Axle's Brand (Death Chasers MC 3)

Nicholas—President of the Grim Angels—is casually propped against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, when I reach the bottom of the stairs. He and Drex look over at me, both of them wearing the devil’s smirk.

“Nicholas has some guys tracking down where Pop is staying right now. He’s all too ready to help us take them out.”

“Good. Because we may only be able to focus on Herrin for a minute or two. Our other problem just got a little extra security.”

Drex’s lips thin, and he turns back to Nicholas. They clasps wrists and shake once.

“We’ll be in touch,” Nicholas says. “I noticed there was no longer an FBI detail on Herrin. Seems a little odd they went from watching his every move to vanishing right when he wants to try tearing five different towns apart.”

They don’t know the FBI was pulled off to hunt down the notorious AJ after they found out she had been staying with us. Nor do they know she’s sent them on a wild goose chase that has them stalking half the country for her.

We keep that to ourselves.

Drex’s knuckles are a bloody mess when he runs a hand along his jaw. “Things are changing a lot in Halo. We’re about to raise some hell to let people know that we’re not weak just because we’re split. Probably best those feds aren’t around.”

Nicholas snorts and winks at him. “Understood, brother. Let me know if you find him before I do.”

Drex nods, and Nicholas walks by me, careful not to brush against me on his way out.

“Where’s Ben?” I ask Drex when I hear the door closing topside.

“In a few pieces right now. Jude is rinsing out the room.”

“That didn’t take long,” I point out.

“I don’t have your patience. I just make it hurt really fucking badly all at once.” He grins, but it falls quickly. “Now tell me what the hell is going on with the other place.”

“It’s covered with men and crawling with security. We should move forward with the other hit. Is Sledge up for it?” I ask him.

Drex pulls out his phone with his other bloody hand, and sends a text. When it chimes with a response, he looks up at me. “Message is being sent. Liza will be dead within the hour, and she’ll be delivered through one of his goons that Nicholas brought to us alive. The guy was pointless—had no idea where Herrin is. New prospect sent to his death for tonight’s little show that cost Pop a lot more than he realizes.”

“If he doesn’t know where Herrin is, how will he send the message?” I ask him.

Drex just smirks. “Because Pop will find him. And when he does, whatever guys are sent, we’ll end them. Because we’ll be following the little weasel until someone shows up.”

“I feel a lot better about this fucking game,” I tell him on a breath, leaning against the wall.

“So do I. We’ll get back to the junkie, though. I promise.”

I shrug like I’m unconcerned, and turn to head up the stairs again. The second I reach the top, I see Tiffany staring blankly, her body as pale as they come, as Sarah and the other two girls talk animatedly about the old days.

“You good?” I ask Tiffany, who blinks a few times before her eyes meet mine.

She practically scrambles away from me, and I roll my eyes. Forgot that the majority of women are terrified of me. Maya tended to make me forget.

And just like that, she’s in my head all over again, leaving me to wonder if someone else is watching her dress, or skate, or do her bizarre other rituals.

I’d probably kill someone if that was the case.

This fucking sucks.

CHAPTER 36

MAYA

Groggy, I hear a few voices that sound miles away, even though I’m pretty sure they’re in the same room. My eyes struggle to open, and each peek I manage just offers me a glimpse of light trying to make it through the black, cloth bag over my head.

When the voices start growing more distinct, I get a little excited at first, hearing the voice of my savior. The excitement is fleeting, though, because the words he’s saying register next.

In that blink of an eye, he goes from savior to traitor in my mind, and my stomach roils.

“This was never the fucking plan, Lathan! How am I supposed to explain my absence that coincides with hers? I just drove us from New York to fucking Texas, and my phone has been blowing up with calls from Smitty. I had to kill John. Fucking John! Because you swore he was one of your men, and he wasn’t. He almost managed to kill me before I even made it to her. We’re lucky she listens to her music so damn loud when she skates. You fucked this all up, and then didn’t even bother to show up with a ride for her.”