Crash & Burn
Authors: Jessica Coulter Smith
Steel Riders M.C. #2
Jessica Coulter Smith
Copyright © 2015 Jessica Coulter Smith
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Published by Coastal Escape Publishing
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Steel Riders slunk through the darkness and shadows, creeping up on the Double Deuces’ clubhouse. The sounds of revelry inside sickened Crash. They acted like nothing had happened, even though Celia had broken down and confessed
everything. Granted, it was her word against theirs, but what reason did she have for lying? Either way, she faced banishment from the Steel Riders’ clubhouse, and that was if she was lucky. Blitz was still contemplating her fate. She’d not only tried to steal their cash, she’d tried to confiscate their drugs to give to the Double Deuces. And she’d listened for intel, selling them all the Steel Riders’ secrets she could gather.
If it were up to Crash, she’d be turned over to the authorities. He was certain they could come up with some charges that would stick. Every one of his brothers would back him if he said she was trying to sell herself on clubhouse property.
Solicitation might not be a huge charge, but it would get her out of their hair, and hopefully, teach her a lesson, but no one wanted to hear his opinion on the matter.
Blitz slid a two by four through the handles of the front door and sent Flash around the back to do the same. Crash and Burn watched the front windows while their other brothers fanned out around the building, making sure no one escaped. The Double Deuces had fucked them over before, but this would be the last damn time.
Besides, there had been rumors they were involved in human trafficking, and the Steel Riders weren’t down with that shit.
On a count of three, the building was doused in accelerant and matches were tossed onto the fluid. The building went up like a torch and the shouts of the men inside could be heard over the roar of the flames. Crash turned to Burn and was about to make a snide remark about the assholes inside when he heard something. It was faint but…
“Help!”
He snarled and began tearing his clothes from his body.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Burn, his twin, asked.
“There’s a woman trapped inside. I’m going to shift and go get her. The flames aren’t quite so bad by this window just yet, but you know some of those assholes inside are going to try to escape this way. You’re going to have to be prepared to take them on, or let them go and we’ll chase them down later. Either way, I can’t leave her in there.”
Burn nodded and gathered Crash’s fallen clothes and boots, setting them away from the burning building.
Crash called to his beast. Fur sprouted along his body, a tail began to form behind him, and he dropped to all fours as his beast took over. Where Crash had once stood in human form, now was a Siberian tiger.
“Go get her,” Burn said.
Crash crouched then launched himself through the window, glass shattering and clinging to his fur. He snarled at any men who came near him as he picked his way through the inferno. His paws felt like they were on fire, but he carried on, knowing she had to be somewhere in the smoke-filled room. He heard her faintly call for help again before a round of coughing shook her body.
In the corner, he saw a petite blonde, but when he saw the rope attached to the O-ring on the wall, he couldn’t hold back his snarl. They’d tied her up and left her to die! Assholes. Worse. He just couldn’t think of anything worse to call them just then. He approached cautiously, not wanting to frighten her more. When her gaze settled on him, her eyes widened and a scream seemed to be trapped in her throat.
Crash approached as slowly as he could, nuzzled her before licking her cheek; then he went to work on chewing through the rope. When he had her free, he tried to think of a way to get her onto his back so he could carry her out. He crouched low and purred at her, looking from her to his back, then back to her again. It took her a moment but she seemed to understand.
“You want me to ride you?” she asked, her voice scratching from the smoke.
Crash nodded.
Her eyes widened again, but she climbed onto his back, leaning down and
wrapping her arms around his neck. She was nearly chocking him, but Crash began moving through the building. When he reached the window, he hoped like hell she wouldn’t be cut by the broken glass, but the front door remained barred. He leapt and landed on the other side, his paws on fire from walking across the hot floor.
The woman slipped from his back and his brother, Burn, caught her. Needing the magick of his shift to heal the slight burns he’d received inside, he slowly shifted back to human. At her gasp, he looked her way. If he’d thought her eyes were wide before, it was nothing compared to now. Apparently, no one warned her shifters were real. He jerked on his jeans, then held out his hand to her.
“I’m Crash. Are you all right?”
She placed her hand in his and a tingle shot up his arm. Hmm. Interesting.
Smoke still filled his nose so he couldn’t have begun to guess what she smelled like, but she was definitely something special. Their mate, perhaps? He’d always known he would share one with Burn, but he wasn’t sure what his brother thought of their rescue.
“I’m Willow.”
“No last name?”
She shook her head. “I’m sure I had one at one point, but I don’t remember it.
I’ve just been called Willow for the last fifteen years.”
Crash frowned, his brow furrowed. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t
figure out what it was. And with the fire still burning a little too close for comfort, he figured it was a riddle best solved at the clubhouse. He finished dressing then took Willow’s other hand and then Crash and Burn led her to where the bikes were stashed around the corner.
“You can ride with me,” Crash said, “or my brother, Burn. Either way, you’re going to our clubhouse, where we’ll figure out the next move.”
She nibbled her lower lip and looked between the two brothers before walking over to Crash’s bike. He supposed she felt safer with him since he’d been the one to retrieve her from the building. He swung a leg over his bike, then helped her on behind him, pulling her hands around his waist.
“You’ll have to hold on tight,” he warned.
“I’ve ridden on motorcycles before,” she said softly. “I’ve spent my life riding behind someone.”
He figured he’d puzzle that one out later. Since she’d been tied up, there was no way she was related to someone in the club, but the alternative left a sick feeling in his stomach. He’d heard of M.C.s that trafficked in children, but he hoped like hell she hadn’t been one of them. The thought of her living through those atrocities was enough to make his blood boil.
Crash set off at an easy pace, then caught up to the rest of his crew, taking his place beside Burn. They zipped through the streets until they reached the Steel Riders’
clubhouse, a much nicer structure than the one they’d just come from. Crash parked his bike in the covered parking area, since they predicted rain in the morning, and then helped Willow off his bike. She tucked her hand through his arm and he led her to the clubhouse, up the steps, and through the front doors.
He paused, letting her look around, before he walked over to the bar and
motioned for her to have a seat. He took the stool to her left and Burn claimed the one on her right. If she felt caged in, she didn’t let on. She actually seemed fairly relaxed for a woman who had no idea what the future would bring, but then he supposed,
depending on what she’d already been through, she might figure this would be a walk in the park.
“You can either tell your story to us first, or we can call a meeting with the Pres and you can just give the story one time.” Crash reached out and swept a strand of hair behind her ear. “Either way, we’re going to have to know why you were with the Double Deuces, and why I found you tied up.”
Burn’s eyebrows shot up. “She was tied up?”
Crash nodded. “I chewed through the ropes.”
“I never thanked you for saving me,” Willow said. “You could have left me there to die.”
“No. Our goal was to wipe out the Double Deuces, not to harm innocent
women.”
Burn cleared his throat. “Yeah, speaking of that… two managed to get through the window before I could stop them. They were fairly well burnt and not looking their best, so we may not hear anything from them. They may be happy to scurry off and start their lives over somewhere.”
Willow paled. “Depends on which two. If it was Mule and Jax, then they’ll come after me. They won’t like the idea of my getting a happy ending.” She looked up at Crash. “Assuming you’re going to give me one.”
Oh ho! He’d like to give her a happy ending all right. Smack dab in between Burn and him, but he figured now wasn’t the time to mention that. Although, she’d need a place to sleep tonight and there weren’t any vacant rooms, unless Blaze went home to his mate.
“No one here is going to hurt you,” Crash said. It was the best he could give her for now.
“I’d rather just tell the story once, if that’s all right.”
Crash nodded. “Burn, why don’t you set up something with the Pres and we’ll convene in the boardroom. I don’t think we need to call Church for this, but she might be more comfortable telling her story away from everyone.”
“On it.” Burn got off his stool and went in search of Blitz.
“You want something to drink?” Crash asked Willow. “Your throat has to be
sore from all that smoke.”
“Maybe some water?”
Crash flagged down the Prospect manning the bar. “Get the lady a cold bottle of water. If there isn’t any at the bar, go to the kitchen and pull one from the fridge.”
The Prospect eyed Willow in curiosity, but left to do as he’d been told. It didn’t take long before he returned with a bottle of water that was icy to the touch. Crash twisted off the lid and handed it to Willow, watching as she gulped it down. He wasn’t sure how much of her thirst was from the fire and how much was from being held prisoner. Had they fed her, given her something to drink?
Burn appeared at his shoulder and nodded toward the boardroom.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Crash said. “It’s time to tell your story.”
She curled her hand around his bicep and let him lead her through the
clubhouse. When they reached the boardroom, she seemed to tremble by his side. He wanted to reassure her that everything would okay, but truthfully, he wasn’t sure it would be. Just because he wanted to claim her as his mate, didn’t mean Blitz would let him.
The Pres sat at the head of the table, looking impressive with his full-sleeve tattoos on display and wearing his cut proudly. He motioned for them to enter and take a seat closer to him than their usual places. Crash took the seat next to Blitz, then sat Willow beside him, with Burn on her other side. He wanted her protected, and it seemed his twin felt the same.
“So I hear you’re the reason some of the Double Deuces escaped,” Blitz said, staring her down.
Crash felt her tremble again and placed a hand on her knee. “It’s all right, Willow. Just tell him how you came to be with them.”
She licked her lips and looked at the President with a deer-in-the-headlights expression. Crash gave her leg a squeeze, hoping it would prompt her to start talking.
He wasn’t sure what kind of mood Blitz was in, but he didn’t want to take a chance on the Pres kicking her out of the clubhouse.
“I was sold to the Double Deuces a few months ago. To sweeten a narcotics deal between the Black Daggers and them.”
The blood in Crash’s veins turned to ice. The Black Daggers were bad news, especially for women. If she’d been with them, then he was almost certain she’d been abused, and the thought sickened him.
“So the Black Daggers owned you?” Blitz asked. “For how long?”
“Their V.P., Slash, snatched me off the streets when I was about five. He kept me as a sort of pet until I turned eighteen. Then he told me that everything I’d learned would pay off. He had planned to either use me as a prostitute to earn extra cash inside the club, or he was going to sell me to the highest bidder. I managed to escape that fate for almost two years, then the Double Deuces came along and their Sergeant-at-Arms took a liking to me. But he didn’t want me just one time, he wanted to own me.”