Page 129 of Tracking Luxe

Or, the more difficult option, he left one of his best men in the hands of the mafia knowing fine well it would only result in Grinder’s death.

He turned his back on the room, his lungs burning, allowing his eyes to close for a second.

He hated this fucking job sometimes.

******

Stepping through the doors of the MC came Preacher after what felt like the longest fucking bike ride in history after receiving the call and the tall man was not happy. He’d been pulled out of bed with his old lady, one of the rare nights they both had off and they were catching the best sleep either of them had had this week.

Anger and worry warred for attention, making his tongue and mind more vicious than was natural to Preacher, but as a man who was used to keeping his emotions locked inside, because of Ruby and Seb, his box was now gaping open and all manner of expressive bullshit poured out of him.Better in than outhis wife would say. But, Jesus, he felt like a loose cannon most days. Now this.

He guessed his brothers would be in the church already, his big body about to carry him there, it was a hunched figure on a sofa in the main room that caught his attention. Not that they were moving, it was the bent head and bandana holding the black hair back that alerted him to the woman. And his anger surged taking long strides over to her.

His voice carried. “I’m taking this is your doing? They have G because ofyou.Because you needed your sticky fucking fingers on something of theirs and you dragged my boy by the dick.”

He watched her visibly recoil. “I couldn’t--couldn’t do anything. He told me to leave. To come here.”

Preacher sucked air in through his teeth, aware he was taking out his temper----his fear, on the wrong person, but as she sat before him, her slim shoulders arched in, fingers shaking as she clutched them together he had nothing good to say to this woman who had brought trouble for not only his club, but his best friend who could be dead as he spoke.

“Don’t you worry, we’ll fix your fucking mess.” He turned on his heel and marched off sucking on his teeth and keeping his mouth shut before it got him in more trouble. Grinder heard about the way Preacher had spoken to his woman he’d probably take a punch for it, well, G could try anyway.

They just had to get his best friend back first.

Every pair of eyes turned towards Preacher’s loud entrance. Maybe it was the fury on his tight face that had every set of lips snapping shut not saying a word.

He prowled in, took his seat, his fingers rolling down his pointed beard.

“So. When the fuck do we roll out to get our boy?”

******

Blow after blow rained down on Grinder.

He had no clue if his body could take much more before he passed out or he went to the pearly gates. But the Russian’s knew what they were doing. Just enough to keep him awake and cooperating. Not enough to kill.

Oh, he didn’t long for death, not unless it was theirs. Those two special motherfuckers, tweedledee and dumbfuck would get it from him.

Just as soon as he stopped choking up blood.

Just as soon as his vision realigned.

Just a bit longer. Hold on longer.He let them beat him and kept his mouth shut a bit longer.

Bloodied knuckles rested on the concrete floor, they’d long since unhooked him from the chains, all the better to beat him, he snarled, blood matted his beard, dripped into his eyes.

Both men flagged either side, he was looking at their shoes, fighting for air, they were waiting for him to regain enough strength to give him a second and third go.

“Are you ready, my friend? This all can go away. You call your boss and we come to a deal that pleases all,da?” how fucking cheerful Grigori sounded standing away a little, surveying his men like a proud papa.

Oh, Grinder would kill them all.

He managed to lift his head and look through the haze of red at the man in charge. He was casually shelling peanuts, flicking the husks onto the floor as he chewed.

Those watchful evil eyes on Grinder, like he already knew Grinder was in a no-win situation here. What the dipshit didn’t realize is, he was prepared for them to kill him. No way would he involve the club because of him.

And if Rider got the message from Luxe, his prez would agree to leave him here.

Prepared to die for his woman and his club, he curled his busted lip.

---