Opal (Rugged Skulls MC Book 2) Read online

  I shift on the bed, dropping my legs over the side, ignoring the pain radiating in my side. I brace my arm against my ribs, holding them in place. A hand clamps down on my shoulder.

  “Easy, brother,” Magnum says.

  “I have to get out of here and find her. Does Tucker know?” I ask, standing from the bed. I look around for my clothes and see a white hospital property bag in the chair. I walk over to it and gingerly pull out my jeans.

  “We will find her, but we need to go to the clubhouse first and see what news we’ve got, then form a plan. She will be coming home, brother. As for Tuck, yeah, he knows. Risky said he’s old enough to understand and that keeping it from him might make him more pissed,” Slade explains.

  “Good. He’s a bright kid. I don’t want things kept from him unless it’s necessary. Who’s at the club watching him?”

  “Abe and Jase. Ida is there with Risky as well; they’re watching the boy,” he adds.

  “Thanks, man. Fuck, this is going to hurt,” I groan, looking at my jeans in my hand while my other arm is across my ribs. Letting out a breath, I look to the boys and they all shrug at me, except Slide.

  “Fine, I’ll take one for the team, but I’m telling you, man, you keep that monster cock from my face,” he pipes in, stepping over to me. He takes the jeans from my hand and drops to his knees.

  “At least you can admit I have a monster cock, considering you don’t know what a monster cock looks like,” I say to him, keeping a straight face.

  He brings his gaze up to mine but keeps my jeans still so I can step in.

  “Do I have to show you what my cock looks like, Opal? I mean, we took enough pisses while out on the road for you to have noticed the monster size.”

  There’s something incredible in knowing your brothers can make you crack a smile when your world is crumbling. It shows the strength of the brotherhood we have.

  Once I’m dressed, I call for the nurse to get me my discharge papers. I sign myself out, not needing to take up more of their time, and I’m wasting time sitting here when my woman is out there possibly hurt or worse.

  We head out of the hospital, me in a fucking cage driven by Slade. Being confined right now is not something I want to be, but damn, my bike is messed up again.

  The first time I came off my bike, it was Omen that caused the hit. We’ve been looking for him since before that, after what he did with Click, but the fucker disappeared. Now we know how. The prick joined the Snake Heads, or he just teamed up with Creep when he saw an opportunity arise. He was always a dark, sneaky fucker.

  My mind starts going through various ways to kill him. I’m not one for blood and guts. I would rather just snap his neck and not waste my time or breath on him. He is scum of the earth and will be put into said earth sooner rather than later.

  I close my eyes and lay my head back against the headrest, thinking of Jodie and how she felt beneath me, the way she looked at me as she came, crying out my name. Her eyes would go wide, her mouth slightly parted in a silent cry as her climax took over.

  I moan, thinking of having her again, keeping her attached to my hip when we get her back. And we will get her back.

  “You okay there, brother?” Slade asks from his seat.

  “Yeah, man. Just thinking about getting my girl back. We’ve only just started, you know? I want the fucking world with her. I know it sounds crazy since we’ve only just met, but it feels so damned right.”

  “Hey, brother, you’re talking to the king of unconventional relationships.” He chuckles and I join him. He’s right there. “I love Ida and Jase and nothing and no one will stop that. When we first got together, you know we took some shit, but the way I see it is we aren’t hurting anyone, so fuck them. If you feel that Jodie is your one and only, even after one fucking hour of knowing her, then who can rightfully tell you that you can’t be with her?”

  “I hear you, man. Fuck what they think, right?” I give him a smile, but it fades as we drive through the Tower’s gates.

  My heart rate picks up knowing that I have to face Tucker. Pulling in a deep breath, I exit the truck, meeting Slade at the front before we walk into the clubhouse. My stomach churns, knowing she isn’t in there waiting for me.

  Slade pushes the door open and the somber atmosphere fills the room. Each one of my brothers are now here waiting on me, and they look ready to kill. I walk over to them and we hug and give slaps on the back, making me groan a little as my achy muscles protest.

  “I swear to fuck, when I get my woman back, I’m fucking taking my family on a vacation,” I announce.

  Something settles in my chest when I say ‘family’, because that’s what Jodie and Tucker are, my family.

  The boys give a light chuckle before the room gets serious again.

  “Let’s go to church, yeah. We can go over shit in there,” Magnum says, and we step in line.

  “Opal!” My head spins in the direction of the doorway leading to the officers’ rooms. I see Tucker racing toward me, tears streaming down his face.

  My heart breaks all over again at seeing this little boy cry over his mother being taken by his dad. He barrels into my legs, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight as he sobs into my jeans.

  I swallow the ball of emotion in my throat. With one hand on his head and the other on his back, I cradle him to me. Kneeling so I’m somewhat level with him, I place my hands on his shoulders. His tear-streaked face guts me.

  “I want you to listen to me and listen good. I will get your mom home safe and sound, okay. I promise you, buddy. I just need you to give me and the boys some time, yeah,” I say softly but firmly, letting him know that I mean what I’m saying.

  Nodding, he sniffles, trying to be a big tough kid. I offer him a smile and he returns it, though it’s a sad one. I see Risky and Ida over his shoulders, both looking like mama bears waiting for the cub to come back to them. Giving them a tight smile, I pull Tucker back from me so I can send him back to them.

  “You stay with Risky and Ida and listen to them, okay. I need to go to church and work on finding Mom. I’ll come and see you later, yeah?”

  “Okay, Opal. Promise me you will find my mom.” I nod. “Oh, and I heard what you said about a vacation with your family. I love you too, Opal. We can go to Disneyland for a week or two.” With that, he leaves me slack-mouthed as he reaches the old ladies.

  Risky winks at me and the three of them turn and walk toward the back exit. I stand to full height and turn to walk toward church, but I stop when I see all my brothers standing and watching.

  My heart lurches at the loyalty and support they each give with barely-there nods as Prez speaks.

  “No one stands alone,” Magnum states, before turning on his heel and walking into church.

  When we’re all in our seats, Magnum starts to explain what he knows, and with each passing word my blood boils inside of me.

  “What we have found out is that Omen didn’t join the Snake Heads. Smash has never seen him, but he did admit that Creep was talking about going into business with some nomad that was kicked out of his club, said he knew about drugs, guns and women. But Smash doesn’t want to be involved with women,” Magnum explains.

  “We’ve looked all over for the fuckers and Jodie, but we got nothing. Sorry, brother,” Edge says. The emotion in his voice is clear as day. He’s angry and equally upset that they haven’t found a clue as to where the hell they are.

  “We’ll find her,” I declare. Edge gives me a chin lift and Sarge raps his knuckles on the table.

  “Brother, I—” Sarge starts but a phone ringing stops him.

  Magnum frowns and pulls out his phone. He shakes his head at me, letting me know he doesn’t know who is calling as he answers it.

  “Yeah?”

  “Magnum, long time no speak, fucker,” says the gravelly voice.

  Omen.

  “Not long enough,” Magnum growls and I shake my head, letting him know that he needs to keep his cool. My
woman is at risk here.

  Omen chuckles through the phone and my blood boils. This fucker has my woman and I’m going to cause him some serious pain when I get my hands on him. Some deep pain that he will still feel when he is long gone and spending time down with the Reaper.

  “I bet that God wannabe is in the room with you, especially since it’s his woman we have here, tied to a chair, looking sweet in just her panties.” He chuckles again and Magnum looks like he will explode right along with me.

  My fists clench on top of the table. I reach over and hit the ‘mute’ button, my eyes never leaving Magnum’s.

  “Keep it together, man. That’s my woman they have. Find out what they want, get something out of him, but for fuck’s sake keep it cool, brother. You know what he’s capable of,” I tell Prez. With a nod, he takes the call off mute and speaks.

  “We’re all here, fuckface. Now, what do you want? Or do you need to ask your new boss; you know, that woman-beating prick, Creep?”

  Omen growls this time. That should give me some satisfaction, knowing we’ve gotten under his skin, but nothing will bring me more satisfaction than killing this fucker.

  “I am the boss around here. I am the motherfucking Prez now!” he bellows through the phone. I tense up, but Magnum gives a full belly laugh, which only riles Omen up even more.

  “You couldn’t plan a party in a fucking frat house, let alone run a fucking MC, motherfucker. Now again, what do you want?” Magnum asks calmly.

  “Fuck you, Magnum. I should have been Prez of that club, not you. You were just a whiney little cunt that was given a club because you were sick of old pussy back in Phoenix,” Omen snarls.

  I see Magnum’s eyes flash and his mouths opens, but he snaps it shut again. I have to reel him in. I love him like a brother, but sometimes he lets his mouth get the better of him. I tap my knuckles on the table, my hint to him to keep it fucking calm.

  “I have things to do, Omen; important people to see, my woman to do. Tell me what you want or I’m ending this worthless call. You’re wasting my time,” Magnum growls.

  “Creep wants his boy,” is all he says. I shake my head, letting Magnum know that Creep will never get Tucker. He nods, telling me he understands.

  “Not sure what you think will happen, but it won’t be that. The kid stays here with us. He’s under the protection of the Rugged Skulls MC.”

  “Fuck that. We want the boy. I—” he gets cut off.

  “Fucking give me my boy or I will hurt the bitch. Hell, I might just kill her then get my way anyway. So, take the easy route or not. I’ll enjoy causing the little cunt some pain.” Creep cackles on the other side of the phone.

  “Use that little British cunt to track us down, then bring the boy.”

  With that, Omen hangs up.

  I stare down at the phone, my focus going in and out. My heart is raging inside of my chest and I feel like my skin is on fire. The anger bubbling beneath the surface is trying to break through.

  I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, forcing pictures of Jodie and Tucker to the forefront of my mind to try and cool my anger. The dark haze lifts, and I open my eyes and look around the table at my brothers.

  They each signal with a nod that they have my back. Magnum bangs the gavel and I get up to leave. I need time to think. They let me leave. I walk out of church and out the back door to the wooded area and sit on the same deck that I made love to Jodie on.

  Looking up to the sky, all I see is her.

  I will get you back, baby. I’m coming for you, just hold on.

  Twenty-Four

  Jodie

  My arms are aching, and my head is pounding. I’ve looked around the room more than once to see if there’s any clue as to where I am. The smell of salt lingers in the air, so I know I’m near the water. I just don’t know where.

  Roy has been in a few times, giving me a few slaps, but he never punches me. A man I don’t know has come into the room also, but he just smirks at me before leaving. He creeps me the hell out.

  Being here for Lord knows how long has made our Army slogan all that much more meaningful: Live today like it’s your last. Life is too damned short.

  I miss Tucker and I miss Opal.

  My eyes fill with tears at the thought of never seeing them again. Never seeing my baby boy play basketball for the school college, hell, even the NBA. I cry for a love that barely got started. But Opal’s young enough to find a new love after I’m gone. I just hope he keeps Tucker safe and gets him to my family.

  Knowing the type of person Roy is—or should I call him Creep? —he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, and he wants my son.

  My stomach grumbles and I feel nauseous. The last thing I ate was at the seafood restaurant with Opal, and that was hours ago. God, I wish I was back there with him. Maybe one day, if I get out of here, we’ll take Tucker because he loves fish and prawns.

  The door opens, dragging me from my thoughts, and I look up and see Creep walk in. He has a bottle of beer in one hand and what looks like a camera tripod in the other. My stomach lurches at thought of why he needs that.

  “Oh, so the bitch is awake.” He sneers at me before finishing off the bottle and throwing it across the room. It explodes against the wall, making me jump, and I let out a yelp.

  Creep laughs and closes the distance between us. He sets the tripod down next to the table I’m tied to before gripping my jaw, forcing me to look at him. His eyes are dark, almost black, and distant, cold. He’s grown a beard, which looks scraggy and out of control.

  “I like having you right where I want you, bitch,” he hisses.

  I try to pull my face out of his hold, but he tightens his grip, making me wince in pain, which only makes him laugh.

  “Why are you doing this, Roy?” I ask, no longer keeping the tears at bay as they roll down my cheeks. The sting is a reminder of the slaps he’s given me already, along with the awful names he called me.

  “Why? Because I can, cunt. I like seeing you suffer; I have done for the past ten years or so.” He smirks like he knows a secret I don’t.

  “Suffer? What are you talking about?” I whisper.

  He lets out a bellowed laugh, but it isn’t a joyful one. It’s full of menacing intent. Bringing his gaze back to me, his grip tightens to a point that I think he might break my jaw.

  “I know that you never loved me, not fully. The Army was always your first love. Getting you pregnant with Tuck was a huge fuck up on my part, but in the end, I think it will be the ultimate reward. The plan was always to ruin you, and it’s finally falling into place.”

  Confusion races through my mind. Roy making me suffer, wanting to ruin me? I frown up at him, my eyes bouncing between his to see if I can read him, but he only smiles at me.

  “Plan?” I ask on a whisper. He chuckles again and moves away to the tripod before putting his phone in place and turning it on. The full length of my body laid on the table can be seen on the screen and my fear spikes.

  Surely he’s not going to film himself hurting me, or worse? No, please.

  “Diane Whitney. Ring a bell?”

  Hearing the name of my brother Archie’s dead ex-girlfriend has me gasping. She was a sweet girl who loved reading and drawing, but she and Archie split up because they were going to different schools.

  “What about her, Roy? She killed herself years ago,” I explain. To think I thought I had seen his anger… I was sadly mistaken. His expression fills with rage and he punches me in the face, making me cry out. I see stars and I can taste blood in my mouth.

  “She killed herself because of your fucking brother. He ripped her heart out and stomped all over it. He fucking made her kill herself and now I’m going to kill you, but we’ll have some fun first,” he spits at me.

  My vision comes back into focus and I look at the man I once thought loved me. My heart cracks a bit more. His eyes show his rage but also pain.

  “Who was she to you, Roy?” I cry. I blink away the
tears, waiting for an answer. He looks down at me, waiting a second more before telling me the answer to my question.

  “She was my sister. And your fucking brother killed her.” With that, he punches me again and everything goes black.

  I come to and I shiver. I’m now naked, and Roy is standing between my thighs with his jeans hanging open. A sob escapes me. He gives me a creepy smile and I cry even harder. My face hurts from being punched by him, then I mentally check my body for other injuries. So far, nothing is hurting except for the ache in my arms and shoulders.

  “Why am I naked, Roy? What did you do to me?” I cry out.

  “Because, bitch, this is how I wanted you. This is how we wanted you.” He nods to the side and I see the other guy that kept coming in to see me.

  I’m still unsure how much time has passed, but right now, all I know is that they’re going to do some damaging things to me before killing me. Roy gains my attention by running hands over my bare thighs, and I choke back a sob. My skin crawls from his touch, and all I want to do is scream, to tell him to stop touching me.

  “Still soft as ever, baby. Fuck, the only thing I liked doing with you was fucking. Your pussy was dope. Now it will be you that’s doing the dying, but not before we’ve had our fun.” Roy chuckles as his hand runs over my lady parts, and I try to buck him off, but my wrists and legs are tied too tight. I sob.

  My heart breaks with every inch of my skin that he touches. His ugly hands slide up my stomach, over my ribs, and cup each of my breasts. He tugs on my nipples and I cry out from pain.

  My stomach revolts, but I force it down. I don’t want to give him any more reasons to hurt me. He’s doing enough as it is.

  “You know, it’s Archie’s fault my sister killed herself. He ruined her, broke her heart, decided that his career was far more important than my sister.” He pulls on my nipple and I cry out. I can feel the pulsing pain matching my heartbeat.