Sticks & Stones, Bullets & Bones (The Devil's Apostles MC) Read online

  The general consensus was that his old Dodge wasn’t in driving condition so a tow truck was called. They had to wait on the tow, but the longer Bones looked at his truck the madder he got so he finally walked away. Smoke found him

  rummaging through the glove box of his Chevy looking for a cigarette. He hadn’t had one in two weeks and figured he had finally quit but this was definitely a cigarette moment and honestly he just didn’t give a shit.

  With the old Dodge on the flatbed Smoke loaded up his passengers and headed home. The tow driver had been paid and given instructions on where to take the truck so all that was left was getting back so Bones could check out Wisha. Her bleeding had slowed to a crawl but Smoke knew his brother well enough to know he would never be satisfied until he could examine her.

  Smoke knew how Bones felt, he would never forget wearing a path in the yard the day Peyton had been shot. That was also the day he found out just how hard his Prospect could hit. He silently

  chuckled to himself remembering Rory’s right hook. Smoke knew it was well deserved and held no animosity.

  Wisha only required a few stitches, the rest of the cuts were superficial and just needed some topical antibiotic ointment to ensure she wouldn’t develop any infections. Smoke patiently waited as Bones finished up, having questions for Wisha. He knew Church needed to be called considering some of the brothers were absent from the day’s events.

  Church was significantly different this time around, not only was Peyton present but so was Wisha. This was the first time in Devil’s history two non-patched women had been allowed to sit in. Peyton had an old lady patch, but she wasn’t actually a patched member.

  With everything going on having Wisha present was necessary. The brotherhood had gotten used to Peyton being there in Church and they respected her the same as they did Smoke. No other club they had ever encountered let the wives in Temple. Smoke was different, he worked better with her next to him and Peyton was smart as a whip.

  As everyone filed in, the looks Smoke got we’re almost comical. Not one ever questioned him about his wife attending, but Bones girl hadn’t even been given an old lady cut and she was sitting next to Bones.

  “Prez , you losing it?” Knuckles

  normally stayed mute during Church but this time he really did think Smoke was off his rocker, another woman in the Temple room was not just an oddity, it was completely unheard of.

  “You’ re not questioning my authority are you K? We’ve been together a long time and you might be the VP but I amthe god damned President!” Smoke barked as his fists hit the table. Not much ruffled him anymore, but questions like that in front of the entire MC certainly did. Knuckles thought about saying something else but quickly decided against it.

  Smoke had taken him out back before and he wasn’t in the mood for an ass kicking. He’d came out of the last one with broken ribs and a dislocated

  shoulder, Bones had been banned from rendering medical treatment. Knuckles had to put his own shoulder back in and deal with the ribs for weeks until the pain stopped.

  Temple lasted for several hours as Bones and Wisha recanted everything that happened on the road. Bones tried to do most of the talking, to prevent her from having to relive it but she was as hardheaded as he was and was having no part of that. She had even gone as far as to kick him under the table to get his

  attention. The brothers asked questions so they could fully comprehend what had transpired and strategize from there.

  Smoke sat with his arms crossed in his usual spot listening to all the details. Peyton had gone to tend to Nora,

  whispering something in Smokes ear before she excused herself. From the grin on his face they all had an idea but not one was brave enough to ask.

  Rory was the most vocal during Church but that was no surprise, being ex-military he wanted every detail so he could do his job properly.

  “ So, what are you thinking Falcon?” Smoke asked Rory, giving him a club name. He’d be considering it for a while and with his vision and marksmanship Smoke thought Falcon was perfect.

  Once Rory realized what had happened he grew a huge grin. He’d just be named, next would be a real patch, a Devil’s patch. The Prospect one would be removed and his rocker would say Devil’s Apostles, Colors he would wear proudly.

  “Thank’ s Prez, I like it. It fits me don’t ya guys think?” They all agreed, the new handle fit the Prospect perfectly.

  I Do In The Spring

  Jesse Connors had disappeared, nobody had seen or heard from him in months. Both the MC and the department had come to the conclusion he had taken off South of the border and wasn’t coming back. This was relief to all involved. Wisha had turned in her badge and moved into the finished house she and Bones would be sharing. Life was starting to take on a sense of normalcy. She and Peyton had even started working on the wedding which she and Bones had decided on having at the clubhouse. Peyton was beyond thrilled to help with all the preparations, and to have them living so close.

  They had just finished up all the licensing Wisha would need to become a private investigator, the only thing she was missing was help so she went to ask Smoke for a favor.

  “ He will be a great P.I.,” Smoke gave her the answer she wanted, “so yes you can have him. But he has to agree to it and he has to get a paycheck. Can’t give him to you If he ain’t getting paid. They all have jobs you know, gotta pay their dues and I refuse to have a freeloader on my team.”

  That was something she could

  understand, Bones had bankrolled all this and she was about to ask him for more. She hated asking but Smoke made it clear her new employee had to be paid.

  Wisha went looking and found who she was after, Falcon. Once she explained it all, he was ready to jump in with both feet. Wisha did have to slow him down just a bit, he had to apply for a license and pass the test which she knew wasn’t an issue but it took a few weeks. That would give her enough time to marry Bones and for them to take their honeymoon.

  The thirteenth of May came quite quickly and as Peyton and Smoke looked around they smiled; this was the day her friends were going to pledge their love to one another and the yard looked amazing. A white arch lined with daisies and lilies, the white aisle runner and chairs plus tables of food, coolers of beer and a stocked bar. This was the perfect biker wedding.

  All the men had been asked to wear their jeans and colors by the bride and groom. Bones too was wearing jeans and his cut, but he did have a lily on the collar. His soon to be wife had asked for that, and those big green eyes got to him every time. Bones knew he would never say no to her, he couldn’t. Just as Smoke never said no to his wife, Bones now understood everything.

  Peyton had Wisha dressed and ready well before time so the girls just sat and talked. Wisha had opted for a simple white sundress instead of going all crazy. Frilly just didn’t fit her. She wasn’t all lace and glitter, she wanted something that was comfortable but pretty. So when Peyton came home with the dress, she knew that was the one.

  Everyone was in place when the wedding march started and by the time she had reached the altar, Bones had the starts of tears in his eyes. Wisha joined him with some of her own as Renegade started the ceremony. He had just gotten through the beginning of the sermon when shots started and everyone scattered and scrambled for weapons.

  Somehow Bones and Wisha had gotten separated during the chaos and he finally saw her behind a table after looking all around. She seemed fine but in her dress she had no gun and nobody was close enough to get to her. Smoke was

  screaming trying to locate Peyton and return fire. His wife was down by the arch and he saw blood, then he saw red. Slinger saw the same scene and lost it, running in the direction of the firing holding his colts and emptying mags as fast as he could but the shooter kept firing.

  Renegade had his double barrel shotgun behind the podium, being the paranoid that he was, and at that point they were all glad he was a crazy son of a bitch. Before anyone else had time to rea
ct Ren was firing off shots and

  dragging Peyton to cover. She was concious and spewing obscenities in between wincing and holding her

  shoulder.

  “Wyatt this really hurts! Please tell Smoke I’m okay, I know he’s probably flipping his shit.” How well the Queen knew her king. Smoke was losing his mind not knowing how bad his wife was hurt. Renegade threw a loose brick from the fire pit at his President to get his attention in between flying bullets. Once Smoke saw who Ren had with him he let out a breath and nodded, then started shooting again.

  Wisha was just yards from where Renegade had dragged Peyton so she took off towards them and tried to stay low. It didn’t work as well as she’d hoped, taking a bullet in the back of her right leg just under the cheek. She tumbled into Renegade as she scrunched up her face, the pain was instantaneous. She hadn’t been shot before, she had heard stories but nothing she’d heard prepared her for just how bad it hurt.

  “ Peyton holy shit are you okay? How are you not screaming?” Then she remembered the story of how they found out Nora was a girl, Peyton had taken a bullet and knew what to expect.

  Renegade had her apply pressure to her wound and Peyton’s as best she could so he could make his way to Smoke.

  Ren dodged bullets to get to Smoke as his brothers kept shooting but the shooter had ample ammunition and the guys were running low.

  “Fuck Renegade! Is she okay ? I need to shoot this fucker and get to my wife!” Rennie knew that but something else was floating around in his head. There were a dozen brothers all shooting back and changing positions trying to get this guy, but nobody had thus far. And the thing that was nagging at him was the amount of shots being fired from the other side. In Rennie’s head he couldn’t fathom how one person could fire that much, he was almost certain there was more than one shooter.

  “Too many bullets com ing too fast.” He shouted to Smoke over the chaos, looking for an escape. Ren had to get to the trail that lead behind Smoke’s house, he knew the shooter or shooters were up on the ridge. In Renegades mind there was something more going on than one rogue cop and he was determined to get the bastards. “Get to the women and call that Detective Jace, Boss I got a bad feeling about this. Feeling that old itch.”

  Smoke knew precisely what his brother meant. Renegade having an itch basically meant something was seriously off. He may be an uneducated heathen at times but Ren was a smart man, and if he said things felt off you’d better pay attention. Renegade had a strange sixth sense and he was almost never wrong.

  Bones was out of ammo and to say he was concerned about his woman would be a huge understatement, like Smoke, he was about to flip his shit. There was a few seconds of a break in the shooting, that gave him enough time to run, same with his President and both made it to the women.

  The embraces were quick as the men checked their women over, making sure neither one had life threatening injuries. Peyton had taken one just below the shoulder and although it was extremely painful it wasn’t fatal. Wisha too had a non-life threatening wound but Bones and Smoke were still seeing red. They had shot the women, that was the biggest nono in their world. Hell was coming, and it would be brought by Smoke MacAlister and Bones Canfield.

  Being close enough to the clubhouse door, the women were scooped up and they made a run for it successfully making it inside. Bones left quick instructions for Wisha as she tended to Peyton, and then followed Smoke into the weapons room. Neither spoke, but neither one had ever been this mad or this scared.

  They silently loaded up on ammo and weapons before slipping out the back to catch up with Renegade. Bones had left Wisha his favorite Colt and a phone to call Jace and get some help. He had a feeling they were going to need it.

  As Renegade made the backside of the ridge he saw what he was expecting, two shooters. They were far enough apart he could take one before the other realized what was happening. Ren slid his Kimber into the waist of his jeans right at the left rear pocket. It would be easily accessible should he need it in a hurry and slinked towards the man with the automatic. He was the biggest threat, and therefore the first to go.

  He had reached into his boot for his favorite toy, his hunting knife with the bone saw and the 8 inch blade. This was his pride and joy, and you could split a hair with it. It was never left dirty and always kept as sharp as when it was new.

  By the time automatic realized he wasn’t alone it was too late, Renegade has his knife to his throat and in one swift swipe successfully severed the jugular and carotid arteries. Once again Ren was covered in arterial spray but he didn’t flinch, he just began to smile. Blood didn’t even phase him, never had and that’s why he was such an asset. Ren was the man you called when you had a messy job.

  The second shooter noticed he had company and turned his weapon on Renegade, popping off several rounds before looking for cover. Ren knew the face of the older man was familiar but he couldn’t place it. Ducking back behind the rocks at the peak of the ridge and returning fire his mind was racing. He was positive he knew that man from

  somewhere, and it was making him crazier than his normal crazy.

  Smoke and Bones found him on the ridge along with Jace who met them on the trail with SWAT surrounding the shooter.

  “Holy fuck me!” Jace whispered to the men. “That’s my captain, I knew

  something was screwy with him. He was too agreeable through all this. Damn! Don’t kill him if you can help it, we need him alive. I can get the other two to talk with him alive and in jail.”

  Taking the captain alive was priority one, but they all agreed if he didn’t surrender he would leave the Devil’s property in a black bag.

  With SWAT surrounding the captain, he had nowhere to go and it only took thirty minutes of negotiation for him to lay down his weapon and be taken into custody. In the midst of being cuffed and read his rights he was spitting out obscenities at Jace, Bones and anyone else within earshot.

  He knew he would never see the light of day again. Too many bodies were attached to him, including the two officers killed when the grenade blew up the truck. Even though Rory had thrown it, it was in self-defense and Captain Kennedy had put the whole charade in motion. He was indirectly responsible and would be tried for their deaths as well.

  Jace stood on the ridge shaking his head, it was so clear now. How the men arrested wouldn’t talk, how vice was immediately disbanded and everyone quickly reassigned. Looking at all the evidence in front of him Jace was kicking himself in the ass for not seeing it sooner. Maybe it was time to turn in his badge and walk away, do something else and wash his hands of all this. He loved his job but too many hands were dirty, too much water had passed under the bridge. He had a lot of things to think about after they got through the trial.

  Moving On

  The girls had been transported to the local hospital, both in need of surgery and with the day’s events all this needed to be on record.

  Bones was less than happy but he did understand why. Smoke was a different matter, he wanted his wife doing her recovery at home where he could tend to her needs. He had been enough of a pain the doctors had given in and released Peyton two days later. Wisha only had a one night stay, her wound was minor and once the bullet was removed there was nothing else to do but administer some antibiotics and that could be done at home.

  Watching Smoke take care of Peyton was nothing short of beautiful. This giant of a man was so loving and caring, making sure she had everything she needed plus handling baby duty. The brothers all knew he loved his wife, but seeing him like this they had a newfound respect for their President.

  Bones was just as much of a mother hen to Wisha, maybe worse since he was a doctor. She had been grounded so to speak from her bike and only allowed half days in her new firm until Bones was certain she has recovered, that took six weeks. In the meantime Rory had taken on the couple of cases that had come in. They weren’t anything really exciting, just a cheating spouse case and an employer needing some deep background o
n his employees. One thing is for sure, he kept busy and really enjoyed the job.

  With the women at home things had settled down enough to almost call it normal and Bones was having ideas. He had asked Wisha to stop taking her birth control pills so they could try to get pregnant. She wholeheartedly agreed, starting a family with the man she loved was exactly what the doctor ordered. She and Bones we’re having sex daily, some days more than once. Not that she minded one bit, her man was an incredible lover and she loved him dearly.

  Smoke was still asking his wife to give in and start trying again, Nora was already six months old and Smoke was looking forward to another child. Peyton was still adamant about waiting a while longer but he knew if he worked it right he could make her forget about a condom one night. Smoke thought his wife was the most beautiful woman in the world, somehow seeing her round with fuller breasts made him quiver like a teenager and he wanted that. He knew his brother was working on the same, his woman had said yes.

  Smoke sat thinking, Jefé was gone for good and that made his life ten times easier. He hated the man when he had worked for him, having to deal with him for the last half decade had been a giant pain in the ass. Someone would step in and take his place, that was a given but Smoke wondered who it would be.

  Another cartel member made sense and he was familiar with most of them, but it could be one of the adopted. At this point anything was possible and the least likely would be what more than likely happened. One person more than anyone else stuck out and if that was the case the MC was in for one very difficult time.

  Bones was finally able to relax, Wisha had healed to his satisfaction and he had agreed to let her work her cases full time. He didn’t have to worry everyday what she went to work, she had Falcon, and Bones knew he would never let anything happen on his watch. Not just the Prospect though, Slinger had joined in to help when it was needed and Jace Morrison would lend his department passwords every now and again when she needed fast intel. Wisha was thriving in her new position as Boss and Bones couldn’t be prouder of her.