Ryker Fallen Angel's MC 3 (5 page)

Chapter 12

Dragging my ass out into the main room, I look around at everyone. This meeting isn’t going to be a fun one by the looks on their faces.

“Oh Christ Ryker! Can you hold him please?” Cher walks over with Griffin sound asleep in her arms. Cher and Tank make some cute ass kids I must say. Griff is a little handful though.

“Sure thing. Give me my nephew.” Reaching out I take his little sleeping body in my arms. I revel at the way he snuggles into me.

“I’m sorry. One of Tammy’s kids is barfing in the basement.” I wave her off as I look down at the next generation of Fallen Angels’. It amazes me that we all start off so small and innocent. It makes me wonder what the hell happens in our lives to turn us into what we are today. How did we go from this to that?

Creed hollers at us ready for church. I look up and then back to the tiny little bald headed boy and laugh. He looks just like Tank. Same bald ass head too.

Not seeing any of the girls around and knowing Cher doesn’t let any of the Angels’ chasers near him, I head towards the room with Griff.

As I step inside Creed looks over at me as I shrug.

“Doin’ my uncle duties brother.” Creed chuckles as I take my seat with the little man in my arms. I glance over when Tank walks in. He looks at me and down at his son.

“Some kids barfin’ downstairs. He’s good.” Tank looks me in the eyes before smiling down at his son again. For some badass motherfuckers I must say that all the guys around here are the perfect dads.

Creed raises the gavel as I cut my eyes at him. If he makes this baby cry, Cher will have my dick on a platter.

With a quick nod, he looks around the room.

“You guys all know about the run to the Dusts’. They’re runnin’ girls out of there for sale. Some go to the highest bidder, some just go. Ryker has an in over there. Good guy, wrong club. Can’t fix that shit for him but he wants to help. The girls were moved from the shit hole they were in. Not sure where they are just yet. We got the guys lookin’ into it. We need to make a decision here and now. We’re either all in or we’re all out. If we’re in, we’re in for a war. We’ve taken on challenges before and came out on top. Every war is different though. You know the consequences of what we take on. We vote on it.”  My stomach cramps as I look around the room. The guys seem to be at ease with whatever their decisions are going to be.

Tank nods over at me knowing that I won’t give up either way the vote goes. Creed goes around the room looking at each one of the brothers as they answer. I don’t want to look at them. I can’t. I know that if this vote goes against me that I’m going to have to ruin my place in this club. I made a promise and I can’t back out of it.

I look down at the sleeping baby in my arms. My chest tightens. Why can’t I have this kind of life? Why am I so fucked up? The demons that haunt the night don’t stand a chance on these little ones. The kids in the club are protected and loved beyond words. Nothing will harm them while we’re around. Why are those girls any different? They shouldn’t have to be.

My turn to vote comes and goes like a breath. The air in the room is thick as Creed stands.

“That’s it. We go in. We can’t rush this shit though. We need to make a plan. We need to know where these girls are goin’ once we get them out. We need to know who we are targetin’ here too. We know the Dusts’ are runnin’ shit but where do the Shifters’ come into play? We need to work on this shit.” I know this little talk is directed at me. I don’t give a shit if I have to haul ass out of this club in a body bag, I’m taken these motherfuckers down.

Nods all around the table. I see it in their eyes. They want this shit as much as I do. I watch the guys file out of the room as Creed and Torch stay back.

“You want me to take him?” Tank nods towards little man.

“Nope. He’s good brother. I’ll return him in a few.” Tank chuckles as he turns and walks out of the room pulling the door closed behind him.

“I know I was rough on you before but I get what you mean. I thought about that shit and I couldn’t leave my woman to that shit either brother.” Creed grabs a bottle of Jack and takes a long pull.

“It’s wrong brother. I just don’t think I could walk away from that shit.” Creed nods his head before looking back over at me.

“You did the right thing. We’ll get them out.”

Chapter 13

“Look at that shit!” Pointing over at the pile of kids that have tackled Joey, I laugh.

We are having a little cookout tonight before we go out on a recon run. We talked a lot over the last couple of days and Bone has gone out of his way to get us some Intel on where they moved the girls to. From what he has found out they moved them closer to home than we would have thought.

“We got a solid plan formin’, Ryker.” Tank slaps my shoulder before he sits down next to me.

“I know. I just don’t want to think about how many there were before this. That shit isn’t right.”  I bring the cigarette to my lips taking a long drag. A shiver rolls over my body even with the heat of the night.

“I hear you. You’re really intent on this one brother. I hope it all plays out. We’re gonna have a long fight too.” Scrubbing my hand across my face, I know what he’s risking.

“I know this shit isn’t ideal for you Tank. I know you have your family now.” Before I can finish what I’m saying Tank puts his hand up stopping me.

“Look, Ryker. Do I love my family? Fuck yeah I do. I made the decision to join this club many fuckin’ years ago brother. I knew what I was gettin’ into. Havin’ Bella back and now Cher and Griff, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ll do what I need to do for this club and my family. Shit’s changed since Creed has become president. We’re family and if my kids were in that situation I would sure as fuck want a motherfucker like you to get them out. You’re one us brother. We’re all fuckin’ Fallen Angels’. Once we had it all, and we were on top of the fuckin’ world, then we hit rock bottom. I think this club has come together and grown. This is just one more step.” Sitting back, I take in what Tank just said. He’s right on so many levels.

He’s been through hell and back. He still respects the club but he’s also a family man. He puts his family first and this club is that family.

“You’re right brother. If I had kids, I’d want them out of that shit. I just don’t want any of you guys gettin’ hurt. You have families.” Grabbing my beer from off the ground in front of me, I take a drink as Tank laughs.

“You talk too much shit, Ryker! Goddamn man. You know better than anyone that we do what we do for our families. You are our fuckin’ family brother. We got this. The plan is comin’ together yeah? We’re doin’ the right thing.” Tank stands and walks away as I watch all the kids play.

“Thanks for putting your ass out there.” Bella drops in the chair her dad was in moments ago.

“Don’t thank me. I didn’t find your friends.” Bella looks down swallowing hard before looking back over at me.

“I heard there was a girl named Jersey. Is that true?” When her name leaves Bella’s mouth my chest tightens up. I don’t know what it is with that girl or why but that shit is hitting me hard.

“You heard that or Joey opened his mouth?” Bella shrugs but I already know the answer to that.

“God damn. Club business doesn’t stay that way with these new guys huh?” Pulling out a new cigarette I light it up before looking back at Bella.

“I have my ways of getting information.” Watching her wiggle her eyebrows, I cringe.

“Damn it Bella! I don’t need to hear that shit.” Bella giggles but I’m serious. She’s my niece in every sense of the word.

“So is it true? Did you see Jersey?” Nodding my head, Bella’s hand flies to cover her mouth. She looks like she wants to be sick. What the hell does she know?

“Talk.” I know she knows something. I can see it in her eyes.

“Cassidy was her friend too. Jersey had a shitty life with Shifters’. She was passed around a lot when she was younger. She’s a few years older than me but that girl is an old soul. She’s had to live such a shitty life and now this.” Tears trickle down Bella’s cheeks as I look at her. I reach over and grab her around the shoulders pulling her against me.

“I didn’t know all that. I’m sorry Bella. I’ll get her out of there. I promise you that.” Bella sobs into my shirt as my heart rips open. How the hell did these poor girls end up with such a fucked up start in life?

“I know it might be too late for Deb and Cassidy. I get that they might be gone but Ryker, please get Jersey out. I know the other girls are suffering too but.” She doesn’t finish what she’s saying. The sobs choke her.

Squeezing her tighter to me I lean into her.

“I promise Bella. I am goin’ to do whatever the fuck I can for her.” That just seals my fate. I can’t let Bella down too. I made a promise to Jersey, a promise that was just made to Bella also. I won’t let these girls down.

Chapter 14

My nerves are running on high alert right now. With Torch, Tank, and Joey next to me, we watch the new location. My heart feels like it might slam through my ribs at any given moment. I’m running on pure fucking adrenalin.

“Why are the Dusts’ all over this? Where the fuck does the Shifters’ fit in?” Tank is thinking out loud again and I almost laugh. He’s been over this in his head a million times. We all have. We know what the Dusts’ are getting out of it but we don’t know how the Shifters’ play into it.

“Who the fuck is that?” Looking through the binoculars I see someone I’ve never seen before.

“Look at that motherfuckin’ limo.” Torch chimes in as I watch what’s taking place. All my nerves start to fire off. One after another, my body heats up. This isn’t right.

“Fuck! They’re after Jersey.” I know it’s true. I can feel it inside of me. My pulse quickens as sweat drips down my back. My body tenses up. I can’t let them take her. I won’t.

“Calm down, brother. We can’t fly up in there with that many guys.” Snapping my head around to look at Joey, I want to snap his fucking neck. Tank sees the look and chuckles before slapping Joey on the shoulder.

“Close it, brother.” Looking back over to the well-dressed asshole that climbed out of the limo, I watch the way he moves. I watch the waistline of his fitted suit looking for a gun. Watching every move that his guys make. This is what I’m good at. I have that fucking eagle eye.

“Two in the car. Two out. No gun in his waist. Two guns on each.” Talking to myself, I say what I see.

“What the fuck are you doin’?” Torch turns to me with a smile on his face.

“I’m makin’ my plan motherfucker. I ain’t lettin’ her go. I made a promise to that girl, and Bella. I won’t go back on that shit.” Pushing myself up, I walk towards my bike, pulling my cut off. Zipping my sweatshirt up I reach into the saddle bag pulling my extra guns out and tucking them into my waistband.

Tank walks over as I adjust my shit. I watch as he does the same. I knew he would have my back.

I finish getting my gear in order when Joey and Torch step up doing the same.

“Looks like they’ll head out north. Four on five seems fair enough to me. What about the driver?” Joey finally had some kind of rational thoughts. I’m almost proud of that little son of a bitch.

“Flash bang. Startle the driver. Everyone gets out, it’s fair game. We wait until they are far enough from the Dusts’ to not draw their attention. You cover my ass; I go in for Jersey.” No one says a word after that. I know they’re all on board with this.

Jumping on our bikes we ride down the road far enough from the Dusts’ that they won’t hear a thing. We can’t have them up our asses just yet. This isn’t the ideal plan either but I won’t let them take her. She isn’t theirs to take. Something with the way that sounds hits me in the stomach.

Parking the bikes out of sight we all climb off ready to make our moves.

“Torch, you and Joey take that side. Those motherfuckers will come out shootin’. Stay low. You see Ryker make a move, cover his ass. I’ll signal you when to toss that flash in. Watch the fuck out for the girl.” Listening to my new VP spouting off instructions just sends my heart soaring. This is what a family is all about. It’s not the blood that runs through your veins. It’s the ones that take chances on you, the ones that have your back when shit goes south. This is my family and I will forever be grateful.

“Move.” Tank nods at Joey and Torch as they race across the street. He pulls his phone out and types out a quick text before I see it light up again. Tank blows out a breath before sliding it back into his pocket.

“Creed’s lockin’ the club down. I know about the apartment but for tonight, it’s lock-down. We can see how things play out after that. We get the girl; we get the fuck home.” Tank looks me in the eyes as he speaks.

“Got it.” With another quick nod, we get into position.

I don’t know what’s worse, the anticipation of how things could go wrong or the actual wait. Crouched down in this bush, everything goes still. The night is quiet, to quiet. I never was one for the silence and tonight it makes it an eerie silence. It’s like an inevitable doom lingers overhead. Death and destruction. It’s all there waiting to play out. Whose end is it? Whose death and just how much destruction is coming our way? That’s the real question tonight.

The minutes tick by but I don’t miss a beat. A fucking mosquito flying around my head is just a distraction. Reaching up to smash the little bastard would pull my focus.

Jersey’s life, for the moment at least, is my focus.

“You ready?” Tank looks over his shoulder at me as we hear the car making its way towards us.

“Damn right I am.” Tank nods before turning to signal Torch and Joey.

“Hope your son-in-law can handle this shit.” Tank glares at me over his shoulder as I smile.

“I’ll pay you back for that one later, motherfucker.” With a quick smile, he turns his attention back to the road.

I listen to the crunch of the rocks as the car makes its way towards us. Mentally counting down to what could be the biggest mistake of my life.

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