“I shoulda killed you earlier, instead of listening to fucking Ryder,” Rex drawled. “Although, seeing your face in there was almost worth it. Can’t believe you didn’t recognize her tattoo. All the US motorcycle clubs with slaves use the same mark, except they change the club initial. If you’d been a real biker, you would have known that.”
“And if you’d been a real man, you would have walked away when she rejected you, instead of taking your revenge by selling her like a piece of property,” James spat out.
“She is property.”
“She’s gone,” James said coolly. “The Wolverines will hold you responsible. If you don’t find her, you’ll pay the price. Personally. Maybe they’ll tattoo their mark on your ass and use you as a replacement.”
“I’m gonna fucking enjoy every second of your death,” Rex snarled.
James caught movement in the shadows behind Rex and then a flash of white teeth when Ryder grinned. Damn Speedy Gonzales. He must have run around the entire building to take up a position behind Rex.
“You fucked up,” James said, stalling for time as Ryder crept up behind Rex. “You can’t handle the Wolverines. Once they find Lana, they’ll rip you to shreds. Maybe they’ll even do it now.”
As if on cue, Ryder slammed the butt of his gun into Rex’s head.
Taking advantage of Bones’s moment of confusion, James knocked the gun from Bones’s hand and spun around to face his assailant.
With a roar, Bones leaped for the gun, but James met him with a full-body slam. Bones reeled backward and into a motorcycle. It tipped to the side and the entire row toppled like dominos.
“Looks like you’ll be taking Kickstand’s place,” James muttered.
Bones jumped to his feet and drove his fist into James’s stomach. “Fucking rat,” he grunted. “We trusted you. Treated you like a brother, and you betrayed us. I knew from the beginning something was off about you, but fucking stupid Rex wouldn’t listen.”
James stepped to the side just in time to avoid another blow. “You’re still pissed I won your bike.”
“Fuck you.”
They traded kicks and punches, hammering, thumping and pounding on each other. Bikes fell, the fence groaned, and a trash can went flying. Finally, James forced Bones against the wall and let loose a one-two punch that snapped Bones’s head to the side and sent him sagging to the ground.
“You know what?” He bent down and grabbed Bones’s hair, yanking his head back until their gazes locked. “You were right. I counted the cards.”
One last punch and Bones was out cold.
A gun clattered across the pavement. James spun around to see a disarmed Ryder drop to one knee under the force of Rex’s blows. Damned Rex must have one hell of a hard head.
“It’s me you want,” James yelled as he stalked across the parking lot. “Come and show me what you’ve got. Let’s have a real fight. I won’t be pulling any punches this time.”
With a roar, Rex turned and rounded on James, closing the distance between them faster than James would have thought possible for a man his size. Rex’s momentum carried him forward and his giant fist slammed James back against the concrete wall, lifting him off the ground. James fought his way free, but just as he dropped to the ground, something whacked against his head. In the split second before he lost consciousness, he thought of Lana.
He’d lost her at the very moment he knew he had to have her. And if she didn’t get his message, he would lose her forever.
Chapter Twenty
“Don’t even think of telling me I can’t come.” Jackie tossed her hastily packed bag of random disguises into the trunk of her car and slammed the lid. “This is my car. Only I drive my car. And since you need a ride, seems to me I’m coming along.”
“What about our business?” Lana winced as she followed Jackie to the front of the vehicle. “Who’s going to look after our clients?”
Jackie gave her a wicked grin. “Derek will keep them happy until we get this sorted out. I fixed your camera and sent the pictures to Angel, so you don’t need to worry about her.”
A smile ghosted Lana’s lips. “I do have to point out I am being pursued by armed and dangerous bikers. You’re putting yourself in a life-threatening situation.”
Jackie’s face softened and she stroked a finger over Lana’s bruised cheek. “You don’t have to tell me, honey. I can see it for myself. But I put up with a hell of lot worse than Levi when I lived on the streets. He doesn’t scare me.”