39. Reese
Reese
We crossed a river just outside town and headed north on a two-lane highway. Farms and fields dotted with sparse trees stretched out on either side, and hills scorched brown by the summer heat rose in the distance.
A concrete truck lumbered along, driving well below the speed limit. I checked for oncoming traffic, then passed on the left.
“There they are,” Summer said.
Ahead of us, the club members drove in a loose formation. The highway curved and they momentarily disappeared from sight.
“They definitely know where they’re going,” I said.
“And as soon as we take the turn off the highway, they’re going to know we’re following them.”
I didn’t know if it was possible to avoid a confrontation with Mayhem, but we had to try. “Are there any other roads that lead in the right direction?”
She zoomed out on the map on my phone. “Maybe. There’s a road that cuts west. It’s a dead end, and I can’t tell for sure where Sam Fogel’s property line would be. But there seem to be a bunch of outbuildings. It looks like this road would get us close.”
“If they don’t take it, I will.”
The highway curved again, and we caught sight of Mayhem passing an old pickup truck.
“The turn is up ahead of them,” she said.
I watched through narrowed eyes, waiting to see if they’d take the left. They didn’t—drove right by.
A moment later, we approached the same spot. A dirt road with no sign led across the field and into a long thicket of trees. The green stood out against the dried grass surrounding it.
Slowing, I turned, hoping against hope this would get us where we needed to go.
“There must be water up ahead.”
“It’s a creek,” she said. “The map makes it look like there’s a bridge.”
She was right. An old bridge crossed the wide creek and the dirt road continued out of the trees and into another brown field beyond.
“This should curve north and then fork. Take the right one.”
“Got it,” I said.
We passed a farmhouse, and a few horses lifted their heads as we drove by. Dust billowed in our wake, and I pressed on the gas, driving as fast as I dared on the uneven road.
The right fork led us to a winding road that snaked through low hills. There were only a few signs of habitation. An old house and a dilapidated barn stood in the distance, and some of the road was lined with livestock fencing.
“The road will turn again up ahead, just before it ends.” She pointed to the right. “Sam Fogel’s property is that way.”
I came to a stop. A wire fence with wood posts lined the road as far as I could see.
“We’ll have to go on foot from here.” I looked at the map, judging the distance. “But that building isn’t far. The driveway is over there, so I bet this is all Sam’s property. Or close to it, at least. But this is good. We’ll be able to approach from the back.”
After turning off the engine, I took my gun and holster out of the glove box and gave it a quick check. I hoped I wouldn’t need it—I wanted to get in and out of there without a confrontation—but I knew what I was up against. Better to be prepared.
We got out and I put on the holster, then tucked the gun inside. Fortunately, the fence wire wasn’t barbed, and we were able to clear it without any problems. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much cover—only a few small trees reached up from the dry grassy field.
Since we could see ahead of us, I led her in a straight line in the direction of where we’d seen the nearest outbuilding on the map. The sun beat down on us, and it didn’t take long before sweat trickled down my back.
The ground rose and we came to a stand of trees. Not far ahead was another fence, and just beyond it, a dilapidated barn.
We hurried over the fence and across the open space to the back wall and looked inside.
Missing boards and a half-collapsed roof let in daylight.
The ground was covered with patchy grass and withered weeds, but other than a few rusty shards of metal and a pile of old tires, it was empty. There wasn’t even a place to hide.
Summer shuddered. “This place looks like spider heaven.”
“No point in going in. Nothing in there.” I checked the map again. “This looks like another barn, or maybe a shop. Not sure what that is. A toolshed, maybe? That’s probably the house.”
“That’s probably water.” She pointed to a winding band of blue.
“Which could mean trees for cover. We’ll go that way.”
We hurried across the dry grass to where the ground sloped downward again. Sure enough, a swath of green cut across the brown landscape.
Trees grew along the banks of a small creek, and the grass on either side was tall and lush. Keeping to the shadows, we followed the water until we could see a group of buildings a short distance away.
A large pole barn was set back from the driveway with an aboveground water tank nearby.
Rows of solar panels faced south and chickens roamed around, scratching in the dirt.
The smaller building looked like a shed.
Another outbuilding was farther away, beyond the house, but unlike the barn we’d passed, it looked intact.
The single-wide mobile home had a sagging back porch and was surrounded by prickly shrubs that had probably once been an attempt at landscaping.
Random debris littered the area—everything from buckets to rotten fence posts to rusty car parts—and a large stack of firewood sat behind the house.
The front of an old tractor peeked out from the other side of the pole barn, and from where we stood, a dark green pickup truck was visible out front.
No other cars, but that didn’t mean Axel and Nate weren’t there.
The roar of bike engines carried through the air. I grabbed Summer’s hand, and we darted for the house. A chicken squawked as we ran by, flapping its wings to get out of our way. We ducked behind the house right as the first motorcycle came up the driveway.
The sound grew as the others caught up. One by one, they parked and turned off their engines.
Moving to the corner of the house, we peeked around the building. There were six of them. Five remained seated on their bikes while the one who’d arrived first swung his leg over and took a few steps forward. He seemed to be the one in charge.
“That’s Hammer,” Summer whispered.
I recognized him. One of the assholes who’d caused trouble for her in Arizona. My jaw tightened as I ground my teeth together. I would have loved to get my hands on that guy.
But that wasn’t what I was there to do.
“You Sam Fogel?” Hammer asked.
A gravelly voice replied. “Who’s asking?”
“I am.”
“And who the fuck are you?”
“Your worst nightmare if you keep asking questions.” Hammer shifted his vest so the man could see his gun. “Are you Sam?”
“Yeah. What of it?”
“Where’s Axel?” Hammer asked.
“Who?”
“Don’t play stupid, old man. We know he’s here. Tell us where he is, and no one gets hurt.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I leaned close to Summer. “He’s lying. I can hear it.”
“Where do you think they are?” she whispered. “In the house?”
“One way to find out.” I pulled out my phone to make sure it was on vibrate. “Stay here. Keep listening and text me if it sounds like anyone is coming inside.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Find him.”
Grabbing my shirt, she pulled me in and pressed her lips to mine. “Be careful.”
“I will. Promise.”
I doubted I’d be lucky enough to get in through the back door, but I had to try. The porch steps squeaked when I stepped on them, but either Sam was too distracted by Mayhem or the sound didn’t carry. I tried the door, and to my amazement, the knob turned.
Drawing my gun, I eased the door open and looked around quickly. No one was there, so I slipped inside.
I glanced into the small bathroom on the left.
Empty. A nook on the right had a stacked washer and dryer, and beyond that, a bedroom.
The door was ajar, so I peeked in. The unmade bed was just a mattress sitting on the floor, and clothes were strewn around.
The closet door was broken, so I didn’t have to go in to see that no one was there.
Stepping carefully, I glanced at the kitchen as I walked through. A few dirty dishes were stacked in the sink and a box of cereal lay on its side, spilling its contents onto the counter.
The living room had a single recliner facing a TV mounted to the wall and a folding table littered with beer cans and food wrappers sat next to it. There was another bedroom on the far end, but I’d have to get past the front window to check inside it.
Crouching low, I hurried past the door and beneath the window. Voices carried from outside, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Adrenaline made my senses sharp as I straightened and approached the door. If Nate and Axel were in the house, they were in that bedroom. There was literally nowhere else to go.
With a quick intake of breath, I turned the knob.
And my phone buzzed.
Shit. It was probably Summer, warning me to get out. But I couldn’t leave without checking the last room.
Ready for anything, I peeked inside.
Nothing. Just some fishing poles propped up in a corner, a beat-up cooler, and an unrolled sleeping bag.
The front door opened, and the voices grew. When my phone buzzed again, I slipped into the room and shut the door behind me.
This was not good.
The window was my only chance. It wasn’t big—and I was not small—but I’d have to make it work.
A crash came from the other room. Mayhem was searching the place.
“You assholes!” Sam yelled.
I sent Summer a quick text—hide—and went for the window.
Something on the floor just beneath the window caught my eye. Crouching, I picked it up. A gray Lego brick.
Nate. It had to be his. He always had random Lego pieces in his pockets.
He’d been there.
I shoved it in my pocket, re-holstered my gun, and opened the window.
Voices rang out from every direction—they were spreading out to search the property—but no one was on that side of the house. Still, if I got out without being seen, it would be a damn miracle.
Climbing out was awkward as hell, but I fit through—barely.
The drop was far enough that I had to roll when I landed, and the shrubs did their best to scratch the crap out of me.
Heavy footsteps headed my direction, and I got up and crept backward to the corner of the house, ducking behind a larger bush.
I held my breath, waiting, while one of the club members walked by.
Casting a glance over my shoulder, I looked for Summer. She’d moved from her spot. I hurried to the porch and checked underneath. Spiderwebs clung to the corners, and while there was plenty of space, she hadn’t used it for cover.
Alarm mixed with resolve as I looked around. There were half a dozen bikers roaming the property looking for Axel. And depending on their orders, they might not be intending to bring him in alive. That left too much opportunity for collateral damage.
I didn’t know where Summer had gone. And Nate was out there somewhere—or he had been. I didn’t know if they were hiding in one of the outbuildings or already on the run again.
Things were unraveling fast, but I knew one thing. I was going to save my family.