Dead souls mc complete s.., p.83
Dead Souls MC (Complete Series #1-5), page 83
“Once we have Brynn safe, you can mow them down for all I care,” Dean said.
“Grave’s in heaven,” Brewer said with a grin.
“Dean,” I said.
The old man looked at me from the back of the trailer before I reached in and hoisted myself up.
“My men have no idea how to move in silence,” I said.
“Which is why you assholes will be bringing up the rear. I’ll take my guys in first to case the joint, and we’ll all be wearing these.”
He held up what looked like a wireless earpiece and I shook my head.
“And here I thought you guys were old school,” I said.
“Compared to that shit you pulled in your lodge, this is old school. I’m impressed, by the way. That was a hell of a trick your guy pulled.”
“Thanks!” Rock exclaimed. “Coming into the age of technology doesn’t suck as much shit as people think.”
We all shared a chuckle before we began getting ready. We all took our bikes and stashed them in an abandoned house on the edge of the road before getting into the back of the truck. And as Jace pulled off down the road towards our final destination, we all got changed. All black, some camouflage, and stacked to the nines with guns and ammunition. Dean got us fitted for the wireless communication devices so everyone could keep in contact, then one the Black Hornets ran us through the plan.
“Jace is going to sit with the truck, and he has explicit orders to pull away the second Brynn’s in back. No matter who’s back there with her, once her feet touch this floor, the truck’s gone,” he said. “Me and my other three men will work our way through the back entrance and you’ll hear us talking. Clearing corners, whispering numbers, things like that. It’s all tactical to make sure we don’t lose someone, so don’t worry about it. All you need to focus on is the layout I’m gonna be murmuring to you guys through your earpieces.”
“Got it,” I said.
You guys don’t make a move until gunfire rains down. Once the shootout begins--because you know there will be one--you guys can come charging in. You've got flashlights on all those guns you have. Use them. Clear your corners and don’t go into a room without shining a light in it first. You’re no good to any of us dead.”
“I hear that,” Grave said.
“This truck’s pretty loud. Aren’t they gonna hear us coming’?” Knox asked.
“You think we haven’t fixed up this truck the way we need it?” Dean asked. “Jace!”
“What?”
“Hit it,” he said.
What I’d come to know as the dull roar of the truck silenced immediately. I had to pay attention to the movement of the tires simply to remind myself that the truck was still moving. I looked up at Dean and I watched a grin crawl across his features.
“What the fuck?” Brewer asked. “How the hell did you do that? What are you muting?”
“Trade secret,” Dean said. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“Or recruit you,” Rock said with a grin.
“Not for sale,” Brewer said. “But I’m going to figure it out.”
“Good luck,” one of Dean’s men said.
The truck rolled silently along the road, and I knew the second we had come upon the warehouse. The tires slowed and the truck began to turn, almost as if it was venturing around the perimeter of the property. I stood there, bracing myself and ready for the plan of action.
Then, Jace’s voice came alive in my ear.
“Warehouse has two levels. Windows on upper floor, none on lower.”
“You guys hear that?” Dean asked.
“Yep,” we all said.
“Looks like the entire metal casing sits on a solid cement foundation. Nowhere to hide the truck, though. No trees or anything. Just the shadow of the building cast by the moonlight,” Jace said.
“Is there a back exit in that shadowed area?” I asked.
“Looks like it.”
“That’s our best bet for cover,” Dean said. “Park us there, Jace. We’ll take it from here.”
“Roger that,” he said. “And another thing, the windows on the second floor go all the way around the outside.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
Dean looked up at me with a stern glare as his eyes widened.
“It means the entire building is built around one open cavernous space,” he said.
“Which means we’ll be digging through corridors to get to that main room. Which is probably where Brynn is,” I said.
“Shit,” Grave said. “You guys better be quiet then. Because if they hear us coming--”
“We won’t get to her in time,” Dean said.
I felt the truck come to a slow stop before all of us drew in a deep breath. Nothing but the sound of silence and the nighttime of Redding could be heard before the backdoor slowly inched open. Jace appeared with a stern look as Dean and his men silently made their way off the truck. Then, Dean turned to me and held out his hand.
“When you hear the guns, you come running,” he said.
“Got it,” I said as we inched our way out of the truck. “We’ll stay back.”
Then, I watched as Jace picked the lock on the back door before ushering his club into the building, their footsteps silent and their guns at the ready.
20
Brynn
I wiped at my tears. There was no one who would get me out of this situation except for myself. I needed to buck the hell up, put on my big girl panties, and find a way out of this place. I wiped at my face and stood to my feet, dusting the dirt off my body. Then, I trained my ears on the sounds around me. And there was nothing. No laughter. No anger. No voices.
It was as if life itself had completely ceased to exist.
I grabbed my stick and walked out of the room. Turning down the hallway, I walked farther into the darkened abyss. I walked until I could no longer see the hands at my sides. I walked until I could no longer tell the difference between where my body stopped and the darkness began. It was as if I had stepped into another world. An entirely new dimension devoid of all light whatsoever.
I felt trapped, and I didn’t like that feeling.
I ran into the wall and I hissed at the pain. My nose hurt and my toes curled in anger and frustration. I drew in a deep breath as I listened out. Had I disturbed someone? Alerted them to my presence? I figured I would at least hear them whenever they went to check on their fallen comrade I’d pummeled earlier. Was I so far away that I couldn't hear them?
How big was this damn place?
I looked around me, but there was nothing. No light, no stars, no moon. No Diesel. My back fell against the wall and I stood there, contemplating my next move. I could stay there until morning. Or at least until The Black Saddles came searching for me. But if I made myself a sitting duck, they would surely find me and kill me.
No, I had to keep going. There was no other way.
I went to push off the wall but found myself falling backwards. I tumbled to my ass while the stick I gripped went spilling out of my hand. I screamed out, fearful that I was about to fall into the arms of someone that wanted to hurt me. Or tumble down a flight of steps that would alert my station. Or fall onto something that would pierce me and kill me on the spot.
But none of that happened.
I did, however, find myself in the encasement of another stairwell.
I moved my feet just before the door slammed closed. Great. If they didn’t know where I was, they sure as hell knew now. I looked up and around me to try and get my bearings as I felt around for that stick. A nail jammed into the palm of my hand and I bit down onto my tongue to keep from crying out.
At least that thing hadn’t gone tumbling down the steps.
I dragged myself off the floor and figured the only way to get out of this place was to go down. Being on the second floor hid me, but if my goal was to run away from this place I had to find an exit. I steadied my way down the stairs, drawing on every single lesson my father and his club ever taught me. I kept my ears trained on every sound and minimized my footballs. I kept a tight grip on my weapon, but I didn’t lock my elbow in case I needed to react quickly.
I walked down two flights of stairs before coming face to face with another door, but I paused. Where did this door lead to? I didn’t see any exit signs, so it obviously wasn’t outside. What if this dumped me right by the guys? Or worse, into their damn room? I pressed my ear to the door and heard the faintest sound of anger. The first sound I’d heard since finding my way upstairs.
“Where the fuck is she!?”
“Wake up, Fang. Wake up.”
“Fuck, is he dead?”
“Find that bitch, and when you do? Put a bullet between her eyes.”
Panic filled my veins as I eased the door open. Their sounds grew, but not by much. I looked around the dimly lit space to try and find myself a way out, and grew discouraged when I didn’t find one. What the hell was this place? Why the fuck didn’t it have exits?
“You, with me,” Rex said. “The rest of you, circle around. We’re cornering that bitch.”
I slipped through the door and into the first room. I searched around for a vent or a window. Or a hatch leading down into the sewer line. Anything I could think of to crawl through and get out of this building. It was only a matter of time before they made their way upstairs. If I went all the way to the roof, they’d only corner me. Throw me off. Something like that. And dying today wasn’t an option.
I had a man to marry.
I darted in and out of rooms as their voices grew closer. My hands shook and the grip on my weapon loosened. I needed a window. Any window. Some sort of fucking exit I could utilize. But as each room passed, I grew more and more distraught. More and more desperate.
No wonder this damn place had been abandoned. No one could get out of it.
“In here!”
The voice was so close it gave me pause. I held my breath and tucked myself into a darkened corner. I heard footsteps rumbling past as shadows ran. But one of the bodies stopped. I held my breath as deeply as I could and squeezed the stick in my hand. I wasn’t below killing them. I wasn’t below beating my way out of this place. I watched one of the guys stick his head into the room, his features shrouded in darkness. He looked straight at me, and I knew I was done. I knew I’d have to kill this man and drag him into the room in order to get myself out.
“Bones! She in there?” someone called out.
“No,” the man said as he stepped back into the hallway. “Nothing but some fucking dust in this room. But no window, either.”
“Good. Then she hasn’t gotten far,” Rex said.
I waited until their footsteps receded, then I let out the breath I was holding. I panted, my lungs screaming for oxygen. I tiptoed my way out of the room and dashed down the hallway, running as quietly as I could. I heard another set of footsteps running up the stretch I was on, so I ducked into a room. I managed to wiggle my way behind the door as they ran past, seemingly not paying attention to my dusty footprints on the floor.
Then, something caught my eye.
A sliver of light?
My eyes followed the illumination and when my sight fell upon it, my heart leapt for joy. The smallest window, almost like a window in a basement, carved into the metal structure of the building. I raced to it and stood on my tiptoes, trying to see if I could hoist myself out of it. I dropped the stick and worked the window, trying to get it open. To slide it over or up. To pull it back or push it forward. I didn’t want to break it. I didn’t want to risk being heard.
But it seemed as if the window was locked.
“Shit,” I said with a whisper. “Of course, it is.”
I looked around for anything I could use to pry it open, assuming it was meant to open. But the only thing I had in my hand was my nail-pierced stick. I did find a box, however, so I scooted it over and stood on it. Now that I was eye-level with the window, I could study it.
But my eyes locked onto what was beyond it.
The yard of the warehouse was shadowed, but the object looked familiar. Very familiar. My soul surged with excitement as I watched it come to a stop against the building. That was my father’s truck. Better yet, that was Jace’s truck.
Holy shit, they had found me.
I watched Jace walk around to the back and throw the door open, then one by one, the guys jumped out. My father was among them and tears sprang to my eyes. Oh my gosh, they really had found me. A smile crossed my cheeks as I hung onto the windowsill, watching as more men continued to pile out of the back. They slid to the ground and stayed as silent as they could, and once my eyes fell onto him tears of happiness rushed down my cheeks.
Diesel.
He had come for me.
21
Diesel
“No lights.”
“Roger that.”
“Four turn left. Give me a count off.”
“Yep.”
“Yeah.”
“Uh huh.”
“Right.”
“Good. Stick to the left, climb the right side. Stay with the shadows. It’s dark in here. No lights. Dead end at the end of the hallway that takes a left.”
I heard the Black Hornets chattering in my ear as me and my men stayed by the truck. They continued to rattle off information that was crucial in allowing my mind to map out the place. I stood beside the truck and looked at the giant structure. Two stories. A rooftop that most certainly had a stairwell entrance. Windows wrapping around the entire second floor but barely any windows on the first. Just slivers of glass that would let the most minimal of light in.
“Diesel.”
Knox’s voice ripped me from my trance as I looked over at him.
“Another dead end, taking another left. Very few lights, and none of the doors lead into the main warehouse floor. Just a bunch of small rooms that look like pathetic offices,” Dean said.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Do you see what I see?”
He pointed over to one of the windows and I squinted. At first, I shook my head. I didn't know what he was talking about or what the hell I was supposed to be looking at. Then, I saw it. The smallest motion that looked as if someone was moving around. I squinted my eyes in the darkness as the guys started rattling off in my ear again, but I wasn’t paying attention.
The movement from the window.
It looked like someone was waving.
“Knox, beam your flashlight,” I said.
“That might give away our--”
“Do it now,” I said.
I heard him sigh before the light flashed on, and the second it caught the window I knew who I was looking at.
Brynn.
Holy hell, Brynn was in the building.
“Dean,” I said.
“On my count,” he said.
“Dean, stop. I know where Brynn is.”
But before I could get the entire statement out, we heard gunfire. I watched Brynn’s eyes widen before she ducked out of the window and my guys went racing for the door. The gunfire was our cue, but I wasn’t headed anywhere near the firefight. I rushed in behind Knox and diverted off to my right, going in search of Brynn. I turned on my flashlight and waved it around, casing the darkened hallway.
“Brynn!” I called out. “Where are you!?”
Then, I felt something come down onto the nape of my neck.
I groaned as I stumbled forward, keeping a strong grip on my gun. I turned around and hit someone with the barrel of it, listening as they stumbled back into the wall. I swept the gun behind my back and reached for the man, wrapping my hands right around his neck. I wanted him to struggle. I wanted him to feel death take him under. No easy death was good enough for these assholes, and I’d make sure each and every one of them suffered.
“Diesel!”
I heard Rock come around the corner as the man in my grasp fell limp. His flashlight shined on me before I looked down at the body on the floor. A Black Saddle shithead with a pistol in his hand.
Idiot.
“Come on. We need all the help we can get,” Rock said.
“Brynn’s around here somewhere. I saw her through the window,” I said.
“And we’ll find her. But right now, we have to eliminate the threat. You know this. Don’t go stupid because a woman is involved.”
“She isn’t any woman.”
“Trust me, I know that. I know that more than any one of you. But that doesn't change the order in which we do things. We get rid of the threat, then we go looking for the survivor.”
I took one last look down the hallway and my heart screamed to run down it. That was where I had seen Brynn. I knew that was where she was, in one of the rooms that shot off the damn hallway. But Rock was also right. If we could eliminate the threat to her, then no matter where she was, we’d find her alive. So, I whipped my gun around, grasped it between my hands, and nodded.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go.”
I followed Rock down the hallway as gunshots bounced off the walls. I ducked into a room to take cover, then peeked out only to take aim and shoot. There were several Black Saddles that seemed to come out of nowhere, and the more we shot the more they seemed to multiply. I went from room to room, clearing it before rounding corners and doing it all over again. But my mind wasn’t in the shooting, or with my men.
It was with Brynn.
If she knew I had been out in the hallway, why hadn’t she come out to me? Was she scared? Did she think maybe I’d shoot her thinking she was one of the men we were chasing? I didn’t know, and part of me didn’t want to know. Brynn was a strong woman, but everyone had their breaking point. Maybe she was scared and cowering. Begging through her tears for me to go find her.
The urge to run after her was strong, but I knew I was where I needed to be in order to keep her safe. Not at the forefront of the fighting, but in the middle of the action to make sure they couldn’t get to her.
“Another one down.”
“How many bodies?”
