Wild Heart (25 page)

“He hauled ass. Took off when these assholes came up,” the man clutched at the large cut down the side of his arm.

The anger rushing through his body was beginning to take over. Knox reached down and grabbed the man by his collar and shoved him forcefully against the side of the warehouse. He pulled his pistol from the back of his pants and stuck it hard against the man’s temple. “Where the fuck did he go?” Knox shouted. He could feel someone coming up behind him and turned, pointing his gun at them. The cop stood a few feet behind him, his arms raised in surrender.

“Hey, man, don’t shoot,” Cash held his arms up showing he didn’t have a weapon. “I know you’re angry, but I can’t allow you to shoot anyone today.”

“Didn’t ask for your permission,” Knox said, holding the throat of the Renegade.

“Yeah, I know. But I can only turn my head for so many things. I can’t overlook you killing someone,” Cash explained.

Knox turned back to the Renegade, “What’s your name?”

“Smith,” the man choked out.

“Where the fuck is Chief?” Knox shouted once more. The man stood silent, unwilling to speak. Knox shoved his gun against the man’s hand, pulling it up to the side of the building and pointing it directly into the palm of the man’s hand. “If you ever want to ride another motorcycle you’ll tell me where Chief is. If not I’ll blow your hand into a thousand pieces. You’ll never be able to grip a throttle again.” Knox threatened.

The man grimaced as Knox drew down tighter on his neck. His face was now a vibrant shade of purple as he finally spit out, “Outside of Gatlinburg; off Highway seventy three.”

Knox stood, holding the trigger of his pistol and debating upon whether he should pull it or not. He looked into the man’s eyes, hoping that he could see any hint of a lie, but there was none. “Rage, see to it that these men find their way home,” Knox pulled his pistol down from the man’s hand.

He turned back toward the cop, so this was the man who’d been after Ani’s heart. The man who’d once owned it but let it go. He sized him up, trying to get an idea of what kind of man he was. “You must be the cop.”

“Yeah, name’s Cash,” he held his hand out to Knox.

Knox shook his hand, “Knox.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about you,” Cash eyed over at him.

Knox turned toward Jameson just as a large bald man came up next to them. This fucker looked about as crazy as they came. He held out the hand that wasn’t holding a mason jar to Knox, “Name’s Johnny. Glad we could help you and your boys here. Looks like you have yourself a bit of a pest problem.” Johnny booted toward the last Renegade that was picking his motorcycle up in an attempt to leave.

“Looks like it. I take it those were your fireworks?” Knox asked.

“Oh yeah. Handy little bastards. Been making them since I was about five.” He took a big swig from the Mason jar. “I brought the refreshments.” He held the jar out for Knox.

He took a big sip of the clear liquid, it was smooth but still had a spicy bite to it as it rolled down his throat. “Well, I appreciate it. Wasn’t sure how to handle those bastards. Guess I’m gonna have to get some better security up here now.”

“I tell you what, I gotta still about a mile up the road,” he glanced over at Cash before turning his back to him and whispering over to Knox. “Can’t let that fucker know. Might take my shit.” He glanced back over his shoulder to Cash. “Anyway, I gotta still about a mile up the road. Boys and I are havin’ a hell of a time getting to it now since the roads got washed out. Don’t know what you got in this big ol’ building, don’t want to. But if you’d let me put my still down there by your creek,” he pointed back behind the warehouse, “I’ll keep an eye out on the place for you.”

Knox could see a future endeavor forming, but it would be up to the club to vote on it. “I tell you what, let me take it to vote and I’ll let you know.” Knox patted the back of the man’s large shoulder. “I doubt they’ll pass it up after your help today. Thank you, Brother.”

“No problem, man. Always wanted to drive a motorcycle, too much moonshine and my ol’ ladies fried chicken to fit on one now,” Johnny chuckled as he made his way back toward his truck. “Load up, boys. We got some canning to finish.”

Knox watched as a handful of men jumped up in the cab and bed of the truck and it took off down the road. Cash came up next to him, “I guess my good deeds are done for the day. If you have any more problems let me know.” Cash tipped the brim of his hat at Knox and headed toward his truck.

“Knox!” Jameson yelled to him.

“What, Brother?” Knox looked over at him, the look on Jameson’s face caused his stomach to drop. Something was wrong.

“It’s Ani,” Jameson came running over to him. “Hey, cop. You might wanna come over here.”

Knox locked eyes on Cash as he came walking back toward the men. “What’s wrong, Jameson?” Knox asked cautiously.

“Ani’s been taken,” Jameson’s voice was shaky as he dropped the phone from his ear.
 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

RETALIATION

Ani’s head throbbed as she blinked her eyes open. She couldn’t see from the bag wrapped around her head, but she could tell she was on the floor. She could feel the grit of the concrete scraping against her stomach as she squirmed. She attempted to pull her hands in front of her but they were tightly bound behind her back. She didn’t know what was happening, but the helpless feeling was beginning to wash over her. She choked for breath as she struggled to free her hands. She managed to squirm a few inches across the floor, now able to see a stream of fading light past the semi-transparent material over her face.

She heard a door open and stilled, attempting not to draw attention to herself. “I see our Sleeping Beauty has awoken from her nap,” the voice was deep, unfamiliar, and she tried to place it as he spoke. “If I can’t have the Kings, well, then you’re the next best thing.”

It was then that she knew who was on the other side of the dark material. She tried her best attempt at bravery as she yelled at toward him, “Knox is going to kill you! He’s going to cut you apart piece by piece.” She jumped as she felt a hand grab her arm and turn her over forcefully to her back.

“I don’t think he is. You see, I was just over at Knox’s and we had a little chat. Looks like he doesn’t want you after all.” She squirmed as his finger ran down her neck and to her cleavage.

“You’re a fucking liar!” she screamed.

“Oh no, he said he doesn’t care what I do to you. We considered you a decent trade.” His words cut through to her heart, causing her stomach to churn.

She could feel the bile rising in her throat at the poison he spoke. She questioned the weight of truth behind his words. She knew that Knox loved her, but she also knew he loved his M.C. more. Would he put her up to trade for the safety of his own club, like a piece of swine at the town auction? She blinked back the tears as Chief’s fingers slid further down, slightly rubbing against her nipple. There was no way she was going to let this man touch her, even if Knox didn’t want her, she wasn’t going to let him defile her body.

She attempted to kick, but her legs were bound together just as tightly as her hands. She squirmed, trying to get away from his touch but it was useless. “Don’t touch me!” She screamed over at him, fighting even hard as he climbed on top of her. She could just see the shadow of his head through the material and brought her head up, butting into his as hard as she could.

“Son of a bitch!” he shouted out as his hand fell down hard against the side of her face, “Stop fucking moving!”

The room spun as the metallic taste of blood came into her mouth. She blinked as the tears rolled down her face and Chief ripped her shirt open. She prayed that he’d stop, but he didn’t. He continued his assault against her as she bucked and squirmed. Rolling him off of her and onto the ground.

“I like my women feisty,” he let out an eerie chuckle as the door to the room came back open.

“Prez, need you out here,” a voice drifted into the room.

“Gimme a minute,” Chief spat toward the door.

“Need you now, Prez,” the man said. She could hear movement beside her as Chief picked himself up off the floor and made his way to the door.

“Ain’t finished with you, baby,” he said to Ani. “Take her to my room and tie her up,” he said to the man and then the door closed.

Ani’s heart was racing, she felt as if the room was closing in around her. She could barely breath as the sobs came wracking through her body. She rolled to her side as she thought about Knox. Could he really have not cared enough about her to keep her safe? But if he had used her as a trade to the Renegades why was she bound and masked in a spare bedroom? She didn’t know what to think as the door came open and a flurry of footsteps came in around her.

She flinched as their hands grabbed her, picking her up from the floor and taking her out of the room. She squinted through the fabric, trying to see something as they carried her down a long hallway, but it was useless. The hallway they were taking her down was too dark to make out anything. But as they carried her down further and past a room, she heard the faint sound of a familiar voice; Butcher. His deep Irish accent drifted into her ear as they carried her past, fracturing her heart into a thousand pieces. It was true.

She felt them lay her down onto a bed, first cutting the tie at her feet. She breathed a sigh of relief, they were going to untie her. That was until she felt them each grab a foot and bind it to the end of the bed. She squirmed in an attempt to free her feet but they held on too tightly for her to kick free. “Don’t! No!” she pleaded as they tied her to the bed. “Please let me go!” It was as if they hadn’t heard a word she’d said as they tied off her hands too.

One of the men pulled the bag around her face, letting it loose and pulling it from her face, “You keep that shit up and I’m gonna gag you. You hear me?” the man said.

She didn’t answer, only nodded in agreement. She watched as the two men left from the room, locking the door and shutting it behind them. She glanced around the mostly bare room in an effort to find a way to get free. There was a pair of scissors laying at the farthest side of the side table from her. She tried to pull her hand free but it was useless. She couldn’t move. She closed her eyes, picturing Knox’s face, feeling his soul. She tried to block out the things Chief had said. There was no way that Knox would have willingly given her up. She clung to that hope, praying that he would find her soon. Praying he’d find her before Chief had the chance to hurt her.

KNOX

“What the fuck do you mean they took her? From where? They were supposed to be on lockdown. What the fuck is going on?” he shouted at Jameson. His heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it was going to rupture out of his chest at any moment.

“Doc and Ani went to the store to get groceries. He said they were checking out when she went to the bathroom, never came back out. He went in looking for her but she was gone. Only thing left was one of her earrings,” Jameson explained. “Listen, man, I know you’re worried, but we gotta get our heads together on this. Let’s get to the clubhouse, have everyone meet us at the chapel and come up with a strategy.”

Knox bent over, grabbing his knees in an effort to breath. The air in his lungs was heavy and dense as he gasped for breath. The fury flamed throughout him as he let out a blood curdling growl and mounted his bike. Taking off toward the clubhouse. Shortly after he pulled up the yard was again full of motorcycles, including Cash’s Bronco. He stormed into the clubhouse and into the chapel, slamming the door behind him. He leaned against the large cedar table, staring at the Celtic designs that were carved into it. He didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to approach this. They usually went in guns blazing, bringing the chaos, but in this case that might get Ani further hurt.