Banished Souls MC (11 page)

Caine finally allowed himself to feel a little relief.

Suddenly, a Hang Around named Toady approached Caine with a look of concern. This was not normally done during a business meeting, so Caine figured it had to be serious.

"What?" Caine asked annoyed. He was aware of Jay watching him.

"Got a drama going on at the change rooms. Involves your girl," Toady said.

Caine looked over. He could see bouncers escorting a man with Cherish out the front door. He could also see that she was holding his hand.

"Says it's her boyfriend," Toady said.

Caine stood. Boyfriend? Devlin? Here?

He saw them go out the front door. What the hell was this about?

"Problem?" Jay asked. He looked a little concerned.

"Not at all," Caine said. "Just going to check this out. Toady, get him whatever he wants." He headed to the front door.

Outside, several of the bouncers were milling about. Caine could see that Cherish had just gotten into a dark blue mustang which started up.

"What's going on?" Caine asked the head bouncer.

"They were locked in the change room together. Thought it was a problem. She said it was cool. She was with her boyfriend. Why, should we stop them?"

She was leaving with Devlin? She was bailing on him? Why?

"No," he finally said. He tried to keep his emotions in check. If this was what she really wanted, he wouldn't stop her.

The Mustang had to pass by Caine and the bouncers to exit. As it drove by Caine could see Cherish in the passenger side. She looked like she had been crying. She looked right at him with what could only be described as fear and confusion.

What the hell? Caine thought.

"Hey, I know that guy," Jay said suddenly appearing at Caine's side. Jay was looking at the driver of the Mustang.

Caine looked too. He only caught a glimpse of him. Dark hair, stocky. But that was all as they passed by, and turned off onto the highway. They heading going north.

"Yeah," Jay said. "He runs with the Krimson Klowns." He looked at Caine with an expression of disappointment. "You let those losers run around your own backyard, and get away with it?"

Caine's temper flared again, this time unchecked. "No," he said. "No, we don't."

T-Bone appeared, looked at Caine. "What's up?"

"Go grab the van," Caine told him.

"What for?" T-Bone said.

Caine looked at the mustang as it vanished into the next block. "We're going to go take out the trash."

Chapter 12

Cherish

Cherish was numb, sitting in the passenger seat of Devlin's mustang. Just like old times, she thought glumly.

Beside her, Devlin was practically giddy. "See that?" he said. "See how those twits in the parking lot were scared of me? That's respect."

Cherish couldn't blame him for being so cocky. He had just walked into a rival gang's main hang out and walked out with his prize, unscathed.

No, she thought. He's unscathed because of her. It would have been different if she had said something. But with no other options, other than Devlin, her choice of what to do was practically made for her.

Or Caine had made it for her.

She started to cry again.

Devlin now was in no mood. "Hey, knock that off, okay? You can bawl your eyes out when we get home. Right now, I still have to be on my game. We're not out of the woods yet."

"How..." she started to say between sobs. "How did you find me? Exactly? I thought I was careful."

Devlin's grin grew wider. "Wow, you really are a piece of work, huh? Stupid enough to think you could run away. Stupid enough to think you could outsmart me. Jesus, honey. You can be a real moron sometimes."

This was standard fare for Cherish. This type of talk never wavered, it was like Devlin's default setting when interacting with her.

"But you know what?" Devlin asked.

Cherish didn't answer.

"I'll tell you, because it appears you need constant reminding of this fact. Honey, I love you. I love you more than anything. Geez, they could have killed me back there! And all because I love you!" He was shouting now, getting even more worked up.

Cherish could only cower. Ride it out. Let all this ride out. There was nothing else she could do.

Caine, she thought. Caine, how could you have sold me out to this monster?

"Did my mom tell you where I was at?" Cherish knew she hadn't but wanted to keep Devlin on the subject.

Devlin blinked at the question. "No, stupid. She didn't. I called out of concern for you. Wanted to see if they could help me find you. But it was your Dad. He really didn't say nothing."

He looked at Cherish, "You made them upset, too, you know. Made your mom cry with your damned childish antics."

Cherish knew this was not what happened. But she gave up. Devlin wasn't going to admit Caine sold her out, or give any names to her. And what did it matter now? She was done. She was Devlin's now and there was nothing she could do about it.

Oh, Caine. She cried even more.

Devlin was still worked up. "Man, the guys at the Club are gonna love this when I tell them what I just did. Waltzed into the territory of the Banished Souls. Waltzed into their main hang out. And waltzed right out with you. And no one messed with me."

He looked for a reaction from Cherish. "Do you think that was stupid of me?"

Cherish was too afraid to answer.

"I said do you think that was stupid of me? Risking my life for you?"

Cherish had to say something, placate him or things would get worse. A lot worse. "No, it wasn't stupid of you."

"Damn right. Besides, I'm not a fool. I came prepared for war." He reached under his seat and fished out a large pistol. He made sure to keep it below window level while he showed it to her. "I couldn't bring this into the club with me because security would have found it. See? I went in unarmed to get you." He was waving the pistol around aggressively, freaking Cherish out.

"That's true love, honey. To walk into the lion's den unarmed for your woman." He gave her an angry look. "Makes me wonder if you were even worth the effort. That you don't appreciate what I've done for you."

Oh, no, she thought. Now he was going to start hitting her. She tried to make herself smaller, cowering against the door. She looked outside as the world blurred by. No one cared what happened to her now, or what would be done to her. Once Devlin got her back home then the real punishment would be given.

"Did you see those guys back there? They knew who they were dealing with. That I wasn't to be screwed around with. The Banished Souls are a bunch of pussies. Everyone knows it. Besides, they're going down. No more juice."

He grinned at Cherish, "They don't want a war." He tapped his chest with the pistol, looking arrogant. "But if they did, I would have brought it to them."

Suddenly, a large truck roared past and swerved in front of the mustang.

"What the hell?!" Devlin cried. He dropped the pistol into his lap so he could grab the steering wheel with two hands.

The truck purposely slowed, causing Devlin to alter his speed. "Asshole!" he shouted, and honked his horn.

Cherish's heart was in her chest. What was going on?

Then a dark van pulled up close in the other lane by the driver's side. A man was leaning out the passenger window. He was holding a pistol.

Cherish gasped.

It was Caine!

"Pull over!" Caine said to Devlin. He wasn't pointing his pistol at him, but the threat was there.

Devlin paled, eyes darting around. Cherish knew he was looking for a way out.

Behind them, a car had pulled up close, keeping him blocked in.

Devlin's expression was a mix of shock and anger. "They dare mess with me?"

"Pull over now!" Caine repeated. He looked real serious.

Cherish was too shocked to say anything, or react. My, God, she thought. Was he here for her? Or because Devlin had trespassed on Club territory? She didn't know what think.

Devlin cursed. He knew he didn't have any other options. And he didn't have the stomach for a shoot out on the road when he was outnumbered and out-gunned.

Devlin nodded once at Caine. Caine pointed ahead, "Parking lot!"

Devlin followed the truck, and both the van and other car kept close to the mustang. About a block later, they all turned into an empty parking lot of an abandoned strip mall. No one was around.

Devlin was scared. Cherish could see that, but it didn't mean he wouldn't put up a fight.

"Look," he said to her. "You keep your mouth shut. They're not going to do anything stupid out here. They're not dumb enough to start a war." He took the pistol in his hand, still keeping it low.

Outside, men started to get out of their vehicles and surround the mustang.

Devlin was measuring the situation. Reaching a decision, he placed the pistol in the armrest between the seats. Cherish felt relief. At least now there wouldn't be a shoot out.

Cherish saw Caine exit the van, he had slipped his pistol under his shirt, behind his waistband. She could see other men doing the same. No one approached the mustang.

Caine waved at Devlin to get out, but stood back himself. He obviously didn't want to escalate the situation.

Devlin looked at Cherish, almost imploringly. "If we play this right, we'll be home soon. Remember I love you, babe."

Slowly, making sure his hands could be seen, Devlin opened his door and got out.

Caine nodded at Cherish. "Her, too," he said. His tone was unreadable.

Uncertain as to what to do she looked to Devlin. He leaned down and said, "Get out and come over to me."

She did as he said. When she got out it took a moment to find her balance. This whole thing had her really rattled. She walked around the front of the mustang, and Devlin moved slowly to join her.

She looked to Caine. He appeared to be keeping his anger in check. But when he glanced at Cherish she saw something there. Concern?

Again, she was struck with a thought. If Caine had sold her out to Devlin, why the hell would he have stopped them? This gave her a tiny bit of hope.

As Cherish approached him, Devlin casually slipped his arm around her waist. Indicating to everyone that she was his.

"Got a problem?" Devlin asked.

Caine glared at Devlin. "No, we don't have a problem, asshole. You do. What the hell do you think you're doing here?"

Devlin shrugged, playing the part of a bad ass who didn't care. But Cherish could tell he was really nervous. "I came to collect my Old Lady," he said. "She wandered away." He pulled her closer to him.

"Is that a fact," said T-Bone, who had been driving the truck. "You always enter territory uninvited, or are you just stupid?"

Devlin ignored him, spoke to Caine who was obviously the leader of this little altercation. "Hey, this is a personal matter. No Club business, right. She left, and I came to get her. That's it."

"No Club stuff, huh?" Caine said. "You were in our Club joint, in disguise or whatever. If this was a personal thing the Club would still be involved. Both our Clubs, actually. And you know that. You're a full patch Krimson Klown. Do the Klowns have idiots as members?"

Cherish felt Devlin bristle.

"Look," Devlin said. "I didn't come here to teach you how things are done. This is not a Club matter. She's my Old Lady and I'm taking her home."

T-Bone said, "Let's ask her."

"Yeah," said Caine, and looked to Cherish. "Are you his Old Lady still?"

Cherish was rooted to the spot. Caine's gaze was intense, but there was something there. Something she was missing. But when Devlin looked to her, obviously annoyed this was a question only she could answer, it hit her.

This was an out. Caine was giving her an out from this situation.

Finally, she said, "No. No I am not his Old Lady." She gave Devlin a dirty look. "Not any more."

Caine looked to Devlin. "See, the lady has spoken. Now let her go."

Devlin was now borderline apoplectic. "This is bull shit!"

Caine then stepped forward. All the other men tensed for a confrontation. But instead of doing anything to Devlin, Caine extended his hand to Cherish. He smiled at her. "Let's go," he said.

Her heart melted, and took his hand.

As Caine pulled Cherish away from Devlin, Devlin moved back a little. "You all stupid? You really want to do this? The Krimson Klowns won't stand for this disrespect!"

"I thought this wasn't Club business," T-Bone said with a malicious grin.

Caine pulled Cherish away from Devlin, and moved her behind him, to protect her. Her heart was hammering. I'm free! She thought. Her head swam.

Just then a black and white police car drove past and slowed down. The cop driving looked over at their little group.

Devlin looked at the cop, almost expecting some sort of help. As if any hardcore Biker would want that to happen.

Caine nodded once to the cop. The cop nodded back, sped up and drove away. Caine grinned at Devlin.

Devlin knew they wouldn't hurt him, that he could leave unharmed, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He pointed at Cherish, enraged. "You really want to go to war over this stupid bitch?"

"She isn't a stupid bitch," Caine said. He pulled her closer to him, and instinctively Cherish put an arm around his waist.