Chapter 11 Hayride
“Ineed to find this motherfucker, Pres.”
“I know, Hayride.”
No, he doesn’t. “I’m fucking serious. I need to find the guy who fucked up Nat’s brother and make him suffer.”
Scythe scrubs a hand over his face, eyes focusing on me before he reaches for the glass in front of him, fills it with whiskey, and takes a shot. When he swallows, he finally responds. “He needs to fucking go to ground for all the lives he’s taken and ruined, not just Thad Scott.”
Okay. I understand that. My focus just happens to be on my ol’ lady and justice for her family. “Right. I’m all for that, too.”
Mountain shakes his head. “You’re in deep, brother.”
Phantom grins. Voodoo snickers.
I flip them both off.
“So? She’s gonna be my ol’ lady.”
Scythe lifts his brows in surprise. “Yeah? You putting a property patch on Natalya?”
“If she agrees, yes.”
“Damn. I owe Phantom fifty fucking dollars now.”
I try not to get irritated because all my brothers are betting on my relationship with Nat. It’s fucking stupid, but not enough to distract me. I fucking want blood and vengeance. An eye for an eye.
Scythe sees it. “We’re gonna get him, Hayride. We’ll get them all.”
Still not fucking good enough. I push to my feet, too wound up to sit. “Three days, Pres.” How long were we waiting to deal with the threat? “It’s been three fucking days since we found Thad.”
“Rashell Allen’s house was fucking empty. Remember?” Mountain reminds me with a growl like I’m stepping out of line.
Scythe slams his fist on the table that we’re all gathered around, glaring in my direction. He’s as frustrated as I am. “Three bodies in three days, and Thad Scott barely surviving a hanging. Then three more days without a whisper of violence. We’re all on edge, Hayride. Sit the fuck down.”
It’s church, and this is my president. I fucking know better, but I can’t get the thoughts of revenge out of my head. They’re consuming me. I can’t sit here and do nothing when Rashell Allen is likely the killer, and she probably has accomplices.
But I obey, dropping my ass back onto my chair.
Boomer opens the door and strides into the room. “Just got done interviewing Thad Scott. You should hear this.” He doesn’t wait for anyone to respond; he sets his phone on the table. Boomer taps a recording, and it starts playing.
Every man in the room is quiet, listening to a young man describe the horror and trauma he endured. Rashell Allen didn’t act alone. She had several accomplices who helped her abduct Thad, take him to a barn, and made him watch as they tortured the man that they later hanged beside him.
Nat’s brother is one of the bravest people I’ve ever met.
He didn’t give in or beg. Refused to play their game when they started cutting him with knives.
And when they hung both men and left them for dead, Thad managed to reach into his pocket and retrieve his own knife.
It was fucking brutal to know he was choking the entire time, yet still managed to slice at the rope above his head until he successfully severed it.
Then, he fell, sustaining injuries as he hit the ground.
I don’t know why the killers never searched Thad for a weapon. Maybe they thought he wouldn’t have one since he was taking the hotel tour. Or they just didn’t think he was any threat. Either way, it saved his life.
Boomer stopped the recording once it ended. “Confirmed Rashell Allen and three accomplices named Big Tom, Earl, and Clay. I already checked in with my deputies. Weston is searching for any information we can find on them.”
Virus’s fingers began clicking wildly on his laptop. He’ll find shit that Weston never could. A lot faster, too. “Never hurts to have more than one set of eyes on things, Boomer.”
“Yeah. Appreciate your help, Virus.”
Normally, our tech expert is quiet during church. There’s not much for him to say, since his contributions to the club are all on the internet and the dark web. Virus has a knack for finding people and being able to dig deep, uncovering records people believe are buried and untraceable.
He won’t let us down.
Boomer and Scythe exchange a weighted glance.
There’s a lot said without words. You can see it in their body language and expressions: how the siblings are so in tune with one another that they don’t need to speak every word out loud.
We’ve seen this interaction before and know it means the brothers will work together to ensure Raven’s Crest, its residents, and the tourists are safe.
As Boomer opens the door to leave, we hear someone honking repeatedly outside. He frowns as he leaves the chapel, and we all follow, Scythe right behind Boomer.
Boomer is the first to exit the clubhouse, his focus on the dark truck parked outside the gate.
I notice right away there’s no license plate.
Two men wearing black ski masks shove something out the back, and it hits the ground, rolling briefly before coming to a stop in the middle of the road.
They don’t say a word as the truck speeds away, the tires sending gravel into the air.
I know in my gut this is going to be fucked up. My stomach feels queasy, and my body tingles with awareness. I’ve felt this before, many times when danger is too close.
Boomer’s weapon is in his hand as he rushes toward the gate. The prospect opens it as the members run toward the object in the road. It’s confusing at first. Just a big fucking rug that’s filthy and been rolled up.
Boomer approaches and toes the bundle. “Fuck. We need to unroll this, Scythe.”
Scythe ticks his head toward Phantom and me, and we bend down, pushing at the heavy, thick carpet until it moves, rolling over a couple of times to reveal a blood-soaked interior.
And a body.
Phantom jumps back, but I lower to a crouch. I know the dead woman on the ground. She’s been slashed so viciously her organs are spilling out. The stained rug reeks of death.
“Fuck, Pres. It’s Ellie.”
Ellie, the young woman working at the hotel, is trying to make ends meet and care for her family. Rashell Allen murdered her. She took another innocent life.
Scythe hangs his head. “I should have put a prospect on her.”
“You couldn’t have known what would happen, brother.” Boomer grips his shoulder. “Her death isn’t on any of us.”
But it’s hard not to feel that way. I’m the one who took Nat to talk to Ellie. I probably put her in danger the second I learned Rashell Allen’s name.
“Don’t take this on, Hayride.”
I look up, meeting Scythe’s pissed gaze. He’s not angry at me. It’s the fact that another person has died. “I feel the weight of it, Pres.”
“But you aren’t the one who took and sliced her up.”
“Doesn’t matter. I went back to the hotel and asked questions. Those answers provided information about Rashell Allen. Ellie died for helping us.”
He can’t argue with the truth and sighs. “Let it go, Hayride. We’ll find Rashell and the others. You’ll get a chance to seek vengeance.”
As I stand here, staring at Ellie’s mangled body, I feel a tightness in my chest. Natalya pops into my thoughts. If they got to Ellie for exposing the truth, would they go after Nat next?
I’M ANXIOUS AS FUCK as I ride to the hospital. I’ve called Nat three times and sent her a text, but she hasn’t answered. I try not to get pissed or annoyed since she probably isn’t worried about her phone. Her focus is on her brother.
Still, I need her to answer. I have to know she’s okay.
The ride takes much longer than I’d like since there’s no hospital in Raven’s Crest. The town is too small for more than an Urgent Care. You have to drive to Willow Wood Falls or up north to Columbus if you need specialized care.
Willow Wood Falls is about an hour away and tucked deeper into the forest. It’s still a smaller town, but the population is larger. Enough that there’s a modest hospital.
That’s where Thad is being treated.
I’m in luck as I pull up to the entrance and snag a spot close to the door. Once I park my bike, I practically run inside and mash the fucking elevator button until it pops open.
People stare at me, but I don’t care. I’m too wound up. Nothing is going to make me feel calmer until I see Natalya.
I’ve already been here, so I know which floor Thad is on and his room number. He’s been asleep every time I’ve been there. As I throw open the door and rush in, I see Nat and Thad talking.
That’s why she never picked up.
“Hi,” she greets me as Thad turns in my direction.
“You’re the guy who helped me.”
“I am.” My body relaxes. There’s no danger. Sticking out my hand, I offer it to Thad. “Hayden Phillips. But you can call me Hayride.”
He gives me a somewhat firm shake, but considering all he’s been through, it’s strong. “I owe you a debt I can never repay. You’ve been there for Nat when she needed it.”
“I’ve been a bit selfish,” I admit. “Her smile won me over.”
“Well, Scott smiles are infamous.” He glances between Nat and me. “We’re all grown-ups here, so I don’t feel bad asking what your intentions are with my sister.”
Nat gasps. “Thad!”
He doesn’t look affected. “If this is just fun, Hayride, she needs to know. Don’t fucking break her heart.”
“You asking because I’m a biker and I wear colors?”
“Yes, and no. I don’t care if you’re a fucking purple alien with a twelve-inch dick. If my sister likes you, then I’ll accept it. What I won’t is you fucking around with her.”
My lips twitch. He’s ballsy. I don’t take offense. “My dick isn’t purple or twelve inches.”
Nat dramatically sighs.
I look right into Thad’s eyes. He needs to see and hear I mean what I say. “I’m not fucking around with Natalya, but I am having fun. Lots of it. She’s enjoying it, and I don’t have any plans to stop being with her.”
Nat groans as she covers her face with her hands. “You did not just tell my brother about our sex life.”
“I’m glad Dad isn’t here right now,” Thad says with a laugh.
I walk to Nat and slide my arms around her, lowering my head to capture her lips. Her minty breath teases my tongue as I slide it into her mouth.
Thad clears his throat. “Spare me, please. I need bleach for my eyes.”
I pull my mouth from Nat’s and kiss the tip of her nose. “Gonna need you by my side for a long, long time, Fireball.”
“It’s a good thing I like you, biker man.”
For a minute, I just stare, taking in her pretty green eyes. They capture me every single time. So expressive. “You think you can love an outlaw?”
It’s a conversation meant for private, but I don’t mind that Thad is hearing it.
“I know I can.”
My mouth kicks up in a wide grin because I already know we’re both invested in this relationship. Even if it’s new.
I want to take her back to the clubhouse and lay her on my bed, spread her soft thighs, and fuck her for hours. It’s not a good time to get my dick calling the shots, so I just tuck a loose strand of Nat’s hair behind her ear.
Thad is watching us. “Treat her right, and we’ve got no issues, Hayride.”
“Good to know.”
Nat rests her head on my chest, right over my heart.
I don’t think about those three little words often. They’ve never been part of my vocabulary unless they’re said to my mother. But I feel warmth in my chest. It keeps growing and becoming stronger. Building into something I don’t want to lose.
It’s Natalya.
And it’s everything.