Page 58 of Ripper
The air was finally starting to cool, so when we got dressed we removed any sign of our sigils, keeping shit casual so we’d fly right under the radar once we made it into Sedona. Part of me wished we could’ve stayed in so I could’ve jumped right into bed with Ronnie for another round. I could still taste her on my lips when we were heading out the door, and it took everything in me not to turn right back. She smiled brightly at me, still glowing after our little rendezvous.
She wore a black T-shirt and my old leather jacket, her legs wrapped in dark denim with boots that were at her knee. I watched her get onto the back of her bike, getting ready to slip her dome over that thick, dark hair of hers.
“Hold on there a minute, Ronnie.”
“Hm?”
“I know you’re all eager to find out what happened to Axle and where those fuckers are holding him, but I need you to remember that you gotta be careful. We don’t exactly know what we’re walking into here, and while you may have held your own with a gun once, we won’t always be that lucky,” I told her.
“I’ll be careful. I’m with you, and besides, right now there’s nothing I won’t do to get this done. I hurt you once, I hurt the club, and I sure as hell won’t do that again. I want those Freeway Kings gone just as much as you do. Whatever needs to be done, you can count on me.”
I grinned at her, nodding. I planted a kiss firmly on those full lips, and we were off. We were running on barely any sleep—even after I told Ronnie that’s exactly what she needed—but duty called. I was sure we probably weren’t gonna get another chance like this with Anna knowing that we were trying to move in on them. This was the chance to finally open the floodgates and tell those Freeway Fuckers that we weren’t playing no damn games anymore.
We made it to Sedona an hour later. I enjoyed the little change in scenery while I pulled off at a local motel, glancing over my shoulder to see that Ronnie was close behind me. The place was dingy, rundown, and it reeked of alcohol, but it was exactly the kind of place that we needed to take a breather. It was out of the way, secluded, and so far not crawling with those motherfuckers.
“What exactly are we doing here?” asked Ronnie, curiously.
“Wrench had Claymore and Archer follow some Freeway Fuckers out of town. They lost ’em when they got into Sedona. This place used to be run by ’em back in the day, and that’s why we need to keep a low profile once we start asking questions. They sniff us out, we’re gonna have one hell of a fight on our hands,” I said.
Ronnie nodded at me, and we started up our engines again, heading straight for the nearest bar. The black sky above was starting to fade into a dark blue when we made it, but the place was still as lively as ever. I looked over at the street sign to make sure I was in the right place, reading its small white letters on the green canvas.Union Way.
Ronnie and I parked our bikes outside. I smelt the pungent scent of cigarette smoke and alcohol wafting from the doors, and I knew this place definitely wasn’t anything like the Tavern. I held Ronnie’s hand, keeping her close by my side because I had no idea what kind of fuckers would be getting shitfaced at a bar at this hour.
“Stay behind me. I don’t want any of these fuckers thinking they can lay a hand on you. We ain’t in Mascid anymore, sweet pea. When they start, these fuckers don’t quit,” I said, and she nodded.
I expected her to be a little more frightened by this whole thing, but I was surprised at how much she kept her cool. There wasn’t an ounce of fear in those dark eyes of hers, and I knew then she was finally starting to get used to the way shit worked around here. We entered to find the place completely jam-packed with bikers doing shots off their ladies’ stomachs and guzzling tequila like it was nobody’s business, and they sure as hell didn’t even notice us walk in.
“You’re right. We are not in Mascid anymore,” said Ronnie.
“Nope. This isn’t my first rodeo in Sedona. As long as we don’t run into any of the big guys too early or anyone that might recognize us, we’re golden.”
“And if they do?”
“Then we’re gonna have to pack it up and get the fuck out,” I said.
“Ah, great.”
Ronnie breathed deeply as we both walked over to the bar, sliding onto the stools while I tried to get the bartender’s attention. There was one guy manning the bar, and when I finally managed to call him over, he looked like he’d been through the wringer.
“Long night?”
“You have no idea. What will it be?”
“Two shots, please,” I said, and I could practically feel Ronnie’s glare to my left.
“Ripper!”
She shoved me, and I chuckled.
“We gotta fit in, right? That means we gotta be drinking what everyone else is fucking drinking.”
She rolled her eyes at me, flashing that beautiful smile. When the bartender slid us our drinks, I managed to work him long enough to ask about those Freeway Fucks. They may not run Sedona anymore, but that didn’t mean that the place wasn’t fucking littered with ’em.
“I think you need to leave me the hell alone.”
I whipped my head around. Ronnie had gone to use the restroom, but it looked like some drunk fucker had stopped her.
“Why, sweetheart? This fucker over here ain’t gonna treat you right. How about I buy you a drink and we can get out of here, huh?” I heard some sleazebag ask my lady.
