The thought gave her goosebumps.
The parking lot was quiet. The gate at the end of the compound was shut. Next to the clubhouse were a few small buildings, a couple big ones, and then what looked like an underground garage area.
Kaity walked to the gates and stood there. She wasn't sure which side had more freedom. Out there, she could go anywhere she wanted. In here, she was trapped, but she was under the protection of the MC. Strong men willing to help for a price. Kaity had once dealt with a much smaller motorcycle club when she worked undercover for Brad, but they were nothing like Back Down Devil. The other club was only six guys dealing drugs and getting too high for their own good. Back Down Devil was much more organized, much stronger, a force of their own.
Kaity drank half the coffee and called it quits on the nasty, bitter taste.
A green car came down the street and turned as though it was going to come into the parking lot. Instead, it turned so that its passenger mirror scraped against the gate. The window rolled down and the driver threw something out of the window. It hit the gate and fell to the ground.
The car sped away.
Kaity looked down and saw a little brown box. Bending her knees, Kaity stuck her hand through the gate and grabbed the box. She turned and started to walk back toward the clubhouse. Halfway there, Kaity realized what she had just done. Someone threw a package at the gate of the lot. It may have been a simple package, but it could have been a fucking bomb.
Kaity rushed to a table. She threw her coffee down and then gently placed the little brown box down. For whatever reason, a sense of bravery overcame her. She grabbed a piece of tape and pulled it across the small package.
Leaning down, Kaity put her ear to the box and listened for a ticking of some kind. She didn't hear anything. Kaity ducked down to shield herself as she slowly lifted the flaps open on the box. There was no explosion. Kaity reached up and hit the box, tipping it over. She waited again for an explosion, but there was none.
Kaity slowly stood and looked down at the table.
There definitely wasn't a bomb.
But there was a finger.
A human severed finger.
It was slightly curled, pointing at Kaity.
The coffee in her stomach churned and she bent over to throw up.
Instead, she screamed.
twelve.
Erik opened his eyes and his neck hurt. He stared straight ahead and looked around the clubhouse. It took him a few seconds to fully wake up. The night slowly came back to him, along with a headache and the realization that his pants were still open.
“Fuck,” he whispered.
He zipped his pants and forced himself to stand. He stretched his neck and cracked his knuckles. The smell of coffee and grease caught his attention so Erik went to the bar. He put a fist down and someone was there to take his order.
A mug of coffee was presented to him and he drank the whole thing in one big gulp. It burned, it was bitter, but it was necessary.
“Bacon,” he said. “A lot of it.”
“You got it,” the guy behind the bar said. He returned a minute later with a heaping plate of bacon. “That woman got her coffee and went outside a few minutes ago.”
“What woman?”
“The one you were with.”
“Black hair?”
“No. Lighter brown hair. Pretty face.”
Kaity.
“You think my woman is pretty?” Erik asked.
“Well, yes. If you don't mind me saying.”
“Don’t say it again. Get out of my face.”
The guy walked away. Erik peered to the front door. He curled his lip, wondering what the hell Kaity was doing outside. Maybe she was climbing over the gate and leaving.
Good. Go. Bye.
Erik then remembered everything he had said to Blaine the night before. Knowing Blaine, he would have definitely pursued it. There was nothing Blaine liked more than pussy. Especially pussy that came from the outside, like Kaity’s. And after what Kaity had seen, she might have just given herself up to Blaine out of desperation and annoyance.
Fuck.
Erik looked at the wall of booze behind the bar and wondered if it was too early for a shot. Erik shoved two full pieces of bacon into his mouth and enjoyed their greasy taste. His right foot was on the floor, tempting him to go outside and check. To see if Kaity was still there.
What if she was? What would happen then? Erik owed nobody an explanation. He never answered to anyone before and he wouldn't start now. Especially to a woman.
After getting a second cup of coffee, Erik ate another piece of bacon. He lifted the coffee mug to his lips and heard a scream. It was a harrowing scream and Erik immediately knew it was Kaity’s voice.
“What the hell,” Erik said.
He dropped the coffee mug and it tipped over. He dove from the bar and ran to the door. After damn near tearing it off its hinges, he yelled, “GET HELP!” and charged outside. He looked around and saw Kaity on her hands and knees next to a table.