Page 3 of Torrent’s Treasure

“Okay. It will most likely take me thirty minutes to get there. Are you safe until then?” he asked.

“I think so,” she whispered.

“On my way,” he said. He turned toward where Maverick and Dragon were sitting at the bar, sipping a beer.

“What’s up?” Maverick asked.

“Old Man Wilson’s daughters need help, and he told them to call me,” Torrent said.

“Which in Torrent-speak means shit has hit the fan, and someone needs help,” Maverick teased.

Torrent nodded his head to where Jasmine was still standing close, “Flappy lips, Mav. Flappy lips. Get gone, Jasmine.”

“The three of us, plus grab Bravo and Fury. The others can be on guard just in case this is something else. Get Gunner working on information,” Dragon instructed.

Chapter Two

Torrent did as he was ordered, and they were on the road in under five minutes. Bravo, their medic, had his small bag of supplies even though the woman didn’t indicate anyone was hurt.

The time seemed to drag. The ride between their home of Hazard and the smaller town of Demise could take thirty minutes and be enjoyable. But all that was on Torrent’s mind was what he’d find when they arrived. As they got closer to where she’d indicated, Dragon had Fury and Maverick park their bikes and approach on foot through the woods.

When the cabin came into view, Torrent realized things had gotten a lot more complicated. Parking and shutting off their engines, Dragon turned to him.

“Tell me I’m seeing things and that’s not Officer Horse’s Ass’ car?” Dragon vented.

“Wish we were, Pres,” Torrent grunted, walking slowly toward the vehicle, his gun drawn and ready for anything.

“We’re here,” a woman said, walking out from beside the house, her bloody hands up and away from her body, making him turn away from the car and approach her with Dragon. He lowered his gun when he confirmed she was unarmed.

The first thing he noticed was a black eye that had swollen almost shut. He’d guess her vision was impaired from it. Cuts and multiple bruises marred her face, with a slice on her lip bleeding when she talked. As he checked her out, the handprints on her neck stood out from ten feet away. There was barely a centimeter of skin on her neck that wasn’t marred. She’d obviously been through something traumatic. Torrent shook off the feeling that was making him want to wrap his arms around her and tell her that everything would be okay. He wasn’t that guy.

“Motherfucker,” Torrent whispered, glancing around for anyone else. The deputy was in the front seat of the car. Bravo was leaning in and checking for a pulse. His head shake told Torrent all he needed to know. Not that Torrent had any doubt when he’d seen the spray of blood on the windshield. Dead cop. At least one woman assaulted. Now, they needed to figure out how to contain this.

“Darlin’, can you tell us why you called Torrent?” Dragon asked.

Dragon calling her by a pet name had Torrent stepping forward, then forcing himself to stop. What the fuck was wrong with him? He’d helped in situations before and never felt like he should comfort anyone or got irritated when his President called a woman something sweet.

She shivered, then stared at him, nodding. “He came by the house. He was in a uniform, and I assumed it was official business, and we know what assuming does, don’t we?” she said, pausing, her words trailing off.

When she didn’t continue, Torrent stepped closer. He didn’t see a second person, but he was positive she’d mentioned her sister. If that slimy fucker in the car had harmed the sister too, Torrent might need to figure out how to resurrect him and kill him again. Hurting a woman was one of Torrent’s hot buttons. Harming a child was his kryptonite. Too many kids weren’t protected from monsters.

“Is there anyone else with you?” Torrent asked.

She nodded. “Calliope’s behind the house, waiting until I knew it was safe.”

Dragon pulled his phone out to call someone. Torrent thought there was a time and a place and now wasn’t it for a phone call. But he’d bow to his President’s wishes.

“Hey, sugar, you remember our first date as fondly as I do?” he asked.

“Yeah, well, let’s relive it this evening. Why don’t you meet me?” he suggested after letting her answer.

Torrent would really like to hear both sides of that call and why the hell his President was calling about his and his Ol’ Lady’s first date. In all the times they’d dealt with issues, Dragon had never called Sally during one.

“Okay, sugar, see you soon,” he murmured.

Turning to them, he walked closer to the woman. He tried to remember what Mr. Wilson had said her name was. He knew her sister from buying stuff from the store. Torrent had also helped the Old Man a time or two when funds were short. Calliope was always quiet with her nose in a book when she was at the store.

“Cecilia, my Ol’ Lady is going to drive up here and help you and your sister. Can you tell me who else knows that Horace was taking you here?” he asked.