THIRTY-THREE
Throttle
A blow torch—a goddamn blow torch. From the hill, we have a view of the warehouse. This was my first lead and first gut instinct about where Tequila was.
Chain places his hand on my shoulder, aware of my intentions. “We wait for Pipe and his club, son. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”
My chest is heavy, and every passing minute fills me with dread.
Chain understood our options were limited and called for backup. But it’s impossible for me to wait any longer. I have a strong intuition that she's inside. She’s in trouble. I can't even think about it, if she was...
I glance at his hand on me. My jaw clenches. “I say this with the utmost respect, Prez, but there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that is going to stop me from getting to her. Do you feel me?”
We were in a stare off until several cars and bikes arrive at the warehouse, distracting me from our leader.
Two black Land Rovers, complete with tinted windows, park and a suited man emerges.
The unmarked club members' motorcycles also park alongside, acting as security.
Hell no.
Charger's facial expression shows that he understands the meaning, just like I do. Remembering it all too well with his girl.
Tequila won't fall into the hands of the twisted mafia.
Chain turns back to me. “What kind of President. No...” He shakes his head. “What kind of father would I be if I let you go in there?”
I give a one-handed embrace to him. “It’s my choice and I am not asking.” I pull away and double check the piece Tank gave me for bullets.
Tank strides beside me. “Let’s go, brother.”
“No. You stay and wait for backup. I’m not risking your life.”
Charger walks up to us. “You don’t have a choice.” He tucks his gun in his waistband.
“No. No way. You have a family.”
“Right. And Jules would kill me herself if I didn’t help save our girl. So, let’s go.”
I assume it helps ease Charger’s mind knowing Angel, and Bullet are back with her, Mags, and Chloe.
If Venom’s club wasn’t doing business out of town, we could have used them instead of Pipe. But beggars can’t be choosers.
I suppress my gratitude of emotion, knowing it needs to wait. Hush nods over at me with his bat in hand, and him showing his commitment, overwhelms me. My chest swells. And the pride I have for these guys reaches unreal levels when Chain steps up too.
I go first, leading us to the building. Since there are only a few guys standing guard outside, I'm confident they will be easy to handle.
We run alongside the edge of the cliff, ensuring we end up at their back. Maintaining a low profile, we descend the hill and take cover beside the warehouse.
As I spot each biker, I glance at Tank alongside me. After I give him the signal, we then move as quietly as possible.
I don't hesitate to finish the guy’s life since he made his own choice.
With a knife drawn from my boot, I approach my target, swiftly carving my blade across his throat. He chokes on his own blood that spews from the fatal wound, pressing his trembling hands to it.
Next to me, Tank twists his target’s neck, and he falls lifeless to the floor.
That's one way of doing it.
I raise a brow and he shrugs. Big Ass brute.
I glance behind us and see my club emerging from the side walls.
With three fingers raised, I grasp the doorknob and begin a countdown. When I make it to one, I whip open the door, piece in hand.
Oh shit.
We’re outnumbered. By a lot.
As they reach for guns, I swiftly roll behind a wall for cover, trusting my brothers to do the same.
The massive area fills with the sound of gunfire, and I seize the opportunity to strike when the shooting stops. I scan the vicinity, not seeing any signs of where Tequila or others might be.
What if she’s not here? What if we fucked up?
I take another shot and hit a guy in the chest.
A bullet whizzes by my head, but I duck in time.
“On your right!” Charger calls out to Hush, but he’s already seen him.
He uses his bat to strike the biker's knees before slamming his head against the wall.
Tank fires and successfully hits the target. Chain doing the same. But there’s too many of them.
There's a sudden loud crash, followed by a flying Hummer. I duck, covering my head.
Pipe leaps forward, simultaneously shooting his rifle, and his men do the same. Some climb out the back and others funnel in from around the broken-down walls.
Never thought I’d be glad to see him.
The knocked down wall reveals a set of stairs off to the right and I grab Tank’s attention. He nods, covering me while I make a run for it.
I have no idea if Tequila is down here, but this may be my last hope, and I’ll fucking crawl to her if I have to.
I reach the door at the bottom of the steps and find it locked. I kick once, nothing. With another powerful kick, it finally opens.
No one could have anticipated this. What I was looking at.
Blood. Cages. A body.
I went to check on the woman lying face down near the stairs. My heart rate decreases when I realize it’s not Tequila. I feel guilty for being relieved. As sorry as I was for her, I was glad it wasn’t my girl.
Tank and Hush make their way down and stop right next to me. Tank scans the room and when I hear a scream, I can tell it’s her. My stomach drops in terror.
Without hesitation, I sprint and locate a back entrance, with Hush right on my tail.
I swear to everything on this Earth, I will slaughter anyone who hurt her.