Warlords MC – The Complete Series
Warlords MC: Book 2 – King (Tremaine) : Chapter 11

King worried about her, but he had to be on guard here. These men were killers. He knew it in his gut and his gut had never failed him.

“Why don’t you just call in the forces? You know Pentagon and all that?” Mags asked.

“Not how we operate.”

“How you operate?” She strode over to stand in front of him. “This isn’t Afghanistan, King.”

“No, it’s worse. At least there? My enemy wasn’t an American. Or, I could just go totally under and pick Chapman’s whole crew off from a safe distance and be done with it.”

Mags drew in a breath.

“I could’ve done that when we arrived. Try to kill the snake piece by piece. But then Gauntlet would get away and his damn heads of infrastructure… I am a soldier, but in this? After all that this man and his family have done… I am tempted to just take them all out.”

She sighed and shook her head. “Yeah, a moment ago, I felt like committing murder too. But it’s not how I operate either.” She walked over to the dresser and studied at the picture he kept there in a frame.

King followed her over.

“Can I ask?”

He took the picture from her and set it back down. “Her name was Lacey,” he whispered.

“Was?”

“Yeah. I never even knew her.”

Mags felt confused. “Then why—?”

“A reminder.”

She turned around and looked at him.

“To not stop looking for him.”

Her eyes widened.

“Part of the personal you accused me of.”

Shaking her head, she stared at him.

“A home invasion. Our captain’s wife and daughter.”

“So Gauntlet…” She reached out to him.

He took a step back.

Mags ignored the distance he tried to put between them. She pushed herself right up against him.

King stood rigidly as she put her arms around him. “In cold blood and she was only five. We still don’t know why. We only know who.”

“Oh…” Tears filled her eyes as she pulled back and kissed him gently on the lips.

“His family never deserved that. He didn’t deserve it. Me and my brothers swore we would never stop till we found out who and why. A dead trail for years really until our brother was almost killed in Braaken Ridge.”

Mags looked up at him. “Where?”

“Braaken Ridge. Where Blue Diamonds come from. The plant, the drugs, the recipe.”

“So did you take all that down?”

“We did. Charli, Ace’s woman helped.”

“How?”

“They were growing it in her town. The guy who made the drug killed her grandfather. She then went to war and we stayed to help.”

“Went to war? How old is this girl?”

He laughed. “Younger than you. She’s now with Ace.”

“Oh…”

“You will meet her, she is part of the family now.”

Her eyes widened.

He grasped her face and stared at her lips. “Just as you are, part of my family. You do know when this is over. I won’t be letting you go.”

Mags slowly nodded.

King’s phone buzzed. He stepped back. “Yeah?”

“We got em before they could even get into place,” Ace informed him. “So, you can stand down.”

“Alive?”

“Well, see…”

“Dammit Ace!”

Mags stared at him.

He took a breath and focused. “All of them?” he asked his brother in a calmer tone.

“No man, we are better than that. Jack got one alive and Joker says he has a number on his cell that may actually be our man.”

King held his breath.

“We are bringing him and the intel in.”

King swiped his phone and caught her stare. “They got them.”

Mags stood. “Did they replace out—?”

He raised his hand. “They got a lead. But don’t get excited.”

Her shoulders drooped.

A pinging sound echoed in the room.

Mags stared all around. “What is that?”

“Perimeter alarm.” He went over to the window to see his brother’s arriving. 5 bikes and a truck. The truck held the man they’d brought back alive. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her to the door.

Silent, she followed as they got out of the lockdown and went down on the lift.

King was anxious. He did not want to get his hopes up, but he couldn’t help it. They had never even been close. All those dealers and thugs, and none knew a damn thing they could use.

His brothers were already down in the main room by the time they walked in.

Jack looked between them then down at the clasped hands. He raised a brow, but smiled at Mags. “Officer.”

She smiled back. “Jack…” She titled her head. “So are you the jack of hearts, diamonds, spades or clubs?”

He laughed. “Hearts of course.”

King felt that sting again and he shoved it down. But not before he let out a growl.

Jack’s gaze swung up to his. Then he smirked. “Oh, man!”

Mags looked back and forth confused.

“Hey!” Joker called from the Opt center. “We got em!”

They all rushed over. Deuce and Ace as well.

“I checked the number and now, I know why we couldn’t replace the asshole.”

“Why?” Ace asked.

“He’s not in Denver,” Joker shook his head.

“What?” Mags asked.

“He’s just outside the city. Rural area. The thing is… that was one of the properties we checked out from that real estate list you gave us Ace.”

“And what? You missed it?”

Joker snorted. “Hardly. But it is owned by some we cleared early on.”

“Who?” Four voices all asked at the same time.

Joker jumped in his seat. “Fuck, you all need to chill. “

“Just tell us Joker,” Ace ordered.

“The Sloes family.”

Mags gasped.

They all turned to look at her.

King grabbed her arms. “What?”

She wouldn’t look at him, she only stared at Joker. “What are their first names?” Her hands visibly shook.

Drew and Sandy Soles. Clean records. He’s a—“

“—Retired cop,” Mags interjected.

King stared at her. “No…it has to be wrong.” Mags seemed to wither right in front of his eyes.

“They raised me! Drew was my dad’s partner! Oh, my god!” She wrapped her arms around herself. “How could they be involved with Gauntlet? It was his drug that killed their only child, Vikki!”

Joker was typing fast and he pulled up four screens. Swiftly, he was scanning them all. “The autopsy report was suspect for Vikki. There were defensive wounds as if she fought someone.”

Mag stopped trembling. “They killed her and made it look like an overdose!”

King grew concerned, as he’d never seen her like this.

Joker kept tapping the keys. “And this I missed. That property was recently transferred to the Soles three months ago.”

“Let me guess,” Jack spoke. “Chapman enterprises owned it before the Soles bought it.”

“Yep. Exactly. “Joker nodded.

Mags turned away and began to pace. “So, they forced Drew into this?” She spun around. “He knew! He knew about my dad. All these years. At the funeral. And afterward when he talked to me about my dad being in danger. He knew who killed him. He knew everything!” She had stopped pacing and balled up her fists.

King stepped over to her and grabbed her hand. “You don’t know that nor much else. Until we speak to him and get the truth.”

Mags looked up at him. “Let’s go and replace the truth,” she whispered.

By sun up, they were sitting outside the property. They had all the brothers and a few extra men, stationed in various places.

King looked over at Mags. He worried, but she was a tough woman, this he had already learned. He felt anxious for her and for all of them. Finally, they might have Oscar Chapman. The Gauntlet. The man they had chased for four long years.

“Psst,” Jack called.

King looked over at him.

Jack pointed to the front.

“Well shit,” Deuce swore as he trained his nocs on the house.

A woman, had come out, and she staggered a few steps then collapsed.

Deuce described her, “She’s has blood all over her. Older, maybe fifty?”

Mags stood up from the cover they had.

King grabbed her arm and yanked her back down.

She glared at him.

He shook his head. They didn’t know yet who had caused all that blood. No way would they storm up and get picked off.

“Oh, wow,” Jack spoke as he too looked through nocs.

King grunted and grabbed his pair.

Out came a younger woman, long red hair and she held a child. The kid was screaming.

She ran to the older woman and set the kid down.

“Anything?” Ace asked over the comm. “Anyone else in there?”

“Fuck, we can’t tell,” Storm replied. He was on the back side. “But I see smoke.”

“Dammit,” Ace swore over the comms.

“Yeah, it is a raging fire. I didn’t see it before. Second floor.”

Mags stood up and took off.

King stood too. “Fucking woman!” he seethed as he took off after her.

The men all moved in behind him.

“You are breaking cover!” Ace yelled over the comms.

King knew that, but he couldn’t care. As he almost caught her just as an explosion rocked the house. He dove for Mags and landed on top of her.

She held still… for about thirty seconds then she struggled. “Get the fuck off me King!”

He raised his head and looked around.

The younger woman had the child under her arm as she had protected the woman on the ground with her body.

He saw Jack and Deuce approaching them.

“Let me up!” Mags screeched.

He stayed on her until he could see all the men there. Then he rose up.

Mags stood then stumbled. She righted herself then pulled her gun out sweeping, like her training taught her to do.

King had his rifle raised. He could see his brothers doing the same as they spanned all around.

They all slowly approached the drive.

Jack grabbed the woman and maneuvered her and the kid to the tree line.

Mags kept her aim but then she slowed.

Deuce was checking the woman over that was lying on the ground.

King watched everything, but not knowing what to expect.

Mags got closer and stopped.

King watched her but watched everything else too.

“Y-you are too late…” the woman on the ground spoke.

Mags gasped and rushed over to kneel next to her.

King felt his chest clench. If this were her mother, she didn’t look good at all. He stepped closer. “Get her and let’s head for cover,” he told Deuce.

Nodding, he scooped her up and they followed. Heading into the tree line, Deuce set her down.

Mags knelt down again.

King knew by her face that this was her mother.

She grabbed her hand. “M-Mom?”

The woman peered up. Her eyes widened. “Magdalena?” she whispered in awe as tears fell down her cheeks. “H-he told me he had you killed! Oh, my god!” She started to weep. “That so of a…” She sat up and grabbed Mags in a tight embrace.

“Mom…” Mags was crying.

King felt the clenching ease up in his chest as he looked over at Deuce.

Deuce shook his head. “She seems fine, not wounded as far as I can tell.”

The woman pulled away from Mags and looked over at King and Deuce. “Oh , he bruised me up a bit, but this…” She gazed down at her clothes. “This is not my blood.”

Mags took her hand. “What happened? Why are you here?”

She grasped Mags’ face in her bloody hands. “I-I’ve been here for years. I stayed when he allowed your dad to keep living. Then when he —when he…” She swallowed heavily. “He killed your dad, Maggy!”

“I know Mom, I know.”

“Then he threatened you. He made me promise not to escape and then he would leave you alone. Then he said you had become a cop…I thought it would be fine as long as I stayed.”

Mags grabbed her up. “I am fine.”

Her mother pushed her away. “No, you don’t understand! He told me he had you shot two days ago as you were after him now. I-I just couldn’t take it anymore… so-so I killed him.”

“Who?” King asked speaking up for the first time.

“Oscar Chapman.” She sniffled. “That evil bastard. I hope he fries in hell.”

King looked up and met Deuce’s gaze then Jack’s. “Fuck!”

“I-I didn’t set the fire. I think it was the lamp I smashed I don’t know,” she went on.” Jade got out though.” She rose up. “Jade?”

“I’m here Gabrielle.” The young woman who was being helped by Jack came over.

“Oh, thank god!” Gabrille Giovanni cried. “I am go glad.”

“Was there anyone else in there?” King asked.

Jade answered this, “Yes, but…” She looked away. “They’re dead too.”

“Who?” Mags asked.

“The two guards,” Jade explained.

“And how did that happen?” Jack stared at her.

“I did it.” She looked down at the little girl. “I had to. I saw what happened between Oscar and Gabrielle. I knew they would kill her.”

“So, you took two bodyguards down all be yourself?” Jack asked incredulous.

“I-I poisoned them.” She raised her chin. “I-I’m not sorry either.”

King, Deuce, Mags and now Ace, stood there staring at her.

Ace stepped forward. “Who are you?”

She lowered her head. “My sister. Oscar had been with her for a couple of years and… when she found out what he was doing in Braaken, the drugs, the murders…she tried to leave him. He—killed her.”

“So how did you get here?” Jack asked.

“He grabbed me when I went looking for Sable. He admitted to what he’s done. He said he would kill Annabelle.” She tucked the child closer to her. “If I didn’t stay to help raise her or if I went to the cops.”

“He was evil. Pure and simple. I know. I-I’m glad you’re free Jade.” Mag’s Mom nodded.

Jade smiled slightly. “We are both free. Thanks to you.”

The brothers all looked at each other.

Oscar was dead. The Gauntlet taken out by two women he’d abused.

King wasn’t angry that he was dead. He was angry that they never got a hold of him. The truth of why he did all that he did may have died with him.

“You all were who he was running from aren’t you?” Jade asked as she looked around at the brothers.

“You could say that,” Jack replied.

King stepped forward. “What do you know about it?”

Shrugging she replied, “I know that he kept talking about you on the phone. He told his brothers that you all were coming. He also told those other men.”

King stepped closer. “What other men?”

She shrugged. “The ones he worked for.”

King and Jack looked at each other.

“So, he wasn’t in charge?” Jack asked her.

Jade looked confused by the question. “Of a lot of it yes, but he had a boss. He hated that fact but he had one.”

King clenched his fists.