Page 63 of Bride for the Bikers

35

LIGHTNING

The first floorof Mesner's penthouse is an office, the whole floor open with windows giving a panorama view of the city. There’s only a few buildings that stand even taller, blocking his view. Bet those piss him off. Gotta love ‘em.

The room is set up for multiple people, but it’s clear which desk is Mesner’s. He has a whole fucking command station on a platform overlooking five other desks. With a big oak desk, fancy-ass chair and three computer screens around, it looks like he's the captain of a fucking spaceship. I can only imagine how much shit and pain has been planned from that chair. It makes me sick.

“He’ll be upstairs. That’s where he actually lives.” She points to a glass staircase that winds up to a landing on the next floor.

Harper starts heading that way, but I grab her shoulder. “Stay behind us. He’s going to be fucking jumpy. Don't want you to get hit if he panics.”

“Forget panic. I hope he’s shitting his fucking pants,” Thunder growls.

Outlaw laughs and heads up first, going slow. He's about halfway up when multiple doors slam shut all at once. We’re cut off from most of our backup aside from Havoc and Nitro.

Fuck.

“You really thought I didn't protect myself better than this?” Vincent's voice comes over a speaker system, taunting us. “I could play with you all day if I wanted.”

“Cut the fucking theatrics,” Shadow yells. “This isn’t going to go well for you. How about you give us the hostages, and we won't throw you over the side of the fucking building.”

“How about no. I don’t negotiate with monkeys trapped in a cage.”

“Nitro,” says Outlaw, still standing on the stairs. “The door up here doesn’t look anywhere near as sturdy as the one downstairs. Think you can crack it open?”

Nitro grins, never passing an opportunity to blow shit up. He bounds up the stairs two at a time. “Easy.” He analyzes the door, choosing specific points to stick explosive putty. “Get behind something.” That’s all the warning we get before he pulls out his phone and starts tapping. A series of small explosions make quick work of the door, rattling the whole room.

“Move!” snaps Shadow.

Outlaw’s closest to the top, but I'm already running, with Thunder and Harper right behind. Havoc and Nitro bring up the rear. We pop out into a short hall that opens into Mesner’s living space further down. Two bullets slam into the wall a few feet from where we’re standing, burying themselves in fancy woodwall paneling. Harper shrieks and jumps back, but no one gets hurt.

“Meeeeeeesner,” I yell. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

“Don’t come any closer. I've got my barrel trained on Eileen right now.”

“Mom,” Harper whispers in horror.

At least she’s still alive. Hopefully that goes for Carnell as well. “If you hurt any of them, it'll be the last thing you'll ever fucking do.” That’s a partial lie. No matter what happens, I'm gonna murder that bastard today, unless someone beats me to it.

“What’s out there?” Outlaw asks Harper. “Any cover?”

She frowns, thinking hard. “Um, there’s a seating area right past where the wall ends. I don’t remember the furniture exactly, but there’s at least a big couch and some chairs.”

“If you fucking get yourself shot again,” growls Shadow, “I'm gonna fucking kill you myself.”

Outlaw's grin is dark and humorless. “I'll hold you to that.” Then he launches himself, diving low into the room with a speed I couldn't match if I tried. I break shit, I don't dodge it.

More gunshots go off, splintering the hardwood floor. We all hold our breath for a second.

“Two guards. Mesner in back. He's got Eileen, and it looks like Carnell's tied up,” Outlaw yells.

“Why are you even here?” snaps Mesner. “Why are you risking yourselves? You already sent your fucking message. You want me to stop supplying to your territory? Done. None of this even involves you or your club.”

Thunder and I look at each other and nod. “That’s not enough anymore. It’s personal now.”

Mesner snarls. “Is it the girl? Fine! Take her. The only reason I bothered with her was to torment Nate. When the DNA test showed that Eileen's brat wasn't mine, it didn't take much to figure out he’d been fucking my woman. Had him roughed up a little too, for a sample just to be sure.”

Shadow whispers to Nitro, and gets handed something. I can't see what it is, but when Shadow walks past me, closer to the doorway, he says quietly, “Keep him talking. On three, we roll out there and find cover. Surround the fucker. Only one chance, though.”

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