Warlords MC: Book 1 – Ace (Truman) : Chapter 13

The ride back to the cabin was quiet, solemn. All of them thinking about the same thing—the next step. What would the next step be and would they hang around to watch the hell coming to Braaken Ridge?

Ace and his brothers knew enough information from their questioning of Token to know that Andy wasn’t involved in the reason behind their mission. He came in right after the incident that brought them all home. They weren’t looking for him but rather Tyron and Tyron’s boss. They could walk away right now if they wanted to, but that would leave Charli to face Andy and his father alone and that didn’t sit well with Ace or his brothers.

It really didn’t sit well with any of them leaving Charli alone in the world but they knew they couldn’t take her with them, so they were caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment. One, they didn’t really see a way out of, unless they stuck around long enough to help her clear up her little corner of the world. But they couldn’t afford to get caught up with the police if they hoped to keep their mission under wraps. If the wrong people knew they were hunting them, they could slide down the nearest rabbit hole and go underground. Then it could take years to dig them out again, and that wasn’t what the WarLords wanted.

Truman pulled the ATV he and Charli were riding to a stop in the yard just outside of the cabin.

Without a word to anyone, Charli got off and went inside the cabin. The screen door slamming behind her.

Truman looked over at the faces of the men around him. He shook his head and held up his hands in surrender. “Look guys, I know we have a mission to accomplish and we should move on to the next step but it doesn’t feel right leaving right now.”

“We have to help her finish what was started here,” Joker agreed. “Otherwise, it will be more than just Ben that gets caught in the crossfire and one of those with a target on her back will be Charli. From what she’s already said, he will get away with killing her because he’s got daddy’s corrupt protection at his back. He’s had it for years.” Joker nodded as he added, “And I owe her my life and you all know this.”

Deuce nodded with him. “The least we can do if you are thinking about staying is give her some pointers at what her next move should be.” Deuce didn’t like the idea of leaving the girl alone much either.

“No, I don’t think we’re leaving just yet.” Truman stared his brothers. “We’ll stay and give her a hand but we have to keep in the background. We’ll help her bring these motherfuckers down before we move on with the mission.”

King stood there with his arms crossed over his huge chest and glared at his brothers. “I’ll put a call in to the brothers back home.” He looked around at the woods and the cabin. “The boys should be here in a few hours with supplies to take these bitches down.”

Truman looked over at the cabin. He was glad his brothers wanted to help but he was worried that Charli wouldn’t let them. She might feel this was her fight. It had been her grandfather that died after all. But for some reason, it like seemed this was everyone’s fight and Charli needed to understand this.

He got off the ATV and started walking toward the cabin. His brothers fell in line behind him and as they did, he felt the strength of them all come together as a unit.

When they went inside the cabin, Truman and the others stopped and stared at the kitchen table.

Charli was laying out her own arsenal. She’d already laid out four rifles, two full size crossbows and two handheld crossbows. Several boxes of bullets and several hunting knives were lined up.

He lifted his head and stared in astonishment at the small woman and what she was doing now. He hadn’t known she had all this firepower here. When he stepped further into the cabin, he saw that the living room had changed drastically.

The wall next to the fireplace was open and he could see inside to what appeared to be a gunroom with racks and racks of guns. Right now, she was emptying it.

Deuce whistled low behind him and even King looked impressed.

“What the fuck is all this?” Truman wanted to know.

Charli barely looked up from what she was doing. “Before Ben got too old, he would rent this cabin out to hunters. Braaken Ridge used to be the place to go for a guided hunt.”

“Why didn’t we know about this room?” Ace asked.

Charli shrugged. “Like I said Ben got too old to do things anymore.” She avoided his question. “When I was in my last year of high school, he had a stroke about the same time and couldn’t keep up with it. He wasn’t always the old man you met the other day.”

“So why are you dragging all this out now?” Joker motioned toward the guns and crossbows.

“I need to get the guns cleaned up and ready to go. I can’t go after Andy without checking the weapons, can I?” She told him without looking at him.

“Do you have a plan?” Truman asked her.

Charli slowly raised her head and glared at him. She didn’t say anything for a moment then nodded. “Yeah hotshot, I gotta plan.” She laid ammunition up onto the table that she had sitting on a chair and seemed to be counting the bullet packs.

When she didn’t say anything else, King asked, “What is it?”

“Why do you need to know?” She cocked her head to one side and stared around at them.

“Because little girl,” King gritted between his teeth. “You aren’t going after these bastards alone and I’d rather not get killed in this backwater town. This town isn’t our mission.”

“This town may not be your “Mission” she air quoted the word. “But it’s my mission now and if you want to get on your big badass bike and leave this little backwater town in your rear view mirror then do it. You found what you came here for and there is nothing holding you here,” Charli spat out his words back to his face.

“We aren’t leaving you to fight these bastards alone, Charli.” Joker shook his head. “I owe you.” He reminded the group. “And I owe these bastards for what they did to me. Raising his head, he looked from one brother to the other. “Andy is the one who killed Alex. I know it. I read it in his face when he stabbed me in that fucking diner.”

Charli looked over at him with a smile. “You do not owe me anything, Joker. You are my hero.”

Truman shook his head.

“And who is this Alex you keep talking about?” Charli raised her head while looking from one brother to the next.

No one answered her.

She finally looked at Truman. “Or is he a secret? Is he the reason for your mission? The reason you’re here?”

He shook his head slowly. “The reason we came here was to find Joker. But yeah, Alex is part of the reason for this mission, but he isn’t the only part.”

“I see.”

“No I don’t think you do see. You don’t know what we’re up against so you can’t possibly see anything.” King growled.

Charli turned to glare at him. “Well, that’s hardly my fault now is it? Double talk is all you can seem to do, but it isn’t my business anyway. You have every right to keep your secrets same as I do.” She turned her gaze to Ace. “You came here to find your brother, you did that. I’m sorry you got temporarily pulled into the local bully situation. So feel free to leave before one of you gets hurt. After all, you have a mission and this isn’t your concern.”

“Are you looking to join Ben so soon?” Truman asked her cruelly.

Charli paled then looked away as she heaved out a deep sigh. “No not really, but I’m tired of being bullied, I’m sick of looking over my shoulder every fucking day. I’m tired of being afraid Andy and his boys will be there waiting for me around every corner. This is now my fight and I’ll give him a battle if that’s what’s required but I’m done looking the other way. Ben was right when he said it’s best to expose Andy and his dad. He said let the people living here know exactly what is happening right under their noses. That’s what I’m going to do, expose the corruption Oliver is trying to hide, every single person he’s paying off with cash or other favors will be in the spotlight. I’m going to expose Andy for the criminal he is. Tell the whole world about him and those fucking little blue pills he’s peddling. I will hurt both him and his daddy.”

“How are you going to do all that and not get yourself killed?” Deuce asked.

She raised her chin. “I’m going to talk to Token again. If anyone knows, he would. He’s been friends with Andy forever and Andy wouldn’t be afraid to share what his father is doing, bragging to his inner circle about exactly what his dad is doing. He would feel the need to brag about how clever his dad is and the fact that he’s following in his old man footsteps.”

“So which one of them are you going to start with?” Truman asked with a raised brow.

“I’m going to hit them both together. As soon as its gets dark, I’m heading out to the building we saw Andy dealing out of. If I find even one little blue pill there, I’ll burn it to the ground. Then I’m going to the old mill and see what kind of operation he’s got going there too. If it’s what I think it is, the fire department is going to be very busy tonight.”

“He’ll come after you with both barrels,” Truman countered.

Charli nodded. “Probably, but he’ll have to find me first. I don’t plan on making this easy for him.”

“And just where will you go?” King asked. “You got this cabin or the house. You don’t think he’ll find you?”

“See that’s your problem and its gonna be Andy’s as well. He’s going to go to the usual places and he’ll probably destroy both places but this old farm has more to offer than just the cabin or the house.” She looked back down at the crossbow and tested the lever.

“What does that mean?” Truman asked.

“You remember the bullet I took the other day?” Charli asked. At his nod, she continued, “Andy hasn’t seen me since, so he probably doesn’t know if I’m dead or alive. He won’t be sure who set the fires. He may think he knows but he’ll always have that tiny bit of doubt in his mind.” She set the crossbow aside.

“What about Token?” Truman asked. “You can’t leave him here and you made that man a promise. You promised to watch over his mom and grandma.”

Charli nodded and picked up a rifle, looking through the site. “I already called his mom. I explained the situation and she knows what danger they are in. She never did like that Token was so tight with Andy. She’s going to take her mother and visit a friend in another town far from here. She left this morning after I called her.” She set the weapon down.

Joker stared down at the array of weapons. “And Token? What about him?”

“I’ll give him a choice. That’s more than he would ever get from Andy and I think he knows it. Andy promised him a bullet in the head and Token would be a damn fool if he went back for that. He won’t even have a chance to explain anything to Andy before he shoots him. Andy always acts first and asks questions like never.” She took out an oiling cloth and oiled the shotgun.

“So how do you plan to take down his dad?” Jack asked.

“By exposing his shenanigans to the people who voted him into office. I’m going to find out who is on his payroll and let the press work for all of us. I have contacts I can use and they will dig into any claims made. He’s been hiding behind his fake smile for too dammed long.” Charli squinted as she looked down the barrel of the shotgun.

“Let me ask you something,” one of the brothers called Storm spoke up as he and his brothers watched her handling all the weapons.

“What is that?” Charli set the large gun down then turned to look at him.

“Do you think he’s in on the drug deals with his son?”

“Is he dealing along with Andy?’ She seemed to consider this.’ I doubt it. I don’t know what his sins are but Oliver just doesn’t seem the type to be dealing drugs. Is he taking a share of the proceeds? Oh, without a doubt. Oliver likes to live the good life. He likes to spend money and his job doesn’t pay enough for him to enjoy his lifestyle.” She picked up a pistol as she paused like she’d just thought of something. “Is it possible that both of them are using? I didn’t think about that before but I haven’t had that much to do with Oliver. I know Andy uses. He doesn’t even try to hide his addiction. That’s what makes him so unpredictable.” She looked over at Truman. “But I know who we can ask.” She stood from the table full of weapons and made her way to the shed.

Ace and his brothers followed her.

Storm stepped up and opened the door for them all.

Token looked up at them. “Now what the hell do you want?” he asked wearily.

“I want to know if Oliver and Andy are using what they sell?” Charli demanded.

Token closed his eyes and groaned. “Charli, I can’t tell you that. Andy will kill me if I do.”

Charli rolled her eyes. “Andy is going to kill you anyway. He told you that much. He said he wouldn’t even waste time asking you if you ratted him out, he’d just pop a cap in your head. If he sees you again, you’re a dead man walking anyway.”

Token shook his head. “He wouldn’t dare. I know too much.”

“And that’s why he’ll do it without hesitation,” Charli assured him. “He can’t take the chance you did talk. You know how paranoid he is. Loyalty means nothing to him and you damn well know it.”

Token hung his head and groaned. “Yeah I do, but then he’s under a lot of pressure from his dad too. His dad has some high powered contacts coming in next week. I’m pretty sure they are the ones behind the drugs Andy’s supplying.”

Truman frowned and glanced over at his brothers. “Contacts?”

Token nodded. “People he got to know several years ago in Denver…Something happened back then about four years ago. I don’t know what it was but it shook Oliver something bad. Andy said his dad tried to cut all contact with these guys but the one guy wouldn’t let him. That was about the time his mom had her car accident. She almost died. For a while, Oliver had something going on with these men but Andy never said what it was.”

Truman grew interested. Could it be possible that Oliver knew or was involved in what happened four years ago in Denver?

“Do you know the name of his contact?” King asked.

Token shook his head. “Not his real name but I did overhear him on the phone one day… he called the guy by the name of Gauntlet or something like that. I wasn’t really paying that much attention.”

Truman froze but it didn’t show on the outside. The same couldn’t be said about King and Joker—they simply looked at one another.

Charli knelt down in front of Token. “I called your mom and she got herself and your granny out of town for a while. She said to tell you no matter what you do, you’ll still be her child but that she hopes you can pull yourself out of this mess and be the man she always thought you could be.”

Token hung his head. “I’m going to die before this is over aren’t I?”

“If you stay with Andy, yes you will. He’s so far gone; he doesn’t have anything left to lose. He will kill whomever he has to now, to save his own ass. But he will kill you and me before this is over.”

Token raised his head and stared at her. “Then why are you still here?”

Charli grinned. “When Andy killed Ben this morning, I figured I got nothing left to lose, he took everything I cared about and tossed it into the garbage. Well now, it’s my turn to return the favor. I’m going to rip that man apart and leave him with nothing but a jail cell in his future.”

“What are you going to do with me?”

Charli stood up and reached for the knife at her waist.

Token looked worried for a moment then closed his eyes when she bent over him.

“You’ve always been a dumb shit Token,” she whispered as she reached around behind his back and cut the ropes that bound him to the chair. “I won’t allow Andy to turn me into a killer, but if I were you, I would run. As far and as fast as I could, I would get out of this town and make something of myself. If I were you… but I know you’re too chicken to try.”

“You’re letting me go?” Just like that?” Token exclaimed.

“Just like that.” Charli nodded. “I know you’ll either betray us to Andy or he’ll kill you the moment he sees you. That’s a choice only you can make. Its time for you to be a man, Token. Be a good one, be the man your mom thinks you can be. The one she hopes you will be.” She motioned for the door. “Get out of here and I hope to hell, I never see you again.”

Token got up and walked carefully to the door. He looked back and studied her for a moment then made up his mind about something. “That building on Rudy’s property? Make sure you check the basement. There was a shed there once, Andy tore it down and when he built that new building he found the tunnel and made it into a big room with stairs leading down into it. He thought it might have been an escape tunnel. Andy just uses it to hold his stash until it’s picked up.” Then he walked back over to Charli and put his hands around her face. Leaning in, he kissed her deeply. They both heard Ace growl.

Token broke the kiss and backed away. Holding his arms out, he nodded at the other man. “Sorry man, but that is something I’ve wanted to do since high school. I didn’t because Andy claimed her but that didn’t mean I haven’t wanted to do it.” Then he turned and walked out of the shed.

Charli stood there staring at the shed door. She shook her head to clear it then she looked at Ace and saw the glare he was giving her. She shrugged then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

She walked toward the door to leave when Ace grabbed her and hauled her into his arms then kissed her, hard and deep. Her arms circled his neck and they groaned together.

A moment later, King cleared his throat. When they ignored him, he did it again, this time after he cleared his throat he coughed. “We really don’t have time for this shit. We really don’t.”

Ace broke the kiss and looked down into her dazed eyes.

She pulled herself away and blushed deep red. Turning on her heels, she walked out the door.

Ace looked over at his brothers and grinned then shrugged his shoulders. He smiled then went out the door behind Charli. When he left, he was whistling a tune.

Joker looked over at King and shook his head. “I hope to hell he knows what he’s doing.”

King snorted, “Of course, he doesn’t.”

“So it looks like we’re staying, at least through next week doesn’t it?” Joker stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“Fucking hell.” King swore. “If she starts her campaign, we won’t need to stay until next week. Gauntlet will go underground so fast that we’ll never find him. All we’ll manage to do is clean up this damn town. Our mission will crumble down around our ears.”

“Either that or it will bring him to us, instead of us tracking his ass down,” Joker suggested.

“We have to be prepared for either scenario,” King said. Looking toward the door, he shook his head. “I just wish Ace had his game on. She’s distracting him and that’s so not like him. That could just get us all killed.”

Joker grinned. “You might be surprised by Charli. She isn’t a wilting flower. She’s tougher than you think. You just wait and see.”

King scoffed. “She’s going to have to have balls of steel to get through the next few days. That’s all I got to say.”

Joker just smiled at his brother.