Locke (Aces MC Series Book 4) (18 page)

I cautiously made my way from the building bumping into
various people along the way but ignoring them as I weaved through the tight
corridors and stairwells. I found an external door that was hanging off its
hinges and peered through the gap. There didn't seem to be anyone around and I
couldn't hear anything apart from the thumping from my heart as it pumped in my
chest. I squeezed through the gap not wanting to open the door completely
through fear of making a noise, and jogged across the gravel path into the
bushes to conceal myself. I could see flickers of light in the distance
indicating that there were several police vehicles at the front of the
building. The area was too big for the police to surround completely so they'd
known that some of us would eventually get away but I was surprised that there
weren't squad cars travelling up and down the paths trying to scoop us up.

"You managed to get away then?"
I turned around startled by the question and grabbed for my knife. "Show
yourself," I stated aggressively as I held out my blade in front of me
sweeping the area.   
"Chill, it's Slick." He stepped forward so that I could see him among
the thick undergrowth,
"Are you on your own?" I asked still pointing my blade in his
direction.
"Yeah, a patrol car went up there about five minutes ago so I dived in
here. If my calculations are right we need to head in that direction."
Slick pointed behind us, we'd need to walk through at least two fields before
we hit the road but it was the most direct route and off the beaten track.
"Come on then, we'd better start walking." I pushed further through
the bushes until I came out into the field.
"Aren't we gonna wait to see if anyone else comes out?"
"And risk being caught here while we wait for them? No way come on we need
to go."
I kept low and ran through the field and up the hill towards the road, it was
taking longer than expected because last night's heavy rain had made the field
like a bog but we persevered and waded through the watery mud until we reached
the edge of the field.
"Fuck this shit I'm covered!"
"Well did you have an alternative route?" I asked sarcastically.
"No!"
"Well then quit your whinging and keep up." I pulled my phone from my
pocket when we reached the metal gate at the end of field and dialled Wes.

"Saviour are you okay?" Wes asked concerned.
"Yeah, did everyone get out?"
"The calls are slowly coming through, I haven't heard from Polar, Hustler
or Slick yet, have you seen them?"
"Slick's with me but I haven't seen the other two." I lied.
"Where are you?"
"In a fucking field covered in mud and shit!"
"Any landmarks near you?"
I panned the area looking for anything that may be distinctive, "I can see
a church not too far from here."
"Brilliant, make your way there and I'll get someone to pick you up."
I hung up and returned the phone to my pocket.
"So what we doing?" Slick asked.
"We're making our way to that church and hopefully a ride home."  

Slick and I got out of the taxi and made our way into the
clubhouse. As I strolled in I noticed a few of the other guys sitting around
the club mentally calculating how many we may have lost.
"Saviour, take a seat." Onyx beckoned me over to where he was sitting
at the back of the club.
I strolled towards him trying to keep my cool under the intensity of his stare.
"Were you with Polar?" he asked narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, we ran through the building but split when we realised someone was
on our tail. I managed to find a side entrance and met up with Slick in the
bushes outside.
Onyx glanced towards Slick who nodded collaborating my story. I swallowed hard
as I looked between them, "Is something going on that I should know
about?" I asked.
"Not that I know of yet!" He stated before he stood grabbing his
bottle of Jack from the table and made his way to the back room.

"I'm covered in shit and don't have a change of clothes
so I'm gonna make a move home." I stated as I lifted my boot showing the
evidence to some of the guys.
"Yeah me too," Slick stated patting me on the back as he guided me
towards the door. "Thanks for helping me out tonight, if it weren't for
you I'd still be sitting in that bush." Slick said humbly.
Fucking hell! These guys never ceased to amaze me, "Not a problem man,
that's what brothers are for."

I arrived home and stripped off before I made my way into
the bathroom. "You fucking did it!" I whispered to myself as I leaned
on the vanity unit. A small thrill of achievement rushed through my body at the
thought of Polar not being able to hurt anyone ever again.
I striped off quickly and got into the shower, and smiled to myself as I stood
under the spray of the water, lathering my body to get rid of any evidence.
Tonight had been a successful evening and I could see the light at the end of
the tunnel but tomorrow I would up the ante and put the wheels in motion for Onyx
to meet his maker.

Whack!
"Fuck!" I shouted as I bolted upright in my sofa bed holding the side
of my face. I grabbed for my .45mm that I kept under my pillow but it wasn't
there.
I opened my eyes fully and saw Onyx, Hustler and Poet displaying an array of
different emotions as they crowded me.
"Fucking hell guys, a knock on the door or ringing my phone would've been
enough to wake me up." I moved my jaw as the pain shot up the side of my
face. "Is there a reason for this morning's wake up call?"
Onyx surged forward and placed his hand around my neck, I scrambled
fiercely
grabbing his wrists with both hands trying
to release some of the pressure but slowly reduced my resistance when Hustler
pointed my .45 at my head.
"We found Polar this morning," Onyx spat.
I continued to struggle to catch my breath, "Well
that's...good...news." I said gulping for air.
"No coz he's fucking dead!" Onyx squeezed harder before he finally let
go. I doubled over gulping for air trying to get oxygen into my lungs fast as
they stung like a bitch.  
"What...do you...mean?" I wheezed still gasping trying to portray
ignorance.
"I mean he's dead as in not breathing but I can't get it out of my head
that you were the last person to see him."
"And what are you implying?" I asked looking shocked. "I know we
didn't get on over the years but I didn't hate him enough to want him
dead." I
maintained
eye
contact but sighed
slightly with relief as I saw Hustler slowly lower the gun in my peripheral
vision.
"If I find out that you were connected in any way shape or form to Priest's
or Polar's deaths then you're a dead man yourself!"
"What do I need to do to convince you that I haven't done anything?"
I asked moving to the edge of the sofa bed.
"
You
won't convince me either way, I'll do my own investigation."
Onyx turned and stalked from the room without giving me a second glance as
Hustler sneered and threw the gun onto the bed before following him out of my
bedsit.
Poet stood assessing me with his hands on his hips, "You're treading on
very thin ice Saviour." We were interrupted from a low buzzing that was
coming from the air vent in the wall. I sat motionless and assessed Poet's
reaction as he located where the sound was coming from before he turned his
attention to me. "You better get that," he sniggered before turning
to leave the room.

I stood breathing heavily as I made my way into the hall
looking at the carnage they'd left behind as my front door swung back and forth
on its hinges. Peeking through the gap I saw the three of them leave on their
Harley's and quickly tried to place the door in its intended gap. "For
fucks sake!" I said under my breath getting annoyed. The damage was
superficial but it was the fucking inconvenience of it all. I could still hear
the faint buzzing sound echoing in the air vent and stomped towards it annoyed
that I'd left the sound on.
I unscrewed the vent and reached in to retrieve the phone, "What?" I
asked abruptly as I sat on the sofa bed.
"Good morning Locke."
"What do you want CJ?"
"Just checking in to make sure you're okay?"
I breathed a heavy sigh, "Yeah I'm good."
"Well you don't sound it!"
"Well I am. Cut to the chase I know you better than that, what do you
want?" I asked getting annoyed by his questions.
"I just wanted to remind you about Thursday. Your presence would be
appreciated and it would help to make amends."
Fuck! The drugs run, I'd completely forgotten about it especially with
everything else going on at the moment. How could I possibly take off again
without the Satan's becoming suspicious especially after what they'd just
accused me of?
"Are you there?"
"Yeah CJ I'm here, I'm just thinking."
"Fucking hell it's like getting blood out of a stone!" He sniggered
at my blunt answers, "I'll call you again in the week to remind you."
"I'm not a baby!"
"Well stop acting like one." I could hear him let out a sigh,
"Locke, you need to be here for this one mate. There are whispers in the
club, you know what this lot are like it may be nothing but then again it could
be true."
"Go on..."
"Duke's getting tired of your disappearing act."
Duke was, fucking hell I was. I couldn't go on like this for much longer.
"I'll be there."
"You better!"
"I said I'll fucking be there now get off my case." I hung up and
made sure that the phone was on silent before I walked into the bathroom and
removed the side panel of the bath. I couldn't hide it in the same place now
that Poet had heard it but thinking about it what was that all about? I had
always got on with Poet, he didn't seem to fit in with the Satan's either because
he had a conscience.
He had the perfect opportunity to go outside and inform Onyx and Hustler of
what he'd just witnessed but he'd been casual in his approach. My thinking was
that he'd now hold it against me for his own gain but he still didn't strike me
as an arsehole. This place and its people never ceased to amaze me.

I lay on the bed resting my hands behind my head trying to
relax. Two down, one to go but I could feel that I was running out of time. I
needed to step it up and finish what I'd started before it was too late.

Locke

By the time I arrived there wasn't enough space to park near
everyone else so I had to park on the opposite side of the yard. I was anxious
at how I'd be greeted, I'd been away more frequently not by choice but due to circumstances
within the Satan's that I couldn't control. I removed my helmet and hooked it
onto the handlebars before I dismounted my motorcycle, and made my way over to
where the guys had congregated.

As I walked around the corner I
heard Duke's speaking to the group, “Have we got everyone?” There was a slight
pause until he spoke again but this time with anger registering, “You gotta be
fucking kidding me!” he shouted. “Where the fuck is he?” I knew straight away that
he was referring to me and wanted to turn back around so that I could get on my
motorcycle and ride the hell out of here but I knew deep down that I needed to
front it out, I'd been running for too long. This was my family, this was the
club that I belonged to and this was the club that I'd fight to stay a member
of, even if it was the last thing I did.

“Well?” No one answered Duke but I
continued to stand still building up the courage to make myself seen as I heard
a metal object being thrown around the yard. “That’s his fucking lot, he's
gone.”
Shit! I didn't realise how serious my absence from the club over recent years
had become, and if he was throwing around threats like that then I'd seriously
have to step up to be welcomed back.
“Whoa there Duke! Don’t make any rash decisions man.” Bear tried to rationalise
and calm Duke down on my behalf.
“Fucking rash decisions Bear! He’s been
disappearing for weeks, he can’t come and go as he pleases.” Again it went
quiet and I took this opportunity to step into the yard to be seen and take
what I had coming to me.
“It was his fault that Viper died.” Duke screamed at the group, totally losing
control. “If I hadn’t of gone looking for his sorry arse, I could’ve been there
to protect Viper.”

“Well, if you’ve felt like that
all of these years, why didn’t you just say so?” I stated cutting in on the
conversation, all eyes turned towards me as I glared in Duke's direction.
“I ain't got time for this shit. I’ll deal with you when we get back, if you
haven’t already disappeared!” He spat spitefully as he mounted his motorcycle
and took off riding out of the yard.

Bear let out a low whistle as he walked towards me.
"Good timing man," he stated sniggering at my expense.
The roar of the motorcycles made me flinch as some of the guys had decided to
start their journey.
"Well at least he's here, that's a good thing right?" CJ stood beside
me trying to defend me as usual as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"You better make amends because it'll be up to me to reprimand you and I
don't wanna be kicking your arse or taking your cut." Bear mounted his
motorcycle and fastened his helmet, "He'll calm down eventually but it's
probably best you stay out of his way today, just ride along with CJ." Bear
nodded his head in our direction before he rode out of the yard.
CJ turned and enveloped me in his arms giving me a manly hug as he patted my
back. "I'm so pleased you made it in time."
I sniggered, "Well it looks like you're the only one."
"I'm the only one that matters." CJ gave me a wink, "Come on we'd
better catch them up."

The group pulled into the services on the A13 and made its
way around the car park until Woods found a suitable position for us all. I did
as I was told and stayed with CJ away from the main group and observed from a
far as Bear and Diesel strutted over to Duke as soon as they parked.
"No prizes as to what they're talking about."
CJ removed his helmet and glanced in their direction. "Duke's a fucking
hot head, once his period's over he'll be fine." CJ dismounted his motorcycle
and placed his helmet on the handlebars, "I need a piss, you coming?"
"Yeah, I'll grab us a quick drink while I wait." We walked towards
the services through the car park with some of the other guys. A dark blue
coloured Jeep caught my attention, Spike purchased one a couple of years back
and swore that it was his best purchase other than his motorcycle. I wanted to
buy a car or a 4x4 that could be used in the winter months rather than freezing
my arse off on the Harley.
I walked between the vehicles and glanced at the Jeep noticing two men sitting
inside. As I got closer one of the men pulled down his baseball cap slightly as
if to hide his identity from me. I continued weaving through the cars until we
reached the entrance to the shop where the toilet blocks were, "CJ!"
I shouted ahead. He turned and looked at me expectantly, "Without making it
too obvious can you see that blue Jeep?"
He glanced over my shoulder, "Yeah, is it the one that's just leaving the
car park?" he asked watching as the Jeep reversed from the space and drove
towards the exit.
I spun around and sighed with relief.
"What's up with you?" CJ asked confused by my expression.
"Ah nothing, I've just got my suspicious head on."
"Come on man let's get moving or they'll be leaving without us."

“Right, everyone’s had a piss break. We need to get moving,
they’ll be expecting us.” Woods quickly glanced at his watch before trying his
best to herd us like cattle, eager to stick to his plan.
We left the services, closely followed by Tyler and Buster in the van and
steadily continued our journey down the A13 in the direction of the Docks until
we reached the turn off for the A126. I allowed CJ enough room so that he could
filter in front of me and slowed down as we all got into position.

“How’s everyone doing?” Woods asked from the front.
“It’s all good Woods. How long before we’re there?” Duke asked over the mic.
I noticed a vehicle steadily gathering momentum behind us and erratically move
out into the oncoming traffic so that it could get around us.
“Ten minutes most. Shit, look out!”
I watched in horror as the dark blue Jeep veered towards Duke clipping his
wheel and sending him hurtling through the air.
A series of screams, cries and profanities came over the mic as I watched the
guys in slow motion throw down their most prized possessions in order to get to
Duke. My initial reaction was to stop like all the other brothers but there was
only one thing I needed to do to help build bridges and that was to follow the
mother fuckers who'd just hit Duke.

I followed the Jeep as it continued down the A126 leaving a
safe distance between myself and the vehicle. I needed to find out who was
responsible for the incident, it was clearly no accident and the vehicle was
most definitely the Jeep that I saw in the services earlier.

We turned off the A126 and I hung back all too aware of the
noise the Harley would produce in the side streets. I turned off my engine and
kept momentum as I manoeuvred down the street to a car park and parked my
motorcycle before running towards some nearby bushes.

The door of the Jeep opened, "What the fuck?" I
said under my breath as Rev stepped from the vehicle. The fucking arsehole was
grinning as he joined his VP, they had what looked to be a brief conversation
and I could see by their hand gestures that they were talking about the earlier
incident with Duke. Rev opened the boot of the Jeep and removed their cuts, he
passed Bishop one and they put them on as another vehicle pulled up beside them.
Rev and Bishop strolled over to greet the occupants but I couldn't see who was
in the car. I fought through the thick foliage making it easier to see as I got
closer.

What the fuck was going on? I shook my head in disbelief as
Flex and Billy joined the other two, hugging and slapping each other on the
back as if they were close friends. This wasn't good, Skulls and Aces
conspiring against Duke. I thought that things were cool between the two clubs.
I know it all got a little heated when Diesel first got into a relationship
with Ink but that was sorted out weeks ago and because of that very situation,
Flex had become President of the Skulls. You'd think he'd be fucking grateful
not conspiring to fucking kill him.
"Fuck!" I rubbed my forehead trying to think of what to do. The guys
wouldn't get here in time if I called them and I didn't know what had happened
to Duke. I needed to do this, I needed to act on this tonight before they left.

I reached into my cut and pulled out my .45mm and added the
silencer, I hadn't known if Duke wanted us armed this evening but I brought it
all the same. I watched as Bishop walked around the side of the building and kept
low as I stealthily ran around the edge of the car park hidden by the bushes
until I made my way through a gap in the hedgerow and followed him down the
side of the building.

Bishop removed his dick from his jeans and directed it
towards the wall as he swayed from left to right creating patterns on the bricks.
I quietly made my way up the alley staying in the shadows so I wasn't detected,
making sure that my pistol was at my side until I was in position. Bishop was
nearing the end of his piss, I needed to act now before it was too late. I
raised the .45 aiming at his head and with one pull of the trigger his body
slammed into the wall and fell in a heap onto the ground. My adrenaline pumped
causing my hands to shake as I placed the gun into the waistband of my jeans. I
placed my hands under Bishops body and dragged him across the alley so he was
hidden within the shadows, I didn't want to be blowing my cover before I had
taken more of them out.

I could hear the other guys still deep in conversation and
crept towards them still keeping in the darkness to conceal myself. Leaning my
back against the wall I took a large breath trying to decide my next action. I
heard an engine start and peered from the alley to see Billy sitting in the
driver's seat of the car as Rev and Flex shook hands again. Flex returned to
the vehicle and I could see him get annoyed from the expression on his face,
"Millie!" he shouted looking around the dimly lit car park.
"Where's that cunt gone?" He stepped from the car, "Millie, if
you're not here by the count of three I'm leaving without you and it's a
fucking long walk home. One, two, three!" He glanced around the car park
one last time before getting into the car and slamming the door behind him.

This spurred Rev on and he quickly looked around the car
park focussing in my direction, "Bishop!" He removed his blade from
his belt and strutted towards where I was hiding. "Bishop!" Rev
walked into the alley, "Where's the fucking idiot!" He said muttering
under his breath.

As Rev passed me I slowly moved into position not checking
to see what was beneath me, I stood on a twig alerting Rev of my whereabouts.
He spun round wielding the knife as I tried franticly to pull the pistol from
my jeans. As I pulled it free he was upon me and knocked it from my hand, and
skidded across the ground. Rev quickly brought the blade down and cut my arm,
his crazed expression alerting me of his anger.
Still in the crouching position I leapt forward catching him off guard in a
rugby tackle that knocked him to the ground. He gasped for air from being
winded and I took my opportunity to scramble up his body and punched him
several times in the face. Rev quickly gained his composure and sliced me
again, "Fuck!" I yelled as the pain ripped through my arm. He took
this opportunity to knock me off balance and rolled on top of me placing his
knees on both of my arms immobilising me.

Rev breathed heavily trying to catch his breath as I
struggled beneath him, "What the fuck you done with Bishop?"
I continued to struggle but maintained eye contact, "He's fucking
dead!" I sneered. "Just like you'll be when the rest of the guys find
out what you've done." I saw the rage on Rev's face as he pulled up his
blade, I closed my eyes ready for the pain when Rev's body jerked forward and
landed on top of me. The pressure went from my arms but his full weight
smothered me, I pushed him off frantically trying to get some air but this took
longer than expected because of the pain in my arm. As I rolled him off I
noticed a young girl standing at my feet pointing my gun at me as her hands shook
violently.

"It's okay babe you can lower the gun now, I'm not
gonna hurt you." The gun continued to shake rapidly and I felt concerned
that she may shoot me by mistake. "Please lower the gun babe, it's all
going to be fine." I went to get up from the ground but she held the gun
with both hands steadying the pistol as she followed my every move, "It's
okay I'll sit back down." I sat on the ground again contemplating the
situation and how it was panning out. If she wanted me dead, she would've done
it already but I needed to know for sure. I assumed that she was the girl Flex
called after earlier but why would she be running away from him?
"What do you want?" I asked holding up my hands letting her know that
I wasn't a threat.
"Take me with you," she whimpered.
"Sorry?" I asked by way of clarification.
"Take me with you." This time she pleaded as her eyes glistened with
tears.
"You don't know who I am or where I'm going babe, why would you want to
come with me?"
She glanced over her shoulder looking down the alley. "Because I'll
probably be safer with you." The night had now turned cooler and I could
see that she was shaking, probably from shock.
I looked at the young girl pleading for help, and could only wonder what she
was running away from if she was prepared to get a ride with a total stranger
to an unknown destination. "Okay," I said with a huff. What choice
did I have anyway when she was pointing a gun at me?
She turned around quickly to look at me with hope, "You'll take me with
you?"
"Yes but can I have that back?" I nodded towards my .45mm.
She gripped it tightly against her chest, "No, take me to your destination
and then you can have it back."
"Fine by me darlin, if we get pulled over I'll just say it's yours."
She shrugged and continued to hold the pistol tightly as I scrambled from the
ground. I ran my hand up the sleeve of my cut and looked at my palm, I was
losing a lot of blood from the gash but I couldn't go to hospital, I needed to
find a chemist and patch the wound up myself.