Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CRASH
With one more swipe of the cloth, I sit back admiring the custom job I just finished for a client. She is a beauty.
It has been a week since I brought Stevie around the club.
Everyone loved her and shit, I think she had a good time, too.
Well, she did once we joined everyone after I fucked her a few more times and then took her nice and slow.
Loving the way her mouth parted in a silent cry, her eyes watered as she came.
There were no words for how fucking beautiful she looked.
My balls tighten in my jeans, my cock thickening thinking about how well she took me, and how she scratched the hell out of my back. It is like we are making up for lost time, but also exploring each other, finding out what each of us likes.
It feels right, and I have to thank the fucking chrome gods that she didn’t tell me to fuck off.
“Brother, Pres called church.” I look up to see Flame as he walks by.
“Coming,” I call out.
“Not yet, you’re not,” Savage calls out from across the garage.
“Fucker.”
“I said not yet,” he replies to my response.
We all walk into the club.
“Do you know what this is about?” Flame asks Savage.
“No clue. Maybe Maverick or Astrid found something,” he offers.
“Man, we need this fucking crew gone. I heard that another kid died of an overdose a few nights ago.”
Hearing that makes my fucking blood boil. It turns my stomach to think that someone like Val is caught up in this. Worse, she fucking loves the money and power it gives her.
Vinnie could always find trouble and get mixed up in it. It was always me or Val bailing him out. When we bought that rusted car and did it up, I saw a change in him, and I hoped that he would straighten his life out. How fucking wrong was I?
Taking my seat in church, everyone is here and Racer looks fucking pissed.
“We have a lead on the fucking crew and their bitch leader.” He glances at me.
“They are out at that old garden place that closed a few years ago. Cal, Maverick’s Ol’ Man, got a call from an old cop friend.
He said that he was with them while he was out flying his son’s drone.
We got a sent video, but it is confirmed it is the 749.
Trucks were seen arriving, then being unloaded. ”
“Was the drone spotted?” Rogue asks.
“No. Thank fuck, or the ex-cop and his kid would have been in trouble.”
“Okay, I have mapped out the area, and there is a place where we can stop, leave the bikes, go in on foot, and take out any fucker who gets in our way,” Rogue, who is our road captain, explains.
My stomach knots, my anger boils. With my fist clenched on the table, I see Savage eyeing me, cocking a brow in question. He knows I am not one to lose my shit, but this thing with Val and her crew has gone on long enough.
One thing that has me feeling something close to relief is that no more attempts have happened on Stevie. She has been going to and from work with either me or a prospect.
After hearing that another kid died after taking the shit they are pushing, I know deep down that they need to be stopped.
“I am with you, Pres. These motherfuckers are putting our people at risk, and don’t give a fuck. History with her will not get in the way of doing what needs to be done.” My voice shakes with anger.
“We will deal with it as it plays out. It is you over them, brothers. Let’s get this shit done and get back to pussy and whiskey.” Pres bangs the gavel and we leave church, following Racer.
Target leans over to kiss Madalyn, who’s sitting at the bar with her laptop open while she works, their dogs lying at her feet.
I nod to her, and she mouths, ‘be careful.’
Reaching my bike, I slide on my helmet, starting her up.
I look around and see my family, who is about to walk into a situation we do not fully understand yet.
Being in this club, and back in Fort Lauderdale, I have been made to see that each and every member will do what needs to be done to protect what is ours.
My body feels tight with rage, and my jaw hurts from all the clenching, so I need this shit to end today.
My pipes mix with my brothers,’ creating the sound of brotherhood. With a nod from Pres, he pulls out of the compound, riding into a situation I know will end in bloodshed.
With every mile we ride, my rage builds, which is a new emotion for me. I am usually pretty chill, but knowing what the people I know are involved in, on top of them trying to hurt my girl, fills me with all kinds of fucking rage.
My hands tighten on my handlebars when I see the turn off that leads to the empty garden center.
Racer signals for us to pull over where Rogue planned. Hanging my helmet on the handlebars, I sling my leg over, and shake out the tension in my body.
“You ready for whatever the hell happens in there?” Racer calls to me.
We all stand in a circle and I look around at each man who is standing with me, full of fucking pride and love for these men. I owe so much to them. I would do whatever was needed to keep them safe, even take a bullet.
Thinking of dying for these men, Stevie’s face pops into my head, and my chest tightens. Fuck, we have only just gotten started; I do not want to do anything to leave her, but my brother’s safety is paramount.
Sucking in a breath, I look at my brothers and it sinks into my mind that they would take a bullet for me, too.
I straighten and nod.
“I am.”
“Good.” He looks at every one of us. “Let’s go— watch each other’s backs. No one stands alone.”
We repeat the club’s moto, and walk toward the old building.
To my surprise it is not falling apart; clearly this crew has been here a while. There are a few cars parked, and two dogs roaming around. Target heads in their direction, as he has the most experience with dogs.
Music can be heard from inside of the property, so we split up, taking each entry. I am with Savage, right at his back and ready to keep him safe, like he will me when the time comes.
“You ready?”
Looking at him, then glance at the building, I affirm, “Yeah.”
“This could get bad; I need to know that you will not hesitate, brother. She could be armed and ready to defend her crew.” I let his words sink in, and my stomach rolls.
This is not how I wanted shit to go down, but if it comes down to picking between her and her crew, and my brothers, I will not hesitate to pull the trigger.
With my gaze locked on his, I nod.
“I’ve got your back, brother.”
With a wink, he looks forward. “Then, handsome, let’s get this party started.”
We move forward, step by step, my heart beats heavy and fast behind my rib cage. Sweat beads across my skin, making my clothing stick to me. I have my gun in hand, which feels heavy, knowing what I could be walking in to.
Reaching a door at the side, I see Pres and Rogue climb through a window that was left open.
I tap Savage on the shoulder, letting him know I am ready to enter.
He pulls the door open, and we hang low and ready. I am breathing heavy because I hate this shit, and I am thankful that we are not a one-percenter club. We are not saints, but fuck, we do most things by the rule book.
We step into what now looks to be a kitchen, where one guy aims his gun at Savage, and he is not one to back down. He also lives for the bloody, gory shit.
Savage fires first, then all chaos erupts.
Guns go off, and there is shouting and screaming. I hear two different women scream, and I am not sure if one is Val or not. I get hit from behind, and I stumble forward, spinning around to see a skinny kid with a fucking baseball bat. Fuck, my back is going to hurt tomorrow.
“Come on, fucker,” he taunts me. He is shaking, his eyes wide and crazed.
What the hell is he on?
He is so focused on me that he doesn’t see Flame behind him, who knocks him out with the butt of his gun. He goes down and we are on the move.
Stepping through a large room, which has tables and chairs scattered around, it looks like they have made it into a home. Looking around, I’m ready to take the fuckers down, but the gunfire stops.
Savage frowns and shrugs, like it is an everyday occurrence.
“Let’s see what is up,” he comments.
Both Flame and I follow, still on edge and ready.
“Ah, look who decided to join us?” I stop in my tracks seeing a line of leather and denim on one side of the room, guns up and aiming at the 749 crew, Valarie, and this Zeno guy.
Keeping his gaze on me, he has a smirk on his face. His hands hang loosely at his sides showing how relaxed the cunt is, and he thinks he has won here, but he has no fucking idea who he is messing with.
“Nice of you to join us, Crash— or can I call you Logan?”
I say nothing as I step further into the room, joining my brothers.
“Oh and you’re the one I was told is completely fucking crazy, ready to skin my girl alive, right?” Zeno adds, grinning at Savage.
Savage says nothing, which if they knew him the way we do, is not a good sign. When Savage goes silent, he becomes deadly.
“How do you see this playing out?” Racer asks.
Pres is standing in front of my brothers, a mixture of anger and boredom etched on his face. His shoulders are squared, his jaw clenched, yet he looks calm and restrained, but we know him better than the cunts in the room with us.
The rage is idling right below the surface. Racer is controlled, but lethal, and ready to explode when need be.
“There is only one way. Your pussy club is to hand over this territory— it is mine now. Oh, and thanks for the money, by the way.” He laughs, sounding so fucking confident that we will hand over what belongs to the Rugged Skulls MC.
I slide my gaze over to Valarie, who is grinning at me.
She eyes me up and down, and I grit my teeth to stop from screaming at her. I fucking hate that this is the life she chose. Shaking my head at her, and dropping my gaze to the floor, I show my disappointment in her.
Savage scoffs, because he knows what we know. They do not have the money since Astrid pulled it back, and more. She also added a little something extra to the club’s accounts.
“You will never get Rugged Skulls’ territory.
No fucker takes what is ours. You boys seem to underestimate the force of an MC, and me.
What you see now, is nothing compared to who we have at our sides when we make the call.
The Rugged Skulls MC is not some pussy club. We rule, we fight, and we fucking win.”
“Listen, old man, it is time for a new age to come in and handle things. We have the upper hand here, so back off, and let us do business.”
“Upper hand?” Racer asks flatly. “Fucker, we took down five of your men. You are a bunch of wannabe gangsters. Now, I am going to give you until tomorrow to leave, to get the fuck out of Arizona. Before you feel the full force of the club coming down on you.”
Zeno laughs, my fists clench, and I can feel the rage radiating off Savage. My brothers are ready to fight to defend our state, and people.
“Logan, you have lost. We win. I win,” Val smarts off. “Leave, and maybe I will leave you a little something to keep. But then again. Maybe not.” She laughs.
Her words make my hackles rise. What the fuck has she done?
I see Zeno move close to Val, a glint in his eyes, a look that I don’t like. Before anyone can react, he raises his gun and aims it at Val’s head. Her eyes go wide with fear, and they connect with mine.
“What the fuck are you doing, Zeno?” Her voice shakes but she tries to be strong.
“Don’t,” I call out, which makes him laugh.
“After everything, this whore did to you, and your girl. You still don’t want her hurt.
Fucker, you are weak for a cunt who tricked you, used you, and ordered a hit on your woman, and for what?
Because she is a jealous cunt, who got greedy.
” He shakes his head, grinning. “You should want her dead, man.”
I can see the glee and malice on his face. He doesn’t care for Val. He used her.
Oh, fucking hell on a stick. He fucking used her to get the club to come to him. He used Stevie, and me.
“You fucking cunt.” My gaze lands on Val, tears streaming down her face, as she looks at me with regret and hurt in her eyes.
She feels betrayed, and that is something I know all too well.
The room stills, Val’s soft sobs can be heard, and the blood rushing through my body is loud in my ears.
“Bring her out,” Zeno calls.
My gaze swings to Racer, who shakes his head. Savage and Target move closer to me and I know deep in my fucking bones who will be brought into the room.
I look at Val, and she sobs, “I’m sorry.”
My stomach drops into my boots when I hear her, my blood runs cold when I see her, and the state of her face.