Chapter 20

Dart

So that was their fucking plan. Yeah, we go missing, and what would Drum have done? Snake would have had him all worried and concerned, and the Tucson prez would have rounded up the troops and sent brothers to help the San D crew search. Then when they disappeared, Drummer would have sent more. Fuck, the club would have been decimated without a clue who their real enemy was. He’d have probably sent Wraith and Peg first, who’d have walked straight into a trap.

“Finish him, Mouse.” He’s got no more to tell me, and I’m sick of looking at his face. As the gun shot sounds behind me, I focus my attention on Snake, knowing he’s living up to his name, a snake in the fucking grass. “Why?” I ask, as I approach him. “For the love of fuckin’ God, why?”

Snake shrugs, but keeps his mouth shut.

“Gotta warn, Drum, Brother.”

Yeah, we sure have. “Bring him.” I turn toward Alex, worried sick she’s had to be here and watch this shit going down. “You okay, doll?”

Her arms are wrapped over her chest, and she looks drained. I need to get her somewhere safe, and fuckin’ fast. And find out what the hell’s happened to her son. As Slick leads Snake out through the warehouse, I go to help Alex, but she shrugs off my hand. Mouse nods at me, then sweeps her up into his strong arms. He must have noticed, like I had, she’s dead on her feet and clearly hurting. As well as in shock, a woman like her isn’t used to violence and blood.

Emerging into the brilliant sunlight, I see the truck we were brought in, and Snake’s bike. Crossing over to it I open his panniers. Hell yeah. I find some zip ties. They’ll do. Slick realises my intention and pulls Snake’s arms together. While I’m making sure they’re tight, I thank fuck Fang and Gator had been such amateurs as to use rope on us. These ties are nigh on impossible to get out of.

Putting my hand into his cut, I pull out a phone then push Snake into the back of the truck. Without being told, Slick sits in the front passenger seat, his body turned toward the back, and the gun still trained on Snake as a threat to make him behave.

“You want to drive and have me bring Alex on the bike?” Mouse asks.

The only one riding up front with Alex behind is going to be me. I shake my head, then wave the phone. “Can’t put this off. I’m gonna ring Drum.”

As Mouse nods in understanding, I place the call.

“Dart. We got a problem.”

“What the fuck, Prez? How…?”

“Jesus Christ! Shit. Really?”

“What’s your ETA?”

“One thing you need to know, Prez. Snake…”

“What the fuck you mean you know already?”

“Christ!”

“Mouse, com’ere. You can work this shit. Can you give Prez the co-ordinates of where we are?” As I pass over the phone, Mouse takes charge and is soon handing it back. “Texted him the info.”

“What’s happenin’, Dart?”

I’m still shaking my head in disbelief. Keeping a careful eye on the unwilling passenger in the back, Slick slides out of the truck. I walk towards him, and Mouse follows. “Alex, come ‘ere, doll. You’ll want to hear this.”

“Tyler?” There’s a look half of hope, half of despair in her eyes.

“Prez is on his way here. As well as a fuck load of brothers.”

Slick looks suspicious. “Snake give him a call?”

“Nope. Not Snake.”

Mouse and Slick exchange mystified looks, so I put them out of their misery. I put my arm around Alex and hug her to me, this time not allowing her to pull away. “Tyler. Fuckin’ Tyler. Kid somehow sussed there was somethin’ wrong. Hid himself and somehow got hold of a phone. Called his aunt, who somehow got him through to Drummer. They’ve been rollin’ for the past few hours. They should be here soon.”

“Tyler’s okay?”

Now comes the hard part. “He was okay when Drummer spoke to him. Drum told him to stay hidden. He’s a smart kid, Alex. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“I want to go to him.”

“Just hang on for a bit until the others get here. Prez will have some kind of a plan.”

With her arms supporting her sore chest, she pulls away from me and stomps around to the driver’s side of the truck.

“Hey!” Mouse has got to her before I can, gently turning her away before she can get inside. “Hang on a minute, babe. Prez will be here shortly, and we’ll go get your boy back.

The tears rolling down her face feel like a punch in the gut. I take a few steps that close the distance between us. As I lift my hand to her face, she pulls away. Grasping hold of her chin, I pull her back around, forcing her to look at me. “Listen to me. Alex, I can’t tell you how fuckin’ impressed I am with your boy. Somehow, fuck knows how, but he got a message to the prez, who’s on his way here right this very moment. You heard what Gator said—as well as Snake—there’s at least seven other brothers involved in whatever the fuck this is. Mutiny, takeover. Fuck, I don’t even know what to call it. We storm into the club and might get taken out before we can even reach him. Just give us a minute to regroup, yeah? Hear what Drum has to say. He’s the prez of the mother chapter for a reason, and you can bet your fuckin’ life he’s spent every one of those four hundred miles he’s been ridin’ thinkin’ on how to play this.”

“I’m scared.” Her voice sounds small, lost. The phone call had given her some hope, my delay seeming to take it away again.

I can do nothing but pull her into my chest gently, so as to not cause her pain, and smooth my hands up and down her back. “I promise you, Alex, gettin’ Tyler back safe is the top fuckin’ priority.”

The roar of pipes coming up the road echoes like thunder around the deserted buildings. Fuck me, Drum must have been pushing it, he’s made the six-hour drive in just under five. I feel a wave of relief that no one’s looking to me any longer, more than happy to take my place back the middle of the pack, glad to be shrugging off the officer role. I’m still holding Alex as they drive up, only letting her go when Drum kicks down his stand.

I walk over to him slowly as he dismounts and puts his shades in his cut. “Brother.” At his greeting I smartly step forwards, grasping his hand and pulling him close, exchanging mutual slaps on the back. I doubt I’ve ever been so pleased to see my prez before. As I move away, Slick takes my place, and then Mouse, as I move down the line, greeting my brothers who’ve come to our aid.

Blade’s taking out his smokes and, without being asked, offers the pack to Slick and myself. Fuck me, that’s welcome. I’d lost mine somewhere along the line. I take a long drag, feeling the nicotine going to my head after all the hours of abstinence. Then I turn and see Alex gesticulating at Drum.

He’s got his arm around her shoulders, but his eyes are on the man in the truck, and such a cold look comes over him it even makes me shiver.

“Prospect?” Road steps up. “Keep an eye on him, will ya?”

“Sure thing, Prez.”

“Rest of you buggers, let’s get into the shade. Been a hot, dusty trip.” One by one we follow him into the warehouse.

“Gator’s dead,” I start to explain. “Fang probably is too by now.” I lick my dry lips. “Gator gave us the names. Seven of the bastards are in it with Snake.”

“Who?”

I tell Prez.

Wraith snarls as Peg spits on the ground. “Fuckin ‘disloyal assholes.”

Blade stubs out his light on the sole of his boot and throws the dead end away. “How we going to play this, Prez?”

Drum looks at Alex. “Your lad’s done good. Hid himself away under yer bed. Got hold of a phone and called his aunt, who called the strip club, who called me. I got back to him and he told me what he knew.” He points to me. “When yers were taken, he ran back inside. His first thought to get to the brothers to get help. But he heard his dad’s voice, so made himself small. He heard what was said. Snake was tellin’ Thompson that you,” he breaks off and turns to the woman at his side, “Alex, were as good as dead. That’s when he decided to hide. And fuck me, he thought of comin’ to the club for help.” Again he pauses, gives a short laugh and shakes his head. “Six fuckin’ years old and he makes the right call. Gave us a head start even though you’ve sorted yerselves out.”

“And given us the element of surprise.” Peg’s nodding. “Even if they thought we could have been warned, far as they know we’re hours out yet.”

Prez is looking directly at me, then looks at Slick and Mouse. “Yer all okay? Not hurt at all?”

“Not even a scratch,” I confirm, then ruefully rub at the drying blood on my chin. Well, only a small one.

He dips his chin, then looks back up. “Hate to tell ya, but as you know the club better than us, and the brothers who,” he breaks off, looking as pained as I’ve even seen him, “well, I hope to God there’s still some who’ll be trustworthy and stand by the club. Yers know them best so you’ve got a better chance of goin’ in and gettin’ the kid out.”

Like Drummer, I hope there’s still some loyalty in the club. I make a suggestion. “Lost doesn’t seem like he’s part of this. What if we can get him to come out? Meet him somewhere, let him know what’s gone down.”

“You sure he’s clean, Dart?”

I shrug. “Can’t be certain, but Gator didn’t name him. Can’t believe they’ve all gone bad, Prez. But can’t say for a fact Gator wasn’t holdin’ back.”

“Won’t know much more until we get Snake to spill, but that could take hours.” As I see Alex flinch by Drummer’s side, he continues, “If your gut feel is that Lost is good, we’ll go with that and get him to meet up.” He toys with his beard for a moment. “Keep us being here to the three of you for now. Don’t want to alert him we’re in town until we know he’s okay.”

He’s right. But he’ll be putting Slick and Mouse at risk too. “I’ll go in alone.” I decide fast.

“Not lettin’ ya do that.” Slick’s first to protest.

Mouse adds his agreement. “We’ve got yer back, Dart.”

“I’ll go too. I can help find Tyler…”

“Yer stayin’ right here.” When Prez fixes his steely gaze upon her, Alex is smart enough to shut her mouth. “Yer hurt, darlin’. Dart knows the boy, and Tyler trusts him. If you go you’ll only be holdin’ them up.”

Visibly reluctant, she bows to the truth. “Dart, please, bring my boy back to me.”

I make a promise I hope I can keep. “I will, doll. I will.”

“Right. Give Lost a call. Arrange to meet up. Then you three get goin’ while I have a chat with Snake here. Alex, I’ll get Road to keep you company, you don’t need to be here for this.”

The shudder she gives shows she knows exactly how the chat’s going to go down, and that she’s seen far too much of how we do business already today. Seeing she’s going to be looked after, I wander off to find some quiet, and place my call to the VP of the Satan’s Devils San Diego chapter, then move back.

“Slick, Mouse. Ready to roll?” At their twin nods, I turn to Drum. “We’ll have to take the truck.”

“Yeah, just let us take the trash out of it first.” Peg and Blade step up without being asked.

Once our unwelcome passenger has been removed, I get into the driver’s seat, my brothers take their places, and then we’re off. It doesn’t take long before we’re heading into a parking lot about ten minutes away from the club. Lost’s sitting on his bike, pulling at his beard. He gets off and comes over as soon as he sees who it is getting out of the truck.

Slick slides the gun he’d taken off Fang out of his cut, and holds it down by his side. Lost’s eyes open wide when he notices. Mouse also has a Glock in his hand.

Lost doesn’t go for a weapon, a smart move on his part. He approaches with his hands held open. “What’s all this Dart? Don’t know of any problem between us. And where the fuck have you been? Come to get you out of the safe room and you’d all disappeared.”

I give it to him straight. “Snake’s defected. Along with Poke, Gator, Shark, DJ, Crow, Rattler, Tinder, and Bastard. Turned on the club, man. You any part of that?”

The expression on his face would be difficult to fake. “What the fuck?”

“Truth, Brother.” Slick backs me up. “Gator and Fang kidnapped us, Alex, and Tyler. We managed to get free. Snake turned up, they were obviously actin’ under his instructions. Gator dropped the names, with a little persuasion.”

“Fuckin’ Fang? He that Demon you’ve been chasin’ down?”

“He was.” Slick gives an evil grin.

“What the fuck’s Snake doin’ dealin’ with the likes of him?”

“Long story, Brother. One we don’t know all the ins and outs of yet. But we’ll be questionin’ your prez. We got a problem we need some help with.” I continue to tell him Tyler’s escaped and is hiding somewhere in the clubhouse, and that we need to find him and get him back to his mom.

Lost strokes his long beard again. “Can’t believe what you’re sayin’.” He’s still stuck on Snake. Then his expression changes from disbelief to anger. “If what you’re tellin’ me is true, I’ve been played like a fuckin’ fool. The sergeant-at-arms and the prez? Fuck! Motherfuckers!” For a moment he seems to find the truck fascinating, but then turns back. “Ain’t got no problem with the mother chapter myself. I’ve got your backs, brothers.” He pauses to think. “Crow, Rattler, and Bastard aren’t in the club. Poke’s hangin’ about, and I think I saw Shark and DJ too. But Grumbler and Smoker are there as well. I’ll give them a call and see if I can’t get Shark and DJ out on a job. You need a bit of space to search for the boy.”

If Grumbler is straight, he’d be a good man to have on our side.

“Even if there’s still question marks over the others, I’d stake my life on Grumbler and Smoker being loyal.” After he’s answered the question I didn’t ask aloud, he breaks off and clears his throat, and I wonder whether he’s thinking that just a few minutes earlier he’d have trusted his other brothers too. At last he begins to speak again. “What your drivin’ is a club truck, won’t be no surprise to anyone it turnin’ up. Park around the back and we’ll go in the same way as it seems you were taken out. I’ll go in and distract any of the other fuckers we’ve got doubts about if Grumbler doesn’t manage to get them all out.” He pauses and wipes at his eyes.

I step forward, half to thank him, half to warn him. “Ain’t no doubt in my mind, Lost.”

“Shit.” He looks at me sadly, correctly reading I’ve every belief in what I’d been told. He then takes out his phone and places a call, not giving details, just asks Grumbler to arrange for Shark and DJ to investigate another reported sighting of Fang up in Escondido. Even though they’ll be laughing their heads off, thinking they know exactly where to find the rogue demon, it will get them out of the club. Then that will just leave Poke we’ll need to avoid.

That settled, Lost passes out his smokes to give some time for them to get gone.

At last we’re able to go get Alex’s boy.

Last time I was in the San Diego clubhouse I thought I was surrounded by likeminded brothers who all bought into the same cause as me. This time I feel enveloped in betrayal, a feeling I never expected in any Satan’s Devils club. Feeling sick to my stomach as I walk in through the doors, I nod at Lost as he goes to run interference and leaves us to our search.

“Drum said he was hidin’ under Alex’s bed in the room she was stayin’ in. Let’s get there first.”

We make our way up the stairs, weapons drawn, not knowing what we’ll be walking into. I’m hoping I don’t have a need to fire on any man that, up to now, I’ve happily called a brother.

There’s no one around as we reach Alex’s room. Hardly daring to breath, I fold to my knees, then lie on my side to look under the bed. There’s no one there. Fuck! Have they found him? Where could he be? For a second I envisage returning to Alex without her son in tow, and then realise there’s no way I can return without him.

As I jump to my feet, shaking my head, my expression showing how gutted I am, an unwelcome voice intrudes.

“Dart! You’re back. Come with me.”

Narrowing my eyes at Eva, I give a short laugh and shake my head. “Not hangin’ with you darlin’. Been there, done that. Caused enough fuckin’ aggro.”

She looks taken aback. “No, no. I’m not suggesting we fuck.” She pauses to toss her hair back over her shoulder. “You weren’t that special, Dart.” She looks at Slick and Mouse, and then lowers her voice and adds conspiratorially, “It’s the kid. He’s in my room.”

What? Stepping forward I put my hands on her shoulders, my fingers biting into her skin. “What you talkin’ about? Why’s he with you?”

“I’m not stupid, Dart. Alex and Tyler went downstairs and didn’t come back. Found Tyler under her bed. He was shaking and crying, obviously scared. He thought Snake was coming for him. If that was true, this room would be the first place he’d have looked. Not so much mine. So I took him to be safe. Gave him my phone to use when he asked. ”She studies our faces for a moment. “I don’t like Snake. And lately he’s been acting real strange.” And with that she shows she’s more perceptive than some of the brothers here.

If it wouldn’t cause yet more problems with Alex, I’d kiss her. Instead, I resort to thanking her profusely. Just as I’m turning my thoughts to how to sneak Tyler out of the clubhouse, she puts her hand on my arm.

“Alex needs to know. He had an episode, probably brought on by being so scared. I got him through it okay, but I don’t know if she’s keeping track of them.”

I wipe my hand over my eyes. Poor kid. And thank fuck it was Eva who found him. Being a nurse, she’d have known what to do. “I’ll tell Alex. And, Eva…”

“It’s alright, Dart. I’m just glad I was there and able to help.”

Footsteps sound on the landing outside. Mouse glances quickly around the door and gives the all clear just as Lost appears. “Found the kid?” When I nod he continues, “Poke’s with a club girl. Knowin’ him, he’ll take his time. Grumbler got rid of the other two. I’ll keep an eye out if you want to sneak the kid out the back.”

“I’ll get him.” Eva’s not asking questions. That, and the fact she looked out for him makes her go up in my estimation.

Lost is looking tired, and older than I’ve seen him. “You’ll keep me informed, Dart?”

“Prez will want to speak to ya.” I don’t need to clarify it will be our prez not his. He’s unlikely to ever see Snake again. “Lost. Club will need its VP when this all gets out.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he mumbles.

“Keep our route free, then you and Grumbler better come with us. Drummer’s on his way.” I don’t explain he’s ready and waiting.

Lost nods at me sadly.

“Dart!” Tyler runs in and hugs my legs. Without thinking I swing him up into my arms, knowing I’m almost as pleased as Alex is going to be to find him safe and unharmed. The brave kid clings to me as we start to make our way out. We meet Grumbler guarding the foot of the stairs. He gives me a sharp look as I pass, doubts that anything could be amiss in his club written in his eyes, but also a promise of retribution for those he finds that have done wrong.

The return journey to the warehouse is uneventful, and I stand to the side watching as Alex has a tearful reunion with her son.

As she gazes adoringly at Tyler, refusing to let him go, I wish she’d have even one tenth of that emotion in her eyes when she looks at me.