“We’re on Porter land.”
“So?”
Cash shook his head squatting down by a tree. “She rested here, someone found her and she left with them in that direction.” He pointed at an area to their left.
“How the hell do you know all that?” Shade said, staring at the ground.
“Because whomever took her was riding a mud puppy. The good news is it left us a trail a blind man can follow.” Now that they had easier signs to follow, it didn’t take them long to come to the large house built into a clearing.
“Son of a bitch.” They hunkered down as close to the house as they could get without being seen from the occupants within.
“Let’s go,” Rider said when they saw the four-wheeler they had been tracking parked in front of the house.
“Get down,” Cash hissed.
“Why, let’s just knock on the fucking door,” Rider tried to reason.
“You knock on their door, the coroner will be scraping what brains you have left off that front porch. Listen to me, the Porter’s are the biggest weed growers in the county.” Cash tried to explain the danger they were in. You just didn’t walk onto a weed dealer’s property in this area of the county.
Cash didn’t take his eyes off the house. Coming to a decision, he turned to Rider and realized Shade was gone.
“He’s going for her, dammit.” With no other option left, he ordered Rider to stay where he was. Coming out of the cover of the trees, he walked to the front door. He didn’t make it close before the door was opened. Cash knew the son of a bitch who came out of the door holding a shotgun pointed at him.
“Get off my land.”
“Greer, it’s Cash Adams.”
“I can see who you are, fuckwad. Get your ass off my property.” Greer didn’t raise his voice, the shotgun got his message across.
Cash bet he could. He had a fucking spotlight for a porch light.
“My friend’s fiancée’s sister found herself in trouble tonight, took off into the woods. We’re trying to find her.”
“Haven’t seen anyone tonight, other than you and that chicken shit you have hiding over by that tree,” Greer said, cocking his shotgun.
“Rider, come out.” When he didn’t, Cash knew where Dustin was.
“Dustin, you better not hurt him or you’re going to have deal with The Last Riders. You won’t have anything but scorched earth left to grow that weed you’re so proud of.”
“Shut the fuck up, Cash,” another voice from behind his back spoke, pressing a gun muzzle against the back of his head.
“Wondering where you were Tate. Will you tell your crazy assed brothers to back off? We just want Lily and we’ll go.” Cash tried to reason with the oldest brother.
“There isn’t any woman here!” yelled Greer.
“He always was a dumb fuck,” Cash sighed. “You better make them see reason Tate. You don’t want trouble with The Last Riders.”
“You think you’re going to scare me with a motorcycle gang?” Tate said quietly.
“The woman is ours. She got lost and we’re trying to find her to give her back to her sister Tate.”
The gun muzzle pressed harder against his head. “Why should we give her back, maybe this time we should steal one of your women, Cash. See how you like it.”
“Stop it Tate. Put down that shotgun Greer. Dustin bring out his friend.” In the doorway, Cash could see a woman come outside. The shining spotlight only allowed him to see her silhouette as she leaned against the front porch post.
“Put down your guns and leave them alone.” All three men slowly lowered their weapons, reluctantly following the woman’s firm orders.
“Rachel, get back in the house,” Greer told her.
“No need. While you three dumbasses were out here arguing, their buddy was climbing in the bedroom window.”
Tate shoved Cash’s shoulder as he walked past him to the porch. Dustin came out with Rider in a stranglehold, throwing him forward before he went to stand on the porch.
“Rider!” Cash stopped Rider before he could attack Dustin. Rider stopped, but Cash knew Rider wasn’t happy being called off.
Cash and Rider both walked to the front porch. As he moved closer, he saw Rachel. He hadn’t seen her since she was a kid. Her long hair was plaited down her back, coming to an end at the curve of her ass. She stared back at him with direct grey eyes and a winsome smile.
“Well, if it isn’t the famous Cash Adams,” she said mockingly.
Cash took in the oversize flannel shirt and loose jeans.
“How are you Rachel?”
“I was doing pretty good until I heard gunshots when I was checking my plants, went to see where the shot come from and found Lily sitting on the ground spaced out,” she said with a worried frown.
“We will take her back to her sister,” Cash said, studying the changes in her body since the last time he had seen her in town surrounded by her brothers.
“I want to talk to Beth before anyone takes her anywhere,” Rachel told him firmly. Cash didn’t argue, pulling his cell phone out to call Razer. Rachel was trying to protect Lily. He admired the way she was able to control her crazy ass brothers while letting Cash know he wasn’t taking Lily anywhere without Beth’s okay.
“Razer, there’s someone that Beth needs to talk to….”
Shade leaned against the wall, evaluating the situation before making a move towards Lily. Rachel had left, leaving them alone after a quick word. He was lucky that he had met her before, when he had made a couple of purchases for the brothers.
Lily was sitting in the corner of the bedroom on the floor with her face in her knees, arms wrapped around herself, rocking back and forth. The red rubber band the counselor had given her was on her delicate wrist. Penni had told him the counselor had told Lily to snap it against herself when she became too frightened to deal with a situation. Penni had told him that at first she would see Lily snapping it constantly, but it had begun tapering off to just a few times a day.
“Lily?” Shade tried to soften his harsh voice. He had seen her this way a couple of times. Beth had told Razer that only time would draw her out of her self-induced trance. It was her safety mechanism.
Shade slowly walked toward Lily before hunching down in front of her rocking form.
“Lily.” This time his voice was more forceful, commanding her attention. The rocking stopped. Coming to a decision, Shade reached out lifting her into his arms. It wasn’t the smartest decision, he found himself with a wildcat in his arms.
The unexpected fury of the woman had him forcing her against the wall to gain control of the nails going for his eyes. Pinning her against the wall with his body, he didn’t try to grab her hands, merely blocking her moves.
“Lily stop it now!” He said in a firm voice. “Aren’t you worried about Winter, she’s worried about you. She was crying she was so worried, Lily. Beth is probably scared out of her fucking mind, Lily.” Shade kept her pinned against the wall as he kept repeating Beth’s and Winter’s names. Finally he saw a light of reality break through her blank expression.
“Shade?” Her voice whimpered.
“Yes, baby.”
Lily sucked in deep breaths as if her chest was going to explode. Her hand wiped at the tears on her face. “Is Winter safe?”
“Yes, Beth’s friends stopped and helped. Winter is waiting with Beth. They are both waiting to hear from us. You okay?” Shade asked worried about the blood he had found on her clothes. His eyes searched her body finding a scratch with drying blood on the underside of her forearm.
Lily nodded her head still trying to catch her breath. “Lily, breathe slowly,” Shade ordered her in a hard voice.
Lily jumped, but her breaths gradually slowed. Shade took a step back giving her some room.
“Can we go now?” Lily said, her soft voice gaining strength. Lily sidled pass Shade making sure her body didn’t come into contact with his.
“Yes.” Shade backed away g
iving her enough room to slide by him.
Shade opened the bedroom door, letting Lily go ahead of him following her outside.
Lily walked out the door coming to a sudden stop, finding the yard filled with The Last Riders. Winter watched from the back of Viper’s bike as Beth jumped off of Razer’s bike running to her sister, nearly knocking her down. Shade’s hand on Lily’s back held her steady. Winter smiled. After the sisters talked for a few minutes, they moved toward Razer’s bike.