goddamn, that was close.
“Did he learn all that from the fucking USB drive?”
“Eagle Eye said he did. Brianna was crazy to hold onto it. If they found it, they would have killed her.”
“Maybe she knew that, and it bought her the time she needed so we could rescue her.”
“Maybe.” He cracked his neck, fighting against his crow. Knowing Bella was in danger didn’t sit well with him. “I’m going to call Grim. We’re leaving within the hour.”
“The Tonopah Reapers. Good call, Pres.”
The Graven Bastards MC were among the most ruthless motherfuckers in Nevada. Grim and his club were brothers we could count on went shit went down, and I was glad Rook kept up that connection over the years. And in a pinch, they knew we had their back too.
Rook met Grim over a decade earlier on a run and needed a place to lay low. He’d heard of the Tonopah GBMC and their strange abilities. A perfect match for our crows. They formed a bond over whiskey, pussy, and a dedication to their way of life. The rest was history.
Brianna didn’t wake up before we left, and we decided to transport her in a cage. I volunteered to ride with her, determined to ensure she arrived safely at the GBMC clubhouse, the Crossroads.
Dozens of bikes revved their engines, sending a chill down my spine. I’d been an axel addict for as long as I could remember.
Even as a kid, I’d put up pictures I’d torn from magazines and stick them up on my bedroom walls. Just from the sound, I could identify every brand of bike that roared to life in my vicinity, but Harley Davidson owned my dark soul.
There was just something about a Harley.
Crow stood beside me, glancing inside the SUV where Brianna was resting on the seat. “Seems strange she won’t wake up.”
“Maybe it’s all she’s been through. Can’t blame her for needing a break from reality.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.” He rubbed the back of his neck, casting a worried look at Bella. She was tucking a blanket around Bree, making sure she was comfortable and warm.
“We ride straight to Tonopah. No stops. Right?”
“Yeah,” Crow confirmed. “And if shit goes south, take her to that safehouse out in Goldfield. Only a handful of people know about it. Me, you, Hawk, and Eagle Eye. I’ll meet you there.”
“I remember the location.”
“Good.”
Twenty minutes later, we left the parking lot of The Roost, riding in a dark SUV with tinted windows and followed by an entourage of Devil’s Murder MC members on iron beasts that rumbled in warning.
We traveled from Henderson to Tonopah—nearly three and a half hours on the open road and vulnerable to attack.
None came.
When we reached the gate outside the Crossroads, I relaxed, knowing we had plenty of brothers to watch our back. Brianna would be safe. The girls wouldn’t be harmed here.
A prospect opened up and led us in, closing the gate as GBMC members shouted greetings, setting up a perimeter.
Grim greeted us, slapping my back and Crow’s, ushering us inside. Everyone filed in, but I lagged behind, anxious to ensure Brianna was taken care of first.
Grim said we could use a guest room off the main hall, and I followed, taking a few minutes to look the place over and settle her on the bed with Bella’s guidance. I didn’t let a single soul into the room after that and didn’t give a fuck when I caught members of both clubs staring in curiosity.
Fuck all their opinions. I did what the hell I wanted.
The long night ahead began, and I sat down, wanting a smoke but unwilling to light up around Bree. I fidgeted. Paced. Waited for a decision from Crow and Grim’s meeting, knowing they called church right after we arrived.
Bella fell asleep hours ago next to her sister. She held her sister’s hand, and I swallowed hard, hoping Bree woke soon.
When the door finally opened, and Crow entered, I knew a decision had been made. “We’re heading out.”
I nodded. “I’m stayin’.”
He sighed. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
Tension flowed between us.
“What does she mean to you, Raven? I’ve known you a long ass time, and you’ve never been like this, not even with Sarah.”
“I know,” I admitted. “I think, I know, she’s my mate, Crow.”
His eyes widened. “I thought Sarah,” he began.
“No. Not like this. I was fucking wrong about a lot of things.”
He stared at me, blinked, then walked forward to grip my shoulder, giving it a hard squeeze. “I think I get it. What I feel for Bella is the same. Do what you need to but don’t forget you’re still my fucking V.P. This club needs you.”
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere, Pres.”
“That’s all I need to hear.”
brIANNA STIRRED, TURNING on her side as she yawned, blinking her eyes.
“Hey there, babygirl.”
She startled, sitting up and glancing around the room. “Where am I?” Her voice sounded anxious.
“The Crossroads. Biker friends. You’re safe.”
She nodded, exhaling a shaky breath.
“You’ve been asleep a long while, but I suppose you needed it.”
“Yeah, I guess I did.” Her hands twisted in the blanket.
“No need to worry. Bella is out with Crow, but she’ll return soon. Until then, you can rest or whatever you want.”
She tried to smile, but it didn’t quite happen. “I think I’ve slept enough.”
“Okay. Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“Both.”
“Let me figure that out for you. I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.”
Why was I so fucking nervous? I sounded like a fucking boy who couldn’t figure out how to speak to a girl.
The Crossroads was quiet. Most of the members had left with Crow and Grim, leaving behind enough to protect the compound. I found a couple of club girls in the kitchen when I walked in.
“Hey, I need some soup and water for Bree.”
A chick with red hair smiled at me. “I’m Snooki. I can have a tray ready for you in a few minutes if you don’t mind waiting.”
“Sounds good, Snooki.”
She prepared a big bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup, a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches cut into triangles, water bottles, applesauce, a package of crackers, and two mugs. Sugar packets and cups of nondairy creamer were added.
“I’ll follow you up with the coffee and tea.”
Nodding, I grabbed the tray once she covered it and made my way back upstairs. Snooki opened the door, helping settle the tray over Bree’s lap, and poured us both coffee and hot tea from a couple of carafes. Didn’t take a genius to figure out the tray was for both of us.
After she left, I picked up the mug, drinking my coffee black.
Bree began to eat, taking tiny spoonfuls of the soup and nibbling on her grilled cheese.
“What you want to do? Watch something on TV?”
The grateful look she sent my way smacked right into my heart. “Sure. Any comedies?”
“I’ll find one.”
And that was what we did.
No deep conversation. No uncomfortable silence.
Just two people laughing over episodes of Friends.
It was perfect.
Neither of us was ready to get into anything too complicated, and that was fine for now. Someday that would change, but I wasn’t in a rush.
When Crow returned, I could sense something was off. Bella seemed upset and agitated, rushing into the room.
“Bree! You’re up!”
“I am.” She glanced my way, blushing as I winked.
“How are you feeling?” Bella sat on the edge of the bed as the girls hugged.
“I’m tired, but that’s to be expected.”
“I can’t imagine, Bree.”
My heart skipped a beat as Brianna caught my gaze, placing her hand over her heart. “Thank you.”
“Always.”
Crow gestured for me to follow him, leaning against the doorjamb as I followed him. “How is she?”
“Messed up,” I admitted in a low voice. “It’s gonna take some time.”
“Yeah, I figured. We found Chronos. He described what he did to her in detail.”
Fuck. Reality slammed into my face. My fists clenched, and I snarled, pushing Crow out the door and shutting it behind us. “I don’t want to know. Not tonight. I’ll hunt down every Dirty Death MC member if you say another word and watch them suffer one by one.”
“Not until I have Undertaker. He ordered the hit on Rook.”
I spun around, slamming my fists against the wall before my mouth opened in an agonized Kraaa.
Fuck!
Crow thumped his chest, understanding my rage and anguish.
“I killed Chronos,” he announced. “The crows ripped him apart and feasted on his organs. That motherfucker suffered in the end.”
I wanted to feel happy about that, but I couldn’t. I felt cheated instead. “I should have been there.”
“It’s done.”
Not to me.
“This isn’t over, Raven. We settle the girls, and then we go after Undertaker and the Dirty Death MC. We take them out, beginning with Sheriff Hobbs and his debt to their club. That’s how we get to Mayor Goodman too.”
“Agreed.”
“I’m fucking serious.”
I sighed. “I know.”
A shitstorm was headed toward The Roost and the Devil’s Murder MC, and Brianna was now vulnerable because of it.
By association, Bella was too.
“We’ll protect both women. Nothing is gonna happen to Bree or Bella. They’re part of us now.”
“We’re returning to The Roost. Undertaker lost his V.P. and quite a few club members. He suffered significant losses. With the Graven Bastards working with us, we can handle whatever Undertaker plans next.”
“Not gonna cower or hide from our enemies, Pres.”
“Hell no.”
“Then there ain’t much left to say.”
“Nope. Time to hit the road.”