Phantom (Devil's Boneyard MC 10), page 2
Charisma opened the door, her eyes going wide when she saw me. She skimmed over my cut, her gaze locking on the patches denoting my club, name, and rank. She finished her perusal before lifting her gaze to mine again. I caught movement in my peripheral. Judging the size and shape, it was her daughter.
I pulled my keys from my pocket and tipped my head toward the driveway. “Take your daughter and get in the Jeep. Lock the doors and wait for me.”
Her eyebrows went up. She stared, not moving and not speaking. She reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear and I growled at what I saw. Someone had damaged her with what looked like acid. I moved slowly, not wanting to startle her, and checked the other side. Son of a bitch. Whoever had hurt her, had harmed both ears. Which meant… I mouthed the words slowly. “Can you hear me?”
Her eyes widened and she shook her head.
“What else did that bitch do to you?” I asked, mouthing the words slowly again.
Her cheeks flushed and she dropped her gaze. Shame. Whatever had been done to her, she was ashamed to tell me. I had a feeling I understood why she was still here with Heather. The woman used the boys against her, and probably used her against them. If she’d touched Nova, I’d make her suffer longer.
I tipped her chin up. “Take my keys. Get your daughter and wait in the Jeep. Lock the doors. Do you understand?”
She nodded and reached behind her. I saw Nova’s small fingers wrap around hers and Charisma took my keys. She hesitated, her gaze searching mine.
“I’ll get the boys out too.”
Her posture relaxed and she hurried to the Jeep with Nova in tow. Nothing in the reports Shade had found from social services mentioned Charisma being unable to hear. It had to have happened either right before she aged out, or after. For whatever reason, he couldn’t find any updates from the social workers the months leading up to her turning eighteen. Her exit had been little more than a few notes including how wonderful Heather had been to let her stay. I didn’t like being blindsided, but at least she would be safe now. All of them would be.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and jolted, having been lost to my thoughts for a moment. A man stepped up next to me, a smirk on his lips.
“Shade sent me. Looks like he was right. You need help if you’re spacing out before going into the lion’s den. Name’s Axel.”
“Phantom,” I said, shaking his hand. “I need to get the two boys out, and I have a location for Heather Grant to pay for her crimes. Hadn’t intended to take everyone with me, though.”
“Shade sent me the coordinates for where you’re taking Heather. I’ll get her there. You can follow with your new family. I’ll watch over them while you take care of the evil cunt. But just saying, feel free to tag me in anytime.”
I gave a nod. “Let’s go.”
I entered the house and listened for any sounds that might tell me where the boys and Heather were located. I crept inside, with Axel shutting the door behind us. We made our way through the main areas. As I entered the hall, I saw the older boy huddled on the floor, leaned back against the wall. The devastation on his face nearly ripped me apart.
I knelt, moving slow, and gained his attention. He tensed, but I lifted a finger to my lips and whispered to him. “Charisma and Nova are outside. Go wait with them.”
He shook his head frantically and glanced at the closed bedroom door. The sounds inside left little to the imagination as to what was going on. I knew he didn’t want to abandon his little brother.
“I’ll get him out,” I whispered. “And then Heather Grant will pay for what she’s done.”
A spark of hope lit his eyes and he glanced at Axel over my shoulder. He stood and strode down the hall, pausing only a moment to gaze at the bedroom door again, before hurrying to the front of the house. I straightened and approached the door with Axel nearly on top of me. I felt the tension rolling off him and knew he wanted in that room as badly as I did.
“She could have a weapon in here,” he said, his voice low and rough.
“I think her only weapon is herself. Ready? We do this quick and quiet.”
He gave a nod and opened the door silently. The sight before me nearly made me throw up. Axel rushed the bed, yanking Heather off the boy tied down. He clocked her in the temple, knocking her out cold with one blow. I untied the boy, helped him dress, and got him the fuck out of the house.
As much as I wanted them to have extra clothes, or anything they may have kept from their life before, I didn’t want to linger longer than necessary. Doing this in broad daylight had risks.
Axel had disappeared with Heather. Charisma sat in the front passenger seat of my Jeep with Nova and the other boy in back. I heard the unlocks disengage and helped the smaller boy into the back before climbing behind the wheel. I started up the Jeep and backed out of the driveway. Making sure I went the speed limit and obeyed every traffic law, I did my best to not draw undue attention to us.
“My name is Phantom,” I told the kids in back. “The four of you are safe now. Heather Grant will never hurt you again, and neither will her friends.”
“You can’t promise that,” the older boy said.
“I can, and I just did. I’m part of a motorcycle club called the Devil’s Boneyard. We’re based in the Florida panhandle, and I’m taking you back there with me. We can figure things out from there.”
“You said she wouldn’t hurt us again, but the social worker gave us to her,” the older boy said. “They’ll just send us back.”
“They won’t. I have a friend who is going to give you new identities. Charisma and Nova are safe without the extra precautions. She’s an adult and has custody of her daughter.” I glanced at the boys in the rearview mirror. “Any idea what you want your names to be?”
“Your name is really Phantom?” the youngest asked.
I smiled. “No. My road name is Phantom. It’s what I go by now, and the only name anyone ever uses. My birth name is Kenji. Just don’t say it around anyone else. It’s considered disrespectful to address me by any name other than the one I earned.”
“Kenji,” the youngest repeated softly. “Our mother was Chinese, but our father was white. She let him name us and he chose American names. If we get to pick, I want a Chinese name.”
“You can name yourselves whatever you want.” I paused. “But if I could make a few suggestions for you to consider? The two of you are strong. You’re brave. Survivors. Li means powerful. Hu is tiger. Heng means persevering. Jian is strong. But there are countless names you could choose. And before you ask why a Japanese man knows so much about Chinese names, two of my best friends when I was a kid were Chinese. We taught each other a lot about our names and cultures.”
“We don’t feel brave or strong,” the older boy said. “We couldn’t stop her.”
I glanced at Charisma. “She used you against each other, didn’t she? You, your brother, Charisma, and Nova.”
The boys nodded.
“Charisma’s ears…”
“Heather did that when Charisma tried to protect us. We refused to let her hurt us anymore, and she proved us wrong. Every time Charisma tried to intervene, she was punished. She should have taken Nova and left. She refused to leave us behind. Heather would let the men pay to hurt Charisma. It bought us a night off from her attentions, or anyone else’s.”
I pulled down the rural road behind Axel and put the Jeep in park. Turning to face them, I knew I couldn’t hide the truth from any of them. They needed to know I would do whatever it took to keep them safe.
“You’re going to wait in the Jeep. All four of you.”
“Where are you going?” the oldest boy asked.
“I’m going to take care of Heather. She’ll never hurt anyone ever again. Do you understand?”
The older boy’s eyes went hard, and he nodded. “She’s going to die.”
“Yes.” I scanned their faces. They weren’t disgusted or fearful. If anything, they seemed relieved. “When I get back, we’ll go home. I want to put some distance between us and this town. If you want to stop along the way and get a motel room overnight, that’s fine. Or we can push through.”
“Home,” the youngest said. “We haven’t had one since our parents died.”
“It’s not really home,” the older one said. “It’s just a stopping place.”
I turned to face him. “It can be your home if you want it to be. There’s only one thing I ever wanted. Something I still don’t have.”
“What’s that?” the youngest asked.
“A family.” I looked at each of them, then Nova. “I’ll talk to Charisma after I handle Heather. But whether she decides to stay or not, I would be honored to call the two of you my sons.”
I faced Charisma and touched her hand, drawing her attention. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon. You’re safe.”
She blinked and didn’t respond. I hoped the two boys would make sure she understood, and I got out. Axel had already carted Heather into the barn and when I entered, he’d tied her to the chair. I retrieved my bag from the stall where I’d stashed it earlier and got to work.
Chapter Two
Charisma
I didn’t know what to make of the man who’d gotten us away from Heather. I’d noticed his cut. While I’d never been around bikers on a regular basis, I knew about them. There were two clubs near my hometown and the bikers often frequented the burger place that had the best milkshakes. They weren’t all bad guys, but not all were good either.
Much like the man who’d been my birth father. I’d never met him. When he’d found out my mother was pregnant, he’d bolted. She’d left him off my birth certificate and listed my father as unknown. I’d only been told his road name. Drifter. I didn’t know what club he’d been part of, or where he was now. No one had tried to find him when my mother had died, and I’d gone into the system. I’d likely never meet him.
It hadn’t stopped me from trying, though. I’d been about five when I’d seen a few bikers at the burger place. I’d walked up to one of them, tugged on his leather vest, and asked if he was my daddy. The man had looked amused and lifted me onto the seat next to him.
“Why do you think I’m your daddy?” he’d asked.
“Because Mommy said he’s a biker. His name is Drifter. Is that your name?”
He’d taken the time to explain what a cut was, what the different patches meant, and had talked to me until my mother had found us. She’d apologized to the man profusely before making me leave my new friend.
But this biker… When I looked into his eyes, I’d known Phantom wasn’t evil. He didn’t seem like the type who would abandon a woman he’d gotten pregnant. He’d handed over his keys, not knowing if I’d steal his Jeep, and gotten me and Nova to safety. Then he’d gone inside after the boys. I’d missed everything he’d said during the drive and after we’d parked, which meant I needed to get caught up.
My foster brothers and I had learned how to sign so we could communicate, after Heather had made sure I’d never hear again. I quickly signed to them. What did he say? Where are we going? Why are we here?
The older of the two, Joey, smiled and signed back. I saw his lips moving and knew he spoke aloud too. “He said we can stay with him. All of us, but he wanted to talk to you about it. As to where we are… he’s taking care of Heather. Permanently.”
My brow furrowed. I don’t understand, I signed.
“He’s going to kill her, Charisma. Make sure she never touches anyone ever again. Then we’re leaving town. He’s offered to help us with new identities so no one will come after us.”
I looked off in the direction Phantom had gone. Getting out of the car, I followed after him. A barn came into view, and I opened the door. Peering inside, I saw Heather tied to a chair and Phantom standing off to the side. Blood dripped onto the floor from the tip of the blade in his hand. I eyed Heather again and saw he’d cut her multiple times. Inching inside, I moved closer. Phantom saw me and froze.
I didn’t know how to talk to him. If he’d known sign language, he’d have used it earlier. My fingers twisted together as I tried to figure out what to do. I glanced at Heather again. Gone was her smirk and knowing gaze. She’d accepted her fate, and any fight had been drained from her. I looked up at Phantom as he stopped within inches of me.
“You should be in the Jeep,” he said, mouthing the words slow enough I could follow. I shook my head, making him scowl. “Charisma, let me handle this. I’m keeping you, Nova, and those boys safe. You don’t need to be here to see it done.”
I tipped my head to the side and placed my hand over his heart, patting his firm chest. My cheeks flushed. He covered my hand with his and I couldn’t stop myself from getting even closer to him. It felt like a magnetic force tugged us together.
“Wait in the car, honey. I’ll be done here shortly, and we’ll go home. I don’t want you to see this side of me.”
I leaned into him, trying to tell him without words I accepted this part of his life. He wanted to protect us. I didn’t care how he did it. If that meant Heather died, it was no less than she deserved. She’d ruined countless lives, and no one had ever tried to stop her. Except those of us she’d tortured. And none of us had been strong enough to take her down. But Phantom could.
The other man who’d gone into the house with Phantom came over. I tried to read his lips and only caught a few words. Kids. Home. Let me. Should go.
Phantom watched me and gave the man a nod. He stepped away from me, wiping off his blade on some straw before he put his things away and lifted the bag off the ground. He came toward me, holding out his hand. I placed mine in his and let him lead me from the barn.
When we reached the Jeep, Phantom put his bag into the back. I got into the vehicle and buckled my seat belt. He backed down the rural road and pulled onto the highway. He fiddled with the radio, and I felt the vibration of the music against my leg. Looking down I saw a speaker in the door. Hours passed before he stopped for gas. Everyone used the bathroom and he got back on the road, stopping again when he saw a diner.
Nova and the boys took a seat across from us in the large booth, and I slid in with Phantom taking the outside seat. A woman came over and left menus on the table, along with rolls of silverware. She said something to Phantom but spoke too fast for me to follow. He turned to me and mouthed the words, what do you want to drink?
I looked at the menu and pointed to the type of soda I wanted. He placed my order and his, then the kids ordered their drinks. The woman left and I perused the menu to figure out what I wanted to eat. I did the same thing when I had to order. Pointed at what I wanted and let Phantom handle it.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked it, setting it on the table. He tapped it and pointed it at me. I picked it up and noticed he’d opened a Notes app. Smiling, I typed a message to him.
Thank you. For everything.
“You’re welcome.” He smiled and lightly touched my cheek.
I typed on the app again. How did you know we needed help?
Pain entered his eyes. “My cousin. He was one of Heather’s victims over a decade ago. I just found out.”
And you tracked her down to exact revenge?
He nodded. “Yes, but I had a friend see if she still had a tendency to hurt kids. He told me about you, your babies, and those boys.”
I pressed a hand to my belly, feeling a pang at the son I’d lost. I didn’t know what had happened to him. I’d been told about his death, and Heather had said she’d handle it. If he’d been buried, I’d never been to his grave. Had he been cremated? Maybe she’d told them to throw him out with the trash. I would probably never know, and it hurt.
Phantom touched my cheek, drawing my attention to him. The understanding in his eyes made tears well in my eyes. He knew. He’d said babies, not baby. He’d known about my son, that he’d died. He curled his arm around me, and I snuggled into him, letting him comfort me. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched me like this. Probably the last time I’d been with my mom. No one had cared since then.
I felt the rumble of his voice and knew he was speaking to Nova and the boys. I needed to be strong. To stand up for myself and the kids. I wouldn’t let them go back into the system. It had failed them multiple times already, just as it had done with me.
He squeezed me and I lifted my gaze to his. He nodded to the phone, and I realized he’d written a message for me while he’d been talking to the kids. Picking it up, I read it, and my heart rate quickened.
I know about the boy who got you pregnant. Who raped you. He’ll be dealt with. I’d wanted to do it myself, but getting you and the kids to safety is more important. Axel has offered to take care of it. Your monsters will be slain, and you’ll have a fresh start. A new beginning.
I smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek. My feelings were overwhelming. I’d gone from fighting the evil in our lives all by myself to having a knight swoop in to save me. As much as I didn’t want to be a damsel in distress, I had to admit I couldn’t have gotten away on my own, not and taken the boys with me. He’d done the impossible, and I would owe him forever. We all would. The boys had mentioned living with Phantom. Would he let me and Nova stay too?
Oh. Oh! What if he had a wife or girlfriend? I drew away from him a little. The woman in his life probably wouldn’t want a twenty-seven-year-old woman and her daughter moving in. My chest ached at the thought of having to leave the boys behind. I didn’t know how Nova would handle it either. She considered them her brothers. Which would make me their mom and not their sister. I’d protected them as best I could, and I’d gladly take them with us whenever Nova and I found a place to settle down and start our lives. But it seemed they wanted to stay with Phantom.
I couldn’t blame them. I did too.
Nova and the boys talked non-stop. I struggled to keep up with them and gave up after a moment. With all of them talking, I didn’t know where to look first. Joey seemed to understand and started to sign as he spoke. It helped a little, but it was still too much for me. I waved him off and tucked into my food when it arrived.
