“They got my liquor license pulled, had my power cut off, maxed out all my credit cards, and froze all my goddamn accounts! They not only stole my girls, they fucking crippled me!”
After seeing what Jared had finagled with my stuff, I knew he was talented, but I never imagined he was capable of doing all the things that Gary just rattled off. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You know damn well they’re responsible for this!”
“There’s no way they could’ve done all that.”
“Stop with all the fucking lies. I’ve heard the stories. I know those damn assholes are behind it.” He reared back and slapped me cross the face, busting my lip. He looked down at the blood trickling from my mouth and smiled, clearly pleased with what he’d done. “I’ll admit, I never planned on taking you, but with those dickhead MC boys always following the girls around, I didn’t have a choice. Looking at you now, I’m thinking it was all for the best. You’re gonna put on one hell of a show.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, you’ll see.”
A sinister look crossed his face as he reached into his back pocket. When he pulled out a syringe, Mazie gasped. “What are you going to do with that?”
Without answering, he plunged the needle into my arm. I felt the sting of the drug burn through my tricep, and my heart started to race as I tried to imagine what he’d just given me. The adrenaline pumping through my body only made the drug work that much faster, and it wasn’t long before the room started spinning. I felt like I was going to get sick when my head fell back, and my body went limp in the chair. One more breath and my world went dark.
Menace
“Running solo today?”
“Yeah, brother.” I hadn’t had a chance to go by and see Jagger since Aubrey and I got back from Billy’s, so I decided to take the morning and visit with him for a bit. “Just me today.”
“Where’s the girlfriend?”
“She had plans with the ‘ol ladies today.” I was pleased that Jagger looked like he was doing pretty good. There were no bruises on his face or hands, and that ol’ spark in his eyes had returned—which was something I didn’t expect. “You seem to be doing well today.”
“Yeah, I’m making it okay.”
“You get set up with that new counselor chick?”
“I did.” Jagger ran his hand over his thick beard and shrugged. “I gotta say, she’s not at all what I was expecting.”
“Sounds like that’s a good thing.”
“Yes and no.” His eyes skirted around the room. “I think she means well, and she might even be helping me a little with some issues, but I don’t know, brother. She’s just not the kind of woman who needs to be in a place like this.”
“I figure that’s up to her to decide.”
“Nah, brother.” Clearly bothered, Jagger shook his head. “She wouldn’t have to come to this place if that dumbass lawyer of mine hadn’t sent her here.”
“She could’ve taken a pass, but the fact is, she did come. And if she’s helping you at all, then I’d say it’s a good thing. So, just let her do the job she’s been hired to do.”
“You’re right, but I hate this bullshit. I think the whole thing is so fucked up.” His face grew red with anger as he grumbled, “Her coming here just so I can get a fucking parole hearing. It ain’t right.”
I was tired of seeing my brother locked behind bars in that fucking orange jumpsuit, so I replied, “But it’s what you gotta do to get the hell out of this place, so do it. We’re all ready for you to get your ass home, brother.”
“I hear ya, but I still don’t like it.”
“Understood.”
Jagger glanced over his shoulder, checking to see if anyone was close before he leaned over to me and whispered, “So, the last time you were here you asked me about that Rossi motherfucker.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I did some asking around, and most of his dealings are out West. I figure you know that. Seems he and his mafia bunch are big into meth, and they’re branching out all over the state. The boss got locked up for murder, and with Rossi behind bars, it’s put a real strain on the business.”
“So, you think having them behind bars is gonna slow them down?”
“Nah, man. From what I’m hearing, these guys have the kind of money that can buy them out of just about anything.”
“If that’s the case, then why the hell are they locked up now?”
“I hate to break it to ya, brother, but these guys are exactly where they wanna be.”
“What the fuck?”
“I know. It’s fifty shades of fucked up. I’ll try to do some more digging, but I wouldn’t plan on either of these assholes staying locked up for long.”
That wasn’t the news I was hoping to hear, but I can’t say that I was all that surprised. We’d had dealings with men like Rossi and his crew in the past, so I knew firsthand that if anyone wanted to get the best of them, they’d have to expect the unexpected. I was trying to wrap my head around the thought when Kip, one of the guards and the club’s contact came over to me. “You need to go.”
“What?”
“Club’s trying to reach ya.”
“About?”
“No idea. Just know it’s urgent enough for me to tell ya to get your ass to a phone.”
“Got it.” I stood and Jagger’s brows furrowed with concern as I said, “I’ll be back when I can.”
With that, I rushed out of the prison and straight to my bike. Knowing I couldn’t carry it inside, I’d left my burner in my saddlebag. I quickly took it out and saw that I missed several calls from Lynch. I immediately dialed his number, and when he answered, I asked, “What the hell is going on?”
“We got a problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
“It’s Aubrey.” My stomach twisted into a knot as I listened to him say, “She and Mazie are missing.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? She isn’t at the restaurant with Jess and the other girls?”
“She never made it.” I got on my bike as I listened to him say, “I saw her over at Mazie’s place. Talked to her a minute. She told me that she and the girls were going to grab some lunch. I needed to fill up my tank, so I told her I’d just meet them over there.”
“Wait, you left them alone?”
“It was only for a few minutes, brother. Just long enough for me to hit the gas station on the way to the fucking restaurant. I went straight there afterward, and Aubrey promised they’d do the same.”
“Goddamn it, Lynch! You know better than that shit!”
“I know, brother. I know.” I could hear the regret and distress dripping from his words as he said, “I’m sorry. I just wasn’t thinking.”
“No, you fucking weren’t!”
“I know you’re pissed, and you have every right to be, but Hawk and Shotgun are with me now. Country and Rafe are on their way. We’re thinking Gary had something to do with this but haven’t been able to track him down. But don’t worry, brother. We’ll find them.”