But where is Colt?
I glance behind Torch out the window and see a black leather jacket and the back of another man’s head, but I can tell from here it’s not Colt. Torch turns his head, following my gaze.
“Oh, your friend is taking a bit of a nap, I’m afraid. My boys and I had a little talk with him, though. We let him know we would be happy to keep an eye on things while he’s incapacitated.” Torch smiles. “You’ve been making friends with the wrong people, I see. I thought your mama would’ve taught you better than to be friends with the Kings, but then I may have expected too much from that whore.”
“I’m sorry, I seem to have forgotten your name. Do we know each other?” The lies and disrespect piss him off. His eyes snap to something behind me.
“The kid’s not back here, boss.” I turn to find another man, shorter in stature but similar in greasy looks. He’s got on a black hoodie and jeans and appears to be very jittery standing in the doorway of the breakroom. “She was here at some point. Her lunch is on the table, but the kid’s not here.”
“Well, find her!” Torch shouts, storming toward me. I’m momentarily relieved to know Kaylie did as she was told while silently praying Mason will get here and find her before these assholes do.
I look around the room, contemplating whether I can make it to my phone or out the front door, but I don’t want to leave until I know Kaylie is safe. My choice is taken from me when Torch’s hand grips the back of my hair and pulls, wrenching my head back and forcing me to my knees. “Where is she? Where’s my fucking daughter?”
I blink, stunned by his words, when a gunshot rings out, and the body once standing outside the salon window hits the ground. I take the opportunity given and stab my scissors into Torch’s thigh. He screams in pain and releases my hair to grab his leg. I’m up on my feet but don’t make it two steps before his other goon is tackling me to the floor.
“Not so fast, bitch.” I squirm and kick, fighting to get loose, but his elbow comes down hard on the side of my head. A jolt of pain and a wave of nausea hit me simultaneously. But I don’t stop fighting. I can’t. I have to get to Kaylie.
Another round of gunshots is fired, and I wrap my arms over my head as I hear glass break and shatter around me. Everything happens in a rush. My heart is beating fast against my chest. My vision is blurred, and my ears are ringing. I can’t stop screaming as the world collapses around me.
The body that once pinned me to the ground is now limp, and blood pools on the floor beside me. When I look up, I find the man who struck me to the ground. His eyes are open but unseeing, and his body is limp. I push him away from me and make my way under the front desk, where I cower and wait. I don’t know who’s shooting or if it’s safe to come out. So, I stay hidden and wait, praying it’s Mason who’s found us and for Kaylie to be tucked somewhere away from all the chaos.
14
MASON
We’re all sitting in the common room at the clubhouse checking in. “We found three more Devils in town. They’ve been staying at a motel in the next town over, in Crestview. It’s a shithole,” Ghost announces to the room.
“Naturally. That’s where one would find shit, in a shithole,” Hawk says sarcastically.
“There are three of them checked in together. They left this morning. Austin has been tailing them,” Pres says. “Torch is one of them. As of this morning, they were heading back into town. I haven’t heard from Austin since he got on the road, but he’ll check in when they stop off somewhere.”
Declan’s phone rings. “When? We’re coming. Don’t call the cops yet. We’re coming.” He hangs up the phone, and we’re all on our feet. “Wyatt just saw the Devils pulling up outside the salon. Colt is out front, but he’s on his own against the three of them.”
Gabe shouts for everyone, “Arm up and roll. Now.”
We tear out of the clubhouse yard and onto the road. It takes less than ten minutes to get into town. A record for me, but I’m running on adrenaline and the need to get to my girls.
When we pull in, Gabe signals for us to spread out. Colt’s body is on the ground outside the salon. He’s pretty beat up, but his chest is still heaving so I know he’s breathing. “Austin, get Colt inside somewhere,” Gabe instructs. Declan fires off a shot, taking out the asshole standing guard outside.
Then all hell breaks loose. There are bullets flying and glass shattering. People are clearing off the streets into the other shops for cover. Mack and Caleb take the back alley, heading for the rear entrance. The rest of us advance through the front. I hear what sounds like Ever screaming, and a man’s voice shouting, but I can’t make out any words that are being said. I’m on a mission to find Ever and Kaylie. My brothers will take care of the rest.
The noise settles, and the sound of my brothers calling out “Clear” one by one reassures me this is over, but when I see Ever curled up under her desk whimpering in fear, I’m ready to start shooting all over again.
“Ever. Baby. It’s me.” I reach in to grab her hand, but she recoils and screams at my touch. I try again. “Sprite! It’s me. It’s Mason. Open your eyes, baby. You’re safe.” It takes what feels like several minutes for Ever to finallyseeme, and when she does, she jumps into my arms, damn near knocking me over. I catch her and hold her to me, searching her face.
Her cheek is swollen. There’s a small cut near her eye, blood runs down her face, and a bruise forming at her temple. Ever sobs in my arms. Then, as if she’s just remembered something, jumps off me and up on her feet.
“Kaylie!” she shouts, running for the back room. “Kaylie! Sweetheart where are you?” Ever starts digging through a pile of boxes, opening and closing cabinet doors until she gets to the linen closet. She throws open the door, but there’s nothing in there but more boxes and cleaning supplies and a tall,freestanding laundry bag full of dirty towels waiting to be loaded into the washer.
“Where would she go, Mason?” Ever asks through her tears. I scour the closet, looking for any hint of where Kaylie may have gone. Thinking she may have gone out the back door and into Mrs. Baker’s shop, I’m about to tell Ever when I see the laundry bag move slightly.
“Ever,” I whisper, and her eyes pop to mine. I nod my head toward the laundry bag, and her eyes widen. I let her go and follow behind her, watching as she pulls towels off the top of the pile. When she reaches the last one, Kaylie’s big blue eyes are staring back at her.
“I stayed hidden like you said.” Then Kaylie bursts into tears. Everly scoops her out of the bag with her bear and holds her tight to her chest, kissing Kaylie’s head.
“You did so good, baby. You were such a smart, brave little girl. I’m so proud of you.” Everly goes on and on, praising Kaylie as she tries to calm her breathing while I rub my hand up and down Kaylie’s back, trying to soothe her.
“You said to hide until you came to find me.” Kaylie directs her words at me. I kiss her head and smile.
