LYRIC (Aces MC Series Book 6.5) Page 17

  "Did anyone come back the other day with marks on their face or hands?" He ignored my comment and went about asking his own questions.

  I sighed, "You'll have to be more specific dad. Three of them work in a garage and have cuts and grazes on them all the time." I turned to lean against the outside wall of the hospital.

  "Stop being flippant. Did any of them have cuts like he had been in a fight?"

  "Possibly." My thoughts quickly turned to TUGS, he had been in a fight although he didn't say much about it because he was upset regarding the poisoning of his dogs.

  "Well one of them has been brought in regarding a rape on a nineteen year old."

  His comments didn't ring right. There was no way one of these guys would have raped a woman and certainly not TUGS.

  "Are you sure you've got the right person dad?" I hoped that he would arrest someone on evidence rather than jumping to conclusions.

  "She gave a description and said he was wearing a cut with his club colours."

  I was rendered speechless.

  "Victoria, are you still there?"

  I nodded, "Yeah."

  "I know this has probably come as a blow but you're too good for him anyway. It's best you find out now what he's like before something happens between you two."

  "What the fuck are you talking about dad?" I pushed from the wall and paced outside the hospital.

  "Like a relationship or something."

  "You're unreal. I'm not seeing anyone dad." Two ladies having a cigarette outside the building turned to stare at me as I raised my voice.

  "I'd beg to differ. If a man spends the night in a woman's bed, I'd say something was going on." His tone was disrespectful.

  "Do not judge people by your fucking standards." I responded in a low growl.

  "You need to keep yourself safe. I don't want you spending another night in that place do you hear me?"

  I ended the call and slipped the phone into my handbag. TUGS surely couldn't be responsible for the rape. I didn't know him well but I considered myself to be a good judge of character none the less. He portrayed a caring nature and thought the world of his dogs, how could he then switch and become an evil predator. I had so many questions whirling around my head. When and where was this supposed to have happened? The evening TUGS came back with cuts and bruises, he spent with me. I felt sick. I entered the hospital and slowly walked through the corridor. I felt the bile rise up my body. Running for the bin, I made it just in time and spewed the contents of my stomach into the black plastic bag. I cupped it with both arms hoping for this feeling to pass put it didn't and I vomited again.

  "Here, take this young lady."

  I glanced to my side to see an older gentleman. He handed me a handkerchief and I gratefully took it to wipe my mouth.

  "Thank you."

  "Are you okay?" he asked concerned.

  "I've just had some bad news. I didn't think that I would react that way." I folded the handkerchief over to conceal the vomit.

  "The body works in mysterious ways. You look after yourself." The gentlemen slowly turned and made his way back across the corridor to sit in his seat alongside his wife.

  I smiled as I stood from my crouching position and slowly made my way towards the ward that Lyric was on. I needed to speak to Duke about this incident to see whether he had any further information but then he would ask me how I knew. I groaned at the thought. They would know that my dad was behind it and resent me even further.

  I pushed on the door to Lyrics room and was surprised that Duke wasn't by his side.

  "Where's Duke gone?" I asked.

  "Something's gone down at the clubhouse so he's gone to sort it out." He looked everywhere but at me.

  "Has TUGS been arrested?" I folded my arms across my chest and waited for his response.

  He seemed surprised by my question. "What makes you ask that?"

  "I've just been on the phone to my dad. He informed me that TUGS has been arrested for rape." I sat in the chair beside Lyrics bed and rested my head in my hands.

  "And by that look you think he's guilty."

  I groaned, "I don't know what to believe anymore Lyric."

  "What does this tell you?" I looked up to see him point to his head and waited for a response.

  "He came home that night with cuts and bruises. When I asked him how he got them, he stated that he didn't want to discuss it." I should've pushed him for answers.

  Lyric nodded. "And what does this tell you?" he pointed to his heart.

  "That he's one of the kindest men I have ever met and that he wouldn't do a thing like that, ever."

  Lyric sat quietly as I contemplated my own words. I had a lot of thinking to do.

  Chapter 14

  Katie

  "Fazer, I don't understand." He held my forearm roughly as he dragged me inside.

  "You don't need to understand, you just need to do as you're told." His tone was giving nothing away but I knew he was agitated.

  I smirked, "I have done everything you've asked of me since I was thirteen years old so don't even try that one." I had given up everything, friends, family and a possible career because of one cock up that the Dyers had orchestrated.

  "Sit down." I drew my brows, not liking his tone. "I said sit down." Fazer and I had a turbulent relationship, if you could call it that. I did as I was told and sat on the armchair waiting for him to continue.

  "You push and push all the time, until I lose my temper." This time he shouted and I realised he was losing control because the usual cool, calm and collective mask had slipped.

  I sat quietly, there was no point in me trying to argue with him as he would only get more irate.

  "I watched you dance and chat with him all night. Do you really think I'm that stupid to think nothing is going on?" Fazer leaned over me.

  I rolled my eyes, "Nothing is going on." I said calmly. I needed to keep the situation calm, otherwise I would only make things worse.

  Fazer grabbed me around the neck restricting my airways. I grappled with his hand trying to prise his fingers but he was too strong. I opened my mouth wide trying to gulp air into my lungs as I kicked out. No sooner had he grabbed me he let go and stepped back. I doubled over and wheezed hard.

  "I could take your life like that." Fazer clicked his fingers.

  "But why?" I managed to get out between coughs.

  He grinned, "Why not? You're disposable Kate. Remember that!"

  "I can do nothing but remember, you remind me every single day!" I continued to breathe heavily.

  "You'll be staying here until I get an important call." He ignored my comment and stepped back as if remembering what the plan was for me.

  I glanced around my surrounding, "Won't the wife be a little upset with that?" He had brought me to his house that he shared with Lisa and the twins. I was currently in their living room but there was no way she would put up with me being around. She knew about me, I was on the scene long before Lisa so she had to put up with it because Fazer wouldn't have it any other way. He was the top dog around here, no one ever said no to him that was just the way things were.

  "Don't fucking talk about her." Fazer snapped.

  I shrugged. "I'm just stating the obvious. What are we going to do, play happy families until you decide to dispose of me?" I shouldn't be goading him but my patience was running thin with him thinking he could run my life forever.

  Lyric made me question things that I hadn't in years, he had also made me feel things that I was ashamed to admit. He had given me a taste of what he was capable of but now I wanted more. I would never admit that to Fazer because he would make him disappear.

  He reached down into a bag that I hadn't seen and removed a reel of tape. His eyes glistened as they met mine and he pulled a length of sticky tape before cutting it with his teeth.

  "Hands together now," he ordered.

  "Come on Fazer, we don't need to be doing this." I could sometimes talk him down but this evening he seemed to h
ave other things on his mind.

  His phone buzzed. Fazer eagerly took the phone from his jean pocket and glanced at the screen before returning it.

  "I won't ask again." His tone told me that he was serious.

  I slowly placed my arms out allowing him to wrap the tape around my wrists. "I'll play fair Fazer, you know I will. We don't have to do this though." He ignored me and continued to wrap the tape tightly. I had been on the receiving end of multiple beatings over the years but what was strange this time around was that Fazer was directly involved. He usually sent his hench men to give me a kicking and put me out of action for a while but this time he was getting his own hands dirty.

  Fazer grabbed my wrist and made me stand. "Where are you taking me?"

  "Like you said, I can't leave you here so you'll need to go somewhere else." He directed me from the house. As we stepped out onto the driveway, I noticed other members of the Dyers stand to attention. Jevon opened the door to the vehicle and Fazer bundled me inside before getting in next to me.

  "Aww this is cosy." He smiled wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "That little stunt you played by sending Lyric a note, that was good babe, real good."

  I swallowed hard as I glanced in his direction. How did he know about the note?

  Fazer sniggered, "Did you really think you could do anything without me knowing?" Jevon got into the car and started the engine.

  "That kid went straight to Tyresse." My eyes widen at the thought. I had looked after Billy for the past two years making sure that he was fed and watered and he had betrayed me.

  "We met your little mate at the park as instructed and gave him a kicking. He gave up a fight, apparently he's a good little fighter but he is currently in hospital licking his wounds." Fazer stated smugly.

  The car moved. I didn't know where we were going or what he was going to do to me. My fate was already sealed, it had been since the day I got on that train for the Dyers, at the age of thirteen.

  I turned to stare out of the window, I didn't want to engage in conversation. I had allowed my want for a normal life, take over my rational thinking and because of that, Lyric had been put in danger. My life had no relevance. If I were to die, there was no one that would miss me. I had no friends or family and that was such a sad existence.

  We drove for around twenty minutes. It was dark outside so I didn't know where we were but knew we would be at our destination soon because the Dyers wouldn't work outside their territory.

  As the trees cleared, I noticed the vehicles and immediately recognised who we were meeting.

  He always rode his Harley and since becoming President, he also had many people following him. Paranoia had gotten the better of him and fear had earned him a large following. He made my stomach twist with unease and that's probably why we were here.

  Fazer nodded towards Flex as he exited the vehicle.

  Flex flicked his fag on the ground and stomped towards the window I was looking out of.

  "Has she been stepping out of line?" he asked as if I weren't here.

  "She's started to get close to Lyric. He's sniffing around asking too many questions so we've put him in hospital to shut him up for a while." Fazer seemed pleased with his own response.

  "Will this have repercussions to our plan?" Flex glared at Fazer. What plan were they talking about?

  Fazer shook his head, "It shouldn't do. I've had to take her out of operations though so that will slow down production."

  Flex nodded, taking everything in.

  "I was kinda hoping that you'd be able to take her now rather than later." Fazer had made his way around the vehicle to stand beside Flex.

  "Ain't gonna happen. I've got too much going on, putting everything into place. You need to keep hold of her and keep her safe until she's needed." I caught Flex's eye, he gave me a wink making my skin crawl.

  Fazer quickly glanced in my direction before returning his attention back to Flex. "How much is she going to be worth?"

  "More than your wildest dreams." Flex continued to smile at me but I turned away.

  I had heard bits of their plan during recent months but I wasn't privy to the finer details. The where, the how and the why were kept secret.

  "I need another couple of weeks. Once everything's sorted, I'll happily take her off your hands. I may even have a go myself before the trade off." I heard the humour in his voice as he spoke. He was a sick individual that needed bringing down. The problem I had though, is that I hadn't been able to inform Lyric of their plans so he could warn Mitchell and the others. I needed to think of a plan and quickly before it was too late.

  Chapter 15

  Duke

  "Is it her?" Diesel asked contemplating the information we had.

  I shrugged, "I really don't know. She's of similar age but that's all I really have to go on."

  "That's right, she could've dyed her hair and we don't know what body type she has or height. We're screwed to find out more also because Lyric can't meet up with her anymore." Spike fidgeted clearly feeling as helpless as I did.

  "But, we need to do this because if there is a slim chance that it is Kate, my Kate, then I'm doing this."

  Spike and Diesel nodded as they agreed. They knew that my heart would rule my head in this situation and that's why I had brought them along. I needed them to rein me in because I would take unnecessary risks and I couldn't be doing that because of Ash and the baby.

  The Jeep door opened and Recon and Justice jumped in quickly. We all turned to face them.

  "Any news?" I asked impatiently.

  Recon shook his head, "No one is talking. I tried bribes, violence and sex."

  Diesel sniggered but I just couldn't see the funny side. We were running out of time to locate her. Our surveillance had proved that the Dyers were trading as usual but without Kate and no one was talking.

  I banged the steering wheel hard out of pure frustration. "Think guys, think! If we had someone hostage, where would we keep them?"

  "In a safe house." Justice answered quickly.

  "But we currently can't locate any safe houses that the Dyers own so where else?" I glanced around the group waiting for answers. "Do they have any associates?" I asked the group impatiently.

  "Not that we know of, they like to work alone." Recon had looked into this already and I found myself regurgitating information trying to piece the puzzle.

  There was a light knock on the Jeep window. Spike slid the door open to see a young girl sitting on a bike.

  "Can I help you?" Spike asked.

  The young girl smiled showing the gaps in her teeth. "I hear that you're looking for Kate."

  "Who told you that?" Recon asked defensively.

  She was around seven years old and didn't pose a threat although she may have been running errands for the Dyers.

  The young girl rolled her eyes. "My information will cost you. About £30 will do it."

  Recon laughed hard, "Fuck off, we ain't got time for your shit." He reached over Spike to grab the door handle. Spike flashed him a look before returning his attention back to the young girl.

  "What information do you have?" Spike asked in a calm voice.

  "Are you the monkey or the organ grinder?" she cocked her head to the side sizing all of us up.

  Recon lurched forward but I quickly grabbed his shoulder to yank him back.

  She smiled, "You're wasting time and I know who you need to speak too." She placed one foot onto the peddle of her bike and was about to ride off.

  Diesel quickly opened the passenger door and jumped from the Jeep, stopping the girl from riding.

  "Okay you have our attention, now give us the information." Diesel placed two hands firmly onto the handlebars preventing her from moving.

  She held out her right hand. "Money first and then I'll give you the information." Justice laughed at her audacity.

  Diesel quickly turned to face the group with a look of bemusement. "Anyone got any cash?"

  The guys shrugged.
Spike pulled out his wallet and had a £20 note and Recon had the same. Spike grabbed the note from Recons hand and handed it to the little girl.

  "I don't suppose you have change?" Recon asked to the sniggers from Justice.

  She took the money and folded the notes before placing them in the top pocket of her jean jacket.

  "You need to speak to Rosie." She replied quietly.

  "And who is Rosie?" I asked hoping that her information wasn't bullshit.

  The little girl placed her two hands onto the grips either side of the handlebars. "That biker man walked her home the other day and his two friends picked him up."

  I glanced at Recon, "Get on the phone to Lyric or the Prospects. Find out where she lives."

  Diesel smiled and let go of the frame, "Thank you."

  "You're welcome." She manoeuvred her bike and rode down the street towards the park.

  "I can't believe that cost us £40." Recon mumbled to himself.

  I turned on the engine letting Diesel know that he needed to get in the vehicle quickly. Once he was in the seat beside me, I pulled into the traffic, "That information was worth every penny."

  I pulled on to the high street, not knowing which direction I needed to go in yet because Recon was still trying to get the information from Buster.

  I heard them discus directions but I was becoming agitated.

  "It'll be fine Duke, we'll get the address and then we can make our way to this Rosie's house. She'll hopefully know where Kate is."

  I nodded, I wasn't feeling very talkative and Diesel knew not to push for a conversation.

  "Right, 256 Bisterne Avenue, just off of Wood Street."

  I nodded, I knew where that was and indicated to turn right at the t-junction heading in that direction.

  "Recon you come with me." I turned off the engine and handed the keys to Diesel. "If shit hits the fan, just get out of here.

  I knew that he wouldn't leave us, I just needed to give him instructions so my conscience was clear should something happen.