Warlords MC: Book 5 – Joker : Chapter 7

Shay strode over, smoothly, gracefully like a predator cat, silent on his feet. “So, you are Rowen.”

She stared up at him. “Am I supposed to salute too?”

He blinked at her. “Um, no. I would appreciate it if you didn’t.”

The brothers all chuckled.

Joker came over and sat beside her protectively, as he took her hand into his.

Shay paused then furrowed his brows and looked over at Ace.

Ace shrugged at him.

Shay turned and grabbed a chair then sat. “So, tell me your story.”

Rowen gazed up at Joker.

Joker gave her a nod as if to say go ahead, it is okay.

Rowen took a deep breath and began to talk. Some parts were hard. Like when she told of her grandfather’s death. She cried a bit. Then in a stony voice, she told some of what happened after the Eagles took her. She explained the theory she had about Jared. Of how that MC was connected to Jared.

When he heard her story, Shay shook his head. “What on earth made Jared think he could get away with this?”

Rowen turned confused eyes to him. “Get away with what?”

“We’ve been looking at Jared for a while now. We connected him to a kidnapping five years ago but had to pull back when our witness disappeared. Since then, we’re been monitoring his activities. We can tie him to the Eagle’s Talons MC but they hide their activities behind a wall of cement and no one knows what they’re doing. Then Ace called me this morning and tells me they had you and that you were behind those walls.” He shook his head. “Now that we know what’s been going on there, we can try to find the boats. There had to be at least two.”

“What else did you find out about my uncle?” She had to ask.

“I’m not sure you want to know.” Shay grimaced.

“I know he’s at Grandpa’s mansion with some of the Eagle’s right now,” Rowen informed him.

“And just how do you know that?” Shay asked.

“I spoke to Stafford Twinning this afternoon. I wanted him to know I was still here and still alive.”

“Ok, and what did he advise you to do?”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He wanted me to come home and let the police take care of me but I won’t do that. If Jared knows I’m still alive and that I’m free, he’ll come after me. The president of the Eagle’s has already told me that he will wait until he takes everything I have before he kills me and I believe he meant that. If I do go back, I can’t count on the police protecting me. Because Jared just won’t care who he has to kill to make sure I don’t survive.” She shook her head. “The police need to look at the hunting incident more carefully. I don’t believe it was a bear or a mountain cat that tore that place or those men apart.” She paused, then added, “I need closure so I can finally say goodbye. I haven’t got that yet and I need it.”

“I read about that in the papers.” Shay nodded. “What makes you think it wasn’t a bear or wild cat?”

“Four men were killed outright in four separate areas of the cabin,” she explained. “If a bear or cat had gotten in, the first man attacked would have screamed out a warning for the others to come and help him. The men would have all been in one area rather than four separate areas, don’t you think?”

Shay paused to think about what she said. “They were found in separate areas?” He looked over at the brothers. “That doesn’t make any sense, not if it was an animal like they claim.”

Rowen nodded. “That’s what I mean, nothing makes sense at all about that trip. Not only that but my grandfather’s body was never found. The police have assumed he’s dead because of the blood loss they found, not only in the cabin but in an area where they saw signs of a struggle.”

“Where is your grandfather’s cabin?” Shay wanted to know.

“Up in the mountains, over by Anaconda. It is huge with five bedrooms and a loft with two more bedrooms. Someone or something tore up the entire place.”

Shay looked at the brothers again, then back to her. “I can look into it if you’d like. You’re right, there is something odd going on here.” He paused and then looked her in the eyes again. “Ok, another question, how did you get taken? Doesn’t your grandfather have a security system in place?”

“They had to have the codes to get past the security my grandfather has. That’s the only thing that makes sense. I was sleeping when they came into my bedroom. I think there were three men. They grabbed me out of my bed and hauled me outside then put me into a van with two other women. They had me tied and gagged then took me to their compound.”

“Who were they?”

“Eagle Talons. Two or three days later, they took me from the cell area to the main compound, when I got outside I saw a line of women chained together. They were taking them to a boat.”

Shay nodded. “We’re going to get our people on the river looking for the boats.” Just then, his phone pinged and he had a phone call. He stepped out of the room to take it and they all heard his yelling at the caller for a moment, then they heard him hit the wall. Somewhere glass shattered and Shay was rubbing his hand when he came back. He stared at Ace. “Tell Charli I’ll replace the picture frame.” Then he looked over at Rowen. “I just got a call from the men I had watching the Eagle’s compound for the last few weeks. He told me the compound is now in shambles due to two huge explosions this afternoon.”

“Why are you mad about that? It’s a good thing.” Rowen shook her head.

Shay sighed. “How can we catch and convict or trace the women if it all went up in smoke?”

She slowly nodded at this reasoning. This man wasn’t easy to pin that was for sure.

Shay went on in disgust, “When they got the fires out, they were able to search the area, and they found the cells, there wasn’t much left of them but they did find a number of mementoes that they might be able to trace back to the owners. They also found three men in the clubhouse. They were dead. Each of them had their throat slit. Would you have any idea who could do something like this?”

Rowen thought about the man who rescued her, but she didn’t even know his name. She refused to give him up anyway. She shook her head slowly. “I do not know.”

“How did you get out of the compound?” Shay asked.

“To tell you the truth I have no idea,” she replied honestly. “I passed out the night before and Grinder left me hanging in chains, then I woke up here.” She looked around the room. “To tell you the truth, I don’t even know where here is.”

Shay studied her for a moment then again, looked at Ace. “Who brought her here?”

“An old friend,” Ace answered him.

When he didn’t say anything else Shay asked, “This old friend have a name?”

Ace just stared at him but wouldn’t say anything more.

Shay then again, glanced at Rowen. “Any idea where we can find the missing Eagles?”

She nodded. “Stafford told me they were guarding Jared at my grandpa’s home. I’m not sure who all is there but I can almost guarantee Grinder is there.”

“Why?” Shay asked.

“They’re waiting for Jared’s court date next week. The probate court will give out my grandfather’s estate. I believe Jared had me taken to stop me from collecting what he left me. Grandpa left me his company, his house, and a share of the money.”

“What did he leave Jared?”

Rowen shrugged. “Money. It’s all Jared is interested in. But with me missing, he could step in and claim it all. I know he’s living in the mansion at the moment.”

“Exactly how much money are we talking here anyway?” Shay wanted to know.

Rowen shrugged. “The money never mattered to me but I’d say maybe three hundred million? I know Grandpa left Jared a hundred fifty million.”

Joker whistled under his breath. “Are you kidding me?”

She shook her head. “That money was his, not mine. The company was something he built up over his lifetime. He earned it with his own sweat and blood. Jared never worked a day in his life because Grandpa paid all his bills. Even when Grandpa threw him out of the house, Jared expected him to pay for his lifestyle.”

“You know something little girl?” King asked her. “I’m beginning to hate your uncle.”

Rowen nodded. “Me too. Only you never had to suffer under his thumb.”

Joker thought about what she’d said her uncle tried to do after she lost her parents. How he tried to get her grandpa to throw her out of the mansion. He couldn’t help but wonder what he’d done when they were home alone.

“I’m going to call Stafford and get the details I need to figure things out here,” Shay told her. “I’m also going to keep watch on your grandfather’s place. I’m going to look into this hunting incident.”

“You do that and I hope you can find some answers.” She looked over at Joker. “I’m exhausted. Can you take me to your room?”

Joker got to his feet and gathered her into his arms. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes A single tear rolled down her cheek as he carried her down the hall from the kitchen where they had been talking.