Page 3

Prophet

Nights blended into a single, elongated nightmare. Sleep was a stranger, elusive and unwelcome, as I paced the length of the clubhouse floor. I kept glancing at Wire, where he worked diligently on his keyboard to try and find Ares. She’d been missing for more than twenty-four hours when Wire had found a record of her being sold. They’d auctioned her online before we had a chance to raid the warehouse. She’d slipped through our fingers so easily.

It felt like my heart had shattered at my feet. Why hadn’t I made my move sooner? If I’d claimed her, she’d have been home with me. At first, I’d had to wait because she wasn’t old enough. Even still, the Pres had given permission for me to spend time with her. Strictly platonic. We occasionally would hold hands, or hug, but nothing more than that. I’d take her to movies, or out shopping. Sometimes we’d just hang out around the compound.

The minute she turned eighteen, I should have made her mine. Instead, I’d wanted to wait and make sure it was what she wanted, and maybe come up with a romantic gesture. Look where that fucking got me! Come back to me, Ares .

What if it was too late when we finally tracked her down? What if the bastard who bought her broke her beyond repair, or killed her? I wasn’t sure I’d survive if either of those things happened. I’d have to be strong for her, give her a shoulder to cry on, or whatever she needed.

Night after night, I stared into the darkness, wondering where she was and if she was doing okay. As the days passed and we didn’t seem to get any closer to finding her, it felt more and more hopeless. I’d never felt so weak in my entire life!

In my mind, I saw her abduction again and again. Where was I when it happened? Why hadn’t I been with her? I had to wonder if they targeted her because she’d been alone. She’d gone to Joker’s house for a game night, and then she’d vanished. Other than the footage Wire found of a man carrying her through a cut piece of fencing, we had nothing to go on.

Every tick of the clock weighed on my conscience. Was Ares watching the time pass? Had the bastard who bought her already ripped her apart? What horrors had she faced since she’d been taken?

“Hold on for me, Ares. As soon as I know where you are, I’m coming for you!” Didn’t matter what time of night or day it was, or how far I had to go. I’d travel to the ends of the earth to bring her back.

Everyone had gathered in the clubhouse where Wire was doing his best to find Ares using his hacking skills. His fingers flew over the keys, and someone kept him stocked with drinks and snacks. The moment he took a break, all he’d do was stare at his laptop. I didn’t know how the man remained upright, but I was grateful for everything he was doing for Ares.

“I found something,” Wire shouted, his fingers moving even faster than before.

“What do we know?” Savior asked. “Where is my daughter?”

Bull leaned in over Wire’s shoulder. With the big man in the way, no else could see a fucking thing.

“Georgia,” Bull said. “Some bigwig with a taste for young girls bought her. Wire is trying to hack into his camera feeds right now. Place looks like it has every room wired.”

Georgia was closer than I’d thought she’d be. Still not as nearby as I’d have liked.

“Damn it.” Joker paced. I could tell he felt responsible for this mess.

“If there’s a camera in whatever place they’re holding her, I’ll find it,” Wire said, not even pausing in his typing.

The clubhouse thrummed with the pulse of urgency, every brother’s attention riveted on the mission at hand. The weight of their collective focus was like a physical force.

“Come on, come on,” Joker muttered. I knew this had to be hurting him. He no doubt felt responsible to some degree, since his wife’s family had orchestrated Ares’ abduction and sale.

Minutes dragged by, each one an eternity, stretching until they were thin and taut enough to snap. The sharp click of keys filled the room.

“Got something!” Wire shouted. All of us descended on him.

On the screen, pixels shifted, revealing the grainy image of a mansion, its walls a silent testament to the secrets they kept. Wire’s hands flew over the controls, coaxing the feed to reveal its hidden truths. It looked like the bastard had several set up. Wire flicked through them one at a time.

“Come on, baby,” Wire whispered, his voice a mixture of technician and sorcerer calling forth images from the digital ether.

“Anything?” Savior asked.

“Wait…” Wire’s words trailed off as he shifted to another feed, giving us a glimpse of pure hell.

“Is that --” Bull began, but no one finished the sentence. We didn’t need to.

Our silence was a shared language, spoken in the glances we exchanged, the set of our shoulders, the tightening of our fists. The image on the screen held us captive. We’d finally found her. I only hoped she hadn’t been completely broken.

Seeing her on the screen, and realizing what she’d been through, made it feel like my mind was going to break. I didn’t know if she’d be able to come back from this. She’d survived it once, but twice?

“Get the location,” Joker said. He eyed Savior, and I knew he had to be waiting for the Pres to lose his shit.

I glanced at Savior. That might be the woman I loved on the screen, but it was his daughter. His face had turned nearly purple as the rage built inside him. He stared at his daughter and the signs of the abuse she’d suffered.

With a loud roar, he picked up a chair and threw it across the room. The wood shattered on impact. He lifted another and smashed it as well. Flicker and Saint grabbed him.

“Easy, brother,” Saint murmured, his hold tightening. They dragged him toward the door, away from the screen that continued to display a nightmare we’d all be reliving for a long time to come.

“Let me go!” Savior roared.

I knew exactly how he felt. I wanted to tear this place apart, beat every bastard who’d had a hand in Ares being sold, and then set the entire fucking world on fire and raze everything to the ground.

“Shh, we got you,” Flicker coaxed, his tone soft, a counterpoint to the chaos. “We’re going to get her back, Savior. Right now, we need you to cool down and think about this logically.”

They took him outside before he could demolish the entire clubhouse. Not that any of us would blame him.

“Almost got it,” Wire said, his fingers a blur. “Found the exact coordinates!”

“Prophet.” Joker turned to me. I held his gaze, letting him see everything I was feeling in that moment. “We’re bringing her home.”

“Like hell we are.” No. There would be no we in this. I would bring her home. Ares was mine, and I was going to be the one to rescue her from that hell, no matter the cost. I didn’t care if I fucking died in the process. As long as she was no longer with that wretched man and could have a chance at living a normal life again, then I’d pay any cost.

I stared at the screen and watched Ares, her form small and broken as she huddled in the corner, knees hugged tightly to her chest. Her once vibrant eyes had lost their flame, replaced by a haunting emptiness that dug its claws into my soul. Blood smeared across her skin, and bruises had already formed on every visible part of her body. They hadn’t even allowed her to keep her clothes in the dank cell where they’d dumped her after doing God knew what to her.

“Close it, Wire!” Joker barked.

“Trying!” Wire’s fingers danced frantically across the keyboard, but it was too late. I’d already seen it all and realized what had been done to my precious girl. When I got my hands on the man who’d hurt her, I’d send him straight to hell.

“Prophet, man,” Joker said, reaching out, but I shrugged off his hand.

Wire’s fingers halted their frenetic dance across the keyboard, and he turned slowly, a slip of paper clutched in his grasp.

“The mansion’s south of Atlanta. Only building within fifty miles. Heavily fortified.”

“Let me see,” Joker demanded, snatching the paper from him. “Prophet…”

Before he could say anything more, I took note of the address, then turned and walked away. I knew they’d send brothers after me, a guarantee that I wouldn’t do something stupid as well as backup for getting Ares safely out of that place. I wasn’t waiting on them. I got on my bike and, without even going home to pack, I left the compound and hit the road. I had a lot of miles to cover if I wanted to get Ares back tonight.

It didn’t take long for Warden and Foster to catch up to me. I didn’t know if they’d volunteered or were assigned the task of saving Ares. Since there were only two, I had a feeling we’d end up with help from other clubs. Since Ares was being held in Georgia, the Devil’s Fury would likely be there. If the Reckless Kings sent someone, I wondered if Logan would join us. He’d decided to prospect for their club after his sister, Leigha, got claimed by Cyclops.

Other than stopping for gas, I didn’t take any breaks on the way. I stopped for gas one last time before making the final haul to the location. I parked my bike after filling the tank, needing to get my mind off Ares and more on how I’d save her. Warden and Foster stopped beside me and got off their bikes.

“Got a text from Wire,” Warden said. “He sent details about the place we need to break into, as well as who would be coming to help.”

“So who are we expecting?” I asked, “And how fucking long before they get here?”

“Devil’s Fury is sending Frost and Ripper. And the Devil’s Boneyard sent Magnus and Gator. In fact, I’m betting they’re already here somewhere,” Warden said. “I’ve made sure Wire is tracking me through my phone, so he knows where we are every step of the way. I’m sure he’s updating those coming to help us.”

My phone chimed and I realized it was Magnus reaching out. Look to your left .

I glanced down the street and saw the two men waiting for us. We made our way over and I checked my phone when it vibrated. Wire had sent images of the place we’d be breaking into. Fence had to be more than seven feet. Looked like guards were patrolling inside. Heavily armed.

“There’s cameras too,” Magnus said, leaning over to look at my phone screen.

“Don’t forget the fucking dogs,” Gator muttered.

“I don’t suppose any of the hackers offered assistance with the cameras?” I asked.

“Think they’re working on it. For now, we need to figure out where the Devil’s Fury are. There’s no fucking way we beat them here,” Magnus said.

“Anyone have the number for either Frost or Ripper?” I asked.

“Nope.” Both men shook their heads. I glanced at Foster, and he held up a finger.

“Give me a sec. I’ll reach out to Logan. I’m sure he knows how to reach them.” I watched him send a text, and it wasn’t long before we got a response. Foster showed me the numbers and I sent a text to both.

Where the fuck are you? I want Ares out of that place now !

Magnus snorted. “I’m sure that’s going to go over well. Even if the hackers can take out the cameras or screw with the feed, we’re going to need more firepower to get through all the damn guards. And no offense, but I’m not shooting any dogs. Doolittle would have my ass.”

“No shit,” Gator said. “Too bad he didn’t volunteer for this little trip. I bet he could have charmed them or something. Man has a way with animals.”

My phone dinged with a text. We’re getting supplies .

What the fuck kind of supplies did they need? I leaned against the brick wall behind me and stared at the image on my phone again. I scrolled through the next three he sent me. I felt a little out of my depth, but there was no fucking way I’d back down. I’d get her out there no matter what.

“There’s a café not too far from here. Why don’t we walk over?” Magnus asked.

“So I’m supposed to what? Eat a fucking waffle or something while my woman is in there being tortured?” I asked, fury filling me.

“No.” Magnus put his hand on my shoulder. “You’re going to get some coffee while we wait on reinforcements. Then we’re going to come up with a plan so we don’t all get killed trying to get her out of there. I know you want to rip the place apart with your bare hands. I get it. But that’s not going to help Ares.”

“Fine. I’ll give them a half hour. If those fuckers don’t show up by then, I’ll go in alone if I have to.”

How the fuck could they ask me to wait? Did they not understand what she was suffering at the hands of that asshole? Knowing she was so close yet out of reach was driving me crazy. The sooner I had her in my arms, the better.

Hold on, Ares. I’ll be there soon .

We found the café and got a table in a quiet corner. I had to admit the walk had been good for me. My muscles had started to stiffen up from riding for hours with so few breaks. No one batted an eye at a bunch of bikers coming inside the cafe, which made me wonder if there was a club in the area. Had anyone bothered to check? The last thing I needed was to piss off a bunch of bikers who might try to stop me from getting my woman back.

After we’d ordered, the Devil’s Fury showed up, and they weren’t alone. I saw five big bastards come in wearing cuts I wasn’t familiar with -- Wild & Reckless MC. Were they local? Why hadn’t I heard of them before?

Ripper sat and motioned to the Wild & Reckless men. “These are the locals. Stopped to get permission to be here and explained the situation. Although the place we’re infiltrating isn’t technically part of this town. It’s got its own fucking zip code if you can believe that shit.”

One of them held out his hand and I noticed his cut said he was the President. “Name’s Highlander. We’re a small club. Including Prospects, there’s only seven of us right now, but we’re all ex-military.”

One of the men nudged him. “Almost all. Shaker, our Treasurer, is former FBI. As you can probably tell from Highlander’s name and slight accent, he’s originally from Scotland. The rest of us were born in the US. I’m Wings, the Road Captain.”

“We left the Prospects back at the clubhouse,” another man said. His cut said he was their Secretary. As I looked at each of them, I realized all of their officers had come today.

“Are you here to help or throw us out?” I asked.

“Oh, we’re definitely here to help.” Highlander gave me a smile that chilled me to the bone. “I won’t tolerate the likes of that bastard lurking anywhere near my town. Fifty miles is too fucking close for comfort. Considering why you’re here, I have to wonder if he might be responsible for some of the local girls going missing.”

“Our club is relatively new,” Wings said. “We’ve been riding together for a while but decided to make it official two years ago. Settled down in this place.”

“Anyone have a plan in mind?” I asked.

“We may have something.” Wings and Highlander shared a look. They settled in and disclosed what info they had on the man who held Ares captive. As the minutes passed, I felt both anxious over what she might be suffering, and relieved that it appeared I’d have her back soon.

But it seemed we needed to wait until dark to retrieve her… I only hoped she could hold on that long.