Chapter Eight

"We could do this another time, you know," Rage said. "We already tied the knot. There's no need to rush."

They were in Cassie's old bedroom in Breaker's house. Rage had booked a room at a cozy little inn one town over for their honeymoon night, but they both agreed it was safer for them to remain in Hanging Cove.

Cassie stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She looked the unfortunate victim of some crime, rumpled, and covered in dirt. Cassie even had her wedding dress on.

Hard to believe that an hour ago, rival bikers had crashed her wedding and Gears had taken her captive. Cassie wondered for a moment if it had all been a nightmare, but the bruises she sustained during the incident felt real enough.

Rage stepped up behind her, then placed a kiss on one bare shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she melted against him. It was as if he knew exactly what Cassie needed right at this moment—comfort.

"Have I told you how proud I am of you today?" Rage murmured against her ear.

"Proud? Rage, I allowed Gears to kidnap me," Cassie said, swallowing the lump in her throat.

To be fair, he pulled a knife on her and threatened to hurt her if she didn't comply with his demands. Cassie still found it hard to believe that the sweet man she used to think of as her uncle, had betrayed her, and betrayed Breaker, who was like a brother to him.

"No, you were a fighter," Rage said. "I still can't get the image of you elbowing him in the ribs while he held a blade to your neck out of my mind."

"Rage, why would he do such a thing? I—hell, my father practically considered Gears a member of our family," Cassie said.

"Desperate men who are pushed to the edge tend to resort to reckless actions," Rage said. "We've placed Gears in the club's holding room right now. We'll get answers out of him soon but I suspect it's due to his debts. His wife divorced him because of his gambling problems."

"Oh," Cassie murmured softly. "I can't imagine what Breaker is feeling right now."

"Breaker's a big boy, he'll get over Gears's betrayal eventually," Rage assured her.

Rage began to sway with her, back and forth, like they were almost dancing. Cassie closed her eyes and danced along with him. They never got to their wedding reception, or their first dance.

It was such an unexpectedly tender moment, Cassie's heart swelled. Right now, they were both reckless lovers, madly in lust with each other, but Cassie knew she could truly learn to love this man. She was already smitten with his kisses and touches. God knew she loved how he was with her in the bedroom. The small things mattered in a marriage and right now, she truly believed Rage and her were both in for a rocky ride.

"Our wedding day was ruined but I'll make it up to you," Rage said. "We can do it all over again if you want."

"It's okay," Cassie said. "I have to get used to things like this, don't I? This is the kind of life you lead."

Rage held her body tight against him. She could feel how tense he was, how unhappy. Cassie tapped him on the shoulder, and he loosened his hold on her so she could turn to face him. Cassie touched his face. He'd shaved off his beard for the wedding.

"I prefer you with your beard," she said.

"Cassie?" Rage looked at her little uncertainly now, as if he was terrified she would somehow change her mind and ask for a divorce.

"I'm really okay, Rage. It's strange, I know, but it's the truth." Rage didn't look convinced by her words, so she stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly on the mouth.

Rage closed one hand on her nape and took her mouth. All the awkwardness and tension between them dissipated.

They ended up on her childhood bed, with Rage on top of her. He left her momentarily breathless as he deepened the kiss, pressing his knee between her thighs. She moaned and sat up, so Rage could easily undo the laces holding the top of her dress together. He grunted and growled.

"Why is this thing so hard to take off?" he grumbled.

It seemed to take forever, but finally the heavy dress was off her. Cassie felt light as a feather and incredibly exposed in her matching white lace bra and G-string. The hungry look on her husband's face was worth it, though.

Rage got out of his clothes in record time, until he stood in front of her, naked, muscled, and gloriously covered in black ink.

"My wife," Rage said.

The possessiveness in his voice sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine. He climbed on top of her again, spoiling her with kisses. He left a burning trail down the line of her body, paying exquisite attention to her hardened nipples.

By the time he reached the valley between her legs, Cassie was wet and ready for him. Rage didn't plow her right away. Instead, he left tender kisses on her pussy lips and clit. He licked and sucked her there, taking his sweet time until Cassie climaxed. She gripped his hair as she came and he lapped at her, like a hungry wolf.

The sight only made her smile. When he was done, Rage pulled his body up, angling his cock into her cunt. Then he entered her in one sure thrust.

Cassie held onto his biceps as he mounted her, again and again. She cried out, loving how well their bodies fit against each other. The mattress springs vibrated under the force of his thrusts.

"Faster," she whispered.

Rage complied and each time he claimed her, she felt even more connected to him. She dug her nails into his shoulders as he changed angle and found her sweet spot. He went for it over and over again, until she screamed his name in pleasure. Cassie came all over his cock and Rage climaxed soon after.

Panting, he rolled off her and held her close to him. Rage made her a promise right there and then.

"Just you wait, Cassie. I'll find out what Gears knows and end this mess once and for all," he said.

****

The darkened room where the club questioned its prisoners was suffused with tension when Rage entered. Gears was tied to a chair, bruised and bloody. Despite hours of being in there, Gears wore a mix of fear and defiance on his face. That look pissed Rage off, because Gears didn't even look contrite or guilty about betraying the brotherhood.

Breaker had unleashed Spike, their best enforcer, on Gears but Gears hadn't said anything useful, so Rage volunteered himself.

"Take a breather, Spike," Rage told their enforcer.

Spike gave Rage a grateful nod. He'd been at it for hours now. After Spike left, Rage ignored Gears. He walked to the table covered with an array of tools instead.

Rage picked up a screwdriver. When he turned around, he saw momentary panic in Gears's eyes. That panic subsided a little when Rage walked up but didn't do anything to him yet. Rage began his interrogation.

"Where were you planning to make the drop? Surely, you and Hawk arranged a place to meet," Rage said.

"You think I'll give you any answers, boy? Spike already did his work on me. You think I'll tell you anything?" Gears demanded. He spat a wad of blood on the floor.

Rage didn't react to the word "boy," although he was sorely tempted to shove the screwdriver in the back of Gears's skull but that hasty action wouldn't get Rage anywhere. If physically harming Gears wouldn't work, then Rage had to resort to a nastier tactic.

"Are you going to use that on me, or are you just going to wave that around?" Gears had the nerve to ask.

"This? No, not on you, but I bet Marissa would squeal like a pig. How old are Donnie and Kate now?" Rage asked.

Rage was lying through his teeth, of course. He'd never hurt women or children but Gears didn't know that. Gears always kept clear of him, as if he saw something dark and depraved in Rage.

Gears's face was etched with nervous sweat. He tried to evade Rage's question but Rage knew the old man's resolve was wavering, especially when Rage began to describe what he planned on doing to Marissa.

"Don't hurt Marissa or the kids," Gears finally blurted. "None of this is their fault."

"Then start talking," Rage said impatiently.

"If I don't deliver Cassie to Hawk at the agreed place and time, Hawk will go after Marissa and the kids. It's a lose-lose situation for me," Gears said bitterly.

This wasn't getting anywhere, so Rage decided to change his tactics. He softened his voice, tried to appear sympathetic. "How did you let it get this bad, Gears? I heard you were in the Gamblers Anonymous program and it was actually working, wasn't it?" Rage asked.

"I was clean for three months but temptation got to me in the end," Gears admitted with a sob. From there, it was easier to wrangle important information out of Gears.

"Rage, promise me you won't lay a hand on Marissa and the kids," Gears whispered. Leaving Gears behind, Rage exited the room without answering Gears. Let the old man stew, but Rage would definitely send a man to keep a close watch on Marissa and her kids. They weren't monsters. Even though Gears had betrayed them, Rage wouldn't put an innocent women and her kids in peril. After sending two prospects to watch Marissa, he headed to Breaker's office on the first floor.

Breaker wasn't at his desk. He was staring out the window overlooking the compound parking lot when Rage entered. Breaker was also nursing a smoke. There was a half-empty bottle of vodka on his desk. That told Rage how much Gears's betrayal had hurt Breaker.

"You got what you needed from him?" Breaker asked without turning around.

"Gears agreed to meet Hawk at the Crossroads, an old roadhouse two towns over at exactly noon," Rage said. "Gears assured me Hawk and a couple of men would be there, but I don't trust his words."

Breaker finally finished his smoke. He checked his wristwatch. "That's two hours from now. We'll take a small team, ride up there," Breaker said but Rage held out a hand.

"Someone has to watch the fort," Rage interrupted.

Breaker narrowed his eyes and his body shook with anger. "Are you implying I should sit back while I let you and the others do all the work? I might be getting on in my years, Rage, but I want to look the bastard who wanted to steal my little girl right in the eyes before I gut him."

"Breaker," Rage said, trying to reason with his prez. "If it ends up being a trap, the MC will lose both of us if we die. What's going to happen to our MC brothers, to Cassie then?"

Breaker contemplated his words for a moment. Then Breaker clenched his jaw. He knew Rage was right. It made sense if only one of them went. If Rage managed to bag Hawk, then it would be a victory for the club.

"Fine, you take a small team with you, but Rage, be careful. I don't relish the prospect of losing my right-hand man or telling my little girl that her man got reckless and killed himself," Breaker pointed out.

"You don't have to worry about a thing, Breaker. I don't intend on dying anytime soon or leaving Cassie a widow," Rage assured him.