Page 44

I was at Soak with the repairman I had called to fix a washer that had gone down when I received a call from Thoryn, informing me that the move had been made against Blythe, but from a source none of them had suspected.

I roared when he told me that, even though he was smart.

He started the conversation by telling me my woman was fine and then told me the rest. I scared the poor repairman into dropping his toolbox.

I was waving over the manager who’d walked in two minutes ago to take over when Thoryn’s follow-up words registered.

They didn’t want more of us coming into the store.

Instead, Leon was smuggling the woman, a goddamn woman, out to Alfred’s car, and Blythe’s boss would drive the woman to the compound.

Leon wanted us to act as if nothing had happened.

I swore a blue streak, stormed out, and got in my vehicle.

I almost forgot to pause long enough to remove my cut.

I told Thoryn I wasn’t staying away, and I’d be there soon.

I hung up. Traffic had other ideas, and though it was never that bad in Cherokee compared to other places, I couldn’t seem to get out of town.

I hated the fact that I had to go to Bryson City.

The only reason I wasn’t there was that I had to meet the repairman because my manager had to pick up his sick kid at school.

It was just him and me, so I’d left Bryson City and came back to Cherokee to do it, then planned to return to be there to pick Blythe up.

I thought she was covered with four people inside, locked doors, and more of our people outside. I was wrong.

My phone rang. Picking it up, I hit the call button. It was Agony.

“I heard, Pres. I’m on my way to get her.”

“No, you need to turn around and head to the compound. I’ll pick her up and bring her home with our escort.

I want you there when Alfred shows up with the woman.

Don’t do anything until I get there. I know this is hard, Bones, but we have no idea who might be helping them.

This woman came out of nowhere. Who is to say who else around here is in on it?

We want them to wonder what happened to her.

So the store will close on time. We’ll all head that way. I’ll be bringing Leon with us.”

“Agony, I don’t know if I can do it,” I admitted.

“You can. Call Blythe if you need to and talk to her, but don’t come here. I swear, even if it’s not apparent, she’ll be surrounded when we leave.”

“Agony, please don’t let anything happen to her.”

It was a plea wrapped in a warning. He knew it, but didn’t call me on it.

He could’ve. As my president, he had the right to order me away, and if I didn’t listen, I could face fines, a beating, or expulsion from the club.

Agony wouldn’t do the last one unless it were worse than a one-time disobedience.

“Bones, they’ll have to kill me first to get to her. I’ll protect her as if she’s Eliana.”

I took a deep breath, then said, “I’ll meet you at home.”

“Thank you,” he said, then hung up.

I found a place to turn around and headed out of town the opposite way. Once I was, I called Blythe. After only two rings, she answered.

“Bones, I know you’re upset, but I’m good.

The babies and I are fine. I know you have a ton of questions and probably want to strangle someone, but hold on to that.

Hopefully, Alfred will bring someone who can give us all the answers we want.

I have so much to tell you. You won’t believe it,” she said.

“Blythe, I’m hanging on by a thread. Agony ordered me to stay away.

I’m doing it, but you have to get home as soon as possible.

I need to see that you’re alright with my eyes.

I want to check that the babies are good myself.

I’m still too upset to ask questions and not yell, so I won’t.

Make sure those guys coming with you are ready to answer them.

And if I don’t like their answers, there will be an ass beating happening,” I said low and mean.

“Honey, there’s no reason for that, I swear. Be careful. Don’t get yourself hurt because you’re upset. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Drive safely. I love you, Jagger.” She whispered my name.

“I love you, too, Blythe.”

That ended our call. I took my time, not wanting to drive like an idiot and get in a wreck.

Even with that, I beat Alfred there. Soren was at the gate.

I wondered if his brother called to let him know what went down.

He gave me a chin lift, and I returned it, but didn’t stop.

I went straight to the clubhouse to wait and pace.

???

I was about to lose it. What the hell was taking Alfred so long to get here?

I thought of heading out to look for him when the roar of bikes outside grabbed my attention.

I rushed out the clubhouse door to find the gate opening and some of my club brothers entering.

In the middle of their bikes was a car. It was Alfred’s.

I impatiently waited for him to park and the bikes to find their spots.

I hurried over to his vehicle. Alfred shut it off and stepped out.

“Alfred, glad to see you. Where is she?” I asked as I glanced in the backseat.

There was no one in it. The only thing back there was an old-fashioned trunk that used to be called a steamer trunk, and you’d pack it for long voyages. It was before there were suitcases. I guess they stuffed her in the car’s trunk. Hopefully, the bitch hated the ride.

Holding out my hand, I offered, “Give me your keys, and I’ll open your trunk.”

“You don’t need keys,” he said, opening the rear door on his side.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s not in the trunk trunk. She’s in that.” He pointed to the steamer. That’s when I heard a muffled scream and a soft thump, and the steamer trunk shifted slightly.

“You stuffed her in that?” I asked in astonishment.

“I didn’t. Leon did. He said it would look less conspicuous to have me take a trunk with me, since I do this kind of thing often when making a delivery, than to carry a body out and throw it in the rear of the car.

She regained consciousness about twenty minutes ago and has been trying to yell the whole time. He gagged her,” he said, grinning.

By then, my brothers had joined us and heard what we said. They were laughing. Hulk and I hauled the steamer out and set it on the ground. I didn’t drop it because it looked old and valuable, and I didn’t want to ruin it.

I undid the latches and lifted the lid. Twisted into a pretzel was a brunette woman.

She was shooting daggers at us with her eyes when we reached in and jerked her out.

We didn’t bother to treat her nicely. Once she was out of the steamer, we dropped her on her ass on the ground.

Her wrists and ankles were tied together.

She kicked out her bound legs, trying to take Hulk in the ankle. He was too fast for her.

“Listen, I usually have nothing but respect for women, but after what you tried to do to Blythe, you’re less than dogshit to me. Keep it up, and I’ll give you something to scream about,” he snarled.

“And what he does to you won’t be anything compared to what I’ll do.

I’ve been ordered not to do anything until our president gets here.

However, you’d better be prepared to answer our questions truthfully and completely when he does.

If not, you’re facing a world of pain you can’t imagine.

And I’ll enjoy dishing it out. Blythe is my old lady.

You tried to take what is mine. No one does that,” I snarled.

I let her see the fury I felt and the thirst for retribution.

She still glared at us, but there were no more kicking attempts.

“I’ll take her to the outbuilding near the pool.

I asked Agony if we should go to our off-site location, but he said not right now.

I’ll keep watch on her, though she can’t escape.

Be patient, brother. You’ll be able to get down to business soon,” Hulk assured me. He knew I was dying to get started.

“I’m trying, Hulk. Do you need help getting her there?”

“I’ll go with him. You stay and wait for Blythe to get home. We know you’re anxious to make sure she and the babies are okay,” Cyclone offered.

“I am. Thanks, Cyclone. Let me know if you want me out there. Alfred, let’s get you inside. You can tell me what happened,” I said nicely.

“Absolutely. She and the babies are fine, Bones. Blythe and Dimitri were amazing,” he replied.

I put the steamer trunk back in his car as Cyclone and Hulk hauled the woman away.

She was struggling, but she was no match for them.

Inside, I offered Alfred a drink. The others who escorted him here also came inside.

He asked for water, which I quickly obtained.

I sat down and waited for him to start. He took a long, good drink of water and then started.

“Sorry, I know you’re more than ready. My throat is wet now.

First, let me say that I can’t tell you how damn sorry we are that anyone got to Blythe.

We were na?ve. None of us thought of a woman helping Deon.

We were alert and scrutinized every man who entered.

She easily waltzed in with a friendly smile.

I don’t know if it’s real, but she said her name is Tavia, and she gave some story about needing several pieces appraised and done ASAP due to leaving for a job in London.

Blythe explained we were booked for at least a month, which is our story if anyone asked her to come to them.

The woman begged her to find a spot and even offered more money. She said she had pictures.