Chapter Fifteen
Sunday night, as Chloe and Gorgon lay in bed listening to the rain outside, he told her everything that Howler had said to the officers earlier in the day.
“Is Vassago going to talk to Donny?”
“Yeah. He has to ‘cause who knows what fucking shit Todd, Mike, and Tarot are spreading around.”
“Jesus. It’s like high school only with grown men. What is their problem, anyway?”
“We make money with this club, but they have to do that by selling drugs and guns.”
“So do a lot of MCs. Why should they care?”
“Because they’re assholes.”
“What was Howler like? I mean, it must have taken guts to come here like that.”
“Yeah. I think he meant what he said about wanting a clean break and a fresh start, but it’s not that simple. His MC owes Vito big time. You don’t just say, hey … me and some of the guys want to start a new MC without you. See ya.”
“So what will happen to him now?”
“No clue, baby. We’ll have to wait this one out, I think.”
****
Early Monday morning, Chloe left Gorgon sleeping after she woke from a bad dream, and ventured out onto the upstairs patio for the first time in weeks. It was one of Chloe’s favorite places in nice weather to sit and read. But because it overlooked the parking lot and State Route 113, she hadn’t been out there since Brad had shown up in the club weeks earlier. She was exposed up there, even if the building was set back from the road.
That morning, even though there were severe thunderstorms with high winds predicted soon, she went outside because it was horrible being so cooped up, especially during the summer. There wasn’t much traffic on the road this early. She was soon engrossed in the novel she was reading and ignored the traffic sounds, until the engine noise from one car caught her attention because it was the same one, over and over.
Chloe closed the book and glanced toward the road, but there were no cars on it at the moment. She sniffed the air. It was going to rain soon. Dark, ominous clouds had gathered in the southwest. The door to the inside opened, and Rai walked onto the patio.
“I came to help you get the cushions inside. Severe thunderstorm warning for Lorain County, and we’re under a tornado watch.”
“Okay.” Chloe wasn’t afraid of bad storms. This building was concrete block and steel reinforced. As she and Rai gathered up the cushions, the wind increased and thunder echoed in the distance. “And here it comes.”
Rai squinted into the distance. “What is that car doing there?”
Nasty shivers ran down Chloe’s back. “What car? Where?”
“Over there.” Rai pointed. “Just past the north driveway.”
The driveways had gates over them now, but the fence wasn’t yet finished around the entire perimeter. Anyone could simply walk onto the grounds from the road. There was also a back driveway that was only accessible from a path through the underbrush, and only if you knew it was there. Once you were on the property from that spot, the prospects or Brothers guarding the back lot could see you.
Chloe had asked about that back entrance point weeks ago, after she’d first spotted Brad in the club. Gorgon told her that they’d never had anyone accidentally find that driveway in all the years this club had been here. It only was accessible by a back road with few homes on it. Even from that road, it looked like nothing more than a walking trail through the brush. Eventually, that part of the property would also be fenced, though, just in case.
“Rai.” Chloe’s voice shook. “Get Gorgon. And anyone else who’s awake. Right now.” She tried to move, but her bare feet might as well have been glued to the wooden planks.
“Why?”
“I have a bad feeling about that car.”
“Okay. So come inside with me.”
“No.” Chloe walked toward the edge of the railing as the wind kicked up. “He’s here. I know he is. I have to find him.”
Rai grabbed her arm, and at first, Chloe shook her off. When the fear engulfed her, it also knocked some sense back into her. She sucked in a huge gasp and ran inside with Rai as the first fat raindrops fell and thunder crashed overhead. Lightning followed soon afterwards.
Everything moved in slow motion. Chloe’s thoughts were a jumbled mess, and the voices shouting orders confused her. The words made no sense. It was only when Gorgon’s face loomed directly in front of hers that she was able to form a coherent sentence.
“A car is out there. It’s Brad. I know it is.”
“Chloe, there’s a tornado warning. We can’t go outside right now.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her along as they made their way down the stairs.
“Gorgon, he’s on the property!”
“Chloe, even if he is, he’s not getting inside the building.”
“How do you know that? He did once!”
“Baby, please. You’re scared right now. Come on. As soon as the storm passes, we’re all over this.”
“I’m not afraid of the fucking storm!” Her emotions were out of her own control. It was a terrible sensation, as if she didn’t know what was coming out of her own mouth next.
Since the club itself had no windows, that was where they gathered during severe weather. But the noise inside was deafening, until Tannin blew an air horn. “Shut the fuck up! Stay quiet, everyone. We need a roll call.”
Tannin read off each name, starting with the officers. Everyone who lived in the building was there, including Donny’s men, and the two prospects who had been outside guarding the back gate. That meant no one was watching the property right now.
Everyone began talking again as soon as Tannin finished the roll call. She and Gorgon were at the edge of the stage, near the back hallways. Over the conversation, Chloe heard noises, similar to heavy objects being thrown around inside a room, but she couldn’t tell if they were coming from inside the building or outside.
“Quiet!” yelled Vassago, holding up his smart phone. “Storm update. Channel 5 weather says a funnel is on the ground near Berlin Heights. Storm is heading northeast.”
“That’s means it’s gonna come close to us,” said Gorgon. “Everyone stay where you are.”
While Gorgon was distracted by watching the radar on Vassago’s phone, the sound of breaking glass sent Chloe out into the hallway to investigate, because no way had that happened outside. It was too close.
As soon as she walked past the kitchen, the power went out. The security system was still on, because it had a battery backup. Even when the horn on it sounded, she didn’t panic. The power going out had tripped it, that’s all. It had happened before.
She counted. One … two … three…
In twenty seconds, the generator would kick on. It always did.
Someone moved next to her and she turned toward him, believing it to be Gorgon.
Four … five … six…
But then Gorgon called her name in a panicked voice, and blinding fear shot through Chloe as she realized his voice was not next to her. It came from inside the club, down the hall.
Seven … eight … nine…
A strong hand grabbed her arm tightly, sending shooting pain up through her shoulder. She screamed, only to be stopped cold when another hand clamped down over her mouth.
“Chloe! Legs! Where are you?”
Ten … eleven … twelve…
Chloe struggled to break free as the dim light from outside allowed her to see what her senses already confirmed was true. The man who held her was Brad.
“I told you I’d come back for you,” he hissed in her ear.
Thirteen … fourteen … fifteen…
She tried to stomp the top of his foot and missed. Her stomach roiled. If she puked, she prayed it would land all over him.
Sixteen … seventeen … eighteen…
Gorgon’s voice, still calling for her, followed them down the hall as Brad dragged her toward the back door where he’d broken the window. Glass littered the floor in front of it.
Nineteen … twenty.
“Fuck!” he shouted, as the lights came on. “Where’s the fucking electrical panel?”
“Son of a bitch!” That was Tannin. “Down here!”
The sound of running boots hitting the floor was directly behind them now.
“Where is it, you stupid bitch?” Brad jammed something cold and metallic against the side of her head. Chloe didn’t need to see it to know what it was. He had a gun.
White-hot fear paralyzed her. She panted.
Please don’t let me die!
“I asked you where the fuck it was!”
She finally understood what he meant. He hadn’t expected the power to come back on, and thought he could shut it off again and get her out of the building with every member of the MC chasing them down the hall.
Had he always been this stupid?
Gorgon stopped cold when he saw them. She’d never seen him afraid, and the sight almost made her pass out. Donny’s men were nowhere in sight, and neither was Mastema. The other officers pushed to the front, each of them staring down Brad, who jabbed the gun into the side of Chloe’s head again.
Rai was next to Tannin, murder in her dark eyes. Meghan cried silently. Connie was way too pale. Her friends. Her family. The man she loved. It was too soon to leave them. She didn’t want to die. Not like this. Not at his hands.
“You can’t get away,” said Gorgon, the calm voice out of sync with the horrible terror on his handsome face.
“The fuck I can’t, asshole. I got in here, didn’t I? The impenetrable fortress. Did you think you could hide her from me forever?”
His voice was too high-pitched, and he spoke quickly, as if he had to get the words out before someone interrupted him.
“He’s high as a fucking kite,” said Vassago.
Chloe understood now why he’d attempted such a completely ridiculous act in the first place. “Let me go, Brad. You’re coked out of your mind. You need help.”
He licked her face, and she flinched. Gorgon stepped forward, but both Vassago and Phenex pulled him back. “Hang on,” she heard Tannin say. “He’s almost there.”
What did he mean? Who was he talking about?
“Help? The only help I need, sweetie, will come from you, when we’re together again. She’s a tasty little piece of ass, isn’t she?”
Gorgon’s shoulders rose and fell with the effort of breathing. The fear in his eyes was gone, replaced with murder. When he got hold of Brad, the guy was dead.
Footsteps behind them distracted Brad, but before he could turn with Chloe held against his body, two pairs of hands yanked her from his grip. Mastema tackled Brad from behind and knocked him to the ground. Then he wrenched the gun from his hand.
Someone held her tightly and tried to turn her face away, but she fought the person off. It was Rai.
“You don’t want to watch this.”
“Yes, I do.” Chloe’s entire body trembled as Rai hugged her.
The two watched Gorgon, Tannin, and Vassago descend on Brad. His yells were as loud as the howling wind and thunder booming outside. The lights flickered again, but didn’t go off this time.
Behind her and Rai, Donny’s men, the other members, prospects, dancers, and sweetbutts cheered the three Brothers as they punched and kicked Brad. It was both sickening and glorifying to watch. The sounds of breaking bones and the smell of blood engulfed her. Chloe put a hand to her mouth and retched, but nothing came up. Sweat broke out all over her body, in addition to goosebumps.
Getting sick will be worth it. The thought both horrified and delighted her.
“He’s not moving anymore,” said Vassago, glancing around. Everyone had gone quiet. The only sound was heavy breathing. Vassago nodded once, and the two men Donny had sent to guard their club against the threat from the Outlaw Dogs came forward.
“We’ll take care of it from here,” said one. “You know how to get the blood off the floor?”
“Fuck.” Vassago snorted, as if asking him the question was ridiculous. “Of course we do.”
“The car he drove here is still parked out front,” said Rai.
“We’ll take care of that,” said Tannin, placing a hand on Vassago’s shoulder. “Won’t we?”
Vassago’s grin sent nasty shivers down Chloe’s spine again. “No one will ever find him or that car.”
Gorgon glanced around, spotted Chloe, and walked over to pull her into arms. “It’s over now.”
She sucked in a huge breath again, but this time couldn’t stop the tears. Gorgon held her while her body continued to shake, and she cried like she would never stop. He led her out of the kitchen and into his office, where he sat down and cradled her on his lap like one would do with a frightened child.
“It’s all right now.” He repeated it over and over, while he stroked her hair and sweat-soaked back. Finally, she was able to breathe normally.
“He’s dead.”
“Yes.”
“How high does someone have to be to use a tornado to break inside this place and try to kidnap someone?”
“As high as he was. I love you, Chloe. No one will ever hurt you again.”
“I love you, too, Billy.”
It was really and truly over. Brad was gone. Forever. And the man she loved more than life itself had saved her from him. Chloe’s past would never again hurt her, or hold her prisoner.