Page 60 of Ripper
“What’s going to happen if he’s not there or if he’s hurt? Or worse?”
“Let’s not think about that right now, okay? We’re gonna get him back. I’m gonna call Tank and the others to meet us down there in case things get ugly. We’ll go, scope out the place, and if it’s too dangerous to move in, we’ll wait until the entire club is there,” I said.
“Thank you, Ripper.”
“For what, sweet pea?”
“For doing all of this even after everything I’ve done. I know it wasn’t easy keeping the truth from the rest of the members. I know they would’ve told me to take a hike the minute they realized I was solely there just to sell them out,” she said.
“You did that because you were trying to save Axle. You weren’t there to cause trouble, and I know now that you’re as loyal to the club as ever. We all do some fucked up shit. Trust me, even Tank. I gave you the second chance that you deserved even if the rest of the club wouldn’t see it that way. If it were their ladies, they’d do the same damn thing. I know it.”
“You think so?”
“Oh, I know so. Now, let’s go get Axle back,” I murmured, and she smiled.
I pulled my cell phone out, dialing for backup because I knew trying to get him outta there wasn’t gonna be easy.
***
We arrived outside the tall concrete walls surrounding the abandoned warehouse. From the moment I hopped off my bike, I expected to hear those fuckers cooing, revving their engines, or causing some chaos, but there was nothing. It was absolutely silent. The crisp, early morning air was cool when we approached the large gate, and Ronnie turned to look at me, placing her hand on my shoulder.
“Where is everyone?”
“It’s possible they’re not here right now, out on a run, or prepping for whatever shitshow they have planned for us. They may have left a few of their buddies behind to watch Axle. We gotta be careful when we go in there, aight?”
“I’m right behind you,” she said and I smiled.
I pulled my gun out of its holster, holding it firmly and close to my chest as I undid the chains around the gate, furrowing my brow at the fact there was no padlock on the end of it. The metal gate swung open with a large creak, and I started slowly moving toward the doors. I opened it up, finding a large, empty warehouse room with blinding fluorescent lighting above me.
Ronnie and I walked through the place, searching every corner, looking for anything that could tell us where they were holding Axle, but the place was practically cleared out. I walked to the other end of the room, about to head out into the large, dark hallway on the other side of the door when I heard a loudclang!
“It’s about damn time you showed up, Ripper. I was starting to get real bored around here,” a voice said. I pushed Ronnie behind me just as Ray emerged from the darkness, smiling at me with that single gold tooth and long, dirty gray beard.
I pointed my gun at him, keeping Ronnie close behind me, and my heart started racing. I was backed into a corner, completely outmatched by the amount of Freeway Fucks in this damn building, and I knew if the Rebels didn’t show up soon, they were gonna wipe the fucking floor with us. I didn’t have time to think, grabbing Ronnie by the hand and dragging her down behind the large metal shipping container.
“I’m gonna need you to keep your head down, okay? Don’t get up until I tell you to,” I instructed.
I checked my clip to see how many shots I had before I’d be toast, and it was a lot less than I needed.Just don’t fucking miss.I popped my head back out when the first shot fired, firing off a few of my own until the entire room roared like a goddamn jet engine.
“Stay here,” I told Ronnie.
I slipped out from behind the shipping container long enough to shield myself from the gunfire with the large metal shelves. The few crates that were there helped me move freely without getting hit, and I managed to get a few clean shots into some of those motherfuckers, watching them collapse to their knees, bleeding out slowly.
“Hiding ain’t gonna do you any good, Ripper. You’re done,” I heard Ray say.
I peeked out from behind the shelves long enough to see that burly, tattooed motherfucker. He was jacked, looking like he’d been spending all his damn time in the gym, with his muscles bulging right out of that cut-off tank he was wearing. He snarled, smiling at me when he got out his own gun, firing off bullets in my direction. I couldn’t hold ’em all off, but I kept myself steady, moving slow and calculatedly so that fucker wouldn’t get anywhere close.
The bullets rang high, the pained groans of those Freeway Fucks were like music to my ears, but I was coming down close to the end of my clip now. I chose my shots carefully, always keeping Ray in my sight. But I didn’t have a clean shot, and I knew wasting my bullets wasn’t something I could afford right now. I heard the sound of bike engines revving outside, and I glanced over at the door hoping those were some damn reinforcements.
I looked away for a moment, over at the shipping container, trying to see behind it, but I couldn’t.
“Ronnie? Ronnie! Answer me!” I called out, but there was nothing.
Ray came out from behind the corner, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt, and I punched him straight in the jaw. My gun went flying across the concrete floor, and I grit my teeth, rushing for it.
“You just missed her, Ripper. I’m gonna have some real fun with her,” he said.
My eyes widened, and my heart sank when I realized they played me. They kept me fighting long enough to get to her, to take her from me, and now they had the fucking upper hand. I punched Ray in the face again until blood spewed from his lips, but that wasn’t enough. He was strong, stronger than he’d ever been before, and he swung back so hard, I couldn’t fight it as the world around me faded to black.
