Chapter 2
Tank
Cobra, Reaper and Imake our way into an abandoned warehouse that houses an underground fight club where Ace from the Savage Saints MC is about to take on the fight of his life. There’s a huge crowd gathering around the cage, chanting and cheering as Ace enters the ring. From what we’ve heard about Ace, he’s a great fighter, but the stakes are high tonight. Only one man is walking out of the cage. We need it to be Ace. My brothers and I made the ten-hour drive to Michigan to set up a meeting with Kayne, the President of the Savage Saints MC, to find out what he knows about the Black Market Railroad.
Kayne wants to cut ties with Steam and since we have Lucas in the bunker, we have something to barter with. If Ace is the one to walk away from this fight, we will ask for a meeting. It’s our best shot at discovering how deep this ring goes and, with a little luck, get a lead on Raven’s daughter Paige. It’ll take a fucking miracle for that little girl to be alive. Just the thought that some sick bastards are kidnapping and selling women and little girls for some twisted, deviant sexual need turns my stomach. There’s enough pussy in this world no one should have to steal it. What kind of man can’t get laid an easier way?
We do our best to blend in with the crowd and watch the fight. The two men go head-to-head. Blow after blow. It’s a fucking blood bath. Cobra is standing next to me, shifting from side to side on his feet with his fists clenched at his side. With every blow Ace lands on his opponent, Cobra moves. I know that look in his eyes, he’s itching to fight. “Not tonight, brother. There’s no time to let your demons out to play.”
Cobra shoots me a deadly look. There’s no reasoning with him when he gets the urge to fight. We all carry secrets and deal with them in our own way, but it’s different for Cobra. Fighting is in his blood and when the adrenaline is pumping, it blinds him to everything and everyone around him except his target. It’s the reason we call him Cobra. When he strikes, he’s deadly.
“Let’s get what we came here for and then find some pussy to take the edge off.” Cobra shrugs off my concern. “This match is over, anyway.”
“I still see two men on their feet.”
“I know the look in his eye. It’s over in three. Watch as we walk.”
Sure enough, Cobra is right. Keeping my eye on the cage in front of us, we weave through the crowd toward the changing rooms where we will wait for Ace. Ace lands a hard blow to his opponent’s throat, dropping him to his knees. The other man grabs at his throat and gasps for his last breath. He’s a dead man and there’s not a damn thing he can do to stop it. Blood is oozing down his face when Ace grips the other fighter’s head in his hands and snaps his fucking neck. Ace has mad skill and deserves respect. Hopefully, he’ll see to it this trip wasn’t a fucking waste of time.
Cobra elbows me in the ribs, “Told ya.”
“You’re both blood thirsty mother fuckers.” I jab back and slip into Ace’s changing room behind Reaper and Cobra as the bell dings.
Moments later, Ace is ushered into the small room. His adrenaline is spiking, and he eyes us over accessing the situation. “What the fuck do you want?” Ace growls.
“My Prez wants a sit down with yours and we’re here to make it happen.” Cobra speaks up, connecting with Ace on a level Reaper, and I can’t. It’s like they can sense the fight in them both.
Ace continues to size us up. “Why should we do what you’re asking? What’s in it for us?”
By the way Ace sinks onto a metal chair in the center of the room, I can tell his adrenaline is draining fast. He’s in no mood to deal with us, but I’m going to push as hard as I have to. “Rumor has it, you want out from under Steam. We can make that happen, but to do it, we need your help.” I lean against the door, crossing my arms over my chest. “And if fifty G’s will help persuade you, I can have it sent to your account with one phone call.”
After a brief pause, Ace speaks up. “Step out and let me make a call.”
Cobra, Reaper, and I step out into the narrow hallway and wait. A phone call is a good start, but we need that sit down with Kayne. I’m the fucking VP of the Krymson Destroyers and I’m not leaving without the information we came for. I’ll do whatever it takes.
I’m on edge, waiting for Ace to give us an answer. This meet is important. Not only do we want to take down this trafficking ring, but every direction we look in, the name Ben Cross keeps turning up. I cringe at the thought this is the same Ben Cross that married the love of my life. Dia’s fucking husband is up to his eyeballs in this shit. I can feel it in my bones. I just can’t prove it. Yet.
Walking away from Dia ten years ago was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Now it’s my biggest fucking regret. I always meant to return for her, but the secrets I carry with me stop me every time the thought surfaces.
It isn’t long before Ace crashes into the hallway with the answer we’ve been waiting for. “Follow me and try to keep up.”
We follow Ace through town, weaving in and out of traffic until we reach a long dirt road in the middle of fucking nowhere.This asshole better not be fucking with us right now.
The path dead ends in front of a two-story white house surrounded by trees. If it wasn’t for the line of bikes parked to the left and the garage on the other side, you wouldn’t know this was an MC clubhouse. Following Ace’s lead, Cobra, Reaper and I kill the engines on our bikes. The demonic sounds of whatever fucking nocturnal demons are scampering around in the woods replace the soothing rumble of our engines. I’ve never been one for the wilderness. Born in the city and raised in the suburbs, I don’t need to become one with the wilderness.
Ace drudges up the stairs, passing Kayne, the President of the Savage Saints. He’s standing on the porch with three patched members wearing cuts. Everyone can see Ace’s energy level is depleted. The fight took everything he had, it’s a wonder he’s still on his feet.
The four men eye us cautiously as Cobra, Reaper, and I climb off our bikes and approach. I reach around my back, adjusting my gun under my cut and glance at Reaper and Cobra. Reaper’s hands clench at his side and Cobra has his hand on his hip, checking that he can easily retrieve his knife. The eeriness of the fucking woods is adding more tension than there needs to be. We came here looking for allies in this fight, but our clubs don’t know each other yet. Trust is something you earn. You can never be too cautious.
We stop our approach at the base of the stairs. Out of respect, we don’t go further until invited.
“Ace says you want to arrange a sit down.” Kayne sizes us up. I get it, but I’m fucking tired and just want to get this shit over with so I can get back home.
“It seems we have a common enemy.” Kayne raises his eyebrow, clearly interested in hearing what we have to say, but no doubt questioning our motive. Straight forward is always the best approach. “Our Prez has something that might be useful in your fight. In exchange for help with ours.”
Kayne looks to the men standing at his back, a silent conversation passing between them, and turns back towards me. “Come in, grab a beer and some pussy. We’ll talk when Ace is up to it.”
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