Page 76

Tiny

“What do you need now?” Locke demanded as I went back into the building. I’d left Meadow by my bike, telling her I needed to speak to Locke about something.

“Chill’s been kidnapped. Inglorious thinks it’s the underground ring. If anything happens to Chill, you’ll have nowhere to run.” I leaned forward. “You think the war spilt blood in Rapid City? The allies will chase any trace of illegal enterprise out of our fuckin’ state. This is the wrong time for games, Locke. If you’ve any idea where Chill’s been taken, speak now.”

Locke stared back. His face held its usual blank expression, but his eyes were molten lava. Locke didn’t appreciate my threat and wanted to challenge it. But he understood I’d spoken the truth. The Unwanted Bastards and their allies, including my own club, would tear the state apart. We wouldn’t care who your boss was or what illegal stuff you were into; we would burn it down and put you six feet under. And Locke understood that.

He turned to Greg, who was staring passively at me. “Tell him.”

“We sent back Pickman’s head and hand to Marker; this might be a revenge move.”

“That ain’t what I asked. Do you have any fucking leads?”

Locke paused for a few moments; his reaction told me everything I needed to know. He had something and was undecided about sharing.

Intending to tip Locke’s hand, I pulled out my cell and unlocked the screen. “This is your last chance, Locke; tell me what you’re hiding, or war will be declared on the underground.”

I’d give Locke his due; he kept his face impassive. Being threatened with the full weight of the allies didn’t happen every day. My comfort in making the threat told Locke everything he needed to know. I wasn’t bullshitting.

“Pickman had a cousin with the same surname, but he goes by Pick. Track him, and you’ll find Chill,” Locke replied finally.

“Do you know where Pick is hiding?”

“Yes.”

I waited a few seconds for Locke to elaborate. This was The Psychos power move. He’d been forced to give information he hadn’t wished to; now Locke wanted me to beg for more. Any other time, I’d have waited Locke out. But this was urgent, and I needed the info an hour ago.

“Locke,” I growled out.

“We have a rough area, but we’ll need more than those of us present. As it stands, we are only twenty minutes away. They’ve been using an arena. Get whichever of your brothers and allies are closest to meet us here. We leave in a quarter of an hour,” Locke said.

“Chill might not have that long.”

“That is a risk we’ll have to take. Are you forgetting we have Chill’s woman with us? Should Ms Hall accompany us to a fight?”

I looked at Locke; sometimes I fucking hated this prick.

Chill

Isak punched my ribs again before stepping back. I’d let him land a few blows, but Isak was holding back. So far, I hadn’t hit him; I wouldn’t hurt Chap’s nephew. All I had done was defend myself against his attacks. Isak knew who I was. His control spoke volumes.

He came in close, and I yanked him into a hug. “The club will come for us. Drag it out, kid.”

Isak didn’t respond and punched me in the ribs again. I stumbled back, ignoring the boos from the crowd. Pick was clearly furious, shrieking at me to fight and be a man, but I wouldn’t acknowledge him. Finally, after ten minutes, Pick had enough. He rose and screamed at the guards.

“Use the cattle prods until he fights back, and if he doesn’t fucking fight, then he dies screaming in his own piss and shit like the dog he is.”

Several of the guards moved forward, including the asshole who’d already electrocuted.

I caught Isak’s eye; this was when we needed to make our move. As number one lunged, eager to electrocute me, I spun away, grabbed the cattle prod, placed an elbow in his face and took his weapon. Seconds later, I shoved it in his mouth and turned it on full. It was lights out for that fucker.

A second guard attacked as the others looked surprised. That gave Isak the chance he needed. He moved on his nearest opponent and disarmed him, much like I had. Now we were both armed, and the approaching assholes were moving cautiously. From the stands, Pick screamed orders, and the others began moving towards us. Isak and I knocked out the closest pair and stood back-to-back.

They attacked en masse, like the cowards they were, and it was frantic for minutes. But they weren’t fighting for their lives; Isak and I were. After several more hit the ground, the rest of the guards jumped back. That was their mistake. Some of the fallen carried handguns. In a smooth move, I bent down, grabbed, and began firing. The reaction was instantaneous; they fled, and Isak and I picked them off one by one.

Then we faced Pick and friends in the stands. Pick was screaming at the three guards standing with him.

Isak didn’t hesitate, took aim, and the three of them hit the ground with bullets in their heads. We turned together and faced Pick, murder in our eyes.