Page 15 of Kraken (Hades Abyss MC #4: Mississippi Chapter)

Kraken

When I reached the clubhouse, chaos rained down on the Hades Abyss. The Sadistic Saints had blown the gate off the hinges and poured through. One of our Prospects, Robert, lay dead near the gate. Cowboy had taken a bullet through the shoulder and another to his side.

My brothers were scattered, bleeding from various wounds, and Leviathan stood in the center of all, a grin spreading across his face like it was fucking Christmas.

I got off my bike and threw myself into the mix, stabbing and shooting anyone in a Sadistic Saints cut.

I took down four of them before an arm came around my throat and someone lifted me off my feet.

“Who has the upper hand now?” the man demanded. I couldn’t see him, didn’t know which of them had gotten the drop on me.

“You’ll never get Phoebe back,” I said.

“You honestly think that has anything to do with that bitch? She’s just a fucking whore. A place to put our dicks. There’s plenty more where she came from. Only a select few liked holding onto that one. Stupid cunt wasn’t all that special.”

“Then why?” I asked, fighting for every breath. The way his gaze cut away, I didn’t think he was being honest. Phoebe was a prize for them, even if I didn’t understand why.

“You made a fool of us. Came to us wanting to make a deal, then not only stole the Pres’s favorite whore, but killed him before slinking off like a damn coward. We can’t let that stand.”

I hung limp, giving him all my weight, and when he staggered, off-balance, I gripped my knife and slammed it back, driving the blade into him.

He grunted and his grip weakened, dropping me back to my feet.

I turned, recognizing their Sergeant-at-Arms. I didn’t bother retrieving my knife.

Instead, I pulled my gun and shot him right between the eyes.

His body fell, collapsing on the ground, and I yanked my knife free, wiping his blood off on his clothes.

I turned in time to see Leviathan take aim at Titan.

Without pausing, I pointed my gun at him, pulling the trigger.

He staggered, but didn’t fall, and got off two rounds.

I saw the red bloom across Titan’s shirt and unloaded the rest of my clip into Leviathan.

Fucker still didn’t go down. I reloaded, and kept shooting, not stopping until the blood bubbled from his mouth and he breathed his last.

When the fighting stopped, the bodies of the Sadistic Saints littered the ground.

Their VP and Sergeant-at-Arms were the only officers among the deceased, and more than a dozen patched members, as well as a few Prospects.

Which meant there were others elsewhere.

Had they remained behind? Or was another wave coming?

I went to Titan, who’d sunk to his knees. He swayed, but remained upright. I ripped his shirt down the middle and assessed the damage.

“Pres, you took two to the chest, but it looks like they missed your heart. Need to get you flat and let Bones see what he can do.”

Titan shook his head. “Take care of the others.”

“Pres, if you fall, this club is fucked. I’ll help with the others. Hell, I’ll call in whoever I have to in order to get everyone patched up.”

“How many?” he asked.

I knew what he meant. “Saw Robert when I pulled up. Gone. Ratchet didn’t make it either. Fuckers gouged out his eyes. Everyone else is still breathing, but banged up.”

Havoc lumbered over, blood running down his arm and a gash on his forehead. “Need help?”

“Yeah. His house is right over there,” I said nodding to my right. “Let’s get him in his bed. Have a feeling he won’t be getting out of it for at least a few days, maybe longer.”

Havoc helped me get the Pres to his home and stretched out on his bed.

Bones entered with his bag, and Pretty Boy stayed to assist. I went to check on the others, and see who I could get to help patch everyone.

We tried not to involve the citizens of the town, but this time we didn’t have a choice.

I got the attention of Brick and waved him over.

He’d been beat to hell, but was at least upright.

“Need you to find some nurses or a doctor. We need more medically inclined people. Make it worth their while, and make sure they’ll keep their mouths shut. Don’t need the cops sniffing around.”

Brick nodded. “On it.”

I started grabbing bodies of the Sadistic Saints and tossed them into a pile.

Getting rid of this many bodies wasn’t going to be fun, but we’d handle it.

Boomer limped over. He’d torn off his shirt and tied it off around his thigh, right above a bullet wound.

Looked like he had a graze on his side and another hole in his shoulder.

“You okay, VP?” I asked.

“I’ll live. The Pres?”

“Took two to the chest. Bones is in there with Pretty Boy, patching him up.”

Boomer nodded before scanning the area. “Anyone checked on the women and kids?”

“I found a few men back there. Took care of them.”

Boomer held my gaze. “Are you really that fucking stupid? You think a few men at the back and these here are their only effort to get in? Who’s down there with the women?”

“Morgan.”

Boomer pulled out his phone. His jaw tightened as he disconnected the call. “No answer. Get as many brothers as you can and go check on them. We promised to keep them safe. If we failed…”

I ran for my bike and started her up. Letting out a loud whistle, I caught the attention of Patriot, Gravel, and two Prospects.

I motioned for them to follow. I heard the pipes of their bikes as we tore through the compound, heading to the old barn.

My stomach knotted as I came to a stop. Morgan lay dead, his throat slit, and the bunker was wide open.

I rushed down the stairs, gun drawn. The women and kids were gathered in the center of the room, Ember clutched in Jordan’s arms. Who I didn’t see was Phoebe.

“Where is she?” I asked.

Mara came forward, tears misting her eyes. “They took her. She sacrificed herself for us. Went willingly.”

I closed my eyes, the pain sharp like a knife in my chest. I should have stayed here with her. Protected her. I’d given her my promise she’d be safe.

“How?” How the hell had they gotten in here? Where had I gone wrong?

“She told me something was wrong with the Prospect. I brushed her off, but she said her gut told her bad things were about to happen. Those men came in, and…” Her gaze dropped to the left.

I looked and saw the eyes. Rachet’s, if I had to guess.

“They took her and Morgan left with them. We thought if they’d made it down here, then the rest of you were fighting for your lives.

None of us wanted to risk calling and distracting any of you. ”

“Morgan’s dead,” I said. And if they hadn’t killed him, I damn sure would have.

Rocky pushed past me and gathered his woman in his arms. Havoc followed, embracing Jordan, my daughter smooshed between them. I felt the presence of Patriot and Gravel at my back. Patriot placed his hand on my shoulder.

“We’ll get her back,” he said.

Jordan brought Ember to me, placing her in my arms. “She said to tell you she was sorry.”

“Not her fault. None of this was her fucking fault.” I clutched Ember, breathing in her sweet baby scent. Whatever it took, I’d bring her mom home.

“Not many of us are in any condition to travel,” Gravel said “But I’m with you, Kraken. We’ll get some men and go after her.”

I shook my head. “The Pres is shot. So’s Boomer. I need to be here.”

Wizard entered the bunker, his eyes haunted. “You’re needed elsewhere, Kraken. I can hold things down. Boomer will be patched up in no time. The Pres will be on bed rest, for however long we can hold him down. You know he’ll be up and doing shit even when he shouldn’t.”

Yeah, I knew it. I’d be the same way if it were me lying in the bed.

Wizard shoved my cut to the side and lifted my shirt.

I looked down and saw the blood. Didn’t feel a damn thing, except pure fucking rage over losing Phoebe.

I’d slap a bandage on it and be on my way.

If Wizard said he’d hold things down, then I wasn’t staying.

The more of a lead they had, the worse it would be for Phoebe.

“Rocket doesn’t have so much as a scratch on him. Take him with you,” Havoc said. “I’ll put out some feelers, see who I know near the Sadistic Saints. You’ll have backup by the time you get there.”

“I can’t take Ember with me,” I said.

“I’ll stay and watch her,” Jordan offered. “And Havoc can go with you.”

The man scowled down at his woman. I could tell he wasn’t ready to leave her alone, and I couldn’t blame him.

We’d proven we couldn’t keep anyone safe.

First we’d failed Slider’s woman, and now Phoebe was gone.

I didn’t think those assholes would come back, not now that they had who they wanted, but that didn’t mean trouble wouldn’t show up.

“Fine, I’ll go,” said Havoc.

“Go patch yourself up,” Wizard said, slapping me on the back. “I’ll get everyone here situated and keep an eye on things. We’ve got a few nurses coming in take care of those with severe wounds, like Titan.”

It took longer than I’d have liked to make sure I didn’t bleed all over the damn place and gather up a few men.

By the time we got on the road, night was falling.

The wind blew through my hair, but it didn’t have the usual calming effect.

My bike ate up the miles, and with every minute that passed, I worried what they were doing to my woman.

It gnawed at me, nearly drove me insane, thinking of their hands on her.

I knew what she’d been through before, and I didn’t want her to live through it again.

My fault. I failed her.