The gunfire had apparently alerted law enforcement. We could hear distant sirens.
Truck. Now, I texted Andre.
Okay. Lance and Aaron made it back, he replied.
Don’t send them. Send someone else, I told him.
It’s on the way.
A few minutes later, a black F350 pulled up in front of the abandoned hideout. Our driver, Chase, climbed out and opened the tailgate, pulling down two ramps he installed to roll motorcycles up into the bed of truck quickly and easily. Dante and I pushed our bikes up into the bed, leaving Gage’s motorcycle on the concrete near him.
“Alright, let’s hurry,” I told him as we closed up the back and climbed into the truck. From the sound of the sirens, we were going to be leaving right in time to miss the cops.
“So what’s the plan?” Dante asked as we pulled away.
“It’s still the same. When we get back to HQ, I’m grabbing my old standby, and I’m riding over to my apartment to get Sasha,” I told him.
“What then?”
“I don’t know yet. I might just kill her right there,” I told him flatly. The thing that got me was I wasn’t really joking. I’d meant it as a joke, but it sounded right, given how I felt. She had effectively taken Gage from me twice with her little games. I didn’t know if I wanted to bring her in or just take her out.
“Don’t we need her to find Fang?” he asked.
“Hell no. She’s the one who alerted him anyway. I mean, there’s still the possibility that he’s already got her, you know? I don’t know what I’m going to do.” I shook my head and shut my mouth. I didn’t want Dante to know how emotionally invested I was in this girl.
I looked out the passenger side window of the truck and watched all the dilapidated buildings of the old industrial side of town pass by as we headed to HQ. Chase pulled into the bay, and Andre shut the door behind us.
“Thanks, Chase,” I said as we climbed out of the truck.
“No problem, boss. Want me to have someone look at these bikes for you?” he asked.
“Not yet. Let’s play it safe for a little while. The law’s going to come around to ask some questions about all of our dead members. We’re probably going to have to lay low for a few days until it all blows over,” I said.
“Want me to talk to them when they come by?” Dante asked.
“Wait, where are you going?” Andre asked me.
“I’ve got to go get Sasha. I want you and Dante to get the basement ready, but let’s keep this place locked down. Nobody in or out for at least the next twenty-four hours. Got it? That means everyone who’s here now stays,” I explained to them.
“Yes, sir,” Andre said, saluting me.
“This isn’t the military, kid.” Dante patted him on the back and started to walk off.
“Hey, where’s Gage?” Andre asked.
I looked down, unable to meet his eyes.
“You’re kidding me.” I could hear the wind as it was knocked out of him. “But he’s been a member of Hell’s Overlords longer than most of us have been alive, Cole. He has survived countless gunfights, war, everything.”
“I know,” I interrupted him. “But none of us can survive women, Andre. Remember that,” I said before walking away to get my old ’79 Harley Roadster.
I pulled my old bike away from the wall and walked it to the bay.
“That thing’s older than you are,” Chase said as I walked it past him. “Still run?”
“Purrs like a kitten, brother. Hell yeah, she still runs,” I told him.
“Whose was it before you got it?” he asked. “Surely, that bike’s got a story. I don’t see anyone else with one that old.” He walked over to it and ran a hand along the curve of the body.
Chase had a long, golden brown lion’s mane and a thick beard to match. He wore glasses and could stand to lose a few pounds. He had thick, muscular arms, and the muscles in his chest were obvious, but somehow he managed to keep a beer gut. He was loyal, but he never seemed to be all that motivated.
“I got it from an old member,” I told him. Truthfully, I got it from the guy who’d recruited me, but I didn’t want to get into that whole story with him. Time was still of the essence. I had to get back to the apartment to make sure Sasha was okay and bring her in for questioning, beating, whatever I decided to do to her, but she was going to pay for the trouble she’d caused, either way.
“That’s a sweet ride, man,” he said. “I guess I’ll go see if Dante or Andre need me to do anything,” he said, walking off in the direction of the bar, where Dante was pouring shots for the other two guys who made it out of the ambush with us.