Page 73 of Devil's Due

At last we come to a clearing. My eyes scan, settling on something. Telling Stevie I’m putting her down, I crouch so she can slide off. “Stay here.”

As I thought, camouflaged and almost hidden from sight is what looks like an old deer blind, presumably used by hunters in hunting season.

I lead her over to it and settle her inside. “I want you to stay here, Stevie, you and Max.”

“Don’t leave me, Beef.”

“Stevie, if they’re out searching then I can lead them away from you.”

“What if they catch you?”

“I’ll make them think I’m out here on my own.”

“They might shoot you, then come for me.” She sounds so understandably terrified it breaks my heart.

While I yearn to stay and hold her, I know that’s not the best way to keep her out of their hands. All I’ve got to do is hold them off until the cavalry arrives.

Shamelessly I play on her love for her dog. “Max is limping,” I tell her, exaggerating his condition. Actually, Max looks like he’s thoroughly enjoying his forest walk. “You stay in the blind and get him to rest awhile. All this clambering over rough ground isn’t doing him much good.”

She’s scared at the idea of being left alone and I can’t blame her. But she gives me a resolute nod and reluctantly agrees as I’ve convinced her it’s best. For Max.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ididn’t want to leave Stevie scared and alone. But I didn’t think I had a choice. I’ve never been one to run away from a fight, and if we carried on, it’s possible the Warped Jokers might be able to follow whatever track we’d left and find us. At least by leaving her in a safe place I can go back and see what they’re up to, maybe take out one or two with my knife.

I wouldn’t have the least repulsion in killing them up close, certain if they caught up with us, they’d take Stevie out. The stakes for them are far too high. If the RICO indictment goes ahead, every member of that club is looking at twenty years behind bars.

Even if those on the outside don’t get rounded up and convicted, they’ll still be giving their all for their members currently inside. I’d do whatever it takes to free Drummer, Wraith or any of my brothers. But would I kill a woman to keep her silenced? No, I couldn’t do that. Find some other way to persuade her not to talk, perhaps, but not take her life. The Warped Jokers, though? With their reputation, if Stevie is kept alive, she’ll spend the rest of her days working on her back wishing she was dead.

There is no way in hell I’m letting them get to her. I can’t take the risk of them finding and ambushing us.

I’m a big man, but I can be quiet if necessary. It’s only Stevie with her heightened sense of hearing who can catch me out. I descend the route we’d taken carefully, keeping to the shadows of the trees and the scrub, my eyes now on the ground checking for twigs which would snap and betray me.

I’ve been walking for a good few minutes when I hear a voice calling out.

“Looks like someone’s come this way.”

Fuck.I strain my ears as another voice shouts back.

“How the fuck can a blind bitch find her way in the forest?”

“Got the biker with her. Found some tracks, bike boots. I’m following them.”

Not for long you’re not.I take my knife out of its sheath, running my finger over the edge, reminding myself how sharp it is. Even Blade, the Tucson enforcer, would be impressed.

Jeez. I’d hoped they’d have no one with them with tracking skills, but again I’m reminded how big I am, and carrying Stevie’s weight, must have left a trail in the damp earth. Soon I hear footsteps, I shrink back behind a massive tree trunk and almost stop breathing.

I analyse the sound. Only one set of footsteps. He passes me without a look in my direction, it’s easy to put my arm around his neck, crushing his windpipe, and slicing my knife across his jugular. As expected, he slumps in my arms, dead.

One down. How many to go?I feel no remorse as I pull the body into the undergrowth and out of sight.

In the distance I hear more motorcycle engines. Demon is on his way. Until then, they’ll have to go through me to get to Stevie.

“Buck? Where are you, man?” a hoarse whisper carries in the air. “I think I’m following you but give me a sign to show me where you are.” Silence, then, “Buck? Where the fuck are you?”

Sounds of rustling and twigs snapping warn someone is getting close. “Buck?”

I haven’t heard anyone else. I take a chance. As soon as he’s close enough, I karate chop his arm making his gun drop to the ground, the strength of my blow having a paralysing effect. Almost in the same movement I have my arm around his neck, crushing his windpipe so he stays silent. The blade hovering close to his jugular makes him show the whites of his eyes.

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