Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Maddox

"Get your fucking keys," Dimitri yelled as he blew open the door to my office. "Hurry up."

Confused, I spun the chair, looking at him as he tore through the back counter, looking for my keys. He was panicked and flushed. I could count on one hand the times that Dimitri had exhibited such things. Shrugging into my jacket and grabbing my keys, I bore a hole in him as he paced.

"Well?"

Something bad happened. I knew it without a doubt. The sun was barely up, its rays just peeking over the horizon. I'd just finished some paperwork and been about to head to the diner. Helena wasn't off until seven, but I figured I could have one of Vito's omelets or some biscuits and gravy while waiting.

Standing, I tucked my Glock 9mm into my waistband. It was probably necessary for whatever came next.

Dimitri tore his hands through his hair and then, without warning, turned and threw a right hook straight into the wall, making the plaster fly. His chest heaved as he pulled his fist free, his knuckles split.

"Let's fucking go," he growled.

"You gonna tell me what happened?" I asked as I stomped behind him. "Is Helena okay?"

"Outside, I'll tell you."

I had no choice but to follow him, but the itch in my gut was already starting to creep as I walked behind him. It registered as we got to the bikes. The brothers were already assembled and waiting. Whatever this was, it was a club matter. Maybe Helena was okay then, but my throat was tight with nausea. Swinging my leg over my bike, I waited a beat.

"Alright, we're here. Pony it up motherfucker. Stop playing around."

"Someone snatched Helena," Dimitri spit out. "Took her from the diner. There were some suits there. I figure we can start there."

My blood ran cold, and my left hand was frozen on the clutch. I thought it would be like trouble with one of the gun runs. With the brothers assembled, I'd thought it'd be a club matter. Helena being taken?

"You can't be serious right now." But I knew he was just by looking at him. He was a combination of angry and scared all at the same time. "Are you sure?"

"No, I'm not sure. That's why I woke you up. The server there. Daisy. The one with the pretty red hair. She called and said that's what she thought happened." Dimitri frowned as he climbed onto his bike. "Look, we need to talk to her and Vito there first. Then we can figure out where to go from there."

The buzz had started, though, fuzzing my brain out. I could feel the weight of worry settling in my chest like a leaden anchor. I wasn't sure how to handle the rage encompassing me, swallowing me whole. My stomach felt like it would come out through my throat whole.

The roar of engines filled the early morning air as we mounted our bikes and headed out of the Open Road's parking lot. The familiar rumble of my Harley beneath me was a comforting presence, grounding me amidst the chaos of the situation, but the knowledge that I had no idea where Helena was clawed at me.

As we tore through the streets of Haverboro, my mind raced with thoughts of Helena's safety. The idea of her in Makarovich's hands or the people he worked for filled me with fear. I would rip the world apart to get her back, setting it ablaze until she was back in my arms. There was no world without her, no sunshine.

The journey to the diner felt like an eternity, every second dragging on as we rode the few miles necessary. The streets were deserted at this early hour; the only sounds were the roar of our engines and the rush of wind whipping past us.

We pulled up outside the diner, the neon sign of the Duck casting an eerie glow over the deserted streets. I'd always liked the diner. It was a popular spot for the Brotherhood and a lucrative one for the MC, but right now, I only had a pit of dread that had formed in my stomach as we pulled up.

The diner was empty save for a few stragglers in the back booths and out-of-towners, but they looked over as we entered en masse. I wasted no time scanning the room, my eyes locking on Daisy behind the counter. She'd never been into our scene, which wasn't bad. She was a town girl, and she needed the work. I'd been happy to have someone willing to take a management position at the little diner. She wasn't one for questions, which suited us fine. Pale and shaken, her eyes were wide with fear as she spotted us.

"Daisy? What do you know?" I demanded, my voice sharp and urgent as I strode towards her, my heart pounding. Vito appeared from the kitchen, an imposing figure well used to fighting first and asking questions later. I'd thought Helena would have had ample protection here without the brothers intermittently checking in.

Her eyes flickered with relief at the sight of us, her voice trembling as she responded. "They took her, Maddox. I'm pretty sure." She edged us over towards the edge of the counter and lowered her voice, not that I gave a solitary fuck if the whole diner heard. "There were some men here. They were in her section. Businessmen in suits, with slicked back hair, accents." She swallowed and looked nervously at Dimitri. "They freaked her out. I think she asked if she could take her break, made a call, and Vito made her a sandwich. She went outside on break right before sunrise."

She made a call? Who would she call? I guess the Open Road would be the number she'd know. She'd told me she ditched her cell. Christ, I should have gotten her a phone — we had burners she could have used.

"How'd you know she was snatched?"

"Helena was late returning, but I didn't think it was a problem. You know, with the nerves and all the chaos going on in the diner. It's a lot." Daisy shrugged, her copper hair bouncing.

"Yeah, a lot is going on here," Dimitri sympathized.

"And?" I prompted impatiently. There had to be more.

"I wondered; she'd be gone a while," she trailed off and looked again to Dimitri. "Anyway, I saw the same men out the diner window. It'd been hours since they were here, and Helena hadn't come in. I went to check. She was gone, her sandwich and soda cup on the ground." There was a heavy pause, and I wanted to punch something or shake someone. "There was a little blood," she said, her words a punch to the gut. "A few drops."

The rage coursed through me, my fists clenching at my sides as I fought to keep my emotions in check. "Which way did they go?" I growled, my voice low.

Daisy gestured towards the door, her hands shaking as she spoke. "They headed towards the old warehouse on the edge of town. I'm not sure, though. You'll save her, right?" she pleaded, her eyes looking for reassurance I couldn't give her.

Without a word, I turned on my heel and strode towards the door, the rest of the Brotherhood following close behind. I tried to ignore the fact that Vito was taking off his apron.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked.

"I can't sit back doing nothing. It appears I'll be coming along. Daisy shut it down."

"Whatever, I don't have time to babysit," I added. I didn't have time to fuck around with the mechanics of diner-running and bullshit, so if Vito wanted to come along, that was fine. I had no idea how he'd get from point A to point B, though, since most of the MCs weren't much for passengers unless they were romantically involved, so that was up to him. That wasn't to say that we couldn't use an extra hand.

"You won't," Vito assured. Daisy looked a little stunned by this turn of events, but she was always good for a change in plans and announced in a chipper voice. "Okay, folks, we're closed. I'll be coming around and cashing you out."

I could already hear some grumbles, but I shut out the diner noise as we went outside.

"What do you think, then? Should we go straight to the warehouse?" Dimitri asked, his hands clenching and unclenching.

"It seems a little too easy, but yeah. Where are these boys of yours?" That was the one piece of hope I had. Could it be that simple that the Volkovs had her? Could we be that lucky? Daisy said there was blood, though …

"They're just pulling up." Dimitri's face was sour as he indicated the shiny black Escalade sliding into a parking spot across the street.

Five men unloaded from the vehicle, dressed in spit-shinned suits that looked tailor-made. I'd never worn a suit like that in my life. They crossed the street as if completely unconcerned that thirty bikers were assembled before them. They acted as if they could take us with no problem. Unerringly, they made a beeline for Dimitri.

"Boss," One of them said, coming to a soldier's rest, arms locked behind him in front of Dimitri. "We are here to serve."

Every eye (and ear) of the MC was turned towards Dimitri, who frowned at the five men standing at attention. That singular word, ‘boss,' had just rippled through the Brotherhood and marked him as something else. Making a decision, Dimitri began speaking to them rapidly in Russian. The leader of the group listened and then responded after a few moments, "Da."

"Vito," Dimitri called. "You can ride with them." He waved a hand at the already departing Russians.

"Thanks … boss." Vito winked at him before sauntering over to follow the Russians.

"Fuck off," Dimitri growled, unamused.

I had to laugh. "Man, that shit is just funny."

As we mounted our bikes and tore out of the diner's parking lot, I was consumed with thoughts of Helena and the desperate need to bring her back safely. I could almost still smell her scent of coconut and sunshine. The idea of never seeing her again wasn't acceptable. Was someone hurting her? I couldn't stomach it. I wouldn't allow it.

Dimitri rode beside me, and I was reminded again that we hadn't even had Church yet about that whole fiasco with Jake. That was a whole other can of worms that we needed to settle. Dimitri's expression was grim and determined, and I was thankful he was riding by my side. The thought of having to do this without him was inconceivable.

I could see the worry etched into the lines of his face; his jaw clenched tight with tension. He seemed more like a man on the edge, teetering just this side of breaking. I couldn't help but realize that I was right there with him. The idea that Helena wasn't in my grasp was terrifying. I'd always known where she was. Maybe she wasn't with me, but at the very least, I'd known where she was. I could watch her, see her. Now, even that small thing was taken from me. Right then and there, I vowed that if saving Helena was the last thing I did with my life, it would be enough for me.

The warehouse Daisy referenced stood forgotten on the edge of town, its weather-beaten facade looming against the backdrop on the edge of town. Its once-vibrant paint was now peeled into jagged strips, revealing the rusty metal skeleton beneath. If they ever existed, the windows now were nothing but dark voids, offering no glimpse of the hidden secrets.

As we approached, the air seemed to thicken, the silence broken only by the low rumble of our engines. The ground beneath our tires was cracked and uneven, evidence of years of neglect and disuse.

The warehouse itself was a sprawling structure, its massive form looming in the morning light of dusk. It was clear that it had been abandoned for years; the once-sturdy doors hung precariously on their hinges, creaking ominously in the gentle breeze. Some half-hearted chain link fence was fixed around the structure, but even that was sagging in places, and the locks on the gates were broken and open. The walls of the building were marred with graffiti.

The club tried to buy the warehouse not long ago but struck out when we approached the owner. They had said they weren't interested in selling the property, although we weren't told why. The owner wasn't local, and our search hadn't turned up any connections that made sense to me. Ultimately, we gave up on it and moved on to other projects.

The warehouse exuded a certain kind of grim beauty. I've always liked it.

Today, the dread gnawing at the pit of my stomach as we approached overshadowed any sense of appreciation of the building.

Determinedly, I dismounted my bike and strode forward, urgency propelling me. The Brotherhood followed suit, a silent but steadfast presence at my side.

"Spread out, find her," I commanded, my voice cutting through the heavy silence. In the background, I could hear Dimitri giving orders in Russian, but I could only be grateful for the extra manpower. My tone left no room for hesitation as the men fanned out to search every corner of the interior. It wasn't a small building. At one time, it was a cannery of some kind, with hidden corridors and old machinery. It was rusty and full of dirty corners, dilapidated from disuse.

Every footstep reverberated through the empty corridors, the sound amplified by the eerie silence surrounding us. With each passing moment, the tension grew thicker, weighing heavily on my shoulders like a suffocating cloak. I could feel the fear clawing at the edges of my heart. I had to find her, find my sunshine.

Helena's safety was paramount, and I'll be damned if I let anything stand in the way of bringing her back unharmed. As we scoured the warehouse, every shadow became a potential threat, every creak of the floorboards a sinister omen. But we pressed on, driven by the unshakeable determination to find her, no matter the cost.

Suddenly, a shout rang out from the darkness ahead, followed by scuffling and a muffled cry. Without hesitation, I broke into a sprint, my heart pounding in my chest as I followed the sound of the commotion.

"Prez! Over here!"

As I skidded around the corner, I was only met with a corner of trash, a filthy mattress, and two people who had seen better times. They weren't who we were looking for. Fuck. I hoped to see that shimmer of golden hair and blue eyes for this nightmare to end.

"Tony, keep looking. She's not here." I wanted to splatter something, smash something into a bajillion pieces.

"But, prez, just wait. Listen. They saw something," Tony implored.

They didn't look like they wanted him to continue, but he held his hands up placatingly. If anything, they looked like they wanted to be anywhere but in this room.

"Tell him what you told me," he encouraged, softening his voice. I tried to take a few even breaths but immediately regretted it. The air in the small space was stale and foul.

"I'd appreciate anything you can tell me. I'm looking for my woman. She's been taken." My woman. The words rang true. She was mine, and I didn't protect her like I should have. It was a gut punch. She left the club close to midnight with nobody to protect her. Jesus.

I turned to face the two men who stood before me, their faces etched with fear and uncertainty. Despite their reluctance, they seemed eager to help, to provide any information they could to aid in our search.

"Tell him what you told me," Tony encouraged, his voice soft and soothing in the oppressive silence of the warehouse.

The two men exchanged hesitant glances before one spoke up, his voice trembling with nervousness. "We... we saw them. There were some men in suits," he began, his words coming out in a rushed tumble. They were dragging someone into a car just before the sun came up. We didn't get a good look, but it looked like a woman—blonde. They met another man here when they put the woman in the other car. A man with blonde hair, short. He had tattoos."

My heart sank at his words, a heavy weight settling in the pit of my stomach. It confirmed my worst fears, a grim reminder of the danger Helena now faced. Then Makarovich's men must have her—traffickers. How would we find her? I could only hope that the Volkov pakhan had a lead on where Makarovich might have holed up.

"What kind of car?" I pressed, urgency lacing my voice as I leaned in closer, desperate for any information that could lead us to her. "Anything else?"

The men exchanged uncertain glances once more before one of them spoke up. "It was a fancy one. One of those BMWs. Blue. The man had short blonde hair." He trailed off, unable to look at me. "Sorry, man, there wasn't anything we could do."

I nodded, my jaw clenched tight with determination. Pulling a couple of bills out of my pocket, I turned them over to the men.

"Thanks for the information, really," I said sincerely. "If you want a hot meal, you can tell Daisy at the Duck that Maddox sent you."

"Thanks, man. Hope she's alright." They tucked the bills away, and I remembered how it felt to be hungry, your stomach turning on itself. I needed to help more. The club did community stuff, but we could do more. I should try to contact the warehouse owner again, too. It wasn't right for the building to sit and rot like this.

Turning to Tony, I told him to circle up the brothers and meet me up front. "Let's move."

"Where to prez?" Dimitri asked as I swung my leg over my bike. I hesitated.

"We have Church at the club." My voice cuts through the heavy silence of the warehouse. I ignore the veiled looks the brothers give me, focusing instead on Dimitri's nod of approval.

"Sounds good, let's ride."

Despite the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind, there's only one thought driving me forward: Helena. No matter the danger or cost, I would do whatever it took to bring her back safely.

Whoever took Helena from her place of work and forced her into a vehicle, then they've brought themselves a world of hurt. War. There wasn't any getting around it, and I was willing to tear apart the world brick by brick to get her back.

We needed weapons, though, at the very least—and a vote. I wouldn't say I liked the extra time it would take, but it had to be done. We could hurry it up, but we couldn't skip that step, and I couldn't do it alone.