Chapter Six
Rachel
Pulling away from the Henchmen clubhouse, Rachel couldn’t help the lost feeling that invaded her. Was she doing the right thing? She honestly didn’t know. The further she rode, the more she wanted to turn back around.
Rachel had no idea where she was heading. Money wasn’t an issue. She could ride across the country several times if she wanted to, but that isn’t what she wanted. What she wanted was to turn around and go back home.
Home? she thought to herself. Was the Henchmen compound really home? Rachel had only been there a couple of years, but the answer was yes. The Henchmen had become family to her. The only one she really had. Rachel had her mom, kind of... She had her in secret. Like some of the Henchmen, Rachel’s mom was paranoid. She never told anyone, except her boyfriend, about Rachel. Or at least, that is what they thought. Two years ago, all that changed. Someone else knew about Rachel’s existence. And that someone wanted her. Actually, they wanted Rachel’s mother, but mom was a ghost. And how do you catch someone you can’t see? Go after the person that is most important to them - Rachel.
Making a left turn on West Commerce Street, just as the light turned red, Rachel noticed the black sedan behind her blew through it as well. A nervous feeling filled her. Was she being followed?
Stop being paranoid! Rachel chastised herself.
Using her blinker, she moved into the right lane. The sedan followed. Just a coincidence, she told herself. But her brain didn’t agree.
Rachel gassed her bike and shot across to the left lane, taking Fort Worth Avenue at the last minute. Looking in her mirror, she watched as the black sedan quickly followed her movements; it barely missed the divider.
Okay, she was definitely being followed. Rachel throttled her bike even harder. Weaving in and out of traffic. She had to get away from the car. She had to get somewhere safe.
You had safe. You left safe. Idiot! Rachel screamed at herself as she passed between two vehicles that couldn’t decide who was going to pass who.
Faster and faster she flew through town. Rachel kept up her speed long after the black sedan disappeared from her rear view. As Rachel entered Grand Prairie city limits, she finally sighed her relief. She knew she wasn’t totally safe yet. But she was clear, for now.
Pulling into the parking lot of an old diner, Rachel parked her bike on the side of the building. Walking into the eatery, she chose a seat next to the window. She needed help and there was only one person she knew to call. Pulling her cell phone from her jacket pocket, she pressed a few buttons and then listened as the call connected.
“Hey, kid.” Viper answered.
“I’m not a kid. And I need help.” Rachel wasn’t in the mood to waste time.
“What’s wrong?” Viper asked. Rachel could clearly hear the concern in his voice.
“I was being followed. I managed to lose them, though,” she told him.
“Where are you?” Viper asked. Rachel would have smiled if she wasn’t in her current situation. Viper was the one person she knew she could always count on.
“Grand Prairie. Pat’s Diner.” Rachel replied.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Do not leave, Rachel.” Viper ordered. Not that Rachel needed the order.
“I’ll be here,” she informed him.
“What’s going on?” Rachel heard Diesel’s voice in the background.
“Nothing. I just need to go out for a while. I’ll be back later.” Viper told him.
“Bullshit.” Sledge’s voice rang out loud through the phone connection.
“Rachel, I need to tell them something,” Viper sighed.
“You can’t!” she practically shouted. “Viper, they can’t know about my mother.” Rachel said in a quieter voice.
“Not that,” Viper said. “About our relationship.”
“Oh. Okay,” Rachel replied.
“I’m putting the phone on speaker.” Viper told her.
“Okay.” Rachel listened while Viper explained the relationship between the two of them.
“I’ve known Rachel since she was fourteen and I was appointed her guardian. Her mother and I have been dating for about five years. Even though she is now an adult, I am still responsible for her,” Viper explained to whoever was gathered around him at the clubhouse.
“So who is her mother?” Sledge asked.
“I’m sorry Sledge, but without talking to her first, I can’t reveal that information,” Viper said.
“Wait. You can’t tell us who her mother is?” It was Reaper’s turn to chime in.
“Correct.” Viper confirmed.
“Wow. Okay,” Sledge replied, curiosity clearly evident in his tone. “So what is the problem now?”
“Rachel said she was followed. She lost the tail, but now she is in Grand Prairie, sitting in a diner,” Viper relayed the information Rachel had told him.
“Eventually, I want to know what this is all about. You have been holding out on us Viper; and with everything that has happened lately, that doesn’t sit well with me. Do what you need to do, but Diesel goes with you.” Sledge ordered.
“No!” Rachel exclaimed.
“Not a request, Rachel. You want one of my men, then you get two. It’s either that, or none. Your choice.” Sledge left no room for arguments.
“Sledge, I can handle this on my own,” Viper offered.
“I said it wasn’t a request,” Sledge repeated. “It’s either you take Diesel with you, or leave your cut on the counter on your way out.”
“Are you serious?” Viper asked Sledge.
“Very.” Sledge’s voice carried a razor sharp edge. “You have gone behind my back. Kept vital information from me, and still are. Yet you expect me to trust you when obviously neither of you trust me?”
“Fine.” Rachel interjected. “I’ll take both.”
She didn’t want Viper losing his place in the Henchmen, not for her. And she knew better than to argue with Sledge. She’d never win.
“Okay, Rachel. Diesel and I are about to head your way,” Viper said.
“Yep.” Rachel was less than happy about Diesel tagging along. If anything happened to him, she’d never forgive herself.
“Stay put,” Viper reminded.
“Like I have anywhere else to be,” she retorted.
“Good,” Viper answered. “Love you, Kiddo.”
“Love you, too,” Rachel smiled.
Hanging up the phone, Rachel sat staring out of the window. She had no idea where she was going to go. Trying to think of her next move, she was startled by the ringing of her phone. Looking at the screen, the caller ID displayed ‘Unavailable’. The only person that could be was her mom.
“Hello.” Rachel answered on the second ring.
“What happened?” asked her mom.
“I left the compound and...” Rachel started, but was interrupted.
“Left? Why did you leave?”
“Because he found me, Mom!” Rachel exclaimed. “There are children there, remember?”
“I know that. But you would have been safer staying there. Sledge and the guys would never let anything happen to the kids or you.” Her mom had a point, but Rachel wasn’t willing to take any chances.
“Maybe not, but I couldn’t risk it,” Rachel explained. “Anyway, after I left I noticed I was being followed. I was able to lose the car, but now I’m at a diner in Grand Prairie. Viper and Diesel are on their way now.”
“Diesel? Why is he involved?” her mother asked.
“Because Sledge wouldn’t let Viper come without him. Mom, things are getting crazy. Sledge threatened to remove Viper’s cut if he left without Diesel.” Rachel still felt bad about that. She hated that Viper was in the middle, having to choose between her and the Henchmen.
“Did he really?” her mom asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Rachel answered.
“Wow. Okay. Then I guess Diesel is in.”
“What do you mean?” Rachel asked.
“Tell him the truth, Rachel.” Her mom explained.
“I can’t. If I do, he will know who you are. It’s too dangerous.” Rachel couldn’t understand why she was even explaining this to her mother - the queen of secrecy.
“He already knows who I am, just not entirely. Diesel is a great ally to have. Plus, he will help protect you,” her mom explained.
Rachel sighed in frustration. She made the mistake of telling one person about her mom, and it blew up in her face. Literally, the information got her hunted; hence why she was now sitting in an old mom and pop diner. Could she trust someone again with that information?
As if reading her thoughts, Rachel’s mom chimed in, pulling her back into the conversation. “Rachel, I am telling you - tell Diesel. Or I can call and tell him myself.”
“I’ll handle it, Mom.” Rachel didn’t know if that was true yet, but she didn’t want Diesel finding out the truth from her mother.
“Okay, honey. I better get off here and get back to work. I love you,” her mom said.
“I love you, too.” Rachel really did love her mother, but sometimes she hated the life she was born into.
Hanging up the phone, Rachel waved the waitress over and ordered a coffee and some lunch. She would be waiting for a bit, so might as well fill her stomach.