Chapter 37

Marc

If I’d been asked, I would have said with everything swirling around my head, I wouldn’t have slept a wink last night. Instead I don’t stir until it’s morning. As I turn over in the arms of my man, I realise my ass is feeling sore, and I start to remember exactly what he did to me. And, I’m not ashamed to admit how much I enjoyed every single thing he did. While normally I’d prefer to be a more active participant, he’d given me precisely what I’d needed last night, the chance to turn off my thoughts. But now, along with the light of day, they all come flooding back.

He’s staring at me with a slightly amused smile on his lips. “You okay, babe?”

“More than okay.”

“Hey,” his hand touches my cheek, “what’s that frown for?”

I rub my hands over my flat stomach. “Before I came here, Heart, I was feeling queasy in the mornings. I was sick a couple of times. But now…”

“Babe, some people don’t get morning sickness at all. And it’s still early days. If you’re worried, we can go back to the doctor. But you’ve got no bleeding or pain, have you? Just go with the flow. If you’ve not feeling sick, view it as a good thing.”

“I know it seems crazy, but if I was suffering, I’d feel more like I was pregnant.”

He reaches over the side of the bed and pulls his wallet out of his jeans, takes something out and passes it to me, his hand curling around mine so I end up clutching it. “This says you are, babe. Concrete evidence.” It’s the sonogram picture.

How is it that this man knows exactly what to say and do?

He slaps my already sore backside, making me jump. “Come on, get up now. Already had a text from the prez. Church at eleven, and you’ve got an invite.”

“Invite or instruction?”

“Take it whichever way you want, darlin’. But if I were you, I’d be there.”

Nothing would stop me. “Where’s Amy and Grunt?”

“You were sleeping so I didn’t want to wake you. Jayden’s got Amy, and Tongue, fuck knows why, wanted to take the dog for a walk. Reckon the pup’s already picked up a few fans here.”

Two hours later, I’m taking the same seat as last time, greeted with a few chin lifts and even a couple of smiles. As the brothers come in and the chairs become filled, Hyde walks in with another and we all shift along to make room. Drummer’s the last to enter, and he’s not alone.

The stranger is a dark-haired man, his most striking feature a scar running down his face from the corner of one eye to the side of his mouth. If it wasn’t for that, he’d be quite handsome. As it is, he looks terrifying.

That the men know him is confirmed by the nods they give to him. That his presence is a surprise is shown by uplifted eyebrows and tilting of heads.

“I don’t need to introduce Devil to most of you. Devil, meet Marcia, she’s an ex-cop who was working on the kids’ disappearances.” The man gives me a nod before taking the seat beside me. “Devil flew in overnight after I filled him in on our little problem.”

With a slap on Devil’s shoulder, Drummer walks around to take his seat at the head of the table. All eyes go to him, and then swing in the other direction as it’s the newcomer who starts talking without preamble.

“As I’ve already told Drummer, I don’t see how you can avoid involving the FBI. Though after what happened last time, I understand why you’re not enamoured of the idea.” His voice is cultured, and he’s got a UK English accent. I wonder how the Satan’s Devils and he are acquainted, and what he’s referring to about their previous dealings with the feds.

“I agree with Devil.” Drummer casts his eyes around the table and puts up his hand to forestay the round of objections. “We won’t be invitin’ them onto the compound, and the liaison will be through Devil. Mouse. Give us an update.”

Mouse is looking tired, his eyes rimmed red as though he’d been working all night. “Our ruse worked. Sheikh Nijad has got himself an invite to the auction.”

“I’ve got a man who’s managed to secure a place too. One of my team.” Devil inclines his head toward Mouse. “Sean, my chap’s coming in from England, Nijad, as you know will be staying in Amahad and appointing someone, one of your men, to attend on his behalf.”

“We know the auction will be in Arizona, and the when, but not the precise where.” Mouse takes over again. “They had to at least release which state it was going to be in so international travellers won’t have to travel too far on the day.”

“So, what’s the plan, Prez?”

“That’s what we’re here to agree on, Peg.” Drummer raises his chin toward Devil. “Firstly, we need to choose who will be Nijad’s representative. It will be one of us. Who wants to volunteer to get dressed up in a posh suit?”

“Got to be someone clean looking.”

All eyes seem to focus on Lady, who shuffles awkwardly in his seat. Joker gives him a worried look, and then speaks for him. “Fuckin’ dangerous going into a place like that. They suspect anything, a bullet to the head would be the least of his worries.”

“I’ll do it.” Lady nods at the man beside him. “I’m about the only clean-shaven one out of all of us here. And I don’t look like a fuckin’ bodybuilder.”

Joker doesn’t look convinced. But everyone else is nodding.

“So, we’ll have a man on the inside. Devil will brief you on what to expect.”

Devil’s peering over at Lady as if making his own assessment of whether he’ll be able to play the part. As a crooked smile slowly emerges, it seems that Lady will pass. “I can give you a run down. I’ve been to auctions like this before. Can’t show my face now as I’m too easily recognised.”

Mmm. It would be hard to disguise that scar on his face.

“Sean, my man, will be inside too. Two chances to get information out.” Devil’s taken over again, but no one seems to object. “He’s bringing his wife with him, Mouse. You know Nessa?”

“Yeah, I’ve worked with both her and Cara before. She’s a good fuckin’ analyst.” Mouse frowns. “They leaving the kid behind?”

Devil nods. “Sean’s mother is looking after Mollie. But I thought Nessa would be useful. Now, what you all want to know is the rest of the plan.” Nods and chin jerks greet that statement. I’m bobbing my head enthusiastically too.

“The way these people work is to move their,” he pauses and grimaces, “product around. Even if we found the location where they’re keeping the children, it’s probable they’d move to a different place before we could get together a team. They contact high rollers and put a discreet advert on the dark web, as you’ve found Mouse.” He pauses and looks at me. “I’ve spoken to Sheriff Evans, you’ll be the liaison with the police, Marcia.”

My eyes open wide. He’s spoken to the man at the top of the police department? My mouth drops open, Devil notices. “He wants you to go in and meet with him and his top team. Of course, the location might be beyond the jurisdiction of Pima County, but he’ll be keeping his colleagues in other counties up to date. What you tell him will be determined by us.” Devil points to himself, and then to Drummer.

“I’ll be the one talking to the Human Trafficking Taskforce. I’ve made contact briefly, and they’re willing to work with me. Agent Haughton you all probably remember.” That statement’s greeted by jeering and sneers. “I know you have reason to distrust him, but he’s good at his job. And he knows I am too.” No false modesty here, I can tell. “The FBI will also be trying to get the information, but as we’ve got people already invited, they won’t be trying to get a man of theirs in.” As there are a few curious looks, he explains, “The organisers will be ultra-cautious over who gets an invite. The sheikh was easy, they’ll have no difficulty believing he might want to stock his harem with underage girls.”

I’d been in the room when Mouse had spoken to the sheikh’s wife, and I suspect, in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. I don’t know whether to believe it, thinking it might have been a joke, but I’d overheard them laughing that Nijad’s harem had been turned into a BDSM dungeon.

“Sean too, well, Nessa’s managed to rewrite his history. He’s now got a reputation as a rich man with particular appetites. The FBI are playing catch up. It’s too late for them to produce a credible plant.”

He glances around as if to ensure everyone’s following him. They all are, each man rapt as they listen to the plan. “Once we know the location, I and Marcia will inform the police and FBI. They’ll mobilise and get men on the spot. We’ll have it surrounded.”

“We going to be any part of that?” Wraith wants to know.

Drummer’s fists thump down on the table as he thunders out, “Ain’t gonna leave a brother with no one at his back.”

There’s uproar around the table. Devil’s voice is even louder than Drummer’s. “Quiet. I’ve addressed that.” Gradually the objections die down. He attempts a grin, which doesn’t work because half his face doesn’t move, his contorted expression, though, suggests he’s trying to convey amusement. “When I spoke to the sheriff I explained he wouldn’t be able to keep you out of it. Your man inside will have all of you at his back. He didn’t like it, but could do with the extra numbers. So he’s agreed to have you work alongside the cops for the night.”

Now there’s an incredulous silence. “Well, fuck me,” says Drummer, showing this was news to him too. “No tricks?”

Devil shakes his head. “They’ll be grateful of all the manpower they can get. And as you say, you want to keep tabs on your man, and for my part, Seth and Ryan, two Grade A protection officers, will be flying out to have Sean’s back.”

“Hey, we going to be deputised or somethin’?” Tongue’s stud flashes as he jokes.

“Not in a fuckin’ western, Brother.”

“Do we get cop medical cover if we’re hurt?”

Peg’s not looking amused. “Not going to try to arrest us if we have to take action?”

Choosing to answer the sensible question, Devil raises his chin at him. “Complete amnesty. You’ll be on the same team as the cops. Not going to try to pull the wool over your eyes. This will be dangerous, and bullets will fly. What happens at the auction will be sanctioned. Soon as you leave, you’ll be on different sides again.”

Most of the men around the table are having difficulty getting their heads around it, and comments fly about law enforcement and bikers working together. As Drummer and Devil wait for it to sink in, and the laughter and jokes to fade, I can’t keep quiet. “I want in on this too.”

“No you’re fuckin’ not.” Heart’s glaring at me. “You’re gonna keep well away from any action.”

Devil raises his eyebrow at Heart, then addresses me. “You will be. You’re the liaison with the sheriff’s team. You’ll be attending meetings, setting it up, and feeding the plans back to Drummer.” He sends a look of apology towards the president. “Sheriff wouldn’t go so far as to allow a biker in on that. But Marcia, he’ll accept.”

I’m happy with that. Overjoyed to be included, but, “I want to be there. At the auction.”

“And you will. But you’ll stay in the background with Mouse, providing information.”

I sit back and fold my arms. A raid is something I’ve been trained for, and I’m not happy sitting on the sidelines while my man puts his life on the line. And that he’ll volunteer, I’m already certain. There’s no point arguing now. The only female among these misogynistic overprotective men is not going to be given a fair hearing.

“What exactly is the plan, Devil? We wait until we know the location, surround it…?”

Devil gives another of his twisted grins. “Once we know the location we’ll get into position. First thing will be to take out the guards on the outside. That will have to be done quickly and cleanly. Ryan and Seth are both ex-SAS, like your SEALs, and will take that on. They won’t see them coming. Then we wait on the information from your man, Lady, and Sean. We want everyone focused on the auction, and not who’s sneaking inside.” He suddenly sits forward. “I want all the sick bastards. The organisers, people who’ve watched over the kids, and all the sick buggers who wanted to buy them. We round up every bloody one of them.”

“Round up? Or kill?” Blade’s still speaking for his brothers.

Devil shrugs. “I don’t much care, but the feds will want someone left to question. This probably won’t the first time this group will have done something like this, there may still be people in the background they’ll need to catch up with.”

For a moment, no one person can be heard. There’s many different conversations going on in the room. The one I hear most clearly is taking place beside me.

“You sure you want to do this, Lady? Don’t like you puttin’ yourself at risk.” Joker’s speaking quietly, and I wouldn’t catch his words were I not so close.

“Of course I fuckin’ do, Brother. And I’ll have you watchin’ my back.”

A range of expressions are crossing Drummer’s face. Pride in his men, worry they might not all come back, and disgust that he’s been caught up in this. It’s not too much different from being in a detective’s briefing with a lieutenant concerned about what he’s leading his men into.

When the furore dies down, the prez nods toward Mouse. “Don’t think anyone needs any further incentive, but do you want to tell us the fuckin’ rest?”

The computer nerd looks down at his laptop, and then his eyes rise over the top. “There’s a fuckin’ catalogue for the auction, so buyers can be prepared with their bids. There’s fifteen items listed for sale.”

I frown. “There’s only thirteen missing children. Are they expecting to take more?”

Mouse continues as though I hadn’t interrupted. “All items are fully described. I’ve matched thirteen of them to the kids that are missin’. There are two descriptions in addition with crosses against them.”

That gives us a lead, we can tell people to keep kids who match safe…

“One’s a fifteen-year old teenager who’s apparently already been broken in, the other listed as a three to four-year-old girl.”

You could hear a pin drop in the silence. Then Slick and Paladin are on their feet, and Heart’s pushed back his chair.

“What the fuck? Jayden?”

“Not Amy. Fuck. They’re not gettin’ their hands on Amy.”

“Sit down and shut the fuck up!” Drummer’s on his feet, his voice shouting over their protests.

That’s why Archer was interested in Jayden Greenway. I knew he was mixed up in something bad. And Amy. My eyes got to Heart, and my heart bleeds for him.

“No one,” Drummer states each word slowly and clearly. “No one is getting their hands on Jayden or Amy. They’ll be guarded all the time, and not allowed off the compound.”

“What if I take Jayden away?” Paladin asks.

“You’re not taking her fuckin’ anywhere,” Slick roars back.

“No one’s going anywhere,” Drummer, still standing, states firmly. “That auction will go ahead with two empty places. There’s no way anyone’s gettin’ close to those girls.”