Page 28 of Crusher

Mav gets him up to speed, then the two of them work silently side by side. We marvel at them while the clacking of keys fills the air.

I think about Kyle and the scared look on his face as tears streamed down his cheeks. For such a young kid, he seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s already lost his parents, and now his sister’s been kidnapped and taken to God knows where. I know he’s got to be terrified. But whatever it takes, we’re getting her back.

A half hour passes before Maverick looks up from his screen. “Got something.”

We all close in, peering over his shoulder to see what he’s looking at. Deep lines are etched into Venom’s features as he scowls at the computer. He isn’t in love with Sadie or anything, but I know he takes it as a personal offense when anyone messes with his club or the people we care about. That’s why I’m grateful for my brothers. There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for each other. We ride together, and we die together. I couldn’t ask for a better chosen family.

“Looks like we have a third-party in play. I hacked into Ratchet’s phone and see he’s been in contact with some unknowns for the past few months,” Maverick announces.

Hacked his phone? Surely the Outlaw president isn’t dumb enough to not use a burner. But he must be, which is exactly why their club is so disorganized and nothing but a bunch of fuckups.

“Well, that explains their inflated egos, but what are they getting out of it?” Throttle questions.

Maverick tenses. “Women.” He zooms in on his screen, pointing to a map with a red line trailing through the city and the surrounding areas. “I think they’re snatching up local women and taking them to a drop site, where this anonymous party picks them up.”

Damn, when I called it a kidnapping van, I didn’t mean it literally. Fucking sex trafficking. We should kill them all and rid the world of these sick bastards.

Then it hits me.

Is this why they took Sadie? So help me God, if they plan on selling my woman…

My chest burns as my heart begins to race. My nostrils flare with every heave of my lungs. Who the fuck are these people? And where are they taking the women?

We better find out and find out fast, before Sadie disappears forever. I won’t fucking survive that, and it’ll destroy her kid brother too. I know I told her that she was mine last night, but I don’t think she understands that I’m claiming her. And that means something pretty fucking serious in this MC life. She’s my ol’ lady, even if we haven’t made it official yet. But I damn sure will when I get her sweet ass back here. Make sure she’s aware of who she belongs to.

“So, these assholes are trafficking women. Got anything to do with the mayor?” I can see the wheels turning in Venom’s head as he tries to put all the pieces together.

“Blackmail,” Breaker chimes in. “Seems the Outlaws have found some dirt on ol’ Prescott.” We all knew he was fucking trash, but we just didn’t know what skeletons were hiding in his closet. “Apparently, the good mayor was caught with a couple of young girls in a hotel room, and it’s safe to say he likes the rough kind of play.”

I shrug. “So? I like that shit too.”

“Naw, you’d never smack your women around. None of us would,” Breaker clarifies. “And I ain’t talking ‘bout some playful slaps either. He gave those girls a good fucking beating. Barely legal girls too.”

What a sack of shit.

“Very different from the family man he portrays in the media. Guess he doesn’t model the core values bullshit he’s peddling after all,” Sentinel’s quiet voice interjects.

“Not sure how they found out, but from what I can tell, the Outlaws have evidence of Prescott’s indiscretions and possibly a few more of his unsavory encounters with young women,” Maverick explains. “According to the texts between him and Ratchet, they’re the ones making sure Prescott stirs up hell for us and keeps us out of the way. If we’re busy looking over here, then maybe we won’t notice while they steal women over there.”

“Disgusting little pricks,” Throttle mutters.

A sinister smile spreads across Venom’s face, making him look every bit deserving of being the ruthless president of Satan’s Disciples. “I’ve always hated those lousy cocksuckers.”

We nod our heads along with him.

“We need to be rid of them. All of them. And the fucking mayor too. You wanna take what’s mine? What’s ours? What we’ve fucking built from nothing? Then come and get it, motherfucker. We’ll put all your asses in the fucking ground.” Venom looks around the room, his glare searing as it lands on each of my brothers. “Time for Church.”

11

CRUSHER

“You’re staying here,” I tell Kyle again.

“But I want to go with you! I want to see my sister,” he pleads, but where I’m going is far too dangerous for a boy his age. Besides, Sadie would have my ass if I brought him along.

I bend down in front of him and grab his shoulder, willing him to look me in the eyes. “You gotta trust that I’ll bring her home to you. I promise I won’t come back without her.”

He stares at me for a moment longer before nodding, and I tug him forward. Not sure what comes over me, but I’m suddenly filled with the need to physically comfort him. He holds on tight, his grip on my shirt trembling, and I can feel how worried he is. I am too, but I can’t let that worry control my actions right now. Sadie is counting on me to find her and bring her home safe. And that’s exactly what the fuck I’m going to do.

---