Chapter Twenty-Five

Hadley

Sitting at the bar and having a drink with Kaiya, I watch as Pope enters, followed closely by Sparrow, Mad Dog, Beast, and Viking.

"Hadley."

His voice carries a tone of worry and regret. If it's a club-related problem, I can understand the worry, but the regret catches me off guard. But if it's strictly club business, he wouldn't be talking to me. We may be friendly with each other but I'm not an old lady or someone who gets to be privy to club business.

"Pope, can I do something for you?"

The slight amount of confidence I project is all a fa?ade, but I need him to think, if only for this moment, that I'm capable of handling whatever he's about to tell me.

"I'm not going to bullshit you, either of you." His gaze lands on Kaiya before returning to me. "Viper and his cronies have taken Wolf and Justice hostage and want to trade you for them."

From the corner of my eye, I can see Kaiya has gone white as a sheet, but I don't give away any of my emotions. My mind runs in a million different directions, but I won't let them see that.

Pope continues to speak. "Wolf is going to have my ass for this, but I need to ask you what you want to do. He would never willingly allow me to risk either of you, but if it's your choice…" His voice trails off.

Turning toward Kaiya, I allow my full attention to settle on her. She breathes in deeply before nodding with a look of resignation on her face. From behind me, someone growls, but I choose to ignore this.

"Kaiya, you don't have to do this," Mad dog all but growls at her.

"But I will." Kaiya's reply is more confident than I was expecting. "The Gypsy Bastards have been nothing but good to me and if it hadn't been for Wolf walking into that farmhouse to rescue Hadley, I would still be bent over that fucking table."

"Give us five minutes and we can leave."

Not waiting for the men to respond, I take hold of Kaiya's hand and lead her toward Wolf's room. Turning my body slightly, I look directly at Viking.

"Can we have a moment with you before we head out?"

He nods and follows us up the stairs. He's the only person I can ask, the only person who will trust me to do this right. Getting to Brandon's room, I fling open all the drawers and hand a navy hoodie to Kaiya before taking a black one with the club logo on the back for myself. Brandon's hoodies are huge on both of us and hang mid-thigh.

Viking clears his throat while he stares at me. "Pretty girl, you know Wolf is going to shit himself about this, right?"

"Yeah, but he isn't here to stop me."

In the distance, I can hear the rumbling of motorcycles getting closer and assume that Pope has called for reinforcements.

"You're not going to stop me either. You're going to help me so we can all get home tonight."

Viking booms out a laugh. "And what do you need me to do?"

"I need a gun."

Facing him, I see the shock blanket his face before he can school his features. A laugh pours out of me. "You knew my dad. Do you honestly think I don't know how to handle a gun?"

Viking hands me the Beretta from his side holster. Checking the clip, I engage the safety and shove it into the back of my jeans. Turning around, I show my back to Viking. "Can you see it?"

"Not a thing, doll."

"Let's do this."

Grabbing Kaiya's hand again, we move out the door and downstairs. The guys have clearly already made their way outside and we move to follow. The moment we step over the threshold, I freeze. Before me stands Sway, the President of the Immortal Saints MC and behind him are at least fifty bikers, mounted to ride.

Sway stares at me before scooping me up into his arms. He holds me tightly to him before whispering into my ear. "Good God, girl, but you've grown. Haven't seen you since your father's funeral."

Putting me down, he holds me at arm's length while scanning me from top to bottom.

Wiping a tear from my eye, I smile at him. "You look exactly the same."

"I'll take that as a compliment." He winks in reply.

"Sway, Hadley. Didn't know you knew each other," Pope interrupts.

"Hadley is my goddaughter. Haven't seen her since her daddy's funeral. King and I had our falling out in those days and I haven't seen her since. But I sure am grateful for the opportunity to reconnect."

"Great stuff," Viking jumps in, "but can we please get this shit done and do happy reunions later?"

"Yes, yes, do we have a plan?"

Looking him straight in the eye, I lay out my plan before Pope can even begin to speak.

"Kaiya and I are going to be exchanged for Wolf and Justice." Holding up my hand, I silence them before they can argue. "I have a plan and if we can all just work as one, we can all be back here later tonight enjoying a beer."

Gathering my resolve, I look around at all the shocked faces. Some of the men I know and some I don't, and few know me. Raising my voice, I run my gaze over the crowd of rough-and-tumble bikers gathered around us.

"My name is Hadley Freeman. My father was Phillip ‘Juice' Freeman, VP to the Iron Disciples. Some of you knew him and those who didn't do know his reputation. I'm my father's daughter, and so help me God, I will do this with or without you."

Looking back at Pope, I see the surprise on his face, but he nods his accent with something akin to admiration before he heads to a black van and gets in the driver's side with Mad Dog beside him. Silently, Kaiya and I climb in the back before Sway closes the door with a wink and a look of pride in his eyes.

"Let's do this," Pope says as he starts up the van.