Sabine The moon hung lazily in the sky, casting little light on the dark grounds of the abandoned sawmill. It was situated in an older part of the city that was left for Mother Nature to slowly reclaim. The horrific accident that caused the closing of the company ten years ago still haunted the community. Fifteen of its workers died in a fire. Rather than rebuild the structure, the company shut its doors and walked away. The pain was carved too deep to ever recover, especially since the owner of the company also perished in the fire.

Sabine pulled their van to a stop at the rear of the building. They were early for the meeting but Sabine wanted to arrive on the grounds first. She didn't trust the Heathens to any degree. These men had spent more time behind bars than they had been free men. She saw them as barbarians with matching jackets and was amazed their little bike club was able to survive after all these years with so much internal drama tearing down their structure of power. It was only by a miracle they were standing in her eyes.

The only thing Sabine cared about was the fact that they seemed to have mutual feelings toward John Stodden, and right now that opportunity was too great to pa.s.s up. She needed cash for her plan to get her and her brother away from Belhaven and Stodden's shadow. This town had never been good to either one of them, and she was determined to make her brother see it.

"Keep the girl out of sight until I say," Sabine said to Neil, who was in the pa.s.senger's seat. He pulled a long drag from his cigarette before he smiled at her.

"Whatever you say, boss." He reached over and squeezed her leg, pushing her skirt up at the same time.

"Hands off," Sabine barked. She opened the door and jumped out of the van. Neil rounded the other side and pulled the door open for her. Lexie was leaning against the side of the interior. Her hands and feet were tied and a bag placed over her head. "Don't worry. I'm sure those bikers are gonna take real good care of you."

"Screw you." Lexie kicked her legs out.

Sabine laughed and grabbed the box of files and slammed the door. She banged her fist against the rusted metal door on the large brick building.

The door opened immediately and Frank looked out at her. He had soot smeared across his face and looked a little skittish. "What took you so long? This place gives me the f.u.c.king creeps," Frank complained.

He backed out of the way as Sabine grabbed the door and wrenched it from his grasp. "Stop complaining, you f.u.c.king baby. Did you clear the whole building?"

"Yeah, we're the only ones here, but there's lots of strange sounds," Frank said nervously as his eyes travelled up with the sound of creaking above his head.

"It's an old building that is falling down, what do you expect?" Sabine said impatiently.

"Are you sure it's safe to be here?"

"Get out of my face and watch for any approaching vehicles," Sabine snapped as she grabbed the flashlight out of his hand. "I don't have time for your b.l.o.o.d.y tears." Sabine couldn't wait to be rid of some of her current company. For now they were a necessary annoyance.

Frank pushed the door open and slipped outside without another word. Sabine headed down the hall, where she could see a dim light stretching eerily down the walls. Most of the damage was in the north side of the building. The loading area had virtually been left untouched by damage.

Several lights had been set up around the large warehouse. Two of her other men were leaning against a pallet of wood that was left abandoned with the property, never to serve a purpose but to collect dust. She placed the box on top of the pile and clenched her teeth in irritation.

"Put those joints out. I need you focused so you don't get us all killed. This is not some G.o.ddam meet and greet," Sabine said irritably as she grabbed the joint out of the hand of the nearest man, Roman. She dropped it on the ground and stomped on it. "Do I seriously have to babysit you stupid a.s.sholes every minute? The Heathens will be arriving any time now. I need you to be ready to shoot if any of them so much as reaches for their weapons. Do you hear me?"

Neither Roman nor his brother, Nicolaus, responded as they narrowed their eyes and pushed off the wood pile. They weren't as pliable as some of the others she had promised a cut to, but she needed their ruthlessness. They weren't fans of being bossed around, and Sabine knew she shouldn't push her luck. Patience was not a characteristic of her personality and she couldn't seem to find the energy to care about p.i.s.sing them off.

"If you want your money, make sure we all survive long enough," Sabine leaned in to accentuate her point.

"Loud and clear, honey," Roman said. He had dark, menacing eyes with a tattoo that covered his neck and stretched up onto his right cheek. Sabine knew the pair of them were brothers. a fact she discovered while running a background check on them. She never relied on trust when it came to anything, especially business. There was nothing these two didn't do for money and that was the type of men she needed right now.

"You'll soon discover the word honey does not apply to me."

The rumble of bikes in the distance caught her attention.

"f.u.c.k, they're early. Open the overhead doors and have your guns concealed but ready."

Nicolaus grabbed the manual rope to pull the main cargo door open. A loud shrill sound echoed through the hollow interior but was soon drowned out by the approaching bikes, that sounded like continuous thunder vibrating the earth.

Sabine was familiar enough with the Heathens to know who Marcel Quintano was. She watched him pull his helmet off his head and hang it off his handlebars. He had four other riders with him. Most of them looked to be at least twenty years younger, but all were as rough looking as she imagined they would be. They all embodied the motorcycle club persona. They were used to intimidating people purely by appearance alone, but Sabine wasn't so easily fooled. She had known dangerous men her whole life and they no longer stirred fear in her. A van pulled up behind the bikes, but no one made any move to exit the vehicle.

Sabine crossed her arms and waited for Quintano to approach. He walked into the interior with three of the bikers by his side. Their eyes scanned the entire perimeter, they were expecting danger.

"Does Stodden know you have his s.h.i.t?" Quintano asked as he stopped about fifteen feet from Sabine.

"By the time he finds out I had anything to do with this he won't be able to find me," Sabine said confidently. "Did you bring the cash?"

Quintano nodded to the men at his side. All three of them pulled bags off their backs and dropped them on the ground. They knelt down and unzipped them to show the stacks of cash packed inside.

"Good." Sabine grabbed the box and dropped it at her feet. She placed her foot on top. "This contains all the files, just as we discussed."

"And the girl?" Quintano asked causally, like he was ordering a cup of coffee. Sabine wanted this exchange to be over as quickly as possible. Something about the look in Quintano's eye bothered her.

Sabine pulled out her phone and dialed Neil. "Bring in the girl." Sabine tucked her phone back in her pocket and looked up at the men standing before her. The one on the end that had a scar running down his cheek blew her a kiss. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Sabine turned around when she heard footsteps approach behind. Neil walked around the corner empty handed. "What the f.u.c.k, Neil?" Sabine bit off.

"I..." Neil started but stumbled forward. It was then that Sabine saw Lexie behind him holding a gun to his back.

"Jesus Christ, Neil." Sabine rubbed her temple angrily. "How the f.u.c.k did you manage this?"

Neil just shook his head.

"What the f.u.c.k do you plan on doing?" Sabine asked Lexie in disbelief. "You're surrounded by f.u.c.king guns."

"Oh, I wasn't expecting to get away. There was just something I needed to do first," Lexie said before she shoved Neil and dove for Sabine.

Sabine tried to grab her own gun but Lexie collided with her too fast, knocking her off her feet. Blinding pain radiated down her face with the impact of Lexie's fist. "f.u.c.k," Sabine screamed out as she scrambled backward.

"It doesn't feel so nice, does it?" Lexie yelled as she grabbed Sabine by the neck and slammed her head down on the ground. Sabine managed to pull her leg up and kick Lexie backward. It was enough to twist around and grab her gun that was tucked in the back of her pants.

"Someone get this b.i.t.c.h off me," Sabine screamed as she tried to aim her gun toward Lexie as she was being pinned to the ground.

Lexie grabbed hold of her arm and twisted hard but Sabine refused to loosen her grip as they both struggled. Sabine knew she couldn't shoot Lexie or the deal would be off and she wouldn't risk it. She wound up and forced the heel of her hand into Lexie's jaw, momentarily stunning her.

Sabine managed to kick off the ground and spin Lexie around to pin her down. Lexie's knee came up to catch Sabine in the stomach enough to force her breath from her. Lexie's fist swung across Sabine's face and the sting made her eyes water. The gun was knocked from her hand as she struggled but she managed to get her hands around Lexie's neck. "What are you gonna do now, you stupid little b.i.t.c.h?" Sabine breathed fire. "Neil!" Sabine called over her shoulder.

Sabine looked down when she felt something hard pressed firmly against her stomach. Lexie had her gun aimed and ready to fire. Sabine narrowed her eyes*she was furious she lost the upper hand.

Someone grabbed her around the waist and hauled her off Lexie. Sabine tried to struggle, but the scene unfolding around her made her freeze. The Heathens were retreating. The bags of cash were gone. Their engines roared to life as their wheels kicked up the loose dirt, filling the air with a cloud of dust. Dread settled deep in Sabine's stomach. Her ticket out of this black hole of a town was slipping through her fingers.

Her men were lined up on their knees at gunpoint by men she didn't recognize. "What the f.u.c.k is going on here?" Sabine demanded as she was tossed to the ground next to Neil. She tried to scramble to her feet but a gun was pointed in her face.

She looked up at the bluest eyes she had ever seen and ground her teeth. "Are you Stodden's men?"

Blue eyes raised a brow as he looked down at her. "f.u.c.k no."

"Is anyone else here as turned on as I am?" the blond-haired man standing across the room asked. "Nothing gets the blood flowing like a good girl fight."

"Shut up, Ted," the dark-haired one said with a shake of his head as he helped Lexie to her feet.

"Who the f.u.c.k are you then?" Sabine demanded.

Her eyes travelled between all three men before settling on the one next to Lexie. His hands lingering on her body, the relief in his eyes, the way she leaned toward him as he whispered close to her ear, it was obvious they were lovers. Sabine shook her head in disbelief and rubbed her hands over her face.

The blue-eyed man with the gun pointed at her face reached in his pocket and pulled out a badge. Sabine looked at in confusion. She was trying to file all the pieces in place.

"Stodden's daughter is f.u.c.king a cop?" Sabine laughed deep and rich. "This is priceless. What does good old Daddy think of that?"

Lexie crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Sabine. "I couldn't care less about what he thinks."

"Well, that's one thing we can agree on," Sabine admitted. She looked around at the small group that had them at gunpoint. "You want Stodden? Is this what this is about? I will gladly tell you everything I know about that f.u.c.king piece of s.h.i.t..." Sabine trailed off when she felt a dull snap against her forehead. Her focus blurred and strange words filled her mouth and then vanished. She felt like she was suddenly tossed into a disturbing dream. She touched her face with a numb hand. Her eyes filled with hot, red liquid...then the world was swallowed in blackness.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

Lexie "Get down!" Jackson screamed as he pushed Lexie to the ground. She couldn't pull her eyes away from Sabine. Lexie didn't know if she had actually screamed or if her mouth was too paralyzed and the sound was trapped inside her head. Sabine's body crumpled to the ground. Neil fell next, hard and fast. The impact hit him in the chest as he tried to run away from the onslaught of bullets. Lexie's heartbeat exploded in a frenzy of panic, thinking they would be next. Her body thrummed with energy as her flee response hit overdrive. Bullets sprayed into the warehouse, hitting the walls and stirring up dust.

"Move," Jackson screamed out as Dane began firing through the overhead doors at a target Lexie couldn't see. She didn't waste any time as she scrambled to her feet and headed toward the entrance to the hallway. Jackson was on her heels. He placed his hand on her back and forced her to keep moving when she glanced behind her.

When Lexie neared the end of the dark narrow hall she slowed down. Teddy and Dane had followed behind them, holding off whoever was attacking.

"Stay here until I tell you it's clear," Jackson said as he pa.s.sed her a gun. Lexie took it from him and nodded. She couldn't find any words to speak. Her head felt like it was filled with cotton. Jackson pulled the door open and leaned out to see what was waiting outside before he slipped out.

"Jackson," Lexie called but he was gone and she was left grasping at air. Seconds stretched into minutes as she kept glancing between the door and the hallway where Dane and Teddy were blocking their pursuers.

"You all right, Lex?" Teddy asked as he b.u.mped her shoulder.

She tried to smile but she was terrified that Jackson wouldn't return.

"Don't worry about Jackson, that b.a.s.t.a.r.d has proved over and over that he's invincible," Teddy said as he slid a new clip in his gun. He stepped back in line with Dane as they held position.

Lexie jumped when the door opened unexpectedly. "Let's go." Jackson waved them out. Lexie's body swam in relief with his return. She quickly slipped through the door, wanting to get out of the building as quickly as possible. Teddy and Dane were close behind her.

Jackson pulled a large barrel toward the door and Dane helped him position it so whoever might try to follow would be blocked.

Lexie spun around to look around them. "How do you know its safe out here? Seems a bit strange that they wouldn't have the building surrounded, isn't it?"

"They wanted to drive us out of the building while they eliminated the others. They have all the road access blocked off." Jackson frowned thoughtfully. "This was planned."

"It sounds like they might want a little chat," Teddy said, looking at Jackson and then Lexie.

"Load up, boys, let's go find out what they have to say," Jackson said as he reloaded his guns.

"What about Lexie?" Dane asked with a nod.

"I'm a part of this too..." Lexie began.

"You're going to hang back out of sight," Jackson insisted.

"What?" Lexie frowned.

"You hanging back might be the only reason they don't shoot us down as soon as we step foot around the building," Jackson placed his hand on her arm and pulled her closer to him. It was too dark to see the look in his eye but she knew it well. It still reached deep inside her and stirred everything up.

Lexie could feel her eyes widen in panic as she grabbed hold of his shirt, balling the material in her tight fists. This moment felt like they were awaiting inevitable doom that loomed overhead, waiting to be unleashed. There was no way to know they would survive what was waiting for them. Lexie didn't care that they had an audience, she pulled him closer and he melted against her without resistance.

She was fueled with many emotions, all driving her toward Jackson. His lips met hers and her fingers twisted in his hair and pulled at his shoulders. Fear that this was the last time she would hold Jackson and taste him drove her to madness. She wanted to take a piece of him wherever she was meant to go.

"I'd say get a room, but our current circ.u.mstances make that a bit impossible." Teddy chuckled.

They all quieted as they heard a whistle pierce the air. Lexie pulled away to catch her breath. She still did not relinquish her hold; she wasn't ready to let him go.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," a male voice floated through the air. Lexie didn't know who was speaking, but his voice sent chills through her blood.

"It will be okay," Jackson a.s.sured her. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he gave her one last kiss. "Stay back, Lexie, I mean it."

She nodded as she watched the three of them approach the side of the building and disappear around the corner. Lexie pressed herself against the wall but she couldn't see anything from where she was. She needed to know what was happening, she hated hiding in the shadows.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed off the wall and neared the back of a dumpster that was situated on the side of the building. She ducked down low to try and see who was waiting out front.

"Always a pleasure, Jackson."

"Get the f.u.c.k on with it, Rosh," Jackson said irritably. They stood before a van with three men. The headlights from another vehicle shone upon them, lighting up the area. Two of them looked familiar to Lexie from her captivity with Stodden. The other, who Jackson called Rosh, she didn't recognize, but she knew the name. She knew he was the man who had been at the hospital the night her mother died. He was the same man who killed Jackson's father.

She covered her mouth for a moment, trying to calm her emotions and think about the right course of action. She held the gun firmly in her hand. Looking down, she wondered if she could hit him from where she was standing.

Lexie held the gun out in front of her, peering over the barrel at the face of the man named Rosh as he spoke with Jackson. Her finger shook on the trigger. Her whole body thrummed with emotion. She didn't know if she was capable of pulling the trigger and ending his life despite what he had done. There was an internal struggle warring her insides.

"You know I really didn't want it to come to this, but you didn't know when to leave things alone. You're so much like your father."

"Maybe, but there's a huge difference between us," Jackson responded with venom dripping from his words.

"Oh yeah, what's that?" Rosh pursed his lips.

"I know you're a lying piece of s.h.i.t," Jackson seethed.

Rosh laughed and shook his head. "Your father knew exactly who I was. It was his fault for thinking he could change me. I'll tell you what, let's make a little exchange." Rosh waved to the door of the van. One of the men standing with him opened it. Lexie couldn't make out what they were looking at, but she could see Jackson's entire body stiffen. A man stepped out with a gun before pulling someone out behind him. The man was bound and gagged as he tumbled to the ground. The man holding the gun hauled him to his feet and that's when Lexie finally got a clear view of his face. It was Giles. Lexie knew that Jackson was being made to choose between her and the man that represented the only family he had after his parents died.

"You look surprised?" Rosh said with a sinister smile. "Hand over the girl and I won't shoot his f.u.c.king brains out." Rosh held up the gun toward Giles' head.

"Don't..." Giles began but the man next to him hit him in the stomach with the b.u.t.t of his gun. Giles doubled over in pain before he was hauled back to his feet and shoved up against the van.

"Last chance," Rosh announced.