Page 6 of Liberator (Serpent Sinners MC #2)

Chapter 6

“I’m fine going again by myself, Prime. It’s less noticeable that way. If there’s a fucking caravan we’ll draw unnecessary attention from everyone. The guards at the border will be suspicious and search the truck more carefully. They’ll find the false bottom and we’ll all be screwed. How many times have I come and gone safely without any damn bodyguards?” I argued.

“You’ve slipped in and out of Mexico for years without a lot of trouble. You were only searched once that I remember, and even then they found nothing because they weren’t on their toes. But it’s different now. Rumors have reached me that the cartel is on the move again. They’re replacing what we blew up and supposedly gathering more girls. They’re too smart to use the same holding location again, so freeing them isn’t an option at this point.”

“However, if they’re rebuilding then they’re also making plans to cause us trouble. I’ve got this tingle on the back of my neck that tells me they’ll try something on this run. I can’t let you face them alone,” Prime told me.

“It’ll take longer, but I know all sorts of back roads to take that they won’t expect. I won’t get ambushed. I’ve thought about it a lot, planned it all out in my head. This is the last extra run anyway. If I get it done and over with, we can wait a couple of weeks for the regular run. During that time, we can learn more about what Aguilar is up to. If I go alone he won’t suspect that we know he’s active again,” I fought back.

“Have you looked in a mirror lately, Rage? You’re practically dead on your feet. You’ve lost weight and under the tan your skin is gray. We’ve run you ragged trying to get this done before Aguilar took notice. You need rest. When you’re exhausted you make mistakes, and mistakes can cost you your life. I considered taking you off this completely and sending someone else, but I know you’re the one that’s trusted across the border. They’re expecting you. I’d rather not ruin what we have going with your contacts, so I’m letting you go,” Prime replied.

“I won’t let you down,” I answered. “Thanks for trusting me to do one last run alone.”

“That’s not what I said. I’m letting you go so you can keep your contacts happy, but there’s no way in hell you’re going alone. I’m not stupid, Rage. My instincts are telling me, in fact they’re screaming at me, that there will be trouble this time. I know when to listen to them. I also know that we can’t be obvious about the fact that you have backup. Doc and Colt will follow on their rides, but they’ll stay several car lengths behind you. They’ll just be two MC members looking to party with the chicas across the border. Rod is taking Flame in the van. They’re posing as a couple going to visit her family. She’s bitching about it already, but that will actually help their cover. Their constant fighting will distract the guards and make them more believable,” Prime stated.

“You’re risking Flame? Why would you do that? If the cartel catches up with us she’s prime meat for their trafficking shit. You can’t do it, boss!” I shouted.

“I can, and I’ve already given the orders. Don’t fight me unless you want to stay here and let me take your place! Flame will be safe enough, and she’s already agreed. You’re the one the cartel will recognize as the runner. And if they’ve managed to pay off one of your contact’s minions, which is possible with enough money, then it’s you they’ll be setting up. Flame will be nowhere near you while the deal is done. I won’t listen to any more of your arguments. You’ll still take the backroads, but you’ll be able to get some sleep because you’ll have watchdogs. This is my plan and my orders. Do you understand?” Prime asked.

“Yes, boss. But who’s tending bar?” I asked in hopes that he’d forgotten that Flame was needed right here.

“I will,” he said with a grin. “We have other bartenders, but I want to be sure Vikki is safe. The other bartenders are good with weapons, but I’m better. Sweet is back as well. He’ll be at the bar tonight.”

I wasn’t happy about the situation, but I knew when to shut up and follow orders. I went outside where my new team was already gathered.

I saw Flame talking to Vikki, and I lost my temper instantly.

“What the hell are you doing out here? Prime didn’t list off your name, so get your ass back inside!” I shouted.

Vikki and Flame turned as one unit to face off with me.

“You can’t tell me what to do!” Vikki yelled.

At the same time, Flame burst out with, “Asshole! Do you think I’m a stupid whore or what?”

“You’re in deep shit now,” Rod smarted off with a cackle of glee.

“Stay out of this, estupido! It’s bad enough I have to put up with your dumb ass during this shindig,” Flame retorted. “I don’t have to listen to you speak now!”

“You like my ass, mi bella. Admit it,” Rod replied.

Flame spouted off so many words in Spanish that I couldn’t keep up, but I was aware they weren’t nice by her tone.

I turned to Vikki for an explanation. “Well, why are you here? I won’t take you with me.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I was getting some last-minute instructions on working the bar with Prime. Flame says he does things differently than she does. For your information I don’t want to go, but if I did you couldn’t stop me. I make up my own mind,” she answered.

“This is your influence,” I accused Flame.

“I certainly hope so. Someone has to put you pig headed asses in your place,” Flame replied with fire in her eyes.

“You’re so cute when you’re mad,” Rod dared to say. “Especially dressed like that.”

It was the first time I’d noticed how everyone was dressed. Doc and Colt looked the same as always. Colt even wore his cowboy boots. However, Flame wore denim capris and a black tank top with a denim jacket. She looked nothing like her tough self. Her hair was even braided down her back. Rod wore jeans, a black t-shirt, and a Houston Texans cap. They looked ridiculous and uncomfortable in the foreign attire.

“I hope your acting skills match your clothes,” I teased.

Both of them gave me the finger. At least we all headed out with smiles on our faces.

The trip through south Texas and across the border was uneventful. As the miles went by I felt vindicated about telling Prime I could have made the trip alone. I decided that for once his intuition had been wrong. It was going to be fun giving him a hard time about it.

It was a more relaxed journey than those I’d had before. I met up with my bodyguards at a small farm to spend the night. The old man who owned the farm was once a Serpent Sinner but had left the club to take over the farm after his father died. We respected that the same as he respected us. He was the kind of man who’d never betray our brotherhood no matter the cost to himself. He kept watch all night while Doc and Colt split the time so both could get some sleep.

Flame and Rod were still bickering as the sun rose and we set out again. I truly hoped that someday soon they’d give into temptation and screw each other until they got it into their heads that they were in love. It was annoying to the rest of us how they were constantly arguing.

The meeting with my contacts wasn’t as pleasant as usual. There was a tenseness in the air that made me nervous. I saw nothing out of the ordinary, but that didn’t mean much. The Federales were good at hiding in order to catch drug smugglers. It was my job to stay at least one step ahead of them.

The false bottom of the truck was filled with the drugs, and the boxes of vegetables and fruit I would be carrying as legit cargo were loaded. I handed over the cash and climbed into the truck as fast as I could get away with. I wanted out of there because I felt that something or someone was creeping up on me. My gut was finally telling me that Prime’s suspicions were correct.

The other Sinners weren’t far away. They were watching through binoculars and long-range rifle scopes. Those rifles had the ability to take out anyone who posed a threat to me, and all three of the men Prime had sent were excellent shots. Yet I was still feeling as if something was very wrong as I drove off.

I called Doc and asked, “Did you see anyone messing with the truck while it was being loaded or when I was handing over the money? Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I don’t think the truck is running right.”

“We weren’t able to see what was happening on the far side of the truck. We saw people around it at all times. We were more concerned with you and watching out for intruders than with the truck. If your instincts are telling you there’s an issue with it, then get out right now.”

We both heard the menacing click.

“GET OUT!” Doc screamed.

I’d already unbuckled my seat belt and opened the truck door. I took my foot off the gas and was leaping from my seat when the explosion came. I wasn’t quick enough. The blast hit me squarely in the back and threw me through the air like a rocket. The heat melted the shirt off my back, and I was painfully aware of blisters forming. I prayed I wasn’t on fire, then hit the ground hard like a ragdoll, and everything went black.

Blinding pain and heat brought me back to the land of the living. I bit my lip and ground my teeth together to keep from screaming in agony. I opened my eyes and saw flames several yards away and smoke that choked my lungs with each breath.

Hands reached out to lift me, causing me to finally let go of the scream that I’d been so careful to keep inside. I heard coughing overcoming my rescuers and felt them come very close to dropping me. I instinctively knew Doc, Rod, and Colt were doing their damnedest to get us all clear of the smoke and inferno that used to be the truck. But the pain was too much to bear at that moment. My screams weren’t stopping.

“Maybe we should just put him down and get some pain killers into him,” Rod advised.

“We can’t. The smoke will damage his lungs and ours, and if the fire reaches the grass we’re all toast,” Doc answered.

“I guarantee the Federales have seen the fire and the smoke. They’ll be headed our way. We have to get away from here immediately. I’m sorry Rage is suffering, but we have to get him to the van and as far away as possible. If we’re seen we’ll never make it back across the border. We can’t be connected to the truck. We have to keep up our fake identities or end up prisoners,” Rod added.

His words gave me the incentive to fight against my pain again. The screams became a moan, and I was able to murmur, “Don’t worry about me. Get us out of here.”

Later I was told that I’d lost consciousness again. It was probably for the best. It kept me silent as the others raced over rough ground where no road existed to find a place to stop and assess my injuries. I never knew my poor ravaged body bounced around the back of the van with each hole we hit until it was explained to me.

I woke up shivering. I was being washed off with cold water from a small stream. Extra was poured over my back to soothe the pain from the blisters. I tensed which brought new suffering. My chest hurt like hell every time I drew in a breath. I was beginning to notice the cuts and scrapes all over my body. None of it was pleasant though I didn’t feel the need to scream anymore. I assumed Doc had shot me up with something for the pain.

“It’s about time you woke up,” Doc said as I opened my eyes. “I was starting to worry that you had more of a head injury than I first suspected. That would have meant taking you to a hospital. I hate answering all the questions they ask, especially trying to explain where I got the morphine I gave you.”

I managed a crooked smile and said, “Where did you get it?”

“I come prepared, and it’s none of your damn business where I get my shit. Just be glad I had it. You’re gonna want more before I’m finished with you,” he replied.

“How bad is it, Doc?” I asked.

“You’ll live,” Flame announced as she dropped bandages on the grassy spot where they’d laid me near the stream. “Those blisters won’t even leave a scar, so count yourself lucky.”

I winced, not in pain but because I knew Flame was thinking of her own burn scars. She believed they made her ugly even though they were usually hidden beneath her clothes.

“What else?” I asked.