Bucking Tradition: Devil's Knights 2nd Generation, #5

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Coming Soon

About the Author

Sneak Peek

Chapter One

Ransom

TRAFFIC SUCKED.

It was half past three, and it seemed like everyone and their mother was out on the road. All I needed was to get back to the station and the stack of paperwork waiting for me.

Are you fucking kidding me? I screamed. A large, brown van pulled out in front of me and proceeded to drive like it was in a funeral procession. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel and contemplated throwing on my lights just to get this asshole out of my way.

One of the drawbacks of driving an unmarked squad car was no one knew I was the police. Well, I guess that was also one of the advantages. People did stupid shit in front of me all of the time. Usually, I let them go because I had enough to deal with being a detective; I wasn’t a beat cop looking to pop speeders and jaywalkers.

The van stopped at the red light, and I rolled up behind it and ran my fingers through my hair, looking up at the ceiling of my car and releasing a heavy sigh. Now would be a good time for someone to figure out how to fucking teleport. That would solve all of my road rage issues right there.

BANG!

My head snapped down and my eyes landed on Luna Wendt leaning on the hood of my car with her hair matted to her blood-covered face. She cradled her arm to her chest, and she looked like she was about to pass out.

The back door to the van stood wide open, and it slowly pulled away when the light turned green.

I slammed my car into park and jumped out of the car. Luna faceplanted on my hood and let out a painful moan.

The taillights of the van lit up for a second, and then whoever was driving slammed down on the accelerator and sped off, swerving around cars.

FUCK!

I pulled out my phone from my pocket, connected to dispatch, and put the phone to my ear. Laying a hand on Luna’s back, I leaned close to her. Stay with me, Luna. I’m getting help.

She let out in incoherent moan.

This is Detective Ransom, I barked into the phone. I need an ambulance to the intersection of Smith and Linton road. I also need every unit to be on look out for a dark brown Chevy van headed north on Linton. Suspect is presumed armed and dangerous.

I heard clicking of keys on the other end of the phone and crackling of the radio. I have an ambulance dispatched to you, the operator rattled off. They should be to you within ten minutes.

That’s not fast enough! I shouted. I didn’t know how badly Luna was hurt or if she was going to be able to stay awake until the ambulance got there.

I can help.

I looked up from Luna and saw a woman jogging toward me. Stay back, I called. I didn’t know who this woman was, and she was running at me. Not the thing to do to a cop.

She held up her hands and halted in her tracks. I’m a doctor, she called. I can help until the ambulance gets here. I saw her fall out of the back of the van.

Jesus. I hadn’t even seen that. I had been wishing for teleportation and not paying attention to what was going on around me.

Fine, I growled.

The woman gave a weak smile and moved forward.

Detective Ransom? the operator called. I have a BOLO for the brown van. There are only two units out on patrol right now that are five minutes away from you, but the captain has been notified and is sending out more units.

Good. Find the fucking van. I ended the call and shoved my phone in my pocket.

We need to get her off the car. Can you help lay her down? the woman asked.

Neither of us could see what was going on with Luna because she was draped over the hood like a blanket. Gathering her in my arms, I tried to not let her moans of pain stop me and dropped down on my knees. The woman cradled her head while I laid her on the pavement.

On the other side of Luna, the woman started examining her as best she could on the middle of the road.

Her name is Luna, I stated. It wasn’t like the good Samaritan knowing her name was going to help anything, but I didn’t want her to think she was just some woman.

Hi, Luna, the woman said softly. I’m Dr. Rayne. You can call me Birdie, though.

Luna’s eyes flickered open, and she jerked. I reached for her hand, and she threaded her fingers with mine.

There you are, Birdie called. How are you doing? Think you can stay with me for a while?

Luna moaned.

What happened, Luna? I asked softly. Who did this?

Luna’s eyes lazily moved to me. Row, she whispered.

What? Birdie asked. She gently moved her hands over Luna’s body.

Yes, it’s me, Luna. I need to you tell me what happened. Luna was one of the few people who knew me by something other than Ransom.

Birdie moved her fingers to Luna’s head and grimaced. She has a huge contusion on her head. She moved her fingers further back on her scalp. Multiple contusions.

Sirens wailed in the distance.

Do you know who did this to you? Birdie asked.

Luna shook her head once and moaned. No. I only...I couldn’t see... Luna struggled to breath. No, she repeated.

That’s okay, Luna, Birdie reassured her. Right now, we just need to get you to the hospital. All of that can wait.

We did need to get her to the hospital, but I also needed to get as much information as I could. Every second that ticked by put whoever did this to Luna farther away. Just keep thinking about it, Luna. Try to remember everything.

Luna grunted and closed her eyes. Yes, Detective Ransom, she gasped.

A crowd had gathered around us, and the ambulances horn sounded. Can you stay with her?

Birdie nodded. Of course.

I needed to clear a path for the ambulance and get everyone back.

Five minutes later, with cars and people moved out of the way, three police cruisers worked traffic.

The paramedics swiftly lifted Luna onto the stretcher and loaded her into the back of the ambulance. Birdie asked to ride with her, and the paramedics were more than okay with it.

Hey, having you in the back with us, Doc, makes our job easier, one of them joked.

I wanted to be the one in the back with Luna. I didn’t want to leave her until I knew she was going to be okay.

Luna and I had a very turbulent relationship, but I didn’t want to see her hurt.

I’ll be right behind you. Hell, I would lead them to the fucking hospital if that would help them get there faster.

The paramedic nodded and got into the ambulance as Birdie and the other paramedic climbed into the back.

Clear the way, I called to one of the police officers.

It was a ten-minute ride to the nearest hospital, and I had a phone call I needed to make. One I didn’t want to have to, but it needed to be done.

Back in my car, and I threw on my lights and followed closely behind the ambulance with its lights and sirens running. I pulled my phone from my pocket, entered a number I knew by memory, and pressed the speaker button.

I don’t fucking like when you call me, Ransom, King bit off.

Not any more than I like calling you, King. I turned on my siren and laid on my horn at a car that didn’t pull over for the ambulance.

What the hell are you doing? King called. Maybe you should focus on the bad guys you’re chasing. I can’t hear shit over that siren.

I’m following an ambulance that has Luna in the back of it, I shouted.

Shut the fuck up! King screamed. She’s here.

Maybe she was, but now, she’s not. She fell out of the back of a van right onto my car. I shouldn’t be making this call—not until I knew more—but Luna was connected to the Devil’s Knights.

Where are you? he snapped.

Headed to Rockton General.

She’s fine, right? King asked.

I didn’t know if she was. Right now, it certainly didn’t look like it. I don’t know, King. You guys just need to get there. She’s going to need her family.

We’re on the way. King grunted and ended the call.

We hauled ass to Rockton General, and all I could think about was Luna.

As soon as I knew she was going to be okay, I was going to figure out what the hell happened to her and find the asshole who had done it.

I wasn’t going to rest until I did.

Chapter Two

Luna

SHE NEEDS TO SLEEP, Troy.

Dad shook his head and shrugged. And she can sleep with me sitting next to her, Marley. I’m not going anywhere.

Dad was right. I could sleep with him sitting next to me, but he needed to get rest for himself. Please go home, Dad. I promise I’ll be fine.

Ransom said there will be a police officer posted at her door. No one will come in without permission, Mom reminded him.

Dad grunted. Ransom, the same guy who let you get kidnapped and beat because he can’t catch the psycho going around killing girls? he spat.

He’s been trying to get his hands on this guy since day one, Troy, King rumbled from the corner of the room. He was leaning against the wall with Meg sitting at his feet. She reclined against his legs and hadn’t taken her eyes off me since she walked into the room. Hell, no one had really taken their eyes off of me since I fell out of the back of the van.

I can stay with her, Meg volunteered. We can take shifts. My wonderful godmother to the rescue. Dad and Meg had been friends for years, and she really was like my second mom. Hell, for most of my childhood, Meg had been the one to feed Brock and me.

Do I get a say in this? I asked softly. Everything just ached, and the slightest movement hurt. Even talking seemed to hurt my head. I guess that was what happened after your face was smashed into the pavement.

All you need to do is heal, Dad grunted. You don’t have anything else to worry about. You act way too independent for your own damn good and look what happened.

Excuse me? Mom spat. You’re acting like this is her fault. It’s not Luna’s fault some psycho is killing women.

It’s not her damn fault, Dad growled. But maybe she needs to realize she can’t be traipsing all over the damn place when there is a killer on the loose. She was doing everything she could to keep the girls from the club safe, but she wasn’t doing anything to keep herself safe.

You’re a dumbass, Mom and Meg said in unison.

The corners of my lips curved into a smile. Mom and Meg were always there to put Dad back in his place. Though, he did have a slight point. Of course, it wasn’t my fault that I was attacked and kidnapped, but I certainly wasn’t doing everything I could to keep myself safe like I was everyone else.

A knock sounded on the door.

Come in, King called.

Dad sat up in his chair and glared at King. You really think we should just be letting anyone in here without knowing who they are?

Dad was a little bit on edge. I understood it, but pretty soon, he was going to need a Prozac to chill him out.

King ran his fingers through his hair. He looked tired and ready to fall over. It had only been a couple of weeks since King had been in the same position, in a hospital bed. He shouldn’t be here worrying about me; he should be recovering from the stroke he had. Remember that cop at door? he droned.

The door opened and Ransom stood in the jamb. You’re all still here, he stated. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

He looked around the room, and then, his eyes landed on me. After I had been admitted and checked over, he had talked to me for an hour, wanting to know everything that had happened. Even with a huge goose egg on my head and a hell of a concussion, I had remembered most of everything that had occurred—only I never got a chance to see the guy’s face.

But one thing I would never forget was the sound of his voice and what he had said to me.

You find the asshole who did this? Dad thundered. Mom moved to his chair and rested her hand on his shoulder. She may have just called him a dumbass, but that didn’t change anything. Mom and Dad were as solid as a couple could be. They bickered and teased each other, but you never doubted the love they had for one another.

Hell, that was basically every couple in the Devil’s Knights. They gave us all an amazing example of what to want, but sometimes, it seemed pretty unattainable.

Ransom shook his head. Guy turned into a ghost. There is no sign of his van after he drove away from the stoplight today.

How the hell does a fucking creeper van just disappear? King demanded. You have the fucking plate number, right? he asked.

Ransom nodded. Yeah, we got it off my dash cam, but the plates are coming back to a car that was stolen two days ago.

He planned this, Dad sighed. He fucking planned to kidnap and kill Luna, and there isn’t a damn thing you are doing to find him.

I’ve been working on this case for weeks, Troy, Ransom growled. I have chased down each and every lead we get, and they are all coming up empty.

Then find a different lead! Dad pushed up from his chair. There has to be a trace of this guy somewhere. A fucking camera at a gas station or something. It’s impossible how this guy seems to be able to just pop up, kill a woman, and then disappear into thin air. You’re missing something! A charge sizzled through the air in the room, and you could feel the tension roll off my dad. I was twenty-four years old, but I was still his little girl.

I know we’re missing something, Ransom confessed. I’m searching all over to find the key that will unlock this damn case, but right now, we don’t know what it is.

Maybe the town of Rockton needs a better detective than you are. Dad’s words were harsh and forceful.

Troy, Meg called. She gingerly stood and wiped her hands on her pants. "I think we all need to take a breath and