Chapter 20

20

ESTELLE

I don't give a shit about Viking and Hornet. They can gawk all they like. Anyone would think they'd never seen a woman before. This whole ‘fresh meat' and ol' lady bullshit that goes on in motorcycle clubs is not only outdated, it's fucking annoying. Assholes. But it's not like I could expect anything less, because some of these clubs still operate in the Dark Ages. When I think about spanking Nevada and fingering his ass and how much he liked it, I can't help the smile that spreads across my face.

"Keep my mouth shut?" I snort. "Who died and made you the boss?"

"In here, princess, I'm your ol' man and while I fuckin' love your attitude and backtalk, it won't be appreciated in here. Do me a favor and save the bad girl routine for the bedroom?"

I flick him a look and I can see the amusement in his eyes. "You're an ass."

He bends to my ear. "An ass that you love."

We approach a long meeting table and Bane is at the helm.

Before we even sit down, I ask, "What happened to the girl from the club?" I don't know these guys from Adam, and I trust nobody.

"Couple of the ol' ladies took her to get checked out. Didn't notice until we were walkin' out that she may have a fractured leg from bein' kicked, and a broken rib."

My mouth parts. "Fucking assholes."

Bane eyes her. "And you are?"

"Star," I say. "I'm the reason we're here and why the boys were in the club. We're looking for my sister. Tilly. She was taken?—"

He holds up a hand. "I know the details, Cash filled me in." He flicks his eyes to the chairs around the table. "Will you all sit, for fuck's sake, you're makin' me goddamn nervous." Hornet and Viking move to their seats near Bane, along with another guy who sits to Bane's left. "This is Shadow, my VP."

Nods and chin lifts go around the table as the men sit. Nevada pulls out a seat for me and if I'm surprised the men are letting me sit with them. I try not to show it on my face.

"Next time you assholes plan on comin' into town and goin' undercover, give us the heads up." Shadow does not sound impressed. He's not as big as the other three men, but solid enough, and has an air of ‘don't fuck with me' about him. His short hair is shaved at the sides and he has tattoos on either side of his head. What is with all bikers being fucking hot? I've not seen one pot-bellied man anywhere…

"Truth was, we had no clue you were involved in the shit goin' on with Monty Jefferson," I say. "We found out the junkyard we were lookin' at had a sister company which led us to the club, it's a front for embezzling money and the Jefferson name comes up a lot on other non-existent business names around the city."

"No shit. We've been on Monty for the last eight months," Bane replies. "You bargin' into that meetin' could've been a big fuckin' disruption for us."

"Meant no disrespect." Harlem interlaces his fingers as he looks at the prez. "But with all due respect, a girl's life is at stake…"

"So is my sister's." The words leave Bane's mouth and I'm shocked to my core. "And if you don't think I wanted to rip that motherfucker's jugular out tonight, you're dead wrong. The trouble is, Monty's smart. I've been watchin' him for some time, and if it weren't for this shipment of girls we've been waitin' on, trust me, I would've hung him from the town square by his balls by now."

Okay, so we have a common denominator. Good to know and it means Bane is motivated.

"When did she get taken?" I ask. I feel all eyes upon me.

Bane clears his throat. "A few weeks ago. She was hangin' around some bad people, and she hasn't been seen since. Our IT guy, Phoenix, is one of the best hackers around, and he saw footage of her bein' hauled out of that goddamn club inebriated and nobody knows a goddamn thing."

"Heard rumors the Skeletons were involved," Shadow goes on. "But none of that has been confirmed. Wouldn't put it past the slimy bastards. We do our fair share of wheelin' and deelin' but we don't mess with traffickin'."

Nods go around in appreciation.

"So this meeting tomorrow night?" I say. "The girls, what happens?"

Bane's darkening blue eyes meet mine. I almost get a shiver down my spine and while I respect what he's doing for his sister, I wouldn't mess with this man. He spells danger just from the way he holds himself. I hope he does exactly what he says to fuckface Jefferson, and soon.

Bane takes a long draw on his cigarette. "We make the transaction, then we're gonna ambush Jefferson, torture him and his men until we find out everythin' they know. The only reason I haven't done that yet is because only he knows the meetin' location for security purposes, and if we kill him, that meetin' will never take place."

"He's a goddamn asshole," Brew mutters. "Need to take him down. The piece of shit gave you a free fuckin' woman and didn't even blink an eye."

"Clearly she won't know shit," Haze offers. "Or he wouldn't be givin' her to you."

"Doubt she's been trafficked," Bane says. "But that doesn't mean she wasn't forced to do shit against her will. She was terrified when I got her in the car. The sad part is she'd rather come with me and risk whatever it is I might do to her, than stay in there with those assholes."

A lump forms in my throat.

I fill them in quickly on what we know so far, and how long I've been looking for Tilly. Bane, at least, looks sympathetic to my cause. "The Caruso takedown blew things apart," he says. "The whole operation from here to Texas, as well as New Orleans, Oklahoma, even down to Florida was blown wide open. It's a smash and grab for who's takin' over operations. If anythin', this just threw things further into the underworld than it was before."

I look to Nevada, his hand on the back of my chair protectively. "So what does this mean, Jefferson is the new Kingpin of Mississippi?"

Bane's eyes flick to Nevada's. "He has weight, and power, more than anyone else in this hellhole, but we believe he's just the middleman. If he were really in charge, he wouldn't be out in the open like he is. We haven't been successful in findin' out who is, but that's where Choker comes in."

I frown. "Choker?"

The boys around the table from the Hellions MC all snicker.

"Yeah." Viking looks my way. "Some of the brothers don't have a lot of skill up here." He taps his head. "But they do have brute strength. He has one modus operandi that he favors; he's old school. Likes to use his hands and people's tracheas to get information before he severs vocal cords."

I wince. Whatever works, I guess.

"Let's hope he's comin' tomorrow," I hear Tag mutter from across the table. "Could do with one more lunatic with a good set of hands."

"Long as you fuckers realize this is our show," Shadow counters. "You're along for the ride. If Prez allows it. We've been tryin' to hunt these fuckers down since before Ivy was taken." Something in his protective glare and tone tells me Ivy might mean something more to him than his prez realizes. I zone in a little more and see the veins in his forehead as he clenches his fists.

"We're here to get Star's sister back and put an end to this bullshit in our cities," Hawk says. "Nothin' in it. We all want the same thing here."

I glance at Brew but he stays quiet. I only know what Nevada told me that day at the clubhouse, but I know this is close to his heart. I can't even imagine how he felt when he never had any closure with his girlfriend. That explains a lot about his gruff exterior and why he's probably made the way he is. I know what he's been through.

The pain and suffering that these monsters leave behind is immeasurable.

I look away, unable to see the sadness in his face for one more second. It also reminds me that there's more than meets the eye to most people. I take people at face value, but I'm also known to throw punches and ask questions later. It's a habit. I've never quite been able to break but I'm learning.

"Like I said, the next time you plan on taking a trip to the big muddy, I'd prefer it if you give us the heads up. Never know when the goddamn Skeletons might show up." Bane doesn't seem all that pissed off, and I can probably put that down to the fact that he has more men for the takedown tomorrow.

Nevada looks across the table. "What's your main beef with them?"

"Over the years, things have escalated," Bane goes on. "With Ridgehaven bein' so close to the city, the Skeletons tried to move into our turf and take everythin' we've been buildin' here for fifteen years. Couldn't let that happen. So once we got them out of Ridgehaven, we made a pact to flush them out entirely. Still workin' on that."

Shadow snickers. "Assholes are always tryin' to get their fingers into new pies. If it ain't dealin', it's guns and weapons. They go around lookin' for trouble. Most of the one percent clubs around here behave themselves for the most part, but these assholes think they're above the law."

"Wouldn't surprise me if they had a hand in this shit with Monty, but we count on them underestimatin' us, just like they did last time." Viking cracks his knuckles.

I feel the buzz of my phone in my back pocket. I pull it out and see a text from an unknown number.

Unknown:

It's Meg. From the junkyard. I have information.

I stare at the message. So my $10k reward only took twenty-four hours to turn someone into a snitch. I'm still wondering why that other asshole didn't try and weasel money out of me, which only leads me to believe that the paydirt for him is worth more. That's a troubling thought. I quickly show the message to Nevada.

He tips his head toward me."Text her back. We can meet her."

"I don't want to scare her off."

She must've gone into the trash after we left because I was pretty sure that jerk tore up my business card and threw it in the trash can.

"So keep it short and sweet. Just remember, she may not know shit. That reward? People will say and do anythin' to get dough."

I take a second before I quickly type a reply.

Me:

What kind of information?

Unknown:

The kind that you won't find talking to Monty Jefferson

My eyes go wide. Okay, so this chick is a dark horse and might know more than she lets on. Sometimes the hired help are the eyes and ears of the place. Maybe our chump friend at the junkyard underestimated her, too.

Me:

You know about that. Keep talking

Unknown:

Talk costs money

Me:

So tell me something I don't already know and we can talk properly

A few moments of silence go by. The gray bubble appears, then disappears again. Another few moments and she starts typing back.

Unknown:

I know about some girls who got moved to Texas

Fucking Texas? What in the…

Me:

That it?

Unknown:

They were taken from New Orleans and from here, crossed over into Texas

I never told her we were from New Orleans, but this makes no sense. Especially when the twins saw the footage of the bus they believed Tilly was on. If she was on that bus. There's been no actual footage of her, and the boys are still checking out leads at the Vipers Engine and questioning employees with no luck. Still, this chick is clutching at straws. She just wants the reward.

Me:

What makes you think I'd believe that?

Unknown:

Because I know it's true. I have proof

Nevada narrows his eyes. "Tell her we'll meet her. If she's got proof, she can hand it over before she gets any cash."

Me:

Where can we meet up?

Unknown:

That's dangerous right now. These people… you have no clue how deep in you are

Me:

Is that Dave guy in on it?

Unknown:

He's a pawn. An asshole. If he finds out I'm texting you, he'll kill me

Me:

I can help you get away

Unknown:

Nobody can help me

Me:

Why not? What does he have over you?

If she's allowed a phone, surely she's not being held against her will.

Unknown:

A parole violation

"I think I need to take a visit back to the junkyard with my boys and teach this asshole a lesson," Nevada mumbles. But I need to keep her talking. If she shuts down, it means I'll have to go back to the junkyard tomorrow and risk blowing her cover.

"Maybe torture is on the agenda after all," I whisper back.

The boys are all talking around the table, refilling drinks as I wave off a tall glass of whiskey. I need to be levelheaded and ready for what tomorrow may bring with the takedown. If Meg won't meet with me tonight, then I've got an anxious wait until we can get back to the junkyard, and that's if she'll even be there.

Me:

It's better we meet. Unless you want me to come back to the junkyard…

Unknown:

If you do that, you're signing my death warrant

Me:

So why don't you just leave?

Unknown:

I'll explain tomorrow. 12.00 The Dusty Horse Inn. It's out of town

Me:

I'll be there

Nevada immediately gets on his phone to google it. "I don't trust her, or anyone," he says. "I'll be bettin' that asshole put her up to it and he's tryin' to get the reward."

"I'm so sick of this." I run a hand down my face, exhaustion setting in.

I feel Nevada's hand on my back, rubbing my skin in small circles with his palm. "We can take off."

My head spins.

I want my sister back. I just can't anymore…

Trafficking.

Junk yards.

Surveillance.

Monty Jefferson.

Skeletons MC.

Ridgehaven Hellions MC.

Mississippi.

Texas.

Fucking nothing!

I feel so close, yet so far at the same time. It's like we're missing something crucial that I should have already seen, but what?

Sensing my tension, Nevada asks in a low voice, "You good, Mama?"

I turn to him and nod. "Just tired."

He looks around the table. "So what's the plan for tomorrow? When do we meet? What do you need us to do?"

The talking dulls and all eyes fall on Nevada. "Meetin' tomorrow night. I'll text the location but no straight pipes. Will hear ‘em from a mile away. Viking and Hornet will meet y'all and you'll be backup. Got me?"

"Backup, " Shadow repeats as though we're slow, throwing a glare my way. "No runnin' in to save the day. No bein' heroic. The pigs around here don't do shit, that's what you gotta understand. It's taken a long time to get to this point. Even got one of our guys, Eazy, workin' for Monty undercover."

"Holy shit," I mumble. These are more hardcore than I thought. "Isn't that a little dangerous? What if he gets recognized, or the Skeletons…"

"You think you know better than us?" Shadow shakes his head. "Women don't usually sit at a meetin' table, lil' lady, so I'd keep your bright ideas to yourself."

Misogynistic asshole!

"Is that my cue to leave? Or are you just scared women who actually have a brain might be able to help you come up with something you didn't think of before," I throw back.

"What bright ideas did you have?" Bane flicks his eyes to Nevada and I can see from here they're dancing with mischief. It's like he's enjoying this. "Enlighten us."

"I can fight. I've been doing martial arts for a long time, and kickboxing."

"She also throws knives for fun," Nevada adds.

Bane's eyebrows shoot up. "Nice try, darlin' but we've got all the manpower we need."

The way he says manpower makes me want to punch him.

"You could use me." They all stare at me suddenly like I have two heads. "Trade me. I could get more insight if I?—"

Immediately tense, Nevada barks, "No!"

Bane blinks a couple of times. "You're not actually serious? Throw you to the wolves? And for what?"

"You have a man on the inside, but not a woman…"

"I said no!" Nevada cups my chin and forces me to look at him. "We didn't discuss this. Shut your pretty little mouth now before I shut it up for you."

I stare at the intensity in his eyes, full of love and frustration. He knows I'd give up my life to free my sister, but if I have to infiltrate to get her back, I will.

I want to tell him he doesn't own me, that I'm not his little pet to keep, but I know in front of these men it would only make him look bad, and they might even threaten to throw me out.

Why this bothers me, I don't know. Maybe because we confessed our love to each other and now I have him to think about instead of just myself.

I level him with my gaze. "We don't need to discuss it. I need to do what I have to do in order to get Tilly?—"

"That won't help," Harlem interrupts. "All those assholes will do is throw you in a brothel where men can do exactly what they want to you and you won't have any say in the matter. That won't be helpin' nobody and you'll beg for death before you ever let a man use you like that."

"I just meant if you need bargaining power. You took one of Jefferson's girls, they can have one of yours…"

"Technically, you're not mine, you're his. " Bane nods toward Nevada. "And while I appreciate the sentiment and admire the bravery, offerin' yourself up like that is suicide. These men are ruthless. I doubt your club will even agree to bullshit like that."

"They're not my—" I stop myself. If I'm in love with Nevada and he's the man I want, then they are my club. The realization hits me all at once. NOLA Rebels are my club now. "They don't know what I'm capable of either. I have all this power and energy and I don't know how to use it. I want to be helpful. I'm angry. I'm so fucking angry! I'll do anything to get my sister… I don't have anything else…" I trail off. I can't break down in front of these men, they won't appreciate that.

"You can be helpful by stayin' alive," Tag mutters.

"You're with me." Nevada's tone is firm. "Which means you're NOLA Rebels property. And we protect our property." In a lower voice he adds, "Anymore talk like that and I'll throw you over my shoulder and take you outta here right now and I don't care who sees me spankin' your ass."

I think Viking hears because he snickers across the table.

I don't like being told I'm property, and I'm about to protest when Nevada places one finger over my lips. I hold in my bitter diatribe, knowing I'm gonna put that in my spank bank for later. I must need my head examined because I've never let a man shush me before.

His lips twitch into a half smile in approval.

Bane shakes his head in amusement. "She's a pistol. And she's all yours, brother."