Mace’s Wraith by L.A. Day

Chapter Six

The line went dead and Scarlett stared at the phone. She hadn’t gotten to tell him about Nitro. The growl of motorcycle engines penetrated her thoughts and she dropped the phone. There was no time to try to call him back. The doors were locked but she knew they wouldn’t stop grown men if they wanted in. She grabbed a small knife she used to open packages and tucked it in her waistband as she crossed to the front door. Next to the door stood a large, heavy display case. She moved to the side and began to rock it. If she could tip it in front of the door it would slow them down. Product began to hit the floor and break as she gained momentum.

“What the fuck is that?” she heard Tank say from outside the door.

Scarlett used every ounce of strength as she pushed. The weight of shifting product helped her tumble it to the floor with a mighty crash.

“Who the fuck is in there?” Nitro said with what sounded like concern in his voice.

“Let’s hit the back.”

She’d done as much as she could, so she ran to hide in the cubby at her ink station. She took slow, even breaths through her mouth, trying to calm herself. Mace would be here soon and hopefully he had backup. Her eyes teared at the thought of Mace. What if she never saw him again? Or worse yet, what if she had to watch him die? She folded her hands together. Please, God, don’t let that happen. Don’t let things end this way. Why did I have to be so snarky with him earlier? she wondered. She remembered the hurt look on his face and a pain lanced through her chest. “Mace.” She whispered his name. “Please be careful.” She’d already lost Juice. She couldn’t lose Mace. He was her heart.

She pressed her lips together to silence her gasp when the floor above her creaked. Someone was up there. They must have climbed the fire escape and broken in through her apartment window. Booted feet came down the stairs, and it sounded like more than one set.

“We know you’re in here, Scarlett. You might as well come out,” Ghost said. “If you cause too much trouble, I’ll do you like I did your brother.”

He wanted her to react but she didn’t move a muscle. A pair of denim-clad legs came into view. The man walked to the other side of the room and turned. It was Nitro. Her heart pounded. Could she trust him? His gaze locked on her for a moment before moving on. “Maybe she escaped when we went upstairs.”

“Nah. The bitch is here. She couldn’t go out the front. She blocked the fuckin’ door.” Tank snorted.

“How’d she know we were coming?” Ghost asked.

“Fuckin’ Prospect told someone,” Tank said.

“You fuckin’ idiot. Why’d you tell a prospect our business?” Ghost barked at Tank.

Nitro darted a glance back at her. “Mace and his crew will be here soon. We need to move.”

“It’s gonna take them some time to get here.” Tank laughed. “Find the girl.”

“I don’t know, man. He might be closer than you think,” Nitro replied.

“He’s right, bro. Mace is a savvy SOB,” Ghost agreed.

“That’s why we need his girl.” Tank stomped across the room and kicked her chair.

Scarlett couldn’t contain her shriek.

Tank bent forward, grabbed her arm and pulled her out. “Look what we have here.”

Ghost whistled. “Looks like we’re holding the winning hand.”

Tank nuzzled his whiskered chin against her neck. “We’re gonna have some fun later.” His foul breath was stifling and she turned her head.

Tank tugged at her hair and twisted her neck. “Looks like our boy finally grew a pair and fucked this bitch.”

Ghost laughed. “Did you like riding his cock? ‘Cause in the future, you’re gonna be riding lots of cock.” He reached down to lewdly grasped his junk and she had the urge to puke.

Tank pushed her at Nitro then threw him a zip tie. “Fasten her hands behind her back.” Tank turned his head. “Hear that? Sounds like Trig’s bike. He doesn’t deserve to straddle that ride.” He looked at Scarlett. “I’d say lover boy is here.”

The room grew quiet. The only sounds were Tank’s ragged breaths and the low whistle Ghost made when he breathed through his nose. They tried to appear calm but she could tell they were nervous. As much as they bashed Mace, they feared him. Nitro pushed her behind him as everyone waited. Suddenly her truck crashed through the back door and Tank and Ghost raised their weapons in that direction. Her breath caught in her throat, and she prayed Mace was safe.

“We got your woman, Mace,” Tank shouted just as the front window shattered and Mace dove through, slamming into the older man. Tank hit the floor hard and his gun skidded across the room. Scarlett watched helplessly as Tank tried to dive for his weapon, but Mace grabbed Tank by his belt and flipped the heavier man over. Tank drove a boot into Mace’s midsection and he grunted. “Shoot him,” Tank yelled as he saw the flash of metal. The yell turned to a scream as Mace buried his knife in Tank’s groin. Tank screamed in agony. “Fuck. Kill him.”

Nitro shoved Scarlett back and dove in front of Mace. “Don’t shoot him. We need him to access club funds.”

She stared in confusion as Ghost tipped his weapon up toward the ceiling. Tank’s scream turned to moans of agony. “Screw the money. Kill him,” Tank groaned.

Ghost looked down at his accomplice and Nitro slugged him in the jaw. Ghost stumbled and crashed to the floor near Scarlett. She tossed the tie which Nitro had used to loosely tie her hands and grabbed her knife, sinking it to the hilt in Ghost’s abdomen. She pulled it free and gagged when the wound made a squishy sound and squirted blood.

“Bitch.” Ghost backhanded her and she sprawled to the side. She watched in horror as he raised his gun toward her but Mace rolled and dove at Ghost. At the same time, Nitro kicked the gun out of his hand and the shot went high. Nitro stomped his boot at Ghost’s throat as Mace raised his knife.

Glass crunched and Scarlett flinched before she focused on Legend and Ice with their guns pointed at Nitro. “Don’t shoot him,” she cried out. “He’s on our side.”

“Kinda had the feelin’,” Legend said, lowering his gun.

“Hell of a mess,” a voice said from the hall, and Grady stepped forward. The crew turned their guns toward the newest intruder.

“He’s on our side too,” Mace said as he came to his knees. “Grab this piece of shit and throw him in the truck. I’ll finish him later.”

Nitro grabbed Ghost by one arm and twisted it behind his back and Ice grabbed his other.

“Sorry, son. You were right, she’s a hard one to hang onto,” Grady said. “Figured I better try and track her down. You mentioned her place before so thought I’d start here.”

“She’s a handful for sure.” Mace flashed his dark eyes her way and she shrank back against the wall. His eyes softened for a moment as they ran over her.

“Guess you handled the little problem you had?” Grady said. Tank rolled over and Grady put his shotgun to his head. “I wouldn’t move if I were you.”

“Get that one too,” Mace barked before turning his eyes fully on her. “Are you okay?” He tilted her chin to look at her cheek.

She bit her lip and nodded. “I’m fine.” She held up her hands. “Except I have blood on me.”

He tugged her to her feet and swatted her bottom. “Go wash up. You are in a world of trouble.”

She scurried away, rubbing her bottom.

* * * *

“Get that truck the fuck outta here,” Mace yelled, and Legend pulled it out of the side of the building. Nitro was swabbing up blood with Scar’s towels when sirens rang out in the distance.

“Throw those in the wash,” Mace told Nitro as he moved a rug to cover a suspicious patch on the floor. “Add bleach.”

“The law is here,” Ice said.

“I’ll handle it,” Mace said as Sheriff Brown and a deputy came through the hole in the wall with their guns drawn. He wasn’t worried about Brown but he didn’t know the deputy.

“What the fuck happened here?” the sheriff asked.

Mace took a deep breath and Grady stepped in front of him and pulled out a badge. “I’m Federal Agent Grady O’Brien and this is a federal investigation. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Mace assumed the look of surprise on Brown’s face was echoed by all. “This is our jurisdiction,” Brown said, squaring his shoulders.

“Do you think so, Sheriff Brown?” Grady cocked his head to one side. “These men have been working with me to bring down organized crime in your jurisdiction. That’s something you haven’t seemed to do.”

“I, uh.” Brown gulped. “We’re shorthanded and underfunded.”

“The office may be underfunded, but are you?” Mace didn’t miss the accusation and he doubted Brown did either, as he saw him flinch. “By my graciousness, I will present you a copy of the report when I’m finished. Of course, confidential information will be redacted,” Grady advised him.

Brown cleared his throat. “That will be fine, sir.”

“Mmm. I’m going to be keeping my eye on this town for a while.”

“Yes, sir,” Brown replied as the two officers backed away.

Silence hung heavy in the air until finally Grady turned to face Mace. “Did I ever mention I was an agent?”

“Don’t think so.” Mace rubbed the back of his neck.

“I’m going to have to have these two men you dragged out of here. Don’t worry, they won’t talk,” Grady said.

“Why are you helping us?” Mace asked the man he’d known most of his life.

A smile tugged at Grady’s lip. “Your mom was my only sister. I hated that she fell in love with a biker but I came to accept it. Your father had a lot of faults but he was a good husband and father. As an agent, I didn’t want my association with a club to become public knowledge. I stayed out of Trig’s business and he stayed out of mine.”

“You’re my uncle?”

Grady tipped his head. “That I am.”

Mace snorted. “Why didn’t you tell me after they were gone?”

“I debated it, but didn’t think the time was right. I have to say, I’m proud of the job you’ve done with the club. I’ve been observing, from a distance, of course. Your mom would be pleased. She loved Trig but she didn’t love the darker side of the club.”

“Thanks. I’d like to think she’d approve.”

Grady grasped his shoulder with a firm grip. “We’ll talk more. Where can I grab the suspects? We need to wrap this up before we get more attention.”

“Our garage,” Nitro said.

“I know where that is but I might need an escort if I’m to get in.”

“I got ya,” Ice said. “We good, Pres?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna need a prospect to stay here until we can get this place boarded up.”

“On it,” Nitro said.

“Cowboy!” Mace exclaimed. “They had him.” He shook his head. “We’re probably looking for a body.”

“I’ll find out where he is before I turn them over,” Ice said, heading for the big hole in the wall.

Grady turned before leaving. “Take care of your friend and we’ll talk soon. No worries. I have it covered.”

He nodded to Grady then looked around at his handiwork. It might have been overkill, but Scar was safe.

“I guess I’m going to be closed for a while,” Scar said, drying her hands on a towel.

“Come here.” He pointed to a spot right in front of him and she came willingly. Mace locked his arms around her and inhaled her jasmine scent. He closed his eyes. Questions and thoughts bombarded his brain but Scar was in his arms and safe.

“I’m sorry. I know you said—”

“Not yet.” He cupped the back of her head and brushed his lips across hers. “First, we pack clothes for you again and go to my place.”

“The cabin?”

“No. My house.”

She furrowed her brow. “I didn’t know you had a house.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know, and I’ll tell you after I get you home.”

“Home?” She arched one eyebrow.

“Yeah. Home.”

Scar grinned. “Okay.”

While Scar ran upstairs, Mace cleaned up any remaining blood. He didn’t want anyone snooping around and finding something.

“Hey, Pres,”

“‘Sup?” Mace said to Nitro. “Sorry I didn’t come to you when Juice approached me.” He shook his head. “He thought he could handle it. His death is on me.”

“No. His death is on Ghost and Tank. I wish you all would have told me, but it was Juice’s decision to go rogue on this,” Mace said.

“I think he was embarrassed about his addiction. He said they’d spiked his drink,” Nitro replied.

Mace nodded. “I saw it on video.”

“Hey,” Scar said as she joined them.

Nitro tipped his chin at her but kept his gaze down.

She hip-checked Nitro. “I don’t blame you for anything. Juice said it was his fault.”

“When did he say that?” Mace asked.

“I rewatched the video of Juice talking. He came back on because he forgot to tell you Nitro was working with him. That’s why I had to come here. I couldn’t let you kill an innocent man.”

“Thanks, but don’t ever risk yourself for me,” Nitro said. “Couldn’t live with that.”

She slugged him in the arm. “Your one of my best customers. After this, I’m gonna need business. You have any uninked skin left?”

Nitro smirked and tugged his T-shirt up. “I might find a spot.”

“Don’t be flashing your abs at my ol’ lady,” Mace growled.

“Ol’ lady, huh?”

“Yeah. What about it?” Scar asked.

Nitro grinned. “About time.”

Scar shrugged. “He held out as long as he could, but my charms wore him down.”

“That how it was?” Nitro arched a brow.

“That’s not how I remember it, but okay.” Mace pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “I gotta get her home before all this sets in. Keep somebody here until this place is locked down.”

“Gotcha, Pres.”

Mace led Scarlett away. “When the clean-up crew comes in, these floors have to go,” he called over his shoulder.

“On it,” Nitro returned.

“I like my floors!” Scar gasped.

“Only way to get rid of any remnants of the blood. We’ll pull the boards and burn the evidence.”

“You seem a little too well-versed in this,” she said as they headed for his bike.

“You know club life ain’t pretty, but I’m working on it.” Mace pulled out his cell. “I gotta get somebody out here to grab Pop’s ride.”

Scar ran her hand across the chrome handlebars. “I can ride it. You know I can ride. You taught me.”

“That was a long time ago.”

Scar pouted. “How far away is your house?”

Mace’s shoulders sagged. “About a mile.”

“I can do it.” She beamed and he caved.

“Fuck. All right, but you’re riding mine. I’ll ride Pop’s.”

“You’re worried I’ll wreck his bike.” She snickered. “I see where your priorities are.”

“I’m worried you’ll wreck period, but my bike is smoother.”

“Okay. I don’t mind straddling yours.” She winked.

He grinned and put her stuff in his saddlebags. “You remember how to ride and take corners?”

She threw her leg over his bike. “Yeah. Juice let me ride his bike sometimes.”

“Let’s make sure your feet can touch.”

Scarlett put her feet down on both sides. “I got this.”

“Legs for days,” he said.

“Are you complaining?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Stay right behind me,” he said, turning for his pop’s bike. “We’ll take it slow.”

“What street do you live on?”

“Creel, at the top of the hill,” he answered.

Scar tipped her head, gunned the engine and roared off before he’d even straddled his ride. “I’m gonna beat that ass until she can’t sit down,” he swore as he took off after her.

Scarlett was waiting by his driveway when he arrived. He assumed the bike on his mailbox had given him away. He didn’t say anything. He just pulled into the drive and she followed.