Ride with Me (6 page)

His partner strolls back out from grabbing snacks for them, and they both make it obvious they are watching us. Even with the rig unattended, their attention is on Tripp and me, not the transport.

Why?

We make our way back to the truck and climb in to watch as Danza talks to the guys about their truck, keeping them distracted from us and Boomer, who is attaching a device to their vehicle. Having an explosives expert as a brother is invaluable in these situations.

We pull out, leaving our brothers to set up to make a mess if need be and then clean up whatever gets left behind.

I wish I had answers. I wish I knew what was really behind the men following us. However, that is not how this works. Part of being a Hellion is me trusting my brothers to have my back. Roundman has made the call based on his knowledge of the situation. When we get home, he will give us the necessary information about this run. Until then, Tripp and I have a job to do, and it’s one we will get done. We are rock solid together, and our club is rock solid behind us.

We cross into what was once Hot Springs, New Mexico and is now Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The city was named for a popular radio program from back in the day. It’s a mouthful of a town if you ask me, so we will stick with Consequences between us.

I can’t help taking in the surroundings of the popular spa city and laughing. What the hell is in this trailer? Not my business, but I have to give those Ravage boys credit. This is the smartest place to hide a shipment of anything.

Fancy Nancy town makes me think of my Fancy Nancy woman waiting at home.

I will not get worked up. I will not worry. I will remain rock solid at home for my man.

Who am I kidding? I’m already a mess. I’m worried, I’m frantic, and I just need some reassurance he’s coming home.

Four days of silence. Four days of zero contact. Four days of unanswered calls, unanswered texts, and unopened emails. Four days of letting my mind go crazy with wonder.

The emotions going through me tip the scales. I’m angry.

Like really, where is the respect for me, for us? Where is the care and consideration for my feelings? I don’t need to know where he is … unless he’s balls deep inside some broad. Then I need to know so I can cut his dick off!

See? Anger! I have to calm down. Rex has grown up. He wouldn’t do that to me. He’s not in contact because it must not be safe.

Worry and fear grip me. Not safe. What if he’s injured … or worse? I can’t go there. Rex is coming home. He’s coming home to me, and we are going to start our life together as husband and wife.

Sadness builds the moment I think of anything happening to him. He’s my rock. We have created this crazy life together, and I depend on him in a way I never thought possible.

Picking up the phone, I call the one person who could possibly ease my fears.

“Lux, how’s it going, babe?” Sass answers on the second ring.

I let out a sigh. “What happened to Caroline? Rex has won you all over to his side.”

“If the name fits, you own it. Lux, you are deluxe. Rock that shit, girl. Long time no chat. When are you going to bring your Fancy Nancy, high-heel wearing, hot self down to the coast for a visit?”

My college best friend soothes my fears just from hearing her voice. Doll, Sass, and I have been friends for years. They are the sisters I never had. They let me freak out when I need to and calm me down when I get out of control.

“If I knew when Rex would be pulling in, I could better answer that question.”

She laughs, but it’s a patient, kind laugh, not a mean one. “Ahh, the adjustment to the life. Honey, these guys have no schedule. They go where the road takes them. It’s the untamable beast inside. We love their strength, their loyalty, and their drive, but it comes with a wild side.”

Sighing, I think of the wild side to Rex. It’s what I love about him.

“I don’t want to tame him. I just miss him.”

“Love is never easy.” She should know after Tank was in a coma for months while she shacked up with an asshole in a suit who messed with her head and her heart. “Loving a Hellion is even harder.”

“How do I learn to sit back and not worry?”

“Oh, honey, you worry. Every minute of every day, you will have some worry. That’s for anyone you love, biker or not. You learn to trust your family. The Hellions are family. Rex isn’t out there on his own. He’s never without a brother at his back;, so, even if we sometimes go a few days without communication, you trust in the club that your man will be home as soon as it’s time.”

Trust in the family. The club has been my family for years. I can trust in them. She’s right.

“The more runs, the more you learn over time. If he hasn’t been in touch, he’s nearing the drop. The next time he touches base, plan for him to return to you within a week, probably sooner.”

This is why I love her. She knows exactly what I needed to hear. I needed a small reassurance he is okay and the silence was to be expected. Sass gave me that. Now I can wait for the call that means he’s on his way back to me.

Until then, I have dresses to choose and cakes to taste while picking some flowers and tying it all together with an unknown date.

Who needs save the date cards? Not us.

I’m going to be rock solid for my man, for my club, and for my family.

Driving beyond Truth or Consequences, we allow our friends in the Chevy to follow us to a desert town that makes it safe for us to show our cards.

We have scoped out our drop location, but we kept driving. We have time to make the transaction, so we’ll have a little fun with the boys who seem so interested in where we are headed.

Pulling the rig over, Tripp hops out and spreads the orange markers appropriately while we watch the truck drive on by. I smirk, and Tripp watches them while we pretend to be disabled. Not long after, Danza and Boomer pass us. We gather up our things and pull out behind them.

When we get in range, Boomer sets off the remote detonator and
BOOM
the back end of their truck pops up. They immediately pull over and jump out.

Danza and Boomer are right there to grab the two idiots.

In the middle of the New Mexico desert, stranded on a back road, oh, the things we can do.

“Son of a bitch,” the driver mutters as we step up to them. He’s taller than us, and we are over six feet. He’s bald, but not in a way that suits him. He has a lumpy head and a hunchback, giving him an Uncle Fester look that is more creepy than freaky. He is also covered in tattoos—and I mean covered. The designs have blended together, making him look like a green blob.

“Were you going for the Incredible Hulk look, man?” Tripp asks as we approach.

“Fuck you.”

Tripp raises his hand to his chest. “Fuck me? Well, thanks but no thanks. My dick digs chicks.”

Danza laughs as the second guy, who is much shorter but just as ugly, steps up to his buddy.

“Well, fellas, if it isn’t Ugly and Fugly. Your daddy shoulda pulled out.”

The guys glare at the Hellions original.

“Gonna show us your moves, Tony Danza?” Creeper asks. “Should have realized it was you at that truck stop. They gave us pictures and told us to watch.”

His partner stops him. “Shut the fuck up before this gets any more messed up. The club isn’t ready to make a move yet. We were told to watch.”

We all laugh. “Showing your cards too soon, boys.” Tripp stalks up to them. “It’s obvious you know us, and you’ve been following us. Care to share why?”

“No,” Creeper clips quickly.

Boomer laughs. “They never, ever learn. The quicker they talk, the quicker this shit is over.”

I grab my crotch. “It’s ’cause they’ve got nothing to get home to and sink inside. Dried up dicks.”

“You guys think you’re untouchable—the almighty Hellions. You’ll see.”

Tripp grabs the smartass by his head, standing behind him, as he yanks his knife out and then holds it to his throat.

The bald guy moves to take out Tripp as Danza quickly strikes his kidneys, bringing him down to his knees. I pull my gun and aim it at his chest.

Too slow. These two assholes are too slow.

“What exactly will we see?” Danza barks out.

“The originals. You have enemies from the start. They’ve given you time and taken that time to build our force.”

“Like you two?” I laugh. “We clocked you a week ago. We’ve been playing games with you since.”

After patting the guy down, Danza releases his man then grabs his own gun and comes around to face him. “Who do you work for?”

The man spits at his feet, and Danza fires a round into his thigh before immediately aiming back at his head.

“Who the fuck sent you?”

The man smiles a sadistic grin. “Hell hath no fury.”

“Fury!” Danza spits in the guy’s face. “That’s what I think of Fury.” He mumbles to himself, “Fucking pansy ass motherfuckers. Fucking Fury. Why now?”

I see a change in Danza’s face when the other man smirks from within Tripp’s hold and says, “Fowler, the all-around good guy. Rocky Fowler’s death wasn’t an accident.”

Rocky Fowler was an original. He and his wife were killed by a drunk driver years ago.

Without a second passing, Danza’s arm moves and he fires. The bullet hits the man between the eyes. One shot, one kill, and one dead enemy.

Tripp releases him as he fights to hold his expression of shock back.

Danza is the ultimate when comes to control. He’s never reacted to words. Now, though, before any of us can stop him, he stands up to the other man who has remained on his ass since taking a bullet to the leg. With the barrel of his gun pressed to his head, Danza stares at the man.

“Hell hath no
fury
like a Hellion on the war path.” He fires. The man drops.

Danza doesn’t speak to any of us; he simply holsters his side piece and takes out his phone, walking away.

Tripp comes over to me. “Bad blood, brother.”

“I can see that. What’s it about?” Boomer asks

Tripp shakes his head, answering, “Don’t know, but I know there is history with Fury MC and the Hellions Originals. We have a run to complete.”

“Well, shit, a decades old death and they just now want to claim it as their own? Roundman is gonna flip his shit,” I say, knowing this won’t be the end of things between the Hellions and Fury. In fact, it may just be the beginning.

Danza comes back over, putting his phone away. “Roundman is sending clean up. Boomer and I’ve got this. Y’all finish the transport and head back. We’ll be a day behind you.”

“You all right, Danza?” Tripp asks with genuine concern.

“When you try to give someone a break to avoid bloodshed, it somehow has a way of biting you in the ass. Fury should have been history, not just part of our history. Now they will come to an end, and it’ll be by my fucking hands.”

The emotions pouring off the man aren’t hidden. Rocky Fowler was one his best friends, and they stood up for each other. Fowler took care of his family while Danza was locked up for the club. Ride until we die, Rocky was a Hellion, so to have someone say his death was a murder … Well, retribution will be had.