My voice trembles with fear; my spine stiffens. “Hello?” I yell and scream for help, but nobody answers. The voice making blood curdling pleas for help sounds like it is coming from someone else; someone scared that she might die. I have nearly lost my voice and my throat screams for something cool to ease the fire burning within.
I curl up on the bed in a fetal position; the smell of leather from my jacket surrounding me. Just then a glimmer of hope strikes: my phone. I've been so panicked I forgot I grabbed it before we left the clubhouse. I feel around the pockets of my shorts; nothing. I look in my leather jacket; nothing, no phone. They must have taken it. Of course, they did; that’s kidnapping 101.
“Shadow,” I whisper. Tears begin to caress my face, dripping off my lips onto the soiled mattress. The jacket reminds me of him; more tears hurdle themselves over the rims of my eyes. Does Shadow know I am even missing? Who kidnapped me? What do they want? Are they going to kill me? The last thought feels like I've been stabbed in the heart. The thought that I may never see Shadow again, that I may never live a life free of manipulation, has me holding my breath.
I hear a commotion beyond the door, breaking up my pity party. I try to quiet my sobbing and slow my panicked breathing so I can listen.
“This is so fucked up, Cassie, I can’t believe we did this,” an unfamiliar, scratchy male voice echoes through the wall.
“Well, it’s not like I had much of a fucking choice, Ricky,” an unfamiliar female voice ridicules.
“They’re going to be pissed. You think you’re in shit now, you wait. This is not how they go about things!” the male voice says back.
“Hey, you are in this as much as I am, asshole! We've got someone they want. Adrian will either give us the cash or the drugs and then we split town.”
Adrian, who the hell is Adrian? They have the wrong girl, I don't know an Adrian.
I hate leaving Dani, but Bull insists I need to check out the warehouse with him. Got a call that some unfamiliar bikers have been around the area. I have no doubt it is the El Locos, but I can't point a finger of blame unless we have proof. Well, Bull can't. We pull up to the old warehouse where we keep a lot of our merchandise; not everything, we're not stupid. We keep our drugs and weapons in different warehouses around the state under different handles. That way if we ever get busted they won't get everything.
“Car tracks!” I point to the dirt road as I slide off my bike.
“Yeah, that’s not good, brother,” Locks chimes in. Someone has been here. If it was a rival club there would more than likely be motorcycle tracks; but that’s not always the case. Especially seeing that the only rivals we have right now are the El Locos, and let’s face it, they are dip-shits.
“Looks like someone tried to break in, but failed,” Bobby says, inspecting the locks on the door.
“I’m sure they'll be back to try again. Let's get this shit moved. We need to start watching our tails, someone's following us.” Bull says, climbing back on his bike. “Considering we still got heat rolling on us, we can’t rule anything out.”
I climb on my bike for the ride back when Bull’s phone rings. “What’s up, Charlie?... Calm down, calm down. I can’t understand a fucking word you’re saying!” Bull yells. For some reason the hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and an arctic chill roars up my back.
“Are you fucking kidding me?... Where are you?... Get to the club now!” Bull demands into the phone, his hand trembling and his face the darkest shade of red I have ever seen.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Dani’s missing. Charlie thinks someone took her.” Bull starts his bike without further explanation. My heart stops beating; my blood pools to my feet. My Dani was taken; the girl I live and breathe for is missing. I start my bike instantly and head toward the club. The speed I’m driving leaves everyone in my dust. The whole time my heart hammers against my chest; my hands grip the handlebars so tight my knuckles are white. I will kill whoever took Dani. I will seek their blood and piss on their corpses when I find them. I will show no mercy.
We pull up to the courtyard and Charlie is outside pacing. I park my bike, throw my helmet to the pavement and start toward him; seeking some kind of clue as to what has happened. How was Dani even taken? I didn’t even have to ask, he started spilling his guts instantly.