Road Tripped (Satan's Devils MC Utah #1) - Manda Mellett Page 0,53
of the table. Before she unwraps her own, she throws another at me. I catch it one handed.
“Second degree. Young lad, left alone with a gag in his mouth, he asphyxiated. Fucker was more concerned about the loss of his payout than the death of the kid.”
“So Weaver and Tub got the idea from him?” Or that’s what it sounds like to me.
Thor presses his lips together. “Probably got quite the education inside.”
Hopefully not to leave the kid with a gag in her mouth, but I have my doubts. “House was quiet,” I tell them.
“What are they up to now?” Snatcher asks Preacher who’s sitting with a headset on.
“They’re discussing Road, and whether they did right to let him in. Hate to say it Swift, but Weaver’s just observed that if you were feds, you wouldn’t have kissed so passionately. Apparently, it was quite an impressive show. Good job.”
“Something we should know?” Rascal asks with a grin.
“No,” both Swift and I say at once. But I have to stop my hand reaching up to touch my lips. My arm wants to reach out and wrap around her, pulling her into my side. But not only would I probably be the recipient of a hard kick in the balls if I tried, I need to remember she’s the same as any of my brothers, both here and in Tucson, and I’d show disrespect if I treated her any differently to them. I’ll have to act as though she’s not missing a piece of equipment between her legs.
That kiss had been a mistake. It had started me looking at her differently. I’m lying to myself. I started thinking about her in the wrong way when I noticed her ass last night. Maybe even before that. I thought she was an attractive bitch when I’d first seen her sitting around the table. Then, the way she’d taken down Stormy, that had been as sexy as fuck.
“Getting something.” Preacher takes off his headset and presses some keys. As the voices of Tub and Weaver fill the room, all other conversations cease.
“I still don’t like coincidences. Maybe we should move the kid and leave.”
There’s the sound of footsteps echoing off wood, as though someone is pacing.
“How long are you giving the parents?” That’s Tub.
After a short pause, Weaver responds, “Let’s get a photo of her all tied up to hurry them along. As far as they know, the sooner they get the money to us, the sooner her suffering will end.”
“Or begin.” Tub’s chuckling. “You still got that buyer lined up?”
“Yeah. And he wants her unmarked.” Weaver’s voice carries a warning. “So you keep your hands to yourself, Tub.”
“Shame. I’d have enjoyed breaking her in.”
“You’re sick, man. You know that?” The sound of footsteps are heard again.
“Why are we waiting? It’s a risk keeping her here. We could just sell her and pretend to the parents we’ve still got her.”
“Proof of life, that’s what they’ll ask for. You know, her holding up the newspaper of the day.”
“Haven’t you heard of Photoshop man? Learned that shit inside.”
“Jesus, Tub. Why are you just reminding me now? Great fuckin’ idea. We’ll take the pics tonight, then alter the photographs as we need to. Get her moved on as soon as we can, then all we need do is sit back and wait for the money to drop into our hands.”
“Don’t even have to stay here.” Tub’s voice sounds gleeful.
Snatcher waves at the laptop Preacher has open. “I’m not happy with this. They’re making too much fuckin’ sense. We’ve got to make our move tonight.”
“How do you want to play this?”
“Road? Any idea where they could be hiding the girl?”
I frown. “Place isn’t big, one of the bedrooms is my bet. I should have asked to use the bathroom or something, but I—”
“You couldn’t walk.” Swift comes to my defence.
“Three bedrooms,” Honor says. “That’s what was on the plans. One floor only.”
“Hold up.” Preacher raises a hand.
“Kid’s fuckin’ crying again. Man, it’s doing my head in,” a new voice sounds.
“Tub, get back in there and watch her.”
“That’s three,” Preacher observes.
Eight against three. The odds are still in our favour. But, a thought occurs to me. “They’re going to be desperate, right? We get this wrong, that kid could get caught in the crossfire.”
Snatcher’s eyes meet mine as he nods. “Or they’ll use her as a human fuckin’ shield. Might even kill her themselves.”
Preacher’s eyes are narrowed. “We’ve got to get into that house, but the backyard has little shelter.”