Lay It Down: Bastards MC Series Boxed Set (69 page)

Wait a minute. Buying a house? I hadn’t thought about that before. I loved the fact that Will and I shared our house so the kids had security and didn’t have to shuffle around. But that wasn’t fair to Matty or Sam. And Matty’s house wasn’t really big enough for all of us. We’d have to buy a new house. Wow.

“Hey? Where’d you go?”

“Sorry, lost in thought.” I leaned up, kissing my tattoo. At least, that was what I’d labeled the trinity around the Claddagh over his heart.

He pushed back my hair, keeping his hand on the back of my head. “Fine. If you don’t want to fool around, give me a back rub.” With that, he let go of my hand and turned onto his side.

“A back rub? Oh, are you hurtin’, old man?” I joked but started to massage the muscles anyway.

His back was fantastically toned and as much a work of art as his front. High on one shoulder was a Jedi symbol, and a Sith symbol was in the same place on the other—Matty’s version of having an angel on one and a devil on the other. Stretched across his shoulder blades in large bold letters was the word FAMILY. Under that, right smack dab in the middle, was a profile of a man who resembled a roman gladiator, complete with a metal hat on his head. He was wielding a shield that looked just like the backs of the Bastards’ jackets and holding up a sword as if ready to strike. I now knew that he was Itus, the Greek God of protection and the symbol that the Bastards had adopted. Low on the right side, right above his ass cheek, was a white wolf with striking blue eyes. Sitting back on its haunches, his head was thrown back as if getting ready to howl at the moon.

“Okay, so I get the others, but why a wolf?”

“It’s my sign,” he murmured into the pillow. “Lower. Harder.”

I moved my hand down a little and worked at the knot I felt just under the skin. “You’re a Scorpio. How’d you get a wolf from a scorpion?”

He chuckled. “Oh, yeah, right there. Celtic sign, not zodiac.”

“Oh. What’s it mean to be a wolf?”

“Hound. It’s a hound. I’m fiercely loyal and enjoy helping others.” He groaned as I finally got the muscle to relax. “I’m handsome and large and tough and built like a horse and—”

His obnoxious list was cut off as I pounced onto him, moving my fingers to his sides and tickling. He bucked, trying to throw me off, but I held on tight, my attack merciless. I didn’t stop until we were both breathless from laughter. Sliding off his side of the bed, I headed for the shower. I had a ton of stuff to do before dropping off the kids, and I should probably actually open my textbook before the test today.

“Joes?” Matty’s voice called just as I walked into the bathroom.

I glanced back over my shoulder, wondering what was wrong.

“You make me happy. I can’t wait to spend every morning like this. I fuckin’ love you.”

I winked and blew him a kiss before closing the door.

Chapter 33

Matty

When I walked into the clubhouse, I headed straight for the back room. I didn’t know how long Jo’s test would take or if she had other things to do once she left the campus, but I wanted to see if my kids were still there. Sam and Ben were acting like pirates with a few other young boys. They’d turned the tree house into a ship, had swords and bandanas, and had even hung a Jolly Roger. A couple of the Brats were pretending to be their prisoners and offered me knowing smiles when they saw me leaning on the door.

Dean and Lily were sitting in chairs in the corner and were either having a tea party or playing dolls. I almost pulled out my phone so I could get evidence to show Joes. It wasn’t every day that you saw a tattooed biker playing with a little girl, and I knew she’d never believe me. I didn’t want to intrude on their moment though. I knew Billy loved that little girl, but she’d been glowing from all of Dean’s attention and I had to wonder if her dad ever spent this much time with her.

Jessie wasn’t there. Maybe she realized she wasn’t needed and had gone to work. Assuring myself that everyone was not just okay but also having fun, I pushed off the door frame and walked to the bar. Bear had a beer ready for me.

“Any luck?” Tank asked from the other side of the great room.

Bear shook his head. “Nothin’. Until Jo’s husband—” My growl stopped him, and he smirked before continuing. “Until Jo’s ex-husband answers his goddamned phone, we’re flyin’ blind.”

I’d called Billy five times. Left five messages. The fucker hadn’t called back.

“I’m ready to drive up there and beat it outta him,” I admitted. “Anyone else back yet?”

“Tiny, King, and Clutch are still out. Hawk and Rocker are back in the office. Paine, Dirty Dan, and Preach came in earlier with nothin’, and I think Rocker sent them back out. Neo’s with Princess, one of the prospects is with L.K., another is with Barbie.”

“Preach? He’s supposed to be with Taylor.”

Tank looked surprised. “I dunno, brothah. Prez sent him out this morning.”

“Fuck!” I slammed my beer down and hurried down the hall to Rob’s office. I didn’t knock, and I didn’t care that I could be interrupting. “Why is Preach not with Taylor?”

Rob looked up from the computer screen. “Because she ditched him. She sneaked out. That was after she told me I could shove my guard up my ass.”

I sighed, sinking into the chair next to Hawk. “Fuck!”

Of all the dumb shit she’d done over the last few months, this was the worst. She knew she was being followed and she knew how worried we were. That spoiled, selfish bitch.

I would have gone on ranting in my head, complaining about the woman I’d once dated because it was easier than focusing on the unknown threat, but suddenly all hell broke loose. Screaming from the great room had me standing, pulling my gun, and sprinting toward the commotion, Hawk and Rob hot on my heels. Pushing through the women in my way, my blood ran cold.

Neo had my sister in his arms, carrying her to one of the couches. She was hurt, that much was obvious. Her face had numerous cuts, blood was smeared across one cheek, and she was holding her right arm, which was draped across her chest, with her left. I tucked my gun back into my jeans and rushed to her side.

“Someone find Ratched!” Rocker shouted above the noise.

I sank to my knees, trying to assess the damage. “Cris, talk to me. What hurts?” I practically whispered, fighting to keep my voice level. I’d been to almost every one of her fights and I’d seen her get her ass kicked. But this couldn’t compare. I felt as if I was looking at a client and not my little sister.

“My arm.” She lifted her uninjured hand and wiped at her cheek, only managing to smear blood everywhere. “I think it’s dislocated.” Her voice was hoarse, and I could tell she was fighting through the pain.

“It’s okay. We’re gonna get you fixed up.” Her face had been used as a punching bag, and numerous spots were already swelling and turning a horrible shade of blue. I wanted to kiss her, to offer some sort of comfort, but I didn’t know where to touch her without causing pain, so I just patted her hand weakly instead. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Before she could answer, Ratched appeared at our side. “Let me clean her up, okay?” Her voice was soft but full of authority. “Call Doc. Right now.”

I nodded and stood, trying to give her some room.

Ratched had been a trauma nurse in Iraq before coming home and deciding to settle in the OB field. She said that being King’s ol’ lady was more than enough excitement for her, and she just wanted a normal job and to cuddle babies. She’d gotten plenty of action over the years though, always stepping in to sew one of us up and tend to us when we were hurt. She was kind and gentle and nothing like cold-hearted tyrant she was named for, but it just fit her. If she was telling me to call in Doc, then it was bad.

“I already called him. He’s on the way,” Hawk told me as he led me to a table where Neo, Rob, and Cris’s boyfriend, Caleb, stood.

“Princess was attacked,” Rocker filled me in, ignoring the “Thank you, Captain Obvious” glare I sent his way. “She’d just finished a session and went out back to take a call. She hadn’t said good-bye to Caleb, so he went looking for her. She had two guys on her.”

Thankfully Caleb had left the door open and the gym was empty, so Neo heard him shout. The two men with Cris were trying to force her into a van, but she wasn’t going without a struggle.

“They’d worked her over pretty good. But they obviously didn’t know who they were dealing with, because she took one down right as we got out there.” Neo told me, somber.

“And the other?”

Caleb paled at my question.

“You told me to carry, so I’ve been carrying.” Neo spoke up. “He picked her up, and I could see her arm was broken and she couldn’t fight anymore. I couldn’t reach her and I wasn’t gonna let that fuckah get her in the van, so I did what I had to do. Caleb helped me get her here.”

Rocker left the table, most likely to send someone to do cleanup, and Hawk grabbed his phone. Jesus! Two dead bodies in the middle of the city in broad fucking daylight in the back of a building owned by a Bastard was bad news.

Before I could ask any more questions, the door opened and I turned, hoping to see Doc. Instead, Jon Greenwood walked in.

I turned to Caleb, watching him dig at the dried red splotches on his hands. “Did you call him?”

I didn’t know if the blood he was trying to rub off his hands was his or if it belonged to Cris, but Caleb was not a Bastard, and he was having a rough time handling what had just happened. Seeing his boss only made it worse, and a look of panic crossed his face. “I didn’t. But if he’s here, they must have found the bodies.”

Fuck! I caught Jon’s eye as he surveyed the chaos in the room, and he sidestepped a few of the women, heading straight for our table. He was a master at hiding his thoughts, but his surprise at seeing Caleb next to me was as clear as day. He wasn’t there because of Cris.

He didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Matt, have you heard from Taylor today?”

I shook my head, trying to remember where my phone was. Pulling it out of the pocket of my cut, I checked for missed calls. There weren’t any.

“When was the last time you talked to her?”

I didn’t like his tone, and I narrowed my eyes. “Saturday night. What in the fuck is going on, Greenwood?”

The lawyer matched my angry glare. “No one has seen or heard from her since Sunday morning. Her father is very worried.”

No. No fucking way. My mind was moving on hyper speed.

“Tank?” I yelled to be heard over the commotion. “Call Jessie right now!”

He didn’t hesitate, just pulled out his cell and dialed.

I grabbed my phone and hit Becky’s number.

“What’s up, buttercup?” She laughed as she answered.

“Where are you right now?” I demanded.

“At home. Matt, what’s wrong?”

“I need you to grab Grams and take her to Katie’s, and I need you to do it right now.” A few years ago, we’d developed a code so that I could tell her when things were bad without a chance of someone overhearing us. Grams was the gun she kept loaded.

“Katies’s, or Fred and Darcey’s?” she asked in a panic.

Fred and Darcey were family friends who would keep her safe, and that was usually where I sent her. But Katie was Rocker’s little sister, and she owned a veterinary practice with Becky’s fiancé. Kate’s house was a fucking fortress. After she’d had a nasty bout with an abusive boyfriend a few years earlier, Rob had made sure she could fend for herself and had a state-of-the-art panic room installed. It was where we sent some kids who needed extra protection before a trial.

“Katies’s. Then I want you two to take Grams to the vet’s.” It was important that she know she needed to get her fiancé out too.

“I’m leaving right now,” she said, and I heard a door close in the background.

“Call me when you’re both there, okay?”

“I will. And you’ll explain then?”

I promised I would and hung up. Christ, I hoped she’d be okay.

Rob was back, piecing together the problem on his own. He’d pulled out his phone as well. “I’m checking with the prospects. Ian, call Ellie. You, call L.K.”

My phone was halfway to my ear when Wiz appeared in front of me.

“We’ve got a problem.” The kid’s voice was shaky and his hands unsteady as he set the tablet onto the middle of the table. Slowly, he scrolled through a group of pictures.

The first was of Taylor. She was in a store, looking through a rack of clothes. She was laughing at something or someone out of the frame. The next was a picture of Jo and Jessie sitting at an outside table in a little bistro and laughing. I recognized the outfit Jo had put on that morning—I’d told her the jeans hugged her ass perfectly and that she needed to take them off and come back to bed. The next picture had been distorted, but each woman was looking at the camera and now had a number where their face should have been.

The final picture was of Taylor. She was tied to a chair and was beaten. The number three had been carved into her forehead. It was swollen and bloody, obviously new.