Page 18

Sixteen

Let’s Ride

Blade

T he look on Guard’s face is murderous, and Owen, our other prospect, is pacing the room like a caged tiger.

Owen and Aaron are tight. They both started prospecting together for Satan’s Pride.

The two men are as close as they come to being biological brothers without the blood.

Both were abandoned and have grown up through the foster system.

They met as kids when they were placed in the same foster home.

The foster parents who took both boys in were very good to them, but that didn’t stop the bullies at school or the taunting from the other kids.

They bonded then and vowed that they’d always have each other’s backs.

Owen is beating himself down because he wasn’t with Aaron when he was ambushed.

“What are we waiting for?” I ask Risk, who happens to be standing beside me.

“Orion is homing in on where to find them. He and Demon went out to track them down,” Risk mumbles. “No one touches a club brother without payback. They’ve just bought themselves a world of hurt.” Risk is pissed, his jaw clenched tight.

“Why, Aaron?” I ask. Satan’s Pride has fought many battles in the past, but to be honest, they usually go for a member, not a prospect.

Owen must have heard my question because he’s quick to respond.

“Aaron was approached weeks ago by another club in the next county. He said no. They tried to pump him for information, and he told them he couldn’t help them and took off.

Tonight, they tried another tactic. He wouldn’t tell them shit.

When I found Aaron, he made sure I knew he wasn’t a rat. ”

As he’s relaying the story, I feel my gut clench and my anger coursing through my veins. Aaron is loyal. He’d die before he would spill Pride business. Guard’s phone goes off, and he says, “Where?” then hangs up. “Let’s ride.”

The Pride brothers follow him outside and mount our bikes.

He orders Noah, Charlotte’s brother, to stay behind with Saint.

The club is on lockdown until we return.

The compound will be like Fort Knox to get into once all the security protocols are engaged.

Noah, Owen, and Aaron have connected over the last year.

Noah’s prospecting with the club as well, but has been finishing school at the same time.

The motorcycles rumble as we ride toward the highway.

I didn’t get a chance to see Aaron since Saint was still working on him, but I heard that the beating was savage and he was lucky to get away with some broken bones, stitches, and a concussion.

I’m sure Aaron doesn’t feel so lucky at the moment, but we’ll all be there to help him heal and put this behind him.

At the road leading into the next county, Orion and Demon are waiting for us by the side of the road. Risk and Thunder keep watch as Guard and the rest of us get the lowdown from Orion.

“Six of them, all wearing cuts, are in there.” Orion points to a shack way off in the distance that’s only visible because of the bright light of the full moon. “They’re new. They call themselves Deviant Soldiers.”

Demon adds, “Fuckers have been terrorizing the people around here and have claimed the property they’re sitting on as their own.

It really belongs to an older farmer, but when he tried to get them removed by the sheriff, they retaliated and killed all his livestock.

The Deviants have graciously allowed him to live in his own house. ”

“You got all that in an hour?” Guard asks.

“I’m that good.” Demon gives a wicked smile.

“We need to attack from both sides. There’s a road they can use to get out if we don’t block it off,” Orion says, and proceeds to point out the locations.

After Guard’s final word, Orion, Demon, Wildcard, War, and Owen are going to ride in through the front, while the rest of us block the road and attack from the back.

Before we move, Guard takes Owen aside for a few words. I’m too far away to hear what’s being said, but Owen is nodding and listening intently to what his prez is telling him.

Guard gives the signal, and the Pride swarms the shack.

Before we get too close, gunshots go off.

It does nothing to slow us down because Ghost and Risk are doing their own shooting, and they don’t miss.

Several of the Deviants rush out the back door toward their bikes, but Ghost has that covered, cutting off their escape by shooting at a fuel tank, and suddenly, there’s an explosion of a giant magnitude.

The farmer comes out onto his porch, but Demon waves him back inside, rushing over before he calls for help. Meanwhile, Guard and the others are on the Deviants in seconds.

“Who’s your president?” he shouts in one man’s face.

The man attempts to spit in Guard’s face, but Guard has his fist ready and smashes it into the guy’s teeth.

Guard asks him over and over, and each time when he refuses, he gets another punch.

His brothers have no choice but to watch him get beat, because the Pride has them down on their knees with guns to their heads.

Guard is about to land another blow when the man on the ground lifts a trembling hand, and in a hoarse, barely there voice says, “Jaws,” then promptly passes out. Guard swings around to face the men on their knees.

“Which one of you is Jaws?” Guard barks.

I’ve never seen Guard this angry. I’ve heard about his violent temper, but as long as I’ve been with the club, I’ve never seen it to this magnitude. He’s even scarier than Ghost, and Ghost’s formidable when riled. Demon sidles closer to me and says, “You don’t fuck with a Pride brother.”

Christ! This is what happens when you take a shot at our club.

“I’m not asking again,” Guard bellows. The one Deviant member at the end of the row seems younger than the rest and is clearly terrified. Guard sees his fear and nods to Ghost, who literally lifts the guy off the ground so his feet dangle.

“Let him go,” another Deviant member shouts. “He doesn’t know anything. He’s only been with us a week, and he’s a kid.”

“A kid who helped beat my man nearly to death,” Guard snarls, getting closer to the speaker.

“He wasn’t there, okay?” the man replies. “Beat us. Kill us, but leave the kid alone.”

“Which one of you is Jaws?” Guard asks again.

“He’s the president of the Deviant MC in Iowa and started a chapter here. He won’t be back until Saturday,” the man answers.

“He’s coming back sooner than that,” Guard replies in a menacing tone. “Get your man to a doctor. You cause no more trouble, and you get the fuck out of town. If I see any of your faces again, I’ll strangle you myself and watch the light die in your eyes.”

“I can’t go,” the youngest member says, after Ghost sets him down. The kid turns to Ghost. “I have a kid brother. He needs me. I have to take care of him. I can’t leave him alone. He’s sick. Please.” Ghost doesn’t say a word but moves the kid away from the others.

Owen is standing behind Guard. Guard calls him forward. “Take your best shot at each one, then they’re gone.”

Owen has always been easygoing, but the fury inside him is at fever pitch, and clearly, he’s ready to unleash vengeance on the guys who almost killed his best friend.

O wen didn’t go gentle, but then again, the retaliation was well deserved.

The only one who got off without a beating was Wyatt, the youngest former Deviant.

Owen won’t even look at Wyatt, but Wyatt’s story is real.

Ghost checked it out and found his brother, Denton, has a serious infection and also has a severe learning disability.

Their father took off right after Denton was born, and the mother abandoned them as soon as Wyatt turned eighteen, just old enough to be his brother’s legal guardian.

Wyatt got sucked into the Deviant club because he was looking for guidance and support and, unfortunately, fell in with the wrong club.

Wyatt’s future is unclear for now, but Ghost is taking him home to his brother.

Guard is concentrating on Jaws and the Deviant club. It’s one thing to wreak havoc on your own territory, but you don’t cross the line into ours. We ride back to the compound, and Guard goes directly into his office, with Orion and War right behind him.

Owen walks straight into Saint’s medical room on-site. I go with him, and as soon as Saint sees him, he grabs a bucket of ice and makes Owen put his bloody hand in it.

“Any more injuries I need to look at?” Saint directs his question to me.

“Nah, the only ones with bruises are the Deviants,” I answer. Saint furrows his brow, but when I go to tell him more, he raises his hand.

“Fill me in later.” Saint turns to Owen.

“Aaron’s going to be fine. No permanent damage.

I’ve given him something for pain, and it’s going to make him sleep through the night.

Best thing for him is sleep. He’s not going to be riding or working for at least six weeks, but he’ll be walking around in a couple of days.

You should get some sleep, Owen. He’ll need you later. ”

“I’m not leaving him,” Owen states firmly.

Saint is about to argue with him, but I jump in. “I’ll grab a sleeping bag. He can sleep next to him. We’ll each take turns. I’ll take the first shift to make sure they both rest. We’ll call you if we need you.”

Saint lets out a heavy sigh. “Fine.” He shakes his head. “I’m too tired to fight with you.”

I leave the room to make arrangements with the other brothers. As I thought, they’re all onboard with the plan. Guard hasn’t left his office, and since I can’t help on that end, I’ll do what I can for the brothers who need me now.

Owen is in the sleeping bag; he’s been very quiet, then I hear him say, “Thanks.”

“This is who we are.”

“I should have been with him.” There it is, the guilt.

“You can’t be with him twenty-four seven. That’s unreasonable. Friends, even brothers, need their space. Aaron likes his alone time. You know that,” I remind him.

“Yeah,” Owen responds, running a hand down his face. He’s clearly emotionally and physically drained. “What do we do next?”

“It’s in Guard’s hands. We wait until he says it’s time to ride again.”