Claiming the Knights (14 page)

             
Some of the kids started clapping, and the volume in the big room got loud, as everyone got excited to return to regular life.

             
Nikki approached him, and put her arms around his middle. He gave her a squeeze, and a quick kiss on the head before ringing the bell again.

             
“I want all you brothers to stick with your families for a few days. Just in case,” Scooter announced, followed by... “Now get the hell out.”

             
The room came alive with laughter, cleaning up, moving down the hall to pack up, and head back to their homes.

             
Nikki looked up at Scooter as he stood there watching his club spread out, and get ready to leave. She was so proud of him. He looked down at her, and smiled.

             
She knew that if he was letting everyone go, that the man who had tried to kill him in Seattle was dead, and being taken care of. Next was George. She didn't want to think too much about that. The man was a bastard. Like Sam, he was a mean heartless man, but he was also the girl's grandfather. Scooter had never asked her to invite Judy, so she wasn't sure how that was going to go down. She sure the hell wasn't going to ask.

             
Anne approached them. “What you want me to do boss?” she asked. “You want someone to stay with us? That is fine, but you keep Dean the hell away from me,” she warned.

             
“I know darlin', already got you covered. Gonna send Tommy to your place with you. He is one of the prospects. I told him that he’s to stay clear of Raven and if I find out he even thought about her, I would kick him out,” Scooter said, trying his best to assure Anne that she had nothing to worry about. “Or you two can stay here until all the danger is over,” he offered.

             
“You know that I will just stay here. I’d feel better about that. Having a young biker in the house when I gotta be here most of the day, sounds like trouble. I will just stay here.”

             
Anne walked over where Raven was sitting, and texting on her phone. “Hey baby, we are going to stay here for another day of two till all the danger is gone, sorry.”

             
“It's ok, Mom.” Raven knew that Raw would be back soon and she wanted to be here when he came.

             
Anne was surprised that Raven was ok with the extra days, but she was too busy to give it much thought.

             
By ten o'clock, everyone had cleared out.

             
Anne and Raven were settling into their room for another night. Raven felt her phone go off.

             
“Mom, I am gonna go get a snack before bed.” She tapped her screen and saw the message from him, as she walked down the hall.

Raw: Bella I am returning 2 days if job is easy. Text soon.

Raven: Ok, Can't wait to see you again. You can taste me again if you want.

              Raw had stopped for gas and food on his trip to a small town in southern Oregon. He had never heard of Bonanza, Oregon, but that was his destination. He had sent a text to Raven, so she knew about when he would be back. His phone vibrated and he pulled it out of his pocket and read it. Reading what she said, got him hard. He couldn't stop thinking about her and her virginity. That turned him on more than he had words to explain. It was the innocence, and trust in him, that blew him away.

             
He adjusted himself and got back on his bike. Off he went, to take care of the other job for the Northwest Knights and then he could go back and see her, for a short time. For now, he had to focus on the job at hand. He had the address, and knew it would go easy. This one was not smart.

Chapter 9

              Scooter was at home with Nikki and the girls. The club was still on alert, but not too worried. He knew that George could be sneaky, but he was also as stupid as fuck. Nikki had called Judy and she was back at her sister's house. Since Nikki had blown her off about visiting the girls, Judy had made other plans. Scooter had given Raw the all clear, that George would be all alone in the house.

             
That had been earlier in the day. He was waiting for Raw's call that the job was done, so he could take his club off of alert and they could carry on.

             
Nikki pretty much knew everything that was going on and she had been pushing all the anxiety down for days. Scooter could tell she needed to get it out or she was going to blow or run again. He sure as hell didn't want that. As soon as Raw called, he was going to take her away for a night, so she could let loose a bit and not have to hold her tongue in front of the girls.

              Back at the club, Anne and Raven were in the kitchen. Anne knew that Dean was the only brother left there. It was making her so mad that Scooter did that too her. She was cutting him some slack though, because she knew there was some serious club stuff going down. It was time to give Joel his dinner and she sure as hell wasn't going to ask Dean to escort her. What could go wrong? She had been going in there throughout the lock down and Joel was always so polite. She'd be fine.. just this once. She got the tray together, and told Raven to follow her down the hall.

             
“Ok, so they have this guy in here for some reason. He is harmless. I am going to give him his dinner and get out,” Anne told Raven. “You stay back here and I will be right out. If anything happens, you go get Dean.”

             
Anne could see the fear on Raven's face. “What the hell mom?” How could there be a lock down and a guy locked up the whole time that no one knew about?

             
“I don't know and I don't ask. I just do my job.” She put her hand out. “You stay there, and remember what I told you.”

             
Anne put the key in the lock and turned it. Quickly, she set the tray down on the arm of the chair and she got out. She locked the door, but heard Joel walk to the door, on the other side.

             
“Uhh Anne, you didn't bring me a fork,” Joel said, from the other side of the door.

             
“I thought I did,” she said.

             
“Oh, it's fine,” he said and she heard him walk away.

             
How did she forget a fork? She had done this so many times that she couldn't remember if she had put a fork on the tray.

             
“I'll be right back,” she said, and walked off.

             
A few minutes later, she was back at the door.

              Joel was laying down when she came in with the tray. Before, she always had a club member with her, so he was surprised when she came in by herself and left promptly. This was his chance. The club was getting lazy and stupid, letting her come in unprotected. He was sure that when they were done with him, they were going to kill him. If she was coming in alone, they must all be gone. He knew that the families had all left, from the silence in the halls.

             
He got up and went to the door, and told her that she forgot the fork, hoping that she would bring another one, alone again. Through the door, she said she thought she did. And sure enough, she had, because he was looking right at it. Now he was going to use it to get Anne to let him out. He told her not to worry about it, and walked away from the door. Hearing her walk away, Joel hoped to God that she would come back. Being a natural caregiver, he was counting on it. He grabbed the fork and got in position, so he could take her, as soon as she opened the door.

              Raven stayed put in the hall as she watched her mom return, with the fork in hand.

             
“This will just take a sec.” Anne winked, as she went by.

             
She felt confident that she would be fine, but the fact that if Scooter or Drifter found out, she would be in trouble for being so unsafe. Safety first was what they had always told her. Here goes nothing, she thought.

             
She turned the key and the knob. As the door opened, she didn't see him sitting in the chair, so she opened it a bit more. That is when he grabbed her.

             
Before she could even react, he had her in a headlock and the fork he had, held to her neck.

             
She could feel the tines pressed at the side of her neck.

             
“Shhh, Anne. I just want to get the fuck outta here,” he said, softly to her.

             
She was breathing heavily and trying to calm down. She knew Raven would go for help and Dean was right down the hall. Anne decided the best thing to do was to cooperate and Dean would save her. All her hurt and anguish faded quickly, when her life was at stake.

             
“Anne, you are a sweet lady and I don't want to hurt you,” he said to her. She believed him but knew he was desperate. He continued, “Is there anyone else in the club?”

             
“Yes, Dean is in his room,” she told him, hoping Raven was alerting him.

             
Joel took the keys from her, and locked the door from the inside.

             
Panic ran through her.

             
“Anne, tell me where the closest exit is.”

              Raven watched in horror as her mom was pulled into the room, and the door shut. She listened for a second at the door, but just heard the murmur of voices. The walls and doors were thick and little sound passed through them. She turned and ran down the hall, pounding hard on Dean's door. She heard him grunt. He must be sleeping. She pounded and kicked at the door again.

             
“Dean!” she tried to yell and whisper, at the same time.

             
The door opened slowly. “This better be fuckin' good!” he said, focusing in on Raven, bouncing up and down, and blurting out something about her mom.

             
“Whoa, slow down kid. What now?” He opened the door all the way

             
“It's mom! She gave that guy in the room his dinner and she forgot a fork. She went back to give him one and he's got her in there!” she said frantically, now following him down the hall. “She said that it would be fine, but to get you if anything went wrong.... Oh God Dean!” she was crying when she saw the panic in his eyes.

              Dean could not believe how stupid she was. Why the fuck hadn't Anne got him to go in there with her? Well, he knew why, but that was no excuse for her safety.

             
He stopped at the door and listened, putting his finger to his lips to keep Raven quiet. He could hear voices, but not what they were saying. It sounded like Joel was doing all the talking.

             
Dean shouted, “Joel! You better let her outta there right now!” He tried the door. He knew it was stupid, but he had to try. He pulled out his phone, and sent Scooter a text.

Dean: 911 Joel has Anne, get here now.

Scooter: On my way.

              Scooter couldn't believe what he was reading. How the fuck did Joel get a hold of Anne? He decided once again, not to tell Nik what was going on. So much easier to tell her when things were ok, and over with.

             
“Gotta go. Dean needs me for some club shit,” Scooter said. He kissed her, and was out the door. She seemed fine with it. She was turning out to be a great ol' lady. He sure owed her some down time.

              Scooter pulled into the club lot, past JD's Auto Repair, to the club house. Dean's bike was the only one there. Scooter's mind was racing. How did Joel get Anne? She better not have gone in there alone. He realized how stupid he was for leaving Dean as her only option.

             
Dean heard the front door to the club open. He told Raven to go get him.

             
“Scooter!” she said to him. He was already headed her way.

             
“Does Dean have a key to the room?” he asked her.

             
“No, I don't think so.”

             
Scooter did an about face and headed to the meeting room, for the safe. There was a spare master key for emergencies like this. He got it, and was in front of the door with Dean and Raven, in minutes.

             
“Joel, this is Scooter! You let her go and we will work this out. You have my word!” he yelled through the door.

             
“Fuck you! You let me go and I let her go. Or you get a dead housekeeper,” Joel said.

             
Raven reacted. “You kill my mom, I will kill you, asshole!” she blurted out.

             
Dean grabbed her by the arm and pointed her down the hall. “Go. Now. We will handle this. She is going to be fine. I promise.”

             
Raven slowly went down the hall, around the corner, towards the big room. She knew that if anyone could get her mom out safely, it was them. She sat down and cried.

             
“Fuck, could anything else go wrong here?” Scooter said to Dean.

             
“Can't believe she went in there alone,” Dean said.

             
Scooter stated the plan, as he began pulling his gun out of the back of his pants. “You open the door quickly. I will get this narrowed down on him and then we will go from there.”

             
Dean slid the key in the lock, quickly turning it, and opening the door. Joel held her behind the door, with the fork pressing hard against her neck. Anne just stared at them, as Scooter stood there pointing the gun at both of them.

             
“Let her go Joel,” Dean said.

             
Joel was smart. He had Anne covering him almost completely. Scooter was looking for a shot. A foot, a knee, anything that would bring him down. He had nothing.

             
Dean decided that the best tactic was to distract him. He walked right up to them, watching as Joel pressed the fork harder into her skin.

             
“Don't you come any closer,” Joel said to him

             
“You think you gotta fuckin' chance here? You had your chance to let her go, and here we are. You already put a scratch on her and she is ours. You know what that means. So you can do this the hard way, or the easy way. Take your pick, fuck face,” Dean said, as he looked Anne in the eyes.

             
Dean was almost in arms reach. “You ok, babe?” he said to Anne.

             
She nodded slowly and Joel took his eyes off of Dean for a split second. Dean lunged and grabbed the arm with the fork, and Anne kicked Joel in the leg.

             
Caught by surprise, Joel loosened his grip on Anne, and she was out of his control. She went to Scooter's side.                            

             
“That was fuckin' easy. Now get out Anne, we will talk to you in a few,” Scooter said, as he pointed to the door.

             
She decided now was a good time to follow orders. She was shaken and upset and Raven hugged her the moment she walked into the big room.

             
Dean and Scooter close in on Joel, both beyond pissed at both themselves and Joel. Leaving Anne with no options but Dean was stupid of both men. Knowing how stubborn she was and expecting her to do anything less. Yep, they had both fucked up. What better way to take out their frustrations, beat the fuck outta Joel.

             
“I guess you like things the hard way, Bud.” Scooter said shaking his head.

             
“Stupid Fucker, your chances are running out.” Dean said as he took the first punch to the face, bringing Joel to his knees.

             
Scooter followed with a hard kick to the ribs, causing Joel to fall to his side and release all the air in his body as he hit the floor.

             
Catching his breath he begged. “I was desperate, I wasn't gonna hurt her I just want out before you guys kill me.” Joel tried to explain as he rolled into a ball, tucking his head under his arms trying to protect himself. He didn't dare fight back.

             
“Well you live and you learn fuck face.” Dean growled at him. “That 'housekeeper' you are fucking with is mine.”