Page 7

SIX

Rio

“Prez, gotta stop for gas,” Abyss says through the intercoms in our helmet.

“Good idea, it gives all of us a chance to take a piss and grab something to drink,” I reply. “Let’s pull off the next exit and take care of business, Brother.”

While I want to get to the location where Pokey says Gage’s debit card was last used, I also know we can’t roll in there on fumes. Now that Gage’s GPS is showing him going in the opposite direction as the trailer, we decided time was of the essence and needed to try and cut him off before he makes it to wherever he’s headed. We pull into a larger truck stop and quickly take up multiple pumps as we spread out so we can start pumping gas while some go into the store to hit the head then grab something to drink or a quick snack. The few brothers who smoke will also light one up around the building so they’re nowhere near the pumps, I’m sure, because it’s hard as hell to keep two hands on the bike and smoke at the same time.

Q-Ball goes to each pump and uses the club’s card to get the process going. Right now, I’ll wait until a few more brothers are back before I head in myself for any refreshments and to drain my bladder. My mind is still spinning as I wonder what Issy’s doing right now, and how much I’ll eventually be able to tell her about what happened.

Probably not too much, because most will fall under the guise of club business. At least where the Mojave Devils are concerned. As far as Gage goes, some of that will as well, because while he’s never shown any interest in being part of the club, he’s been around long enough to know some things as well as the inner workings. He has to know if he’s caught, he’s going to pay the price for his ill deeds.

“What has you frowning?” Abyss asks, handing me a bottle of water. At my look he shrugs. “I know you by now, Prez. You’ll wait until everyone else has gone in and you’re just as thirsty as the rest of us. You know we’re all adults, right?”

I raise my brow at him because sometimes, it feels like I’m overseeing a room full of cranky, teething toddlers. He bursts out laughing and nods because he definitely knows what I’m not saying out loud, since he’s had to stand in for me a few times over the years.

“Well, some are more adult than others,” I finally say, breaking the seal on the water and taking a long drink. “Fuck, as much as I love riding, I forget sometimes just how hot it gets wearing our leathers and the bucket on our heads. Normally, I’d have grabbed something before we hit the road since I’ve got my cup holder, but when we got the intel from Pokey, I didn’t want to wait. It’s why we had to stop so soon. My fucking head’s not in the game all the way.”

“Considering it’s Issy, I think we all get it, Prez,” Abyss replies. “She means a lot to all of us, Rio. Hopefully, you’ll get your head outta your ass now and make her your ol’ lady for real. I mean, we know as far as you’re concerned that she is, but she has no clue where she stands. As far as she knows, y’all are just friends.”

Just friends? Really? I’ve thought of her as more than that for so long now, it never dawned on me that she wasn’t aware of how I felt. Guess I need to step up and clue her in because there’s no fucking way she’s not gonna be part of my life in more than a friend capacity moving forward. If that means my brothers have to handle shit while I’m with her out on the circuit, so be it. She’s never gonna have to worry about something like this happening again.

“Haven’t heard from BamBam yet,” I announce. “Hopefully, when they get where Pokey located the trailer, they find Stargazer. She better be unscathed too. Hell won’t be able to hide them if that horse has been hurt in any way, shape, or form.”

“And I suspect Issy would lead that charge,” Q-Ball states. “Go on, Prez, I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Appreciate it, Brother. Abyss, shoot Pokey a text to make sure we’re still headed in the right direction. Also, see if he’s heard from BamBam and Gopher yet.”

As I head into the store, my mind on a million and one things, I realize that I wish I had a crystal ball so I could figure out what the fuck is going on. Gage has always been reliable and loyal where Issy is concerned. Why he would suddenly change tactics is beyond me because if this was his plan, he’s been fooling all of us for a very long time.

“Holy hell,” Q-Ball whispers as we look down on Gage’s bludgeoned and beaten body. He’s still alive, but just barely. Someone’s thoroughly worked him over and I suspect it’s the fucking Devils.

“We can’t transport him back on our bikes,” I reply.

“I mean, we could just hogtie him onto one of our pillions, Prez,” Nighthawk retorts. “It’s not like he deserves any special consideration.”

“Do you honestly think we wouldn’t be stopped if a citizen or a fucking cop saw us flying down the interstate with an obviously injured person strapped to one of us?” I question, flabbergasted that sometimes my men let their anger override their common sense. “We may not be thrilled with him right now, but there’s no fucking way I’m putting any of us in the line of fire and risking getting arrested for this douche.”

“I’d be willing to take one for the team,” Richie Rich says. “I mean, I’ve got the money to get myself out of jail.”

“Fuck that. Chick, call the local U-Haul and see if we can get a small box truck. He can ride in the back of that along with whoever’s bike is driving. Tell them we’ll need those tarps. Worst case scenario, we have to burn them because of his bleeding, and buy some new ones.”

“Works for me,” Chick mumbles, pulling out his phone and stepping away from the rest of us.

When we infiltrated his room, I didn’t expect to find him in the condition he’s in. I expected him to answer the door and there be some sort of showdown between him and me. To be honest, I’m a little perturbed that it wasn’t me who beat the living shit out of him. I’m gonna give him time to heal and then I’m going to remind him why my right hook is known to cause a lot of internal damage.

“Nighthawk, check the room and make sure there’s nothing that points to the Kings. Grab anything that belongs to him. Nerd, help him out and for fuck’s sake, make sure you wear your fucking gloves,” I order.

As everyone disperses to do my bidding, I crouch down next to Gage. “What the fuck were you thinking?” I murmur, looking at his battered face. “Was it worth betraying the Kings and more importantly, Issy?” I shake my head because I can’t think of any scenario that would cause me or any of my brothers to turn our backs on the people who’ve been at our sides through thick and thin. This goes beyond simple betrayal; he’s just rocked the very foundation Issy was standing on and I won’t sit idly by and watch her fall apart because her trust has been deceived. Gage has a lot to answer for before I decide his fate.

He doesn’t answer, but these are two questions I’ll want answers for when he’s conscious. Hopefully, he survives the trip home because I’m sure it’s going to be extremely uncomfortable.

“Prez, Pokey just called me,” Abyss says to me, walking over to where I’m now standing outside of the motel room contemplating the merit of Gage’s life. He went down to the office and slipped them some cash, so they’d forget they ever saw a group of bikers camped out in their parking lot. Being that this is one of those pay-by-the-hour dumps, I’m sure what he gave them is more than they make in a month, but it’ll definitely keep them from talking to anyone who comes nosing around.

“What does he know?” I ask.

“He said that BamBam called in and they found the trailer with Stargazer inside. She’s definitely hungry and thirsty, because there’s no food or water inside, but otherwise, she seems okay. The truck’s gone, though, so they’re renting a truck with a ball hitch for the horse trailer, and they’ll put his bike in the back of the truck and tie it down.”

“Can he get her some food?” I question. “See if Pokey can find a farm nearby that has horses. Or wait. Have BamBam call Pancho and ask him what he can grab at Tractor Supply. That might be better and will hopefully keep our business as tight as possible. The less contact we all make with outsiders, the better.”

“I’m on it, Prez,” Abyss acknowledges, walking away with his phone in his hand.

I just know I’ll be glad when we’re back behind the gates of the Triple R. Right now, so much could happen that could blow up in our faces, and I don’t want to endanger Issy any more than she’s already been subjected to. I swear to whatever deity is out there that the Mojave Devils are going to pay for every scrape on her skin. I’m not sure what their end goal was when they abducted her, but I’m going to make them wish their mother had swallowed.

“He’ll live,” Doc assures as he walks into Church to give us a rundown on Gage’s condition. “Gonna hurt for a bit, but we’ll soon get some answers out of him.”

“Promise?” Gopher asks, wanting him to feel every ounce of his injuries for as long as he possibly can. Doc simply shakes his head but the smile on his face lets me know he wasn’t doing so in a chiding manner.

“He’s showing signs of infection, of course, but that’s why God and scientists invented antibiotics,” Doc replies. “Outside of that, he’s got a few broken ribs, his shoulder was dislocated, and of course, multiple bruises and contusions. They worked him over.”

We made it back and put Gage in one of our secure rooms, then let Doc check him over. It wouldn’t do any good for us to let him die before we know what the fuck happened to cause him to abduct Issy and turn against us.

“How’s Stargazer?” I ask BamBam who comes in just behind Doc.

“Pancho says outside of her being a bit dehydrated and obviously hungry, she’s fine,” BamBam replies as he sits down. “He’s got the vet coming out to double-check his findings, but he’s been doing it long enough, I trust his assessment.”

“Alright, so I’ll let Issy know that we got Stargazer back, as well as the trailer. Gonna keep mum about Gage for the time being until we get some answers outta him and I know that if she confronts him there won’t be anything said that I’m not ready to help her face. The truck’s still missing, but it’s now been reported as stolen to the authorities and insurance company, so hopefully, it’ll show up and there’ll be Devils nearby to take the fall. Because whoever was with Gage has a Kings reckoning coming his way.”

“Absofuckinlutely,” Abyss bellows. “Nobody fucks with the Kings!”

As echoes of his declaration reverberate through the room, I sit back and smirk. This might’ve been done to fuck with us as a club, but the Devils seem to forget that we’re everywhere and there won’t be a stone left unturned as we seek our justice. Our brothers worldwide will help us ensure that.