I will never abandon my brother.
SINNER’S TRIBE CREED
Cade pushed himself away from the wall outside the police station and walked under the glow from the overhead streetlight, making himself visible to the cop crossing the parking lot.
“Benson.”
Benson turned and frowned, then looked back over his shoulder at the police station as if assessing how close he was to safety. “Cade? You looking for me?”
Hands held high so Benson could see he wasn’t armed, at least not visibly, Cade walked toward him. “It’s about Dawn. I need a favor. Didn’t want any brothers to see me talking to the cops. You know someplace private we can talk?”
“Jail?”
“I’m not in a joking mood.”
“I wasn’t joking. When we renovated the station, we built nice new comfy jail cells, so no one is using the old cellblock. The cameras are offline. It’s as private as you’re gonna get, and to be honest, I’m not keen on going anywhere you might stab me in the back.”
“No honor in stabbing someone in the back, but fine, let’s go.” As long as he had his weapon, he didn’t care where they talked and with the clock ticking he wasn’t prepared to dick around.
Benson led him through a back door and down a dingy flight of concrete stairs. He keyed a number code into a panel beside a thick steel door. Fluorescent lights went on when the door opened and they walked along the corridor to a small, windowless room filled with monitors and a few chairs. The cellblock smelled of mold and sweat, and faintly of piss.
“Guard station.” Benson waved Cade over to a metal chair. “Or maybe you’re familiar with it.”
“Never been incarcerated. I like to keep my nose clean.”
“Sure.” Benson took a seat near the door. “That’s why you’re in an outlaw biker gang that runs guns, shakes down small-business owners, and protects drug dealers as they transport their goods through our fine state. Oh, and I’m sure you had nothing to do with the body that was found outside Dawn’s house.”
Cade bristled. “We run legitimate businesses in and around Conundrum.”
“To launder your money.”
“To provide services to the good citizens,” Cade countered. Damn. He didn’t want to like Benson, but he had to admit the dude was sharp as whip. He knew the score with the Sinners. No doubt he had some plan in mind to take them down in the future.
“So what favor could you possibly need from me?” Benson folded his arms, his chair squeaking as he settled back.
“I might need you to get Dawn and her girls out of town.” He leaned his forearms on his thighs and dropped his hands between his legs. “Shit is going down between the clubs. Could get ugly. I got something I have to do and if something happens to me, she’ll have no one to watch out for her. If that happens, I want you to put them in the witness protection program so they can live a safe life.”
He had Benson’s attention now. The chair squeaked again as Benson leaned forward, mimicking Cade’s position. “What do you mean by ‘shit is going down’?”
“Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about.” Fuck. He just wanted to get Benson’s agreement and get out. Biker business wasn’t cop business and he didn’t want to give the game away. Plus, it grated on him something fierce to have to come to Benson for help. But without Cade, Dawn had no connection to the Sinners, and the safest place for her was out of town.
Benson’s mouth opened and closed and Cade prayed he didn’t say something that would piss him off. He was wound too tight, a coil ready to spring. Never could he have imagined having to go to the police for help.
“You’re not wearing your cut.”
“Very observant,” he said drily.
“So you’re not a biker anymore?”
“I’m a man who’s gotta protect the people he cares about whatever the cost.”
“Hell.” Benson stood and walked over to the wall beside the door. “You’re going after Mad Dog.”
Was there any reason not to tell him? Benson and Dawn were friends. She trusted him. Hell, Benson wanted her in his bed. And he’d tried to help her get out already. “He’s got Dawn at his clubhouse. If I don’t get to him, he’s gonna kill her and destroy my club.”
“The only reason he got Dawn is because of you.” Benson’s upper lip curled in disgust. “I called her when Mad Dog was released. I told her to get out of the house. I told her I’d meet her at the station and take her away. But would she listen? No. She said she was waiting for you. She said she loved you.”
Cade’s heart skipped a beat. She loved him. He’d never heard sweeter words. Too bad they had to come from Benson’s damn mouth.
“Sorry, Benson.”
“You’re not sorry,” Benson spat out. “You don’t care for her the way I do. She’s a victim of your world and she needs to be protected. You twisted her into something she’s not. You dragged her back into the cesspool she tried so hard to escape.”
Cade sat up in his chair, his skin prickling in warning at Benson’s flushed face and trembling hands. Seriously, the dude was out of control. He couldn’t figure out if the Benson was obsessed with Dawn or if something else was driving him.
“She’s a strong woman who knows her own mind and who can look after herself. She owns her past and she’s living a life she wants to live. You need to respect her choices.” He stood and crossed the floor. “You’re a good cop, but you’re way outta line with the fucking disrespect. Stand aside. I’m gonna go get my girl and after I do, I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.” Benson pushed a button on the wall and raced into the hallway moments before a huge metal door dropped from the ceiling and slammed into place.
“What the fuck?” Cade drew his weapon and only just managed to stop himself from shooting. The bullet could very well rebound around the room and kill him.
“Benson? What the hell is going on?”
“If anyone is going to rescue her, it’s going to be me.” Benson’s muffled voice was barely audible through the safety door. “I’ll protect her and keep her safe. I’ll take her away into the witness protection program and she’ll live a happy life away from you and Mad Dog and every other damn biker in the state.”
“You fucking bastard. Let me outta here. He’ll kill her before you get to him. You know he will.”
“Sorry, Cade.”
“The minute I get outta here you are fucking toast. You will never breathe another breath…”
“You won’t be getting out of there,” Benson shouted. “That’s a three-inch steel safety door to protect the guards in case of a riot. It can only be opened from inside the station. And if you think you can call for help, there’s no phone signal down here. But I guess since you’re not a Sinner anymore, there’s no one for you to call.”
“Benson.” He roared his frustration when he heard Benson’s footsteps in the hallway. “Benson!”
* * *
“Ow. Jimmy. Let go. I’ll come with you.”
Dawn clasped her hands to her head to soften the pull on her hair as Jimmy dragged her from the room. He’d only managed to hit her a few times with the belt before he’d been interrupted, and since she was wearing her clothes the pain had been manageable. But now, dressed in a tight red two-piece outfit, held together with Velcro strips for easy removal, she had a lot more skin at risk if she didn’t obey.
By way of response, Jimmy tugged harder. “Crazy bitch like you needs a firm hand. You don’t please me up there, you’ll be feeling that hand tonight. Hell, you’re gonna feel it anyway for all the shit you pulled on me.” Jimmy led her up to a small stage against the wall with a pole in the center, and threw her to the floor. “We made some modifications since you left. Had a pole installed so we didn’t have to waste our money at titty bars. Now we bring the girls here.”
Dawn grabbed the pole and pulled herself to her feet. She counted forty-three bikers spread across the open space, some leaning against the corrugated metal walls, others against the wooden support pillars, and a few in metal fold-up chairs scattered around the stage.
Jimmy settled himself on a huge leather chair in front of the stage and snapped his fingers. Gail swanned over to sit on his lap, making no effort to hide her smirk from Dawn.
Well, Dawn was more than happy to step aside. She would be even happier if she could get out of the building. Aside from the front entrance there were two more exits from the clubhouse. One directly across from her and one at the back. Both guarded from the inside. Her chances weren’t looking so good.
“Put on the music.” Jimmy waved his .38 around like it was a Fourth of July flag. “Everyone join us. My ex is gonna dance the last fuckin’ dance of her life. She’s gonna show us the moves she used in the bar, but she’s gonna be doing them for me and without her fucking clothes.”
The bikers cheered. Dawn’s stomach heaved. But Jimmy wasn’t finished. He held up a hand to quiet the crowd.
“When she’s finished dancing, she’s yours for the taking. I’m done with her, and that bitch’s disrespect to me and to our club has gotta be addressed. Everyone can have a taste of what I threw away. No limits.”
This time only a few bikers cheered. The rest frowned or shifted in the seats. Were they Wolf’s supporters? Given their number it looked like Wolf might have won the election if Jimmy hadn’t killed him. Would they help her? She recognized some of their faces, but when she tried to make eye contact they looked away.
“Get to it, Dee-licious, or I’ll start the gang bang now.”
“Hey, Mad Dog…” An old biker, potbellied, grizzled and balding, stood and pointed at Dawn. “I got no problem with her dancin’. Used to watch her at the strip joints long time ago and she was damn good. But what you’re wanting to do to her next, that ain’t us. We’re not into raping and trading and slaving the girls no more, especially not the mother of your kids.”
She remembered Old Mick now, although he’d aged considerably since she’d last seen him. One of the quiet ones, and a good friend of Wolf.
Jimmy whispered to Gail and she giggled. Then he put his arm around her waist, aimed his. 38, and casually shot the biker in the leg. Old Mick howled and staggered back, falling heavily on the ground. Dawn’s hand flew to her mouth. No one moved, and the shock on their faces suggested they were as stunned by Jimmy’s arbitrary ruthlessness as she.
“Anyone else got a problem with the new regime?” Jimmy waved his gun back and forth, pointing it randomly at his brothers. “Old Mick was right. This ain’t how Wolf would run the club. But I’m not Wolf. And he made pussies out of all of you. Viper and the Jacks can help us bring back the Brethren’s legacy. They’re gonna help us take our revenge on the Sinners and wipe them off the face of this fucking earth. Anyone got a problem with that, you know where to find the door. But I’ll tell you now, I got no hesitation about shooting a coward in the back.”
Old Mick groaned and clutched his leg. Another seasoned biker whipped off his bandanna and wrapped it around Mick’s thigh, while a third used this shirt to put pressure on the wound. Dawn fought back wave after wave of nausea. Bloated with power, Jimmy had finally gone off the rails. Did he not realize Viper had no intention of “helping” the Brethren? He needed their numbers and Jimmy’s blind anger to help defeat the Sinners, simply because no other club would stand against them. And when Viper got what he wanted, he would destroy them. Jimmy was a pawn in the game.
Jimmy grinned into the silence. “Excellent. Everyone is on board.” He pointed his weapon at the two bikers helping Old Mick. “Leave him be. He can suffer through the show and think about the meaning of loyalty.”
One of the bikers knelt beside Old Mick and whispered something in his ear, while the other patted him on the shoulder. Then they took some seats.
“Now let’s have some entertainment.”
Dawn stared at Jimmy. There was nothing left of the man who had saved her from the streets. Totally and utterly corrupted in his pursuit of power, he had become the monster she’d always known he could be.
“Dance, love,” he said. “Like your life depends on it. You can finish with a scream.”
* * *
Cade’s anger was so deep, so fierce, he battered his knuckles bloody on the door. He’d had a bad feeling about Benson, but he’d chalked it up to pure jealousy, blinding himself to the wolf in fucking cop clothing.
He checked his phone again. No signal. No way of getting through the sheet of steel in front of him. Yet. But when he did, he would rain down a terror on the Jacks and Brethren the likes of which had never been seen in the biker world. And the fucking cop would pay in blood.
“Cade? You in there, brother?” Although muffled, he recognized the voice behind the door.
“Jagger?”
“Yeah. I’m with Zane, Gun, and Sparky. We got the prospect with us, too. He finally showed some initiative. He tracked you down with a GPS he put in all the new phones. Now he’s doin’ something with the door panel, hooking it up to his laptop.”
“I’m hacking into their system,” the prospect shouted.
“Hurry the fuck up. We got a rescue operation to perform.”
The door slid up with a smooth whir and then clanged into place. Cade stepped out into the hallway and heaved a sigh of relief.
“You forgot this, brother.” Jagger held up his cut.
Although his hand itched to take it, he didn’t move. “I’m going after Mad Dog.”
“Not without us. We’re a team. Brothers. No one gets left behind and no one goes out alone.”
Cade swallowed past the lump in his throat and shrugged on his cut, indulging himself for the briefest second by smoothing his hand over the cool leather. “I don’t get it.”
“You don’t have to make a choice. Whatever path you choose, we will always have your back. Just like you had ours.”
He needed to hear those words. With all that had happened he had lost sight of what was important. This was why he had joined the Sinners. Honor. Brotherhood. Loyalty. Men who would stand up for him. Men who always had his back.
His club.
His tribe.
Jagger nodded at the prospect who was detaching his computer from the panel. “If he hadn’t followed you, we wouldn’t have been able to pinpoint where you were so fast. The GPS lost you when you went into the building.”
Cade glared at the prospect. “You followed me?”
The prospect shrugged. “Lost my old man when he went out on a job without someone at his back. Figured you might need some help.”
“He left so fast, he forgot to put on his cut,” Jagger said, his lips quivering at the corners.
“Rule violation.” Gunner’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “Not wearing his cut. He’ll pay a penalty for that in blood.”
“And he followed a senior patch without permission.” Sparky winked and Cade fought back a smile. There was nothing the brothers enjoyed more than hazing a prospect.
“Suicide,” Gunner muttered. “Fuckin’ suicide.”
“I’d call it plain stupid,” Zane cuffed the prospect on the head. “Disrespecting the cut is an automatic kick-out. Leaving the clubhouse without permission is a night in the dungeon with Dax followed by a kick-out.”
“Maybe I’ll just shoot him,” Gunner said as they followed Jagger out of the cellblock. “Put him out of his misery.”
Jagger looked over his shoulder and glared at the prospect. “He also left his computer on. Penalty for wasting energy is death and an ass-kicking from me.”
“No point kicking his ass if he’s already dead.” Sparky patted the prospect’s shoulder. “I think he has value. and it’ll be more fun to kick his ass and hear him scream. He finally showed some spine. It would be a shame to break it too soon.”
The prospect choked back a gasp, and Gunner snorted. “Dead or alive, an ass is an ass to me.”
Cade followed his brothers up the stairs, still trying to wrap his head around the incredible turn of events that meant (1) he was free; (2) he had his cut; (3) the Sinners were going to help him take down Mad Dog; and (4) he had been saved by a fucking prospect.
Time to give something back. “I think our prospect needs a name.”
“Geek.”
“Nerd.”
“Gigolo.”
Jagger stopped at the door and gave Cade a puzzled frown. “Gigolo?”
“Lookit him. The ladies will be falling all over themselves when he walks into a bar wearing his colors looking like some kinda frickin’ biker movie star.”
Everyone turned to stare at the prospect.
“You’re jealous,” Gunner said. “He’s younger and prettier than you. You’re afraid he’s gonna steal your girls away.”
“He’s welcome to them.” Cade stepped out into the cool, dark night. “Only one girl I want. But I need someone to take up the mantle, otherwise there are a lot of good titles out there that will be lost.”
“How ’bout Hacker?” Sparky tapped the prospect’s laptop. “He’s not much use in the field, but he sure as hell knew his stuff when it came to finding you and getting into that system—”
“Don’t forget the screensaver.” Gunner cut him off. “Pretty damn cool to have our patch on every piece of tech in the clubhouse.”
“Vote,” Jagger called out from his bike. He’d parked between two police cars in a brazen show of sticking it to the cops.
Everyone lifted a hand.
“Hacker it is. Now let’s go save an old lady and kick some Brethren ass. The rest of the brothers are waiting for us.”