Making the Cut (31 page)

Chapter 13

Black tarantulas scampered out of the box and crawled up my arms, I continued screaming as I swatted them off and tried and get as far away from the box as possible at the same time. The door crashed open and Dwayne entered the store gun drawn. He took one look at me and his eyes flared.

“Get them off!” I screamed, feeling them crawling through my hair. He was at my side in seconds, hands in my hair and at my arms getting the last of those creatures off me before stomping on them.

“Outside now.” He barked.

You didn’t have to tell me twice. I darted out the door, pulling at my clothes with him following close behind.

He looked me over quickly. “You okay?”

“Um…” I stuttered, unable to process what just happened. I couldn’t stop running my hands up my arms, I could still feel them on me.

“Cade? Get down here, now. The Spider’s paid a visit to Gwen’s store, sent a message.” Dwayne talked into his phone, eying me up and down like I might faint at any moment. Luckily I was a girl from the country and had a brother who liked to gross me out. I was staying conscious.

“Gwen are you okay sweetheart?” Evan from next door approached me looking worried. “We heard you scream, what happened?”

“Um…I had some unwelcome visitors.” I told him, restraining a hysterical laugh, only half paying attention. My mind was on other things, like the reality of another dangerous gang setting their sights on me. Again.

“Gwen!” Luke ran towards me, gun drawn. I noticed a couple of people had approached obviously hearing the commotion. I didn’t realize my scream had been that loud, and how was it that Luke was always around when something shitty happened to me? Don’t get me wrong I was glad, but I couldn’t be the only person in this town who got in these situations. Okay maybe I might be the only person in this town who got a box of eight legged devils delivered to them, but he had speeding tickets to write or drug rings to bust.

I watched Luke take me in, then glare at Dwayne who had just got off the phone.

“What happened?” His face was a mask of concern, his eyes darted around looking for threats, they settled on Dwayne again for a second before he put his gun away.

“Well, I got a delivery.” I began, feeling aware of the amount of people around. “Um, and it contained insects of the eight legged variety. Not at all like the delivery of shoes I was expecting.” I answered, giggling at the ridiculousness of it all.

Luke hissed. “The Spider’s.” He returned his glare to Dwayne, who ignored him. He started running his arms up my own, eyes searching. I tried to pulled them away, but he caught my wrist.

“What are you doing?” I asked angrily, in any other situation I wouldn’t mind being felt up by a hot guy, if I wasn’t madly in love with another hot guy that was. Luke stepped closer, looking like he was going to get between us.

Dwayne didn’t glance up. “Looking for bites.” He grunted and my stomach dropped. I didn’t think of that. Were tarantulas poisonous? Did my first aid kit have anti venom? I didn’t think so.

“Bites?” Luke repeated quietly.

The roar of Harley’s, and what looked like the whole club, approaching, drowned out any further conversation. Cade all but threw his bike on the sidewalk, sprinting over to our little huddle. His eyes darkened seeing Luke, but his concern for me obviously trumped a macho man showdown. Cade pushed both Dwayne and Luke out of the way and grabbed me, inspecting me as if he was expecting stab wounds. He seemed satisfied with my lack of bleeding because he drew me into his shoulder.

“What the fuck happened?” He barked at Dwayne as the rest of the club approached.

Dwayne’s jaw got tight. “Heard Gwen scream, went in and she was covered in fucking tarantulas.”

I heard some of the men curse behind me and felt the air turn electric.

“Was just looking for bites when you arrived.” Dwayne continued and I heard a sharp indrawn breath from Cade. He roughly pulled me to arms length, running his hands up my arms as Dwayne had been doing before.

“You feel a sting anywhere baby?” His eyes didn’t leave my body and his voice was laced with barely restrained fury.

I shook myself out of my mental fog and took stock of my body. I felt like I was about to throw up, I could still feel them in my hair, but no pain.

“No, no sting.” I answered quietly, shivering. “Are you sure you got them all Dwayne?” I ran my hands through my hair quickly, hoping not to encounter any creepy crawlies.

“You’re good babe.” He grunted.

Luke appeared in front of me, eyeing the bikers with distaste. I noticed that a couple more cops had joined the party, standing slightly back, hands on their weapons.

“Gwen, do you want to come down to the station? Make a statement?” He asked firmly, eyes on me. I opened my mouth to answer but Cade bet me to it.

“That’s not happening, she’s on the back of my bike I’ll take her somewhere to keep her safe.” Cade’s arms settled around me, and I felt safe already.

“She will be safer at a
police station
than anywhere else in this town.” Luke bit out not looking at Cade. “Gwen?” He questioned expectantly.

I suddenly felt a lot of eyes on me. The men were waiting for me to answer and reality hit me, what I said would determine if my loyalty lay with the club, if I trusted them to deal with the problem.

I cleared my throat uncertainly. “Thank you for your concern Luke, but I’m okay. I just need to get away from here.” I said quietly, feeling Cade’s body relax a fraction.

Luke’s gaze turned thunderous. “Gwen you can’t be serious, do you realize a dangerous gang just made a serious threat against you? You are in danger, we can protect you.” His voice raised and I could tell he was finding it hard to keep control.

“We are more than capable of protecting Gwen.” Cade answered for me, in a low voice.

Luke raised a furious eyebrow “Just like you protected Laurie?” His voice was filled with venom.

I gasped at the cruelty in his voice and his callousness for bringing up Laurie. I felt the anger of every member humming in the air, and everything happened at once. Bull, who had been standing back rushed forward, gaze murderous, reaching for Luke. Cade pushed me out of the way before grabbing onto Bull, along with Brock and Dwayne they were barely able to keep him restrained, his eyes were feral.

Steg stepped forward calmly, standing toe to toe with Luke who had his weapon out, as did the other officers, who had approached.

“No need for the weapon, deputy.” His voice was soft, but dangerous.

Luke glared at Steg. “Your boy was about to assault an officer.” He stated coldly.

“No assault here, but if you mention that girl one more time there will be, and your little boys playing dressup will be able to do fuck all to help you.” Steg’s stare was filled with promise, and I was unable to take my eyes away. Holy shit, this was intense, Lucky appeared beside me and he loosely draped his arm around my shoulders. His usually carefree face was distorted in anger.

“Did you just threaten an officer Steg?” Luke spat out his name like it tasted bad.

Steg regarded him like he was shit on his shoe. “Nope I just made a promise to an jumped up asshole. Now there is no crime here, Gwen has refused to make a statement so I suggest you fuck off deputy, before I have a word to the sheriff about your conduct.”

Luke glowered at Steg with a look of pure hate before holstering his weapon and gesturing for the others to do the same. He then directed a hard look at me.

“I hope you know what you’ve gotten yourself into Gwen.” He told me softly, looking disappointed, before he turned and strode away.

Steg let a moment pass before barking out orders.

“Lucky, take Gwen back to the club, get the prospects to gather up the women and the kids and anyone else they could use against us. We are on lockdown.” Lucky nodded and began to walk me towards his bike. Wait, lockdown? What about my store? This was all happening very quickly, and I didn’t like how I was being passed around like a sack of potatoes. I needed to talk to Cade. He needed to tell me what the fuck was going on.

“I’ve got Gwen.” Cade moved away from Bull who was breathing raggedly and still being held by Brock and Dwayne. Lucky stopped walking and turned us around just in time to see Cade and Steg in a heated stare off. I barely restrain a snort, why did so many alpha stare downs happen when I was around?

“Not having Gwen on the back of someone else’s bike.” Cade declared firmly, eyes locked on me.

Steg regarded him calmly like he did Luke. “Need you here, need to canvas the store see if we missed anything and get rid of our four legged friends. Then we got to find these fuckers and end them. Need your head on straight, so reign it in.”

Cade was as stiff as a rock when Brock clapped him on the shoulder.

“Come on brother, lets get these bastards, then they won’t be able to get near Gwen again.” He gave me a wink. Cade looked as if he was having an internal battle before his face turned suddenly blank.

“Fine.” He clipped out, glaring at Steg.

“Rosco.” He gestured to a prospect who I didn’t really know.

“Yeah Cade.” He addressed him respectfully.

“You follow Lucky and Gwen, don’t let them out of you sight. You make sure no one follows and that we have enough boys at the club. You clear?” He ordered, authority in his tone, which kind of turned me on, despite the situation. And despite the fact I was a little pissed he clearly hadn’t disclosed how serious things had gotten.

Rosco nodded. “Yes sir.”

Cade strode over to me, eyes narrowing at Lucky’s arms at my shoulders. I ducked out of them and into Cade’s, he squeezed me so tight I lost my breath.

“Don’t worry honey I’m fine. You go and do whatever you need to do” I was surprised at how strong my voice sounded. I wasn’t going to betray my true feelings, or interrogate him on the street. It could wait until it was just the two of us.

He stared at me with his face still blank. “Fuck Gwen, I’m so sorry you got caught up in this shit. Nothing else is going to touch you, I promise. I’m going to kill every last one of those motherfuckers.” He declared roughly.

I gulped, hoping this wasn’t the promise it sounded like. He kissed me hard before nodding to Lucky, who gently directed me towards his bike. He handed me a helmet silently, with no usual joke that I had come to expect.

I got on his bike putting my arms lightly around his waist before steeling a glance at Cade, who was talking with Steg, arms crossed. He gave me a glimpse before disappearing into my store.

“This is bullshit!” Amy exclaimed for about the third time, pacing around the room. “I mean I get that the guys need to do something about the sick fuck that sent the spiders,” She visibly shivered. “I still don’t know how you could’ve dealt with that G, I fucking HATE spiders, those little fuckers have no reason to be on this earth.” She shook her head, trying to find her way back to her point. “But why am I here? I am not an ‘Old Lady’, thank fuck.” She glanced at me, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

I waved my hand. “Don’t worry I’m starting to wonder what I’ve gotten myself into.” I said truthfully, the events of today starting to hit home. How stupid was I? Getting myself into another situation that involved a ruthless gang, I didn’t know if I could deal with going back to constantly looking over my shoulder in fear. I wanted my normal, carefree life back. But I loved Cade. Crap what a twisted web I had managed to get myself into. Pardon the pun. Amy raised an eyebrow at my comment but it didn’t stop her rant.

“I mean I know I’m your best friend, but I’m not involved in the club and I’m certainly not valuable to this club. I am so busting out of this
place
.” She scrunched her nose in distaste as she cast her eyes around the huge common room littered with beer bottles and the occasional condom wrapper. I didn’t disagree with her there, this wasn’t the best environment, but we didn’t have much choice, there were armed guards at the gate and a couple of prospects and members standing watch outside. We didn’t have much of chance of escaping, not that I really wanted to at the moment. This rough place was where I felt safest at right now, fucked up as it was, I trusted these men, knew they would protect me with their lives if necessary. That was one thing I had learned about the club, they were fiercely loyal, and once you were in everyone had your back. The men really were brothers and they had deep love for one another. Even with the problems Steg and Cade seemed to have. We were currently alone, some of the men had called various friends of the club and ordered them to get here, others had gone to pick some of the women up.  Amy and I were first to arrive, I had a sneaky feeling Brock had something to do with the prospect who dropped by our house and practically threw her on the back of his bike (Amy’s words).