Chapter 18
Brody
Tyler received intel this morning that The Hell Keeperz MC have a temporary clubhouse in Pickton, a piss ant town that isn’t even big enough for a school. It has a diner that is on highway 11, a store that carries everything from worms to fish with all the way to plumbing items when you are in a bind, and then there is the small post office, blink and you will miss this place. The thing that it is rich with is churches. Some people still attend and others that have been abandoned. One of the abandoned ones is where the Hell Keeperz MC is setting up office temporarily. It is hidden back off a dead-end road. Tyler heard chatter on a citizen band radio he had started monitoring. The Hell Keeperz MC is either using technology that no one has their hands on yet or going back old school. I think that is why we haven’t been able to figure them out or find their location. Who would think they would be right under our noses. The only thing that old church could have going for it is that there is only one way in and one way out. That means they are ready to fight to the death. That doesn’t surprise me, I just can’t comprehend losing family and friends without a second thought. Not since we lost…no I am not going there.
We are held up about three miles from the old church waiting for enough backup that no one is going to escape this sweep. Rebel and the rest of the Demented Revengers MC from Quitman are making their way up through the woods. I would hate to be them making it through the humid woods, trying not to be detected. The woods are thick and is full of wild animals and snakes. The snakes are easier to handle than the wild hogs. A wild hog will eat a man alive if hungry enough, if there is herd of them no one man has a chance. I hear motorcycles pulling up behind us. I would have thought that they would have come in trucks or SUVs. The roar of the motorcycles can be heard before they arrive. I turn to watch the men dismount their bikes. I have wondered for a long time what it would be like to be free to just get on my bike and let the wind beat against my skin. I wanted that at one time, sometimes I still do. The thought brings me back to Jilly and Charity. Jilly slipped into a coma over two months ago. It was less than seventy-two hours that we found out how direly sick she was that we said our last goodbyes, and everyone was distraught and devastated but a peace fell over us, or at least Rebel and myself, as we let the wind blow her ashes out over the pond that we grew up fishing, swimming, fighting, and talking our hearts out at. It was bitter sweet, but it was fitting. Jilly was always mature for her age, but she also had a carefree streak through her. I hope when my times come that I am strong enough to pick the way I say good-bye to my loved ones. That brings my mind to Charity, she haunts my dreams. All I can see is the way her eyes looked after we were together, and I told her I wanted her to take the morning after pill. I will regret that until my dying day. I can’t keep the woman out of my mind. She has a pull on me that I can’t get away from. The only thing to keep me sane after Jilly died is work. I have done nothing but work on trying to find the Hell Keeperz MC and Charity. I am deep in thought and Chief brings me out of my haze of thoughts when he drives his bike right up next to me. This man and I do not see eye to eye on anything. I know he is here to help Cap, but damn he is a hard man. I wait for the man to get off his bike, but he doesn’t seem in any hurry. Cap pulls up beside Chief with Con beside him.
“Your woman has a bun in the oven that belongs to you.” Chief says with a smirk. Cap walks over beside me with Con right beside him.
“What are you talking about? Have you heard something about Charity?” I wait for him to answer.
“I’d like to know the answer to that one.” Cap has an edge to his tone. “Brody, you need to check your messages. Kaden has been trying to get in touch with you for a while. It must be the damn reception out here or where Kaden is, because he tried contacting Rebel also. Charity called him at work and told him that she is pregnant. Kaden didn’t say much else. He had a call out at the high school about a shooting with a drug deal involved. The whole damn town in Winnsboro is on lock down. They are letting no one in or out of the school except law enforcement. They have called in for backup from other counties and they activated the citizen deputies.”
“Charity and Faith will be driving through Winnsboro to get to Rebel’s clubhouse. They were attacked today in front of the mall.” Chief gets off his bike. Tito walks up to Chief. This man is quiet, but he is good at his job for the Feral Steel MC. I see another man walking towards us, I don’t think I have ever met him before.
“Chief, Sarge got some intel that they are going to hit the women and whatever men you have with them before they exit Interstate thirty, close to Winfield.” I want to know who they are getting their information from and how Charity is doing.
“Stop,” I look at Chief and he stares back at me. “is Charity and Faith alright, you said they were attacked and where are they and why didn’t you tell us you knew where they were?” I have started moving towards Chief, but Con steps between us.
“I want the damn answers to all those questions! What the hell is going on Chief?” Cap is yelling too.
“Cap, unless you are trying to alert these dumb asses that we are here, then we need to keep the voices to a small roar.” Chief and Cap both look at Con.
“Shut up!” They both say at once.
“Cap, I am here to repay an old dept. I am not a man that explains myself, but if you and Brody would give me the chance, I will let you know what I know. I was not privy to any of this information until this afternoon. Brain had a friend named Bubba that has a mechanic shop close to the clubhouse. Brain was helping a friend out. He put two and two together today when Bubba called him for some backup. Charity and Faith were coming out of the mall when a van of men pulled in front of them and tried grab the two of them. The girls weren’t so willing to go. They fought back. Charity shot three of them and Faith stabbed one. Faith’s eye is swollen almost shut where she took a hard punch. The doc came in and checked both women out, and they were given the okay. Faith was concerned because Charity took a hard over the shoulder drop onto concrete and the doctor said for her to take it easy” Chief is texting while he talks. “I sent Brain, backup, but not sure it will reach them in time. He has three prospects with him and ZMan.”
“Sarge and Stealth are in route too and they left the same time I did.” Shield adds.
“By the time the girls got to the shop, Brain and I had put together that this was the girl that we have looking for. She was right in under our noses and Brain helped get the identification they are using now and Brody,” Chief looks at me. “Charity is full of sass so beware. She argued with me on every damn thing until Faith made her see reason and she is determined to raise that baby on her own.”
“I’ll be damned. Charity is my woman and that is my child, end of story.” Cap and Chief both laugh, in fact I hear snickers from everyone.
“Brody, you may have been hanging around us for a while, but citizens do not live by the same rules that we do in our world. You have to have the woman’s consent before you put a ring on it.” Con laughs.
“Not in my world. Charity will come around when I show her the consequences of not listening.” I will make this work. I know I can’t get Charity out of my head and she is carrying my child, our child. Charity is having our child. I want this. I want all of it. No one is promised tomorrow.
“I don’t know if you have the balls to wrangle that one. She needs a strong man in her life that will cherish her and that sister of hers is a good girl and she has loyalty.” Then Chief’s eyes are off me, and on Cap. “Those two girls found out more information in one afternoon than we have in two months. The men in that van were a combination of the community men and the Hell Keeperz MC. The President of the Hell Keeperz MC is Glenn, the older brother of the man, Nic, that wanted to marry Faith when she was back in that community. I didn’t catch their last name, but I am sure Brain and Tito have it. Charity shot Glenn in the gut, so if he is here, then he is hurting. Nic was shot too and then one of his friends, Cin, was shot mid chest. Faith also stabbed that one in the leg and my best guess is if he is still alive he is on borrowed time. It looks like that community of people have joined the Hell Keeperz MC and they are determined to get those two girls back.”
“Then I guess that I will be forced to kill them all because no way are they touching Charity or Faith ever again. They are under my protection.” I speak directly to Chief.
“Let’s quit our gabbing and hit this church. There’s no way they are all here, so we will have more hunting to do, but this additional information will get us some answers. We need at least one of the men inside that building to be brought out alive, so we can question him.” Cap turns to walk away. Chief steps over to the guy Shield. They have their heads together and then Shield walks back to his bike and leaves. I catch up to Cap and Con, just as Con’s phone goes off.
“Rebel’s in place and waiting our lead. He hears us going in the front then he is hitting the back and both sides.” Cap considers what Con has said.
“Con, you and Brody come in on the second wave.” I don’t know what Cap is playing at. “A lot of these old churches have cellars since this area is hit with tornadoes in the springtime. The thing is, the inside of the church has doors that go down to the cellars. They could have the outside doors covered with dirt or leaves or anything that will cover and not be too heavy to move. That would give them a way out and come up behind us or just escape. Either way, it is not an option we want to leave open for them. Con you watch the right side and Brody, you the left, take cover behind the trees. If someone comes running, shoot them, try for the knees or anything to slow them down and not kill them. We need answers to questions, and we can’t get them from dead men.” As we make our way the closest we can to the front with cover, Con goes to the right and I go to the left. Instead of taking cover behind the tree, I climb the thing and get into a position that I can’t be easily noticed. I see as Chief kicks in the door and Cap is right behind him rushing in the door. I hear shots from the back of the church. I look down at Con and his eyes are on the side of the church. I can see all the way to the back of the church and there are men trying to run into the woods after they are coming out of the windows and they are being shot down. Then I see the grass move to the side of the church, at first, I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. It’s on Con’s side of the church. I give out a bird call and Con looks at me and I motion to him. I shimmy down the tree, so I can be a better backup for him, and then all hell breaks loose. The camouflage that was covering the cellar door is flung back and four men are trying to escape. Con puts a bullet in the first two before I can get in position. The two remaining men go in two different directions. Con goes after the first one and I take off after the other one. The man I am chasing is at the wood line and I aim and shoot until I only have one left in the chamber. He goes down hard. I approach carefully, but the man is not moving, and I am guessing that he is dead, but I am careful on my approach to him. I keep my gun on him and try to keep my eyes on my surroundings at the same time, I still hear gunfire, so I know the fight is not over yet. I kick the man’s boot. He’s wearing a cut, so I know he is a member of the Hell Keeperz MC. I change my clip in my gun and roll the man over on his back. I have seen this man before. It’s Titan, the Enforcer for the Hell Keeperz MC, he is one of the men that was at the old farmhouse that Rebel, Charity, and I were held at. I check for a pulse but he’s dead. I take his phone, keys, and wallet from his pockets. I stick everything in my pockets and retrace my steps back to the front of the church and Con is still fighting with the man he went after. The man has no cut on, but I see when he pulls a knife. I shoot him in the side of the knee cap. He goes down to one knee and Con hits him on the side of the head as he is falling. He drops the knife. I look at Con and I see he is barely containing his anger. I walk over and kick the knife away and push the man back from Con.
“You filthy idiots are going to die, by now they should have Charity and Faith and it will only be a matter of time before the Demented Revengers MC will be history. Do you not think that we knew you were coming? We’re the damn diversion and by the time all of you get back to Tyler and Quitman there will be no clubhouses for you to go back to. You’ll be too late!” The man spits at Con. Con backhands the man before I can stop him. I am tempted to do the same. We found the bombs that were planted in both clubhouses before we ever left this morning. Stealth went over the clubhouse in Tyler and Sarge searched the clubhouse in Quitman. We also found the three people who were responsible for planting them and who has been messing with both club’s security systems. Cap and Rebel just hopes that is as far as it goes. Rebel lost one of his patched brothers, one he trusted and who has been with him for many years, Tango. The other two had good covers, because who would be looking at club girls to know anything about bombs. Most of the women they keep around the club for sex are only there for sex with a biker or a good party, or have nowhere else to go, either way they are not asked to stick around the clubhouse for their brains. I’m not judging what happens in either clubhouse if it is consensual on both sides. Their real identities were well hid also. Both women, Abbi and Lisa, were both from the same community that Charity came from. We have all have been more concerned about the Hell Keeperz MC, but we should have been more focused on that damn community, who calls their home community? It’s not even a name just community. I am distracted by what other mistakes we may have made. I hear someone walking up on us and I turn to see who it might be, and Cap and Chief are walking out of the house towards us.
“Who do we have here?” Cap asks. The man glares at Cap and I think that Cap may recognize him. “You did work on my farm. Did you kill my woman’s animals?’ The man smirks.
“That was a sweet job, especially when she called to get me to help with the clean-up and I got to get the satisfaction of seeing dear Lil’s agony. She was inconsolable. How many times do you think your wife will go through that again, because I can tell it is going to get worse before it gets better? The next time what or who will she be cleaning up; will it be dead loved ones? That Katie is one sweet looking bitch, even when she is knocked up. It’s too bad when she had that little accident on the way back from the doctor that it didn’t take care of the little bastard. Where are Lil, Katie, and Shine today?” The man sounds like he is deranged. Both Con and Cap grab for the man but Chief and I stand between the two men and the man on the ground. Con steps back and starts walking in a circle and takes his phone out and starts texting. Cap is staring the man down. The man tries to stand up but Chief pushes him back down. “Do you think that your family is any safer? What do you have to lose Chief? That young wife at home with your three young sons. Then how many grandkids do you have running around now, is it five or six? That’s right, that daughter of yours has spit out four with another on the way and Tazer has one. It seems you might have a lot to lose. You see when we are finished with the Demented Revengers then your club is next, fair warning. You can’t stop us.” Chief laughs and the man’s attention is on me.
“Brody what do you have to lose? Your mom and dad, your cousin and his family, good old Sheriff Samms. Don’t worry by the end of the day the Sheriff’s office will be history.” He looks at his watch. “This is going to be the worse day in your life today. Unless you count the day your cousin, Jilly died. Too bad Charity and her never had the chance to meet, they could have compared notes in the man that is called Brody, badass Marine and bounty hunter. How big do you feel right now?” I try to control my temper. This man has given us information when he has been spitting his poison at us and it is the only reason he is not dead already.
“We’ll be the ones walking away from this and you will not.” I tell the man through gritted teeth. The man laughs. I look up and Con is still pacing and texting. Then he looks up and stops.
“Done.” Con says, and I have no idea what he is talking about. I look at Chief and Cap and they are giving nothing away.
“We have played enough, time to let this fucker in on some truths instead letting his head play in his own little world. The bombs that were planted by Tango and his sisters were found. Bombs have been disarmed and Tango and his two sisters booked one-way tickets on a non-stop train to hell, after they spilled all the info about the events that your group had planned for today. The bomb at the Sheriff’s office was taken care of too. The President of Hell Keeperz, Hack or Glenn, whatever you call him, is dead in that church along with Richard Denson, one of your leaders. All of our families are protected and in a safe place.” Chief is right. They put all our family except for Kaden in an old armory and they are heavily guarded, and the place was searched for bombs. It’s not owned by any of the clubs. Dad has owned it for years and he is trying to make a war museum out of it. All the insides are still in decent shape, and useable for defense, but no one would know to look there. I am still worried about Kaden who wouldn’t leave his job and then there is Charity and Faith. I’m not sure where Chief has his family, but I know he is not leaving their safety to chance. I need to find Charity and stick to that woman like glue until she is at the armory. I see Rebel and Cue Ball walking towards us.
“How many Hell Keeperz club members are dead?” Cap asks.
“Nine and four without cuts. There was a dead man in the back room that was shot in the chest. I am guessing that is the one Charity took out earlier. He’s not wearing a cut and then there was the President that you found so that brings the total to ten and five.” Rebel answers. “We have two men to take back and question. The Hell Keeperz secretary, Beef, and Stuart Benson.”
“Leave my dad alone. He’s not a well man. If you cowards need a person to threaten and beat, then I am your man, but leave my dad alone.” The man on the ground winces in pain as he talks. If his leg keeps bleeding the way it is, he’ll bleed out sooner rather than later.
“Well, well, well, looks like we are going to have fun finding out if the son talks to save the dad or if the dad talks to save the son. Maybe neither really give a fuck about each other. I am feeling no loyalty in this group of people. You have now given me a real entertaining evening to look forward to.” Chief has an evil look on his face.
“Titan, their Enforcer, is dead close to the wood line back there.” I point towards the heavy clump of trees. I dig his possessions out of my pockets and hand to Cue Ball. I know I should feel regret for killing Titan, but I don’t. His club members are hunting my woman and I would kill every damn one of them to keep her and our child safe. “I’m going to find Charity. I can’t wait any longer.” The three Presidents look at me and then at each other.
“Cue Ball get Phil Benson out of here but keep him separated from the other two.” I don’t know whose head swings faster, mine or Phil’s. It seems I have been kept out of the loop. I wait until Cue Ball has the man out of hearing distance.
“What else are you keeping from me?” Rebel turns to me. He knows I am pissed.
“Sarge gave us a dossier this morning. He sent it to just us three, no one else knew but us three and him. We are playing it close to the vest, so our families are protected, and that includes your family. We have names of most of the community members and the Hell Keeperz MC. We all know that the community members all moved in the middle of the night. What we didn’t know is that they are in Hopes Landing with the biggest part of the Hell Keeperz MC. They are reorganizing their community with one that already exists on a hundred acres that has the Hell Keeperz MC clubhouse on it. This is the original Hell Keeperz, not some watered-down version. The community that was already established along with the Hell Keeperz comes to about a hundred and twenty members. Now most of those are workers but they are trained as well as Charity and Faith are. After we get todays situations taken care of then we are going to reach out to every Demented Revengers club and our friendly clubs that help us out and we are going to take them out. We’ll see how they like bombs planted in their homes.” Rebel looks at Cap and I know there is more.
“Just spit the rest of the shit out.” I tell Rebel. Chief moves closer to me.
“Either Shane or Tyler one is on their payroll. Since they are your partners we thought you would know the two of them better than anyone. The information we got came from your office computer. You were on the road looking for Charity and running leads on the Hell Keeperz, so we know it is not you, but without taking the two in for questioning them one on one then we have no way of knowing which one. We confiscated your computers this morning.” Rebel stops talking waiting for my response.
“You investigated me? I want to find Charity and bring her home and I want to keep my family safe, is there something wrong with that?” I know we are being extra careful and the thought of one of my men betraying me is overwhelming, but I can’t help to let my frustration be known.
“Everyone of us was checked out, even Gracie and Ma. We were also making sure that there was no false evidence that they planted so one of us could be caught with our pants down. That’s one way we found out about Tango and his sisters. Tango has false identification. He paid someone for it before he ever joined the club. Our regular background checks didn’t catch it. Sarge has connections with the military and had all the backgrounds redone and they dug deeper. Tango was born in a place like Charity and so were his two sisters. His two sisters were not smart enough or didn’t have enough money to get the better prepared papers for their identification. When we confronted the women, they turned on Tango and when we showed Tango we had his sisters tied to chairs he tried to bargain for their lives by giving us information on everyone they had ties to.” Rebel looks at Cap again. “Kaden was confronted by a gang of boys at the middle school this morning. He is in the hospital, but he is going to be fine. We have guards on him and as soon as he is released they will update us.”
“They Hell Keeperz’s pushers were at the school selling again and the school called the Sheriff’s department and Kaden was the one that caught the call out. They think he has a concussion, but they are running test.” Rebel stops talking like he is trying to find a way to tell me the next part.
“When we were in the church we were informed that Charity and Faith were taken by the Hell Keeperz and Brain is dead. Shot through the back of his head and left to bleed out on Interstate 30, ZMan went down hard but he was able to get Brain’s bike going and he is on their tails.” I see the pain in Rebel’s eyes and hear the hurt in his voice. Brain was Chief’s tech guy, but he was here doing work for the Demented Revengers MC when needed. I am filled with hate. I hate the Hell Keeperz MC and Charity’s family. I am going to save my family and I head for my truck, but Con grabs my hand.
“They’re not finished yet. Just hear them out and then I will go with you to look for your woman. This is important.” I look at the man and I don’t know much about him, but he seems sincere and if there is more I need to hear I will listen.
“What else?” I look at Rebel. I know he will be the one to tell me.
“Tyler was killed inside. I don’t think they would have shot him if he was the insider, so beware of Shane. I guess Faith was able to write a note and she put under her seat. Sarge said that the only thing it said was Nic, Pop and SAA. I think she might be trying to tell us who took them. Stealth texted that two of the prospects were killed and their bodies are in Mt. Vernon. The other one laid his bike down and he is in surgery right now. He wasn’t wearing a helmet and when he slid across the Interstate it took his skin off his head. They are trying to repair that, and his leg and collar bone are both broken. The hospital is giving Sarge and Stealth updates. Sarge said he was his brother. The three bodies are being taken to the morgue a little later. There were deaths on the other side also but Sarge told them he wasn’t concerned about them and just burn the bodies. Another car of people said that the two women were taken in a black SUV.” Chief finishes. “I am sending you both, Sarge and Stealth’s numbers. Meet them and get your woman back.”
“Rebel go with him. We have this. Con you go too and keep us updated.” I know I should be mourning Tyler and I will, but right now my woman needs me.
“Let’s go. I am in my truck.” We all turn to leave but Rebel stops.
“My bike is in the woods behind the church, but it would take too long to get to. Make sure my boys get it home.” Rebel is looking at Cap. Cap shakes his head affirmatively but him and Chief are already in a deep discussion.