Renegade (Devil’s Boneyard MC 6) Page 8

  “Makes sense, I guess. You didn’t really say anything about your life before Boomer took you. Do you have family who might be looking for you?” he asked.

  “No. I was raised in the system. My mother abandoned me at a fire station when I was only a few days old. No one knew who she was or anything about me. The person who took me in named me, and I had a good life the first few years. When I was four, the lady was in a car accident and died. After that was a different story. One home after another, all with daddies who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.”

  He squeezed me tighter. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Nik was in the system for a while too. Our parents died and even though I was old enough to care for her, the courts wouldn’t give me custody. I kept a close eye on her, though, and she was safe. You should have had someone watching over you, protecting you.”

  “I saw you,” I blurted. “The times you were with Nikki at the school or at the diner. I had a crush on you when I was a teenager.”

  He went completely still and I wasn’t even sure he was breathing. He eased away from me and I caught his gaze. What I saw stole the breath from my lungs.

  “You’re the girl who was always watching us. I’d thought that was you,” he said. “When I pulled you from the dumpster, I knew you were familiar but I couldn’t place where I’d seen you. It wasn’t until you and Nikki mentioned going to the same school that it finally clicked.”

  My cheeks burned. “I didn’t think you noticed. I wasn’t trying to be rude back then. It’s just that I couldn’t seem to look away from you. Even though you were obviously too old for a thirteen-year-old girl, or fourteen and fifteen, it didn’t stop me from dreaming about having you hold me, kiss me.”

  He smiled faintly. “And did it live up to your expectations?”

  “Even better.”

  “As much as I hate to admit that Scratch was right, maybe he was. I’ve never believed in Fate or any of that crap, but the fact I found you must mean something. Not to mention that it’s a bit ironic Boomer dumped you in the same town where he’d kidnapped you all those years ago.”

  I hadn’t really thought of that, but now that he mentioned it… I didn’t know why Boomer had come here. There weren’t Mayhem Riders in the area. The men who had been with him that last night were ones I’d seen before. My brain hurt as I tried to force the memories of how I knew them, and when it clicked into place, I felt a spike of fear.

  “Easy, Darby. You’re going to hyperventilate. What’s wrong?”

  “The men. The ones with Boomer. They’re the same ones who were with him the night he kidnapped me, the night of the party. What if they’re here to do it again?”

  He sat up and stared down at me. “You mean another party to lure in high school girls?”

  I nodded.

  “Fucking hell.” He snatched his phone off the bedside table and made a call. “Shade, I need you to search for any disappearances in the area of young teen girls. Darby remembered something. The men with Boomer are the same ones who helped with her kidnapping before. Also see if you can find out about any parties being pushed to the high school crowd. That’s how they lured in Darby and the others.”

  I didn’t know what Shade was saying, but Renegade nodded his head and rubbed at his beard.

  “Right. Thanks, brother. I’ll see you in Church tomorrow.”

  He disconnected the call and settled back against his pillow, putting the phone away. I curled against his side and wondered if it was all right for me to ask about the call. Boomer never wanted me to know anything, and for all I knew Renegade shared that with him. I didn’t know if it was a biker thing or not.

  “If Shade can’t find anything, there are others who will help him. Hackers with clubs we call family or friends. We won’t let him take anyone else, Darby.”

  I didn’t know if he could keep that promise or not. Boomer didn’t exactly play by the rules, not even the rules other bikers followed. I hoped that I was wrong and he wasn’t planning anything. I never wanted anyone to suffer the way I had.

  Chapter Seven

  Renegade

  I hadn’t slept for shit last night. Darby had eventually dozed off, curled against me. The thought of Boomer snatching more girls left a sour feeling in my stomach. Even worse, I worried that he’d come looking for Darby and Fawn. No matter what it took, I couldn’t let him get his hands on them again.

  Everyone had gathered for Church, except Cinder. Our Pres seemed to be running a bit late, and I had no doubt that his son was the cause. Tanner was a fussy baby and had a tendency to keep his mom and dad awake all night. Even though Cinder grumbled now and then about a lack of sleep, everyone could see he doted on his son, and his wife.

  He stumbled in about ten minutes late and looked like he hadn’t slept for weeks. Collapsing onto his chair, he leaned back and shut his eyes a moment.

  “Better get this shit started before I go to sleep right the fuck here,” he muttered. “Christ. If that boy doesn’t start sleeping at night, I may lose my fucking mind.”

  Everyone wisely kept their amusement to themselves.

  Cinder sat up and looked around the table. “A few of you are aware that Renegade found a woman and kid outside the liquor store. The woman was in a dumpster, passed out and beaten to hell. Dr. Chansy patched her up and the kid seems okay minus the fact she doesn’t talk.”

  “Consider that a blessing,” Shadow muttered.

  I knew there was a story there, but I didn’t have time to dig it out of him. Far as I knew, Shadow didn’t have kids, so what the hell would he know about it? It seemed he was hiding something, and I wanted to know what it was. In due time. Right now, my concern was for Darby and Fawn.

  “I’m claiming Darby and Fawn,” I said. “I’ll need a property cut for Darby, and I want something to give Fawn so she won’t feel left out.”

  Scratch snickered and I fought the urge to flip him off. But I liked having my head attached to my shoulders and not kicked around like a soccer ball. Anyone who thought the silver in the VP’s hair meant he was slow would realize their mistake quick enough, assuming they lived long enough.

  “Tell us about Boomer,” Cinder said. “Has she mentioned anything else?”

  I relayed everything I’d learned, including her fear that he was back in this area in an attempt to snatch more girls. Made sense if that was why he’d dumped her. Maybe she’d gotten too old or become too much trouble. If he’d taken her when she was fifteen, it was possible that Boomer was a pedophile who enjoyed underage teens. Or maybe he was just an asshole who liked to rape women regardless of their age. A teen girl was less likely to cause as much trouble as a fully grown one, unless she’d been trained to protect herself.

  “Find anything, Shade?” Cinder asked.

  “There are no signs around town or by the high school about a party, however, I did discover that someone sent out word for a party through social media, targeting the freshman and sophomore girls,” Shade said.

  I didn’t want to know how he’d discovered that. Something told me that he hadn’t necessarily hacked someone’s phone, which meant he had a contact at the high school. I sure the fuck hoped it was a teacher and not one of the students. I knew Shade well enough that I could say with absolute certainty he’d never cross a line with an underage girl, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t chat one up and get just friendly enough that she’d feed him information.

  “The party is being held tonight at a warehouse just outside town. I have the time and address,” Shade said. “No way we can sneak in there with our bikes, though. We’d have to blend and I’m not sure most of us could pull that off.”

  “There isn’t a damn patched member of this club who could pass for a high school kid. Not even Renegade even though his ass gets carded everywhere we go,” Scratch said.

  “Which is why I’m going to suggest we use Bane and Dixon,” Shade said. “Bane is ex-Navy and Dixon might be older, but he can pass for a high school kid.”

 
“Why would they let boys in there if they sent out the invitation to girls?” Cinder asked.

  “Because they’re going to have some girls with them, or rather women who can pass for fifteen or sixteen if the lighting is right,” Shade said.

  “And which women are we sending into the viper pit?” Scratch asked. “Because none of our old ladies are going near that place. I doubt Renegade will let you send Nikki either.”

  “I was actually hoping that Nikki might want to help,” Shade said.

  “No fucking way are you getting my little sister involved in this,” I said.

  Shade shrugged. “Fine. Then I’ll find someone else. Karley said she’d help.”

  Ashes shot up out of his seat. “What the fuck? Are you shitting me right now? You think I want my baby cousin going in there?”

  Shade threw up his hands. “If we don’t send some women in there, we’ll never get through the doors. The second they see a bunch of bikers coming down the road, they’ll scatter and we’ll lose them.”

  “Fuck.” Ashes sat back down. “You already talked to Karley and explained exactly what she’s walking into?”

  Shade nodded.

  “Fine. If she wants to help, I won’t stand in the way. But you better make sure Bane and Dixon know that I’ll have their asses if she’s taken or hurt in any way. She can hold her own, but not against a bunch of bikers who seem to follow no one’s code but their own.” Ashes ran a hand through his hair. “Where are you finding another girl?”

  “I actually have two others lined up. One just graduated from the local high school. She’s had extensive martial arts training,” Shade said.

  “Wait. Are you talking about LiLi Strong?” Charming asked.

  “Yes. She’s won several state and national championships.” Shade leaned back in his chair. “In addition to her and Karley, I’ve spoken to Nikki and a woman by the name of Catori Windtalker.”

  “Why do I know that name?” I asked.

  “She’s the Hopi woman who was traveling through here with her family two years ago when their car careened off the road. Catori was the only survivor,” Stripes said with his thick Russian accent. “Isn’t she twenty-two? A little old to pass for a high school girl.”

  “She doesn’t look her age. Her father was a bladesmith and as long as she’s armed with a few knives, she’ll be fine. Catori knows how to protect herself,” Shade said. “I’d never pick a woman who would be completely defenseless, and let’s not forget that Bane and Dixon will be there too. It will raise up red flags if they refuse to let the two of them in there. Boomer will want to keep a low profile so no one goes looking for him later.”

  “What exactly is the plan?” I asked. “Because putting those women in danger isn’t going to do a damn thing that I can see.”

  “They’re going to slip something into Boomer’s drink, along with anyone else there with him. It will knock them out long enough for Bane and Dixon to toss them into the bed of a truck and bring them here,” Shade said.

  “And if they’re caught?” Cinder asked.

  “They won’t be,” Shade said. “But if they are, then Bane and Dixon can help protect them.”

  I rubbed my forehead, a headache starting to building behind my eyes. This was so fucked up. There had to be another way to get to Boomer. Shade slid a file down the table and I snatched it before it made it all the way to Cinder and Scratch. Flipping it open, I saw the address of a seedy motel on the bad side of town.

  If they were staying there, and Shade knew their location, why go to all the trouble to infiltrate the party? I scanned the file, ignoring Cinder thumping his hand on the table in irritation. He could chew me out later. Right now, I felt like I was missing something. It was on the last page that I realized why Shade didn’t want to just go in and grab the bastard.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I glared at Shade. “He’s related to motherfucking Destroyer?”

  I heard Charming suck in a breath, as well as several others. Stripes let out a long whistle. If Boomer was kin to Destroyer, then we could all very well have our asses handed to us if anyone found out we caused him to go missing. No one fucked with the Pres of the Mayhem Riders’ original chapter. I’d only met the guy once, but pretty much everyone knew of him. His exploits were legendary, and so was the trail of blood that he sometimes left in his wake.

  “Now you know why we can’t just grab the jackwad,” Shade said. “We have to be stealthy and make sure none of this can come back on our club.”

  Cinder grabbed the file from me and scanned it, then snorted. I stared as he jerked his phone from his pocket and pulled up a number in his contacts, then turned on the speaker.

  “You aren’t dead yet?” a rumbling voice said on the other end.

  “No, and apparently you aren’t either, dickhead,” Cinder said. “You’re on speaker with my club present.”

  “What the hell do you want, Cinder?”

  “Destroyer, I have a bit of a problem by the name of Boomer.”

  There was a growl and it sounded like a bottle smashed against something on the other end of the phone. Cinder chuckled and looked downright gleeful.

  “That’s what I thought,” our Pres said.

  “What’s the little cocksucker done now?” Destroyer demanded. “I swear to Christ that kid is more fucking trouble than anyone else I know.”

  Kid? Just how old was Boomer? The file had said he was related to the Destroyer, but not how. Not that the man went by “the Destroyer” but it was how most people referred to him. I sure the fuck hoped Boomer wasn’t his son. The way Darby had spoken about the guy, I was expecting a man in his thirties or older. Hell, maybe even someone older than me. It hadn’t occurred to me that he’d be young and that’s how he’d managed to snag Darby and the others. Then again, I’d been a little more focused on the fact that a woman and kid were in my house.

  “He kidnapped a few girls about five years ago, then came back here to leave one in a dumpster with her kid standing nearby. My Road Captain is claiming Darby and Fawn. He’d like a little payback for the shit Boomer put those girls through,” Cinder said.

  “Wait.” I heard rustling. “Are you telling me that shit stain kidnapped underage girls?”

  “Darby was fifteen when she was taken and raped,” I said. “She’s suffered every day since then and has a kid with an unknown father because Boomer liked to pass her around.”

  “Motherfucker,” Destroyer said. “I don’t give a shit what you do to him, but leave him alive. I think it’s time I have a little chat with my nephew.”

  “I couldn’t find a picture of Boomer anywhere,” Shade said, speaking up. “Unless the one he used on social media to lure in the latest batch of girls is really him. If that’s the case, he looks about two seconds older than the girls he’s trying to nab.”

  “Boomer is Sheldon Pierce, and he’s a twenty-six-year-old pain in my goddamn ass,” Destroyer said. “He’s my older sister’s kid and when she passed I promised to watch over him. Little did I realize he’d be an unredeemable fuckstick that didn’t deserve to breathe much less reproduce. What does the kid look like?”

  My gut tightened. “She’s small. Really pale with red hair. Her mom is a redhead.”

  “Does she have a birthmark?” Destroyer asked. “Something that resembles a clover?”

  I didn’t have a fucking clue. It wasn’t like I’d helped the kid bathe or get dressed. I’d figured it was better if women helped her. Weren’t there rules about that kind of shit? I wasn’t her birth father, even if I did plan to be the only dad she ever knew.

  Scratch cleared his throat. “My wife helped the girl bathe the first night she was here. Clarity mentioned that Fawn had an unusual birthmark, a deep strawberry color, on her right hip. It looked a bit like a four-leaf clover.”

  “I’m going to kill him,” Destroyer said.

  “Does the clover mean something?” I asked. Obviously the man had asked about it for a reason.

  �
�One of Boomer’s friends patched in around the same time as my nephew. Shark was part of my club for a few years, and then he just up and left one day. Came back about four years ago,” Destroyer said. “If he hadn’t said that he was with Boomer, keeping an eye on him, then I’d have stomped his ass for pulling that crap.”

  “And that has what to do with this shit?” Cinder asked.

  “Shark has a dark red birthmark on his forearm of a four-leaf clover. We gave him shit over it. Seems to run in his family,” Destroyer said.

  “He raped Darby,” I said, feeling a burn start in my chest and work its way through my body. “He forced himself on her, got her pregnant. She was a kid and helpless.”

  “Shark will be dealt with. Permanently,” Destroyer said. “Do what you want with the Mayhem Riders with Boomer. But I want my nephew alive when I get there. His Fate is mine to decide.”

  I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t very well tell the man no. Cinder wrapped up the call, but my head was filled with everything I’d learned. I didn’t know if Darby would want to know about the father of her child or not. At the very least, it might give her some closure to know the man wouldn’t be breathing much longer. Club business was just that, but I wouldn’t leave her completely in the dark. If knowing that Shark would die, and that Boomer wouldn’t be far behind him, would give her some sort of comfort, then I’d give that to her. Gladly.

  “I’ll speak with Bane and Dixon about going after Boomer at the party tonight,” Cinder said. “But I want Phantom, Charming, Gator, and Magnus to go as well. We’ll have an easier time of taking him by surprise under the cover of night than in broad daylight. The four of you are to hold back and not give yourselves away. I need you to blend with the crowd as much as you can. So roll your bikes to the warehouse and give Bane and Dixon some backup. Bring Boomer and any other men with him to our special interrogation room.”