Page 49 of Brooks (Dirty Misfits MC 1)
Then, he turned to face me. “What do we do next?”
I stood to my feet. “We need to find proof so we can bring it to the rest of the club. I mean definitive proof that Chops is playing both sides.”
He scoffed. “You still want to view him as innocent, don’t you?”
“This club has always taken the high road. Whether it’s how we treat women and children, how we divvy up money we bring in from jobs, or how we view someone, it’s always been the high road. So, yes. While we have suspicions, until we have actual proof? We treat Chops as if he’s innocent.”
“Jesus, that’s gonna be hard.”
“It’s imperative, though. We have to keep on brave faces. We have to do our best to act like nothing’s wrong. Because if we do and Chops gets comfortable? He’ll slip up.”
He grinned. “And we’ll be there to catch him.”
My phone vibrated against my hip and I quickly dug it out of my pocket. I turned my back to Porter, just in case it was a nice little text from Raven or some shit, but when I saw Archer’s number on my screen I turned back around.
“What is it?” he asked.
I opened the text and my eyes widened. “Oh fuck.”
Porter rushed to my side. “What? What’s going on?”
I tilted the phone his way. “Archer’s been run off the road by Black Flag members. I have to go.”
“Black Flag—what the hell is going on!?”
I ripped the door open. “Archer was supposed to be watching Raven, you numbnuts!”
I charged through the clubhouse with Porter hot on my heels as we made our way out to our bikes. I didn’t even bother throwing on my helmet, I just tossed my leg over the seat and cranked the engine. I revved it a few times before blazing a trail back onto the road, heading straight for Raven’s place.
I prayed she made it home safely, but once my phone buzzed against my hip, I knew it wasn’t good.
“Text message from Archer. Read aloud?”
The voice from my Bluetooth echoed in my ear and I nodded. “Yes, read text.”
The voice appeared again. “Message from, Archer, received at, 4:31 P.M. Message reads: I can’t find Raven. I don’t even see her car. Heading back to her place now.”
“Shit!” I roared.
“Would you like to repeat message, delete message, or respond?”
I ground my teeth together. “Respond.”
“Speak your message at the tone.”
The tone sounded in my ear. “Porter and I are making our way to the townhouse, too. Keep your eyes peeled. None of this is good.”
The voice came back on. “Read message back or send?”
I rolled my eyes. “Send, for crying out loud!”
A whooshing sound filled my eardrum. “Message sent.”
I cleared my throat. “Okay, Google. Call Raven.”
The voice came alive again. “Calling, Raven. Cell.”
The tone rang and rang and rang in my ear. And when her voice message popped up, I hung up the call. I kept trying to call her, over and over. Refusing to leave a voice message. I needed her to pick up. I needed to hear her voice and know she was still alive. Even if she was in danger, I needed to know that today wasn’t the day I’d massacre every single Black Flag fucker on this god damn planet.
“Come on! Call Raven!”
The calm voice sounded. “Calling, Raven. Cell.”
I tore off the highway and took the exit toward Raven’s place. And just as the sign for her complex came into view, the phone call finally picked up. After calling her twelve fucking times, I finally heard that click on the other end.
Only, a man’s voice sounded instead of hers. “Yes?”
I slammed on my brakes and tore off to the side of the road. “Who the fuck is this?”
Porter skidded behind me and threw his hands in the air. But I was too focused on the man that picked up Raven’s phone.
“You can call me Sid. And who is this?”
I growled. “Where is she? Where do you have her?”
“I’m only here to deliver a message, so listen up: you need to step down from the Dirty Misfits and turn in your leather cut. And once you do, you get your girl back.”
I shook my head. “Not a fat chance in hell, you sorry excuse for a human being.”
Porter came up to my side and I ripped my helmet off before putting the phone call on speaker. I put my finger to my lips to shush Porter, and the man’s voice sounded again.
Only this time, he practically growled at me. “If you don’t want to play nice, we don’t play nice. It’s that simple.”
Porter’s eyes widened as I drew in a deep breath. “That what Chops wants you to do?”
Sid chuckled. “Cute. Really, it’s astoundingly cute.”
“Pretty big word there for someone who hasn’t answered my question.”
“The deal is simple: turn in your jacket and step down from your club, and Raven goes home safe and sound. Refuse to comply? And, well…”
