For Her Honor (23 page)

He snorted air out of his nostrils.
“You really give a shit about these lowlifes?”

These ‘lowli
fes’ had accepted her without judgment of her past. Even after Mallory snatched her from the reservoir, gagged her and drew his fist across her temple to keep her quiet, she wasn’t about to sit here and let him hurt someone who couldn’t defend himself. “You’re gonna shoot an unconscious man?
That’s
lowlife.”

Mallory
snickered, then quickly looked back to check that Charles was still put. “You’re a brave thing, I’ll say that. Don’t wanna be a hypocrite now, do I?” He walked over and pulled the end of a heavy log off the floor with one hand while he kept the gun trained between Charles and Karen with the other. Grunting heavily, he slid it over and dropped it hard across the back of Tanner’s legs, causing him to rouse and yell.
“AHHHH!”

“Shit, Mal!”
Charles shouted. “You could’ve broken his leg!”

“
Shut….up!”
Spittle shot out of Mallory’s mouth as he trudged over to Charles and trained the gun right above his nose. “Better his than mine. And if I don’t settle this debt I’ll lose more than my legs.”

Sarcastic laughter
mixed with grunts of pain came from where Tanner was laying. “Yeah, I bet you will. That’s what you get for gamblin’ away what you don’t have.” Tanner craned his head back, his breath heavy from the pain of the pressure across the back of his legs. “And then tryin’ to rob the take? It was you, wasn’t it? In that white pickup?”

Mallory’s jaw almost hit the wood-covered floor.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”

Tanner c
ontinued to snicker in between short gasps of pain. Karen sat beside him, her eyes begging him to be quiet. “Don’t bother, dude. We found you out – and the pickup you blazed. But we got enough info to trail it back to Pearson – and you.”

Now it was Mallory’s turn to laugh.
“So, you thugs
are
in bed with those guineas. That explains why that devil-freak was there that night.”

“And you shot him,” Tanner sputtered.
“Or, Ty did. He was with you. When it went to shit, you ditched the pickup, burned it, then came here and killed Ty and tried to make it look like an accident.”

A shot rang out and Tanner roared as a bullet tore through the back of his thigh. Karen screamed.

“Shut up!!”
Mallory’s face was a mess of confusion and rage. “Fuck you! Fuck all of you! How the fuck…..?” His desperation increased as he reached down and lifted Karen up a bit by her neck, his gun digging into her side. She gasped, as something else came back to her before she was knocked out.

The baby.

Both hands protectively covered her stomach, where something more innocent was in danger as Mallory pulled her face close to his. “Tell me –
now.
What do you have? I don’t think your ex would’ve left you without a little something.”

“
Mallory! Stop!”
Charles shouted.

“You want me to give you a matching one like you
r cousin?” Mallory swiveled his arm towards Charles’ leg on the floor. “Huh?”

“Let
her go,” Charles demanded. “Escort me to the bank. I’ll write a check for cash. Pay your debt, leave the country, whatever. Just leave her and my cousin alone. Your beef’s with me, not them.”

“So valiant, aren’t we?” Charles taunted then looked at Karen.
“There’s your knight in shining armor, sweetheart. Not that pierced freak you’re fucking.”

Karen’s insid
es simmered. No one else was going to hold her accountable for something she hadn’t done. She had decided by the reservoir that if she was going to take back what she’d lost, she needed to do it herself. But how would she do it without endangering herself or her child? “How much do you need?” She calmly asked.

“Twenty
-five grand. You got that?”

Karen shook her head.
“I have five. It’s all yours.”

“Not enough, little lady.
Maybe we’ll just have to place a call to Mommy and Daddy for an advance. Tell them their little girl’s in trouble.”

“They won’t give it to me.”

He pulled her up higher by her throat, the gun pointing on the ground towards Tanner’s head. “Try. Or the douchebag biker on the ground gets his brains splattered.”

“Asshole!” Tanner groaned out.

“I said I have the money you need!” Charles was continuing to plead his case, if only as a ploy to get the gun off his cousin. It seemed to work as Mallory spun around, dropping Karen in the process. Mallory was in such a state of confusion right now that he was losing his control. Karen thought how long before he lost his wits. On the floor next to her she saw Tanner quietly shift his body after Mallory put his back to them. He had lifted his upper half enough to retrieve his gun from the holster. Slowly he slid it across the floor, his eyes meeting Karen’s with an affirming nod.

She understood.

Mallory angrily strode over to Charles. “Why? Why did you have to fuck with me, Charles? You know how tough shit is. You could’ve talked to me. We could’ve worked something out. I need the work.”

Charles shook his head. “Mal, you’re a lumberjack.
Cutting down trees and running a logging business are two different things. You were in over your head thinking you could take over for Martin.”

Mallory’s face twisted into rage as he aimed the gun at Charles.
“You entitled little fuck!”

“Don’t!
Please!” Karen yelled.

Mallory turned towards Karen voice enough for Charles to gather two hand
fuls of debris in his hands. Hearing the sound, he spun his head back and was rewarded with a face full of sawdust and wood chips.

Karen’s right hand gripped the gun while Mallory was temporarily blinded.
There wasn’t enough time to remember that moonlit night at the abandoned mine with Taz. Right now, she needed to act.

“Fuck!
I’m gonna kill you, you stupid fuck!” Mallory sputtered as he teetered. He was off balance as he desperately tried to wipe the tiny shards of wood slivering his eyes. That was Karen’s window.

“Focus, concentrate, aim and fire.”

There was only time enough for the last as Karen lifted the gun towards Mallory’s shoulder – right where Taz had been shot – and fired. His body jerked back at the impact, causing him to lose his footing. And drop the gun.

Charles shot up as Mallory fell, connecting that Italian leather-covered foot of his with Mallory’s head until he slumped.
He then picked up the gun and went over to Karen. “You okay?”

The gun s
till shook in her hand. Her entire body shook as nausea overcame her. Whether it was nerves or the baby, it didn’t matter as she leaned over and heaved into the wood chips.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Six Skulls had piled into the van thirty minutes earlier, leaving it far away from where
it could be heard driving up to the mill. They had a call into Conti, who was on his way down as well. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

If it wasn’t for
Ben’s utter calmness, Taz would’ve gone bat-shit crazy – especially when they saw Mallory’s bright blue Dodge Ram parked outside the mill. He was here, and most likely had Karen, Tanner and Charles inside with him.

With stealth
y precision, the men had their weapons drawn, then spread out to approach the mill from four different angles. The dry grass from the hot summer and very little rainfall crunched under their boots as they crept upon the structure as quietly as possible. Voices could be heard as they got closer. Shouting. Male. And female.

Karen.

“Fuck, that’s her!” Taz seethed through his teeth as he and Ben made their way side by side. His urge to break away and run in was so strong it sent a tremor throughout his body. It wasn’t just her in there, in danger and possibly hurt, but an innocent child. An unborn child. His unborn child.

Life as he
’d known it a little over a month ago had evaporated, now replaced with a responsibility to something other than himself. He had little time to ponder over Karen being pregnant as they quickly formed a plan to lay a quiet siege at the mill. What would’ve freaked him out now settled something inside him. He saw it in Ben and how having Eva had changed him. No, not
changed
him. Plugging two guys several weeks ago without a thought proved that. It balanced him. It enabled him to have the best of both worlds. Two families. One who would die for him, the other he would die for. Taz had the makings of the latter right inside that mill – an old lady and a little sprout, as Ben called the contents of Eva’s belly. A surge of love and protectiveness like he’d never known took charge over his body and mind. He now understood what his ma had been pounding into him all these years. He wouldn’t be alone. He would never be alone. Even when he no longer had the club, he’d still have what he was fighting for now to get back.

“Easy, brother.”
Ben sensed that fire in him. “Worst thing you can do is give yourself away.”

The voices got even louder the closer they got.
Louder, screaming, yelling. Then, a shot rang out.

“Fuck!”

Taz felt Ben’s large hand grab his arm as he was about to take off. “No!”

They heard a male scream in pain, which indicated it wasn’t Karen who was the recipient of that bullet.
It made Taz’s gut settle – somewhat. They both motioned to Vic, who had Doug glued to his president’s side as they took up the north end. On the other two sides, Aero and Wes had split up. All six had gotten within ten feet of the outer gate when the second shot rang out followed by the anguished cry of another male voice.

“Shit!”
Taz was beside himself. “Ben!”

Ben looked over to see Vic give the signal.
They were going in. Finally. The settling sun kept their bodies from casting shadows through the slatted wood of the structure as they made it through the gate. The shouting had stopped inside and the eerie quiet came back. Until Taz heard a voice call out.

“Who’s
out there?”

It
was Charles. “Charles?” Vic called back.

“Vic!
Get in here. Quick!”

At once, six Skul
ls barged into the cutting room. Taz’s eyes took in the sight of Mallory lying on the floor long enough to convince him he wasn’t a threat before seeking out Karen. She was leaning against a cutting machine, hand over her stomach, her body hunched. In her other hand, she gripped a gun. He immediately holstered his and rushed over. “Karen.”

She saw him and relief flooded her face.
He took her in his arms and hugged her with a force which shook him from head to toe. He then pulled away, carefully inspecting her face. That shaking turned to rage at the swelling by her left temple. He tenderly touched it. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah.”
Her voice was raw, but certain. “I’m fine. But Tanner….”

Taz swiveled his head to where Aero had ripped off a portion of his t-shirt to tie off Tanner’s leg before Doug and Wes lifted the heavy log off.
Vic was off with Charles, huddled around Mallory’s body which was beginning to stir. He wasn’t dead. Good, Taz thought. With what was in store for him, he was going to wish he was. “Karen, did he…?” He wanted to puke with the thought. “Did he do anything……?”

She shook her head.
“Just found me at the reservoir, gagged me then knocked me out.” She gulped then grabbed her stomach. “Taz, I…..”

“I know.
About the baby. I know.”

Those pale green eyes regarded him with shock.
“How?”

“I found your car at the reservoir.
Your purse was inside. Went lookin’ for your phone and found something else.”

She took a shuddered breath
. “Taz, I….”

“Conti’s here!”

Wes’ shout caused Taz to slip back into club mode. He tenderly kissed her forehead then sat her down on a small wood pile. “Stay right here.”

The door
to the cutting room opened and Antonio Conti walked in along with another gentleman who made Big Ben Lawson look like a Chihuahua. The consigliere was impeccably attired in a customary dark suit, matching fedora and thousand-dollar watch. Doug motioned him over to where Vic was standing over Mallory’s rousing body. Curious, Taz followed. With a flick of his dark eyes, Conti regarded the man on the ground before turning them up to Vic. “Is this him?”

Vic nodded.
“His name is James Mallory. According to my man here,” Vic motioned to Charles, “he didn’t deny the shooting that night, nor ditching the pickup. It was him. He was there that night gambling, and tried to rob the transport.” Vic paused to glance at Charles for a bit. “He was driving, but the shooter worked here. He killed him and set fire to the place to make it look like an accident.”

Conti looked satisfied
, then turned to where Doug and Wes were helping Tanner up. “I have a call in to Benedetto. I can send him to your clubhouse to do another bullet extraction.”

“Appreciate it,” Vic replied.

“What the….?” Mallory was slowly starting to come back to life, looking up at the four men standing above him. His shoulder was bleeding, but not profusely. His eyes widened as he tried to dig his heels into the floor and scoot himself back, only for Taz to inch his way in and put his booted foot on his throat.

“
Where do you think you’re goin’ asswipe?”

“
We’re 100% positive it’s him?” Conti asked.

“110%,” Vic reassured him.

Conti motioned to the overdeveloped lug who was with him. “Load him up….”

“No.”

Vic’s resistance set Conti back a bit. “Excuse me?”

“Change of plans.”

Conti pulled a crisp handkerchief from his suit pocket and dabbed the sweat forming on his brow. “How so, Mr. Connors?”

“We promised to deliver who was responsible, but we need restitution as well.
This guy shot not one, but two of my men, held a club ally hostage and kidnapped an ol’ lady.”

“My
pregnant
ol’ lady,” Taz added without hesitation.

Vic turned, a look of surprise on h
is face, at which Taz just nodded. The president responded in kind then regarded Conti. “Adamo’s guys were just shot at. Our collateral damage is worse. We need to make this right for our own.”

“Adamo wants him delivered.”

“And he’ll have him. After we’re done with him.” Vic paused a bit, as if catching himself giving an order rather than making a request. “Call him. Plead our case. We’re within our rights.”

Conti scanned the men then pulled out his cell.
“A moment.”

Vic nodded in kind as Conti stepped away to place a call.
He looked at Taz. “I suppose you want a hand in this.”

“I expect it.”
Taz had never spoke, so bold to his superior, but his natural protective instinct had taken over. His ol’ lady – yes,
his
ol’ lady – and unborn child had been put in danger. She’d been kidnapped, physically assaulted and held against her will. God knows if he’d had a gun trained on her at any time. Regardless, the piece of shit under his boot would pay - slowly and painfully – for what he’d done before Adamo Caprese had his turn.

“Mr. Connors?”
Conti returned, pocketing his phone in the process. “I spoke to Adamo and relayed the situation.”

“And?”

“He has two conditions. One, Mr. Mallory remains alive.”

“And number two?” Vic asked with trepidation.

“I stay here and supervise to make sure that happens.”

Vic’s grin was so wide Taz thought it would split his face in two.
He looked at Taz. “You have a plan?”

His foot pressed on Mallory’s throat even tighter, causing him to gurgle beneath him.
“Do I ever.”

Vic nodded with satisfaction.
“He stays, along with Ben. When they’re done, you take whatever’s left to Adamo.”

Conti understood.
“Agreed.”

Charles look
ed confused in the midst of everything. “What’s going on here?”

Vic clapped him on the shoulder and gave Conti an assuring look.
“Club friend. No worries.” He then pulled Charles close. “Need you to leave, Charles. Taz and Ben are gonna need some room to move.”

Charles appeared as if he knew the Skulls well enough to know what Vic meant.
Mallory had screwed over not only them, but the two very scary looking Italian men giving him the evil eye. He held his hands up in surrender. “I’m leaving. Just, let me know what you need before I do.”

Taz looked around, figuring the mill had the basics for what he had in mind.
But not everything. “You got an ax and a blow torch?”

Vic smiled.
Charles looked putrid. “Yes.”

“Gonna need ammonia too.”
Taz looked out the cutting room window to what was parked out in the courtyard and smiled. “Bring the wood chipper in. Been waitin’ to get my hands back on that bad boy. Oh, and where can I score some liquid nitrogen?”

Even Vic looked appalled, yet impressed.
“For what?”

Taz didn’t answer.
He just smiled that dimpled, devilish smile of his as he released his foot from Mallory’s throat long enough to bend down and whisper towards him. “When I get done with you, you’re gonna wish those
guineas
took you out in a boat with a bag of cement.”

Another shot to the foot knocked him out
before Taz turned a serious face to his president. “Get me all that I need.”

Vic eyed Conti who gave a silent order to his big goon to go make a run.
“Something tells me I’m going to be quite entertained, Mr. Connors.”

“Something tells me you’re going to need a strong stomach, Mr. Conti.”

~~~***~~~

It was close to ten o’clock
, yet Karen remained wide-eyed and awake on the couch. The bag of frozen corn she used on her swollen temple was beginning to thaw out. She fought fatigue and the urge to call Taz. It had been almost four hours since she was led out of the mill, into the club van and driven home with everyone surrounding her, except Ben and Taz who’d stayed behind.

She bru
shed off the suggestion of calling Janice to stay with her, preferring to be alone. The club wouldn’t have it until whatever was still going on at the mill which had kept Taz there was done. One of the prospects she remembered from Eva’s cookout was called to hang outside her house until Taz returned. Four hours she’d had to contemplate the severe swivel in her life. Had it been only a little more than a month since she was sitting in that diner, figuring out where she’d wind up? And here she was almost five weeks later, pregnant, the baby daddy a biker she never would’ve looked at twice in her prior life.

It was beyond convoluted, not to mention crazier than any made-for-television
movie, but she was not only in the thick of it, but starring in it. One innocent flirtation at a gas station had led to this. No, she immediately thought. Eventually, Mallory would’ve found her regardless of whether she was with Taz or not. With all the focus on her and being segregated from Preston’s mess, she had never stopped to think that the people he stole from might be twisted enough to seek a bit of revenge. It took Taz to plant that seed in her mind, yet she’d found herself at the reservoir, contemplating her future – their future – and the life inside her.

And
he knew. He had found out and didn’t seem pissed. Then again, he had other pressing matters on his mind, which he was no doubt still smack in the middle of. She had sat there on that wood pile, her mind and body still reeling from what had happened, but had managed to overhear. The man who kidnapped her was involved in something else which had hurt the club, including shooting Taz. She had no idea who those other two men were who’d come in afterwards, as they neither looked club-related nor like people who resided in this little town. The way they appeared, the way they dressed, the first thing that came to Karen’s mind was mafia.