...or something: Ronacks Motorcycle Club (16 page)

He went over and sat on the stool, saved the one beside him for Bree, and observed his club. Bree was right. Ronacks fell back into their routine even on high alert. Members would go to work in the morning, they'd check in when they could, and the armed guards would continue to protect Bree.

Nobody questioned their duties or the work they put into running extra security around the house. News of a baby for Duke and Raelyn heightened everyone's mood. He was happy for his MC brother.

After he got back home from visiting the man on the mountain tomorrow, he hoped things would settle down for him and go back to normal. Almost a month had gone by without a sign of any trouble, and he'd started to believe the shooting was a random act and not a calculated one from the past.

Hell, maybe Swiss was right, and some stupid kid thought he'd make his mark on the club.

Bree weaved through the crowd standing around the pool table that doubled for a buffet when they all ate together. She held the paper plates above her shoulders, and her hips worked the room, left, right, left, right, until she reached his side.

"Here you go." She put a filled plate of pizza in front of him and one beside him, then pulled throw-away napkins out of her back pocket of her shorts and set them on the counter.

His gut warmed. When he'd brought Bree back to Montana, she would've served herself and not thought of going out of her way to give him food. Her whole existence settled on survival, and now every act, every thought, every action included him.

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Thanks, carny-girl. Appreciate it."

She smiled and motioned toward his food. "Eat. I piled a couple of pieces on my plate for you, too. The paper plates don't hold enough pizza before they start bending.

LeWorth and Jana came and stood at the end of the counter to eat their dinner. He watched Bree for any sign of upset at having Jana around, but she only smiled at them and went back to eating.

She had nothing to worry about. He only wanted her, and he'd make damn sure she believed it every single day.

Six pieces of pizza later, he carried all their garbage outside to the trashcan and stayed in the yard to have a cigarette.

The warm day had turned into a cool night, and the breeze relaxed him. He leaned against the outside of the house. The overgrown lawn was overdue for a good mowing. He'd ask Mel to do the chores in the yard while security remained on the house, and that way the kid could get some extra cash in his pocket.

He flicked the coal off his cigarette, pocketed the butt, and went back inside to find Bree and take her upstairs. He always had room for dessert, and if she were offering, he'd be taking.

Inside, he found Bree talking to Raelyn. He held back, giving her time to talk with her friend.

Her smile dropped, and she frowned, reaching into her back pocket, and looked at Raelyn in confusion. Hesitantly, Bree put her phone up to her ear. From across the room, he watched her lips form
hello,
and his body went rock hard.

Only Raelyn ever called her.

Bree looked up, searching the room, and found him. The fear in her eyes pierced his chest, and he moved toward her. When he reached Bree, she shoved the phone toward him and ran out of the room. He glanced down at the screen on the phone to see the call ended and no telephone number displayed. Only the word 'unknown' gave him any clue to who upset her.

He took off after Bree, issuing orders for everyone to stay inside and call the guards and alert them to stay diligent. The danger hadn't left, and the person after Bree had patiently waited for him to let down his guard.

He'd fallen right into their plan, and he had a feeling tomorrow, he'd find out exactly what was going on when he visited the cabin on the mountain.

B
ree paced the living room upstairs in the house, staying away from the window and out of view from outside. She couldn't sit. She couldn't stand. She couldn't have Battery touching her or she'd fall apart. The only things she had to do was figure out who called her and how Battery could stop him.

"Tell me again what he said," asked Battery.

She pressed her fingers to her temples. "He said I couldn't hide forever, and he'd already waited years to find me. A few more days wouldn't hurt him."

"And what did you say?"

"I asked who was calling." Bree groaned in frustration. "I couldn't think."

"Who did he say?" Battery approached her.

She held up her hands to keep him away. This was all her fault. Somehow, she'd done something bad and pissed someone off, and now they wanted to kill her. The gunshot that almost hit her last month was meant for her. She'd talked herself into believing none of the recent trouble had anything to do with her, and now it turned out she was the cause of everything.

"I don't know. I don't think he even said his name. He said something else that I can't remember because I saw you, and I only wanted to give you the phone." She paced the floor. "Who would have my phone number?"

"Nobody, but the club and the women," muttered Battery.

"What am I supposed to do?" She looked up at Battery. "Do I call the sheriff or file a report? I don't want him calling me back."

"I'll get you a new number." Battery reached out and snagged her before she could move away. "The club doesn't go to the sheriff with club business, and you are club business."

She pushed against his chest. "Don't touch me right now, Battery."

"Shutup. I'm going to touch you." He held her tight and cradled her head against his chest. "I want you to relax and breathe."

She caught a sob before the sound could escape. Clinging to his vest, she wanted to hide. All the time she was on lockdown in the house, she honestly believed whoever shot at the house wasn't trying to kill her. To find out differently pushed her into a reality she couldn't imagine. Nothing like that had ever happened before. Who would want her dead?

Battery took her over to the couch, sat down, and held her on his lap. "I'll fix everything. Nobody is going to hurt you."

"I don't know many people, and I don't think I've ever made someone mad enough to harm me," she whispered. "Maybe it's Bill."

Battery's body hardened underneath her. "Who's Bill?"

"My old boss at the carnival. I left him short a worker and never told him I was leaving or picked up my last paycheck. He had a temper, but I thought he mostly yelled and fired people." She gulped for air. "There was also this boy at one of my foster homes who I turned in for abuse. I stopped him when he came to me, but he hurt one of the foster girls that were staying in the house in the worst way a girl can be hurt, Battery. He was evil, and when I told the social worker, she believed me and sent him away to a juvenile hall, that's like a prison for teenagers. He was older than me, so he'd be an adult now."

"I know what juvie is, Bree." Battery palmed the back of her head. "I don't think either of those people would want to hurt you. You've been in Montana for years now and completely out of their lives."

She peered up at him. "I haven't always had a life without trouble, Battery. I ran from foster homes. I got caught stealing once because I wanted clothes that other kids were wearing and not second-hand stuff that never fit. I lied to stay out of trouble with the foster parents, and I can't recall one who I thought liked me, not one of them. No matter how hard I tried to help out in their homes, they only tolerated me because they received a monthly paycheck from the state. I never stayed long before they got rid of me. I always said it never mattered that others never had the chance to like me, but maybe I should've tried harder."

"You were a child." He sat her up straight. "None of that was your fault. You were raised in the foster care system in Washington. That's not easy."

She tilted her head. "How did you know I grew up in Washington?"

"That's where you were when I found you. I assumed—"

"You're right.About everything. There's nothing I had done as a kid that would warrant someone coming after me. As an adult..." She sighed. "I just don't know. Maybe a customer from when I worked at the diner has something in for me. I think we should call the police. It's not fair to everyone in the club to continue guarding me, and I want the person caught. I'll tell them that none of the Ronacks are involved."

"Carny-girl..." He framed her face with his hands. "Give me time. I will fix this. Tonight's call is good. We know they're still out there, and that means I can keep you safe. Once it's over, you'll gain your freedom to come and go again."

"Don't hate me," she whispered, the tears she'd held back flowed freely. "I don't know what I'd do if you kicked me out of here and I lost another home."

He closed his eyes an extra second and pulled her closer. "Love you, carny-girl. Never going to make you leave. Never would let you leave. Behind all the bullshit that is going on right now, we're family, and you have a club downstairs that will keep you safe and love you, too."

She kissed him. The salty taste of her tears coiled tight in her stomach. If she knew what brought on someone coming after her, she could go back and change what she'd done to make the person hate her. Change yesterday.

Even if it meant losing Battery, because she'd never do anything to hurt him or Ronacks Motorcycle Club.

~ The Plan ~

T
he wind moved the pine trees surrounding the forlorn cabin. Battery inhaled deeply on his cigarette and stubbed the butt in the ashtray, making sure he left no sign of anyone around. Thankfully, the four seasons always wiped his tracks away on the old abandoned logging road, and he made sure he never came more than once a month to let the vegetation grow over the trail.

He wanted to be in and out, get answers to his questions, drop off supplies, and be off the mountain and back to Bree before she started to worry. For the first time in ever, she'd begged him not to leave, and he had to lie and tell her he had club business to attend to today.

What he had with the man was personal. The club wasn't involved.

He opened the door of the truck, grabbed two bags in his left hand and kept his right hand free near the pistol he wore on him. Close to the cabin, he said, "Open the door."

Even though the man could hear his truck coming at five hundred yards, he usually waited until Battery got close to the door before answering.

He stepped up to the cabin and knocked. "It's me. Open up."

Battery turned and looked out into the woods, scanning the trees, the brush, and even the closest mountain peak. High powered hunting rifles could shoot damn far.

"Hey, open the door." He banged with his fist.

He waited several minutes knowing if anyone was inside or something had happened since he'd visited last month, he'd walk straight into a mess he might not get out of. He set the bags down on the ground, removed his pistol, and kicked the door.

The old wood splintered and broke in half. He stepped inside, squinting into the dark interior while his vision adjusted. Everything appeared in place, except the man who occupied the cabin.

The bed.

The leftover supplies.

Even the satellite radio sat on top of the cooler.

Battery walked around the perimeter of the small room. He was missing something. The man never ventured far and would've heard the truck. He was smart, attentive, and—

"Fuck," muttered Battery quickly searching the room again.

The man's boots were gone, and the two rifles—an AR 15 and a shotgun—that Battery had given him when he moved him into the cabin were missing.

"God damnit." Battery kicked the mattress off the bed. "Don't do this now, Richard. Don't fucking come after Bree."

B
ree sat with her back against the door separating the first level of the house to the stairs leading up to where she lived with Battery. The constant headache aspirin couldn't fight dulled her patience. The members of Ronacks met three hours ago and had yet to finish their business.

"They all missed dinner." Raelyn paced in front of Bree. "The other women have started leaving me texts asking how long the members will be."

"I don't know. We'll have to wait, and we're not allowed to go find out how much longer." Bree stood and motioned in front of her. "Let's go upstairs."

"We were just up there," said Raelyn.

"I know, but you need to eat and take care of the baby." Bree waved her hands in front of her to get her going in the right direction. "My mind is on the club and what is happening behind the closed door, and I'm a terrible friend not offering to feed you."

Raelyn climbed the stairs and entered the living room. Bree headed to the right into the open kitchen and opened the fridge. "What does the baby momma feel like eating?"

"Bree, you don't have to do this. I know you're dealing with so much right now, and there's nothing wrong with me, besides being pregnant." Raelyn stepped toward the kitchen. "How about I fix you something?"

Bree rolled her eyes. "Get your butt in here. We'll both whip up something good."

She couldn't eat a bite without her stomach revolting, but she'd fake it for Raelyn's sake. While the stress of being on alert hit everyone in the club, knowing she was somehow responsible for the trouble laid heavy guilt on her shoulders. She hated the thought of how many people were affected.

Raelyn peered over Bree's shoulder. "What's in the plastic container?"

"Leftover rice with veggies and chicken," said Bree. "We had it for dinner last night."

"Oh, you should save it for Battery."

Bree shook her head. "Battery doesn't eat leftovers. Do you want it? There's enough for both of us."

"Sure." Raelyn chuckled. "What's with Battery not eating leftovers?"

Bree shrugged. "Never asked him. It's just the way he is, and I usually take any leftovers that we do have and put them in the fridge downstairs, and the guys eat it when they stop by. I've just been distracted today and forgot."

She put the container in the microwave, removed two dinner plates from the cabinet, and grabbed them each a fork and a spoon. By the time she had everything on the table, Raelyn was putting the first bite of rice in her mouth, and Bree relaxed a little. At least she was helping someone.