Out of the Ashes (Sons of Templar MC #3)(97)

Bull stiffened and Cade’s gaze flickered to him in worry.

“Didn’t think, knew Lexie was in there, knew you were on a run.” He glanced at Bull. “Got inside, some guy had a gun to Lexie’s head.” Killian’s face turned stormy at the memory. “Didn’t think about that either, charged the f*cker. We struggled, gun went off.” He frowned slightly. “Must have got me then, didn’t feel it though. Managed to knock him out, grab Lexie. Some other guy had Mia, top of the stairs. Had a gun too.” A grim, guilt-filled expression cloaked the kid’s face and he met Bull’s eyes. “Mia was yelling at me to take Lexie and run. Fucker was shooting at me, I had to get Lexie outta there,” he explained.

Bull stared at him for a long moment, thoughts churning in his head. He wanted to be angry with the kid. Be furious for leaving Mia. But he couldn’t. He was a f*ckin’ kid. A kid who not only took a bullet for his girl, but more than likely saved her life. For the second time Bull stood, making his way over to Killian. The entire table tensed; all his brothers were expecting him to lose it. Instead he clapped Killian on his good shoulder. To his credit, the kid didn’t even flinch as he approached, but his eyes flickered in surprise at the gesture.

“Saved my girl,” Bull muttered quietly. “Took a bullet for her,” he continued. He searched his eyes. “Owe you,” he told him.

Killian met his eyes. “Give my life for her,” he said. “Didn’t do it for you. She’s mine,” he declared.

Bull didn’t have time to worry about that statement.

“We need to get my f*ckin’ woman back,” he addressed the table calmly. He didn’t think they expected him to be like this. To be locked down. He didn’t have a choice. The monster inside him was pounding at the walls, roaring to get out. Bull knew he couldn’t unleash the fury that simmered barely below the surface. That wouldn’t help Mia. Wouldn’t help Lexie. Boys would have to lock him down like before. He wouldn’t be able to save his woman like that. And he had to save his woman.

Cade recovered first. “What do we know? Who the f*ck has a beef big enough with the Sons to go after an Old Lady?” he asked calmly. “Who’s f*cking crazy enough?” he added. His face was blank but he knew his brother was feeling this.

“Devils?” Lucky suggested, referring to a club who had caused a bit of trouble recently.

Brock shook his head. “Don’t have the numbers. Shit we got on them, they don’t take a piss without our approval unless they want the mob knowing that they’re ripping them off,” he clipped.

“Russians?” Ranger suggested, his face grim.

Steg shook his head. “Got no beef with us.” His face was hard. “Plus, it’s not their style. Don’t kidnap women and children, they murder them,” he said.

Bull tensed at the thought.

Wire burst into the room, his eyes darting everywhere. Kid was a new patch. Skinny, with a mop of dark hair and a pale as shit face, he wasn’t someone who screamed biker. He was however, a f*ckin’ amazing hacker. Spent half his days inside the dark room where the club housed all their camera feeds and computers. Was a wizard with anything to do with IT. Bull wasn’t sure he even slept, with the amount of caffeinated drinks he sucked down.

“What we got?” he barked at him.

“We got a problem,” Wire replied, glancing at Killian.

Though he was a new patch, he knew the rules. Kid soaked up information like a sponge; club rules weren’t any different. Don’t talk club business with anyone who don’t wear a patch.

“He’s good,” Cade finally said.

“Mia and Lexie Spencer don’t exist,” he told the table.

“What the f*ck?” Bull half yelled.

Killian tensed beside him.

Wire’s eyes settled on him. “Prior to sixteen years ago, when Mia Spencer began her employment with Steve and Ava Thorndon, there is no record of her anywhere,” he explained, placing some papers on the table. “Like she and Lexie popped out of thin air, didn’t exist before that.”

Bull clenched his fists.

“What does that mean?” Cade asked tightly.

Wire looked at him. “Means Lexie and Mia were running from someone.” He paused. “And whoever it is, they found them.”





I was in a trunk. Well, I was reasonably sure it was a trunk. It was dark and cramped and I was aware of the fact we were moving, considering the painful jabs I got when my body was thrown from side to side. I was unable to catch myself, as my arms were tied behind my back, which meant my face slammed into hard edges when the car turned. The warm trickle that followed the sharp pain on the latest turn had me sure I had ripped open the skin on my head. My thoughts were groggy. Sid had hit me with the butt of his gun moments after Killian had disappeared with my daughter. I had woken up in the trunk. I felt nauseous and my head throbbed. My arms screamed in protest at the angle they were bound and were raw from me struggling to free myself. None of this mattered. My mind was desperately clinging to the vain hope that Killian had gotten away with Lexie. I remember the gunshot. The sound that chilled my veins. The blood blossoming on Killian’s shoulder. The blood he didn’t seem to notice as he dragged Lexie out of the house. To safety. I prayed to safety. But he had a gunshot wound. I was sure Sid would have other men stationed around. I didn’t see how they could have made it. But I prayed they did. I didn’t care what Sid did to me if Lexie was safe. If Killian got her to Zane, then I’d die happy. Zane would protect her. From this monster. From her father.