Page 56 of Jake

“They’re not Kings, not anymore. Lock the gate, Watt, and if you can stop them from leaving, do it.” He disconnected the call and shoved the phone back in his pocket.

“Go get some of the others.” Jake jerked a thumb back toward the bunkhouse, indicating it and the clearing on the other side where several of the brothers had been gathered when he came through a few minutes ago. “I’ll go after Lynnie.”

“Take the truck. Keys are in it,” Iceman said as he vaulted over the side of the truck and took off at a run around the building shouting.

Jake felt like there was band around his chest keeping him from being able to take a breath as he scrambled for the door, climbed in, and started it. As he backed out and turned onto the road a weight settled in his chest that seemed to grow heavier with every foot he travelled.

By the time he’d made the first quarter mile, he knew something was wrong. She hadn’t been gone that long. He should have caught up to her, or at least be able to see her, by now. Where was she?

His stomach churned as he pushed the unfamiliar pickup as fast as he dared on the dirt road. Maybe he should have taken the time to grab a vehicle, even one of the dirt bikes, that he was more familiar with, that he knew how it would react when he pushed it.

It took another half a mile for him to catch sight of the pickup in front of him. It was headed the same direction he was, but not moving quite as fast.

He hoped Watt had closed the gate like he’d been told. How far behind him were his brothers?

He wanted to stomp on the gas and just ram them off the road, but there were so many reasons he couldn’t. Number one being he didn’t know where Lynnie was, or if she’d been secured. The impact might hurt her, and he couldn’t stomach the idea. All he could do, at least for now, was to try to catch up with them, and hope Watt could stop them before they got off the ranch.

Checking the rearview again, he hoped to see someone, anyone or more of his brothers coming to help, but so far, nothing. It looked like it was going to be two against two, and they had a hostage.

He didn’t know how this would work out, but all he could do was try. He had to get her away from them, to make sure she was safe, then he’d put an end to the threat, for once and for all.

How, though, was still a question. Would a combination of a message sent through these assholes, and another delivered by Hex and his club be enough? Maybe the easiest way would be to pay off the debt her fucker ex has given her to the club to pay them off. But if they were willing to pay that much in reward, how much must the debt be? Jake had built up a bit of a nest egg from both his time in the Army, and since, but he was certain he didn’t have the kind of money that would take.

As he continued to close the distance between his borrowed truck and the one he had no doubt Lynnie was inside, he let his mind run freely on things he’d like to do to these two. No matter how much he’d like to make certain they never came back on the ranch, never caused trouble for another member of the Souls or their women, he knew he couldn’t. Not in the way he wanted.

Instead, he would have to find a way to make sure they didn’t want to come back, but that would have to wait until he made sure Lynnie was safe.

The truck started to slow in front of him, he was catching up faster. He looked past it and saw the gate was closed, and Watt had pulled the ATV he’d been using to fix the fence across the road, adding one more obstacle in case they decided the fence wasn’t going to stop them.

If Jake was desperate to get away, neither the gate, nor the ATV would stop him, but from the way they were already slowing, it didn’t appear the assholes who had Lynnie we’re as crazy as he was. For that he could only be thankful.

Another glance in the rearview showed him a pickup, but it was too far away to do him much good, at least in the moment.

42

Herheadhurt.Whydid her head hurt?

Heather tried to lift her hands to find out why her head hurt but couldn’t. They wouldn’t move. Her mind felt sluggish, slow for some reason she couldn’t place. What had happened? Where was she?

Voices she didn’t recognize started to filter through her awareness, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Her head hurt too badly.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she realized her hands were tied. She tried to speak but could tell by the way the voices she couldn’t make out never stopped or changed that either she hadn’t managed it or what noise she’d managed, though she hadn’t heard anything, had made no sense.

Before she could force her mind to work, her entire body moved, she slid backwards, then fell. Now her whole body hurt, and she was no closer to figuring out what was going on.

43

Thetruckwasstillgoing way too fast as they approached the gate. Jake watched, helpless, as Watt stepped in front of the ATV and took his time aiming his pistol at the windshield of the oncoming pickup. He slowed as much as he dared, but wanted to get as close as he could, before stopping to confront them.

He wasn’t sure how close they were before the driver finally stomped on the brakes, sending the truck sliding to a halt not more than a few feet from where Watt stood, unflinching.

Jake waited as long as he dared then hit the brakes and cranked the wheel, bringing the truck to a sliding stop several feet from the back of the truck he was convinced held Lynnie. As soon as the truck stopped moving, he flung the door open and bailed out. He had the pistol drawn from the small of his back and aimed before he’d rounded the hood.

“Keep your hands where we can see them,” he said as he approached, noticing that the men barely glanced at him as they held their hands in clear sight over the dashboard, their attention on Watt in front of them.

He moved close enough it would be hard to miss either one, but not close enough to be hit if they flung open a door then spoke again.

“Get over here Watt and cover them.” Jake waited until his brother was within a couple of feet then pinned his gaze on the driver. “Where is she?”

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