Page 41 of Striker's Yield

I didn’t know how much longer I had before Tony would be back, so I needed to move quickly. I move to the balcony, drop the sheets, grab one end of the rope I made, and secure it to one of the beams closest to the side of the house. I figure I need to be able to scale downward using my feet. How hard can it be? I’ve seen it in movies, if actors can do it, so can I. Okay, that’s not a reasonable excuse, but it’s what I’ve got.

I pick up the length of the sheets and toss them over the side. Taking a deep breath, I check the secureness and climb over the balcony wall.

I make it halfway down when I hear a commotion and look down to see men running. But worse, I see Tony standing there, face twisted in anger.

How my luck ceases to exist.

“You might as well finish your little attempt at escape, darlin’,” Tony yells up at me. The house being three stories, I’d made it through half the second, but I still had another story to go. “Hurry it up and get down here. We’ve got company coming, and I don’t have time for this little tirade of yours.”

He doesn’t seem pleased with this company coming. It’s then I hear it. The thundering sound of motorcycles. Could it be Striker? Is he coming for me? Did they find me?

I barely allow these thoughts to form. Mostly because the sheets jerk, and I glance up to see they weren’t holding up against the balcony’s concrete.

Swallowing tightly, I make a split-second decision and let the sheets go. I scream out as I fall. I land in the bushes and cry out in pain. It probably wasn’t a good idea, but I’d rather be in pain with broken bones than give Tony the time he needs to take me or do whatever it is his intentions are. Unfortunately, I didn’t break anything, or I don’t think I did. I mostly scraped and bruised my body.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Tony barks, coming to my side, gripping my arm, and jerking me out of the bushes and into him. “You shouldn’t have done that. You could’ve killed yourself.”

“Better than you touching me,” I snap, earning a slap across the face.

“You’ll pay for that, Autumn,” he snarls and yanks me toward the Hummer and his men surrounding it.

“I won’t pay for anything.” Scratching and clawing at his hand on my wrist, I fight and kick out, doing everything I can to keep him from putting me in that vehicle. I know the moment he does, I’ll disappear, and no one will find me.

CHAPTER 21

Striker

Getting the address for ‘Marionette’ wasn’t too hard once we knew where to look. Tony Decker didn’t hide any property he owned. Well, not very well. He put it under a shell company that Gadget was able to track down easily. It’d taken him all of five minutes to crack through and find what we needed.

The place was roughly two hours away.

Twister and Horse rode up front with me. Mostly because Autumn was my woman, and Tony was going to see me coming for him. I wasn’t going to be behind anyone. Badger had just gotten back in time to join in on the fun.

Connors called just before we left and said that Lila had been given a dose of morphine. This is probably the only reason my sister was able to remember anything. She doesn’t react to morphine like others do. It sedates her but doesn’t knock her out, not completely. Connors said she was sending her over to the clubhouse with Kenny and Izzy. Autumn’s parents were also going with her and would be there when we got back.

I didn’t have time to tell her I was thankful for her call, but I had to get on the road.

Now that we’re close, adrenaline rushes through my veins. Visions of killing Tony run through my head. I look forward to killing him with my bare hands. I’ll make him suffer for thinking he can harm my sister and take my woman.

I take the turn leading to the property. We probably should’ve come in silence, but I wanted them to know I was coming.

The closer we get, I brace. That is until we come to a massive opening and see military-grade vehicles blocking the way, men on the other side, guns aimed our way, and bullets coming at us.

“Fuck.” My lip curls in fury, and I squeeze the brake. I pull my gun out and return fire.

All hell breaks loose. Fire singes my arm, but I ignore it. The only thing I care about is getting past these asshats and to my woman. Aiming to kill, I pull the trigger and send each of my targets to the ground, bullets in the head.

One of the reasons I got the name Striker is that I’m a damn good marksman who can be in the worst situation and be able to strike and take out my enemy.

Moving in on foot, I take off past the remaining men shooting at my brothers. They can handle this while I head for Autumn.

My chest tightens when the house comes into view, and I see her. She’s fighting Tony’s grip.

Lifting my gun, I aim for Tony as Rolland and Jason both lift guns and point in my direction. Without even blinking, I pull the trigger, killing Jason first, then Rolland.

“It’s over, Tony,” I shout, focusing in on him.

Tony spins and yanks Autumn in front of him. “Don’t come any closer,” he shouts, holding the gun and pressing it into Autumn’s side.

---