Tease: Mojave Boys MC (16 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Vance didn’t head straight for the Scorpions’ clubhouse. As much of a hurry as he was in and as desperate as he was to get to Maya, he wasn’t stupid. This was a setup, and he wasn’t going to fall straight into enemy hands. He’d armed himself, but the rest of his gear was at home, and he had every intention of doing what he could to protect himself.

That meant he needed his flak jacket, and he needed to be in full leathers. So, even though he was going to lose a good forty-five minutes or more, he rode at breakneck speed to his house, where he carefully and methodically geared up. He even grabbed his metal helmet, which he only wore when he rode out in a group with the goal of getting into a gunfight. He had to have every piece of armor available if he was riding solo into the enemy’s basecamp.

Just as he was locking the house up tight, Vance’s phone buzzed again, and he nearly dropped the keys to dig it out of his pocket. His rush only made him more furious when he saw another text had come through from Maya’s phone. It had been an hour since he’d gotten the first message, and already these rat bastards were taunting him again.

He pulled up the picture attached and growled out loud. The car must have stopped somewhere because they certainly hadn’t had time to reach the Scorpion clubhouse yet. But Maya was out of the car, in bright sunlight, and now there were tears in her eyes and bruises forming on her cheek and shoulders. She wasn’t looking directly at the camera, and her refusal to cooperate was probably what had gotten her in trouble. In fact, as he looked closer, he saw a cut on her left cheekbone and wanted to stab someone over and over with a dull blade.

The message read,
I would have thought a model was used to obedience. You should have taught her to behave,
ese.
Now, I have to.

He clenched his fists and nearly put one through his door. Barely in control, he finished locking up and stormed toward his bike. Throwing his leg over, he revved the engine to life, turned the opposite direction, and flew like a bat out of hell to the south.

He couldn’t understand how they’d gotten their hands on Maya to begin with. Vance had given her the number to the taxi service personally, and he’d been there when she called. The car that had arrived had the logo on it, so unless they had hijacked the cab and taken her into another car, it didn’t make sense. As far as he could tell from the first picture that had been sent, the interior was that of the cab.

So, they’d lost another business to the damned enemy, apparently. That was fine; Vance knew the owner of the cab company, and he was going to pay the price. When he had to stop for gas, he was going to call Dusty and have him lead a few of the boys out to take care of business. He’d like to do it personally, but he had other things on his mind right now, like getting Maya back before she was severely injured and killing the assholes who took her.

The road seemed long, the wind hotter than usual in his face. Vance knew it was his anxiety and determination that made him so frantic, but the miles still seemed to stretch further than they ever had. He was road weary almost before he started, but his fear for Maya’s safety fueled him on.

He didn’t know how long he’d been going when his phone buzzed again, having lost track of time in the endless expanse of desert road before him. He cursed to himself and checked the gas gauge on the bike. He wasn’t low, but he couldn’t make himself wait to check the message that had come through.

Rather than continue until he found a place to pull in, Vance braked and pulled over onto the dirt shoulder. He dug under his vest to get to the phone and pulled up what, of course, was another message from Maya’s phone.

You’re taking too long, vato. Your woman won’t last forever.

The image depicted Maya in a straight backed chair, ropes around her chest and her hands tied behind her back. Her head lolled forward, and the gag in her mouth tied around her hair, which hung in a mess around her face. He couldn’t see what sort of damage they’d done to her, and that only made him more furious. The Scorpions were taunting him, working him for every ounce of rage they could draw, so that he would storm in with guns blazing, out of control. It was their best hope of taking him down easy.

He refused to let his emotions take over. He had to be reasonable and in full control of his actions. With that in mind, Vance sent a quick response, his first one yet.
On my way.

He left it at that, revved the engine, and pulled back onto the road, this time moderating his speed a little more carefully. He needed the extra few minutes it would give him to be sure he could pull himself together and act like a rational human being.

As he breathed the hot air in and out rhythmically, the miles grew even, and he brought his rage down several notches. He was still pissed off, but he wasn’t a maniac on wheels. He was just a man hell bent on saving the woman he loved and finding a means of vengeance that didn’t involve dying.

Though he would if it came to that.

A gas station loomed ahead, coming into view along the horizon, maybe another two miles, and Vance figured if he filled up now, he could make it the rest of the way to the Scorpions’ clubhouse and all the way home. He could also take a minute to splash some cold water on his face and check in with Dusty and the gang. He knew Dusty was all kinds of worried, and Vance wanted to reassure him that he had his head on straight.

He turned in and pulled up to the gas pump, taking off his goggles and rubbing his eyes. He looked around for signs he’d landed in the wrong place, but the attendant waved to him. Vance recognized him as one of theirs and walked away from his bike feeling safe enough to let it out of his sight.

In the bathroom, Vance ran the water for a minute to get it cold while he took a leak and then bent over the sink to scrub his face. He ran wet fingers through his hair, too, and felt better afterward. He walked back out to his bike and filled up, the attendant turning him away when he tried to pay. He sat on his bike and pulled out his phone, dialing Dusty, who answered on the first ring. “Where you at, bro?”

“Filling the tank on my girl,” he answered. “They knocked her out, Dusty. I can’t see her face in the picture. They could have cold clocked her, or they could have given her something. It pisses me off.”

“You shouldn’t be going alone,” his friend reiterated.

“I don’t have a choice in the matter, man. But I promise I’m not going to freak out. I’m good. I let the road calm me down.” He purposely kept his tone light, as if he was calmer and more relaxed than he actually was. He was still fuming, but Dusty would be the shit who rode out after him and got them both killed. He needed the guy to believe he was completely levelheaded to prevent that sort of complication.

There was a short silence. “How much farther do you have to ride?”

Vance wasn’t exactly sure. “I think it’s about another thirty miles. Forty, tops.”

“And you’re not going to purposely get yourself killed trying to bust her out of there?”

He had to laugh at that. “What good would it do for me to try to play the hero if I didn’t at least try to survive it? Come on, Dusty. I’ve got it under control, and I’m not going to kick at the goads.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“Yeah, neither do I. But I didn’t like the meatloaf my mama made me eat, either. I just smothered the shit in ketchup and took one for the team.” He pulled his goggles on. “I’ll catch you on the flip side, okay?” He didn’t wait for an answer before he hung up. He stuffed the phone back in his pocket and turned the key, kicking the engine to life.

He was back on the road a minute later with nothing on his mind except making sure he left the clubhouse with Maya’s arms around his waist.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Maya came to slowly, disoriented and trying to remember through the fog where she was and what exactly had happened to make her body ache. She was stiff, sore, and her limbs felt heavy. She tried to move, but she was stuck in a very uncomfortable position.

Her mouth was dry and stretched, something distasteful in her mouth. That’s what jogged her memory. She tasted cloth, choked on the gag, and felt the corners of her mouth tear painfully. She coughed and tried to push the material off her tongue, but it was stuck.

Her neck popped as she lifted her head to look around. Maya didn’t know this room; they must have brought her in here after they’d drugged her to put her out. She winced at that memory. She’d fought hard to keep the needle out of her vein, not knowing what they were giving her. It could be something simple like Benadryl, a sleep aid, or a muscle relaxer. Or, it could be narcotics, illegal opiates. Lord knew she felt groggy enough to believe the worst.

“You’re awake.” Maya wrenched her head around and immediately regretted it, the room spinning and her body protesting. There was a doorway behind her, which provided the only source of light shining into the space, and that was blocked by
Tres Amenazas
. “Maybe we did not give you enough medicine to keep you sleeping.”

Maya started to reply but found she couldn’t. With the extreme discomfort of the gag, she had to be out of it to keep forgetting it was there. The bastard had the nerve to laugh at her, and she snarled at him. He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “If I take that bandana out of your mouth, are you going to start screaming and cursing?”

She wanted to, but she wanted the gag removed more. She shook her head. He strolled over lazily, and Maya was surprised at the gentle way he untied and pulled away the material. She threw her head back and gasped to avoid retching as it came off her tongue, and she stretched her lips a million different ways, not caring that she could feel the corners of her mouth bleeding.

Tres Amenazas
grabbed another chair like the one she was tied to, turned it around in front of her, and straddled it. “So, since you are awake, and you seem to be behaving for the moment, I suppose I can tell you.”

“Tell me what?” she rasped, forcing the words through her parched throat and ignoring the irritation.

“Let me get you a drink,” he offered, standing. He reached in a cabinet, pulled out a glass, and filled it with water from the sink. Maya didn’t usually drink tap water. She traveled so much she didn’t try to stomach the varying water sources. But as he tilted the glass to her lips, she drank happily, just glad for the moisture on her lips, her tongue, her throat.

He was careful and spilled precious little down her face. It made Maya suspicious of his intentions since he was treating her so tenderly. He returned to his seat and said, “You’ll be glad to know
tu novio
, your boyfriend, has let us know he is coming for you.”

Maya didn’t show any reaction on the surface, but inside, she was furious. Why couldn’t Vance just stay out of trouble? If he’d just let things be and refused to play into the hands of the enemy, she would have found her way out of here on her own. She had a feeling money went a long way with guys like the Scorpions, and she was pretty sure she had enough to buy them off.

Now, she felt like playing with fire. “And when he gets here?” she asked.

“Ah, that’s the thing,
mujer
. This is not where he will arrive. In fact, I’ll be leaving to meet him in about five minutes. I only wanted to check on you first.”

Maya jutted her chin. It was a trap; there was nothing he could do to rescue her anyway. But as he stood,
Tres Amenazas
added, “It is a shame he does not know of this place. It is so close to our clubhouse he would be able to smell your perfume from there if he only knew to sniff the air.”

“So, you’re just going to kill him.”

“No, that would be too easy, and it though it would avenge our losses to remove the man who started the back and forth battle, it wouldn’t really serve our higher purposes. We want him to negotiate for us; that is all. If he gives us what we ask, we will return the favor and give him what he asks.”

Maya didn’t want to know how ridiculous the request would be, but she was sure Vance wouldn’t be able to authorize that kind of deal. And she doubted the rest of the Mojave Boys would agree to whatever it was. They might have supported Maya for a time, and they might still want to, but there was only so far a group would go for a single life. Especially if it didn’t belong to one of their own.

She would be considered expendable.

“If he can’t or doesn’t comply?” she pushed.

He spread his hands as if helpless. “We will have to find another way to support ourselves. I’m sure other arrangements can be made.”

And there she had it. If Vance didn’t do what was asked, the Scorpions would come back to her and ask for compensation. She wouldn’t have to come up with a number off the top of her head; they would give her the amount to pay for her own ransom.

Tres Amenazas
saluted her and left her alone again. Moments later, there were more footsteps, distinctly different from his, and a small man brandishing a very large gun leered at her. “You’re lucky,
puta
.
El jefe
says no one can touch you. Otherwise, I’d bend you over and…” He was cut off as
Tres Amenazas
appeared seemingly out of nowhere and punched him in the stomach.

The guard doubled over, and ‘the boss’ grabbed his hair, lifting his head and pointing at Maya. “Apologize to her,
ahora
.”

“I’m sorry!” the man whimpered. Maya wanted to tell him to get some balls, but she was glad for his obedience, and even more relieved that the Scorpions’ leader had given such an order. She didn’t like the idea of what might have happened without such a mandate.

“Our guest will be treated with respect.
Tu sabes?
”

The guard nodded vigorously, and
Tres Amenazas
was gone again. All Maya could think was that the sum he wanted to collect from her must be awfully hefty for him to be even this kind. Maybe eventually, she would be able to talk him into untying her and letting her eat. For now, she was just content to be protected and to have the gag out of her mouth.

***

Vance pulled up to the Scorpions’ clubhouse, which was a converted barn. Granted, it was large, and they’d built onto the back of it. They’d also run plumbing and power to it, so it was comfortable for their purposes. But they still had a pig sty and a chicken coup on the property, so it smelled like shit. Vance couldn’t have handled it long-term.

He was met with glares from several random young fools who thought they were hard and dangerous. Vance just smirked to himself and shook his head. New recruits reeked worse than the damn animals. They didn’t know shit about being part of a club. Even
Tres Amenazas
and the rest of the Scorpions who had been around for more than five minutes understood the loyalty and sense of family that was so natural to a club. These kids were more like gang members and would shoot each other on sight if they thought it was to their benefit.

Raoul, one of the founding members, waved him over toward the barn entrance. Vance gave an almost imperceptible nod and started toward him, grateful at least to be dealing with a mature biker rather than one of these cocky little pricks. “Welcome to Scorpion Cantina, eh?” the man greeted with a genuine smile.

Vance wished he wasn’t a Scorpion. Raoul was good people, and they might have been real friends under other circumstances. He shook the man’s hand and let Raoul usher him inside, though he didn’t turn his back. “Where’s
el jefe?
” he asked.

“Tres will be here in a minute. Have a seat. Care for a drink?”

Vance shook his head, perching on a stool at the very end of the bar so he could see everyone from his vantage point. He would never be taken by surprise. “I think I’ll pass, thanks. Look, I don’t want to waste a bunch of time, especially if your boss just plans to kill me. Is it even reasonable to think I might get out of here alive today?

“I should certainly hope so,
ese
.”
Tres Amenazas
entered into the barn with a look of indignation. “I would not have one of my best men greet you, invite you into my bar, and offer you a drink if I planned on killing you. It would be a waste of beer.” He laughed and came up to Vance, looking happier than a man with two peters. “Besides, I have a job for you. And a woman to return to you, if you get it done.”

Vance narrowed his eyes at
Tres Amenazas
. “Come on, boss, you hate me too much to just let me live. What would your men think if I got away with killing so many of your guys? You have to punish me.” He was asking for trouble, but he had to get a reading on the real temperature here.

“I have a proposal that could earn you forgiveness.” He offered Vance a cigarette and took one for himself, lighting them both with his custom Zippo bearing the Scorpion logo. “You convince your club to assist us with our trading through your territory, and you live. You also get your woman back, alive and in one piece.”

Vance scoffed. “You think I have that much power? You way overestimate my place in the club,
jefe
.”

But
Tres Amenazas
narrowed his eyes at Vance. “Do I? It seems to me you are the strongest, the bravest, and the smartest in your group,
ese
. I believe you are a leader.” He blew out a billow of smoke. “You’re also a survivor, and you do what you have to do to stay alive. In this case, you have no choice if you want to live. If you want the
mujer
to live.”

Vance cursed inwardly. He knew far too much, and he hit where it hurt. Searching his brain for an alternative, he tried for a compromise. “Give me Maya, and I’ll take the proposal back. I’ll make sure you get what you want. And if I can’t get it passed, I’ll turn myself in, if you promise to leave my club alone.”

But the leader shook his head. “I wish I could do that. But your girl isn’t here. I have her in a safe place, where no one touches her. Here, she would be too much of a temptation to my men.”

“So take me to her,” Vance demanded, realizing his mistake. He should have known Maya wouldn’t be here. That was too damn easy.

“
No puedo
. I can’t take you there. It’s the only hideout I have.” He put out the cigarette and stared at Vance. “I give you my word. No harm will come to the woman while you return home and make this happen for us. It is good business for everyone. You have four days. If you don’t come back by then, the deal is void. And don’t go looking for her,
ese
. There is an old Native saying: ‘A good soldier is a poor scout.’”

“I suppose that’s an old Aztec quote.”

Tres Amenazas
chuckled. “I wish I could claim it as coming from some of my people. But it was some Cheyenne chief. Still, it’s true, and you, Vance Coldman, are a good soldier. Don’t change the rules of the game and lose your girl.” It was a fair warning that Vance heard loud and clear.

Clenching his jaw, Vance had to accept that he wasn’t leaving with Maya today. He did, at least, trust the leader of the Scorpions to hold true to his word that Maya would be safe. If she was harmed, the Scorpions would face the wrath of the Mojave Boys, and right now, they couldn’t afford to face that battle. With a tight nod, Vance said, “Fine. I’ll be back with an answer before that.” He stood, but he didn’t leave. “Give me your word on one more thing.”

“Ask.”

“If I can’t get this through, and I come back on my own, you’ll take me and release Maya unharmed. And you won’t hold it against my club. They’ve done nothing but protect themselves, and we lost men in the process. I’m the one you want, and I don’t want it taken out on anyone else.”

“You have my word that I will not keep your girlfriend any longer. And your club will be no more of a thorn in our side than they have been before. If a fight comes, it will be their choice, not ours.”
Tres Amenazas
held out a hand to shake on it, and Vance reluctantly accepted. “Four days,
ese
.”