Page 34 of The Queen of Nightmares

Barrel snorted. “Yeah. He started shouting about Sally kicking him out of the club. He demanded to see their President so he could join them in taking us down. Instead of listening, they killed him. That fucker thought he was going to spill our secrets, but Oogie assumed he was just a mole. Killed him without hearing him out.” A few of the guys chuckled.

“Good,” I said, turning around to head back to the office. I was bone weary and needed to sleep. I’d been a mess of emotions since the maze, and I knew it wasn’t good for the baby. Now, more than ever, I wanted to make sure my baby was safe and healthy.

As I passed through the doorway with Zero on my heels, a phone rang from behind the bar along the wall. Everyone turned to look with surprise and wariness. It was the first time I’d ever heard the phone ring. I hadn’t even known the clubhouse had a landline.

Tech was the one who walked over and picked the receiver up from the cradle on the wall. “Hello?”

His back went ramrod straight as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the line. My stomach twisted when his head turned to look straight at me with a troubled expression. We all waited as he listened without saying a word. Thankfully, the call was brief, and Tech snarled out, “We’ll be there.”

He turned to the room and looked at Doc. “The Boogeymen are calling another meeting at The Warehouse. He wants every club to be there for an important announcement.” He glanced my way briefly, darting his eyes to my face, then looking away quickly. “He wants Red to be there, too.”

“Fuck no!” Doc shouted as several of the other men cursed. I stood there frozen in shock as what he was saying penetrated.

I stepped further into the room again. “Maybe he will trade Jack for me.” My words were quiet, but the bikers all heard by the way their curses got louder.

Doc stormed over to me and grabbed my shoulders, giving me a short shake as I stared up at his angry expression. He glared down into my face, his mouth tight in anger. “Never going to happen, Red.”

“But—”

He cut me off with another small shake. “No fucking buts. You aren’t going to be a fucking sacrificial lamb to these assholes. We will get Bones back, but you aren’t going to be handed over to the fucking Boogeymen. So get that thought out of your stubborn head. You got me?” His chest was heaving as he shouted at me, but he lowered his voice, speaking in a softer tone. “You have a baby to protect now. Jack would want both of you safe.”

I closed my eyes to hold back my tears. I thought about my baby and nodded. “Okay, Doc.” I wrapped my arms protectively around my stomach and whispered again. “Okay.”

“Good.”

I nodded and turned, walking away from the angry men who still ranted to each other in low, angry tones. I swiped the moisture on my cheeks away with the back of my hand and sniffled. I had to protect the life inside me. That meant I couldn’t save Jack, not by offering myself in trade the way he had. I needed another way. I thought of what I’d asked Daisy to do. She was my only hope. She had to come through for me. For Jack.

I pushed the door open to the office and waited until Zero followed me in to close and lock the door. I felt safe at the clubhouse, but I couldn’t stop myself from adding that extra barrier, flimsy as it was.

I lay back down on the couch and pulled the throw over me even though Doc had brought in a comforter earlier that evening. The comforter was thick and warm, but it didn’t have Jack’s scent on it.

I reached down to pet Zero, running my fingers through his scruff. He let out a small whine as he lay his head between his paws. “I know. You miss him as much as I do,” I whispered.

I could still hear angry voices out in the common room. Sometimes, there was shouting. Most of the time, it was just a noise in the background, like the hum of angry bees. It eventually lulled me back to sleep.

* * *

As I got dressed for the meeting that would be taking place in an hour, I carefully chose my outfit. There weren’t a lot of options, considering Doc had only grabbed essentials, but I kept in mind what would be happening.

Doc had informed me that everyone would be riding in on their motorcycles. Though it was bitterly cold, there was no ice on the roads, and it hadn’t snowed in the last few days. Apparently, going to an official meeting at The Warehouse necessitated a show of club force. The lack of ice meant it would be safe, even if the men would have to bundle up to protect themselves from frostbite.

I decided layers were the only way to go. I put a T-shirt on first, then a sweater over that, and would wear a borrowed jacket when we left. My pants were loose denim jeans, but I wore my tightest pair of yoga pants underneath for added warmth. My pants had deep pockets and were perfect for what I had in mind.

I had never stopped thinking that if I’d only had my gun on me while in the damn maze, Kara wouldn’t have been able to force me to go with her. I could have been an ally instead of a hindrance to the men when we were confronted by Oogie. Jack may not have been taken. When I saw my little purple gun in the duffle along with my clothes, I knew I would never leave the compound without it ever again.

I picked up the gun and ran my fingers over the smooth, shiny metal. The purple shone in the light, and I smiled for the first time in what seemed like years. My heart never stopped hurting, but seeing that present from Jack was a small bit of sunshine to what had turned into a drab and dreary world.

I turned the gun over to check that the safety was on before popping out the magazine. I checked the bullets the way Jack had shown me, and then I pushed it back in with the heel of my hand. I lifted the gun and looked down the barrel as I aimed. I narrowed my gaze on the gingerbread tree, focusing on only one of the cute ornaments, before lowering the gun.

With one last swipe of my fingers over the gleaming metal, I slid it into my pocket. I wasn’t going to face Oogie unprepared. I may have an entire club of bikers at my back, but I was going to have the means to protect myself. I was going to make Jack proud of me.

ChapterTwenty-Six

THE QUEEN OF NIGHTMARES

The ride was worse than I had expected. By the time we pulled into the dirt parking lot, I was frozen to the bone and wondered if I’d ever be able to feel my nose or cheeks again. Or my legs. I slowly slid off the back of Jack’s bike, holding on to the seat as I waited for my legs to start working again.

Doc had borrowed Jack’s motorcycle for the drive out to the meeting. Apparently, he had his own bike, but it was at his home. He felt it was easier to take Jack’s since it was sitting there, unused, instead of taking his out of storage. As much as I wanted to yell at him, to tell him to keep his hands off Jack’s things, what he’d said made sense. Besides, when I thought about it, I knew Jack wouldn’t deny his brother the use of his motorcycle. Others, perhaps, but not Doc.

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