Nineteen
I watched Sonny walk away. “He’s pissed,” I mumbled.
“He is a big boy, he’ll get over it,” Gia retorted. She reached down and adjusted the blanket around my chest. “I have some more bad news about Brom, Breech, and I wish I wasn’t the one that has to tell you about it.”
I turned my head towards her. “Lay it on me, babe. The more I know, the better prepared I will be to get her back.”
Taking a deep breath, she reached up and grabbed her braid, winding it around and around her finger. I reached over and closed my hand around her fingers. “It’s ok, Gia; whatever you have to tell me, it’s only going to help Jiji. I’m not a man that’s good with words, but that girl is the light in my life. I will do whatever I have to do, go anywhere I have to go ‘til I have her back safe in my arms.”
“I think your words are just right, Breech. I saw you with Jiji in the barn. I know by watching you together that you love her. It’s not that I don’t believe you or don’t want to help you, I just don’t know how to tell you,” Gia said.
“Just spit it out, Gia—close your eyes if you have to, just tell me what you know.”
She gripped my hand harder and turned her head to watch Sonny and Murph load the crates with the spilled weapons. “Brom Hensley is the devil in disguise. He treats women like playthings, he uses them ‘til they are unable to please him anymore, and then literally throws them away. Somewhere on that farm is his killing field.” Turning back to me, her bleak expression turned sorrowful. “I didn’t help those girls, Breech; I knew what he was doing and the one time I tried to help, Drake beat me. He said I would be next in Brom’s bed if I tried to intervene again. I was a coward; I tucked my tail between my legs and buried my head in a pillow when I heard them screaming. He liked it when they begged him to stop. He’s depraved, Breech.” She didn’t realize she was crying until I released her hand to brush the tears away.
Holding her chin in my hands, I cupped her cheek. “Gia, this is not on you. Men who hit women are not really men—they don’t deserve the title. Men who derive pleasure from hurting women sexually are even worse. Do not take what those two did on your shoulders. If you had tried to help those ladies, you could have landed in a worse situation than a beating. But believe me when I tell you that those people will be dealt with. The Devil’s Wind will see to it. My brothers and I will avenge those girls and bring Jiji home. Thank you for having the courage to tell me, Gia. It means a lot.” Spying Sonny behind Gia, I released her chin and carefully leaned up on an elbow so I could kiss her cheek. She blushed and behind her I saw Sonny’s lips tighten. Smiling to myself, I released her and lay back down.
The sound of motorcycles brought me up on my elbow again. I could feel the rumble of the ground under me; they were coming fast and there were many. Within minutes, several bikes were visible through the night mist. Sonny had gotten up and was waiting by my side when the first couple rolled up.
Boomer was the first one to reach me. He had his med kit slung over his shoulder. “You always seem to find the pretty girls, Breech. If I knew I would have such a beauty holding my hand, I guess I’d let myself get shot too.” He winked at Gia and she laughed.
Sonny came over and offered Gia his hand to pull her up. “Ok, Casanova, that’s enough; Breech needs you to patch him up so we can move out.”
Boomer laughed. “Message received, Sonny.”
Gia looked confused but didn’t say anything as Dukes and the rest of the boys walked up.
“Dukes, I want you to meet Gia,” Sonny introduced them. “She helped Breech until Murph and I got here. She was defending him from us with some kind of hook.”
“It was a hoof pick, and I had no idea if you were friend or foe. He was already shot—I wasn’t going to let you kill him,” Gia retorted.
Dukes laughed. “Spunky little thing, aren’t you,” he said, offering her his hand. “I’m Dukes, and these boys are part of my club, The Devil’s Wind. You’ve met Breech, Sonny, Murph, and Boomer. This here is Danko, Opry, and Gears.”
Each man stepped up and shook hands with her. Opry spoke up, “Thank you for helping our brother when he needed you. We kind of like his ornery hide.”
I heard Breech snort from behind me. “The pot calling the kettle black,” he yelled over to Opry. “Your slick southern manners won’t get you far with this little pretty, Opry. Plus Sandra would skin you alive, so move on, partner.” Everyone laughed while Opry just shrugged his shoulders and took Gia’s hand, kissing the back and releasing it again.
“I don’t care what they say, darlin’, my momma raised me to have good manners, and I can’t help my southern good looks, that’s just good genes.”
Sonny retorted, “Let’s just keep your genes out of this, boy! The lady isn’t interested.”
Gia turned to Sonny, hands on hips. “Excuse me, buddy, but I’ve been speaking for myself for many years, and I don’t need your help when someone is being nice to me.”
Dukes chuckled, “You tell him, girl; he could use a brush-up on his manners.”
Sonny snorted. “My manners are just fine. I’m not the one making a pass here, Dukes.”
Gia stomped her foot. “You listen here, Sonny, Opry was not making a pass at me, he was thanking me for helping your friend, and I think it was sweet.”
“Oh, come on, Gia, he’s a man and that good old boy charm is just a way for him to get in your pants.”
Gia charged forward and poked Sonny in the chest. “I just met the man, which makes it too soon for him to try and get in my pants, and even if he was, it’s none of your business.”
Sonny leaned down so he was face-to-face with Gia. “It is my business when he’s got a girl at home, and she wouldn’t take kindly to him flirting with you.”
Gia snapped right back, “He was not flirting, Sonny, so step off because you’re not my keeper.”
The boys started hooting as Sonny’s face turned red. Gia turned to Dukes. “I was hiding in the trailer when the tire blew and the whole thing started whipping around, and then finally tipped and stopped on its side. I heard some yelling and then three pops, then Jiji screamed, and some cursing. Then the bike drove off, and someone unhitched the truck and it took off as well. I saw Breech on the ground and went to see if he was alive. I put pressure on the wound, and was trying to figure out how to get him help when Sonny and Murph pulled up. There are two men—the driver Manny, and the handler Dave. One of them took Jiji, but I don’t know which. They work for Brom Hensley, who owns the farm where Breech and Jiji got the horses.”
No one interrupted Gia as she spilled out the story. All the levity of before was gone, and the guys listened intensely. She continued, “The night before they were supposed to leave, I saw a couple farmhands loading some crates into a secret compartment in the side of the trailer. I didn’t know what was in them until I overheard Manny and Dave talking during the drive.”
Sonny nodded at Murph and Gears. “You guys start loading those crates into the cage; we need to get moving.” Danko and Opry offered to help, but Sonny stopped them. “Those crates are filled with AK-47s.”
Dukes’s head snapped up. “The hell you say, Sonny?”
“Yeah, boss; Brom was running guns and using the horses as a cover. Plus, Gia had information about the man himself. Using the term loosely, and it isn’t pretty.”
The color drained from Gia’s face, and she seemed to shrink into herself. She crossed her arms across her chest and rubbed her arms like she was cold. Dukes noticed the gesture but didn’t comment on it. Instead, he gestured for them to help me to the truck and said, “Gia, thank you for stepping up and taking care of Breech until the boys could get here. If you are willing, we could use your help. We can use all the intel we can get before we launch an attempt to get Jiji back.”
Gia nodded her head. “I’d be happy to help, Dukes; that man has a few screws loose and he needs to be put in his place.”
“You go sit in the truck with Breech where it’s warm ‘til the boys get those crates loaded. Thank you, Gia.”
“You’re welcome, Dukes.” Turning to leave, she walked to the truck where they had taken Breech.
Dukes said, “Such a lot of courage in a little package.” His voice grew indistinguishable as he walked over and picked up a crate, helping the boys load up.