Page 8 of Jaded Red

“Sheriff Donovan, Kensi’s dad, sent me an email a few days ago. It threatened him and the club to stop looking for Nadia or we’d be sorry. I’ve been tracing it and this morning I got a hit at a strip joint in Studio City named Slammer Joint. Creative, huh.” I raise an eyebrow. “So that tells me Nadia’s disappearance is because of me and not Kensi or Nolan.”

“Let’s go down to this strip joint and break some fucking skulls.” Tiny smashes his meaty fists on the table, making it rattle. He’s called Tiny for always loving the smaller animals. The tinier they are, the more his big ass heart melts for them. But he is anything but Tiny. His name is a contradiction to the size of the guy. He might be the complete opposite of his road name and will bash anyone’s head in with a flick of his wrist, but he has a soft side to him and women love it. He is the size of John Coffey fromThe Green Mileand he is just as gentle too.

“We can’t,” Capone speaks before anyone else thinks Tiny’s idea is the best. “If we go in there guns blazing, they’ll know we’re on to them and kill Nadia.”

“What’s the plan, P?” Torch asks.

“We call in reinforcements.” Capone picks up his phone, puts it on speaker and dials a number. Voicemail picks up and a gruff, male voice tells him to leave a message. Capone hangs up without leaving a message and points to me. “Red, take Torch, Dagger and Tiny, find Nolan and bring him here. I’m going to call Allura from our Royal Harlots sister chapter to see if she can get anyone on the inside of this fucking strip joint. I’m done playing hide and fucking seek with these asshats.” Capone orders.

“On it, Prez.”

Torch, Dagger, Tiny and I are on our bikes and pulling out of our compound in less than five minutes. It’s been days since I’ve seen the sun and I squint through my Ray Bans as the four of us speed toward the PCH. We weave in and out of traffic and turn right, down a private drive that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. No cars are in the driveway which tells me Nolan and Krimson aren’t here. Where the fuck could they be?

I pop my kickstand down and turn off my bike. Torch, Dagger and Tiny do the same. The ticking of our cooling engines and the waves hitting the shoreline are the only noises surrounding us. “Let’s check it out in case they’re here but hiding,” I order.

I’m pissed they’re not here and even more pissed I have to look for them. Tiny and I take the rear. Torch and Dagger take the front. Walking along the side of the house, we stay out of sight, against the side of the house until the back opens up to a massive porch overlooking the ocean. Below the porch is a cement slab with outdoor furniture and a glass sliding door. From my understanding, someone blew up this house and Krimson had to have it rebuilt. It’s dark as fuck as I peer inside. I can’t see in at all which makes me very uneasy. Once Tiny and I have the bottom cleared, we take the steps on the side of the porch two at a time. When we reach the top, we’re facing the house and our backs are to the ocean. A massive swimming pool sits in the middle of the deck, and patio furniture is strategically placed around the pool. A small changing room to the left and the banister to the porch wrapped around the whole thing. Glass sliding doors and huge glass windows surround this side of the house and it’s also dark inside.

We cautiously approach and Tiny taps a window. “Bulletproof glass. Smart girl.”

My eyes scan around the perimeter spotting several security cameras. I point to one. “They know we’re here now.” I approach one and stand directly in front of it, to my full intimidatingheight. “Nolan Ryan, I will find you.” I glare into the camera and lean closer. “Your sister needs you.” I turn and walk off the porch, Tiny following.

If I were Nolan-fucking-Ryan, where would I be?

Dagger and Torch come from the front of the house. “No one is here.” Torch states.

“Fuck!” I scrub my hands down my face. I keep playing everything over in my head that I know about Nolan, Krimson and their merry band of misfits.

Tiny lets out a low whistle near the garage, pulling me from my head. “Check this fucking beast out.” He points to the window and I walk to him. A nineteen sixty-two grey Shelby Cobra 260 CSX 2000 sits inside in all its shiny glory.

“That’s it!” I shout and run to my bike.

I straddle the beast and fire her up. I’m done waiting and fucking around. The guys can follow me or not, I don’t give a flying fuck anymore. I need to get Nadia back. I roll out of Krimson’s driveway and throttle the gas, making my bike scream and the rear tire spin. Once it catches, I shoot off like a rocket on my way to find Nolan-fucking-Ryan and end this waiting shit. I will get Nadia back with or without his help.

Chapter Five

Red

Night has settled as I pull into the old warehouse district in downtown L.A. Tiny, Dagger and Torch follow close behind. We slowly roll through the throng of people waiting for the race. Women dressed in skimpy outfits with their tits and ass threatening to spill out doesn’t shock me and I know the brothers behind me are enjoying the view. Our bikes growl and draw all eyes to us. It’s rare to see a bike at a street race, but unheard of to see the Royal Bastards at a race. We’re whispered about in the circuit but never confirmed. We’re feared and respected for how we race and what we do.

The crowd parts in silence as we stop in front of a dark blue Toyota Supra GR. Krimson’s long blond hair falls over her shoulders. She’s wearing a pair of fitted ripped jeans, a black tank top, a flannel over that and racing boots. She’s badass and smoking hot leaning against the hood, her brown eyes are watching me, assessing my moves. If I were a lesser man, my balls would have shriveled up and scurried away. But fear is not something I know. Not until Nadia.

I rev up my bike before turning it off, making it growl. Setting the kickstand down, I remain seated on my bike. I remove my brain bucket and run my fingers through my hair.

“Where’s Nolan?” I ask, agitation filling my voice.

Krimson’s spine stiffens and she crosses her arms over her ample chest. I thought her crew was good with my club but that’s not the vibe I’m getting. “Why the fuck do you want to know?” She questions.

“I have business with him.” Krimson snorts and that pisses me off. Does she think I’m not good enough for their business? I’ll show her who’s in charge. I dismount my bike and my brothers do the same. Anger is radiating through my body. Step by step, I get closer to Krimson, until I’m standing a few feet away from her, raising myself to my full six-foot-two height. I snarl and clench my fists. I know if I get close enough, Nolan will come to Krimson’s side. She can hold her own but he won’t let her.

I’m less than a step away when Nolan appears out of the shadows with a gun aimed at my head. “Step the fuck back, Bastard, before I put a bullet through your skull.” He stands next to Krimson, not lowering his weapon.

My eyes whip to his, a sinister smile on my face. “It’s about time you show up. What’s the problem, Nolan-fucking-Ryan? You got to have your Ol’ Lady do your dirty work now?”

“Oh fuck no.” Nolan lowers his gun and steps to me. We’re close to the same height but he has about thirty pounds more muscle. “You got a problem, Bastard?” Nolan snarls.

Anger thrums through my veins. Red blurs my vision as I step closer, my breathing harsh and my heart beating rapidly in my chest. “The fuck you say to me?”

Tiny and Torch reach us and pulls me back before I can deck Nolan-fucking-Ryan square in his smirking jaw, which is similar to his sister’s.

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