Wolfe the biker next doo.., p.21
Wolfe: The Biker Next Door, page 21
“Maybe not. Turns out Collins doesn’t just abuse animals. According to my source, he’s seen Collins’ wife with black eyes and bruises plenty of times.”
Knuckles’s face darkened, his lips pressing tight.
“We’ll go in through the basement bulkhead door. Once we gain access to the house, I want Knuckles and Mac to seek out the wife and daughters. Take them upstairs and hold them ‘til we’re done.”
Bear said what I was already thinking. “With any luck the girls will already be in bed and asleep.”
Yeah, that would be lucky.
“We take him straight to Aaron Jackson. Questions?”
My brothers remained quiet. The looks on their faces revealed they were digesting what I’d told them and working shit out in their minds. One thing I could count on though, was if they didn’t approve of the plan, they’d voice it.
“Okay, let’s move on. Until we know for sure this thing with Tyler wasn’t personal, someone will stay on him at all times. John is with him now.” I cut my eyes to Lynx. He wasn’t going to like what I had to say. “You’ll stay behind, Brother. Work out a schedule between the two of you until we get back.”
He exhaled loudly, and I braced for push back. No one liked staying behind when we were dealing with shit that could go south in a hurry, but Lynx surprised me by saying, “I can use the time to start looking into who Collins’ partner is.”
I acknowledged with a nod and reached for my glass, taking a healthy swallow. I almost rolled my eyes at how the creamy, rich flavor of the whiskey sailed smoothly down my throat, but the stare of my brothers prevented me from making a fool of myself.
“You ever gonna share that shit with us?” Eagle whined.
I laughed. “Nope. You make money. Buy your own fucking bottle.” I glanced at the clock. It was getting late. I took a deep breath. “One more thing before we go.” I waited until all eyes were on me. “Ella’s mine.”
Smirks spread across their smug, rugged features as dirty comments and crude gestures erupted out of them. They were acting like school-aged boys chasing the girls around on the playground. It was times like now when I thought my brothers would never grow up. But I knew when their time came, I would be taunting right along with them.
“You didn’t hold out very long, Prez,” Eagle smirked.
“How could he? Ella’s a hot piece of ass, and she lives conveniently right next door,” Lynx added, crushing his empty beer can. “Does she know yet?”
“Yeah. Warned her what to expect. Now I’m warning you assholes. Stay away from her. I’m not sharing her, and I expect you to protect her with your lives.” One would think I wouldn’t have to spell it out for them, but some of my brothers liked to share their women, and the sweet tarts weren’t the only women who liked threesomes.
“Never thought I’d see the day when you’d have an old lady.”
I scowled at Knuckles, fighting the urge to knock the smile off his face. He knew exactly what he was inviting, the smug bastard. “Never used the words ‘old lady.’ Gonna see where this goes first. Just warning you to keep your fucking hands to yourself.”
I wasn’t sure that I was ready to go down that particular road.
Chapter 44
Ella
I walked out of the hospital feeling no better than I had when I’d walked in. Tyler’s condition hadn’t improved. He was in a medically-induced coma, and he was hooked up to all kinds of machines. He’d looked so pale in that hospital bed, the only proof that he was alive the slow rise and fall of his chest. Buck had been keeping vigil outside his room, and Tyler’s parents and sister were at his bedside. His sister informed me that the doctors said for every day that passed, his chances of surviving got better.
“Are we still going to The Animal’s Den?”
Val had come with me to see Tyler. We’d just about reached my car. “Yeah, Jillian and Lola are meeting us there, remember?” I opened the door to climb behind the wheel. “Do you not feel like going now?”
“No, I want to go, I’m hungry and could use a drink.” She smiled.
I could see through Val’s small smile that her heart wasn’t in it. She was worried about Bear, just as I was worried about Wolfe. The Soldiers of Retribution were on the road somewhere doing what all, and John and Buck weren’t talking, except to say they’d stayed behind to watch over Tyler.
So what had Val and I done the last two days? Binge watched The Sons of Anarchy. Not a very good idea, considering Bear and Wolfe were in a biker’s club. All it did was put bad thoughts in our heads and cause us to worry even more. I knew we couldn’t put much stock in a TV show, but the violence and mayhem, the danger the men faced at times, fueled my imagination and kept me up at night. I knew it had for Val, too. We’d eventually turned to each other and agreed that we’d watched enough and turned it off.
Wolfe had warned me that there would be days like this, hadn’t he? He hadn’t been specific, and there was a reason for that--protection for me and his club. I didn’t believe his MC was involved in anything illegal, but that perhaps some of the things they were forced to do were on the line. And I wasn’t foolish enough to think that when they were challenged it didn’t end in some kind of altercation.
As I wondered where he and his brothers were, I said a silent prayer that they were okay. Wolfe had become important to me, in a fairly short time. I more than liked him. Okay, I was crazy for the man, but I wasn’t quite ready to explore how deep my feelings went. Wasn’t it too soon for that? I mean, we’d only just entered into a relationship. But one thing I was certain of, moving here was turning out to be the best decision I’d ever made.
“Hey, I just got a text from Jillian.” I spared a look toward Val as I turned into the parking lot. “They’re already here and sitting at a table.”
“Good. Because the bar looks packed.” I finally found a place to park, but it was around the back of the bar. “Jeez, I wish they’d fix the lights back here.” There were several light poles, but the lights were out, leaving the parking area very dark.
“Maybe they don’t think anyone parks back here,” Val kidded.
“More likely they leave it dark for all the couples who want to come back here and screw around.” We both laughed as I parked. “Good thing we aren’t wearing heels.”
I was glad that Val was with me as we trudged carefully through the lot toward the front of the bar. We passed several couples along the way who were clinging to each other and laughing as they stumbled to their cars. Someone leaving the bar held the door open for us, and we stepped into a dimly lit atmosphere of noise and smoke.
“How do they get away with smoking in here?” I asked as I halted just inside the door to look around for Jillian and Lola.
“It’s a fucking biker’s bar, sweetheart.”
My eyes drifted down to the gruff-looking man sitting at a booth close to the door. He was with two other men, and the three of them did indeed look like bikers. I couldn’t see the backs of their cuts, but I knew they weren’t part of Wolfe’s MC. They looked mean and dangerous, and were eyeing Val and me like we were their next meal. When he smiled a shiver of fear ran down my spine. I quickly pulled my eyes from the sneering glint in his and grabbed Val by the hand.
“Do you see the girls?” she asked, totally oblivious to my exchange with the man.
Just then I did, because Jillian was waving wildly from their table. I relaxed and forgot about the biker as I pulled Val behind me. “Yeah, I do.” We made our way there and sat down. “Have you been here long?” I noticed they didn’t have any drinks in front of them.
Lola was the first to speak, “About ten minutes. Beers are coming”
“Great!” Val sat next to me. “I want a hamburger, too. We haven’t had dinner.” She picked up the menu even though she’d already decided that she wanted a burger.
Questioning eyes turned toward me. “We just came from the hospital. Tyler is about the same. Still in a coma.”
Jillian’s face twisted, and she shook her head with disgust. “I hope he’ll pull through. We don’t hear about drive-by shootings happening that often.”
I wondered how much she and Lola knew about the shooting. I’d been there, and I hadn’t gotten the impression that it had been a random shooting, but I didn’t want to be the one to open up that can of worms by delving into it. I was sure there were all kinds of rumors going around in our small town. Especially since it involved the Soldiers.
The server approached our table and we gave her our attention after she set down our beers. Val ordered her hamburger, and I decided on the club sandwich. Jillian and Lola decided to split a basket of wings. As usual, we had to practically yell to be heard over the noise in the room. The bar was crowded and rock music was shooting out from the speakers. It was the kind of charged atmosphere that got your heart pumping.
Jillian leaned in, so we naturally followed suit to hear what she had to say. “Oh! Oh! Don’t look now but Wolfe’s stalker is heading this way.”
It was a given that anytime someone said “don’t look”, you looked. When I straightened up I automatically turned to see who Jillian was talking about. I vaguely recognized the brunette heading toward our table. She was older than us, and had a deep suntan that made her glassy green eyes pop. Yeah, I remembered her now, and those beautiful eyes were contacts. I knew that her huge breasts weren’t real either. The wrap around dress she was wearing fit snugly against her perfect hour-glass figure.
“Hey, Jackie, what are you doing here? It’s not Friday night.” It was obvious by Jillian’s tone that there was no love lost between the two women.
Jackie’s face twisted into a sneer as she leaned closer so that we could hear her. “The only reason you win is because everyone feels sorry for you.”
She was talking about the Friday night dance competition on the pole. That’s where I remembered Jackie from. Her snarky comment didn’t seem to faze Jillian, and I was glad.
Jackie came right to the point. “I’m looking for Wolfe.”
Jillian laughed. “Why would I know where Wolfe is?” Her eyes darted to me. “Why don’t you ask his girlfriend?”
Eyes so cold they made me shiver settled on me, and narrowed. “Wolfe’s girlfriend?” she huffed in disbelief. “Men like Wolfe don’t have girlfriends.” Her eyes moved over me and found me lacking. “Don’t let it go to your head, honey. You’re just his flavor of the week.”
Jillian glanced at me to see what my reaction was to Jackie’s comment. I couldn’t pretend that her words didn’t give me something to think about. Was I just the flavor of the week? Until Wolfe moved on? I reminded myself about the conversation we’d had that morning during breakfast. No, I meant more than that to Wolfe. I was sure of it.
“Something you’ve never been,” Jillian pointed out smugly.
None of us dared laugh at Jillian’s comment, especially when Jackie’s beautiful face turned dark with anger. I suddenly felt bad for the other woman. It must be awful to be attracted to someone who didn’t return the feeling. Some people made fools of themselves because they couldn’t let it go.
“Well, it’s obvious I’m wasting my time here.” Jackie drew her shoulders back, which threw her fake breasts out. She turned her glare on me. “Enjoy your brief time with Wolfe. When he moves on--and he will--he’ll be mine.” With that, she spun around and walked away.
“Wow,” Lola exclaimed when we were all able to take a breath. “She’s intense.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Jillian said, looking at me. “Don’t you dare let her get to you, El.” She’d taken up calling me that after hearing Val and Steffy use it. “If Wolfe hasn’t shown any interest in her by now, he never will. She’s been after him for months.”
“I’m good. I had a moment of doubt, but I have a good feeling about where Wolfe and I are in our relationship.” As new as it was. “He doesn’t strike me as a player.”
“Not at all,” Lola joined in with certainty. “I don’t get that feeling about any of them.”
I wondered who she was thinking of--Lynx, maybe? They seemed to make a lot of eye contact whenever they were in the same room together. It would be cool if we all hooked up with one of guys from the club. I saw the server heading toward our table with a full tray, and scooted back in my chair. “I’m going to the restroom before we eat.”
I had to pass the table where Jackie and her friends were sitting. The stink-eye she turned on me wasn’t half as painful as the doubt trying to creep back into my heart.
I was sure there were a lot of women who wanted Wolfe.
Chapter 45
Ella
I wove in between tables and made my way to the ladies’ room at the back of the bar. A long dark, narrow, hallway led to the restrooms, and a marked exit door was at the very end. Once inside, the noise from the bar was muted so much that I was able to hear my stomach grumble with hunger. I quickly did my business and washed my hands, pausing long enough to give myself a critical once over in the mirror.
I couldn’t stop myself from comparing myself to Jackie. In my opinion she’d been overdressed for this kind of bar. She was definitely a woman on the prowl, and it appeared that she wanted my man. Jackie looked like the kind of woman who could have whoever she wanted.
I looked like something the cat had dragged in wearing my faded, holey jeans and an off the shoulder t-shirt. My long hair was pinned haphazardly to the top of my head. I suddenly wondered what Wolfe saw in me. He could have any woman he wanted. How had I gotten so lucky? Maybe it was my winning smile. Laughing at myself, I turned and opened the door, and when I stepped into the hallway, I came to a startled halt.
The biker who had been seated by the door stood there, blocking my way. I caught my breath, the hair standing up at the back of my neck. His menacing look warned me that he wasn’t there to make nice, and I instantly felt a rush of fear. I peered past him into the room beyond, getting a sinking feeling in my heart knowing that there was no one there who would come to my rescue. I could have screamed bloody murder and I wouldn’t have been heard over the loud music.
His evil grin gave me chills. “Come quietly and no one gets hurt,” he promised, but there was little weight to his words.
He had to be kidding. I wasn’t going anywhere with him. I spun around for the exit door and came face-to-face with his two buddies. Shit! I gasped loudly and turned back to him, thinking that I had a better chance with one man over two. I also let out a scream at the top of my lungs, even while knowing it was unlikely that it would be heard.
“Help!” I threw myself at him with everything I had, clawing at his face, pulling at his hair, kicking him where I could. His hands were rough and painful on me as he easily fended off my attack using his brutal strength. I could hear his two friends chuckling in the background, but soon they, too, were on me.
“Help!” I screamed. “Someone help!”
I felt an arm curl around my waist from behind and a hand covered my mouth, and then I was pulled against a hard body and squeezed tightly. So tightly that I couldn’t breathe. Yet I found the strength to kick my legs out toward the grinning asshole who was coming at me. As I struggled in the arms of the man holding me, the other man reached out and grabbed me by the hair. He pulled my head back so hard that I thought my neck would snap.
He got down into my face, his eyes filled with a murderous rage. “Fucking bitch!” He swiped at the bloody scratches I’d managed to gouge in his cheek. “You’ll pay for that.” He let go of me and looked up at the man behind me. “Bring her.”
No! God, no! Who were they? What did they want? I struggled wildly to get away, but they only laughed and dragged me out the exit door.
“Get her to the van!” the one who seemed to be the leader demanded.
If they got me into that van, I knew it would be over. They would be able to do whatever they wanted to me, take me wherever they wanted. Who were they? And why did they want me? Or was this random, and I had just been an easy victim? What if they were human traffickers? Ohmygod! What if they sold me into sex slavery? As my imagination ran wild, I began to fight even harder, knowing that I had nothing to lose.
I kicked back at my assailant and bit down hard on the hand that was covering my mouth at the same time. With a grunt he released me, but I’d barely taken a step of freedom before a hand was back in my hair and yanking me backwards. I screamed bloody murder as we reached the van. “No!” I screamed again. “Help!” It was pitch dark and I saw no one. “Someone help me!”
The man with his hand in my hair laughed roughly against my ear. “Keep it up, bitch, and I’ll cut out your fucking tongue!”
Cut out my tongue? My eyes almost popped out of my head. Who made that kind of threat? The door slid open and I was tossed into the van, crying out as my body slammed into the other side. It was an old, commercial van, and the sides were metal. I heard the two men climb in behind me and slam the door closed, and then the driver sped off. I pulled myself into a sitting position and stared at the men on the other side of me.
