Page 48 of Rattler's Revelation
Puma glowers at me. “Are you planning on arresting us, or do you want to rescue Bianca and the other women? If you’re goingto be a hindrance, get out now. We don’t have time to convince you to help us.”
I gape at Puma, who has turned into a threatening biker before my eyes. Looking toward Rafe, I’m hoping he shares my concern, but Rafe’s expression says that he’s siding with them. He’s looking at me with disappointment, as if I were the one who let him down. I snap my eyes to Rattler and realize I don’t know the man at all. I thought we had a connection, but how can I be with someone who has no respect for the law? If he doesn’t respect the law, then he doesn’t respect me as a representative of that law. Our relationship was a mistake, but it’s a mistake I can rectify. Pushing past Rattler, I storm out of the room and burst outside. I need to get out of here.
I’m almost at my car when Rafe catches up with me.
“Hold up, Randy,” Rafe says, grabbing my shoulder and spinning me around. “Let’s talk about this.”
What is there to talk about? These guys have kidnapped someone! They kidnapped him and don’t tell me you don’t know that they also tortured him to get information. They’ve broken who knows how many laws? How can you be okay with this?”
Rafe squeezes my shoulder as he searches for the words. “As a cop, I’m not okay with what they’ve done. As a man who loves his woman, I admire them.”
“You admire them?” I ask, stunned. “How is that possible?”
“I became a cop because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to help protect the innocent. There are instances where I’m able to do that, but there are many more where the innocent are not only left unprotected, but they end up paying a bigger price than the guilty. Before I met Viper and got involved with the Demon Dawgs, I thought the Demon Dawgs were the most significant criminal element in the city. I watched them and hoped to find evidence against them, but I never caught them breaking the law. Instead, I saw them helping people. Theybuilt that casino and provided people with well-paying jobs that offered more benefits than they could find anywhere else. They donate their time and money to help those in need. I didn’t believe for a minute that they’re law-abiding, but I saw that they were more than just criminals.”
“Which makes it okay to overlook what’s happening right now?”
“You don’t have to overlook it if you can’t. When I helped Viper clear herself of a murder charge, I chose to look the other way when they used less-than-legal means to prove her innocence. Her life meant more to me than the law. Laws change. The police and the courts can’t, or don’t, always do what’s best for the victims. Sometimes it protects the criminals. To me, overlooking the fact that they kidnapped and likely tortured Walt is no different than the PA offering a deal in exchange for information. I’ve come to terms with what the Demon Dawgs do because I know they’d never harm an innocent person. They’ll do what it takes to protect the innocent and save lives. I think Bianca’s life is more important than a strict adherence to the law. But if you think the law is more important than the lives of those women Walt has kidnapped, then you should go and report what’s happening here. I won’t stop you.”
His words leave me reeling. I turn and pace away from Rafe. Does he think I would do that? Turn him in along with the Demon Dawgs? I open my mouth to ask him, but then shut it again. What can I do about the situation? As a cop, I should be calling this in and reporting the crimes they’ve all but admitted to committing. But what happens to Bianca and the other women if I do that? Who will rescue them? I could contact someone on the force, but they wouldn’t be able to move on the compound without more evidence. I don’t have proof that they have Bianca and the others. It could take them hours, if not days, to mount a rescue mission, and who knows what horrors Biancawould be dealing with during that time? Hell, for all I know, Bianca is the last girl they need before they start shipping out the women to a new location. At that point, she’d be lost to us forever. I can’t let Bianca suffer because of my decision.
Turning back to face Rafe, I realize that we’re no longer alone in the parking lot. The Demon Dawgs are mounting their bikes. I search for Rattler, but don’t see him. That’s when I realize he’s already left. He’s putting himself in harm’s way to create a distraction. The thought of Rattler getting hurt guts me. Anger shoots through me, and I realize I’m ready to kill anyone who hurts him or Bianca. Damn the law. I need them in my life.
“We should get going,” I say to Rafe. “We have a compound to infiltrate and women to rescue.”
Rafe grins and slaps me on the shoulder. “Let’s go.” Instead of climbing on the back of Viper’s bike, Rafe joins me in the SUV. Smooth sits behind the wheel while Gears sits in the passenger seat. Rafe and I climb in the back. I notice two other SUVs file in behind us as we follow Puma and the rest of the club through the gate.
“What’s the plan once we rescue the women?” I ask Rafe.
“We’ll take them to the hospital and leave them there for the cops to process,” he says. “The cops can take their statements. We’ll deal with the fallout. Puma already has a lawyer who knows everything. Puma and I have a few ideas on how to keep the Demon Dawgs out of trouble.”
I nod at his statement and realize that I don’t feel the expected qualms over his meaning. I should feel guilty that Rafe is planning to lie to protect the club, but after my first bout of misguided loyalty, I realize I no longer feel guilty about it. Protecting the club, and especially Rattler, is now more critical. I just hope I get a chance to apologize to Rattler.
We approach the compound from the west. Smooth and Gears hand us each a pair of earpieces so we can hear the action.When Taylor announces that the external guards are down, we exit the vehicle and make our way to the ridge overlooking the compound. I take the binoculars that Gears hands me. Down below, I see a car approaching the gate. The gate opens quickly to allow the car entrance. Rattler drives up to the primary home and exits the vehicle. I hold my breath as the door to the house opens and Wade steps out. He approaches the car and fist bumps Rattler. They speak for a few minutes as the men patrolling the grounds circle the duo. Wade nods and rubs his chin before calling out. We can’t hear the words, but this is where we expect to see men flood out of the buildings. However, instead of a mob, a single man steps outside. I see Rattler tense. Shifting the binoculars toward the man who joined Wade, all the breath exits my body. The man next to Wade is his son, Walt.
Fuck!
CHAPTTER THIRTY-ONE: RATTLER
I try not to think about Randy turning against me as I exit the highway and take the back road that leads to the compound. I need to focus on what’s ahead of me. Knowing that I can’t help Bianca if I’m dead is the only thing keeping me from speeding to the compound. I need to give the others time to get into position. Through my earpiece, I can hear Taylor and Puma orchestrating everyone into position.
I channel my asshole of a cousin when I reach the gate. Rather than roll down my window, I gesture for the guard to hurry up and let me inside. He moves quickly. Focusing on the primary house, I pull up outside. Opening my door, I step outside as Wade steps onto the porch. Several men patrol the property, and they come over to join us.
“You made it!” Wade greets me. I have to suppress a shudder when he comes over to clasp both of his beefy hands on my shoulders. His proximity makes my stomach churn, but I relish the fact that I’m several inches taller than he is. His gut hangs over his belt, and I know without a doubt that in a physical fight, I could take him. However much I want to take down the asshole who abused me when I couldn’t fight back, I know now is not the time. My enemies vastly outnumber me, and many of the mensurrounding me are carrying AK-47s. I wouldn’t make it far if I had to run for it.
“I did,” I say, looking around as the men surround us. My unease ratchets it up another notch, especially when I see the young girl tied to a pole in the open space between two buildings. The building closest to her has bars on the window. I’m reasonably sure that the building is where I’ll find Bianca and the other women. I don’t let myself linger on either the girl or the building. Turning back to Wade, I start the distraction.
“I have some news,” I say loud enough to garner everyone’s attention.
“Do you? About what?” Wade asks as he folds his arms over his chest.
“New Orleans. While I was lying low at the casino, I heard Wildcard and Puma talking about the trouble they’re having in New Orleans. Their SOA is busy with a problem he created, and it’s pulling their attention from the Houma tribe. It might be a good time to take advantage.”
“That’s good to know. Nice of them to share that information with you,” Wade says.
I frown at his comment as the ball of anxiety in my gut grows larger. Something isn’t right here. My suspicions are confirmed when Wade snaps his fingers. The door to the house opens, and out limps Walt. Well shit. When I feel the barrel of a gun pressed against the back of my skull, I raise my hands in surrender. Walt drops to the ground, blood pooling around his head. As Wade and the others stare at his body, I fall to the ground and roll under the car. Shouts and gunshots echo around the canyon. I crawl out from under the car before running to the pole, where the terrified young girl struggles against her bindings. She screams when I reach her and bucks against the restraints holding her in place.
“Don’t be scared,” I tell her. “I’m here to help you. When I free you, I want you to run and hide under that car over there. Can you do that?”
