Cottonmouth: Soldiers Of Hades MC, #1

Finally, came the sound of doors opening down the hallway.

“What the fuck is going on out here?” Python growled as he came into the room. “Why don’t the fucking lights work?” He had a flashlight in his hands and then the light shone on Cotton and Tory. “What the fuck?”

“Dad, he cut the fucking power,” Cotton called out.

“Who cut the power?” Cobra wanted to know.

One of the brothers ducked out of the room and a few minutes later, the power came back on.

When the room was lit again, Tory and Cotton were found on their knees in a huddle while Wolf sat not far away with blood on his mouth and chest.

Python walked further into the room. He was dressed only in his boxers, as were several of the others.

They were all armed and they looked very upset about being woke up under suspicious circumstances.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Python demanded.

Cotton got to his feet and reached his hand down to assist her to her feet.

Tory glared at the old man. She took a step closer to him but Cotton pulled her back against his chest. She glared at him anyway and snarled, “You know that picture you claimed was a man you shot eleven years ago and watched him burn? Well, he was just here. Only he isn’t Garcia Nunuz, he’s the son we didn’t know about. He’s the fucking third man I told you about. Now, you guys are on his radar and he wants to see you burn.”

“What the hell is she talking about Cotton?” Cobra growled.

Cotton nodded. “He was there the night Pop shot his dad. He told us how he watched his dad murdered and then he said he watched him burn in the fire that consumed the warehouse that night. He also said he would watch this place burn and knows the cartel would reward him for it.” He looked over at Tory. “But he really wants to see her dead before anything.”

Python looked over at her and had to ask, “Who the bloody fucking hell are you anyway?”

Tory stood tall and proud as she stated, “My name is Victoria Grace Kelly. My family calls me Tory.”

“Well Tory, how the fuck did he find his way here?” Cobra questioned.

“How the hell am I supposed to know that?” She snarled. “Maybe he followed you guys here from the warehouse tonight.”

“We woke up to a scream and gunshot, did anyone get hurt?” Pappy wanted to know as he came in.

Tory glanced over to where Wolf was standing but didn’t see any blood on him other than around his mouth and chest. She snapped her fingers and he came over to her immediately. She ran her hands over his body but didn’t find any injury. She looked over at them and shook her head. “Wolf got a piece of him, but he was still able to get away. He’s out there with a dog bite. Not exactly sure where Wolf bit him but he definitely got a piece of him.”

Cotton grabbed a handful of paper towels and doused them with a bottle of water. He handed it to Tory.

She knelt and cleaned her dog’s face.

Pappy disappeared down the hall and when he returned, he was at least wearing jeans but more importantly, he had his phone and was making a call. He looked over at Python as soon as he hung up the call. “We’ll find out who this prick is. Trudy will call back as soon as she knows anything.”

Python ran his hand over his head and looked at his youngest son. “What else did this bastard have to say?”

“That was the gist of it, Pop.” Cotton shook his head. “He thought he could just come in here and kill her then take the club down. He said something about setting a charge and watching the place blow up and burn to the ground.” He looked over at Tory and shook his head again. “He didn’t seem to know who she was. He thought for a moment that she might have been a waitress he and the other two had raped near Greenaway but he didn’t know for sure. He did ask why she killed his two friends though.”

Tory walked over to the nearest table and pulled out a chair. Sitting down, she wrapped her arms around Wolf and said, “I didn’t kill either of them. I told you before how they died.” She laid her head on Wolf’s head and closed her eyes. “Whoever found the second man, slit his throat. I didn’t kill either of them.”

Pappy turned to Python, “What kind of protection do you have for the compound? We need to know this place is safe.”

Python nodded and glanced around the room. “Shep, get your cameras going and lock the front gate. I want two shooters on the roof but I want a roving patrol as well. We have to find this bastard before he can get back to the cartel and tell them where we are. Get 6 men to search for charges or wiring.”

Python glanced at Tory and nodded at Cotton. “Get her out of here while we make plans. You stay with her. I don’t want her to get in the way. She’s in enough trouble.” Then he growled, “And get that fucking beast dog out of here as well!”

Cotton wanted to grin but he knew better. He went over to where Tory rested with her head on the table.

When he got close to her, Wolf turned to stare at him with his gold eyes looking doubtful.

“I’m not going to hurt her dog,” he spoke low but came forward all the same. He gathered Tory in his arms and carried her out of the room, he’d expected her to fight him, but she didn’t. Thank fuck, for small favors.

Wolf followed him down the hall and into one of the bedrooms.

He laid her out on the bed and went to shut the door. Turning the key, he went back to the bed and stared down at her. She was sleeping and Cotton sighed. Easing her jacket off, he shook his head. Reaching forward, he loosened the holster she was wearing, then took the gun and laid it out on the table beside the bed. He slipped off her boots and then he went to the other side of the bed and took off his cut.

Sitting on the bed, he kicked off his own boots and laid down. Reaching across, he pulled up a blanket to cover them both.

Wolf came around to his side of the bed and stared at him.

Cotton shook his head. “Go lay down somewhere. She’s safe with me.”

Wolf nudged his arm then went to the foot of the bed and laid down.

Cotton just shook his head. Then he laid his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes. He opened them up again, when Tory turned toward him.

Laying her head on his chest, she snuggled close to him and sighed. She didn’t wake up at all, just continued to sleep.

What the fuck? Cotton groaned almost silently. Staring at the ceiling, he thought to himself… This is going to be a long night. He closed his eyes and laid there. Then after a moment or so, her scent caught his nose. She smelled of lavender and leather and the scent wasn’t unpleasant to him. It had been a long time since he’d actually slept with a woman in his bed. Usually, he slept alone. The women he did sleep with were never here in his room. The only woman who ever slept here had been his wife, Sandy.

He didn’t know why but for some reason, Tory seemed to belong right where she was. Though, he didn’t want to think on this fact too deeply. It had been a fuck of a long day, even for him.

Cotton laid his head on top of hers and finally closed his eyes. Sleep took them both.