Out Of The Shadows (HADES) (Whiskey Bend MC Series, Book #4)

Hope watched as the other three women fixed their plates, she took a small portion of food then watched as Jessie opened up the window between the kitchen and the main room.

The men moved in mass and began helping themselves to the available food.

Hades came and filled his plate then motioned for her to join him and she moved away to sit with him. Jessie, Luna and Shiloh all joined their men too. The room was quiet while everyone ate their meal and as so as they were finished the men began collecting the plates and moving them back to the kitchen.

Hades, Hope, Caden, Cole Charlie and Lucifer and a few of his men sat at the main table.

Jessie, Luna and Shiloh got up to take more plates out to the kitchen.

Hope got up to follow them but Hades grabbed her hand and pulled her back down. “We need to talk about what happened last night. The others can clean up this time.”

Hope sat there and looked around the table.

Charlie began, “We’ve searched the town from one end to the other and there’s no sign of him there. Now that’s not to say he isn’t there, we just can’t find him. We did find a few places around town that look like a spot he could wait in and watch for you but its speculation on our part that he even did. Early this morning, I increased man power on the street and we’re patrolling them still looking for him.”

Lucifer nodded. Turning to Hope, he told her, “At daybreak, I had our best tracker to see if he could find a trail. He found one leading from your back door, but he lost it in the woods. Whoever this guy is, he’s good.”

Cole nodded. “I checked with a few friends in the FBI and they had tracked him back eleven years and he is good. When he disappears he can show up in another area and he never goes back to the places he’s already been.”

Lucifer glared at Cole then turned to Hope and went on, “What I’m trying to say is that while you’re here, I think you should stay inside. If he’s hanging around looking for you, he’ll have a time to find you. If he goes back to check on Ethan he’ll find the boy is gone, so he’ll be looking for him as well. As we are the only people up on this ridge, he’ll eventually find us.”

Hope nodded. “I can do that.” Rubbing her upper arms she said, “I hope he just goes away. I don’t want to put anyone in his line of fire, so to speak.”

Hades hauled her into his arms. “Honey, he did that on his own. He can’t come here and threaten you then just walk away. He hurt one of us trying to get away and for that alone, he’s face us again.” He nuzzled her neck and assured her, “We will find him sweetheart. Then it will be him who pays the piper not you or any other innocent woman. We have to stop this guy and we will. This will end right here in Whiskey Bend.”

~* * * *~

Later that afternoon, Hope was looking for Chloe. One of the men told her he’d seen the dog out front.

Hope figured he was out exploring the new place. When she’d been gone awhile, Hope went looking for her.

She was walking on the outer rim of the compound when she thought she heard Chloe’s bark deeper in the trees. She hesitated going after her, instead called out for Chloe to come home.

She could see her dog running toward her and she smiled then her smile turned to horror as she saw a shadow step away from the tree and the man turn to glare at her then his hand reached out grabbing Chloe’s collar. He brought the knife out and stabbed her dog twice before dropping her and running away in the shadows of the woods again.

Hope screamed and ran toward the spot where Chloe was down. Hands grabbed her and held her back while Demon, Caden and Aries rushed toward the dog.

Each man drew his weapon as he approached the place where Hades held her then they followed more slowly into the woods.

Demon dropped down beside Chloe, lying motionless in the dirt. She was alive but barely. He ran his hands over her body and when he lifted them, they were covered in blood.

He glanced up at Caden and Aries. “The bastard stabbed her. We have to get her to a vet.”

Hope moved forward and knelt beside her dog. She gazed up at Caden with tears in her eyes. Why?” she sobbed. “Why would he hurt my dog?”

Cole holstered his weapon. “Because your dog saw him. She can identify him.”

Hope swiped her eyes. “She’s a dog, she can’t identify anyone.”

Cole nodded his head. “I know she’s a dog but sometimes dogs can identify an attacker.

There’s an awful lot of blood. It may be Chloe got a piece of him.” Caden shook his head. “You guys go with Chloe to the vet’s office. I’m going to see if I can track Drake. If he is bleeding, he might have left a trail.”

Lucifer nodded. “You won’t be going alone. Recon can go with you. He’s my best tracker.”

Hades squatted to pick up the dog. “Good idea. Demon and I can take Hope and the dog in.”

Demon turned to his uncle. “Charlie, I want you to stay here until the team gets here.”

“Caden, you keep in touch with the office,” Charlie said. “And don’t try to take him alone. Call for backup. And maybe Cole should stay here. He can stay and help protect the women while the men are tracking this bastard down.”

Cole just stood there glaring into the woods. Even when everyone else walked away, he just stood there.

~* * * * ~

Drake leaned back against a nearby tree and observed the solitary figure standing in the middle of the street. He couldn’t help but think how easily he could kill him. He’d been surprised by the sight of him earlier in the police station, but now he’d grown used to the idea of Cole being here. The fact didn’t change Drake’s plans but it might put a crimp in them. This man knew too much about him for Drake to be comfortable.

Drake smiled and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a gold chain with only one charm on it, a beautiful golden rose entwined with silver and rose- colored ivy. He glanced down at the necklace and his smile faded. He knew what it would mean to the man standing in the street to get this back but he wasn’t quite ready to return it to him.

Not yet anyway.

Drake looked around for Caden and when he didn’t see him, he stood up and began walking away. He knew he had to patch himself up soon. He could feel the blood pooling inside his shoe. The dog had torn open his skin above his left knee and he’d had to use his knife to get away from her.

He’d managed to leave the scene before Caden and the others arrived but he had left a blood trail a moron could follow. He wasn’t sure Caden wouldn’t find his back trail even now.

He could feel the blood seeping down his leg. When he heard the sound of footsteps coming toward him, he ducked into the underbrush and waited.

Caden came into view. He was looking on the ground but couldn’t seem to find the trail of blood.

Drake’s hand slowly went to his side and hovered over the knife handle in his belt, but as Caden walked away, Drake relaxed and melted into the shadows.