Outlaws’ Property (Property of Outlaw Sons MC #1)

16. Riot

16

RIOT

“Bring them in,” Hellfire orders.

Tex nods, going out into the church where Ghost is waiting with Jessica and Anne.

We’re using Hellfire’s office in the old sacristy to contact Kane. He kept the old wooden cabinets that the priests used to store all their robes and shit, but otherwise it’s pretty well gutted, a new desk, and a pinup calendar of topless girls on motorcycles on the wall with a private bar underneath. It’s not all fun and games, though. There’s all the usual shit you need to run a business, like computers, a printer, and even a fucking ergonomic chair.

“You think he’ll answer?”

Hellfire looks ready to tear someone a new hole. “If he knows what’s good for him, he will. Right now we’re willing to deal, but he’s been avoiding us on the usual channels and the clock is ticking. Pretty soon we’ll have to assume he killed Cooper and is stalling for time. If that’s the case, the gloves come off. We can’t sit around while he’s preparing to mount a counter attack.”

Tex and Ghost return with the girls between them. Anne is wearing sweatpants that are rolled up at the ankles, and a hoodie that’s three sizes too big. Her cheeks are pale, and she looks very nervous and young. This isn’t a fucking place for a kid.

Pisses me off that we’re doing this. That it’s our fault, but what’s done is done. We can’t undo taking Cooper’s job.

Jessica is a completely different woman from last night. Her expression is frozen into a neutral mask, with her hair back in a braid like we first found her. Bonnie’s clothes again, but just plain jeans and a black hoodie. She takes Anne’s hand.

Hellfire nods at the girls. “I’m sorry to put you through this, but it has to be done. You said this is his private number?”

“Yes. As far as I know, the two of us, and…” Jessica flinches. “Marissa, his girlfriend, are the only ones that have it. It was only supposed to be for emergencies.”

“Nobody say a fucking thing until I give the word.” Hellfire puts one of our burner phones on his desk and dials the number Jessica provided. He puts it on speaker as soon as it starts to ring.

Once.

Twice.

The third one barely starts before there's a click. "Who is this? Anne? Jessica? Speak to me." It’s Kane's voice alright.

Jessica draws her breath to answer but stops herself. She looks like it takes physical effort to force down the reflex, and she doesn’t look happy about it. I don't know what kind of hold he's got on her, but there's gotta be something.

Taking care of his daughter. Living in his house. That’s not a part time job at the mall you stick with just to pay the bills. She’s been there for fucking years , and she’s only twenty-one.

"Kane," says Hellfire, his voice full of false smiles. "So glad you could talk. You’ve been a hard man to track down."

"Do you have a normal name you can give me, or are you going to force me to call you by some ridiculous biker name? I don’t know how anyone is supposed to take you idiots seriously when you’re all walking around sounding like cartoon villains."

Hellfire laughs, not rising to the bait. “You took us seriously enough when you were running with your tail between your legs and piss in your shoes. The name’s Hellfire, but you can call me whatever the fuck you want. Unless you want to call me Daddy. Gonna have to pay extra for that.”

“Classy as expected. My daughter and the nanny, both alive?"

"Of course. Unlike you, we take care of our women."

Kane literally growls. "Prove it. They’re the only ones that could’ve given you this number, but a little torture would be easy for animals like you, wouldn’t it? Proof of life before you get one more word."

Jessica visibly flinches. She pulls Anne closer, and turns to Ghost for support. He puts a hand on her back, and it makes me feel… jealous isn’t quite right, but it ain’t wrong, either. I don’t know what happened between them after he took her back to his room, but feels like there’s something building there.

Hellfire nods to Jessica.

She nods back. Her hands are shaking enough that Anne is starting to look scared. "I’m here. So is Anne. We’re both safe. They haven't hurt us." She nudges Anne.

“I’m here, Daddy.” Anne’s chin wobbles, but she’s a tough kid. I guess growing up with Kane as a father would make you that way.

"Anne was your responsibility, Jessica. If anything happens to her, I’m holding you personally accountable."

"I'm sorry, sir. I’m doing my best." Jessica doesn’t even look surprised. She flinches like a fucking dog that’s used to getting swatted.

I didn’t like the guy before, and he’s not exactly winning me over now. What the fuck did he expect her to do? Ghost frowns, and Tex looks pissed.

“Jessica’s taking good care of me,” Anne blurts out.

“Not good enough.”

Hellfire holds up a hand, signaling for everyone to shut up, and pointing to Jessica and then the door. Ghost nods, leading them back out of the office. "There you go. Maybe not happy, but safe and sound. Your turn. Put Cooper on. I want to know where we stand before we go any further."

"He's on his way. I haven't kept him in my office just in case you'd call,” Kane sneers. “Besides, all the bitching and crying gets old. Blah blah blah. Maybe I let the wrong idiot fall."

"He’s not the only one that keeps bitching. Just get him on the fucking line." Hellfire's tone is even. Unbothered. There's a reason Hellfire was General's second in command.

A minute, maybe two, pass while we wait. No one says anything, but each passing second raises the tension in the room. Give me a fight any day over sitting around waiting. If I could reach through the phone and choke the life outta Kane, I would.

"Hellfire? It's me. I—I’m fine."

Hellfire has to let out a little sigh. "You okay?"

"A little worse for wear, but all ten fingers and toes. Service and food could be better, though." He's trying to keep a light tone, but there's a note of embarrassment that's easy to pick out, even for me. I don't blame him. I'd feel like a dumbshit, too.

"Take him back," Kane snaps to someone on the other side. "There, are you happy? You showed me yours so I showed you mine. Now tell me how you see this going."

"Easy. Cooper for your little girl.”

“And Jessica.”

“We'll let the nanny go as soon as your kid is out of our hands. I'm sure she's dying to get back to her life."

Kane chuckles darkly. "No deal. I’d be trading you a man who wants me dead and has proven he’s willing to pay for it. The girls are a package deal. I want them both. That's non-negotiable."

"Why does the fucking nanny matter?" I ask out loud before catching myself. That does get me an annoyed glare from Hellfire, but I already opened my big mouth. "What? I can’t be the only one wondering."

“Because she’s mine , that’s why,” he snarls. “But I have a counter-proposal for you."

"Alright," Hellfire says. "Let's hear it."

"Whatever Cooper's paying you, I'll double it if you'll work for me." The fucker sounds so smug it makes me wanna rearrange his face.

What the fuck?

Hellfire raises his eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Why the fuck should we work for you?"

"Same reason you took this job. Money. Forget Cooper. He's an old idiot with a grudge. You can’t seriously care what happens to him. You bring Anne and Jessica to me, and we’ll draw up a contract. You’ve shown that in spite of everything, you have promise. I’ll let you keep your little club, but you work for me. Think about it. How much time do you waste doing odd jobs for whoever’s paying? I have access to some of the best gear in the business.” There’s a creak in the background. Chair maybe? I picture him leaning back and rubbing his hands like the villain he thinks we are. “Even if we manage to avoid killing each other long enough to do the hostage exchange, neither of us could afford to stop looking over our shoulders. You know it as well as I do. But if you worked for me, well… then we would know where we all stand.”

Hellfire is quiet. Too quiet if you ask me. "Interesting suggestion."

I look at Tex, who’s looking right back at me, neither of us happy.

Hellfire gives us a glance, then continues, "That's not the kind of thing I can say yes to right away. Give me a day or two, and your word that Cooper is safe while we negotiate."

"Done, as long as the same goes for Anne and Jessica. Hurt either of them, and the deal's off. I want regular updates. Think hard, Hellfire. You could stand to make a lot of money here. I make a dangerous enemy, but a generous employer."

Bull-fucking-shit.

"I'll call you back in two days," Hellfire says.

"Forty-eight hours. Not a minute more. I'm not going to let Jessica and Anne just sit and rot in that dump. And I swear, if they're not returned to me in the same condition they were in when you took them, I'm not going to be merciful. You know I have the means."

Hellfire cuts the call.

“You can’t be fucking serious about listening to him. He?—”

“Give me a little fucking credit.” He cuts me off sharply. “Cooper’s an idiot and a liability, but we took the job. That fucker is treating us like we’re the same as him, no loyalty. He doesn’t understand shit, but this gives us a little time.”

I blow out a sigh of relief.

“But you asked a good question.” Hellfire’s fingers drum on his desk as he thinks. “Why does he give a shit about the nanny? You said she hates the fucker, right?”

Tex nods. “That’s what she says, and I don’t get the feeling she’s lying. But…”

“But what?

“He’s got a hold on her, and it’s not just because he’s her boss.”

Hellfire takes the phone off the table and slips it into his pocket. “I don’t like unknowns. I know she looks all cute and innocent, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. Find out what her deal is.”