Chapter Thirty-One Dixie

The drive to the port takes only ten minutes, but feels like hours. Knowing someone is onboard looking out for Delphine and the others relieves some of the stress, but he's only one man. I don't know how many men Maxim has with him, but I'm guessing he has at least four and likely more. I still don't understand how this happened. Why did Irish turn on us? Has he been a traitor all this time? Was he involved in Mikel's first escape?

Thinking about Mikel, I call Pirate.

"Yo," he answers.

"You and Jack okay?"

"Yeah, we're good. No one has attacked the clubhouse, if that's what you're worried about. Still can't believe Irish sold us out."

"What about Mikel? Is he still locked up?"

"Yeah, Jack went to check on him after we heard what Irish did. He's still unconscious. Whatever is going on here, he isn't involved. At least not directly. But we're on guard in case it is a distraction. Levi recovered enough to drive the SUV to the port. He'll meet you there to give the women a ride back."

"What happened to Levi?" I ask.

"Oh, right. Irish attacked him. Lured him out of the SUV with some story about seeing a guy go behind the building. When Levi went with him to check it out, Irish tried to knock him out. Levi got a shot off, but Irish incapacitated him before he could do much more. It was enough to get the guy's attention and bring them back to the SUVs."

"Did they get the women out of the warehouse?"

Pirate pauses. "No. When the guys got inside, all the women were dead. Their throats cut. The guards were gone, too. We found bodies of two men who were likely paying customers."

"Fuck!" I shout. The sound of my bike drowning out my shout. Or at least I thought it did. The woman driving the mini van next to me is giving me a dubious look. "Think they got wind we were coming?"

"Maybe. With Mikel unreachable, they may have figured we were coming for them.

"But to kill all the women. That makes little sense."

"Easily replaced," Pirate mutters. "Cheaper than transporting them to a different location. I'm trying to track anyone who went near the building over the past week. Maybe we can figure out who's involved and where they went."

"Good plan," I say before ending the call. I arrive at the port and park next to Vladimir. He's out of his car by the time I reach him.

"Should we wait for the others?" I ask, just as I hear several Harleys in the distance. I can see their headlights coming in our direction along with the headlights of three vehicles.

My brothers park and join us, while Levi parks the SUV nearby and waits inside. The other two vehicles park on either side of our SUV. Four men dressed in tactical black clothing pile out of the first vehicle, but no one exits the second.

"What's the plan?" I ask Hex with a glance toward Vladimir. I'm uncertain which one of them is running the show, but I know we have to move fast. The ship should sail soon and we'll miss our opportunity.

"I'll go on board and get the women," Vladimir says. "If he sees anyone else, he may kill them and the women before we can rescue them."

"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Hex asks. "Why did Dixie go through with faking your murder if you're just going to expose the lie a few minutes later? I thought you needed to drop out of sight?"

Before Vladimir can respond, Lake gets our attention and points toward the ship. Coming down the gangplank are six figures. One belongs to someone I recognize instantly. "That's them," I say, rushing forward with the rest close behind.

"Delphine," I call out when we reach them. Rushing forward, I wrap her in my arms and swing her around. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, thanks to Dominic here," she says, brushing her fingers across my cheek before kissing me.

I turn to the man who accompanied the girls off the ship and offer him my hand. "Thank you for saving our women."

"I just got them off the ship. They did most of the work themselves," he replies with a grin.

Hex has Cleo in one arm as he uses the other to hug his sisters. I see the appreciative look Dominic is giving Sasha and shake my head. No time to worry about that now. We need to get going.

"Let's go. Levi is in the SUV ready to give everyone a ride back to the clubhouse," I order.

"Levi's okay? We heard a shot. I thought…" Olivia says, breaking off with a sob. Lake puts his arm around her shoulders and pulls her close.

"He's fine. He was the one who shot at Irish when the other man attacked him. Where is Irish?" Lake assures her.

"Dead," Delphine says. "One of Maxim's guards shot him and pushed him into the water. He thought you guys wouldn't patch him, so he switched sides. Maxim saw him as a loose end and nothing more. I'm pissed as hell at him for betraying us, but he didn't deserve to die like that."

"Can we go now?" Shayna asks.

"Levi is waiting in the SUV. We need to take care of Maxim," Hex says.

"I'll do it," Vladimir says.

"I can't believe I have to keep reminding you, but you're supposed to be dead," Hex says. "If the person who hired the hit discovers you're still alive, they'll contact Sigil. If Sigil finds out Dixie lied, you'll put him in danger."

"I'll need to tell them eventually, but I'd rather do it in person. But if they discover I faked your death, they won't wait for an explanation."

"Maxim ordered the hit," Delphine says. We all turn to look at her. She nods quickly. "He admitted it to me. Showed me the image of you lying dead on the floor. Even though I knew it was fake, it was hard to see. He knew you helped us escape before and considers you a traitor."

"Good. I'll take care of Maxim so he can't contact Sigil. I'll remain on the ship and out-of-sight so no one will discover I'm still alive. Will you have enough time to straighten things out with Sigil before we dock in Russia?"

"Yeah, I should have enough time," I tell him, considering the best plan to follow. One that likely means a trip to Ireland. At least I can stop by and see Danny and Conor while I'm there.

"Go get our guest," Vladimir directs his men. One takes off for the second SUV. A few minutes later, he and a second man return. They're supporting a third man between them.

"Who's that?" Hex asks.

"A friend. He's been through hell and I'm helping him recuperate. He'll get rest on the ship," Vladimir explains. "We better get onboard. I need to have a long talk with my father. Where did you leave him?" He asks Dominic.

"Trapped inside the cargo hold. I lured them down there. Made him believe Cleo was on her way down to destroy the cars. Once he and the others were inside, I locked them in."

"Any last words you want to share with him?" Vladimir asks Delphine.

"Just remind him I won, and he lost," Delphine says. Her vindictive tone makes me chuckle.

Vladimir smiles as he gives his mother a hug and kiss on her cheek before hugging Hex.

"We will see you again?" Delphine asks, but the tone of her voice tells him he has little choice in the matter.

"You will. I have some business to take care of in Russia, then I'll be returning to the States. I'll call you soon."

We leave them to board the ship as we make our way to the parking lot. Olivia takes off running and jumps into Levi's arms when she reaches him. We can hear her sobs as we approach them.

"I'm okay," he assures her, rubbing her back.

"Let's get going," Hex says, circling his finger in the air.

Delphine climbs on board my bike, which is all I need to feel my world fall back into place. This is where she belongs. Safe with me. I want nothing more than to return to the clubhouse and pull her into my room with no intention of ever leaving. However, I need to make plans for my trip to Ireland. I also need to prepare her and Hex for the possibility that I won't return.

Back at the clubhouse, I kiss Delphine.

"I need a bath," she says, heading toward the stairs. "Join me?"

I want to. I really want to. But nod for her to go ahead without me. "I'll be up in a few minutes. I need to talk to Hex for a minute."

She frowns, but turns to climb the stairs. I watch her leave before turning to find Hex. He's heading toward the stairs with Cleo under his arm.

"Prez, I need to talk to you."

Hex glowers at me but nods. He kisses Cleo and then pats her on the ass to get her moving up the stairs. "Two minutes. I need my woman."

"Two minutes," I agree. When we enter his office, neither of us takes a seat. He leans against his desk while I stand with my hands on a chair. "I need to go to Ireland and inform Sigil of my duplicity."

"What will they do?"

"I don't know."

"But you have an idea," he presses.

"Yeah, I do. They could kill me or just cut ties."

"Hold on." Hex takes out his phone and types on it. The next minute, my brothers join us.

"What's going on?" Abra asks. When Hex finishes explaining the situation I'm facing, Abra is the first to respond. "When do we leave?"