October’s Ride with Atlas (Mustang mountain Riders #10)

9. Atlas

CHAPTER 9

ATLAS

All I want to do is get this all over with, so I can send everyone home and spend the rest of the night with my girl. I hate waiting and knowing this is all on Malice’s timeline now.

“Hey, there are a few vehicles on the road parked on the side like they are waiting on something. Everyone is still in the cars,” Thunder says.

“Keep an eye on it and let me know,” I say, walking over to where Bex is curled up on the couch, pretending to read.

I know this is all weighing on her nerves too. Sitting beside her, I pull her into my lap. Just having her in my arms calms me. As she rests her head on my shoulder and snuggles into me, I hope that I’m offering her the same comfort as well.

“What do you think they are waiting on?” she asks.

“I honestly don’t know. Maybe for another guy or they are going to try to scout the area. I’m not sure, but I know my guys are watching,” I reassure her.

We don’t have to wait long before the radio goes off and Thunder is filling us in again.

“Looks like they were waiting on Sheriff Cade. Right now, they are moving up the driveway with Cade leading the group,” Thunder says.

“Dammit, Cade,” I mutter.

“You know he’s only doing it to keep his daughter safe,” Scar says.

“What do you mean?” Bex asks.

“Your dad has threatened Addy and has gone so far as to poison her, landing her in the hospital. That’s the way he got Cade to do his bidding,” Scar says.

“Is that true?” she asks me.

“Yeah, Princess. Now with her and Stone together, it’s been better. We protect her,” I say.

“Okay, we need you out here, Prez,” Thunder peeks his head through the doorway.

“Alright, Princess. No matter what, I need you to stay in the house with Scar and Viper. Stay away from the windows, okay?” Then I place a kiss on her forehead as I turn to go out to meet them.

“You need to stay safe too!” She pulls me in for a kiss that holds promises for more. Now, all I want is to end this and come back to her.

“Promise to stay safe?” I ask sternly.

“I promise. But you better promise to stay too,” she pleads.

“I promise, Princess. Nothing is keeping me from coming back to you.” I kiss the top of her head and head out to the front porch just as Sheriff Cade’s police car clears the trees coming up the driveway.

Then, I stand on the front porch with Thunder and Lightning on one side, and Bear and Six on the other, waiting. There are also a dozen other guys scattered in the woods. All armed and ready to protect me and Bex in the blink of an eye.

The men get out of their vehicles. I recognize Malice, Sheriff Cade, Eightball, Meat, and Venom. There are a few new faces as well.

“You heard him admit he kidnapped my daughter, so let’s not play games. Arrest him,” Malice says, sounding almost bored, but his eyes are flitting around the property, trying to get a look at Bex, I’m sure.

“I have to follow the law, Atlas,” Cade says, shaking his head and taking a step toward me.

“That’s fine. So do we,” Thunder barks out. “We have reported you to the state police and the feds that have been following Savage Bones. Also, we have let them know the Savage Bones president is here right now. I’m sure you can imagine how excited they were. In addition, we have filed kidnapping and assault charges for what happened to Poppy last month, so you can arrest Malice and Eightball while you are at it.”

I don’t know if he is bluffing or not. Though I think he would have told me if he had done something like that, he's acted on his own in the best interest of the club before. Since I trust him, I keep my mouth shut.

Cade pauses in his steps, and for the first time, I see the hesitation. He can’t claim to just be following the law, but if he refuses, we all know Savage Bones won’t let him do that either.

“It really is too bad you didn’t stay on the right side of the law, John. We just found out this morning there will be a new addition to the club, but the poor thing won’t have a grandpa since he will be in jail. Now, because of your actions, your daughter wants nothing to do with you,” Lightning says.

“Addy is pregnant?” I ask, because I hadn’t heard anything.

“Yeah, I found out this morning when the smell of coffee made her sick.” Lightning smiles big.

It’s obvious by the hurt in his eyes, that information hits Sheriff Cade hard. It’s been him and Addy for so long, and I know in his head he’s doing all this to protect her, but his family is going to grow, and he won’t be a part of it.

“Don’t you dare go soft on me, Cade. If you don’t get my daughter back, I can make sure both your daughter and that baby don’t get to see another day. Tit for tat and all that,” Malice says.

When Malice says that, I immediately know that right there is where all the power is. If Malice loses his daughter, then Cade will lose his, not that he has her anymore.

Cade steps forward and reaches for his handcuffs just as Hades and Persephone step out of the treeline behind Savage Bones. They sit and watch what is going on, and I swear they have big smiles on their faces.

“Don’t make this any harder than it needs to be, Atlas,” Cade says confidently, but his eyes beg me to cooperate.

“You know we can protect Addy. The only ass you are saving is yourself,” I say low enough for only him to hear, and that makes him pause. At the same time, the front door to the cabin swings open.

“No, he didn’t kidnap me. I’m here willingly,” Bex says, rushing to my side.

Everyone freezes, but now that Savage Bones has eyes on Bex, bullets will start flying, and a stray one could hit her. I can’t let that happen.

“So, he didn’t sneak into the Savage Bones cabin and steal you away in the dark of night?” Cade asks.

“You mean Shane’s cabin where Savage Bones is illegally squatting? Yeah, we filed a report on that too,” Six says.

Turning to Bex, I say words I never thought I’d hear myself say come out of my mouth.

“I only want you to be happy, Bex. I love you, and it would kill me, but if you want to go back to your dad, I will let you,” I say, tucking the hair behind her ear that has fallen in front of her face.

“No, I love you too. I want to stay here,” she says louder, almost in a panic.

I pull her into my arms, trying to comfort her.

“That’s nice, but she’s coming with me whether she wants to or not,” Malice says, and then all hell breaks loose.

“Is that a moose?” Six yells, causing Meat to turn and look at the woods. He stumbles when he sees Hades and Persephone running toward them. It’s enough distraction that Six is able to tackle Meat.

Hades and Persephone take on Eightball and Venom before Thunder and Lightning make it over to them.

Scar tries to get Bex back into the cabin safely, but Malice pulls a gun.

“There is no way in hell I’m letting my daughter anywhere near the likes of you!” Malice yells.

When I jump in front of Bex, everything happens all at once. I hear the gun go off and feel a searing pain in my side. There is a blood-curdling scream as a second gun goes off, and I hit the ground.

“Atlas, no!” Bex yells, and everything comes back into focus.

“Here, I got him,” Cade says. He takes whatever it is Bear is offering him and presses it to my side.

“Ohhh,” I groan as pain shoots down my side and sirens fill the air.

“Damn, I didn’t even call this in yet,” Cade says.

“I wasn’t kidding about calling the State and the Feds. They are just a little late,” Thunder says.

“Saving Atlas doesn’t undo everything you have done, but we will ask them to go easy,” Lightning says.

“What?” I ask, trying to keep up.

“Don’t talk. Save your energy. Malice shot you, but Cade here killed him. Meat is dead as well, but Eightball and Venom got away saying we will all pay and yada yada,” Thunder says.

“Bex?” I search for her, and she leans over me from the other side.

“I’m right here. Save your energy because leaving me now isn’t an option,” she says.

Her tears falling down her face sear into my memory just as everything starts to go black.