Beyond the Cut (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #2)(95)

Dawn’s pulse kicked up a notch and she took a seat, hoping he would let her call someone to look after the girls if she was compliant. But when he leaned against the door and folded his arms, his face twisted into a cruel, victorious smile, Dawn’s hands clenched on the rough polyester bedspread. There would be no mercy for her tonight.

“Lucky for you I gotta stay here until things get settled. Otherwise I would have taken you home to hear you scream.” He pulled a bandanna from his pocket and dangled it in front of her. “Not that you’ll get off that easy. We can always muffle the sound.”

“Let me call someone to look after the girls, Jimmy, and I’ll do what you want.”

Jimmy snapped the bandanna between his hands. “Don’t give a f*cking damn about those brats. Consider it part of your punishment for trying to humiliate me at the bar.”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything to do.”

He struck her across the face with the back of his hand and she fell sideways on the bed, her cheek throbbing.

“I forgot what a goddamn slut you are. You loved being up there on the dance floor showing off to the crowd, practically f*cking that Sinner in front of my brothers. You’re gonna f*cking dance for us, but it’s me you’ll be touching, me you’ll be f*cking, and it’s me you’ll be begging for mercy, which I’m not gonna give.”

“I’ll never dance for you, Jimmy.” She pushed herself up, bracing for another blow. “Not again.”

This time he just laughed. “You will dance. ’Cause if you don’t I’ll send someone for those girls and I’ll kill them in front of you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I’m president of the damn Brethren.” Jimmy reached for the door handle. “Soon to be Viper’s right hand man as president of his key support club. With the Jacks at my back, nothing’s gonna stop me, love, and no one’s coming to save you.”

She threw herself at the door after the dead bolt slid into place, pounding on it and beating it with her fists. Then she screamed until her voice was raw. But of course no one came to help her. Not now.

After all, no one defied the president.

*

He knew he was too late when he pulled up to the curb in front of Dawn’s house. First, she usually left on the light on the front porch. Second, the front door was partially open, and it seemed no one had called the police. Third, the TV was blaring hip-hop and Dawn was a jazz kind of girl.

Heart in his throat, Cade parked his bike under a streetlight and drew his gun from his cut. If the neighbors didn’t notice an open door and a loud TV, they sure as heck wouldn’t notice a biker with a gun, and if anyone was inside the darkened house, he hoped to hell they ran in his direction.

He approached from the side, peering in the living room window as he made his way to the back door. Using a file from his cut, he jimmied the lock and stepped into the kitchen. Hearing no sound, he crossed into the living room. The streetlights shone through the opposite window highlighting the chaos inside. Overturned chairs, furniture askew. He spotted a gym bag, half open and stuffed with clothes, near the entrance to the kitchen as well as a princess suitcase and a small stuffed toy. Dawn’s purse lay open on the floor.

His hand tightened into a fist, and his chest heaved. Jimmy had his girls. The Brethren would patch-over to the Jacks. The Sinners would be destroyed. And all because he didn’t do what he should have done weeks ago.

He turned to leave and then he heard a sound. Soft. Slightly muffled.

A sob.

His pulse kicked up a notch, and he made his way to the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

“Who’s in there?” He flicked on the light switch, gun at the ready.

The door to Maia’s and Tia’s room opened a crack and then a bundle of pink flew down the hallway, hitting him so hard, he stumbled back.

“Cade.” Skinny arms wrapped around his hips, holding him tight. “I told Maia you’d come. I knew you would save us. You gave us your word as a biker.”

“Tia?” His voice cracked as emotion welled up in his throat. That the one person who had the most to lose had such faith in him …

“Cade.” Maia barreled down the hallway hitting him with such force he staggered back. “Jimmy was here. He took Mom away. He said he didn’t want us.” Her body shook with a sob. “He said he’d kill us if we went outside. Mom said to go to Martha’s house but we were too afraid.”

“But you’ll save Mom.” Tia tugged on his shirt. “Won’t you?”

“You know I will.” Or he would die trying.

After texting the prospect to bring the SUV, he helped the girls pack their bags, then called Jagger to let him know what had happened. By the time he finished the call, the prospect had arrived and Cade loaded the girls’ bags, then locked up the house and led them to the vehicle.

“Where are we going?” Maia asked.

“Not sure yet. We have a safe house—”

“Why can’t we stay with you?”

Why couldn’t they stay with him? There were no wild parties going on tonight at the clubhouse. And he could ask Arianne to watch them until he brought Dawn home. He pulled out his phone and made the call. Arianne told him she’d ask Dax to join her. He’d just gotten back from a job down south, and since he had five kids he’d know how to have some fun.