Hell Fire Riders MC: The Complete MC Series, page 32
Georgia grinned. “I’m a gunsmith. I build and repair guns of all types. Any weapon, actually.”
Caine’s brows shot up. Of all the things, he expected her to say—that was not one of them.
Mountain snorted. “She’s also the best damn shot in the entire state. Not only does she build the best guns but she can shoot them too. She’s a crack shot.”
“That’s not quite what I was expecting to hear,” Caine admitted.
“Why?” she asked. “Why can’t a woman build and shoot guns?”
Caine shrugged. “I never said you couldn’t. I just never thought about it as a profession before I guess.”
Georgia nodded. “It is a dying art but it’s still around. I do very well for myself. I can even blacksmith my own parts.”
“Girl can make some seriously sweet weapons,” Mountain informed them. He glanced over at Georgia. “How did they find out about Greg?”
Georgia shrugged. “Probably through Joey Patterson. He’s been trying to get an invite to the club but they kept telling him no. He’s a blowhard and the Reapers don’t think too much of him. It wasn’t any secret around town that Joey was trying to patch in. We all tried to warn him off but he thought they were a cool group. As Jason’s younger brother, he might have heard the stories about what happened that day. No one would have told him outright. He must have figured this was his way into the club.”
“This little prick would turn you over just to get into a club?” Gage asked.
Georgia shrugged. “I think I pissed him off when I told him what I thought of his plan to get into the club.”
“Why is that?” Gage looked curious.
Georgia blushed. “Joey was being an ass, pushing people around, trying to act like a big shot tough guy and I called him on it. It didn’t help that half the town was there to witness his humiliation or the fact that a girl like me could take his dumb ass down. By the time he picked himself up off the ground for the third time, everyone standing there was laughing at him.”
“What exactly did you do to him?” Mountain asked as he crossed his very large arms over his barrel like chest.
“It was a Sunday morning and everyone was going to the diner for the breakfast buffet. Joey pushed Marybeth out of line, so he could get there first. I called him a dickhead and he got mad at me. He swung his fist at my head and I reacted. I knocked him on his ass by kicking his feet out from under him. He came at me again and I knocked him on his ass a second time. Then he thought he could rush me and I just moved out of the way. He hit the building and hit the ground for the third time. By this time, he had everyone’s attention and when he noticed the people were laughing at him, he didn’t take it well.” She ended her story by shrugging her shoulders. “He screamed a threat at me then got on his bike and left town. That was two weeks ago now. I thought it was forgotten but apparently not.”
“Can you trust this Jason guy? Isn’t he the one you’ve been texting?” Caine asked. “I don’t know how far I would trust him if his brother is trying to get into an outlaw gang.”
Georgia nodded. “Jason is a great friend and I would trust him with my life but Joey is a little piss ant trouble maker. He probably made himself out to be more important than he is. He always was a little shit that way.”
“Doesn’t he realize Lyle will probably kill him to save his own ass if and when the time comes?” Caine asked. “Hell, he probably will kill him just for the fun of it before this is over.”
Georgia shrugged. “Joey only thinks of Joey. He probably thought Lyle would give him what he wanted once he told him about who shot his brother. Lyle has made no bones about what he wants. He wants the name of the person who shot Greg. Hell, he even offered a reward. Joey thinks that he will somehow gain everything without actually working for it. He expects life to treat him differently than it does everyone else. He thinks he’s entitled to the good life and that everyone should just give it to him. He’s nothing more than a cocky pisshead with nothing but shit to offer anyone.”
“He must be some kind of man if he can turn over a friend.” Gage scoffed.
“He thinks he’ll gain status as a Reaper,” Georgia stated. “He thinks everyone will finally look up to him if he’s got the vest on. He has no idea what that reality is really like.”
“Well, darling’,” Mountain drawled. “I think he’s about to find out the hard way that reality is seldom what we want it to be.”
Chapter Six
Earlier that day…
The sun was barely up, peeking over the eastern horizon when they rode into town as a group. Twenty five hard men on their motorcycles. They were loud but that was the point. They wanted to be noticed. To draw everyone’s attention. Two men broke off from the group and one went one way while the other took the other way. Two more men broke off and headed for the riverfront.
People opened their doors to see what was going on and to view the sight of the Reapers’ ride into town. More than most wore a look of stunned fear, wondering what the outlaws were doing there. They didn’t have to wonder long. Lyle and three others broke off and drove over to the police station. The others kept to the streets revving their engines while yelling and screaming at everyone. On the steps of the police station stood Mike Bowmen, Sheriff for the towns of Jarrett and Cameron. His deputy Dwayne stood next to him.
When Lyle drove up, without pause, he pulled his weapon and fired twice. Mike never even got the chance to pull his weapon as the first bullet struck him in the chest, and he dropped to the steps immediately. Dwayne took the second bullet in his side. Blood spilled freely as he dropped to his knees. The other three men with Lyle got off their bikes and began running up the few steps to the front door. Two of them grabbed Dwayne under the arms and dragged him inside the building. Screams were heard from inside and then more gunshots were heard. The three men came rushing out and when they got back on their bikes, all four of the men rode off.
Mike Bowmen’s body still laid on the cement steps, the pool of blood growing bigger all around him.
People began screaming when they heard the gunshots and Lyle threw his head back laughing hysterically. He calmly holstered his weapon and revving his engine, he sped away.
His men rode randomly around the square yelling at the people gathering there. They seemed to be herding everyone to the parking lot. It wasn’t really a town square but the parking lot of the elementary school.
Lyle came to a stop in front of the group. He turned off his engine and glared at the people. Most of the people gathered there weren’t even dressed yet and they all looked worried if not downright scared to death.
“Where is she?” Lyle called out.
“Where is who?” Bill Wymen asked. Bill was the mayor of Jarrett. He took a single step away from the group but didn’t separate himself too far. “Who is it you’re looking for?”
“Georgia Lacey. I’m looking for Georgia Lacey.” Lyle growled.
Bill looked around the group standing with him but no one seemed to know where Georgia was. “No one here has seen her.”
Lyle narrowed his eyes and glared at the man standing there. “I don’t fucking believe you. I know she came back here. Where else would the little bitch go but here?”
Lyle looked around at his men and gave them a command, “Round the rest of them up. I want everyone living here in the square in fifteen minutes.”
His men broke away yelling at the people to gather in the square.
Twenty minutes later, the last of the 304 people living in the city took their place in the parking lot of the elementary school. The fear running through the crowd seemed like almost a living thing. Children were crying and parents were trying to hush them. Nobody knew what was going on and that scared them.
Lyle looked over the small town’s people. “Where is Red Lacey?” he called out.
One man began to move through the crowd. When he got to the front of them, he glared at Lyle. “What the hell do you want, scum?” Red demanded.
“Watch yourself old man.” Lyle sneered. “You’re on thin ground here.” He took a few minutes to really study the other man. “What’s this? You almost look sober this morning old man. How the fuck did that happen? The last time I saw you, you were sleeping on the bar top at the Ghost bar.”
“Never mind about me, what is this all about?” Red asked. “Why have you taken over the town and why did you shoot the Sheriff? What did he ever do to you that would warrant a bullet? Why would you do that?”
“I want your daughter, old man,” Lyle told him ignoring all the questions. “I want the bitch who shot my brother. I’ve been looking for the one who pulled the trigger for three years now and I finally heard who it was. I finally know your fucking brat shot him. I want her to admit she pulled the trigger and then I’m gonna kill her.”
“What makes you think it was my daughter?’ Red asked.
“Someone who was there told me it was her.” Lyle sneered. “He told me she ambushed my brother. She took the cowards’ way out and she shot him from the shadows. She didn’t even face him when she killed him.”
“That doesn’t sound like my Georgia.” Red frowned. “She isn’t a coward, she never would have taken a shot like that.”
“Well, old man, she did.” Lyle snarled. “She shot my brother twice and I want my revenge. I made a vow the day I buried him and now, I’ll have justice for what she did to my family.”
“What about what you’ve done?” Red demanded looking around.
Lyle smiled. “What have I done, old man?”
“You shot two men already.” Red pointed out. “Over the years, you and your thugs have done so much more. Who holds you accountable?”
Lyle laughed. “No one holds me accountable old man. I am the law here now. I can do whatever the hell I want here and there’s no one to stop me. You will live or die by my command.”
“You’re a damn monster Lyle Boyd.” Red shook his head. “You aren’t God.”
“Where is your daughter?” Lyle snarled ignoring the other man’s statement.
“I hope to heaven she’s long gone,” Red told him. “You took my wife but you won’t get my Georgia.”
Suddenly, there was a loud explosion and dust filled the air. Everyone ducked and some of the people began screaming and children cried out. Lyle just stared at the group sneering.
When the dust settled Red turned and glared at him. “What the hell was that?”
Lyle smiled or rather his lips curled upward. His eyes remained dead. “That was the cell tower. We have the roads coming into town and going out of town blocked off, along with the river docks. This town belongs to me now and unless you want more bodies to bury, you will tell me where your daughter is!” he yelled the last out. He searched the eyes of the people in front of him but he could see no one standing there knew where Georgia was.
Lyle’s eyes narrowed. His frustration was growing and he wasn’t feeling like the town’s people feared him enough. He needed to feel their fear…no, he wanted their terror to be complete. He felt powerful and he wanted total control over the town and the people who lived there. He knew eventually, the Marshals or County would have to be brought in, but not yet. He was being paid a lot of money to distract the authorities, money he had yet to earn but with this taking over the town, he felt he was. Now all he had to do was keep his hold on the town for the next six days while his men searched for Georgia. He now needed to up the stakes and bring back the fear.
Lyle took his gun out of the holster and pointed it just above the head of the people. Firing off three shots most of the people crouched down, crying and screaming trying to get out of the line of fire. Only one man didn’t, only one man stood his ground. Red Lacey wouldn’t bow to him.
Lyle dropped the aim of his weapon and sneered. Then without blinking, he fired his weapon one more time. The bullet hit its mark. Dead center. Red never even blinked as the red stain widened on his belly. His eyes stared at Lyle as his legs weakened and he fell to his knees. When he fell face down in the dirt, Lyle looked around the group. He was satisfied to finally see the fear he craved on their faces. He turned to face the downed man. “Oh, don’t worry old man, death won’t come for you too soon. I want your brat to witness your final moments in this life. It will take a while for the bullet to kill you. Belly shots usually do. I’m hoping long enough to get your daughter’s head in my crosshairs.”
The crowd went silent, the echoes of children crying the only sound.
Then Lyle pointed his weapon at the Mayor. “OK, Bill, you’re next. Where is Georgia Lacey?”
Sweat poured off Bill’s face and he stammered, “I-I don’t know. She isn’t here and I have no idea where she might be.”
“I saw her the night before last,” a woman called out. “She was looking for her dad. I don’t know if she found him or not though.” She stood there watching Lyle. She, like the others were afraid.
Lyle grinned and holstered his weapon. “She found him and later, we found her.”
“If you found her once, why are you looking for her now?” Bill asked.
Lyle snapped his head toward the other man and snarled. “I’m looking for her because she managed to escape, old man. She ran away before I could get my revenge, so now I want her back.” He looked over at his men and nodded toward the school behind them. “Put them all in there and lock them in. I don’t want anyone to get out of town and warn the cops.”
“But I thought we wanted the cops to know about us?” one of his men suggested.
“We do, but I have things to get done first.” Lyle snarled. “We need to find that bitch Georgia again. I want her to pay for what she did to my brother.” His eyes narrowed. “If anyone gives you any problems, shoot them.”
Lyle watched as his men herded the towns’ people into the elementary school. He felt someone come up next to him and when he glanced over his shoulder, he frowned.
Joey Patterson stood there watching as well.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Lyle growled. “Why aren’t you on patrol?”
Joey shrugged his shoulders. “What is there to patrol? Everyone is locked up inside the school.”
Lyle stood up and facing Joey, he backhanded him.
Joey stumbled and stared in shock at the other man. “What did you do that for?” he whined and swiped at the blood on his lip.
“You will do what you’re told to do, until I tell you to do something else!” Lyle roared at him. “Do you understand that?”
Joey nodded. Rubbing his jaw he said, “I just thought now that the town is ours, we should be able to relax.”
“Who the fuck said you could think?” Lyle sneered. “You aren’t even part of this club yet. You are barely a prospect and as such, you will do what you are told and nothing more. Until you get that patch that says you belong, you’re nothing more than a bitch to us. Do you understand?”
Joey nodded.
“Then get your skinny little ass back on your bike and get back on patrol before I kick your ass all over this town!” Lyle screamed at him.
Joey turned away and mumbling under his breath, he went over to his bike. Throwing one leg over the machine, he looked up to find Lyle standing right beside him.
“What did you just say?” Lyle growled.
Joey stared at the other man. “I said that’s not what you told me the other night when I told you who killed your brother.”
Lyle sneered. “And you think because you turned her in, you should receive special privileges, is that it? You think because you squealed on someone who would consider you a friend that makes everything all better?”
Joey made a face. “Georgia was never a friend of mine. She hung out with my brother and his friends but never with me. She always thought she was better than me.”
Lyle laughed. “You whiney, little fuckin brat, she was better than you. Nobody likes somebody that will turn on them. You’re nothing more than a rat and nobody likes a rat. You will be nothing more than a bitch til the day you die.”
Joey just stared at him for a moment. In that one moment, he seemed to realize what he’d done and for the first time in his young life, he made a mistake and it could cost him everything he thought he wanted, everything he thought should have been his. He never thought he’d done anything wrong before that moment. But looking into Lyle’s eyes he could see he was speaking the truth.
Joey revved his engine and backing away carefully, he tore down the street.
It was later in the day when Stone got a phone call from Shay. After the call, Stone went to Mountain and Hawk who were standing with the others. “Do you have a map of the area we can use?”
Hawk nodded. “What do you need it for?”
“Shay just called to tell me the SEALS are in the area. He said they would check out the rigs in the bay and keep an eye out for the Vipers. He wants to know if we can handle the Reapers and get the town back. He told me they would contact us when they were in place. I gave him our radio channel and asked who was in the water. He said it was Donny Hastings. He said Donny would let us know as soon as they were in position. Shay said they were there to guard the rigs and take hostages.”
Mountain, Hawk, Caine and the others all began to smile.
“Oh yeah, I think we can handle that.” Hawk grinned. “Let’s hope they can get hostages. Hostages like to talk. Maybe we can get some more inside information about what they plan to do in Washington.”
Mountain growled. “We know what they have planned for Washington.”
Stone shook his head. “We know what they want to happen, we don’t have a clue what they plan to do to get their mission done. Maybe their mission has changed somehow. All we know is what Trudy found on their website. We need to understand just how far these maniacs will go to finish what they started.”
“Would anyone mind if the Hell’s Fire Riders joined this little posse?” Dewey asked. “This is a menace right I our own back yard.”
“Several of us are snipers as well,” Caine admitted.
