CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series) (50 page)

After they left, he pulled up a chair next to Cole. “Brother-”

“What am I going to tell my children?”

Cole looked broken. It tore Crash’s heart out to see him like this. “You’re
gonna be strong for them. You’re gonna tell them you’re gonna bring their mama
home.”

Cole looked over at Crash with eyes glazed with tears. “I promised her I
wouldn’t let this shit touch her or the kids.”

“Cole, this isn’t on you.”

“How you figure that?”

“Cole, you were trying to do the right thing by Shannon. You were trying
to help her. It’s what Angel wanted you to do. What she asked you to do.”

Cole ran his hands down his face, his one knee bouncing a mile a minute.
“I gotta real bad feeling, Crash.”

Crash took Cole’s head in his hands, looking deep in his eyes. “Now you
listen to me, goddamn it. We’re gonna get her back.”

Cole swallowed and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Say it!”

Cole looked at Crash. “We’re gonna get her back.”

“And then we’re gonna kill the motherfucker!”

Cole nodded. “Yeah. He’s a fucking dead man.”

That night, lying in bed cuddled up to Crash, Shannon spoke her fears.
“I’m afraid for her, Crash.” She felt his head move, his chin brushing the top
of her head.

“What do you mean? You think he’ll hurt her?”

“Maybe. You don’t know what he’s capable of. He gets his way. Always.”

“Shannon, we’re going to get her back. Mack’s got men from six different
chapters scouring the state for this guy. He’s a well-known man who has a
multi-billion dollar company to run. He can’t hide forever.”

“I should just go back to him. It would solve everything.”

“Shannon, look at me.” He turned her head up to his. “Let me work this
out. You going back isn’t going to solve anything.”

“We have to get Angel back. If I just go back, it’ll all be over.
Nicklaus will have what he wants…”

“What about what you want?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“I just don’t want there to be any violence.”

“You do realize, he’s a dead man anyway, Shannon. Whether you go back or
not, Cole’s gonna kill him.”

“Crash, I feel so guilty. This is all my fault.”

“Get that shit out of your head, Shannon. You did nothing wrong. He
doesn’t own you. He has no rights over you. And he damn well isn’t going to get
his hands on you. Not while I’m breathing.”

“Oh, Crash, don’t you see, it’s just a matter of time. He’ll find me.”

“So I find him first. I never liked playing defense.” He kissed her. “Get
some sleep. We’ll figure it out tomorrow. You just have to trust me, okay?”

“Okay.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

The next morning, Cole showed up at the loft. He was alone. When he rode
up the elevator and stepped off, Crash and Shannon were waiting quietly by the
island. Shannon could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she waited to see
if Cole had any news.

His eyes fell on her. “I’ve got no clue where she is. Guys checked every
place on your list last night. She’s not at any of them.” He paused, studying
her. “I’ve got no choice but to make the trade.”

Shannon’s eyes glossed over. “Of course. I’ll get my things.”

Crash stepped forward, grabbing her arm. “Just a damn minute.”

Cole took a step forward. “Crash, I need you to understand. There’s no
other way.”

Crash
whirled on him. “What are you expecting me to say here? That I’m okay with
this?”

“Let me go, Crash,” Shannon insisted.

“Baby, don’t do this.” He ran a hand down his jaw. “Christ, I fucked
up.”

“No, you didn’t,” she replied quietly.

He shook his head. “Jesus Christ, I should have married you that night
in Reno.”

“Crash, it’s okay.”

“If you think I’m gonna just let you go-” He broke off, shaking his head
at her, then he whirled on Cole. “Brother, we’ll get her back. Swear to God, we
will.
Swear to God
. But don’t ask me
to turn Shannon over to this guy. I can’t do it. I won’t.”

“Crash-”

“Please, Cole. You’ve got to trust me on this one, brother. I’m not
gonna let you down.”

Cole’s eyes lifted and met his. “She’s my life, Crash. She’s everything
to me.”

“I know it, brother. I swear to Christ I’ll get her back for you.”

Cole shook his head. “No, brother.”

“Cole, please. Give me a day. One day. That’s all I ask. I’ll get the
info out of Shannon’s father. Just—you’ve gotta let me handle this one.”

“I can’t just stand around and do nothing.”

“You won’t be. As soon as I find out his plans, we’ll pull together a
plan of our own.”

Cole hesitated.

“Please, brother.”

“All right. I’ll give you till the end of the day.”

They hugged—slapping each other’s backs. “Give me a minute with
Shannon.”

“I’ll wait up on the roof.” Cole headed up there.

Crash pulled Shannon to him. “Baby, I need the truth, the whole truth.
What’s this guy got on your father?”

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, shaking her head. “I don’t
know.”

“Baby, give me something, an ace in the hole, a card to play. What
hold’s he got on you?”

“Don’t you see? Nicklaus will see my father sent to prison. I’m not sure
what he’s got, but I think it’s some kind of insider trading. He threatened to
call the authorities.”

“Then let him go to prison. Call his bluff, darlin’.”

She looked up at him. “He’s my father.”

Crash lifted his chin, looking down at her. “I can let the cat out of
the bag, too, baby. The club’s got a lawyer, and our accountant can figure it
out.”

Tears spilled down her cheek. “I think he may have traded Ralston
Aluminum stock with information Nicklaus gave him.”

He kissed her forehead and headed to the rooftop.

Cole was chain-smoking, staring off at the horizon. He turned when Crash
came up.

“You and Mack should meet with our attorney,” Crash suggested. “Find out
everything you can on this fucking Brit.”

Cole nodded. “Yeah. I don’t give a shit if we have to fly to London and
kidnap his goddamn mother. If I can’t get to him, I’ll get to his family.”

“I’ll go have a talk with Shannon’s father. He knows something, and I’ll
beat it out of him if I have to.”

“Did you get anything more out of Shannon?”

“Like I said, I’m going to have a chat with her father. But, I’ve got
some information I think we can use.”

“I’m not interested in having this guy arrested, Crash. I’m interested
in finding Angel.”

“I understand.”

“And then I’m gonna kill him.”

“Wasn’t expecting anything less.”

Cole threw his smoke over the wall. “Let’s go.”

*****

Crash walked out of the elevator of the downtown high-rise and into the
plush offices of Taylor Properties and Investments. He barreled past the
stunned receptionist and headed straight for the corner office, where Shannon
had told him he would find her father. She’d begged to go with him, but he
wasn’t letting her anywhere near either of these men that thought they could
play with her life like some pawn in their goddamned game.

He strode past the executive secretary and threw the door to Taylor’s
office open. The man was behind a desk that sat in front of a bank of windows
with a view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. He spun on his chair, his
phone to his ear.

The secretary trailed behind Crash. “I’m sorry Mr. Taylor. I’ve called
security.”

Shannon’s father stared wide-eyed, dropping his phone.

Crash leaned over the desk, his fists planted. “Call them off. Now. Or
you won’t see your daughter again.”

Taylor cleared his throat. “That won’t be necessary, Beverly. Thank you.
Close the door, please.”

“Mr. Taylor, are you sure?” his secretary asked.

Crash spun on her. “Get the fuck out.” After the door closed, Crash
turned back to Taylor. “You know who I am?” Taylor shook his head. “Your old
buddy, Ralston didn’t tell you who your daughter’s been keeping company with?
I’m surprised.”

“Shannon? You have Shannon?”

“Yeah. I have Shannon. She’s been with me the whole time. Hiding out
from your good friend, Nicklaus Ralston.”

“Why? Why would she be with a criminal like you?”

Crash gave him an evil grin. “To save her from the well-dressed British
asshole who’s been drugging her and trying to control her.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“How can you leave her to him? Didn’t she tell you he was drugging her?
Didn’t she tell you he’s terrorized every friend who’s ever helped her?” Crash
saw the way Taylor looked down, shame written all over his face. “You didn’t
believe her?”

“I thought she was being emotional.”

“You goddamned traded her to him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know what Ralston’s got on you.” That surprised Taylor. Crash could
see him start to sweat. “She told me. All of it. And heads up—I can let that
cat out of the bag, too.”

“I…I don’t know what you mean.”

Crash shook his head. “You disgust me. You would turn your own daughter
over to that monster, with no regard for her happiness or even her safety? Just
to keep yourself out of prison?”

“You don’t understand. I only wanted the best for her.”

“I don’t give a fuck about understanding.” Crash let out a snort. “You
want the best for your daughter? As far as I’m concerned, the best thing you
could ever do for your daughter is blow your own brains out.”

“Where’s Shannon?”

“Ralston’s taken the wife of our VP. Wants our club to trade your
daughter for her. You want to be a part of that? You want trouble to rain down
on your head, you got it.”

“I don’t know anything about that. I swear.”

Crash leaned down, his hands planted in Taylor’s desk and got right in
his face. “Taylor, there’s only one way this thing is going to end. I’m gonna
find that guy and get Angel back, and then Ralston is a dead man. You don’t
want to add your name to that list, you’d better tell me everything you know.
Now. Because, mister,
I
may spare
your life for the sake of your daughter, but I’m not so sure my VP’s gonna feel
the same way.”

“I don’t know where he’s taken this Angel woman. I swear I don’t.”

“Who would?”

Taylor rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know. I…”

“You’re a rich man. Who in your organization would know all your
locations? Would know where you went last? Would know about a woman with you?”

“His secretary, maybe.”

“No way.”

“His bodyguards.”

“How many does he have?”

“There were always at least two. Sometimes three.”

“But they’d be with him. Who wouldn’t necessarily be with him? We need
someone we can get our hands on. Someone who can lead us to him.”

“Wait. His driver.”

Crash studied him. “And how are we going to find him?”

“The guy he uses used to drive for me. Alphonso…” He snapped his
fingers. “I can’t remember his last name, but Beverly probably still has it.”
He picked up the phone. “Beverly bring me Alphonso’s information.”

A minute later, Beverly entered the office and slid a file folder on
Taylor’s desk, taking care to stay as far out of reach of Crash as she could.

“Thank you. That’s all.”

When she’d left, Crash grabbed the folder, looking at the single sheet
inside that appeared to be a computer printout with a name, address and a
couple of phone numbers. Crash shut the folder and looked at Taylor. “You’re
going to take an early lunch.”

“What?”

“You’re coming with me. I don’t trust you not to tip off Ralston. Let’s
go.”

Taylor stared at him, and then his eyes went to the door. Crash could
practically see the wheels spinning so he pulled his vest out, revealing his
pistol. “I have no problem using this. We’re going to walk out of here quietly,
and you’re going to make sure your secretary doesn’t call anyone. Do we
understand each other?”

Taylor nodded, and they left the building.

*****

Angel tried to concentrate, but it was difficult with all the drugs they
kept pumping into her. Things were fuzzy, but she tried to focus. She had to
stay aware. Cole would come for her, she knew he would. He’d find her somehow,
and he’d take her home to their children. At the thought of her precious
babies, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes.

No.

She couldn’t afford to get emotional. Not now. There would be time for
that later. Right now she had to stay strong and look for any opportunity she
could to help herself.

A tall man she’d heard them refer to as Tate walked into the bedroom they
were keeping her in as the one called Carter sunk the hypodermic into her arm.
Tate yanked Carter’s hand with the needle violently back, snapping, “She’s had
enough of that damn shit.”

Carter looked up at him. “What the fuck, man?”

“Get out, Carter. I got this.” Tate grabbed her out of Carter’s arms. He
held her close, and she was glad to be as far away from Carter as she could
get. Out of all of the men who’d kidnapped her, the one called Tate had treated
her the kindest. He always treated her gently, and anytime he saw one of the
other men treating her roughly, he stepped in and stopped it. Of course, he
wasn’t always around.

Carter seemed to take pleasure in having her at his mercy. There were
three of them, and then there was the British guy. He seemed to be in charge.
She’d only seen him once, when they’d first brought her here. He’d shown up an
hour later. He’d walked into the room, looked her over, and then reached up and
grabbed her hair, jerking her head back. He’d stared down at her and said,
“You’re husband is going to want you back, and he’s going to give me what I
want in exchange for your life. Cooperate, and it’ll go easier for you, luv.”

Then he’d released her and walked out. That was it. Angel had been left
to wonder just what Cole was involved in that this man would have anything to
do with. It didn’t make sense. These two just couldn’t possibly move in the
same circles. What could Cole have that this man wanted? Drugs? Money?

An evil grin formed on Carter’s face as he stared back at Tate. “You got
this, huh? Yeah, I bet you do.” He held up the hypodermic, his eyes narrowing
on the amount remaining in the syringe. “She got a good part of that dose,
Tate. She’ll be nice and docile now.” He looked down at her as she now hung suspended
in Tate’s arms. Her body held up by the muscular forearm across her ribs, and
she felt the drug moving through her veins, bringing with it a lethargy she
tried hard to fight. Carter continued, “Of course, the fun starts when the cravings
start. A girl will do almost anything you ask when that need starts crawling
through her veins. And boss man likes ‘em needy, don’t he?”

“Don’t know what he likes, Carter, but you better get back in there and
find out. He’s got an errand for you.”

*****

Mack walked into the clubhouse with the club’s attorney and accountant
trailing behind him. He approached the bar and frowned. “Do I hear someone
screamin’?”