Iona
R osalea, Lindy, Cécile and I were chatting when Cipher stuck his head into the common room.
“Pigs at the door,” he said, and Warden straightened.
“Who?” he demanded.
“Who’d ya think?” Cipher retorted, and Warden cursed.
“Fuckin’ Detective Noah Myers,” Warden spat, and I felt his anger and dislike from where I sat.
Warden’s phone rang, and he glowered before answering it.
“Yeah?” he snapped.
“Detective Myers wants you, Prez,” Priest replied.
“He doesn’t come in without an escort. Undertaker is on his way,” Warden said, and Undertaker glared. I guess nobody liked Detective Myers.
Warden turned to us as Undertaker left the clubhouse.
“Cécile, take Etienne and head downstairs. Now. We don’t want him to see you. Rosalea and Iona, no matter what, keep your mouths shut. Myers’ is alone, which is strange enough. But let’s not give him ammunition to return,” Warden ordered.
“Got it,” I agreed. “Would you prefer us to leave?”
“No. I do not trust Myers’, and I don’t want you out of my sight,” Warden said.
The door opened, and the club fell silent as Undertaker brought a man in. My first thought was this was a cop. He was around thirty-five and quite good-looking. He wore jeans and a Henley with a jacket over the top. Myers had on cowboy boots, and they weren’t for show; they were well-worn.
“Got a warrant?” Warden snapped.
Myers’ ran his hand through his neatly trimmed hair, and that’s when I saw it. Myers was tired. Something heavy was weighing this man down, and whatever it was had brought him here.
“Not here to bust your balls. I need your help,” Myers said, holding Warden’s gaze.
A surprised murmur arose from the family before silence fell again. The atmosphere was tense with hostility, dislike and a lot of other negative emotions. Nobody took their eyes off the intruder in our midst. I was shocked Myers had the fortitude to stand there as he was.
“My help?” Warden drawled from where he lounged.
“Yeah, and I’m not afraid to beg,” Myers replied.
Warden’s eyebrows shot up. “This must be serious,” he said with a hint of amusement.
“A one-year-old baby boy and a three-year-old baby girl were snatched by their father, Liam Conway, yesterday morning. Before he kidnapped the children, he slaughtered their mother. Warden, I do mean slaughtered. Conway gutted her like a pig. Poor woman was alive when he started and would have died in agony. She was unrecognisable as a human by the time Conway finished. Worse, we know he did this in front of his kids,” Myers said, softly wincing as he looked at me.
“Lindy, take the girls now,” Warden ordered.
I didn’t put up an argument as Lindy led us away. We headed upstairs, not to draw attention to Cécile in the basement with Etienne.
Warden
I regarded Myers. I hated the man and everything he stood for. He was a pompous ass who had a legal stick wedged so far up his butt you’d have to operate to remove it. Myers had sworn to bring my club down and yet here he was, begging. I’d been prepared to toss him out when he first mentioned help.
Now, I couldn’t. There was no way I was going to leave innocent babies in the hands of a nutcase. A man who’d slaughtered their mother in front of them. My gut twisted as I thought how anguished and scared they must be.
“Tell the prospects to lock the compound down,” I said to Undertaker. “Noble, you’re staying here. Everyone else is with me. Where do you want us searching?” I turned to Myers, who was shaking his head.
“We got people combing the woods. Search parties are out there. But I need your…” Myers swallowed as if he couldn’t believe what he was about to say.
“My what?” I snapped, not wanting to waste time.
Fuck Myers. I didn’t give a shit if he wanted our help or not. The RBMC was going to look for those kids.
“I know Warden… about…,” Myers said, and I stared at him.
“Say it.”
“Warden, it’s hard to believe.”
“Say it, Myers,” I demanded. I wanted him to say it.
“Your abilities,” Myers spat, going red.
“Abilities?” I questioned.
“I’m well aware some of you are…” Myers broke off as he sought for a word, and hate welled in front of me.
“Freaks?” I supplied, and Myers blanched.
“No!” he exclaimed, offended. Or so I believed, he could have been acting.
“No?” I replied.
“Do not put words in my mouth. I don’t think you are fuckin’ freaks. Ain’t gonna lie, Warden, I know your club is running illegal shit, and it’s my job to stop it. But that doesn’t mean I’m unaware of the good you do. You’re an idiot if you think I don’t look beyond my badge and at what the MC does.”
My entire family was now alert and on guard. Myers would die if he put one step wrong.
“So, you came to blackmail us to help you?” Dynamo asked. Her hair was starting to float around her head as static built up inside her.
“No. I’ve come to beg you. One of you must have the ability to see where the babies are. See if they’re alive still. I need that. Those kids may be okay because he’s their father. If they are, I need to rescue them,” Myers spat quickly.
I stared at the man who was my arch-nemesis. Dramatic as that might sound. Desperation rolled off him, and I glanced at Soul.
“Truth,” Soul said clearly. Myers looked at him and flinched at Soul’s expression. Soul was staring directly at him, and it would un-nerve anyone.
Confusion crossed Myers' face, but he turned back to me. “I will get on my knees and beg Warden if I have to. But help me save those kids. Please .”
“Do you have anything belonging to them?” I questioned.
“Yes, in my car,” he replied.
“Go fetch it,” I ordered, and Myers rushed out. “Can you do this?” I asked Oracle.
“Don’t know. But Cécile can. I’ll try, but we may have to tap her,” Oracle responded.
“How will we get it down to her?” Blister demanded as he watched the door.
“Are we going to trust Myers won’t use this against us? We find the kid, and he arrests the club for kidnapping?” Dare added, her face creased in concern.
“Yeah, I’m with Dare. Myers has been breaking his back for years to arrest one of us. This is dangerous,” Kosmic replied.
“We can’t leave those kids out there,” I said. “What’s our solution?”
“Oracle does his shit, and we keep silent and rescue the children ourselves. Drop them near a shop or house and keep an eye on them until they’re collected,” Wisecrack suggested.
“That will protect us from Myers,” Undertaker agreed.
“You do not need protecting from me. Not on this. I understand only too well what would happen to you all if the wrong people found out. You’d be locked in labs and experimented on. Pain would become a way of life for you. I believe in the law, but I don’t believe in torture,” Myers said from behind us.
“Truth. But there’s something he’s holding back,” Soar announced.
“They did that to his grandmother, it’s in his thoughts. She was a medium and not a fraud. The government found out and took her. She was missing for three years before she escaped. His grandfather helped hide her and fell in love with her. His grandmother’s story was handed down as a warning. Myers knows full well that psychic abilities existed. He just didn’t expect to find them in us.
“Whatever Myers has on the MC around our abilities, he’d rather die than tell. Myers doesn’t believe that people like us should be abused nor hunted down. In fact, as much as it pains me to say it, and probably him to admit it, Myers would rather die that give us up,” Romeo said.
I nodded. Nobody would lie to Romeo once he was in their head. Myers’ jaw dropped, but he bit back his words and instead held out a sealed plastic bag. Inside were two more bags which contained a bloody teddy bear in each. Seeing that made me determined to find those kids.
“The grandmother claims those are the kid’s favourite bears. She says the babies slept with them and carried them everywhere,” Myers said. “How do we do this?”
“We don’t do shit. You will have a seat while we try to locate the children. We ain’t circus animals, and we need privacy,” I replied, and Myers sat instantly on a sofa. I walked over and took the bag. I called out ten names and ordered them to come with me as I headed into the hallway that led to church.
“Take one bear to the basement, see if Cécile can get a read on it,” I said to Kosmic as soon as we were out of sight.
Kosmic grabbed the little boy’s teddy and, hiding it, walked towards the basement. I heard him call out to Myers as he walked through the rec room.
“Get comfortable, this may take a while.”
“I don’t care, not as long as I get a lead,” Myers called back.
“Church for all of you, bar Oracle. Do you want my office?” I asked.
“Yeah. And I need you there, too.”
“Not a problem. Come on, brother,” I replied.
Oracle looked nervous as he took the pink bear from the packaging. The scent of blood drifted into the air, and I winced. It was soaked with it, but Oracle managed to find a couple of patches that hadn’t been polluted.
“She really loved this bear. I can hear her mom calling her Lissy,” Oracle said after several minutes. His eyes were closed, and his face was scrunched up as he concentrated. Moments ticked past, and I saw pain etch into his expression. But he didn’t speak again. Oracle’s nose began to bleed, and I knocked the bear from his grip.
Oracle collapsed onto my desk, his head in his hands. I handed him tissues to mop the blood dripping steadily from his nose.
“All I could hear was screams,” he said.
“Head to church and stay there. I do not want Myers knowing which of us tried this. Send Blister in. He might pick something up,” I ordered.
Oracle nodded and staggered to his feet. On seeing how weak he was, I slung my arm around him and helped him into church.
“Lay him down and make him comfortable. I don’t want Myers knowing which of us has the ability he needs. Blister, Oracle, couldn’t get much, could you try?”
“Sure, but I tend to see the past,” Blister said.
My phone rang, and I held up a hand as I answered it.
“Cecile has a lock on them. They’re alive but hungry, but the dad’s mental state is deteriorating quickly,” Kosmic announced. “I recorded everything and am sending to you.” My mobile pinged, and I guessed that was Kosmic’s text.
“Write this information down,” I said to Vogue, who nodded. She grabbed a pen and paper and got ready.
I pressed play on the voice message and hit pause every few words. It was imperative Vogue got the wording correct. One wrong word could send the police elsewhere and get the kids murdered. Once we’d transcribed it, I played it back twice, and Griffin and Anubis checked it. Then, I left everyone in church and headed out to Myers.
“Here, this is where the children are. They’re alive,” I said, and tension left Myers’ shoulders.
“The asshole hasn’t killed them?” he demanded.
“No, but he’s close,” I replied.
Myers held my gaze, and he nodded. “Thank you, Warden.”
“I’d say you’re welcome, but you know that would be a lie. Save those kids, Myers, and we’re good.”
“I will try, but even with a description, I’ve got to lock the location down,” Myers said. He rose to his feet and turned away.
“There’s a lot of woods to cover,” I murmured.
“Yeah, but I’ll pull men, and we’ll narrow in,” Myers stated. “This will help a lot.”
“Or you could take us,” I suggested.
“If I do that, people would ask why,” Myers replied, shaking his head.
“We’d be there to assist the search. Do not tell me you don’t need more people,” I challenged. “You can tell everybody you met us heading out.”
“That would be… helpful,” Myers replied, choosing his words carefully.
“Everyone gear up. We’re going to find these kids,” I ordered.
Undertaker moved past me to get the men and women from church. I was relieved when he brought all but half of them back.
“Oracle needs to recover. I’m leaving Wisecrack with him to block his pain, as we might need Slasher with us,” he murmured, and I nodded.
“Did you tell them to keep Iona and Cécile up to date?”
“Cécile will be dialling and guiding you once we leave. She is focused on the children and had a strong connection, but we’d better not waste time,” Undertaker said softly.
I nodded an agreement.
“Myers, you know we’ve all got concealed licences?” I called out. He scowled but offered a chin lift. “We’ll take the shot if the kids are in danger. Otherwise, he’s all yours. Follow me, I’ll be the lead.”
“Why?” Myers demanded.
“What?”
“Why are you the lead? Why isn’t the person who found them in charge?”
“Because then I wouldn’t be protecting their identity. Work with me or don’t. It’s no skin off my nose because we’re going to find those kids. And you can be the damn hero or a zero. Choose wisely,” I said and headed out to my motorbike.
Most of the club had already assembled, and I looked around. It was a cold night; I could see my breathing in the air. Slasher was carrying his medical kit and extra blankets. Dynamo had a wrapped package on her bike, as did Bogeyman.
Once everyone was ready, I dialled Kosmic, who’d remained with Cécile and headed out. I was surprised at how clear Cécile’s directions were. Half an hour later, we were parking up and moving out in pairs. Myers came with me and Undertaker as Cécile kept up a steady chatter in my ear. Somehow, she’d completely locked onto the kids and could tell how close I was.
We walked into Camden Hills State Park. The father had taken them deep, but everyone was linked into my call, so we spread out and began searching quietly. Twenty minutes later, I heard a tiny voice.
“Hungry Daddy,” a little girl said.
“Shut up, Larisa,” Conway snapped.
Myers and I swapped glances, and he made motions with his hands, ordering me to go right. I nodded and gestured Undertaker to head further right.
A thin cry cut through the air, and we froze. That was the boy, and he didn’t sound too good.
“Chester’s hungry,” Larissa whimpered.
“Do you want me to smack you?” Conway yelled.
There was a soft moan and then silence. As we moved quietly forward, Larissa spoke again.
“Daddy, it’s cold.”
There was the sound of a smack, and Larissa began crying. Shit, Conway had hit her.
“Shut up!” he screamed at her.
“I want my mommy!” Larissa wailed.
“You’ll have to wait a long time. If you want another slap, keep on!” Conway snarled.
Anger rushed through me, and I spotted Conway in a small clearing. I pointed to my eyes and then forward, and Myers nodded.
Before either of us could act, Conway went flying through the air. He smashed into a tree, and I didn’t hesitate. Undertaker and I dashed ahead even as Myers cried ‘No’.
I grabbed Larissa and Undertaker, snatched Chester up and, opened his coat, and wrapped the little boy up inside. Undertaker zipped him in tight as I did the same with Larissa. Blood dripped from a spilt lip which Conway had just given her.
I heard a noise from behind me and turned to see Conway getting to his feet. Myers had appeared with his weapon drawn and was ordering Conway to put his hands up. Instead, Conway’s hands moved towards his waist, and before Myers could shoot, Conway was picked up and tossed against another tree.
It looked like Dynamo intended to have some fun.
Myers stood in the clearing with his mouth open as a screaming Conway was shot upwards to about fifteen feet and allowed to drop hard.
“Are you doing this?” Myers demanded, and I shook my head.
“Nope.”
“But this is one of your people.”
“Good luck proving that,” I said, keeping Larissa’s face turned away. “Hi, Honey, my name is Warden, and I’ve come to take you somewhere warm. This is Detective Noah. He’s going to drive you in his car and get you some food and drink while he calls your grandma.”
Larissa looked up at me and cried.
“I want my mommy.”
“I know, sweetheart, but let’s get safe,” I said gently. There was no fuckin’ way I was telling this kid her mother was dead.
“How am I gonna transport him and the children?” Myers asked distractedly as Conway flipped across the clearing and landed upside down in some branches.
“Call it in Myers. Stop watching the show. Whoever this is will stop soon. I’ve got a medic here who’ll check the kids, but they’re freezing. They need an ambulance, as Chester looks critical.”
That got Myers moving. Within minutes, an ambo had been ordered, and I could see blue lights heading our way. I guess a cop had been nearby. Slasher met us in the clearing and I sensed him sending some healing into Chester and then Larissa.
“Another hour or so and Chester would have lost digits, if not his life. He was in a critical condition, Warden. That piece of shit needs to die,” he hissed in Conway’s direction.
Dynamo had finally tired of playing with him and had broken two legs when she dumped him hard on the ground. Slashes appeared in his back, and I grinned.
“Looks like he got hold of a bear,” I said to Myers, who slowly nodded.
“Let me check the kids,” Romeo murmured close to me, and he placed a hand on Larissa’s head. “She remembers everything. But does not realise her mom’s dead.”
“Wipe the memory and what happened after Conway slapped her. Do the same for the boy. He may not understand, but he doesn’t deserve those memories,” I whispered.
“Done,” Romeo confirmed and moved over to Undertaker.
“Thanks for your help,” Myers said, and I could tell he hated that.
It made me happy that he had to squirm.
“The kids are alive. That’s all that matters,” I offered, and Myer’s glared at me through slitted eyes.
The first black and white appeared, and the uniformed officers were shocked to see us there. One approached with cuffs out until Myers put them straight.
“Your secret is safe with me,” Myers muttered as he organised the cops to take the kids to hospital.
“Try blackmailing us or abusing the knowledge, and we’ll wipe your memory; that is a promise,” I said.
“Whatever happens between me and your club, I can swear on my life I’ll never spill your secret. Nor abuse it; that’s not my way. It might be yours, but it will never be mine,” Myers replied, with the stick firmly up his ass.
And once again, our world was righted.