“I’m headed there now. Jax and Rock are up there. I think Diablo is breaking necks with his fuckin’ bare hands downstairs. He threw his weapon down a while ago.”
“What the fuck?” Steel said as he entered one of the rooms.
“What can I say? The brother’s fuckin’ nuts. Gotta cover Jax and Rock.” Sangre dashed up the stairs.
Steel glanced around the room and saw a Demon Rider lying facedown in a pool of blood on the floor. He went over and nudged him with his boot, turning him over. The man’s dull eyes had the sheen of death in them, and he knew the dude was no more. Steel started to leave when he heard a small whimper and scratching on the floor. The sound was coming from the closet. He raised his weapon and flung open the door. A woman screamed and curled up in a ball as if to become invisible.
“You a club girl?” he said in a harsh voice.
Her brown head nodded. “Please don’t hurt me. I won’t say anything. Just pretend like you never saw me. I’ll never say anything. Just please don’t kill me.” She caught her breath and soft sobs shook her shoulders.
“How old are you?”
“Fifteen,” she said, her teeth chattering.
“What the fuck? What the hell you doing here?”
“I belong to Shack. I’m his woman for now.”
Steel felt his stomach twist.His woman. Fucking pervert. She’s younger than Chenoa, and Shack’s a few years older than me.“You from around here?”
She shook her head, her face still hidden in her arms. “No. I’m from Des Moines. Shack found me at another clubhouse. I used to hang there because my friend’s boyfriend was a member. They were playing poker and I was part of the bet. I lost and Shack won me.”
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. “You got family you can go home to?”
“Yeah. I never wanted to come here, but once I was here, I couldn’t leave.” She sniffled and raised her head slightly to wipe her nose.
“You stay in here.” He took out a wad of bills and threw five hundred dollars on the ground near her. “Take the money and get your ass back home. The goddamn badges will be coming, so you can wait for them or go it alone.” He backed away and walked to the door.
“Thanks.” Her small voice sliced through the rage and hatred that consumed him. He walked out of the room.
“All secure in there?” Sangre asked as he, Jax, and Rock came down the stairs from the attic.
Steel nodded. “The fucker in there’s dead. They all are up here. What about the attic?”
“Same,” said Rock. “I’m gonna go down and see if Banger and Hawk want me to do anything else.” He rushed down the stairs, taking them two at a time.
“Are any of our guys hurt?” Steel asked Sangre and Jax.
“I heard Crow and Army got hit. Don’t know how bad,” Sangre answered. “Not sure about the Insurgents. Did you hear anything?” He looked at Jax.
“Bones said Wheelie and Rags are in a bad way. They got them in the van with Doc.” Jax wiped his forehead with his gloved hand, leaving a smear of blood on it.
“Let’s get everyone together and get the fuck outta here. The badges will probably be coming soon.” Steel hurried down the stairs, then stopped when he saw a circle of Insurgents and Night Rebels around Banger and Dustin. Banger was bleeding from the mouth and nose; Dustin’s T-shirt was soaked in blood and he was holding his side.
“I’ve been waiting a fuckin’ long time for this, you sonofabitch,” Banger said as he stood in a fighter’s stance in front of Dustin. Steel saw a long sharp knife in his hands. “I’m gonna cut the life outta you slice by slice. You’ve been a fuckin’ pain in my ass for too goddamn long.”
“The problem with you is you let the power of being president of the national chapter get to your fuckin’ head.” Dustin lunged at Banger, a thin wail rising as Banger cut him straight across his upper torso.
“I gotta get to my men. Two of them are down,” Steel said to Hawk.
“I know. I got my brothers to take ’em to Doc. He’s fixing them now, but we gotta get the fuck outta here.” Hawk lifted his hand and several brothers scurried outside.
“Where’s Shack?” Steel asked.
“Throttle has him. Banger wants a go at him too.” Hawk chuckled. “Our prez has been waiting a long time for this day.”
“Do you think Banger would mind if I kill the bastard?” Steel cracked his knuckles.
