Firefight: The Soul Scorchers MC (The Scorched Souls Serial-series Book 2) (12 page)

Kids screamed, most were already in tears.

“Follow me!” I yelled, forgetting all protocol and heading for the large windows above the built-in bookcases.

Guessing my intentions, Joey grabbed the fire extinguisher off the wall. I slammed it into the glass three times, shattering the window. Yanking a colorful rug from the floor near the reading area, I used it to punch out more of the glass to create a safer exit. I hung the rug over the bottom of the gaping hole.

The teacher looked torn. I didn’t bother waiting for her approval, grabbing a chair for the kids to climb on. Thank God the shelves were only about three feet high.

“Joey, JV…through the window and into the woods behind the school. Are you coming?” I turned to Mrs. Flanagan.

“I can’t…”

Ignoring her, I took charge. “Kids, were going through the window. Who likes to climb and play escape?”

About half raised their hands.

“Great! Let’s go through the hole, one at a time, as fast as we can. Then run to the woods across the field.”

One by one, they obeyed, until they’d all exited and were crossing the field.

Smoke was pouring into the classroom from under the door. I wondered for half a second where my bodyguards had disappeared to, but followed the distraught teacher through the opening in the glass just as the biggest blast yet tore through the school, collapsing the classroom’s ceiling, raining drywall and debris into the space we’d just escaped from.

I landed wrong on my left ankle, and yelped.
Why do I twist my ankle during every fire escape?

“Go!”I yelled at a few kids who’d stopped to see what was holding me up.

Joey and JV were waiting mid-field for me to follow, I pointed at the trees. Reluctantly, they backed toward the forest, keeping their eyes on me.

With great effort, I started to limp after the fleeing students.

I’d taken my third excruciating step, when an arm circled my waist, and a calloused hand covered my mouth.

I heard JV scream, “No! M-o-o-om!”

More eruptions behind me sent a flare of heat my direction, scorching my back.

And then there was nothing.

I struggled to catch my breath. A strange chemical scent filled my nostrils, and I tried to swallow.
Where was I? No! Please! Not again!

Another fire…but this time, I remembered everything.

“Boone?” I whispered, unable to speak any louder. “Am I okay?
Please let it be him.

I knew it wasn’t, but saying his name provided a sprinkle of hope.

“Sorry, kitten. No Boone here,” a deep male voice confirmed what I’d already figured out. “You’ll be okay, as long as you obey me.”

Oh God. I know that voice.

“You recognize me, don’t you?”

I sighed, feeling angry rather than scared, which was plain ridiculous considering I’d been abducted by a biker far worse than Boone ever was or would be.

He grabbed my blouse and yanked me up.

O-kay
…now I was terrified. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing him to go away.

“Open your eyes, bitch.”

When I hesitated, he backhanded me across the cheek and released his hold on my shirt at the same time. Tumbling to the floor, I clutched my face, blood poured from my nose.

I somehow opened my eyes.

“See how easy that was,” Ringo said, his sarcasm thick with uncontained hatred and promises of violence to come. “Remember how I told you I would teach you to respect men?”

“You started the fire?” I whispered again.
How can someone so attractive be so utterly evil?

“Did I say you could ask questions, kitten?”

I shook my head, waiting for another slap.

“Let me lay out the law, if I may. I ask the questions; you answer. I tell you to do something; you do it. Follow those rules and you just might survive, though I wouldn’t count on it.” He chuckled, sounding deranged.

“I’m sure you want to know where you are and if my club is involved. As you’ve probably guessed, my brothers have no clue what I’m up to. I told them I needed a week or two to get my head straight. They were happy to honor my request. As for the fire… No. That’s not my style. I don’t make hurting kids a habit. Did I mention your bodyguards were idiots?”

I shivered at the implication.
Were
.
Meaning they were no more?

“You cold, little kitten? I could warm you up.”

I shrank away from him, not bothering to hide my horror.

“Oh kitty kitty, I will make you purr. You can count on it. I promise you’ll forget Boone Richards and that ATF agent the first time I slam my cock inside your cunt. I’m not going to force you, so go on and take a breath. I’m going to make you beg for it.”

I struggled to sit on the floor, meeting his gaze. “You sick fuck,” I hissed, no longer able to stay silent.

This time he hit me so hard, I saw stars.

“You will respect me. If you have to fear me first, so be it.”

The world continued to lurch and spin. Eventually, I heard him walk away. Somewhere in the room, a door clicked shut, and a lock engaged.

Alone at last, I rolled over and vomited. A few seconds later, I passed out, face planted in my puke.

Boone

“We have to find Sal…I mean Olympia!” I paced around the table, daring my brothers to say otherwise. “The arsonist has her. He must. The boys watched a masked assailant drag her away. Joey’s pretty sure he covered her mouth with something. I’m guessing chloroform or a related substance knocked her out.”

Someone pounded on the thick door that separated the room we used for church from the rest the clubhouse. Interrupting a meeting was a dire offence without a life or death reason.

Eggs got up to see who the unlucky offender was.

Tweaker hovered outside the room; looking like an actual ‘tweaker’ as he shuffled from foot to foot.

“What is it?” Eggs demanded, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

“The mayor and that ATF dude are here. They want to talk to you guys. I told them you were in a meeting and couldn’t be disturbed, but they said it was urgent. The Police Chief is with them too, but no other law enforcement.”

Bones glanced at me. I shrugged, too curious to protest. Maybe they had news about Olympia.

“Bring em’in,” Bones instructed. “Search them first and take away any weapons. Make sure to unload them.” Tweaker gave a quick chin up signal and jogged away.

“Is he using again?” Crusher asked. “Seems like he’s tweaking, no pun intended.”

Bones answered, “He gets like this sometimes. So much meth in his brain when he was younger made him half crazy. He’ll be all right.”

I struggled to contain my anxiety. The woman I loved was in danger and Crusher was worried about Teaker tweaking, fucking ridiculous. We needed a plan to find her and fast.

Conner Mills walked in first, the mayor right behind him, with Chief Wells bringing up the rear.

“You can’t take away my federally issued weapon,” Conner complained.

Bones raised his hand. “No outsider comes into our meetings armed. Those are the rules. I’m guessing this isn’t an official visit?”

Mayor Olsen silenced his future son-in-law with a glare. “Just shut up for once,” he added, shocking everyone. “And it is far from official,” he clarified.

Stepping up to the table, the mayor took a minute to meet our gazes. “You all know about the school fire and Olympia’s abduction.” He nodded at me. “Thanks to your kids, we have a good description of the assailant, minus his face, and a summary of what happened. It’s a miracle no children were killed. I’m here, off the record. I need your help.
We
need your help.” He glanced at Conner, who nodded somewhat reluctantly.

“You are not starting these fires. We know that for certain now, not that I ever believed you were. Whoever is setting them has my little girl, my only child. That person has killed my wife and likely yours.” Again he locked eyes with me. “This latest tragedy confirms he has no regard for anyone.”

My heart rate accelerated. It was the first time anyone in an official capacity had even hinted that Rita’s death might have involved foul play. In the past, I would have felt vindicated, but now, all I wanted was Olympia home safe and the arsonist punished for his heinous crimes. Burning him at the stake seemed like a reasonable solution.

“This arsonist is after my family and yours, Mr. Richards. We don’t know what the connection is, but we want you to help find it.”

“Maybe you could start by telling us who that mystery man at your house was,” I suggested somewhat sarcastically.

“I can’t tell you that. Even coming here is a risk. No one can find out you’re helping us. Just the fact I’m here could endanger my daughter. I’ll pass you information, when it is safe.”

I almost scoffed.
When is it ever safe?

“Can you give us any specifics?” Bones pressed. “Something for our guys to go on.”

Once again the mayor glanced my direction. “Your son has more clues than he realizes.”

What clues? It’s not like I’m Sherlock Holmes.

“And the chief has additional details about the school fire to share. Conner and I will be leaving. I don’t think I need to express how important it is to find my daughter and keep our collaboration confidential.”

“I wouldn’t be doing this if my future wife’s life wasn’t at stake,” Conner added, his tone reflecting his displeasure.

Coming to us for help probably chapped his hide raw.

He caught me glaring and returned the sentiment.

I didn’t trust him or the agency he worked for,
or
his proclamation about “his future wife.”
What a load of shit.
He was one smooth motherfucker. I suspected he had a ton of useful information that he was unwilling to part with, regardless if that information might help us find Olympia.

Because of this mistrust, I intended to have Spyder dig up everything he could find about Seal’s Cove’s uncontested hero. I should have done it sooner, but I’d been distracted with everything Olympia.

My mind flashed to how she’d looked outside the school this morning, so beautiful, elegant in her designer suit.

My gaze followed Mills and the mayor on their way out. The wall clock above the door gave me pause. It was already 7:00pm.

How did Olympia look now, hours after her abduction?

I couldn’t stand to even think about what she might be enduring.

For certain I’d find the fucking arsonist and kill him. If he harmed her in any way, I’d make sure he begged me to end his existence. Ringo and his team weren’t the only fuckers who knew how to torture and kill. The only difference between us: I didn’t enjoy taking lives. Though, in this case, I’d relish my role. 

Speaking of Ringo and the Guardians…

“Bones, you gonna connect with Rowdy about the school fire?” I already knew the answer.

“I’m meeting with him tomorrow. Despite your beef with his Road Captain, they want to help. Ringo’s on a run, anyway. Let’s talk about my plans for that meeting now. It’s item two on our agenda. Then Chief Wells can update us.”

While he rambled on about partnering with our former enemy in order to catch the killer, I envisioned Olympia and all we’d been through in such a short time. If I’d told her the truth from the beginning, could we have avoided this nightmare? Or would it have just happened sooner without my interference?

Obsessing on what might have been wouldn’t get my girl back. So in response to the mayor’s cryptic ‘Boone has clues’ message, I grabbed a notebook and nearby pencil. Putting my natural artistic talents to use, I started a sketch of the mystery man.

I couldn’t shake the feeling he was a key player, and that we’d met before ever crossing paths at the mayor’s home.

Mayor Olsen needed to spill his secrets, and I intended to make that happen. We didn’t have extra time to play who’s who. We needed answers fast.

Olympia’s life depended on it.