Warlords MC: Book 6 – Traven : Chapter 14

Will and Winter went to their rooms before the rest of the men called it a night.

After she wrapped her blanket around her shoulders, she went to stand at the window while she thought about the events of the day. She figured Pepper was just being a bad ass but she really didn’t trust him. She knew he was after one man that betrayed his MC but this was much bigger than just one man.

What was going on at Shadow camp was just part of the whole. She knew Will had found more than one other camp and they wouldn’t be able to stop with just this one. She leaned her forehead against the glass pane and wondered how she and Will got caught up in all of this.

Then she remembered Matty and Brady. Part of her wanted to just end them both. The other part just wanted to hide her head in the sand and pray they would just go away. She knew she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t just run away either. It would take everything she had inside her to stand and face them. But for Will’s sake she would do it.

She was so intent on thinking she didn’t realize Traven had joined her at the window. She started when she felt his arms wrap around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. “What the hell are you doing?” she whispered as her heart began pounding in her chest.

“I came to check on you and saw you standing here,” he whispered in her ear. “I would have thought you’d be tired tonight.”

“Oh, I am but I’m also too worked up to sleep.” She leaned against him and stared out the window.

“What are you looking at so hard?” He wanted to know.

“I’m looking into my past. I’m trying to remember what turned my two older brothers in such monsters and I can’t even think about any one thing that happened back then that would have done it. I do remember a time when my dad was out searching for them and Mom was waiting at home, praying that he would bring them both home safely. I guess I was just too young to worry about it at the time. That was about two years before they murdered her. So I was only about eleven or twelve at the time.” She shook her head. “I guess I was like any other kid at the time, I just didn’t pay attention to anything outside my own world.”

Traven held her close. “Don’t blame yourself, you were just a kid at the time.”

“I know.” She nodded. “I guess what really woke me up was when I saw and heard them kill my mom. I didn’t know it then but they were both high. All I remembered was they looked like devils out of hell that day.” She hesitated then told him, “I saw that same look in Pepper’s eyes today. Maybe not as strong but there was something in his eyes that shook me.”

Traven glanced at her reflection in the glass. “I hear you,” he admitted. “He’s got a hard on about the man who he feels betrayed his MC by dealing drugs, then just riding away. I think he’s only here to get closer to catching him.”

“I noticed he had a busted nose and a fat lip tonight,” she pointed out.

“Yeah, he did.” Traven growled. “He let his mouth get away with him and I called him on it.”

“With your fist?” she wanted to know.

“Yep.”

“Ok.” She sighed. “I don’t think I want to know.”

“That might be for the best,” he agreed.

“So what happens now?” she asked.

“We go after the camp tomorrow night. I’m hoping we can catch them unaware. That might be a stretch but we have to try.”

“How far are you willing to take this?” she asked.

“All the way, sweetheart.”

Just then, someone pounded on Traven’s door.

Traven left her room and opened his door.

Dax stood on the other side and he looked worried. “I really hate to be the one to bring this to you but we got some men AWOL.”

Traven grabbed him by the shirt and backed him up against the wall behind him. “Tell me it isn’t your president and the others that came here with him.”

“I can’t,” Dax admitted. “They must have slipped out shortly after everyone went to bed.” He shook his head. “I waited for an hour then checked on them and they weren’t in their rooms.”

“What the hell does he think he’s doing?” Traven growled.

Dax shook his head. “Pepper doesn’t take betrayal well at all. When we caught Chewy and Ricco with the drugs, Chewy must have known it. He told Ricco he needed to make a stop and Ricco came home where Chewy just drove away. This is the first time he’s gotten a lead to follow. Pepper just couldn’t let it go and now, he’s out there going after Chewy on his own.”

“He’s gonna tip our hand and tell everyone at the Shadow camp that we’re watching them. That stupid fucker.” Traven swore.

“Yeah, I know.” Dax shook his head.

“Fucking hell, we don’t need this right now.” Traven set the other man down and went down the hall, pounding on doors.

Everyone assembled in the main room.

Traven told them the news. “We got some men AWOL.” He glared at Phantom. “Pepper and Jackman went after their man Chewy tonight. Dax here, came and told me.”

Phantom looked troubled. “Damn, man. I’m sorry. I mean I have known him for years, but I really didn’t think he would go off halfcocked.”

Traven shrugged. “I can’t lay the blame on you.” He glanced at Ace. “Nor any of you. We all took a chance on him and failed. So, they’re going to the camp to find this asshole Chewy and we have to go after them. Hopefully, before they get dead.”

“Who goes with you and who stays here to protect your place?” Ace asked.

“I’m going,” Winter spoke up as she stepped into the room.

“No, you’re not,” Traven stated as he glared at her.

“Oh, yes I am,” she insisted. “You don’t know where they house their prisoners when they have them. I’ve been watching that camp now for weeks. I know how to create a distraction so you can get in and get them out, if they’re still alive.”

Venom nodded. “She’s got a point.”

“I know she does but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Traven growled.

“We’re wasting time here,” she pointed out. “They have at least an hour on us and we have to move.”

“Then let’s go.” Traven motioned for the door. “I want two men from my Rideras and two men for the Warlords. We can’t take too big a group without them noticing, so six is a big enough group. We take the trucks because we have to bring them back or their bodies. Let’s ride.” He turned and grabbing Winter by the arm, he dragged her out to the SUV.

Venom followed him and got in the back seat.

Traven noticed Ace and Deuce got into the other SUV with Flint and they both took off.

An hour later, they pulled into the woods near the camp. They found Pepper’s truck quick enough. They all went to the back of the SUV and got their weapons and whatever else they needed.

Winter handed Flint a small amount of C4. “To get their attention away from the building they keep the prisoners in, you might have to light the ammo hut up. If that fails, you might need to set a charge and just blow the fucker up.”

Traven raised a brow at the fact she was packing C4 around.

Flint looked over at Traven and at his nod, Flint swore.

Deuce nodded. “That would work. They will scramble to get the fire out and if they don’t know there’s a charge set, we could really do some damage to their numbers.”

Winter snorted. “Not to mention it would seriously deplete their ammo count. They may have the guns but without the ammo, their guns won’t shoot.”

Ace chuckled. “That’s gonna piss them off.”

Traven again shook his head. The little girl had lethal ideas, all right. “Okay, let’s move in.” Traven shut the back door and they all moved out.

As they got closer, Winter pointed out the different storage areas. She pointed out the ammo hut and across the compound then to the hut where they were most likely holding the Ghost Riders…. If they were still alive.

Traven stayed with her while the others disappeared into the darkness.

After about twenty minutes, they noticed movement in the camp. They were all headed toward the ammo hut. Then someone started shouting about a fire and the members rushed along.

Winter and Traven could see the fire now, and it appeared to be getting out of hand. Men in the camp were running and shouting now, as they tried to contain the fire or get the ammo out of danger.

Then Flint and Deuce rejoined them, they both smelled of smoke and slightly like gas.

Winter gasped as she watched the men in the camp running toward the fire.

Then Ace and Venom were spotted dragging Pepper and Jackman along with them.

They rushed over and helped their men get the wounded men away. They were about half way back to the SUV’s when the ground rocked and there was a blast behind them.

Venom and Deuce ducked and swore.

“Son of a bitch.” Deuce snarled. “How much of that shit did you use?” He glared at Flint.

Flint just grinned. “Just about enough I’d say.”

Traven glared at Pepper as he finally opened his eyes.

The man had been beaten pretty badly. “I’m surprised you came after us,” Pepper said.

“Well, I almost didn’t, you mother fucker.” Traven growled.

“Fuck a duck, they were ready for us. They knew we were coming,” Pepper informed the others.

“Don’t waste your breath here.” Traven glared at him. “We’ll get back and you can tell us then.” He helped Pepper into his SUV.