Page 43 of Property of Hayride
Every man in the room is quiet, listening to a young man describe the horror and trauma he endured. Rashell Allen didn’t act alone. She had several accomplices who helped her abduct Thad, take him to a barn, and made him watch as they tortured the man that they later hanged beside him.
Nat’s brother is one of the bravest people I’ve ever met. He didn’t give in or beg. Refused to play their game when they started cutting him with knives. And when they hung both men and left them for dead, Thad managed to reach into his pocket and retrieve his own knife. It was fucking brutal to know he was choking the entire time, yet still managed to slice at the rope above his head until he successfully severed it.
Then, he fell, sustaining injuries as he hit the ground.
I don’t know why the killers never searched Thad for a weapon. Maybe they thought he wouldn’t have one since he was taking the hotel tour. Or they just didn’t think he was any threat. Either way, it saved his life.
Boomer stopped the recording once it ended. “Confirmed Rashell Allen and three accomplices named Big Tom, Earl, and Clay. I already checked in with my deputies. Weston is searching for any information we can find on them.”
Virus’s fingers began clicking wildly on his laptop. He’ll find shit that Weston never could. A lot faster, too. “Never hurts to have more than one set of eyes on things, Boomer.”
“Yeah. Appreciate your help, Virus.”
Normally, our tech expert is quiet during church. There’s not much for him to say, since his contributions to the club are all on the internet and the dark web. Virus has a knack for finding people and being able to dig deep, uncovering records people believe are buried and untraceable.
He won’t let us down.
Boomer and Scythe exchange a weighted glance. There’s a lot said without words. You can see it in their body language and expressions: how the siblings are so in tune with one another that they don’t need to speak every word out loud. We’ve seen this interaction before and know it means the brothers will work together to ensure Raven’s Crest, its residents, and the tourists are safe.
As Boomer opens the door to leave, we hear someone honking repeatedly outside. He frowns as he leaves the chapel, and we all follow, Scythe right behind Boomer.
Boomer is the first to exit the clubhouse, his focus on the dark truck parked outside the gate. I notice right away there’s no license plate. Two men wearing black ski masks shove something out the back, and it hits the ground, rolling briefly before coming to a stop in the middle of the road. They don’t say a word as the truck speeds away, the tires sending gravel into the air.
I know in my gut this is going to be fucked up. My stomach feels queasy, and my body tingles with awareness. I’ve felt this before, many times when danger is too close.
Boomer’s weapon is in his hand as he rushes toward the gate. The prospect opens it as the members run toward the object in the road. It’s confusing at first. Just a big fucking rug that’s filthy and been rolled up.
Boomer approaches and toes the bundle. “Fuck. We need to unroll this, Scythe.”
Scythe ticks his head toward Phantom and me, and we bend down, pushing at the heavy, thick carpet until it moves, rolling over a couple of times to reveal a blood-soaked interior.
And a body.
Phantom jumps back, but I lower to a crouch. I know the dead woman on the ground. She’s been slashed so viciously her organs are spilling out. The stained rug reeks of death.
“Fuck, Pres. It’s Ellie.”
Ellie, the young woman working at the hotel, is trying to make ends meet and care for her family. Rashell Allen murdered her. She took another innocent life.
Scythe hangs his head. “I should have put a prospect on her.”
“You couldn’t have known what would happen, brother.” Boomer grips his shoulder. “Her death isn’t on any of us.”
But it’s hard not to feel that way. I’m the one who took Nat to talk to Ellie. I probably put her in danger the second I learned Rashell Allen’s name.
“Don’t take this on, Hayride.”
I look up, meeting Scythe’s pissed gaze. He’s not angry at me. It’s the fact that another person has died. “I feel the weight of it, Pres.”
“But you aren’t the one who took and sliced her up.”
“Doesn’t matter. I went back to the hotel and asked questions. Those answers provided information about Rashell Allen. Ellie died for helping us.”
He can’t argue with the truth and sighs. “Let it go, Hayride. We’ll find Rashell and the others. You’ll get a chance to seek vengeance.”
As I stand here, staring at Ellie’s mangled body, I feel a tightness in my chest. Natalya pops into my thoughts. If they got to Ellie for exposing the truth, would they go after Nat next?
I’M ANXIOUS AS FUCKas I ride to the hospital. I’ve called Nat three times and sent her a text, but she hasn’t answered. I try not to get pissed or annoyed since she probably isn’t worried about her phone. Her focus is on her brother.
