Chapter Ten.
Nun
Between us, we wrangled Priest into the clubhouse, but he was leaking blood again.
Stitch didn’t even bother trying to get him into her small clinic; she laid him down on the nearest sofa and began cutting his clothes off.
Stitch quickly examined his ankle and then ignored it.
The knife wound in his stomach was ugly and jagged.
Stitch closed her eyes and held her hands over it.
“He’s got internal damage. It’s severe. I can only heal him so far before I’m drained, and I have another client this week.
I’ll get Priest to the point where he’s safe and won’t die, but his body will have to do the rest. Even so, he’ll recover quicker than usual. ”
“Thanks, sister,” I replied, squeezing her shoulder.
Stitch nodded as Blue came over. He noticed Priest and winced before wrapping his arms around me.
Without a conscious thought, I rested my head on Blue’s chest and clung to him.
I’d no idea what was wrong with me; I wasn’t a clingy person, but somehow these two men were tearing down walls.
Blue stroked my back in reassuring circles as we watched Stitch do her shit.
“He’ll be fine,” Blue responded.
“You need to be careful; everyone does. The Bloody Femmes are making moves, and they’re too scared to hit us directly. They’re going after people associated with our group,” I whispered.
“If they come for me, they’ll regret it. I won’t hesitate because they’re women,” Blue replied, and I squeezed him tighter as a reply. No further words were necessary.
Wylde
“Hey, those baggies we picked up from that dealer. They’re a match to that bad batch,” Cassidy stated, entering the office.
“The lab certain?”
“One hundred per cent. We need to know who his supplier is,” Cassidy continued.
“Let’s go visit him and see if he remembers anything,” I said, getting up and grabbing my sports jacket.
“Where are you two going?” Hatton inquired.
“The dealer, the latest victim. His drugs are poison,” Cassidy explained.
“Are these tablets similar to the ones the five teenagers who died took?” Hatton straightened.
“Yes. The asshole was selling a dodgy batch. Whoever beat the hell out of him probably saved some lives. The lab said anyone who consumed one would have been lucky to have lived,” Cassidy responded.
“Go fuckin’ arrest him,” Hatton ordered. “He might not remember who attacked him, but I’m sure he remembers his dealer. Get that fucker off the streets!”
“On it, Capt.,” I replied and followed Cassidy out. As I hit the bullpen, I saw Sapphire approaching. I smiled as heads turned to follow my woman. Fuck, she was beautiful. Sapphire reached me, kissed me, and handed me a bag.
“You forgot lunch,” she stated, slapped my ass, and sauntered back out. I began laughing. The sheer audacity of that woman.
“Damn, detective, you’ve got a wildcat there,” a uniform said.
“Yup, and she’s all mine.” I grinned. Sapphire would always come first, even if I quit my career. There was no comparison.
Nun
“Nun!” Sapphire called as I headed out to attend the club.
“Yo!” I replied, turning back and seeing her. She beckoned me over.
“I had a premonition, and it’s imminent,” she murmured.
“Brielle is at that rotten diner near Derry. The Bloody Femmes are going to find her if you don’t ride now. Your sisters are all out, but I’ll send backup,” Sapphire warned with urgency.
“Don’t tell Priest.” I turned and ran for my Harley.
I swung a leg over and Jazz barely got the gate open before I roared through it. Has the Femmes been looking for her, or had they merely stumbled across her by accident? The timing was shit.
I opened my throttle. Screw the speed limits. If Priest really was this top assassin, and the Bloody Femmes had his cousin, then they controlled him. I’d witnessed how much he loved Brielle, and he’d do anything to keep her safe.
Even try to destroy us.
I couldn’t let that happen. Priest would die in the attempt.
The evening sun was setting, and that could benefit or hinder me.
On a normal day, Derry was an hour’s drive from here.
I made it in forty minutes, ducking round traffic.
The diner came into sight, and my heart sank.
There were eight Harleys parked up outside.
I cursed as I pulled in. I wasn’t special with powers; there was just me, but I couldn’t let the Femmes take Brielle.
They wouldn’t be expecting me. The door opened and Foxy, their Prez, stormed out with Cheetah, her Veep, following.
Cheetah had hold of a young girl’s neck.
From behind came six more members. They all cackled, laughed, and seemed incredibly pleased with themselves.
Brielle looked terrified and struggled, but Cheetah tightened her grip. Brielle winced and pulled away.
Cheetah shoved her around, slapped her across the face, and snarled at her. Brielle flinched as Foxy gave her a shove. Jesus, they’d even sink to bullying a kid. I drew my piece; there was one way to play this. I revved and headed for them.
The Bloody Femmes looked up as I roared down the road, their attention on me as I planned. I lifted my gun and fired, praying I didn’t hit Brielle. The Femmes scattered, shouting and screaming abuse as I charged in. I skidded to a stop.
“Brielle, if you want to see Ethan, here, now!” I yelled and shot at Cheetah, who tried to grab her.
Brielle stared at me in shock and horror.
“Move!” I shouted again as a bullet pinged near me.
Kiss ducked as I aimed in her direction.
Another bullet hit the ground close to Brielle, and she moved.
She raced over as I laid down covering fire and then climbed up behind me.
I was moving before she was even in position.
It wasn’t ideal that Brielle’s back was to the Bloody Femmes, but I’d little choice.
Several shots were fired, and I turned to the street and headed out.
Harleys thundered, and I knew the Femmes were giving chase.
“Hold on tight!” I yelled at Brielle, who shunted closer and gripped tighter.
I opened the throttle, confident in my own abilities.
Pipes roared louder, and more bullets barely missed me.
A figure rode towards me, one hand held high, and my heart skipped a beat; then I recognised her.
Tinkerbell and behind her came Sailor. Then, instead of just two riders, they became four, six and then eight, as Sailor doubled their images.
Tinkerbell let rip, and ice flew from her fingers.
In my mirror, I saw the road freeze over, and then Bloody Femmes skidded out of control and hit the ground. I kept going even as Tinkerbell and Sailor turned and tore after me. As I headed down Route 102, a figure stepped out, and my gut sank. Vix, the Bloody Femmes’ enforcer.
I began weaving to avoid her aim, but Vix calmly tracked me. A nasty smile crossed her lips as she fired. I heard it ping off my Hog and cursed. Then she was swamped in shadows as Blade rode out of the darkness.
Blade tightened her grip, the shadows thickened, and Vix’s cursing reached me.
I flew past with Sailor and Tinkerbell behind me.
Blade turned around and followed. Once we were out of range, Blade loosened her hold and pulled up alongside me.
She nodded and took the lead while Tinkerbell covered my open side.
Sailor stayed at the rear. They were covering the teenager I’d rescued.
Forty minutes later, we rode into the clubhouse, and I parked up. As soon as we crossed into Portsmouth, I relaxed. We were safe.
Parking up outside, I turned to Brielle.
“Get down.”
Brielle obeyed at once, and I saw how pale she was. “Don’t pass out on me, kid. You’re protected now.”
“Those women said they were going to take me to Ethan.” Brielle backed away. “But they were mean. I don’t know you and…”
“Brielle, I’m tired. I just saved your damn butt, and your cousin is inside. I get you’re scared and worried. But I rescued your sorry ass; I’m not planning to hurt you after that,” I replied.
Brielle eyed me, and I shrugged. “Priest’s inside,” Blade added, passing me and entering the clubhouse.
Brielle hesitated while I waited. Tinkerbell raised her hand for a high-five, and I slapped it and hauled her close. “Thank you.”
“Weren’t gonna let my sister down,” Tinkerbell muttered. “Did you see what Sailor pulled off? She’s been practising.”
“Yeah.” I turned to Sailor and accepted the same high-five and hug. “That was some nice work.”
“You wanna see it with a gimp mask?”
“What the fuck, Sailor?”
“I can only conjure one or two individuals. But if we’re all wearing masks, they won’t realise it’s the same image coming for them,” Sailor explained.
“Nice trick,” I agreed.
Sailor cocked her head. “Kid, come on. There’s food inside.”
Brielle was looking between us, completely confused, but she finally began shuffling her feet.
I threw the door open, and Tinkerbell and Sailor entered.
They moved aside as I gently pushed Brielle in.
Her eyes searched the room and landed on Priest. He was arguing with Stitch and motioning to his stomach.
“I need to find her.”
“No, you don’t! I did,” I said loudly.
“Ethan!” Brielle screamed as his head jerked towards us. Brielle rushed forward and threw herself into his chest, sobbing. Priest’s arms wrapped around her, and he hauled her in close, any pain he was suffering forgotten. Brielle tucked under his chin, and Priest closed his eyes in peace.
“You gave him that,” Tinkerbell whispered. I nodded and slipped out.
Priest
Stitch wouldn’t let me go and didn’t seem to understand I had to.
Brielle was out there, and the Bloody Femmes knew her whereabouts.
I couldn’t sit around on my ass when she was in more danger.
I couldn’t think about what Brielle had suffered this past year.
She wasn’t even aware I was searching for her.
My throat tightened. I bet Brielle thought she was all alone.
If I could kill Ross and destroy Bella again, I would.