Chapter 31

This is taking too long.As time passes, my frustration intensifies. Being the leader of an MC was supposed to keep things like this from happening. If it did, my connections and brothers should have been faster.

My eyelids feel heavy with exhaustion. They have betrayed me a few times and closed while I was at my desk or the bar. Cracking open an energy drink, I hear the satisfying fizz as I lift it to my mouth and chug. I refuse to sleep until Iggie is back where he should be—with me.

Shank is on call, waiting for me to ring when he's needed. He's one of the members who doesn't live on the compound. His place is just a few blocks away, but he always shows up when we need him, and that's all that matters.

"It's not your fault."

I turn to my left and see Iggie's best friend. "Sure feels like it. I should have been able to find him by now."

"Yeah. But you also had people working against you from the inside from what I've gathered. Don't beat yourself up. You didn't take him and from what I've seen, you're working your ass off to find him."

"I won't stop until he's safe." I stare deep into his eyes so he knows just how serious I am. "We haven't known each other long, but Iggie is mine. I'll do whatever I need for him to come back safe."

"Steel!" Hawk shouts, his voice carrying into the main part of the clubhouse.

I throw my empty drink into the trash can behind the bar and head to my office. Trucker meets me at the intersection of the hall that separates it from the first-floor bedrooms. "I heard Hawk holler. Did he find him?"

"Headed to find out now." I nod my head toward the bar. "Draco is out there alone. Keep him company, yeah?"

His lips curve upward in a small, subtle smile. "Yeah. I'll entertain him."

Seems like Trucker has taken a liking to Draco. I'll dissect that later. Right now, I need to see what has Hawk so excited.

Before I can close the door behind me, Hawk starts talking, his voice filled with urgency. "I got ‘em. I'm pretty sure I got ‘em. It's too much to be a coincidence."

"Show me." I cross the room and stand over his shoulder, staring at the screen.

He takes a moment to gather himself, exhaling loudly. "So, remember how Draco said to look into Doug and gave us the burner phone number? Well, I was able to pull some records for it through the pre-paid company. Not everything, but enough to see that he calls and texts one number more than anyone else. I searched that number and it pulled up a Susan Credla. Susan works at Howards. That can't be a coincidence."

"It sure the fuck can't," I grit. Stalking to the door, I rip it open and shout for Draco.

"While you update him, I'm going to do some checking on Susan's phone. See if anything stands out between her number, Doug's, and Iggie's."

Draco comes jogging around the corner with Trucker right behind him.

"Did you find him?" he asks anxiously, his voice filled with desperation.

"Maybe. Does the name Susan Credla mean anything to you?"

Draco's top lip curls in disgust, and a choked sound escapes his throat.

"Who is she?" I push.

"She is… or was Iggie's manager. Nancy, her daughter, has an unsettling obsession with Iggie. He always brushed her off and said it was a harmless crush. The other day, though, when we talked, he said she was getting weirder. He was going to speak to his new boss about keeping her off the corporate office floor."

"Doug has been calling and texting Susan for months," I tell him. "Do you think she or her daughter are capable of this?"

He rubs his temples. "I don't know them. I just know they made Iggie uncomfortable. But you know how he is. Always wants to see the best in people and just goes about his business."

"Wait!" A sudden outburst from Trucker interrupts us, and as I turn to look, I see him fixated on the laptop screen, engaged in a hushed discussion with Hawk.

"What?"

"That phone number the Susan lady's been texting and video chatting with. It looks familiar."

Hawk's fingers dance across the buttons, the soft clicks filling the room before he leans closer to examine the screen. "Hoooly shit."

"Spit it out, Hawk. What is it?"

"That number looks familiar because it was Combo's."

Got him. Tonight, I'm going to get my man back and send those cunts and Iggie's shitbag dad to hell where they belong.

What kind of dad goes along with or helps plan his son's kidnapping? According to the records, they've talked, texted, and video chatted a lot. He has to be close to the bitch who made it happen.

It doesn't matter because they won't be an issue as soon as I get that address and my men gathered. Howards will be two employees short and I'll be reunited with the man I love.

"Get the address, Hawk. I"ll call the guys back, and we"ll leave as soon as I fill everyone in." I leave the room, heading to my bedroom to get more weapons.

"What about me?" Draco calls after me. "I wanna go with. He'll need me."

The pounding of blood in my ears matches the intensity of my glare as I spin on my heels. "He'll need me. He's mine."

"He's yours… I'm not discounting that, but he's my best friend. If they hurt him, he might want someone he's known longer. You know what I'm saying?"

His words make me involuntarily bare my teeth, emitting a low growl. "Fine. But you stay with Trucker."

"Thank you."

"Draco, if they touched him like that, I'll rip their hands, tongues, eyes…whatever dared touch him, from their bodies."

"You have my full support." He returns to my office and I step into my room, closing the door.

There is no room to fuck this up. These are not your typical hardened criminals or even low-level drug dealers. The Manager, or so she likes to be called, must be completely insane, off her rocker... or off their rockers.

I know Iggie is very open and proud of his identity, so it's impossible for anyone at Howards to be unaware of his dating preferences. Especially if this cunt has made advances toward him in the past and he rejected her.

She just doesn't wanna take no for an answer and that won't fly with me.

This is one of the problems in the world: the media tells you that men aren't or can't be assaulted. But I assure you they can. Forty-three percent of victims of sex crimes are male, shedding light on the often overlooked experiences of male survivors.

One percent of perpetrators are female. Because one percent is a small number, it's often disregarded as insignificant, making it a topic nobody wants to address.

Iggie won't be silenced… if they hurt him, that is. I don't want to put that on him if he escapes unscathed in that way.

What I know for sure, three people are dying tonight and I'll spend the rest of my life making sure no one ever hurts Iggie like this again.

I can't dwell on that now. I need the club here, so when we get the address Hawk is pulling up, we can leave.

Like my fingers are on fire, I urgently text all members of Hell's Mayhem to return immediately. As I sit on my bed, I can hear the sound of my own breathing and feel the thumping of my rapidly beating heart.

A knock on my door rips me from my thoughts. "It's open."

Pistol pushes the door open. "You look like dog shit, brother."

"Fuck you."

"Everyone is back and waiting for you. Let's go get your man," Pistol says with a smirk, his voice filled with determination. I can't help but silently thank the universe for orchestrating our fateful encounter years ago. I couldn't ask for a better brother or VP.

Standing tall, I stride toward my dresser and jerk the top drawer open, snatching up an additional firearm and my trusty duo of blades. I slide the blades into my boots effortlessly, feeling the cold steel against my skin, then tuck the gun in my cut.

"Age before beauty." I smile.

"Ugly fucker," Pistol murmurs, and heads out to the main part of the clubhouse.

The moment I step through the doors, I am met with the sight of every brother eagerly waiting, exactly as Pistol said. All heads snap in my direction, and the array of emotions on their faces ranges from sympathy to anger.

I know that each and every man standing here is prepared to join me in the battle.

"Listen up! We are pretty sure we know who Combo and Pepper were workin' with and who took Iggie. Hawk has their home address. It's the only property registered in the bitch's name. The information should be hitting your phones any second. We park a block away and walk the rest. I don't want them gettin' spooked and doin' anything crazier than they already have. Circle the property. Pistol, Zero, and Viper, you're coming with me. Same for you, Rubble, Tex and Zombie. The rest of you stay here, but keep your eyes and ears open. We'll call if we need you. Hawk, you stay here and keep searching in case we missed anything."

"What about me, Prez?" Trucker asks.

"Draco is coming, and he stays with you. When we find Iggie, I'll holler and you bring him to his friend." I look at the man in question.

"You remember to stay on Trucker's ass. If you step a toe out of line, I will have him bring you back here, no questions asked. You hear me?"

"I understand."

"Good. Head out." I walk through the clubhouse and out the door, sucking in a breath of crisp night air.

I'm teetering on the edge of sanity, ready to plunge into the abyss of despair. If he remains lost to me after this, I will take the leap. Iggie is it for me. I can feel it in my bones, my heart, my fucking soul.