Page 43 of Cocky Secrets

“I thought I’d play with this one,” Soot replies. “Honey Badger’s daughter and all.”

Briar raises his voice to be heard by all. “Isn’t it my turn for a girl?” A cacophony of guttural agreement is his response, coming from far and wide, voices of their club’s members echoing off dark walls. “See?”

Soot turns to Briar like he’s going to fight him. “It was your turn two girls ago and you didn’t take it. Why now?”

“Maybe I was waiting for the right girl. But it’s the code. My choice next. I’m next in line.”

The two men glare at each other, and another member struts in, “Soot, we’ve been talkin’ and maybe we should keep moving.”

“Oh you’ve been talkin’ have you?” Soot glowers, before walking out and raising his voice. “You chickens afraid of The Ciphers? I said we’re gonna sleep here tonight and ride tomorrow and that’s what we’re gonna fuckin’ do!”

I hear a small, male voice ask, “But what if they find us?”

“Then let them find us!” Soot sneers at Briar. “She’s yours.” An evil smile spreads on his face. “Or maybe we’ll share her.”

Briar squares his shoulders, looking larger than before. “There’ll be nothing left of her to share.”

Fear lashes into my veins as Soot’s sneer turns to the kind of laughter that haunts nightmares. He disappears and I’m left alone with Briar. I start to fight my ropes but they dig deeper into my wrists, my ankles. “Please,” I beg, “Please don’t hurt me.”

He slaps me across the face. Hard enough to make me grunt. At the sound of pain I make, laughter outside rings off the walls. His club loves this. Bunch of sickos. And I’m their captive.

Briar leans in close to me, hisses loudly, “No more talking!” More laughing from outside. He walks to the door, tells them all with a gross smile, “Excuse me while I have some privacy,” and shuts it, with them guffawing like the human hyenas they are.

Terror slices into me as he starts to walk toward me. I start begging, “Please! Please don’t!”

NINETEEN

Honey Badger

Igrip the handlebars of my hog, its engine a roar beneath me. The moon hangs low in the sky, casting an ominous sheen over the twisted roads of South and North Vacherie. Every second counts, and every mile feels like an eternity. My daughter is out here somewhere, and I’m not going to rest until I find her.

“Keep your eyes peeled!” I call out to The Ciphers as we roll through dimly lit streets. The glow of a neon sign flickers in the distance, hinting at the motel we’re targeting. “The Spiders gotta be hiding her somewhere!”

Our faces are set with determination. Each of us knows the stakes. Sage is thirty, a spitfire, but even the strongest can be broken.

I can’t let that happen.

We pull into the parking lot of yet another motel, its rusty sign creaking in the wind, letters lit in neon: “Starlight Motel.” We kill our engines and look around.

Bear’s patrol vehicle pulls in last, stopping next to me. He jumps out of the car, siren off. I told him before we left our home that The Spiders might be expecting us, ready for a fight, but if they know a cop is with us, they’ll run. We can’t let that happen.He told his friends in the force to check motels, then he came with us. Alone.

“Split up,” I instruct, voice low so we don’t alert them to our plan, if they’re here and listening. I don’t see their bikes, not a good sign. But with a kidnapping, maybe they parked them elsewhere, then walked here. You never know and I’m not leaving any stones unturned. “Luke, Atlas, ride around back and look for their rides.” To the others, “Check the rooms, see if anyone’s seen anything.” The Ciphers nod, and we’re off to carry out our search, the hard crunch of gravel under our boots as we split up, cutting through the night.

Bear and I approach the front desk, a tired-looking woman behind it. Her eyes widen when she sees the odd pair of us, his uniform, the cut on my leather jacket. Both of us angry.

“Can I help you?” she asks, a hint of fear in her voice.

Bear says, “Yeah, we’re looking for a woman. Thirty years old, red hair. Brown skin. Freckles. Beautiful. She might be with some guys from The Spiders Motorcycle Club.”

“And they’re dead men,” I add, rage underneath my words.

She shakes her head slowly, her expression grave. “I haven’t seen anyone like that. But...” she leans in closer, lowering her voice, “there’s been some trouble around here. Might want to check Room 10.”

My gut tightens. “Thanks.” I turn and signal to Bear, and we head to it. Around every corner I scan the shadows, expecting to see someone lurking, waiting to pounce. Nothing.

The night is alive with the sounds of cicadas and distant laughter. It feels like a trap. We reach a row of rooms, fellow Ciphers knocking on them. I pass by Jett and Luna and mutter, “Clerk said maybe Room 10.” Jett turns and follows me and Bear. Luna continues knocking on Room 8, just in case.

I bang on Room 10’s door, shout, “The Ciphers are here! Open up!”

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