Edge of Ashes (Sons of Ash Motorcycle Club) (13 page)

“You just killed to guys! Two brothers I
might add. Did you have to kill them in front of me? Oh no,” I say when he
starts to talk. “You don’t get to talk. It’s my turn to freak. I just wanted to
have a laugh. Couldn’t you have told me your co-workers wanted you dead? That’s
kind of an important piece of information to leave out. Is it going to be like
this every time we’re together? You shooting people… me running over people? I
should have known better. The other day you nearly blew my head off and today I
just about returned the favor. What am I going to do now? Maybe I should take
this as a bad omen and crawl back into bed.  You’ve been kicked out of
your own club apparently so what are you going to do besides haunting me and
making
my
life miserable?”

“I’d like to think,” Adam replies, “that my
coming around wouldn’t be taken as a haunting and life miserable making event.
But I get it. Things have been a little weird lately.”

“A little weird? You just shot two people
and that only rates weird in your book? That kind of thing’s life changing in
my book.”

I fall silent as I drive. I really don’t
have a clear plan as to what to do or where to go. I’m not sure I want to go
back to my house just in case someone’s following me.

“Are you okay Kari?” Adam finally asks.

“I’m fine.” The words are out of my mouth
before I can even think about it. I’m really not fine. I just saw two people
gunned down by the man who is…I don’t know what he is to me actually.

“Kari pull over. You’re not okay, I can see
it on your face and you’re beginning to shake.”

He’s right. My body seems to be having a
reaction now. My hands are trembling, my heart is pounding and I’m on the verge
of hyperventilating. I need to get back in control of myself here. He puts his
hand on my arm and it makes me literally come up out of me seat. Yeah, I better
stop before I cause an accident. I ease way up on the gas and pull over to the
side of the road. Fortunately I have been winding around so I doubt any of
Ripper’s guys are going to just run into us right here.

The second my car comes to a full stop I
cut the engine and burry my head in my hands. Is this what my life is going to be
like now? Full of violence and running for my life? Why would I even consider
trading my normal life for this? The presence of his hand tenderly stroking my
arm is reason why. I look up at Adam. He is watching me intently, but with a
surprisingly tender expression in his eyes. How can a man so easily snuff the
life out of two human beings one second, and then look so normal the next? The
longer I look into his eyes the more captivating they are. I’m beginning to
feel like I’m falling…falling into his soul and I’m no longer afraid.

He opens his mouth to say something but I
press my index finger to his lips effectively silencing him. I don’t want him
talking and breaking the spell. When I remove my finger I realize I’m leaning
into him and he is to me. Suddenly our lips meet and there’s electricity in the
air. Determined to get the most out of it, I close my eyes and do my best to
just tune out the rest of world; it’s not hard to do. His lips are surprisingly
soft, and his kiss is insistent, bordering on urgent. I’ve never been one to
pay much attention to smell; or the way a person smells unless just smells like
a elephant or something, but Adam… He’s got this leather and some indescribable
feral smell that just drives me nuts. If that men’s deodorant company Axe could
bottle this stuff….oh man.

Suddenly our tongues collide and I’ve
completely forgotten about his manly smell. He’s caressing my cheek and neck
and it makes my skin come alive. I don’t think I have ever been so physically
drawn to another man before. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that
Adam doesn’t seem to be just a biker; he’s the whole package. At least I think
he is. When his hand drops to my legs I can’t help but part them slightly; it’s
an automatic response. My heart pounds against my ribs as his hand slides
beneath the hem of my skirt. Makes me wonder… is anybody watching us and… I
hope I’m not wearing my ‘granny’ panties. The potential for embarrassment could
be huge. Oh crap, I think I left my laundry in the wash. Now they’re going to
smell funny when I get them out to dry. And what am I doing thinking about my
laundry at a time like this?

“Are you alright?” Adam asks me. “You’re
eyes suddenly got this far away look in them…”

“You were watching my eyes?”

“See you did go somewhere just now.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Yeah… they kinda glazed over. But it’s
cool. “What were you thinking about anyway?”

Without even thinking I blurt out: “granny
panties.” Then I catch myself and look away.

“Wow…has anyone ever told you you’re honest
to a fault?”

“No…and I get how you’d think that.” I
begin. “It’s just that…Never mind. Do I really have to explain?”

“Please don’t.” He replies.

Abruptly his phone rings, totally killing
the mood. He gives me an apologetic look then answers his phone.

“What?” He says.

“What are you talking about?” He barks into
the receiver.

This does not sound good. All at once his
whole body stiffens, and his other fist clenches and unclenches. Whatever news
he’s getting is bad. Good thing he’s not in the position to shoot the messenger
because he looks like he’d like to do just that.

“You’re dead.” He breathes into the phone.
“You’re fucking dead.”

The look on his face sends chills, not the
good kind, running up and down my spine. He listens for another minute then
hands me his phone.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” I
ask.

“I think you better listen to this Kari.”

Slowly I take the phone from his
outstretched hand. I have no idea what to expect, except that it can’t be good.

“Hello?”

“Kari, you gotta help me!” My little sister
pleads.

“Why? What’s wrong? Where are you Anna?”

“These guys came and got me. They said
they’re from your boyfriend’s club, but then they tied me up and took me to
some place and now-”

“That’s enough bitch,” Snarls a voice I’d
hoped I’d never hear again.

“Where is she? Where’s my sister you
fucking animal. If you hurt her I’ll-”

“You’ll what? Pretend you have food
poisoning again?” Ripper replies.

Yeah Ripper has my sister. I’d know that
evil voice anywhere.

“Here’s how this is gonna work bitch.”
Ripper begins. “You’re going to deliver to me on a silver platter your
boyfriend there. And if you follow directions you get your little sis back in
one piece…more or less.”

I’m shaking so bad I just about drop Adam’s
phone. “What d-do I have t-to do?”

“You’re going to go to your nice little
house there and get that pair of handcuffs from your nightstand and put them on
your boy toy there; with his hands behind his back mind you.”

This time I drop the phone.

Adam retrieves it but the connection is
gone. Oh my god. He’s going to think I just hung up one him and he’s going to
kill my sister. Adam starts to dial the number when it rings. He hands me the
phone. This time I use both hands.

“Are you insane bitch? You hang up on me
one more time and I’m gonna mail your sister to you in bits and pieces! Are we
clear?”

“Dropped it,” I explain. “I just dropped
it. I won’t hang up. No need for the bits and pieces part.”

“Then you listen carefully. You’re gonna
strip your boy there down to his skivvies and cuff his hands behind his back,
nice and tight like. Then you’re going to dump him off in front of our gate.
When that’s done we’ll call you and tell you where you can pick up your sister.
You got that?”

“How do I know you won’t just kill her once
I deliver Adam?”

“You don’t! That’s what makes this so much
fun. You got twenty-four hours to deliver him before I start cutting off parts
of little sis here.”

“Don’t start cutting. I’ll do…” I hang up.
He’s already broken the connection.

I turn to Adam.

“No!” He barks.

“What? You have to. He’s gonna kill my
sister.” I can’t believe he’d even think about refusing.

“He’ll kill her anyway. If I turn myself in
to him he’ll kill me
and
your sister. Two dead people here, no one wins,
but if I don’t give myself up at least we have the chance of getting your
sister back alive. I’m not letting you tie me up and give me over to Ripper.”

Calmly I open my glove compartment and pull
out a loaded handgun.

“You’re not letting me Adam, I’m making you
and it’s not up for discussion!”

When I put the Colt Commander .45 in my
glove compartment I thought I’d never use it. In fact I thought it was
completely crazy but Doctor Mike insisted I have some kind of protection after
he’d been beaten senseless by my ex. The gun is his on loan and I can’t believe
I’m doing this.

Adam’s mouth drops open. “Are you fucking
serious?” He asks me. “And where’d you get that?”

I ignore his question and chamber a round
before pointing the gun at him again. “I am fucking serious.” I reply.

“This isn’t going to work.” He says.

“I don’t care. I have to try. I’m not going
to let him start cutting on my sister without trying to save her.”

“No, I mean you can’t drive and keep you
gun trained on me. You’ll either drop it, get us killed in an accident, or
shoot me and then you’ll really have a problem.”

“You know, you just gave me a great idea. I
bet he’d be happy to give my sister over to the person who shot his enemy.”

I aim at his head. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“You’re in way over your head Kari. I know
Ripper. I know how he thinks and I also know how to beat him and this is not
the way to do it.”

“Then what would you suggest? We only have
twenty-three hours and…and fifty minutes.”

“Well you’d better put the gun away and
start driving.” He replies.

“So you’re coming home so I can cuff you
then?” I ask. Maybe he is playing along after all.

“Oh I’m coming with, but I have another
plan. You’re going to deliver me alright but first we got a little planning to
do.”

“I need you to take me back to get my
bike.” Adam says, looking at his watch for the tenth time.

“Why do you need your bike? And why do you
keep looking at your watch? We have like 23 hours still.”

“Because I have a meeting to go to and no
way in hell am I going to show up in a pink Volkswagen bug.”

“What meeting?”

He sits silent long enough that I start to
wonder if he didn’t hear me, then he starts talking.

“Ripper and his crew are going to do the
first delivery for MS 13 tonight. I know where the pick- up is, the route, and
where they are going to deliver the drugs. This is a test run and if it goes off
without a hitch, and then they are one giant step closer to being mules for the
gang. I have to convince our arch rivals, the Cycle Demons to intercept the
shipment then present themselves to the MS 13 guys as a more reliable club. I
believe the Cycle Demons will jump at the chance. The money earned from drug
running will be their only chance at being more powerful then the Sons.”

“But you are the Sons too. Why do you want
your enemy to be more powerful?” I don’t get this and I really don’t want to be
talking about this when my sister’s life is on the line.

“I’m taking half the club, the ones still
loyal to me, legit. Everything is set up. By going legit we’ll no longer be a
threat to the Cycle Demons and they’ll set their sights on what’s left of the
Sons of Ash. I wish I could put this off until your sister was safe but there
is no way I can delay the deal. It’s going to happen tonight with or without
me. I have arraigned a meet with the Demon’s VP in one hour and I am not
showing up in your pink bug!”

“Fine, but I’m coming too.”

“What?” He objects. “No fucking way! This
is way too dangerous for you. I have no way of knowing how this is going to go
down. It could be a trap for all I know.”

“No way am I letting you out of my sight.
If I don’t keep you focused on my sister’s plight she’ll never get rescued. I
am not leaving your side. And by the way, what makes you think this might
not
be a trap?”

“I grew up with Slayer…Mark Pinkus, the
Demons VP. We went to school together until high school and we were best
friends before he moved away. We lost track of each other until one day we got
into it with the Demons and he shows up as their Sargent of Arms. We didn’t try
to kill each other, but ours is a strained relationship. I’m pretty certain he
just is curious about what I’m up to. He will of course have three or four guys
hiding out somewhere just in case he decides to jump me or to defend himself if
I decide to take him out.”

“Jeez… why can’t you just be normal. Your
president wants you dead, your friend may want you dead…anyone else want you
dead? Oh and we can’t forget about my ex too. He’s not your biggest fan after
the other night.”

“Sorry babe, it comes with the territory.
So can we go to your house now? We’re running out of time.”

I do a U-turn and hit the gas. “Fine.”

Ten minutes later we pull into my driveway.
As I kill the engine he points to the gun I’ve been cradling in my lap.

“You might want to take that ‘/’with you;
you know, just in case.”

“Serious? If we have to rely on me and my
shooting capabilities we’re in trouble. Are you forgetting the last time I
tried to shoot your shotgun?”

“How can I forget?” He says. “That was my
favorite gun. Surely you can hang on to a little .45, can’t you?”

“I’m just sayin…”

Normally I enjoy being on the back of a bike
but the gravity of our situation is keeping me from grounded. I feel like I’m
riding to my death or something. We get to our destination in twenty minutes.
The meet is at a children’s park. I can’t believe he’d schedule a meeting here.
He must be pretty confident he can keep this little encounter friendly
otherwise he’s putting other people’s lives in jeopardy; not just ours. I’m
just about to give him an ear full I notice something as we circle the park for
the second time; there’s nobody here. No kids, no adults, and no squirrels.
Seems like his friend cleared the place in anticipation of the meet; that’s
good to know.

After making one more loop around the
little park he finally parks. Not only do I not see any children playing, I
don’t see anyone that even remotely looks like a biker. Adam dismounts and
removes his helmet.

“He’s not here yet.” He looks at his watch.
“We’re fifteen minutes early.” He hands me his helmet. “I want you to stay with
the bike and keep your eyes on me. If I signal you one way that means you
split. If I give you the other signal it means you are to join us. If the
occasion arises, I’ll have to introduce you as my old lady. Any questions?”

“How much time do we have?”

“Very funny.”

“How long have we been together and where
did we meet? What’s our story? Why’d-”

“He’s not actually gonna give a damn,” Adam
replies, cutting me off.

“He may not but he’ll know I’m not for real
unless we brush up on-”

“Forget it. Chances are you’ll stay put on
my bike and you’ll never have to say a thing. I’ll only signal you if things
get…unpleasant. Seeing your pretty face just may tame the beast, so to speak.
Also there’s a history between us when it comes to women,” he says.

“What sort of history?” I’m beginning to
wonder if there’s something else he’s not telling me about this guy.

“He stole my old lady once. Well, she
wasn’t quite my old lady but she could have been. If you come over he’ll focus
on stealing you and be more agreeable to my plan with his people and MS 13. But
it should be fine. I seriously doubt I’ll need your help.”

Yeah…famous last words. He’s over there
talking with the Cycle Demon guy for all of sixty seconds before he gives me
the pre- arranged signal to join him with his friend.

“So tell me this plan of yours,” Mark says
after introductions. “And why are you so interested in taking the Sons legit?”

“Look, I’m tired of the life. I’ve been
involved with the Sons in one capacity or another since I could walk and I’m tired.
I want to take the guys that are with me legit but we can’t handle an all-out
war with the guys that are aligned with Ripper.”

“Wait a second,” I but in. “Aren’t you
already at war? I must have treated a half dozen of your guys in my ER and you
don’t call that war?”

“Those are just skirmishes. If Ripper
launches a war against us it’ll be over in a night; that’s what I’m trying to
prevent. The only way this will work is if they’re preoccupied with the Cycle
Demons.”

“And tell me again why I want a war with
your more violent brothers?” Mark asks.

“MS 13 is looking for bodies to distribute
product and they’re turning to us,” Adam begins. “They really don’t care who
they work with actually. They just want loyal foot soldiers and either we
provide them or you do. Basically I am giving you a way in. What you do with
that is on you.”

“What’s our way in?” Mark asks.

“I know when and where Ripper and his guys
are going to pick up the next shipment.
I also
know
the route and where they’re going to drop it off. If it goes well MS 13 will
start using Sons to distribute and sell their product. In exchange all I want
is for your guys to leave mine alone and to take over MS 13’s drug business.
Once MS 13 sees that we can’t protect their product and guarantee safe delivery
there’s no way they’ll use us. The only other crew in this town capable of
handling MS 13’s business is you guys.”

Two minutes into the conversation I see the
light go on in Mark’s eyes. They continue to talk and strategize for the better
part of a half hour before they stand and shake hands; it’s a done deal. As we
walk back to Adam’s bike I realize something. My sister’s time is going to run
out at some point during the whole drug thing with Ripper, MS 13, and the Cycle
Demons. Obviously I can’t allow that.

I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face
Adam. “We can’t do this! While you’re gallivanting about with your drug deal
stuff and your war my sister is going to be mailed to me in parts. You can’t do
this.” I protest.

“This is the perfect time Kari. Ripper and
his guys will be so busy trying to protect their drug run that they’ll barely
be guarding your sister. It’ll be the perfect time to strike. Not only will we
ruin their deal with MS 13, but we’ll get your sister back as well.”

I glace at my watch before getting on
Adam’s bike. It’s nearly 4pm. We have until noon tomorrow to deliver Adam or to
rescue my sister. I’m kinda leaning towards giving up Adam. Seems a lot safer
than any half- baked rescue attempt.

“So now what?” I ask Adam before putting my
helmet on.

“Dinner and a show?”

“What the fuck?” He shouts as my helmet
bounces off his thick skull. He rubs his head and shoots daggers at me with his
eyes. “What the hell did you do that for?” He asks.

“Dinner and a show? Are you kidding me?” I
shout indignantly. I draw my arm back, getting ready to give him another smack
down before he can get his own helmet on his unprotected noggin.

“I was kidding…maniac. But what can we do
anyway?”

“We make a plan,” I reply. “Or do you
already have one?” My arm is still cocked back just in case I don’t like his
answer.

He eyes me suspiciously before answering.
“I do have one actually. I was hoping to share with you over dinner not here at
the park. We’ll look like a couple perverts hanging around a children’s park without
any little ones in tow.”

“You’re worrying about that now? You didn’t
think it even a teensy bit weird when we were circling the park like a couple
vultures a few minutes ago?”

“Hey I was scouting for signs that we were being
set up,” He protests. “Looking perverted was the farthest thing from my mind.”

“Alright fine, just take me to a nice place
to eat and I’ll forget that I had to beat you senseless a minute ago.”

“Yeah… that wasn’t really necessary.” Adam
says, rubbing his head for emphasis.

“Fine…let’s just go already.”

I jam my helmet down on my head and put my
arms about his waist. I squeeze way harder than necessary for just holding on
during a ride on a motorcycle; a move that was not lost on my
sort of
boyfriend.

Half hour later we’re sitting down at Za’s,
the newest Mediteranien eatery to grace Cave Junction.

“What is it with this town and the letter
Z?” I ask Adam as our waiter pours lemony water into our glasses.

“What do you mean?” Adam asks.

“Well…there’s this place and Zebra’s… then
there’s that winery…Zinfandel’s, and the children’s clothing store over on
Market Street; Zook’s I believe.”

“And the music store over on Broadway,”
Adam concludes.

“What music store?”

“The only one on that street; Xylophone’s
Emporium.” He replies.

“Yeah…English is not your forte.”

“Hey, xylophone is a word!” He protests.

“That actually begins with an X,” our
waiter offers as she presents us with our menus.

“Can you not hear the Z in the word?” Adam
asks, getting flustered. “Forget it, just go. We don’t want to hear the
specials, but don’t leave us hanging either. Give us five and we’ll be ready.”

“Of course Sir.”

“So what’s the plan?” I ask. I just can’t
sit through an entire dinner waiting for him to eventually open up. I need to know
now.

He takes a long drink of water before
beginning.

“The pickup tonight is at 1:15am and the
delivery to our shop is at 4:00. It’ll take three hours or so to get to the
pickup spot from Cave Junction so we can hit them anytime between…2 and 3. I figure
2:30 would be ideal. The guys who are hitting Ripper and his crew will call me
ten minutes before the hit. We have to be within ten minutes of the warehouse
when the call comes in. Hopefully when we take your sister no one will be able
to get a call out to Ripper about it. Even if they do, Ripper will have his
hands full with Cycle Demons. There shouldn’t be anyway the guys who have your
sister can get any backup. Timing is everything though so if I don’t get the
call from the Cycle Demons we won’t know when to hit your sister and problems
could arise.”