Page 64 of Wicked Shadows
The thundering rumble of several motorcycles approaching at once drew Shadow to the door. Angry voices and loud threats streamed through the closed metal door. Shadow opened it and stood face-to-face with Headbanger. Nutcracker and Bonebreaker stood immediately behind him. All six eyes bore into the outsider, anger rolling off them in waves at finding him in the officers’ area.
Shadow opened the door wider and stepped out of the way to give them room to pass. The first two stepped by him, and Nick stepped forward to take some of the cases of beer from Headbanger’s hands. Bonebreaker stopped directly in front of Shadow and glared at him menacingly. Instant suspicion lit his expression.
“Who the fuck are you? The doorman?”
“That’s me. The Devil’s Doorman.” He knew on one hand he was expected to be respectful to the officers and to every other lifelong member. His place among them was the lowest of the ranks, and they enjoyed reminding newbies of their place. On the other hand, it would take minimal effort for him to snap Bonebreaker’s neck and be done with him, so taking insults from him asked too much of Shadow’s patience.
A stare down between the two brutes ensued, with neither man showing an ounce of weakness. Headbanger began laughing loudly, his booming voice filling the room and drawing their attention. “Looks like you have a new nickname, Shadow. You’re the Doorman now. Renegade told me all about you. Then you hit Spider’s radar, and he had our PI check you out immediately. Seems you’ve made quite an impression on our little club.”
“All the more reason to suspect him,” Bonebreaker grumbled.
“I told you to cut that shit out. I’ve known him for years. You’re doubting and disrespecting me when you question him. Why don’t you try questioning my loyalty to my face and see what happens?” Nick changed into his role of Renegade flawlessly, issuing his dare as a threat rather than a question. His glare taunted Bonebreaker to try him. His muscles tensed, and his hands curled into fists.
“Fine. You’re responsible for him, then.” Bonebreaker stomped away, conceding to Renegade. Shadow noted to ask Nick about it later. There was obviously bad blood somewhere in their history.
Nutcrusher, the VP, called for several of the sheep they kept at the clubhouse. “Get this food and beer ready for us,” he barked at the women when they entered the room. “We’re hungry and thirsty, so don’t take all damn day.”
Shadow’s blood boiled over at how the girls were treated. They took women who’d already had a hard life and used them in any and every way. Some of them admittedly volunteered for the position, feeling like they were part of a larger family and protected by the nature of the club. The members could abuse them, but no one else could.
The thought of the same men having their hands on Elle made Shadow the most lethal man in the world. He couldn’t find her soon enough. Every minute that passed added another vision of horrible acts Elle had to endure.
When the women finished with the food, they delivered heaping plates and chilled beer to the table. Headbanger told everyone to take their seats and gave Shadow the rare opportunity to join them.
“You’re here because you obviously built quite a network before you were sent off. You trusted the wrong person. Bone did the same once. Now he trusts no one.”
“It only takes one mistake for the house of cards to fall.” Shadow’s cryptic reply had a purpose. Showing his distrust of others gave him and Bone something in common. “What is it you’re looking to acquire?”
“We have a list of things.” Bone sat back in his chair and continued. “Are you not good enough to get more than one piece?”
“I’m good enough to get whatever I set my sights on.”
“All right, boys. Enough.” Headbanger’s brows furrowed when he slammed his fist on the table. “We’ll meet your contact and decide if he’s good enough ourselves.”
“Then there’s no reason for us to continue this conversation. My contact is just that—mine. He deals with me. If you don’t want to work through me, find your own supply chain.” Shadow crumpled his napkin and threw it on his plate of half-eaten food. “Thanks for lunch. You can send me a bill for it. You know where to find me.”
He stood, pushing his chair back with the force of his movement, and turned to leave.
“You’re right, Renegade. He is a stubborn one.” Headbanger chuckled, his laughter reaching his eyes and mixing with the malice. The combination only revealed the madness he hid underneath his calm exterior. “Sit down, Doorman. We’re extending an honorary lifelong member position to you. We’ve never done this before, but you bring an advantage we need at the moment. You’ll still have to go through our initiation process.”
“I can take whatever you dish out.”If it means I’ll get Elle back.
Headbanger motioned to the chair. “Sit down. Let’s discuss the specifics before we arrange your initiation tonight. You may not be able to speak for a while after we’re done with you.”
Spider burst through the door, breathing heavily from running. He was late to an officers’ meeting, and that didn’t go without punishment in their paramilitary rank and order. “Sorry about that, Headbanger. Had to take care of an issue at the country club, and it took longer than I thought.”
“Everyone okay up there?”
“Yeah. Except I had to move one to the old clubhouse. Bitch was a troublemaker, so she had to be reminded who’s in charge. Now she knows not to fuck with me.”
“Did you leave a mark on her face?” Headbanger put his palms on the table, ready to push up and lunge at Spider.
“No, boss. Didn’t have to do that. She slept the whole trip down.”
“You’d better have a good excuse for taking a risk like that this late in the game. The pressure hasn’t let up at all. Everyone is still talking about it. You said you had that under control, too.”
“I’m working on a new plan to draw attention away.”
“Your schemes and excuses will get you in a lot of trouble one day, Spider.”
Under the table, Shadow’s knuckles turned white from curling his fists so tight. His facial expression remained passive, indifferent. Too much interest in anything other than why they’d brought him in would get both Elle and him killed. Spider’s comments had sealed his fate, though. He’d be the first to die. Painfully. The moment Elle was safe. Shadow had already made that decision.
