Rage (Royal Bastards MC 2)

“So, someone did break in?” PB asks. Why is this prick still talking?

“I’m thinking the tree coming through the fucking window wasn’t part of his plan.” Jameson holds up a clear bag, a shard of glass smeared with blood inside. “You think Copper can get this analyzed for us—find out who it belongs to?”

What the actual fuck? I take the bag, checking it over. “If the owner of this blood is on file.” If Copper can get us a match, we’ll have the scumbag.

“Do it,” Animal barks.

Animal just returned from checking all nearby grocery stores and had me call all the brothers at home to help with the search. Stress lines crease his face, and his shoulders are tense. Knowing some sick fuck is out there killing women only makes her missing more terrifying. Losing her again will kill him, and I don’t wish that on any brother.

“Any word?” he asks me, throwing his ass in the seat next to the kill kit I laid out on the church table.

“Nothing yet. Ice took prints. He’s with his uncle for access to the database.”

Animal looks over the contents, his mouth dropping open. He darts up, moving to a small hunting knife we found amongst an array of other blades. Picking it up, he turns it over in his palm, his brow knitting, jaw going rigid, skin turning pale.

“It’s one of us,” he chokes out.

My chest tightens, brow crashing down. What the fuck did he just say?

“This bastard is one of us.” He holds up the knife. “This is Drew’s. She left it here eight years ago. In my room.”

“No way. I know every one of these guys. They’re our brothers.” I shake my head in denial. I may not like every brother and prospect, but I’ve fought beside them, worked with them, slept under the same roof as them for years. There’s no fucking way it’s one of our own.

The atmosphere is fucking grim. All brothers are out looking for Drew. The fear that this bastard could have her becomes more real with every second that passes. Only a couple brothers didn’t show after Animal summoned every member to the clubhouse: Kai and Hog. Kai is out of town, and Hog’s in rehab. This means one of them is lying or the killer is hiding amongst us.

Animal barks into the phone before waltzing over to Jameson and me. “Copper will be here in ten. He has something.”

Jameson’s woman is at the bar with the other women, and it’s then I notice Gracie still hasn’t checked in.

“Where’s Gracie?” I speak my thoughts aloud, looking over at Amy and Jackie.

“Was she not with you last night?” Animal asks.

“Nah. She went to check on her mother’s house.” And I’ve been avoiding her. I pull my phone out and blast her a text just as Copper comes through the door.

He slips into the seat opposite us, a scowl on his face.

“So?” Animal taps his foot, impatient.

My head swims. I look down at my cell as he talks, waiting to see the little icon telling me she’s read my text.

“Gracie is who called her,” Copper announces. The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. What the fuck? I click her name, calling her number.

“Maybe she was in trouble?” Jameson offers.

“Fuck,” I shout when it goes to voicemail.

“You need to see this.” Copper flips open a laptop, showing us a figure on the cameras of a store next to Doc and Jameson’s place.

Fucking Kai!

Motherfucker. He’s been a brother as long as I have—loyal, fucking nuts, but this?

“I pinged your girl’s cell phone. Got a hit from a cell tower and sent someone I trust to check it out.”

Maybe he should have fucking opened with that. All three of us are on our feet.

“Where!” Animal rumbles.

Thirty-Four

Gabe

We pull up outside of some old shops with abandoned factories around it. A smashed cell phone splinters across the ground next to a shop with boarded-up windows. Copper nods his head, looking from his device to the door of the shop.

“Drew?” Animal calls out, the pain in his voice raw. When an answering, “Alec!” replies, my chest expands as I suck in a breath. Thank fuck for that. We all have our guns aimed at the door, waiting to see if Kai is hiding inside.

“Come on in, Prez,” Kai taunts. Motherfucker is in there with her.

“What the fuck, Killer?” Animal exhales, stepping into the doorway, despite me shaking my head for him not to. He could be walking into a trap. He holds a hand out to us, warning us to not follow.

Fuck!

“Just let her come to me,” he calls out, then their conversation becomes muffled. I don’t like that our Prez is inside there with a crazy cunt.

A sudden pop rings out, and we rush in, flooding the space. Jameson goes for Drew, picking her up into his arms. “It’s okay, darling. I’ve got you. You’re safe,” he reassures her as I kick Kai to see if he’s dead and scan the room, looking for Gracie. Nothing. Pushing outside, I go over to Drew. “No sign of Gracie?” I ask, my heart hammering in my chest. Where the fuck is she?