If he dies, I’ll never recover.

I have to get there.

CHAPTER 20

PRESENT – CIARA

Hogan’s compound is huge, and when I say huge, I mean it. There are six large sheds, two houses, a large building and a mass amount of Harley-Davidsons lined up. God, Spike is putting himself into a death trap.

I spent the entire day following the two bikers, and when they caught up to Spike’s group, I followed them to a long, empty dirt road that has a perfect view of Hogan’s compound without them being seen or heard easily.

I parked my car far down the road after they went down it, so they wouldn’t see it. Then I got out and I walked the rest of the way. Now I’m crouched behind a mass of trees, peering over at the compound. Spike, Cade, Jackson and Granger are all huddled together in a group, talking frantically amongst themselves.

There’s also a man in a car. He’s only young, but he’s wearing Jackson’s colors, so I guess he’s one of Jackson’s guys. He’s on the phone, talking quickly. I watch as Spike turns, and waves at the man in the car. He gets out, and joins the group. I can’t hear what they’re saying, and if I move closer, they’ll see me. I have to pick the right moment to show myself - if I don’t, I could get us all killed.

My heart is thumping, and sweat is running down my face. I’m so terrified, my entire body tingles with fear. I wipe my hand over my face as I watch them talking to the strange man, and pointing to the compound and the car. The man nods, listening, and then he turns and gets back into the vehicle.

Then the car moves. I get out of my crouching position to see where it’s going. I realize when it pulls out onto the road, and then turns, that it’s going to Hogan’s lot. Oh. My. God. They’re sending someone in? That’s so dangerous, so incredibly dangerous. I get on my tiptoes, trying to see more, and I end up falling backwards. I land with a loud crash into a bush behind me. I curse and squirm, trying to get up. It takes me a few minutes, and when I look up, I see four bikers standing and pointing guns down at me. I squeal, and suddenly I’m being hurled up and Spike’s hand is clamped over my mouth.

“What the motherfuck are you doing here?” he snarls into my ear.

He lets my hand go, and I shove at his chest. “You lied to me!”

“You fuckin’ followed me. Ciara, what the fuck? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?”

“You could be killed! You didn’t think that would matter to me?”

“You fuckin’ stupid girl,” he growls, his body heaving. “You don’t fuckin’ mess with a bikers business. You need to get the fuck out of here, right now.”

“No,” I cry.

“Prez, she needs to fuckin’ leave, now,” Granger hisses. “Fuck, she’s goin’ to get us killed.”

“Fuckin’ right she does,” Cade adds. “Ciara, what the fuck were you thinkin’? Biker business is just that, and it ain’t none of yours...you need to go.”

“You guys can’t do this, you can’t...”

I’m cut off, because I hear a mass amount of bullets being fired. I yelp, and Spike spins around. All four of them begin running toward their viewing point, and I follow. When I look down, I see a very dead man on the ground. It takes me a moment to realize who that man is. It’s the guy they just sent in. Suddenly, the bikers around him look up to where we are standing. Spike pulls everyone back, cursing and swearing. He drives his fist into a nearby tree, then he spins to the group. “He fuckin’ knows. He didn’t even get in. That fucker knew!”

“We gotta go, Prez. Like now,” Granger says, his voice full of panic.

“Get fuckin’ Ciara outta here, now!” Spike growls, pulling out his keys.

Granger takes hold of me, and begins pulling me backwards. I struggle in his grip, but my protest is cut off when an almighty boom rocks us. I scream, but no one can hear it, because the sound is deafening. Little bits of god knows what are flying everywhere, and I’m on the ground before I know what’s happening. I feel blood trickling down my head, and panic rises in my chest. Oh god, Spike!

Granger releases his hold on me for a second to try and roll, and I scramble out of his arms, crawling toward the bikes. I see Spike, Cade and Jackson on the ground, but all of them are okay. They’re bleeding a little from bits that were flying round, but they’re ok.

I’m about to call out to Spike, when I see what’s happened. Half of Hogan’s compound is in a heap - I mean, it’s literally in a heap. What was once buildings, is now burning masses that are crumbling to the ground. The car that Cade’s guy drove in with just blew up. It’s now sitting there, nothing more than a crispy shell.

People are running around frantically, Harleys are roaring to life, and women are screaming. I feel my heart leap into my throat, and I feel sick. Oh god, they blew up the compound. That was the plan all along?

“Was he in there?” Spike hisses to Cade.

“Yeah, he was, we fuckin’ checked.”

“Good, let’s fuckin’ ride.”

Spike spins around to see me, and his eyes flare. “Ciara, fuck, what the hell!”

“Y-y-y-y-you...you...you...”

“She’s in shock, fuck. Where’s Granger?” Jackson barks.

“We got no time to fuck around, we gotta go,” Cade says.

“You two go, find Granger. I’ll get Ciara on the bike. We’re outta here.”