Ink's Second Chance - Carol Dawn Page 0,40

building?” Bear asks.

“Yes,” the officer says. “He fell asleep and was killed because of a gas leak.”

“There’s something he isn’t telling us,” Wolf says.

I’m startled because I thought he left. I look back and see that, in fact, no one has left. They’re all listening.

“What are you hiding?” Bear asks.

“I’m not at liberty to say,” the officer responds.

“Oh, lighten up probie. Give the Sons what they want.”

“Hey, it’s Detective Dick. I mean Rick Anderson,” Brick says.

Surprisingly, the detective laughs.

“Not the first time I’ve been called that, and I know it won’t be the last,” he says, shaking Bear's hand.

“Last time I saw you I was putting handcuffs on Roman and his father. Not that I’m surprised, but why are you all out here?”

I watch Bear to follow his signal. As our Prez, it’s up to him on how much information we give.

I want nothing more than to barge through every man here and search for my woman, but without something more to go on, there’s nowhere for me to go. So, I wait.

“One of our own was taken,” Bear says. “A woman. We have reason to believe that it was Roman.”

“What reasons?” Detective Rick asks.

“I’d rather not say,” Bear answers.

The detective doesn’t say anything for a few seconds as he thinks through what Bear said.

“There are no women inside this house,” Rick says. “Roman is inside along with several of his security goons.”

“What about his father?” I ask. “Is he inside?”

Rick shakes his head. “There is no sign of Carlos Hernández,” Rick says. “Every gas line was wide open when we arrived, and Roman’s bedroom door was locked from the outside. We have reason to believe that this was no accident.”

“He has her,” Trigger declares. “The head of the fucking Hernández Cartel has our woman.”

“Anything I should know,” Rick asks.

“Just know that if you find Carlos before us that he most likely has one of our women. Remember that before you go in guns blazing,” Bear says.

“Brother’s, let’s go.”

“Wait,” I say. “Why are you here anyway?”

“We’ve had someone on the place since the Hernández’s escaped,” Rick answers. “He missed his check-in an hour ago. We found him near his car with his throat slit.”

“Ink, shut the fuck up, and let’s go.”

I nod at Rick before flipping off Chains.

Without a second more wasted, we all start our bikes and follow Bear back to the clubhouse. It’s time for Slim to do his thing.

***Rachel***

“What if I told you that you could rule my empire alongside me?” Carlos asks.

I’m sitting in the front passenger seat of some fancy looking vehicle. The seats feel leather and everything just looks futuristic.

I hate it.

“Well,” I say calmly. “I would definitely want to change a few things.”

“Oh, yeah?” he says, completely interested in what I have to say.

“Mm-hm.”

“Like what?” he asks.

“Well, I would spend the rest of my life destroying you from the inside,” I admit. “Every breath I take would be for the sole purpose of your destruction. However, if I could pull it off, I would kill you early on. Then dismantle your empire brick by brick until the only thing left would be the dirt you once stood on.”

I look over at Carlos and smile at the shock on his face.

“Unexpected,” he eventually says. “I’ll give you a few weeks to rethink your answer. I think some time with my girls will do the trick.”

Sex slaves. I know that’s what he’s talking about. The fear in my soul tries to take over as I’m thrown back to the day I was attacked.

I close my eyes and picture Sammy. His image is all I need to find my strength.

“Why is my answer unexpected?” I ask, opening my eyes. “Did you really think I would roll over like a dog and beg you for attention? The very sight of you makes me sick.

You can try all you like, but nothing you say or do will break me down. I’m a survivor. Rape me, beat me, or break my body. The only difference you will see is the physical.”

“That’s big talk for someone who can be beaten or killed at any moment,” he says, jaw tight.

He’s mad. Good.

“You really think that bothers me?” I ask. “The fact that you might kill me at any moment is what I’m most hopeful for. You killed your own son. I would expect nothing less from a man with no soul.”

“I have a soul,” he laughs. “It’s just owned by the devil.”

What do I say to that?

“We’re here,” he says, parking