Phantom Riders MC - Hawk (14 page)

We’d strayed way the fuck off what we’d started out talking about. Aware that Audra was staring at me with eyes shooting rays of death, I picked up a piece of toast and took a large bite of it. I fucking hoped Fox found out what the connection was between her, her bastard ex, and Covacks fast so I could deal with shit and turn her loose.

“There’s a lot of shit that needs to be cleaned up from last night. See Snake and tell him to put you to work.”

I could see that she was still angry, yet she was doing a good job of controlling it. At least she wasn’t slapping me across the face. After a few seconds passed she jumped from her stool. I let her walk away, a slow grin covering my face. I looked up to see that I had Lynn’s attention. Realizing that she was staring, she jumped and went back to work.

I was still chewing the last of my bacon when I went out to the bar. I briefly took in the shit that was going on as I continued through to the entrance door. Snake had three prospects cleaning up the broken window glass beneath the windows, while club girls were picking it off the furniture. Glass had fucking sprayed everywhere.

Pushing my way through to the outside, I found Audra sweeping the walkway directly below the windows. She barely spared me a glance before pressing her pretty lips and glancing back at the glass she had piled up. I grinned, stepping away. My brothers were scattered around the lot, doing a thorough sweep for evidence. Gradually they began to walk my way, shaking their heads to show me that they hadn’t found anything.

“Do we know if they found anything last night?” Painter asked when he reached me.

“If they did I would have heard from the fucking sheriff,” I replied. Fuller crossed my mind. That bastard I didn’t fucking trust. I caught Fox’s attention and gave him a chin lift to let him know that I wanted to talk to him. “When you’re doing your research, contact Wild Marauders and Dark Menace to see if they’ve had any trouble with Blue Knights, or heard anything about Covacks’ son being murdered.” He gave a sharp nod and kept going.

I knew both MC’s, knew their presidents Lynch and Stone. We did business with their clubs, often had each other’s backs and I trusted them. We thought a lot like, ran our clubs similar, didn’t take shit from anyone. Sure, we did illegal shit sometimes, but we kept our clubs free of drugs and had legitimate businesses to keep the IRS happy. Recently Lynch and Stone had acquired old ladies. I wondered how that was working out for them.

My gaze shifted to Audra. Fuck, no, wasn’t gonna happen.

“Hey, boss.” I looked at Big John, and waited. “Got a call from Dolly.” She owned a strip club in town. “She said Blue Knights were at her place last night, around the same fuckin’ time that we were hit. She heard what went down and thought we should know.”

“She give any names?” I crossed my arms.

He nodded. “Said they were all there at one time or another, couldn’t be sure who the fuck was or wasn’t at the time of the shooting.”

“I still want their prez.” I saw a flash of something in the distance, and kept my gaze trained on it until it was close enough that I could determine that it was a car. A fucking long black limo, and I knew that we were about to get a visit from Covacks. That meant one fucking thing to me that whatever he had to talk about, he wanted to see my reaction when he told me.

Word was he was fucking good at reading people.

If he didn’t like what he saw you were fucking dead.

My brothers noticed the car approaching and moved to my side and behind me in a show that they had my back. Covacks’ had his own moves and when he exited the car he was instantly flanked by two huge bodyguards, both carrying shotguns. I had no doubt that they were probably armed with other weapons they’d make visible at the first sign of trouble.

“I hope you don’t mind this impromptu visit.” A row of even, white teeth followed his comment, looking more like a snarl that a smile. Sharp, assessing eyes took in everything at once. “I see you’re prepared for trouble.”

“We’re always ready for trouble.” His grin didn’t fool me. “Just happen to be in the neighborhood?”

“Afraid not. Do you think you and I might talk inside where it’s more comfortable, and perhaps I could get a drink?”

His message was fucking clear. Our men were to remain outside in a kind of silent stand-off. Waiting to see the outcome of our talk? Maybe. But we were at my home, and I called the fucking shots. Corvacks was a wealthy, powerful man, but even he had to know he’d overstepped the limits of his authority.

“You want to talk, my brothers will be there.” His eyes hardened, I could tell he didn’t like it, but that was too fucking bad. I turned to head inside when I heard a sharp gasp.

I glanced at Audra, watching as her face turned white. She was staring at Covacks as if he was the fucking devil, and he was looking at her, too, but without the same horror. He seemed oblivious to her fearful reaction to him, his reaction more that of a man taking in the form of a beautiful woman. That is until his gaze finally reached her face. He frowned then, as if he were trying to figure out where he’d seen her before. I thought back to the picture Fox had shown me. She hadn’t been in the picture with Covacks and her ex, hadn’t recognized his name, but that didn’t mean that they hadn’t met at some time.

When Audra’s gaze moved past Covacks to me, the hurt and disbelief I saw reflected in her accusing depths set me the fuck back. She quickly spun around as if nothing were wrong and continued to sweep. I’d have to fucking deal with her later, after I got rid of Covacks. I moved, but he continued to stand there, his narrowed eyes on Audra. I didn’t like it one fucking bit.

“Problem?”

“No.” He began to follow me. “The woman, I thought I recognized her from somewhere.” I didn’t respond. He’d probably remember where in time, but I wasn’t fucking helping him. “She’s very beautiful.”

Yes, she was, even dressed in hand-me-down clothes that didn’t quite fit, her fiery hair a tumbled mess all around her. I shifted my gaze to the swell of her ass showing beneath her cut offs as I yanked open the door and let Covacks precede me into the bar. My brothers and his men followed in no particular order.

“Snake, a bottle and a couple glasses.” I led Covacks to a booth in the far corner, away from the mess. Rock joined us. The others took seats at some of the tables close enough to hear.

Snake set the bottle of Johnnie Walker down, two glasses, and walked away without a word. I poured a generous serving in each glass, handed one to Covacks, and watched him toss it back without a breath.

“Someone killed my son, Dominick.” He slammed his empty glass down onto the table.

So, it was finally confirmed.  I wasn’t going to ask him how. The ring we’d found had been over-nighted to him. That alone wouldn’t have been enough proof that the charred body on the side of the road was his son. I wondered why he’d felt the need to tell me in person, unless he was looking for something. His shrewd eyes were narrowed, watching me closely, as if gauging my reaction to the news, before shifting over to my brothers. He was going to be disappointed if he was looking for a sign of guilt, because we weren’t fucking responsible.

“I heard your fucking club is responsible.”

Normally a statement like that would have been cause for me and my brothers to draw our weapons, but no one moved. I crossed my arms and stared Covacks down with nothing to hide. The man was unpredictable but fucking smart. Confronting our club personally, with as little backup as he had, took balls. Especially if he believed what he’d just said. My gut told me he didn’t, that he was a prick who enjoyed using the shock factor. What the fuck had he hoped to gain by that?

“If you believed that shit we wouldn’t be sitting here having this conversation,” I finally said, not taking my eyes off him.

“We were the fucking ones who told you what we saw,” Keg piped up in a pissed tone. “We—”

I held my hand up before he made it worse.

Covacks shrugged, smiling. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone tried to take the heat off themselves by discovering the scene and then implicating someone else.”

I was getting tired of his game. “Stop the bullshit and get to the fucking point of why you’re here.”

The smile slowly faded from Covacks’ face, his eyes turning to stone in a face that suddenly showed his advanced age. He leaned slightly toward me. If he meant to intimidate me he was fucking with the wrong man and club.

“I want the person responsible for Dominick’s death, because I have no doubts that the Blue Knights were paid by someone, and I’m willing to pay to find out. I’m going to offer you the same deal I offered Dark Menace.”

“And that is?”

“One million dollars.”

Fuck.
Those were a lot of reasons to get involved. I didn’t look at my brothers, but I could see movement out of the corner of my eye. I sensed their heightened interest. 

Covacks finally leaned back, reaching for the bottle of whiskey. He splashed more into his tumbler. “And just so we’re clear, I want him or her delivered to me
alive
. I want to be the one to end them.”

I wouldn’t want to be that someone. I still had my doubts that the Blue Knights were involved. “Blue Knights said they didn’t kill him.”

Covacks’s took a drink. “That may be. Once I have Dominick’s murderer, the rest will fall into place.” He sounded very confident.

I knew Covacks wasn’t waiting for me to accept. He’d put the offer on the table and it was our decision to make if we wanted to get involved. First, we’d have to put it to a vote. It wasn’t all about the fucking money. The club was one, a brotherhood. Dark Menace was no different. Apparently Covacks’ had gone to them first. Stone would need to be called before any decisions were made.

Covacks got to his feet, motioned to his two goons, and left without another word.

Chapter 16

Audra

Ohmygod! Ohmygod! Ohmygod!

I quickly swung around in stark fear, moving the broom but not really sweeping, staring down but not really seeing. What was
he
doing here? I felt my heart rate pick up speed to the point that I began to worry I’d give myself a heart attack. I couldn’t breathe and I felt sick to my stomach, expecting to feel a hand on my shoulder at any second, pulling me back around to face my bleak future. How could Hawk, how could he?

I fought back the stupid tears at his betrayal.

As I waited for the inevitable to happen, I heard the door open and the shuffle of footsteps that indicated that they’d gone inside the bar, and then I was left alone.
Alone!
My eyes rounded with astonishment, and then my flight instincts took over and I dropped the broom. I didn’t even think about what I was doing, or where I was going, as I took off through the parking lot toward the main road.

The only thing I knew for certain was that I had to get away. It didn’t matter that I was on foot, didn’t matter that I didn’t have a thing to my name other than what I was wearing, and the little bit of money I had left over from the money Hawk had given me. I ran like the very devil was hot on my heels, because in my mind, he was. Dane was not going to let me go, sending his henchmen to find me and drag me back to him. I didn’t know the man’s name, but I recognized him as one of Dane’s friends, and in my mind they all worked for him.

His showing up at the club wasn’t a coincidence and could only mean one thing, that Hawk had struck a deal with Dane. How else would he have found me? Tears finally broke through as my emotions got the best of me. How could a man be intimate with a woman, and then basically sign her death sentence the next? Maybe “death sentence” was premature, because I didn’t really know what Dane had in store for me. All I knew was that he’d threatened to punish me if I didn’t do what he said. For the first time I began to accept that Hawk was really the cold-blooded, unfeeling bastard that he said he was.

I ran and ran, high on the adrenaline of fear, determined to get as far away from there as I could. Too late I remembered that we were deep in the country, but I couldn’t let that stop me from at least trying to escape. I ran to the tree line, deciding it would be best to stay close to them in case I needed to duck for cover. I could hear the sound of running water, and knew that there was a stream nearby. My dry mouth reminded me that I was thirsty, but there was no way I was going to venture into the Maine woods.

I walked for a while, running when I’d rested up enough. I wanted to put as much distance between me and Hawk as soon as possible. Traffic was sparse, almost non-existent on the country road, and the lack of traffic lights told me that was probably the norm. It didn’t take my addled brain long to realize the isolated location of the clubhouse was going to be my downfall.

It wouldn’t take Hawk long to discover my absence, and then what? If I didn’t find a place, fuck,
civilization
soon, I might as well give up. I stopped at a crossroads to catch my breath before looking in four different directions to determine which way to go. It was hard to see any great distance because of the hills and curves in the road, and the trees.

Then I came to a ‘Welcome to Solon’ sign, population nineteen hundred.  At the same time I heard an approaching vehicle. My first thought was to thumb for a ride, until I realized that it could very well be the man in the black limo. I quickly ran and hid behind a tree, too afraid to peek, too afraid to breathe, as it passed by where I was squatting. When I could barely hear it anymore, I slowly left my hiding spot. I squinted, taking in the backend of the luxury car.

Damn Hawk to fucking hell for doing this to me. I sobbed, hating him. He must have known by then that I’d run away, why else would Dane’s people be leaving? I had no doubt that once Hawk found me again he’d turn me over to them. Cursing at the weakness, I brushed my tears away angrily and began to run again, anger fueling me. I just had to come to something soon. Solon was a small town but I guessed it must have businesses in it. Nineteen hundred people had to work and eat.

I sensed that I was getting nearer to town. Homes dotted the area, and traffic picked up. Since I assumed that Hawk and his men would be on motorcycles, I began to trust that the occasional car or truck that came up behind me wasn’t the enemy. Still, I held my breath until they continued past. Businesses came into view, and I slowed down to a jog until I finally came to the Main Street that every town seemed to have.

I stopped and dug into my pocket for my money. A quick count showed me that I had enough for a cheap room and something to eat, a few things I needed from the drug store and maybe a bus ticket to the next town. If that didn’t work out then I’d be forced to thumb for a ride. It would be dangerous, but I didn’t have any choice.

I didn’t find the usual corner drug store, so I settled for the small grocery store. The sign out front boasted that it had everything. I went straight to the hair section and picked up a pair of scissors, and a kit to dye my hair blonde. Then I picked up a ready-made sandwich, a bag of chips and a bottle of soda. As I was standing in line I snatched a candy-bar.

“Is there a hotel or anything around here where I can get a room for the night?” I asked the girl behind the counter. “Something, ah, cheap?” She rang up my items and I handed her a twenty.

“Got no hotels around here.” She handed me my change. “You could try Miss Minnie’s place. She sometimes rents out of her house. Don’t know if she’ll do one night, but she’s real nice, and I know she can use the money.”

That sounded encouraging. “Miss Minnie’s? Where do I find her?” I took my bag from her, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head when I noticed a motorcycle ride past. Was that one of Hawk’s men?

“Big white house across the street.”

I glanced out the window. There were several big houses across the street and they were all white. It could be any one of them.

“She has a sign on her mailbox,” she said, as if reading my mind. Then she moved on to the person behind me.

I hesitated at the door, looking up and down the road. Other than an occasional vehicle, mostly trucks, there was nothing. Across the street an elderly couple walked their dog, and a few kids were playing in their fenced-in yard. I squinted, trying to read the mailboxes and looking for a sign, but didn’t see one. The mailboxes were located next to the front doors. It didn’t look like I was going to get a break, but as I was crossing the street, one box in particular drew my eye.

I walked up the porch steps straight to the mailbox. A tiny-and I mean
tiny
-note was taped to the rusty black box.
Room for rent
, the lettering so faded that it was hard to make out. That’s all it said. Just as I knocked on the door, I heard the unmistakable rumble of motorcycles.
Ohmygod!
My heart was in my throat as I frantically knocked a second time, looking wildly around me. I saw them. Bikers. They’d just entered town and were riding in my direction.

I swung back around, as if no one would recognize me from behind, and was about to knock a third time when the door opened. The smiling face of a sweet little old lady greeted me.

“Hi, please−” I tried to calm myself down, aware of the panic in my tone. “I’m here about a room for rent.”

The woman’s smile grew wider. “Why, of course, dear.” She stepped back and I took that as an invitation to open the door between us. “Come on in.”

The bikers were close! As soon as I had control of the door I closed it behind me, and then turned to face the woman. I smiled, trying to put her at ease when I saw the slight concern move across her face. She was probably wondering why I had shut the door so quickly.

“I only need it for one night,” I said, hearing the bikers go past the house. They kept going. I breathed in deeply with relief. “Do you rent nightly?” I hoped.

“Honey, I rent by the hour sometimes,” she laughed.

Was she serious? I must have looked surprised at her comment, because everyone knew what renting by the hour meant. Wasn’t that a kind of universal thing? I guess she really did need the money. I laughed in spite of myself. “How much for one night?”

Her sharp blue eyes moved over me, and I got the impression that she could see right through me. I know I looked a wreck. Sweaty and dirty, my hair was everywhere, and my clothes, well, I knew they didn’t fit me. Not when half my ass cheeks were hanging out. “I have money,” I said, thinking that she might be worried that I didn’t. I reached inside my pocket, pulling out the small wad I had left.

“Honey.” She put her shriveled up, crooked hand on my arm where it was wrapped around my bag of meager items. “I wasn’t worried about the money. You look like you’ve been to hell and back.” I remained silent. “You in trouble, girl?”

Oh, God. Not a conversation I wanted to get into right now. But then I realized that I might gain her help if she thought I was. Women were sympathetic to women abused and in trouble, weren’t they? I wasn’t exactly abused, but I would be if Dane or Hawk got their hands on me again.

“Maybe a little,” I finally said. “But not with the law,” I added quickly so that she wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

“Running away from a man?” she asked. I nodded. “Poor dear. At least you’re leaving him. Some women just stay and take it, thinking they don’t have a choice.” The whole time she was talking she was leading me toward the back of the house. “My name is Minnie, what’s yours?”

I opened my mouth. Should I lie? The fake name came out before I could stop it. “Liz.”

“Well, Liz, come with me. I bet you’d love a nice hot shower and some clean clothes, and probably something to eat, too.” She led me into the kitchen and to a door off to the side. I was surprised to see a bedroom when she opened the door. “I know it’s odd having a bedroom off of the kitchen, but my poor old Joe couldn’t manage the stairs at the end of his life so we converted the formal dining room into a bedroom for him.”

It was a nice room, and seemed to have everything for a renter. Half was furnished as the bedroom, the other half as a living area. I smiled at the old TV, wondering if it even worked.

“This works out perfect for renters. You have your own bathroom.” She pointed to a heavily painted door with an old brass doorknob. “And you’re right off the kitchen, so everything is close by.”

“How much?” I asked.

She hesitated. “How much do you have?”

I frowned, but counted the month in my hand anyway, a little embarrassed. “Sixty-one dollars.”

Minnie cocked her head, and I could see she was working it out in her head. She really was a sweet lady, somewhere around seventy, I guessed. Her hair was completely white and done up in an old fashioned bun. But it was the stark clarity of her blue eyes, set deep in a face lined with wrinkles that kept my attention. They were filled with life and kindness, yet I sensed that she could be just as shrewd when she wanted to be.

After a while she smiled. “Ten dollars,” she said, drawing a gasp from me. I opened my mouth to protest and she said, “No, I won’t hear it. It will take you thirty-six dollars to get to the next town by bus, and I’m not going to leave you with nothing.”

I felt my bottom lip tremble. This woman didn’t even know me, but she was willing to help me. She was a saint. I fought back the tears and entered the bedroom, feeling overwhelmed by the whole situation. I set my bag down on the closest piece of furniture and handed her ten dollars. “Thank you so much, Minnie. You’re a life saver.” I expelled a deep sigh. “I think the first thing I’ll do is get a shower.”

“Wait just a minute.” She turned and hurried away, returning with a garment in her hands. “Give me your clothes and I’ll run them through the washer for you.”

I glanced down at the robe in my hands. “But I—” I stopped, taking in the understanding in her eyes. She wanted to do this, and I couldn’t help wondering if she was just a lonely old woman who needed some purpose in her life. Any purpose, even if it was something as mundane as washing a stranger’s clothes. Her smile was contagious, and I found myself returning it. “Thank you.”

She nodded with satisfaction. “Just leave them outside the door.”