Rooster was still on the phone, but after a short wave to get his attention, I pulled my helmet down, fired the bike up, and peeled out onto the street. Cars laid on the horn as I slipped around and in front of them.
I couldn’t wait for the others to get their shit together. My woman and my mother were in danger.
Chapter 34
Katarina
My eyes fluttered open as my body jostled. My head was pounding where something, or someone, had struck me, just behind my ear. Looking around, I gasped when I saw Mama Hen next me. At least they’d removed the sack from over my head.
My body leaned and my arms tried to reach out, but I quickly learned I was bound and buckled in. They’d zip tied my wrists from the feel of it, but made sure to lock my seatbelt in place.
“Mama Hen,” I said, not bothering to whisper since we were in an SUV. She didn’t move. “If something happens to us–”
“Oh, I know,” Jeannie said from the passenger seat. “Don’t worry. She’s just napping, like you were. She’ll come to soon enough. I can’t believe she can sleep through this.”
The SUV slowly climbed a winding dirt path, riddled with rocks and exposed roots. It rocked back and forth, everyone inside swaying along with it. The path was lined with tall pines, and the SUV was practically kissing the trees on either side. It wasn’t much wider than a golf cart path, or maybe an ATV path, considering a golf cart would never make it up the incline or terrain.
“Where is this place?” I asked, starting to feel queasy from the jostling and not having control of my hands.
“A holding area of sorts. But don’t worry. You’ll be comfortable.”
“He’ll come for us,” I deadpanned.
Jeannie turned to look at me. “Oh, I’m counting on it.” The grin she plastered on was chilling.
A clearing ahead revealed a cabin and a storage building. The building was similar to our garages with metal walls, no windows, but a large rolling door. The cabin was cherry log with a long porch that held matching rocking chairs and potted ferns by the top steps. It was very cute and rustic-chic. It would be a perfect mountain getaway with beautiful foliage and completely hidden from the road or any other people. Except it didn’t bode well for me and Mama Hen that it was completely hidden from the road or other people.
I had no idea how long I’d been out, either, so I wasn’t sure how far from the clubhouse we were. I was new to Georgia, and even knowing we were at a mountain didn’t mean much.There were mountains not far from the clubhouse, but there was also a stretch of them across North Georgia. We really could be anywhere. What if we weren’t eveninGeorgia?
The large man wearing a decent suit parked the vehicle, got out, and opened my door. When he leaned in, I gasped. “I know you.” He was part of the Martinelli family. But I wasn’t sure of his name. Just that I’d seen him before.
He unbuckled my seatbelt, then tugged on my arm. My feet landed awkwardly on the gravel, but I looked into the SUV at Mama Hen. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something black. Turning my head, there was another SUV and more men piled out.
My mouth fell open. It was Leo Mancini. He was one of Martinelli’s top men. I’d seen him plenty of times, and knew who he was.
“Hello, princess,” he said with a heavy Bronx accent as he approached. His dark hair was cropped short but still combed neatly. He was closer to Papa’s age. Even though he was more fit than Papa, he looked much older with hanging jowls and deep frown lines. “Never thought I’d see you here.”
“I could say the same. Does your boss know you’re in league with this woman?” I asked, feigning overconfidence but asking questions to keep them talking as much as I could. Surely Hawk would discover I was gone soon enough, so I just had to buy some time. Plus, I genuinely wanted to know what was happening and why.
Leo grinned, motioning for someone to get Mama Hen out of the SUV before shoving his hands in his pockets. “Curious one. Didn’t your father teach you any manners?”
“Hey, enough chatting,” Jeannie said. “Get them inside.”
“Hey doll, I know you’re used to calling the shots, but look where that got you. Watch your mouth,” he told her.
Jeannie squared her shoulders and glared at him a few beats, then walked inside.
The man who got me out of the SUV tugged on my arm, leading me toward the door. Once up the stairs, I looked back. Someone was carrying Mama Hen toward us.
“Be careful with her!” I yelled down.
“You broads all got some big balls,” my escort said as he pushed me through the door.
“Bigger than yours,” I replied.
He shoved me again, and laughed when I almost lost my footing. He pushed me down to the sofa and I shimmied to right myself. The inside was well furnished and well maintained.
An old woodburning stove was tucked into the corner with a basket of logs next to it. A TV hung on the wall along with framed pictures of various wildlife. The coffee table and end tables were well crafted mahogany, a buffalo plaid wingback sat opposite an navy oversized chair, and I had been pushed onto a matching sofa. There was a second floor across one wall but the ceiling in the living area was vaulted with wooden beams that were likely just for show.
