I jumped out of the truck. “Elena!”
My woman turned a startled gaze my way before focusing on the idiot with the gun. She kept ranting, and I couldn’t make sense of it at first.
“You couldn’t just marry him? You ruined everything! We had a plan. It was all a done deal, then you went and fucked it up,” the woman screamed.
I caught movement from the side of the clubhouse that was still mostly standing. I couldn’t make out who it was, but he was wearing Devil’s Fury colors. When he turned back around and I saw the rifle, I knew exactly who was there. Only Steel had a 12 gauge like that one. The crack of the rifle echoed around us as the woman fell to the ground. I didn’t even stop to see if she was dead, just went running straight for Elena.
“I told you to fucking hide,” I yelled as I jerked her into my arms. My heart was about to beat out of my chest.
“I didn’t have a choice,” she said. “Shella was out there. One of your guys got her away when I distracted Martha.”
“Martha?” I asked.
“Martha Simms. She went to our church. I didn’t even realize she was that close to Garrison, but if any of her ramblings were to be believed, she was in on it with him. How many people are involved in this? Is the entire church in on it?” she asked.
“I don’t know, angel. I’m just thankful as fuck that you’re all right. I nearly had a heart attack when I realized you were in trouble.” I hesitated a second, not wanting to scare her further. “Any idea how she knew where to find you?”
“She didn’t say. I didn’t have a phone she could track. I thought I turned off the GPS thing in my car. How else could she have done it?” she asked.
I didn’t know, but I’d love to find out. Although, if we settled this issue, then it wouldn’t matter if anyone knew where she was because she’d be safe from these assholes.
“Is anyone else concerned that Blades was right behind us but didn’t come through the gates?” Beau asked as he walked over. “Or the fact Wire and Lavender could have been in the clubhouse?”
Steel joined us, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. “Bike flew past right as you came barreling through the gate. Guessing it was Blades, in which case, he saw something you missed. We’ll probably get a call for a clean-up soon. Wire and Lavender took their kid home already. Left about ten minutes after y’all drove off. As for you two, Slash said he still needs you. Reinforcements are heading our way, and part of the Hades Abyss are joining you in Oklahoma.”
I held Elena tighter, knowing there was no damn way I could leave her here. Not with the gates wide open and the clubhouse blown apart. I still wasn’t sure what had happened, but it seemed I didn’t have time to ask questions right now.
“Take her with you,” Steel said. “The Boneyard crew is offering spots to the women for now, but I know you won’t sleep easy with her so far away. Not with all the shit circling her. Havoc, Jackal, and Stripes are coming to get Meiling and the others.”
Beau started back for the truck. “I’ll take you to your house so Elena can pack a bag. I’ll drive to Bryson Corners. She needs you right now.”
Normally, I’d smack the shit out of him for giving orders, but he was right about my woman needing me. I kept an arm around her as I led her over to the still-running vehicle. I opened the back door and helped her in, then got in right next to her. It didn’t take long to pack a week’s worth of clothes for her, and any other essentials she needed, then we were back on the road. I remained in the back so I could keep her calm.
This shit was getting ridiculous. Whatever it took, we had to put a stop to Bastard and Shepherd.
Chapter Eleven
Elena
I didn’t know what I’d expected of the trip to Bryson Corners, but the Savage Raptors’ compound wasn’t like anything I’d seen before. Sure, they had a clubhouse like the Devil’s Fury, and I had no doubt there were wild parties there too. They also had a garage where they worked on their bikes, enough homes for their members, a group of three duplexes that seemed to be used for guests, and a small building that I’d been told had studio apartments for the Prospects and a few of the club girls. They’d spared my delicate sensibilities by not calling them whores or sluts. I’d barely refrained from rolling my eyes when they tried to put a different spin on exactly why those women were here.
Their club was bigger than I’d thought it would be. Since the Devil’s Fury felt like they needed to help, I was expecting small numbers. I’d never remember all the people I’d met so far. I lost count after about the fifteenth patched member, and I knew they had at least another twenty, plus all the Prospects. Outlaw had refused to leave my side, and kept muttering something about me not having a property cut yet. Not that I thought he had to worry. He’d done just about everything except pee on me to make sure everyone knew I was off-limits. It would have been cute if hadn’t been so damn annoying.
My stomach was in knots already because I knew that Garrison was somewhere nearby, and my foster father too, most likely. Since Martha had come for me, I had to wonder if they knew their operation had been blown apart. She’d said I messed everything up. I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. It could have been something as simple as they needed another woman to replace me, or it could have meant they knew the club was on to them.
“Outlaw, you’re the one who first discovered this mess. We need you to go into Church and tell them how it all started,” Slash said.
Outlaw’s hand tightened on mine and I knew he was about to refuse. I wasn’t sure what was and wasn’t allowed. I tried to make eye contact with Dingo, hoping he would understand Outlaw’s fear of releasing me and find a solution. He finally noticed what must have been a panicked expression on my face and he hustled over from where he’d been talking to two Raptors.
“What’s going on?” Dingo asked as he stopped in front of us.
“I need Outlaw to head into Church with the Raptors,” Slash said.
Dingo’s gaze dropped to where Outlaw was gripping my hand. I was starting to worry I’d lose feeling in my fingers. For someone who said their hands didn’t work that great, he sure did have strength when he needed it.
“Elena can hang with me while you go take care of that,” Dingo said. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
Outlaw reluctantly released me. I leaned up to kiss his cheek and watched him walk off with Slash. Flexing my hand, I stared at my fingers and wondered when the tingling sensation would go away. Dingo laughed softly and slung his arm around my shoulders, leading me back over to the men he’d been talking to.
“Elena, this is Stinger and Truth. Guys, this is Outlaw’s woman,” Dingo said, motioning to each as he introduced them.
Truth eyed me up and down. “She’s not marked.”
Marked? Did he mean the property thing? Or was I supposed to wear a damn sign that said I belonged to someone?
“We don’t necessarily ink our women,” Dingo said. “They can get a property stamp if they want one, but we only make them wear a cut. Hers just hasn’t been finished yet.”
“And he let her come here?” Stinger asked.