TheSatellite (11 page)

“I heard the guys you’re riding with talking.” He grinned. “Hatch doesn’t exactly keep his voice down.”

Flame wanted to spit nails over Hatch’s interference. She knew he’d be a problem. “What? Are spying on us now? Thinking about switching sides and coming over to our group? Get a life.”

“Hardly.” He let out a soft laugh. “Your lover boy is not who you think he is.”

“Raef? Don’t even start trashing him. He’s as real as they come.”

“Raef? Raef Jackson of the Soldiers? You’ve got something going on with him, too?”

“My personal life is not your concern.”

“You should listen closely. Jackson isn’t a threat. Hatch is the one you better keep an eye on.”

“Now why would Hatch, who doesn’t even belong to a biker group or even like to ride, be involved in any of this? And how the hell would Aiden know about the Satellite?”

“I wondered the same thing. I also can’t figure out how Hatch knew where I was on the morning we slipped away from your ex’s family.”

She’d never pondered that. Her biggest question had been how Aiden discovered her secret life. Now Von was adding more pieces to the puzzle.

“No, this can’t be right. Hatch didn’t even believe the Satellite exists and he still seems pretty skeptical. You’re mistaken about both of them. Why are you following me, anyway?”

“I’ve been trying to catch you alone so I can tell you the truth.” He moved even closer, so close that his scent floated over her. “And to apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“For helping your ex. I had no idea his family would do what they did.”

“They’ll pay one day and so will he. But the verdict isn’t in on you yet as you did help me get away. Though I’m not entirely clear on why.”

“Aiden wanted to get you away from Hatch.”

“Yeah…I gathered that.”

“But not for reasons you think. He believed you were in danger. That is why I helped him. I’m sorry for taking part in a scheme that caused you harm. In my pack, we don’t hurt women…ever.”

“So you’re telling me that my ex-husband knew about the Satellite, deemed Hatch as a threat, and was trying to help me?”

Von flipped both hands over in a casual gesture. “How else would I know?”

“Where is Aiden? Is he lurking around somewhere so the two of you can finish whatever sordid plan you started?”

“I haven’t seen him since that night.” He reached out to touch her but she backed away. “Do you want to find this Satellite or not?”

“How is it that you know where to find him and nobody else does?”

“Like I said, Aiden told me shit. I’ll tell you everything I know, but I’d rather not hang out here much longer. I’m not exactly
friends
with your comrades over there.”

“You’re willing to lead me to the incubus?”

He flashed an inviting smile. “It’s the least I can do to make up for helping your ex.”

She eyed him with deep suspicion. His mind was completely closed.
He is very strong,
she thought. “Let me get my bike and tell Raef that I’m leaving.”

“Might not be a good idea. Don’t misunderstand. I have no beef with Jackson. But if the Soldiers tail us the Satellite will smell them coming a mile away.”

Flame recalled what Coop had said about her boyfriend shadowing her every move.
This may be my only chance to find him. But shouldn’t I let the guys know so they can offer backup?
She struggled to sort her dilemma.

“I need to tell at least Raef. He’s the only one I can trust. I can’t just leave him hanging. He won’t tell anyone if I ask him not to.”

“You won’t need your bike. You’ll ride with me.” He didn’t sound like he’d take no for an answer. “This isn’t negotiable. I can take you straight to what you’re hunting, but
only
you.”

She wanted the answers this seemingly indomitable male claimed to have. Moreover, she wanted to find and destroy the incubus that posed a threat to all women. Her supreme ruler would be disappointed if she allowed her deepening feelings for Raef to hinder this mission.

Raef will have to understand if he’s going to stand a chance with me.

Chapter Eight

Riding behind Von on his gleaming black Heritage Softail was not entirely unpleasant. The man had a kickass bike and charisma emanated off him in waves. He smelled good, too. Holding tight to the chrome backrest, she leaned back as they picked up speed. As an experienced biker she knew how to shift her weight as a passenger, therefore did not feel the need to wrap her arms around his waist. His long hair whipped in the wind, frequently brushing her face.

She found it odd that this stranger who’d played a part in her ordeal at the Kaminski’s carried the least bit of appeal. Yet his ultra cool character and dark aura lured her in for a closer look, as if compelled to unravel the mystery that was Von Calder.

He drove north for about twenty minutes before taking a shore exit toward the beach. Taking numerous side roads and turns, he eventually slowed down as they approached a remote area with a rocky cove. She’d loved the ocean since her first visit to Boston as a child, and the fresh salt air never ceased to invigorate her. Moonlight danced off the waves, casting an enchanting shimmer on the currently dark waters as they tumbled onto the sand.

As his bike rumbled along, a small gathering around a campfire came into view. Sudden fear threatened to overtake her but she forced it back. Von had taken her to his camp. She’d never met the Black Pythons and she’d failed to consider he’d bring her into his territory.

“I thought we’d be alone,” she said from behind.

“Don’t worry about them. They won’t bother you. I figured you might have some questions. Just in case you left a secret signal, I am hanging out here first to make sure nobody tailed us. Rumor has it that you are a very clever woman.”

She shrugged and relaxed a bit. He made a good point and impressed her with his sharp mind.
He thinks like a leader.
Her eyes took in the group of men sitting around the fire. They looked rough.

“Are you the head of this mangy pack?”

Turning his head sideways, he grinned. “Yeah.” He parked the bike then offered his hand to help her off.

Waving off his gesture, she slid off the seat. “I’m fine. I’ve been riding all my life.”

He led her to a vacant spot near the fire pit. “Have a seat. We’ll relax until I’m sure there are no followers. Most of my crew is up north at a rally this weekend. I don’t need a rumble with the Soldiers when we’re outnumbered.”

With a consenting nod, she plopped down on the sand and crossed her legs Indian-style then rested her elbows on her knees.

“You look quite different in your riding clothes.” His gaze drifted over her. “Or perhaps these are not typical biker leathers.”

“Perhaps.”

“Warrior outfit?”

“You ask too many questions for a man who’s supposed to be giving me answers. Tell me about Aiden. What’s his story and what’s his connection to Hatch?”

Von leaned back on bent elbows and stretched his long lean legs to his front. “Do you remember anything I said on the night you got beat up?”

“Bits and pieces. Maybe you could start at the beginning now that you have me alone.”

He glanced her way and their eyes met. She felt as if the wind had been knocked from her. Those midnight depths just sucked her in. With a slight shake of her head, she turned her head toward the fire.

“Aiden used to ride with us. He started asking around for help and offering payment to anyone willing to help him abduct his ex-wife. He refused to release any details except to the person who accepted the deal.”

“And of course you jumped at it.”

“Not really. I kept an eye on him for a few weeks. When none of the other members wanted to get involved, I dragged a bit more info out of him. He told me you are some kind of warrior from a sisterhood and that Hatch had some pretty heavy shit in mind.”

“What kind of
heavy shit
?” She forced herself not to look at him for fear of getting lost in those alluring dark depths.

“Your ex didn’t elaborate. He seemed scared of Hatch. All he said was that your fiancé was an evil prick and wanted you for sordid reasons of his own.”

She drew a calming breath, taking in the cool night air. “Let’s say I believe you so far. My biggest question at this point is…where did Aiden get his info?”

“This is where his story starts to fall apart. He told me that he overheard his parents talking with his sister and her husband about you and Hatch.”

Her head turned sharply. She stared him straight in the eyes. “You’re right, that is where it falls apart. Can’t you see it’s just another one of their manipulation tactics to intimidate me? That’s all they ever did during my entire marriage to him, was play wicked head games.”

“Relax, sugar,” his voice had an unusually calming effect. “I’m telling you what I know. Now how those people gained info about your private world is not something I would know. Maybe your ex knows, but if he did, he wasn’t talking. I heard them arguing bitterly that night, yet he never let on that he’d overheard them.”

“You dragged me all the way out here just to repeat idle gossip? You’re insane.”

“Hey, if you have a better explanation for how Hatch and Aiden know about the Satellite and your warrior status, then by all means lay it on me.”

She searched his eyes for any sign of deceit, yet found none. “Wait…Hatch knows about the Satellite, too?”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Impossible,” she growled. “He called the entire story
malarkey
and tried to stop me. This is just another ploy from Aiden’s family to ruin my happiness.”

“If you’re so happy with Hatch, then what are you doing with his bandmate?” His words hit like ice water.

“You seem to have all the facts. You figure it out.” She looked away, fuming over her ex-in-laws continued attempts to bring her down. “At least they won’t have a chance of getting to Raef. He’s on the other side of the country.”

“I see. You dumped the front man for the bass player, didn’t ya, sugar?”

“I
did
break up with Hatch but I’ve made no commitments to anyone else. What goes on between me and Raef is none of anyone’s business.”

No way would she reveal her strong feelings for Raef, especially with Aiden’s whereabouts still unknown.
Nobody can know how I feel about him. The more secretive I am, the safer my budding relationship with him will be. I won’t risk losing him. We will have to be more discreet from here out until this mess is over.
Rage bubbled in her soul. The desire to kill Aiden and his family consumed her. She silently vowed that all of them would pay for what they’d done and she also promised herself that those evil busybodies would never interfere in her personal life again.

“I feel your rage.”

“No, you don’t. You know nothing of the hell they put me through.”

“I mean, I can feel your inner fury right now.”

“Oh…” She gripped the handles of her Sai in self-reassurance. “Yeah, I’m pissed. Sick of those people meddling in my life.”

“You want to kill.”

“Stay out of my head.” She glanced around and noticed that his fellow members had left. “Where did your men go?”

“For a ride.”

“I never heard them leave.”

“You were pretty wrapped up in emotion there for a few minutes.”

“Yeah…but still, I should’ve noticed several men walking away.”

“They can be very inconspicuous when I need them to be.” His voice softened. “I could see you were upset and that this was a very private matter. I motioned for them to check the area for followers.”

Turning to look at him again, she found him staring at her. Their faces were dangerously close. She studied his for the first time. He’d always struck her as inexplicably appealing but she’d never actually
looked
at him.

He had the most captivating shadowy eyes heavily fringed in black lashes, set perfectly above a straight pleasingly masculine nose and extremely sensual lips. The flawless bone structure of his face still carried a summer tan. His long midnight hair added a serious
cool factor
and enhanced his enigmatic allure.

The rest of him isn’t too shabby either.

Long muscular arms and legs, broad chest and shoulders beneath the black t-shirt and leather trench—he resembled a modern day Dracula—tall and invitingly seductive. His tight faded jeans were threadbare in all the right places. He was definitely hot.

Get a grip!
She gasped and looked away, stunned by the effect he had on her.

Von stood up, walked to the fire, tossed on more wood then squirted lighter fluid from a tin into the dying flames. They leapt to life, making the wood crackle and pop. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket and lit a fresh smoke by leaning close to the fire. She watched intently as he drew heavily on the stick then tilted his chin upward to exhale. A thin ribbon of smoke curled into the air around him.

Anxiety crept into her soul. She fought it back. Sitting here alone with him should not unsettle her as it did. He’d made no threats and even volunteered information about Aiden. As to the truth of his account, she felt conflicted. How Aiden had come up with this story boggled her mind. Fact and possible fiction.

Fact, Aiden knows I’m a warrior and Von somehow knows about the Satellite. Possible fiction, Aiden overheard his family discussing Hatch and some evil scheme. Fact, they are the schemers.
She needed to remain focused on facts not hearsay.

“When will you take me to the Satellite?”

His eyes met hers in a piercing gaze, as if he’d just undressed her then bared her soul.

“Soon. While we wait for the guys to return, would you like a drink or something?”

“Only if you have water, I am thirsty.”

He reached into a cooler chest then handed her a bottled water before sitting next to her again. “I’m curious. You seem much too hard for a man like Hatch. What made you fall for a spoiled pussy like him?”