Chapter 7 Hayride
“You haven’t told us everything, Ellie.”
I feel the weight of Natalya’s stare, but I don’t turn away from Ellie. She knows something. I can tell by the way she’s fidgeting and won’t maintain eye contact. Her breath hitched as soon as I said Thad’s name.
That reaction proves she has information that Nat and I need to know. “Just tell me,” I press, hoping she’ll crack under the pressure of my stare and the harshness in my tone.
“I know the girl he left with. She’s a new hire at the hotel. We’re not close, but I can give you her address.”
That’s a start.
Natalya glares at Ellie. “You couldn’t tell me that when I was frantic with worry? When I asked about my brother?”
I place my hand on Nat’s knee and gently rub her thigh with my thumb. I hope it’s enough to calm her down. If we piss off Ellie, she might not talk. “I’d like that information. Can you write it down for me?”
“Sure.” Ellie reaches into the pocket of her uniform top and scrawls a few lines on a notepad before ripping off the page and handing it over. I pass it to Nat, who looks at it before she shoves the paper into her pocket.
She’s staring Ellie down. “Why was the new girl taking the tour?”
“She was supposed to be learning about it, so she knows how to run it. I can’t be the only one leading the tours. I never get a night off.”
I give Nat a look, hoping she’ll chill out and drop a little of the attitude. It’s not helping. “Is there anything you can tell me about Thad’s behavior? Or the girl? What’s her name?”
Ellie sighs. “Rashell Allen.”
Allen. Like Rayford Allen. Or Johnathon Allen.
I don’t react to the name because I don’t want either of the women to realize the connection until after we leave.
This just got fucked up fast, and I struggle not to slap Ellie for keeping such important information to herself.
For fuck’s sake, there’s a killer on the loose in Raven’s Crest. Ellie is the only person who’s been able to make a connection.
“Do you know where they were headed? Did either of them say anything to you?”
Ellie shakes her head. “No. I just heard something about a party.” She shrugs. “I’m too busy to get involved. My mom is sick at home. We’re struggling to pay the bills.”
Shit. I could sympathize with that. I don’t sense that she’s keeping any other secrets. Maybe she didn’t know about the Allens or the cult. It’s possible. If my memory is correct, she relocated to Raven’s Crest a few years ago. She didn’t grow up here.
“Sorry to hear that, Ellie. Would you do me a favor? If you think of anything else, message me. Any time. If you think it’s relevant, I want to know.” I give her my number, and she types it into her phone. My phone vibrates as she sends me a text that says, “Ellie.”
“I’ve got to get back to work.”
I stand, reaching out my hand for Natalya. “Thanks. We appreciate the help.”
Nat rolls her eyes as Ellie walks out of the break room. “You think she’s telling the truth?”
“I do. Come on. We need to talk to Scythe.”
Nat doesn’t say much until we’re outside by my bike. “I want to check out that address, Hayride.”
“So do I.”
“Then we go. Now.”
“Fireball, I need you to trust me when I say this is dangerous. We can’t go to that house without letting my club and Boomer know what we’ve learned.”
“Then text them. Right now.”
Fuck. She’s not going to let this go, and I don’t blame her. Thad might be there, and this is the first solid lead we’ve had about where to find him.
I send messages to Scythe, Mountain, and Boomer, covering all the bases. This is fucking crazy. I don’t know what the hell we’ll find at Rashell Allen’s home, and I don’t want to take Natalya anywhere near it.
She doesn’t know the town’s layout or the neighborhoods, so I take advantage of that and hop on my bike, riding toward The Barn. She’s got her arms wrapped around my stomach and I love the feel of her warmth around me. I’m going to enjoy this while it lasts.
Natalya doesn’t figure out that we’re not heading to Rashell’s address until we’re close to the gate outside the clubhouse. I ride up as the prospect opens it, and I can feel Natalya’s body quiver with what I assume is anger. She’s got a right to be pissed.
When I park, she’s off the bike faster than me, flipping me off as she stomps toward the gate. She doesn’t get far. I chase her down, pick her up, and toss her over my shoulder. As she screeches and squirms, I clamp my arms around her ass and knees, keeping her in place.
I’ve never heard such a pretty woman utter such insulting, venomous language as I enter the bar, not bothering to set her down. “Pres!” I call out as everyone turns my way. “We’ve got a situation.”
Natalya is banging her fists on my back and trying to kick her legs, but she’s not doing any harm. I’ve had worse from my club brothers, and I’ve never wanted to fuck any of them. This is just a little foreplay, and I’ll make sure she’s content by the end of the night.
“Put me down!”
“No, Fireball. We got shit to discuss, and you’re gonna listen.”
“Like hell I am!”
Someone shouts, “You tell him!”
It’s not helpful.
Scythe and Mountain are amused as they walk toward Scythe’s office, and I carry Nat behind them until we’re all inside and the door is shut. My woman tries to yell, and I slap her ass. “Hush. You’re gonna want to hear this, baby.”
She actually listens as I lower her to the ground and block the door, keeping an arm wrapped around her middle.
“We just spoke to Ellie at the Mayfield.”
Scythe takes a seat behind his desk while Mountain leans against the wall.
“She said Thad left with Rashell Allen.” I didn’t text that part, only that we were on our way to the clubhouse.
Scythe leans forward. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
I shake my head. “Nope. I got an address from Ellie. Get this, Rashell is a new hire.”
“How the fuck did we miss that last name?” Mountain asks. “We’ve been careful to flag the system ever since Virus told us about the Allenites.”
“That’s a good fucking question,” Scythe agrees.
Natalya turns to face me. “Hayride? What does all this mean?”
“Madam Serena isn’t the first murder.”
Her eyes widen, then fill with understanding. “There’s more, and it’s connected to Thad’s disappearance.”
“Yeah.” I tick my chin toward the chair in front of Scythe’s desk. “You’re gonna want to sit for the rest of this.”
Nat takes the seat, clenching her trembling fingers together. “Is my brother alive?” She doesn’t ask me. She’s talking to Scythe.
“I don’t know.”
Mountain takes pity on her. “I know this is a lot to process, but Hayride did the right thing bringing you here. It’s too fucking dangerous going to Rashell Allen’s house.”
“Why? Who is she?”
“Ever hear of the Hillside Stalker?” I ask, pulling up another chair and scooting close to Nat.
“Of course. That’s part of the reason I came to Raven’s Crest. I wanted to take the haunted tour at Mayfield, stay at the Hanging Tree, and check out the town known for the serial killer and the Fear Farm.”
“Do you remember his name?” Scythe asks.
“Yes. It’s Rayford Allen.” Her hands clamp over her mouth as the truth sinks in. “Oh, shit. Is Rashell a relative?”
“We won’t know for sure until Virus confirms it.”
“He’s our tech guy,” I explain.
“But that means,” her voice goes quiet, and I know she’s making the connection now. “Rashell Allen might be another serial killer.”
“Maybe. It’s possible she’s part of the Allenites. They’re a group dedicated to Rayford Allen and following his fucked up manifesto.” Police found the document spewing hatred against anyone who didn’t believe the same doctrine as Rayford after his death. He was fucking nuts.
“I read about them online. The rumors of the cult.” She gulps air into her lungs. “They have my brother.” Her face has gone pale.
“We’re going to figure that out,” I promise. “But you’ve got to stay here, Nat.”
“Where it’s safe,” she says bitterly. “Even though my brother isn’t safe at all.”
“I know it sucks to hear that, Natalya,” Scythe replies. “But my club knows how to handle the threats in Raven’s Crest.”
“Even the threats that include serial killers and cults?”
He looks right into her eyes. “Yes.”
She doesn’t quite believe him, but she’s not rude about it. “My parents are coming in the morning. They’re driving down from Columbus. I don’t know what to say to them. This is a lot to digest.”
“So, you don’t say anything unless it’s absolutely necessary. You give them small truths to tide them over until we find your brother and bring Thad back.”
“Is that a promise? That you won’t stop until you find him?”
“It is,” Scythe confirms, binding his word to the promise.
“Something doesn’t make sense,” she muses aloud. “Why kill Madam Serena? She doesn’t have anything to do with the Allenites. Is her last name Allen?”
“No.” Mountain shakes his head. “She’s a Scott.”
“Scott? You mean her last name?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s my last name.”
I cover Nat’s hands with mine and rub the chilled skin. Her fingers are cold again. “I didn’t think about it until now, but I believe Serena Scott is a relative. She’s part of your family tree.”
Natalya pulls her hands from mine. “That’s impossible. My parents would have told me if I had relatives in Raven’s Crest.”
Maybe. This town holds a lot of secrets, and not everyone wants to be reminded of the supernatural or the deadly history, including the past with the original Salem witch families and their persecution. Natalya doesn’t know she’s one of them.
It makes sense. I suspected it. But this is confirmation.
Scythe gives me a look. He’s already figured this out. So has Mountain. Magic is woven so deeply into the soil here that it’s in our blood, affecting us from birth. We feel it when one of the witchy descendants arrives in our town. It’s built into us to feel protective.
It explains why she intrigued me from the moment we met.
Even though she slept earlier, Nat still looks tired. The emotional toll is just as heavy as a physical one. “You should get some rest.”
“Not until I know what’s being done to find Thad.”
“We’re going to check out this house and see if it’s legit information. From there, we decide on a plan. When that happens, I’ll let you in on it.”
That’s a hefty promise from Scythe. He’s taking a risk, but so is she, trusting us to help her brother and save him.
“I accept your terms.”
Scythe’s mouth twitches with humor. “Good.”
“Can I take you to my room now, Fireball?”
Scythe holds up a hand. “Wait.” He ticks his chin at Natalya. “You going willing? If you want your own room, now is your chance to let me know. Otherwise, you’re stuck with Hayride.”
“I want to go with him. I’m not being forced or coerced.”
“All I need to know.”
I was insulted until I realized Scythe was giving Natalya her autonomy, especially after the way I carried her in here against her will. I did it to protect her until she learned why I refused to take her to Rashell Allen’s address.
That doesn’t mean I’m right.
I dip my chin at my president and VP, and guide Nat from the room. She’s quiet as we walk through the bar, ignoring everyone else as I lead her up the stairs and to my room. Since I keep the door locked, I fish out my key and open it.
The door swings open as I push on it. “After you.”
She walks inside, and I follow her, glad that I left the lights on. Nat sits on the edge of the mattress as I shrug off my cut and place it on the back of a chair. I want to tell Nat that I’m sorry, but I don’t want to piss her off, and I’m not sure what she’s feeling right now.
“I’m not angry, Hayden.”
My name rolls off her tongue with the sweetest honey.
“But I do owe you an apology,” I concede.
“For saving my life and stopping me from doing something life-threatening? No. You don’t owe me anything.”
“I can’t let you walk into danger like that, Nat. Let my club and I take that on. It’s what we do. But you? You have to be protected.”
“Why?” She turns to face me, and I lower to my knees.
It’s a first. I’ve never dropped to my knees for any woman, but for Natalya, I won’t hesitate.
“Because we’ve got something here. Between us. It might just be a little spark, but it’s got potential to be an inferno.”
I almost cringe at my words and how I sound, but she just smiles.
“That might just be the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard, Hayden Phillips.”
“So dangerous,” I growl.
“What? Saying your name? I know. I love your reaction to it.”
“Now you’ve done it, gorgeous.”
She gives me a playful smile.
“Gonna need to bury my head between your thighs and see how you taste. Been thinking about it all day.”
“You talk too much.” She reaches for my shirt and tugs me closer. “Shut up and kiss me.”