Hostage (Predators MC #3) (12 page)

A friend she had known since kindergarten had moved away last year. Though Penni had expected to feel the loss, she hadn’t, just found another girl to share lunch with.

What he had been saying couldn’t be true, though. She had friends she talked to every day. She had been one of the most popular students in her school.

Penni had searched her mind, not coming up with one close friend she’d shared all her secret with. She would have lunch, movies, and even shopping trips with her friends, but she couldn’t recall giving them any clue of the person she was inside.

Out of the corner of her eye, she had seen their mother’s car come to a stop. Train hadn’t made a move to exit the car, giving them time to talk.

Penni had stood when Shade had, grabbing his hand before he’d moved away.

“So you don’t love me?” Penni had asked curiously.

“I feel for you as much as I can feel for Mom and Dad. Mom sent me to psychiatrists when I was in elementary school because I wasn’t making friends. She thought it was because we moved around so much and because she had depression, so she couldn’t bond with me. I see her watching you the same why she watched me. I thought I’d save you from sitting in a doctor’s office once a week.”

He hadn’t answered her question.

Staring up at her brother, she had understood the words he’d left unspoken. Bravely looking into his beautiful blue eyes, she could see the soul he kept from everyone, including himself.

“Well, we didn’t move around when I was a kid, so she can’t blame my father like she did yours. We inherited it from her, didn’t we?”

“I think so.”

Penni had nodded.

He hadn’t removed his hand as they’d walked toward the car.

“Shade … Do you think you’ll ever love someone?”

“No.”

Tightening her hold on Shade’s hand, she prevented him from opening the car door.

“I think you’re wrong. We can love. I love Mom, Dad, and you. I know you love me …” Penni had rushed to say, not giving him the chance to deny her words. “We are different; I agree with you there. We may not love a lot, but when we do, they’re special. You’re special, Shade, and one day, you’re going to find the woman who proves it to you. Just like I will find the man who proves it to me.”

“Like Train?”

Penni had elbowed her brother in his ribs. “It’s a secret. He doesn’t know it yet.”

“Believe me, he knows.”

Confidently, she had shot him a calculated smile. “Not yet, but he will.”

T
he slamming
of the door had Jackal jerking awake. He was halfway out of the bed, one hand searching behind him for Penni. She was gone, and the room was filled with Last Riders.

Viper was standing at the small table, picking up his gun and tucking it into the back of his jeans.

His gaze then went to Shade, who must have been the one to slam the door since he was standing in front of it.

“Where is she?” Jackal asked.

Shade leaned back against the door, folding his arms across his chest. “Heading to Treepoint.”

Jackal picked up the alarm clock on the bedside table, throwing it at the wall across the room. She had left without telling him good-bye.

“Tell me you’re not stupid enough to think you could keep her?”

Jackal remained silent, putting on his socks and boots.

Shade shook his head at Viper. “Yes, he was.”

“What do you want, Shade?” Jackal huffed. “You have Penni back. I didn’t harm a hair on her head. I’m thinking we don’t have shit to talk about, so get the fuck out of my room.”

Shade lost his indolent air. Striding across the room, he shot out his fist, punching him in the gut. “I think we have a shitload to discuss.”

Jackal doubled over, his hands going to his thighs, wheezing out, “That the best you can do? I’m not going to fight you when you have a dozen of your brothers waiting to take their turns.”

“None of them will touch you,” Shade promised. “It’s one of the perks of being the enforcer for The Last Riders. And it was
my
sister you were snuggled up with in that bed.”

“Like I said, I didn’t touch her. I was here to protect her. She was kidnapped by—”

“I know what shit went down. The Last Riders will deal with Hennessy and his men when we get back to Treepoint. Viper sent some of the brothers to escort the Road Kingz; we don’t want to keep them waiting. Get your things. I don’t want to be far behind them.”

“I’m not going to Treepoint.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Viper told him. “When Ice didn’t call Shade, it became the Predators’ problem. King paid the Predators for protection, and what did the club do? Get her the hell out of there? No, you dragged her to a rally to make sure the Road Kingz didn’t lose their ass in a drug deal a five-year-old could have pulled off. You nearly got her killed and would have if The Last Riders hadn’t bailed you out. When we showed up to get you out of the shootout, the Unjust Soldiers thought The Last Rider’s became involved to get a share of the money you stole from them.”

Jackal shook his head. “You’ve lost your fucking mind. I got her out of there myself with no help from you or The Last Riders.”

Viper’s voice became mocking. “Really? You didn’t see our men making two rows for you to ride through? You think Moses showed up to save your ass?” Viper scoffed. “Hell, your ass would have been crows’ bait if we hadn’t held the crowd back. Rider was the one who kept you from running the bitch down that couldn’t move fast enough. Didn’t you hear those bullets? I did. I put down four of the bikers who tried to take out Hennessy.

“The Last Riders have their own punishment in store for him and his men who are still alive after that dude double-crossed him.

“When we get to Treepoint, we’ll settle the score with The Road Kingz. Then we’ll settle with the Predators when Ice gets there. He can help deal with the fallout from the Unjust Soldiers. Until then, you’re going.”

“Where is Ice?” Jackal reached into his pocket, cussing himself for falling asleep last night and not calling him then. Scrolling, he saw over ten missed calls.

“Grace’s mother took a turn for the worse,” Viper informed him. “Ice agreed to make reparations after he deals with Oceane.”

Jackal snorted. “Like you fucking care.”

“We don’t take our grievances out on women,” Shade said coolly. “Ice knew he fucked up, but we’ll take that up with him. You’re our collateral until he comes to Treepoint. Since I have a personal stake—being Penni’s bother—I thought you would be the best choice.”

“Tit for tat?”

“You think this is a fucking joke?” Shade jerked his knee up, crashing it into Jackal’s face as he was bent over, tying his boots.

Jackal fell back on the bed. He raised his hand to his face, holding his now bloody nose.

“The Unjust Soldiers saw Hennessy toss you the fucking bag with the drugs,” Viper informed him. “You think they aren’t going to try to get it? Striker might be dead, but the Unjust Soldiers aren’t, and they will be calling. They don’t care that Hennessy was doubled-crossed; they lost the drugs and some of their men. Now they are out for vengeance, and The Last Riders are stuck in the fucking middle.”

Shade opened the closet door, taking the duffle bag and handing it to Viper. Viper set it on the table, unzipping it and looking inside before he zipped it back up.

“It’s a death warrant.” Viper kicked the chair back away from the table. “Why didn’t Hennessy fucking let the Unjust Soldiers have them?”

Jackal used the blanket from the bed to stop the blood. “He couldn’t. Hennessy still owes the money to the cartel he bought them from. Hennessy didn’t have the money. Striker stole it from him. The only option he had left was to get the drugs back so that he can sell them to repay the cartel.”

“Striker was fucking the Road Kingz and the Unjust Soldiers?” Rider picked up the chair, sitting down on it. “It’s a shame the fucker is dead; he would have made a hell of a Last Rider.”

Viper’s anger showed he didn’t agree. Picking up Jackal’s wallet, he took out his credit card and threw it at Rider. “Go pay for the room and damages.”

“Why are you mad at me? We’re all thinking the same thing.”

“None of us think like you. Hurry up. I want to get back to Treepoint.”

Rider turned serious, losing his joking attitude. They were all concerned about leaving their women alone. And one of those women was Jackal’s. Penni might not be there yet, but she would be.

Jackal got up, shoving his dirty clothes from the night before into his saddlebag. Going to the bathroom, he then wet a wash cloth to clean his face.

He gingerly touched his broken nose. If he wasn’t ugly before, he was now. His nose was swollen, and his eyes were turning black and blue.

Shade appeared in the mirror behind him. “Let me see.”

“Fuck off.” Jackal tried to barge past him, but Shade shoved him against the bathroom door, his forearm braced against Jackal’s neck.

Jackal simply stood still. He was bigger than Shade, but Jackal didn’t want Penni pissed off if he hurt her brother. However, he would make sure she knew Shade was responsible for the marks on his face.

He stood still as Shade straightened his nose then released him. Then Jackal held on to the door knob to keep himself from hitting Shade.

“I did you a favor. It kind of even’s out your face.”

“Thanks.” Jackal slid past him, slamming the door in Shade’s face.

He expected Shade to be angry; what he didn’t expect was that he would light a fuse that careened them into the bedroom, taking out Viper, Train, and Crash as several others tried to get out of their way.

“What the hell happened?” Viper grunted as he, Train, and Knox held Shade down.

Jackal rose from the floor, using the bottom of his T-shirt to wipe off the blood that had started to pour again. “Shade wanted a pissing contest, and he got one.”

“
Y
ou want
me to make you some breakfast?”

“I’m not hungry. We ate at the diner before we came here.” Penni sat on the railing of her sister-in-law’s front porch.

Lily yawned as she held her son on the swing that Shade had put up for her.

“Want to tell me why you showed up at my door step at seven in the morning?”

Penni didn’t know how much Shade would want to tell his wife, so she said, “I can’t come for a visit without an excuse?”

“Yes, but it’s the seven in the morning that’s confusing me. You’re not exactly an early riser, and I saw Razer and Cash walking up with you.”

Penni remained silent. Shade would answer his wife’s questions when he got here. Razer had told her that they would be there before noon.

Lily’s house was beautiful. Shade had picked the spot on the land near The Last Riders’ clubhouse. The mountains were so high Penni thought she could reach out and touch them.

“Why were you staring out the window so early?” Penni turned to face Lily, seeing the weary circles under her eyes.

“I never sleep well when Shade is away. I thought at first he came back with the ones I saw going into the clubhouse around midnight, but when I texted him, he told me he wouldn’t be back in town until this afternoon.”

“Who did you see going into the clubhouse last night?”

“I recognize all The Last Riders, but there were a few I hadn’t seen before. Some of the men seemed liked they were hurt. That’s why I was worried about Shade when he didn’t come home last night.”

“He’s fine. It won’t be much longer.” Penni turned away to sit down next to Lily on the swing. “He’s getting so big.” She gently grasped one of John’s hands as she leaned her head on Lily’s shoulder. Sticking out her foot, she pushed the swing into motion. “I’ve missed you and John.”

“I’ve missed you, especially when Shade’s irritating me by forgetting to pick up his dirty clothes when he showers.”

“Missing your old roomie?” Penni missed the years they had shared their small dorm room.

“He’s not OCD over cleaning the way you are, which I miss, but I guess I’ll keep him, anyway,” Lily teased.

“I bet you will.” Her sister-in-law glowed in happiness. The shadows in her beautiful eyes that had been a part of her when they had met six+ years ago had disappeared.

“So, you’re not going to tell me why my husband had to take off so fast and why he took all The Last Riders with him?”

“Nope.”

“You’re just like Shade.”

She was and wasn’t like him. She had learned that as she had grown older. Shade had hit the nail on the head when he had likened her to a butterfly. She had no desire to settle down and get married. She loved her job traveling with the band and making new friends and finding new places to explore. That was why Train would be perfect for her. He would never try to tie her down.

Innumerable friends had been made through her life, but only Shade, her parents, and Lily were the few that she had felt a true attachment to. She had even added Grace to the short list, so she had been glad when Razer had let her borrow his cell phone to call her as they’d driven in to Treepoint.

Penni had felt terrible for Grace when she had told Penni she wouldn’t be returning for several weeks. Oceane was dying, and if a heart transplant couldn’t be found in time, the chances of her recovering were grim. Penni wanted to fly out to be by her side, but Grace had assured her it wasn’t necessary. Besides, Ice was on his way and so was Casey, Max’s wife.

She had noticed the two women becoming friends during the months since Casey and Max had married. In a way, they had become sisters in the Predators through marriage, and Penni didn’t belong to that club.

Lily handed John to her.

Penni blew raspberries on his cheek. “I’ve missed you, buddy.”

“I wish you lived closer.”

“I do, too.” She meant it. Penni had thought about moving closer. Her parents were only a state away in Ohio, and she wouldn’t miss out on John growing up. Only one thing kept her away: Train. It would hurt that he would be so near yet so far away. Shade had been right; he had never given the slightest hint that he cared about her.

“Is Train seeing someone?”

“No,” Lily answered. “Why don’t you stay a few weeks? Maybe he’ll finally open his eyes and see what he’s missing out on.”

“I might take you up on that. The band is taking a break. The work I have for booking their next tour, I could do from a computer at your house.”

“Shade’s got to be happy you’re going to stay.”

“I don’t know about that. He likes it when I keep my visits short and sweet.”

“He’s only joking,” Lily denied.

“Shade never jokes.”

“Yes, he does. He’s really funny. You’ll see. You staying here for a couple weeks will give you time to spend with him.”

“You’d better buy a couple of cases of beer and call Tate for an emergency delivery.”

“Now you’re exaggerating.”

They were distracted by the sounds of the motorcycles entering the parking lot.

Lily jumped up from the swing, and both of them moved to stand by the porch rail as the men approached the clubhouse.

“Do you mind?” Lily excitedly stepped toward the steps.

“Go for it.” Penni juggled John into a more comfortable position on her hip as Lily took off to meet Shade.

“Get used to it, John. Your mama is crazy over your papa.” It never failed to bring a lump to her throat when she saw her brother and sister-in-law together. It was as if they only existed when they were apart, becoming whole when they came together.

John tugged on her necklace, and she gently untangled it from his grip, tucking in the front of her shirt.

Shade had given it to her when she had graduated from high school. The delicate, gold chain was whisper thin with a gold charm in the shape of a compass. The back was engraved with the words: “
Never lose your way
.” She never took it off.

Penni gasped when she saw his face. Shade’s nose was swollen, and he had two black eyes. Lily was inspecting his injuries, moving aside to let the men walking behind him pass.

As she searched for Train to make sure he wasn’t in the same shape, it took a couple of seconds to become aware of the man with a distinctive mark on his cheek. It looked worse than Shade.

She stomped down the steps, swiftly walking toward Jackal.

“Why is he here? I told you not to hurt him!” Penni moved closer to look at Jackal’s poor face. “Are you okay?”

Penni ignored her brother’s raised brow as she gingerly reached out to touch his bruised cheek.

“Yeah. It looked worse before,” Jackal told her.

“It looks pretty damn bad. Do you want me to get you an ice bag?”

“No, most of the swelling has gone down.”

“It looked worse before?”

“Yeah.”

“You …” Penni was so furious she wanted to pound her big brother.

Jackal had made sure she hadn’t gotten hurt when Hennessy had kidnapped her, and how had she returned the favor? By letting her big brother beat him up!

“You do realize my son can hear every word you’re saying?”

“What?” She hadn’t realized she had been talking out loud.

Shade took his son out her arms. “Is your crazy auntie upsetting you?”

Penni snorted as John shoved his clenched fist in his mouth. Her nephew wasn’t in the least upset. The baby only had one thing on his mind, and that was to grab handfuls of his daddy’s hair.

“I’ll show you crazy if you hurt Jackal again.”

“I don’t need you to take up for me,” Jackal said defensively.

“Isn’t this the man you threatened to cut the dick off of for kidnapping you?” Shade quipped.

“I think I’ll go inside and make some breakfast.” Lily took John from Shade, hurrying inside her house and away from the confrontation.

“He deserved it then, but not this time.”

“Jackal’s right; he can take care of himself.”

If he were the one responsible for Shade’s black eyes, Penni had to agree.

“Why is he here, anyway?”

Shade’s face became remote. “That’s none of your business. Jackal is going to stay here until Ice comes to have a talk with Viper.”

From their closed expressions, Penni wouldn’t find out until they were ready to tell. She knew whom she was going to have to talk to in order to make sure Jackal or any of the Predators didn’t face any repercussions for trying to help her.

“I can’t understand why The Last Riders are angry when all they tried to do was help.”

“They could have saved their asses if they had just called me when they found out you were missing.”

“Because Hennessy used to be a Predator, they probably figured you would kill him. They were being loyal, and I know damn well how much that means to you.”

“How about loyalty to King? They promised him they would watch out for you.”

“I’ve told you I can take care of myself. You and King didn’t need to ask the Predators to watch over me. Besides, I let you put that tracking device on my phone.”

Jackal began laughing, reaching inside his pocket to take out her phone and giving it back to her. “So that’s how you found her.”

Penni bounced on the balls on her feet, staring at her brother proudly. “I call him every Friday night. I knew, when I missed calling him, he would track my phone.”

“I don’t leave anything to chance when I care about someone,” Shade warned Jackal.

“I thought you didn’t love me.”

“I don’t.”

Penni smiled, knowing he was lying. Shade believed admitting to love someone made him weak. However, he had proved he could love when he had fallen in love the first time he had met Lily. As crazy as Penni made him, she knew he loved her, too.

“You’re both fucking nuts.” Jackal looked back and forth between them at Shade’s words.

“It runs in the family.” Penni intertwined her arm with Shade’s. “Come on; I can’t cook worth shit, so I can’t help Lily, but I’ll make you some toast.”

“You’ll burn it, and I won’t be able to choke it down like I usually do. I think Jackal loosened one of my front teeth.”

Penni glared at Jackal over her shoulder.

“Shade, the manager of the hotel called. He said he found your dick in the lost and found.”

Penni almost tripped when Shade spun toward Jackal. The two were going at it before she could regain her footing.

“Viper! Train! Knox!” Penni screamed, knowing better than to try to break the two men apart.

The men ran outside the back of the clubhouse, quickly breaking the men apart.

“Motherfucker, who started it this time!”

Knox put Shade in a head lock as Jackal tore away from Train’s restraining hold. Before Jackal could strike out, though, Penni took a stance in front of him.

“Don’t you dare hit him!”

Jackal, whose eyes were on Shade, turned to Penni, who had moved to protect Train. Varied expressions crossed his face, which she couldn’t understand, but thankfully, he stopped fighting, giving The Last Riders time to diffuse the situation.

“Go home,” Viper barked his order out to Shade before he grabbed the back of Jackal’s T-shirt, tossing him in the direction of the clubhouse. “Go inside.”

Left with no choice since Train and Knox were escorting him, he shared steely glances, letting them all know the fight wasn’t over.

“Brother, you’ve got a problem with Jackal; I’ve got that. But I can’t give Jackal back to Ice dead.”

“He called me a pussy,” Shade managed to speak from between clenched teeth.

Penni hoped Lily’s dentist was on speed dial.

“I don’t care if he calls you a douchebag; ignore it. Got me?”

Shade reluctantly nodded his head.

Viper took a deep breath, turning toward her. “Winter is dying to see you to make sure you’re all right. I’ll tell her to come over after Shade eats his breakfast. Maybe that’ll put him in a better mood.”

“I wouldn’t count on it, but Lily will be there, so he’ll behave.”

Penni followed behind Shade as he walked to his house, deciding to keep quiet so that he could retain his temper before going inside to Lily.

Shade stopped on his front porch.

“He was just being a jackass.” Penni couldn’t believe she was trying to make amends for Jackal.

“Stay away from him and Hennessy while they’re here.”

“Hennessy’s here, too?” Her mouth dropped open. “But why?”

“Hennessy was hurt at the shootout. Viper brought him here so he could recuperate instead of getting arrested. The Unjust Soldiers would had killed him before he could have made it out of ER.”

“That was nice of Viper,” Penni said suspiciously.

“Yes, it was. Don’t repay him by putting your nose where it doesn’t belong. Jackal and Hennessy both have to make amends before they leave. Viper won’t tolerate you butting in, even though you’re my sister.”

“I understand.”

“I hope you do, Penni,” Shade answered grimly. “Don’t expect me to get in a fight between you and The Last Riders. You’ll lose.”