Chapter Twelve.
Rascal.
Tati slapped a large, stocky bandage across my stomach after cleaning it and handed me some antibiotics.
I laughed at what the club kept in its medical supplies.
They never messed with anyone’s health. The rest of Hellfire remained at the fair with Wraith and Smokey, with me.
Big Al and Tati had come away early as Tati had felt ill.
“Did you catch her?” I asked as Chance entered.
“That damn bitch has nine lives,” he cursed. “She disappeared into the crowd.”
“King and Hallie figured out who she is,” Hawthorne said, walking in with his hand wrapped up.
“Sit down, Lio, and let me look at that,” Tati ordered. Lio didn’t bother replying but obeyed.
“Who is she?” I asked.
“Do you remember Kira Barnes?”
I wracked my brains before jolting. “Little Kira? You’re telling me Jane is Kira Barnes from school?”
“Yes. King tracked her,” Lio replied and winced as Tati began cleaning his wound.
Lio explained everything that King had figured out, and I sat in complete disbelief.
It cleared up some of the minor mysteries surrounding Hallie that hadn’t made sense.
Like how she was so sharp but forgot recent conversations.
Back then I’d chalked it up to the stress of college life.
Or how I’d make a date, and she’d not turn up.
All those forgetful times had been Kira.
“Do we know where she’s living?” I asked. “Did King find that?”
“No. Someone as smart as Kira is hiding under an alias,” Lio said.
“It’s not going to be easy finding her. And with her tendency to escape, and this APB out, it’s a nightmare.
We turn up for Kira, and it’s Hallie. This is a total mess and not something we’ve encountered before. It’s like a movie plot gone bad.”
“Except that Kira is real and Hallie’s clone,” I growled.
“Precisely. We have to track her down, but I don’t know where to start. I’d ask Hallie to stay inside, but she’s spent five years of her life doing that,” Lio stated.
“This Kira is gunning for Hallie now,” Chance said.
“We’re not using her as bait!” I exclaimed.
“It might be the easiest way to capture her,” Lio agreed.
“Find another,” I argued.
“Shouldn’t we at least ask Hallie?” Wraith chipped in.
I felt betrayed. “No.”
“Then tell me how to trap Kira. Because we don’t have a clue what her alias could be.
I highly doubt she’s using Hallie’s name because we’d be able to whittle that down.
Where do we start? It’s not going to be easy, Rascal.
Because so many sightings would be Hallie.
If I put Kira on TV, Hallie’s neighbours will call her in.
It hinders rather than helps, much like the APB,” Lio continued.
Lio’s phone pinged, and he read his message.
“Well, that is the final nail in Kira’s coffin.
They found the missing footage, and it’s been watched.
That was Chief Holmes; the Attorney General notified him as a courtesy.
The video clearly shows Hallie shopping, exactly where she claimed to be.
The AG has taken the evidence into custody. ”
“And?” I asked, knowing there was more.
“Sheriff Bentley will be charged with multiple counts. Hallie has her vindication. A statement should be released soon,” Lio continued.
“Shit. Jane’s going to feel that pressure. She’ll make a rash move,” I announced, and Lio nodded.
“Yeah. The problem is we can’t tell what she’ll do. She’s unpredictable,” Lio confirmed.
“If Kira wants me, she’ll attack Hallie.”
“It’s more likely she’ll hit you first to draw Hallie out,” Wraith disagreed.
“So, remove that option. Bring Hallie here,” I said.
“You’ll be lucky; she hates us,” Chance chuckled.
“Yeah, but Hallie has her life back. This is the path to her getting it. If she believes that Hallie and I are together, it will cause Kira to be sloppy, and she’ll make a rash move,” I stated.
“You have to get Hallie to agree to this, and that won’t happen,” Wraith pointed out. I glowered at him. Who needed enemies when you had brothers like him?
Hallie
“Go fuck yourself,” I said sweetly and hung up. King began roaring with laughter as I shook my head in disbelief. “He honestly expects me to stay at their clubhouse to lure Kira out?”
“The man has some balls,” King agreed. “Although he also has a point. How much longer do you want to keep living like this? Kira has you hiding in your own home. She’s winning right now.”
“Then let’s draw her out. You don’t think I’m tired of this?” I asked, feeling grumpy. I was well and truly over Kira and her psycho drama we were all staying in.
“And that worries me.”
“What does?” I demanded.
“That you’re so cavalier. This bitch sent you down for five years; she then tried framing you for a second murder and has kept up constant harassment.
Kira is one step ahead of us. Christ, she even fooled your parents into spending a day with her.
For all Kira’s fuckin’ nuts, she’s cunning with it. ”
“I won’t stay locked up, King.”
“No, but we can set the trap and be clever with it. Kira’s used to you reacting. If you and Rascal become proactive, she won’t know what to do.”
I pursed my lips and folded my arms. “How other than my playing bait?”
“I think rage-baiting her is the way. Kira will freak the hell out if she thinks you and Rascal are a couple. She’s proved that time and time again,” King replied.
“You’re telling me to stay at their clubhouse!” I accused.
“Yes, for a couple of days to trap her.”
“I’ll end up doing time for murder because I will kill him if I have to spend too long around him,” I muttered.
King smirked. “That’s why I’ll come with you.”
“Oh, this’ll be fun,” I grinned and rubbed my hands together.
King offered me a wink. “You’re my ride or die.”
“Don’t think this implies I forgive you; this is a means to an end,” I declared as I held Rascal’s eyes. He seemed far too happy that I was here on his turf. His gaze flickered to King, and he frowned in confusion as King placed two cases on the floor.
“Where Hallie goes, I go,” King stated, folding his arms.
Rascal looked over towards Chance, who suddenly laughed. “That scuppered you.”
King smirked. “Where are we staying? And I better be close to her,” he warned.
“Prospect, prepare the bunk next to Hallie’s,” Chance ordered, and Rascal appeared pissed. Yup, it was a good that King had accompanied me. Clearly, Rascal had ideas much different from mine.
“This way,” Rascal ground out, sending King an evil glance. He led us through a doorway and down a corridor, and up some stairs.
“King, you’ll be in here.” Rascal opened a door.
“Hope I get some bedding,” King muttered as he parked his suitcase in the bedroom.
“Hallie, yours is here,” Rascal stated, leading me into the adjoining room. It was adequate and nothing to write home about. I dumped my case and shooed Rascal out.
“We need to talk,” he said.
“No, we don’t!” I replied as I shut the door on him. Uneasy and uncomfortable, I sank onto the bed, relieved it had a decent mattress. Welcome to prison again. At least I had a window this time!
“Hi. I’m Clio, Chance’s old lady. Make yourself at home. If you need anything, shout. Mealtimes are on the board, and it’s a serve yourself to whatever is served.”
I blinked. “What?” I replied rudely.
Clio grinned. “We have cooks. The old ladies either have jobs, or we’re riding herd on the Holy Terrors. We don’t have time to cook. Chance hired a couple of cooks to support us. We can eat here or at home; it’s up to us. There’re three meals a day and help yourself to snacks in the kitchen.”
“Well, damn, it feels like mealtimes in prison.”
“The food is one hundred per cent better though,” another woman quipped. “I’m Kendara, Rooster’s old lady.”
“Hey Kenny. How did the court case go?” Clio inquired.
“Slam dunk. I’m a divorce lawyer,” Kenny explained. “I used to work for a company, and now I’m self-employed and support a charity.”
“Nice job to have,” I replied, a little bemused. A lawyer linked to a brother in a motorcycle club. That had to be a first.
“Yeah. Where are the kids?” Kenny asked.
“Lavender was getting rid of some…” A loud explosion interrupted Clio. Men rushed out, and I glanced around, alarmed.
“What on earth?”
“That had to be Brax,” Kenny sighed as she sat down.
I was completely confused. “Should we go investigate?”
“Nope.” Kenny shrugged.
“Brax?” Clio asked,
“I warned Rooster the boys were up to something. He didn’t listen.” Kenny shook her head.
“Are you saying kids just blew something up?” I rose to my feet.
“Hun, sit your ass down. Brax, Finn, Kit and Troy are often blowing shit up. They’ve got a fuckin’ affinity for explosives,” Kenny replied. “They blew me up once, too.”
I stared at the two women who appeared resigned. I was being drawn in despite wanting to keep my distance. “Like boom-boom?”
“Yup. Like boom. Then Brax thought the others had murdered me and was screaming, they killed Kenny! Which in turn became, “Who killed Kenny?” we both chorused the last few words.
“That’s hysterical,” I said, and Kenny shrugged.
“In revenge for my getting hurt, Brax put hair removal lotion in the shampoo which I used and then went bald. And believe it or not, those boys love me.”
I gaped at Kenny. “They’re lying.
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But nope, those kids are fully capable of killing anyone who hurts me.
And Brax would torture them as well. Finn, Kit, and Brax are my adopted sons.
They didn’t have a mother, so they are overprotective of me, just like their father.
Hell, they’ve attacked Rooster several times,” Kenny shrugged.
“Tell Hallie about Terminator sex,” Clio began giggling. Kenny grinned, and I leaned forward. I didn’t want to like these women, but I needed to know what Terminator sex was.
I was roaring with laughter at what Kenny and Clio were telling me when the door opened, and four teens and two young girls walked in. Kenny turned and looked at them. “You all in one piece?”
“Yeah, Mom,” three boys chorused.