“He has an accountant?” Cooper asked with a frown.
Jace scratched his temple and shrugged. “Makes sense. It isn’t as if Boyd handles the money himself.”
“Boyd goes to great lengths to conceal his involvement in that side of his business,” Taryn told them. “He’s never been caught or had charges brought against him, mainly because they haven’t caught him on camera or even recorded his voice. He’s smart. He learned from others what kept them out of jail and uses it. He has a massive empire, but it was built on drugs, all starting when he was in school.”
Cooper made a sound in the back of his throat. “Sounds like a nice guy.”
“When I go out to sell, I have at least one watcher with me at all times. They’re hidden to the point where I sometimes have to search to locate them, but they’re always there. I didn’t know that at first, but I still assumed because it made sense. My dad and brother didn’t take my advice no matter how many times I told them they were being watched, and that’s how they got caught. I always presume I’m being followed. I know exactly how much I have to sell and how much I should return with. It always balances at the end of the day when I see the accountant and turn over the money,” Taryn explained.
She paused long enough to take a drink. “Anyway, that night with the accountant, I heard yelling from a building nearby. I instantly recognized Boyd’s voice. When he’s like that, it’s wise to get out of the way, so I hoped the accountant would finish with me quickly. None of the guards watching me, nor the accountant, wanted anything to do with Boyd then either. I had been there for over a year by then, so I knew exactly what was expected of me. I never looked at anyone but the guards and those I interacted with. If other people were about, I never spoke to them or saw their faces.
“Boyd’s voice got louder and louder. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him as he came out of another building. It was dark, but the outside lights illuminated another man on the ground, lying in a fetal position. Boyd was so furious as he yelled that I couldn’t make out his words, but he kicked the man over and over. That’s when Brick came out of the shadows. Brick pulled a gun and looked at Boyd. At first, Boyd pointed at the man as if telling Brick to kill him. Then Boyd took the gun from Brick and slammed it into the man’s head before pointing the weapon at him. Boyd leaned down and whispered something to the man. A second later, Boyd straightened and gave the gun back to Brick before walking away.”
There was a frown on Jace’s face as he asked, “I get that Boyd was showing his dominance, but weaker ones will always crumble beneath someone stronger.”
Taryn shrugged. “Maybe. Once Boyd was gone, the man on the ground got to his feet with Brick’s help. That’s when the man turned, and I got a look at his face. I didn’t know him, but the other guards in the room did. I heard them mumble a name. The guy was some UFC champion.”
“UFC, as in Ultimate Fighting Championships?” Cooper asked as he sat up in shock. “Those are some tough bastards.”
Jace’s frown deepened. “You can’t tell me Boyd was stronger than this UFC fighter.”
“He wasn’t,” Taryn said. “But the guy was so terrified of Boyd that he didn’t block a single punch or kick.”
Jace and Cooper exchanged looks.
“Is it because of how many men Boyd employs? Intimidation with force works,” Jace said.
Taryn nodded. “That’s part of it, I’m sure. Boyd’s operation is huge. Men with guns are always walking around.”
“I think you should tell us where this operation is located,” Marlee said.
Cooper’s brows shot up on his forehead. “That would be good to know. We can get the building plans of the facility and begin sorting out how we’ll get in.”
When everyone looked her way, Taryn tried not to fidget. “I don’t know where the drugs are kept or anything like that. I only know where they held me. The accountant came every night, and I heard him mumble something about some other locations once.”
“Striking at one location could mean we miss Boyd altogether,” Cooper said.
“Good thing Boyd has a reason to be there.” Jace swung his gaze to Taryn. “You.”
Chapter 16
“I don’t like it, though,” Jace grumbled.
Taryn put a hand on his thigh and said, “I’ve been in danger for years.”
“I wish there was another way. I don’t like you being in that position.”
She smiled sadly. “I have to get my sister out. If there’s even a chance at that, I have to be there. I can do this. Especially with you there.”
Cooper sat forward in the chair. “You’ll have a much better chance of freedom with us along.”
“It’s a good plan,” Marlee added.
Jace ran a hand down his face and rose to his feet. “So much can go wrong.”
“Which is why I didn’t want you to do anything at all,” Taryn said. “Now do you understand why I tried to leave?”
He turned back to her and looked into her green eyes, then lowered himself to the couch and took her hand in his. “I do.”
“Good,” Cooper said as he clapped his hands together once. “We need to get a plan going.”
Marlee asked, “Taryn, do you know the address of where you were held? We need the schematics of the structure.”
Taryn rattled off an address that the other woman quickly wrote down in the pad of paper she pulled from her purse. Then Marlee ran to the kitchen, returned with a laptop, and began working.
“We’re going to need more than just the two of us,” Cooper said.
Jace pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “Brice has a kid now. I don’t want to include him.”
“As if he would stay back,” Cooper replied with a snort.
Jace looked up at his friend. “Frankly, I don’t want you to go, either.”
There was a pause as Cooper glared at him. “If you tell me it’s because you’re afraid I’ll get hurt, I’m going to punch you in the face.”
“You’ve got Marlee,” Jace began.
“Who will be right in the middle of this,” Marlee declared in a no-nonsense tone.
When Jace looked at Taryn, she shrugged as if to say that he was on his own.
“Stop being an idiot,” Cooper told him. “You need me. And you know it.”
Jace blew out a breath and threw up his hands in surrender.
“You better call Caleb and Brice,” Marlee warned as she glanced up from the keyboard.
Jace’s and Cooper’s phones went off simultaneously. Jace pulled his out of his pocket and saw that Caleb had sent a message through their group text, saying that he and Brice would be over shortly. Obviously, Clayton had spoken to them, as well.
“There’s someone else I think we should call,” Cooper said.
Jace had already thought of it. “Cash.”
“Yep,” Cooper replied with a smile.
Jace nodded. “Get ahold of him. I’ve got a couple of guys I can call.”
“Hold up,” Taryn said. “Both of you are acting like you’re putting together an army.”