SAVAGE HEART (Layne & Shelby Book Two) (A Devil Call MC Book) (17 page)

16.

(Shelby)

I had a bad feeling.

I grabbed my clothes and got
dressed. Fuck all these rules. I stormed from the bedroom and ran down to the
bar. I saw Finn standing at a pool table, drinking, a map laid out.

“
Finn,
where
’
s Layne?
”
I asked.

Finn looked at me.
“
He said he was meeting with your
old man.
”

“
What?
Why?
”

I started to panic.

Did Layne go to kill Daddy?

No. No way in hell.

I looked around the bar. There
seemed to be everyone there. Except
…
Hawke and Ransom.

My stomach turned.

I ran outside the clubhouse, Brett
calling after me. The lot was full of motorcycles, except for Layne
’
s, Hawke
’
s, and Ransom
’
s.

They were gone. Just the three of
them.

Maybe some prospects.

“
He
’
ll be back,
”
a voice said.

I turned and Brett was right there.

“
Where
is he?
”

“
Just
a ride, Shelby.
”

“
I
’
ll wait then.
”

“
You
can
’
t.
”

“
Why?
”

Brett kicked at the ground.
“
You can
’
t do anything stupid.
”

“
I
won
’
t. I promise.
”

“
Hawke
told me. Because shit is going to hit the fan when they realize it.
”

“
Realize
what?
”
I asked.

“
They
’
re on the run now.
”

“
The
run?
”

“
The
run,
”
Brett said.

My eyes went wide.

Fuck.

Layne had left. He wouldn
’
t be back for almost an entire
day.

“
It
’
s to keep things looking calm,
”
Brett said.
“
So there
’
s no suspicious activity. Okay? That
’
s all. He didn
’
t even tell you
…”

My head spun.

I was supposed to talk to Layne.
Tell him about my mother. He was supposed to touch my face, kiss me, then tell
me he
’
d help me.

I used everything I had to keep
calm.

I nodded.
“
Okay, Brett. Thank you for telling me.
”

“
It
’
s going to be fine,
”
Brett said.
“
He
’
ll
call in a few hours. They
’
re
making the grab and then delivering it. Just come back inside and have a drink.
At least go back to the room, right? Just get some rest. Sleep it all off. He
’
ll be back.
”

“
I
know,
”
I said. I forced a
smile.
“
I
’
m just going to catch my breath.
I
’
m a little nervous for
him.
”

“
Okay.
”

“
I
meant, alone. Just leave me alone.
”

“
Sure,
”
Brett said.
“
Sorry.
”

Brett disappeared and I went to
work.

There were vehicles and motorcycles
everywhere. I couldn
’
t ride
a motorcycle, but I could drive a car. My car had been trashed by Layne. That
was fine.

I kicked open the door to the
garage and grabbed a set of keys. I found the car that went to them and started
it.

I was going to follow Layne.

17.

(Layne)

The ride was going smooth. The road
was open, the night was clear. I kept my eyes open and ready for anything that
waited for us. The tricky part was switching from the road to the dirt. I could
only think about the Mountain Killers trying to place a bomb for us to find and
get blown up with. All I could do was trust in Johnston and the Dark Angels. He
did a clean sweep of the area twice and if this run was as important as he made
it sound, we
’
d be fine.

Then again, it didn
’
t save us from an ambush.

We cruised through the dirt and
into a thicker forest area. I knew the way because it was the only way. We
stopped once right where Johnston said to stop so we could pick up some camping
equipment to attach to the back of our rides. That way if a cop stopped us or
someone spotted us, we
’
d
look like a group of bikers looking for a place to set up shop for the night.

Then we kept riding.

And riding.

The night dragged on.

I wasn
’
t stupid either. I saw the car behind us an hour
into our ride. At first, I worried we were being tagged. But I knew it was
Shelby.

Christ.

And what was I supposed to do? We
were on a deadline. There was no way we could stop and ruin this. As long as
Shelby was following us, she was safe. The only person at the clubhouse who
knew about our ride right now was Brett. I told him so when the call came
through, he could tell everyone. I needed him sober and coherent to help
coordinate the clubhouse. Just in case the Mountain Killers tried to do
something. Or someone tried to look for me.

I pictured him telling Shelby,
thinking he was helping her. But she was crazy enough to follow me.

Why?

I
’
d
figure that out soon.

First, I had to make this grab.

There was a campsite set up right
where Johnston said there would be. Two men, two women, each of them holding a
baby, all sat around a fire. We pulled up, stopped, and I climbed off my ride.

“
Evening,
”
I said.
“
Sorry to be a pain, but we need some water.
”

That was the code.

“
Sure,
”
the one guy said. He stood up.
“
Let me go fill up some canteens
for you.
”

The other guy stood up.

They walked away.

The two women remained seated, each
rocking a baby. They both looked at me. They looked terrified. It wasn
’
t my problem.

“
If
you want something to eat,
”
one of the women said.
“
There
’
s some snack food in the orange
bucket there.
”

That was the other cue.

The bucket was huge. When I took
the lid off, there were snack foods. Just one small layer though. The rest were
backpacks. I was under clear agreement with Johnston I wouldn
’
t open the backpacks. That
’
s where the shipment was all
contained.

I gave the prospects the backpacks
to wear. The extras were strapped to the sides of their rides. I gave clear
warnings that if they even breathed the wrong way, they
’
d eat a bullet as their last meal.

The two men came back with water
for us.

I took a drink and shook their
hands.

“
Thanks,
”
I said.
“
We
’
re
good to go now. There
’
s
other sites around here?
”

“
Right
up the road,
”
the one guy
said with a nod.
“
Right up to
the right. It
’
s all clear.
”

That was the last cue.

That meant Johnston had the rest of
the way clear for the delivery.

I got to my ride and started it. I
led the way a few miles along and slowed, waiting to see the car behind us. I
could tell Hawke and Ransom were nervous about the car. Luckily, they looked to
me for orders and I gave none. There were no orders right now. This was about
making Shelby go through the campsite area without getting herself hurt. Those
two families were probably paid by Johnston to have that orange bucket. It made
me cringe to think about. Those little babies. Young families. Being under
control of Johnston.

When I saw the lights of the car, I
started to speed up. I made up for some lost time. Hours collected and fell.
The motorcycles had enough fuel to get to the drop off. We
’
d then fuel up and then split
up. I
’
d send Hawke, Ransom,
and the prospects back. They
’
d
go alone. I
’
d tell them I
had business. Then I
’
d have
to deal with Shelby. And get her ass back to Oakville too. Because of what I
had to do with the name on a piece of paper and my gun.

We ended up back on a main road.
Far from Oakville. Far from our territory and protection of Devil Call MC. We
were open targets out here, running on nothing but the logo on our cuts and the
respect we hoped to have earned for those who saw us.

The drop off point was another
campsite. A campground that had a sign that it was shut down for repairs. That
was just a rouse though.

I parked my motorcycle at the first
cabin and climbed off. I stretched my back, listening to the sounds of the dark
woods alive.

There was a flicker of light in the
cabin.

I knocked on the door and a woman
answered it. She was dark skinned and looked pissed off.

“
You
’
re three minutes late,
”
she said.

“
My
deepest apologies,
”
I said.

Johnston told me his mother would
be waiting for us. She took the bags, carried them into another room, and then
came out.

“
They
all check out. You did good. No problems?
”

“
Nothing.
”

“
No
tails? Bullets? Fights?
”

“
Nothing.
”

“
Good,
”
she said.
“
You
’
ll hear from us soon.
”

“
Okay.
”

“
You
’
re clear on the way back. No
matter how you go. My boy has plenty to watch for you. But once you cross your
own goddamn border, you
’
re
on your own.
”

“
Understood,
”
I said.

I shook the woman
’
s hand. She had a fierce grip.

We then went back to our rides.

The sun was coming up over the
horizon. It was a new day. We could ride back to Oakville with a greater sense
of freedom in our hearts. We had nothing on us that could get us into trouble.

“
You
guys are heading back without me,
”
I said as I leaned against my motorcycle.

“
What
are you talking about?
”
Ransom asked.

“
I
have other business.
”

“
With
the Dark Angels?
”
Hawke
asked.

“
I
can
’
t talk about it,
”
I said.
“
The less you know the better. It
’
s for the better of the club
though.
”

“
Jesus,
Layne,
”
Ransom said.
“
That doesn
’
t sound good at all. That
’
s the shit Rex used to say.
”

Rex.

The old President.

Was he like me? Running guns for
cash? Taking orders from the mafia?

“
Just
go the fuck back,
”
I
ordered.
“
I
’
ll make a call soon. You
’
ll know when I
’
m coming.
”

“
You
can
’
t ride that far by
yourself, man,
”
Hawke said.
“
Orders or not, I
’
ll refuse. You can kill me.
”

“
I
’
ll keep the prospects. Then I
’
ll call and you guys can ride my
way and we
’
ll meet halfway.
Okay?
”

“
You
’
re staying local here?
”

“
Don
’
t worry about me,
”
I said.

I had bigger things to worry about.
Like how shitty of a job Shelby did trying to follow me. And the fact that all
the love I felt in my heart for her needed to go away. It was easier to live
with hate. I could manage hate
…
but I couldn
’
t manage love.

My life wasn
’
t the kind that was meant for love.

Shelby was about to learn that
lesson first hand.

18.

(Shelby)

Layne looked at me.
Finally.

I had been driving all damn night.
I was tired, achy, confused.

He walked toward me and I opened
the car door, climbing out. I moved toward him and lunged at him, hugging him.

“
I
just couldn
’
t
…”

Layne put his hands to my belly and
shoved me off him. I stumbled back and stared as he looked pissed.

“
I
know you
’
re mad. But you
didn
’
t give me a chance to
talk to you.
”

“
What
are you trying to prove?
”
he asked.

“
I
know where she is!
”

“
What?
Who?
”

“
My
mother, Layne. My father finally told me. That
’
s
why I wanted to talk to you. I was going to ask you to let me come with you. We
can go find her right now. I can finally
…”

Emotion rose up in my throat. I
couldn
’
t help myself. This
was what I had been waiting for.

Layne stepped toward me, shaking his
head.
“
This is a fucking mess.
You need to get into that car and go back.
”

“
What
if I say
no
? What if I say
fuck you
? I want this. I need this.
”

“
Yeah?
You think you do.
”

“
I
know it,
”
I said.
“
She
’
s my mother!
”

“
And
what if she
’
s not what you
thought?
”
Layne put his
hands to my shoulders.
“
I
’
m telling you to leave.
”

“
I
’
m saying I won
’
t.
”

I watched Layne grit his teeth. His
hands slid to my arms and he pulled me against him. His eyes were wide. He was
full of emotion. I didn
’
t
care though. I
’
d push him
to the edge to get it all out of him. This was my offering. Following him.
Demanding him.

“
You
want it? Fine. Fucking fine, Shelby.
”

Next thing I knew I was being
pulled to his motorcycle. I guess we were leaving the car behind. Not that it
was actually registered to anyone. It was a junker that would confuse the hell
out of whoever found it.

For the next hour I was behind
Layne, my hands touching his body. I felt muscle through his shirt. I was wet
half the time. There was nothing quite like that feeling of being on the back
of his ride.

When we came to a stop, we were
across from a building. It looked like an auto garage. It almost had the slight
appeal of the lot and clubhouse back in Oakville.

I jumped off the motorcycle and
Layne grabbed me, holding me.

“
Wait,
”
he ordered.

“
Why?
”

“
I
said so.
”

My heart raced, waiting for
something to happen.

Two cars pulled into the lot. One
guy got gas at a gas pump, the other guy went into the garage. He came out
carrying something and then left.

Another car pulled up. It parked
along the side of the building and the driver
’
s
door opened. A woman stepped out and looked around. The second I saw her, I
just knew it.

It was my mother!

I pulled at Layne and squeezed
tighter.

“
What
are you fucking doing?
”
I
asked.
“
There she is! I
have to go
…”

Layne looked down at me. I could
see it in his face.

Something was wrong.

He let me go and I didn
’
t run from him.

“
What
is it? Is she in trouble? Wait
…
how
…”

My mind had been so messed up, I
didn
’
t even realize that
Layne had brought us here. I hadn
’
t
told him where she was. That meant he knew already.

I stepped back.
“
You knew. You knew where she
was. You never told me.
”

“
Shelby,
sweetheart, it
’
s not what
you think.
”

“
What?
”

Layne took a piece of paper out of
his leather cut. He showed it to me.
“
I
got this from someone. From Nicolas.
”

“
The
mafia guy,
”
I whispered.

“
Yeah.
When I was kidnapped. This was why.
”

“
That
paper? My mother
’
s name and
address?
”

“
She
works at the place,
”
Layne
said.
“
She
’
s not straight. She
’
s in big trouble.
”

“
How
bad?
”

“
There
’
s a hit on her. Nicolas and his
guys want her dead.
”

I touched my mouth. I shook my
head.
“
No. That can
’
t happen. We have to help her.
We can
…”

Layne shook his head.
“
No, sweetheart. We can
’
t do that.
”
Layne slammed a fist down on
the seat of his motorcycle.
“
Fuck.
This was why I told you to stay there. I was going to take care of it all and
then come back and explain.
”

“
Take
care of it all,
”
I
whispered.
“
What does that
mean, Layne?
”

Layne looked back at me. His sexy,
chiseled face looked evil now. The man I loved. The man I trusted to protect.
He took a breath and destroyed the rest of my world.

“
I
’
m here to do it,
”
he said.
“
I
’
m
here to kill your mother.
”
Layne then turned and pulled a gun out, pointing it at me.
“
And you can
’
t stop me, sweetheart.
”

~*~

“
Sir?
”

Nicolas turned from the window,
hands in his pockets.

“
Jimmy,
what do you want?
”

“
Your
friends are here, sir,
”
Jimmy said.

Nicolas grinned.

It was much easier to just pay for
it. Any man who took the time to care about a woman was a fool. Plus, the
investment in these women were nothing short of life saving for Nicolas. They
were his favorite drug. Better than taking over a town. More refreshing than a
fresh kill. More thorough exercise than digging a fresh grave.

Tonight he had ordered three. Two
of the women would handle each other while the third took care of him.

“
Send
them to the loft, Jimmy,
”
Nicolas ordered.

“
Sir,
of course.
”

“
Jimmy
…
send
him
in right now.
”

Jimmy nodded and left the room.

Nicolas faced the window again.

It was all coming together now.
Layne would follow order. Just as Bob always did. The old guy in the club, Rex,
he didn
’
t fit in so well.
Plus, he wasn
’
t what
Nicolas wanted. Rex was skittish. He thought he was tougher than everyone. What
a damn fool.

Nicolas liked to think. It was better
to be thorough than sorry.

Oakville had a lot of useful
resources. The town would be just fine. It would be just for Nicolas and his
family.

Someone cleared his throat.

Nicolas turned and saw Tyson
standing there. What an amazing project this had all become. Tyson loved to
fight. Loved to kill. Something in his blood, just like his brother, Layne.

And now, after a few weeks of
leaving himself go, his facial hair was unkempt. And he stood there in black
jeans, a black t-shirt, and a leather jacket.

“
Damn,
”
Nicolas whispered. He
approached Tyson and touched his shoulders.
“
You
look just like him.
”

“
I
don
’
t like the feeling.
”

“
But
I do. Are you ready for this?
”

“
Always,
sir.
”

“
Good.
”

It was time to send Tyson into
action. Dressed like a MC member.
Ready to destroy anything in his path
…
ready to destroy Layne.