Phantom Riders MC - Hawk (18 page)

“It came to me while talking to Dirk. I believe whoever burned Dominick’s body and shot up our club are the same fuckers, and that they were wearing Blue Knights colors to set the blame on them. I think they were hoping we’d destroy Blue Knights, preventing any more inquires about Dominick’s murder.”

“Holy shit,” the expletive came from Big John. “That fucking works, Prez.”

“So who do you think killed Dominick?” Keg asked with defiance still stamped on his face.

“I have an idea about that, too. But I need Audra here. I’ll have Fox pull up some pictures of Covacks’ son for her to look at.”

“You think her ex killed him?” Painter asked with raised brows. “No wonder he’s after her. He wants to make sure she doesn’t get a chance to tell anyone who she saw him end.”

“Holy fucking shit!” Rock exploded. “Covacks’ own partner killed his son. It makes sense, brothers.”

“Covacks will cut him up into little pieces.” Snake’s laughter was contagious, causing some of the brothers to join in. “It’s obvious he doesn’t suspect Winthrop.”

“Why should he? Who’d be stupid enough to fucking off their partner’s son?” Ned commented.

“
If
,” and I stressed it, “that’s how this shit went down, brothers. Right now it’s speculation.”

“Sounds fucking good to me,” Big John said, nodding his head.

“I have a problem with it.” This came from Clay. All eyes turned to him. “Someone wanted us to see Blue Knights’s colors leaving that fire. How did they fucking know that we were going to be on that road at that time?”

And there it was.

I grinned inwardly. Clay had said what had been at the back of my mind all along. I hadn’t voiced it for obvious reasons, I didn’t want to fucking think that we had a traitor among us, someone working the other side. I didn’t believe in fucking coincidences and coming up on that fire at just the right time was a fucking big one.

I looked around the room to see how my brothers were taking in Clay’s comments. No one looked guilty or nervous, but they were good at hiding what they were feeling. I could fucking imagine what was going through their minds, yet the eyes that turned my way were filled with honest, righteous anger.

“Coincidence?” BK offered, but no one believed it. His tone reflected that he didn’t believe it either.

“We have a fucking mole!” Keg shouted, pounding the table with his fist.

That outburst stirred up trouble. Chaos erupted around the table as brothers grumbled with anger and disbelief. I let them get it out. I had no doubts that each and every one of them would have eventually come up with the same fucking question Clay had, given enough time. The fact that Clay had been present that day had only speeded up his train of thought. Eventually the noise died down, but I could tell that my brothers were feeling murderous thoughts at just the suggestion of a spy in the club. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Sonya’s betrayal had to be at the front of their minds, but I knew they wouldn’t say anything.

“A fucking spy!” Big John growled, his face red around tightly drawn lips. “Any ideas who?”

I shrugged. “Could be any one of you,” I snapped, giving each brother a hard, individual look. They showed their dislike of my including them on the list, but I didn’t give a fuck. “Your old ladies, sweethearts, a sweetbutt. Too many know our shit, and that stops now if we want to weed the fucker out.” Heads nodded in agreement. “Keep your eyes open, brothers. He or she will be found out, and they’ll be dealt club punishment.”

“And if it’s another woman?”

I glared at Painter, he glared right back. “We deal with all club traitors the same, brother.” I knew everyone at the table was recalling how Sonya had been dealt with. It was the one and only time I’d thanked fuck that she’d aborted my child before the brothers got their hands on her.

I thought about Audra. The woman had definitely gotten under my skin, and I wondered how long I could keep pretending that she hadn’t. I wasn’t in love with her, as I’d been with Sonya, and yet there was something just as deep. For such a small thing she had spirit and a sense of humor that challenged me, and made me want her.

I turned toward Fox. “Pull up pictures of Dominick. I’ll have Popcorn bring Audra in.”

“I’ll go meet them on the road for backup,” Keg said. He started to get up.

I shook my head, halting his progress, and looked at Big John. “Send a couple of prospects to meet them for backup.” He nodded, and I stood up. “Church is over for now, brothers. Keep your eyes open and your mouths shut when you’re getting your dicks wet.”

I knew Rock had something to add when he didn’t stand with the others. I waited until everyone had filed out of the room and the door was closed, and then sat back down. We just looked at each other for a few seconds, two big alphas leaning back in their chairs with their arms crossed.

“You know who it is.” His flat statement didn’t surprise me, as he always seemed to know when I held something back. The other brothers may have suspected it, but I could count on Rock to be the one to question me.

As my VP he deserved to know what I was thinking. Besides, knowing Rock, he’d already figured it out anyway. He was damned good at that shit. That, and because I trusted him, were the reasons that he was my second in command. I slowly nodded as he continued to wait for me to confirm it.

“Yeah.”

“Well?”

Chapter 20

Audra

Glancing out the window at Popcorn, my protector, I felt like I was someone special, someone who was important enough to be guarded, when I was really no one. Just a woman causing trouble for a motorcycle club because my ex wanted me back, so much so that he was willing to pay. I was terrified inside, because I knew that what awaited me wouldn’t be pleasant. Sure, I’d seen Dane kill a man, but I didn’t know who he’d killed, and after his threat he should have known that I wouldn’t go to the authorities. I just wanted to get away from him and be left alone.

It was the coward thing to do, but how could I stand up against someone with the money and power that he had?

My mind drifted back to the day that had changed my life, had shown me what I really meant to a man who, until then, had taken care of me, and had almost worshiped me. Watching him put that gun to the man’s forehead would be forever etched in my memory. The man hadn’t even shown any fear as he was held struggling between two of Dane’s men. Curses had erupted from his spitting mouth, his face red with rage. I couldn’t even recall what he’d said, mesmerized by how he’d spat obscenities and threats of revenge until the very end.

Had he thought Dane wouldn’t pull the trigger?

I closed my eyes, trying to forget the sight of Dane pulling the trigger, the sharp crack of noise, then watching the man’s head snap back with the force of the bullet ripping into his brain. He was released as blood and brain matter went splattering everywhere, staining the front of Dane’s slacks and pissing him off. That one incident, witnessing it, had sealed my fate. If only I’d managed to hold back my shocked reaction revealing that I was there and had witnessed it.

Popcorn was sitting on the porch steps, smoking a cigarette. He was young, maybe in his early twenties, and had told me that he’d been a prospect for almost a year. He was proud of the title, and had eagerly explained what being a prospect was. When I’d asked him questions about the club, he’d explained he couldn’t talk club shit and had clammed up. I’d received the same response when I began to question him about Hawk.

I wanted to know about Hawk. In spite of his dark, moody, ways. I couldn’t understand how I was attracted to him when he was the complete opposite of Dane. Hawk killed, too, but that wasn’t what I was talking about. I hadn’t seen him kill without provocation. There was something from his past, and I sensed that
something
was a woman who had turned him into a cold, unfeeling man. I was determined to break through those prison bars and release him.

I asked myself why.

I didn’t know.

One thing I didn’t have to release though was his sexual beast. The man made my toes curl. Everything he did was rough, raw, and intense, and I couldn’t get enough. He took without asking, demanded without giving much in return. Even now, as I thought about the huge muscle between his legs and how good it felt pounding into me, how it made me feel more alive than I’d ever felt, I was getting wet. Hawk said that he was only into sex for himself, but he was so wrong. The more we fucked, the more he gave me, and I knew that when the day came and he finally crossed that line and kissed me that he would be mine.

Completely.

Wait, what was I thinking? Since when had I wanted to own Hawk? I shook the notion from my head and turned away from the window. Coffee. I needed more. Hawk was going to bring me supplies later, but at least he’d had a few things to get by on, coffee being one. I went to the kitchen and refilled my cup, and then wondered if Popcorn would like a cup. Just as I turned to go out to ask him the door opened briskly and he walked in. I could tell by his expression that something was up.

“We need to get to the club,” he said in a no-nonsense tone.

“Trouble?” I tried not to let my mind delve into what kind, knowing that it couldn’t be good if I was being taken back to the club.

“Don’t know. Prez just said to get your ass back there.”

“I’m allowed to be on the back of your bike?” I recalled Hawk’s earlier warning about that.

Popcorn shrugged. “This is an exception. Backup will meet us on the way.”

Backup? I frowned, hoping that there wouldn’t be another confrontation on the road like there had been earlier. I set my cup down and flicked off the coffee maker, wondering what was going on. I was getting used to being on the back of a bike, but one thing became instantly clear after I wrapped my arms around Popcorn to hold on-he wasn’t Hawk. Not even close. Popcorn was thin and lanky without the rock hard abs Hawk had on his huge frame.

Sitting behind Hawk made me feel safe and turned me on.

Every time.

I figured we were halfway to the club when an on-coming motorcycle came into view. When he was close enough that I could make out that it was Keg I relaxed. As he neared us Popcorn slowed, and I wondered why until I realized that Keg was motioning him to do so. Thinking that he must have something to say, I was totally unprepared for the gun he pulled out and aimed at us. I felt Popcorn tense instantly, and my apprehension skyrocketed at what this could mean.

“What the fuck, Keg?”

Keg was shaking his head. “Sorry brother, nothing personal.” Without another word he fired his weapon and Popcorn flew sideways, taking the bike and me with him.

I screamed when we hit the ground, finding myself pinned beneath the bike. Something warm and wet was falling on my shoulder and neck, and another scream escaped my lips when I realized that it was blood. I struggled to wiggle out from beneath the weight that was holding me down, but it was no use. When I glanced up to see Keg standing above me, my numbed brain couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. I was laying in dirt and rock, gasping for breath as he just stood there for what seemed like a hundred years. Why wasn’t he helping me?

And then a slow smile spread over his mouth, not quite reaching his eyes, and I knew I was in trouble. The thought crossed my mind that Keg was going to kill me then and there was nothing I could do about it. “What are you doing, Keg?” I managed to get out, still wiggling. I couldn’t help but think about Popcorn now. I knew that he was gone. I could feel his life draining from his body.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He reached down and easily lifted the bike off my body. “Taking care of business, baby.” Popcorn rolled away lifelessly as Keg hauled me roughly to my feet.

“I don’t understand,” I said, still unwilling to believe what was going through my mind. “Was Popcorn going to hurt me?”

Keg’s laughter erupted, stunning me because there was little humor in it. “You stupid bitch!
You’re
the fucking problem.”

What?

I swallowed nervously and tried to pull away. He slapped me hard across the face. “Hawk will kill you for this!” It was the only thing I could think to say.

“He’ll have to find me first. With the money I’m gonna get for you I can afford to buy a fucking island to hide out on.” His sneer was said against my ear as he twisted me around and wrapped his arms around me. “He wasn’t even smart enough to figure out I’d fucking switched to the other side.”

My heart sank with dread. I knew what that meant without having to ask. I flung my head back, hitting him as hard as I could in the face. I’d seen it work in the movies and I was desperate. A snarl escaped him, but he didn’t turn me loose as I’d hoped. Instead he wrapped a hand in my hair and twisted, snapping my head back until I was nearly forced onto my toes. The stretch of my neck caused me to cry out.

“You bitch! I’m being paid to deliver you alive, but he didn’t say in what condition.”

I ignored the threat in his tone. “Why?” There was nothing I could do as Keg forced me over to his bike. He was just too strong for me. He swung me around to face him, keeping my wrists clenched in one of his. He reached inside his saddlebag and pulled out a short piece of rope.

Seeing that rope sent a new surge of fear through me. I jerked as hard as I could, gaining my freedom, but not for long. All Keg had to do was reach out and grab me by the back of my shirt. The sound of seams ripping sounded almost as loud as the gunshot had earlier, and my eyes widened when I felt my t-shirt pulling off my body. I knew I had a choice of giving in and salvaging what was left of my shirt or being left naked from the waist up.

Keg took the choice from me. With a grunt his hand came down on my shoulder like a clamp, jerking me around. Angry eyes glared down into mine, his mouth a straight white line across his face.

“Keep this shit up and I’ll break your fucking arm,” he threatened. His gaze moved over the blood covering my neck and shoulder. When we returned to his bike he dug around for something in the saddle bag, withdrawing a wrinkled t-shirt. “Change.”

I wanted to resist but knew it would be useless. I snatched the shirt from Keg and swung around, ignoring his snicker at my attempt at modesty. The ruined shirt hit the ground and I quickly slipped the other one on before reluctantly turning to face him. I could see the lust in his eyes as he stepped up to me. I held my breath, but all he did was reach for the bloody shirt. He then draped it over the handlebar of Popcorn’s downed bike.

“Maybe Hawk will think that you’re dead,” he smiled cruelly.

“And believe that you just took my body?” I shot back sarcastically.

Keg shrugged. “He’ll think your ex wants to see proof that he doesn’t have to worry about you anymore.”

He seemed to have an answer to everything and I felt sick because it made sense, yet I was certain that Hawk was not that easy to fool. Keg’s mistake was in forgetting that Dane wanted me back alive, and Hawk knew it. I didn’t bother reminding him of that fact, though. “Fuck you, Keg!” I exploded, surprising myself as much as him at my outburst. I had nothing to lose.

His brow lifted high on his forehead. “I plan on it, baby. Here or later doesn’t fucking matter to me.” He grabbed the front of his pants crudely.

I made the mistake of glancing down.
Oh, God!
He had a hard-on.
I didn’t know if his words were just meant to subdue me, or if he actually meant them, but his erection made the possibility all too real. Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t give that small victory to the bastard. “Why, Keg?” I asked, struggling to remain calm and level-headed.

He took my wrists in one of his hands. “Money, baby.” He looked into my eyes. “Freedom.” He wrapped the rope tightly around my wrists. “And fucking power.” He then had the nerve to wink.

“You know what Dane will do to me,” I said in a frantic tone, wincing at the tension of the rope. “He’ll beat me again, maybe even kill me, for running away.”

“Yeah, that sucks,” Keg admitted, picking me up and sitting me on his bike. “But I’ll get over it,” he chuckled. “Now put your arms over my head and around my waist so you can hold on.”

I thought about it for a second, looking down at my bound wrists. Could I club him in the back of the head hard enough to knock him out? Or do what he wanted, and then strangle him? I glanced over at Popcorn’s lifeless body. He hadn’t stood a chance, while I still had one. We weren’t that far from the club. Wouldn’t Hawk send someone else to see what was taking us so long to get there?

“Don’t even think about it, unless you want to get to the fucking airport bruised and bleeding.”

Airport!
I hadn’t been expecting that. Would Dane be there, or would I be put on one of his private jets and flown to Vegas, left alone to wonder what kind of reception would greet me. I shivered and slowly lifted my arms to do as Keg commanded. Maybe I’d have another opportunity to escape along the way. Airports meant there would be people present.

It wasn’t long before we were racing in the opposite direction from the clubhouse. When we hit the highway new hope for a rescue came as we merged into traffic. Surely someone would see that my hands were tied and call the police. But anytime another vehicle got close Keg reached down and covered my bound hands with one of his. I clenched my teeth and resolved myself to the situation, for now, anyway. When the time came I wouldn’t go down without a fight.