“What are you doing out here, little girl?” The big burly guy looks me over as two of his friends grab my arms, keeping me locked tight like a vice, while he looks me over like I’m his next meal, sending a shiver of fear right down the length of my spine. This could go very wrong too. Maybe I’ve placed too much hope on them wanting their dope back. Not that I have it to give, but they don’t need to know that and I can’t worry about it now.
What’s done is done. I’m here now, without backup and now it’s time to lay down my cards, wager the bet and see how the Scorpions want to play.
“I’m Onyx, VP of the Royal Harlots, Phoenix Chapter. I’m here to meet with your VP, regarding some product they recently lost.” I don’t tell them they can get it back; I just let the sentence infer there’s a chance. They saw the news. Nothing was mentioned about the bricks, because they were smoldering ash. If there’s a chance that dope still exists and they don’t want to get on the wrong side of their prez or VP, they’re going to take me to him.
The big burly guy’s eyes narrow. He knows I know that hurting me now, at least seriously, could end very badly for him with his boss. Especially if he knows anything about the dope.
He doesn’t need to know the whole fucking stash went up in flames. Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. They weren’t there. Let them think what they want, at least until I get my eyes on Shine, make sure she’s okay.
Then we can garner a deal. One that draws them out, somewhere safe for the Royal Harlots and Royal Bastards. Then we’ll see how these assholes hold up next to us.
Level the playing field, but in order to do that I have to focus on Shine, because if they’ve hurt her… I try to dispel the fears as the men sear right through me with their angry eyes. “Pat her down real good, one of you grab her bike and let’s take her in,” he growls, reaching over to pull the rifle from the side carrier on my bike. “Nice, you know how to use this big gun little girl?”
My jaw locks tight as the bald one with an earring runs his hands over the length of me, cupping my breasts and making them bounce. “Nothing there but tit,” he says, sliding his hands down my waist and running a hand to the back of my pants. “Yeah, now we’re getting somewhere,” he says, pulling the gun out and turning it over in his hands. “Nice … let’s see what else you have, doll.”
I know he’s going to find most of them, I just hope he doesn’t find them all. One by one, he finds the knives, in my left pocket,in the pocket of my vest, the one strapped to my leg, and in the side of my boot.
He glares at me as he runs his hand along the seam of my crotch far longer than is needed for any search. “You sure you don’t have anything buried up there? Maybe I need to get my dick wet and see for myself?”
“Hurry the fuck up,” the burly man growls, cutting baldy’s fun short and sending a wave of relief through my panicked veins.
The entire time we ride I pay attention, trying to recall each and every turn, tall with cactus and dry brush as we navigate the terrain. Two men stand as we approach an old wood-framed house, watching as we slow and I’m ordered to get off the bike. Another biker takes my ride and makes sure to give me a leer that causes my heart to race.
“Inside,” the burly one says. “Slow and easy, don’t make any sudden moves.” We pass by two more sentries as we walk into the living room. Although it’s hotter than blazes outside the house feels damp and cool. Men in Scorpion colors sit around on couches, and four others at a small table with beer cans all over it are playing cards and look up as they walk me through.
And Shine, bound and gagged, sits on the floor with her back against the wall, her T-shirt ripped down the middle and half open, exposing her lacy bra that I’m surprised is still on. But the Scorpions are smart, they know she’s worth a trade and that we’re protected by the Royal Bastards. They hurt Shine and they know one of their own is going to get the same treatment.
If they can prove she killed their recruit then they have the right to kill her too, but they can’t know that. What I don’t understand yet, is why her. What do they or did Ness have on Shine?
We all live and die by our missions, creed, loyalty and rules and the Scorpions are no different.
An eye for an eye. It’s the motto in the southwest and no one, not even the Scorpions or their family, will be immune if they touch the property of the Royal Bastards like that without just cause and it doesn’t appear any of the bastards wanted to take that chance.
14
HAWG
We’re just over halfway to Tucson when Capone and Ryker, joint presidents for the Rivalry, East and West chapter respectively, and their crews roar into sight. I hold up a hand to slow my crew and the Harlots and pull off the road.
I extend a hand. “Thanks for coming.”
Capone and Ryker nod. “We’re on the same fucking side. Besides, we owe the Harlots for helping with the girls the Desert Riders took, and we always pay our debts. The Larussios asked us to find out where they were holed up at a few days ago when one of our barkeeps said they passed through again.
“Yep, I talked to Bruiser, thought he may know something.”
“There’s an old mining shaft not far away. Small abandoned house out there that they’re squatting in. We were planning to hit them in the next few days, so might as well make it today.”
I give him a nod. “We’d appreciate that.”
“The fuckers were told to stay out of our territory and now we find out they’re running girls and dope for the DeSantis’s, enemies of the Larussio family. It’s not looking good for any of them right now,” Capone says.
“I figured they were connected, and knew it wasn’t with you and your family, but didn’t know who. DeRosa, isn’t that the family that were in Vegas when the Larussios took over? The ones who would sell out their mother for a buck?”
Ryker nods. “That’d be the one.”
“I sent a message to the Royal Bastards over in Tucson, they’re on their way too, but I don’t fucking want to wait. If they have Onyx and Shine there’s no telling what they’re doing to them to find out what happened to their dope.”
Capone turns to me. “We need to talk about the dope later. Talked to Carver. Him and Pearl are on their way. More than likely a half hour or so behind you but maybe less. Those two ride like hell through this strip of land.”
