Twenty
My head was throbbing, and my side felt like a hot poker was stabbing me. I didn’t really care about the discomfort; it was my fault for being cocky enough to think those two guys were no match for me. Because of my stupidity, they had Jiji and I got shot.
Gia’s face appeared above me in the swaying truck. She laid a cold hand against my forehead. “I know you will get her back, Breech.”
Turning my head, I looked at her. “They never should have gotten close enough to take her from me. I was arrogant to think I could handle the situation, and look where it got me. But now my brothers are here, and we will come up with a plan to free her. I heard what you told Dukes and Sonny. That information will be really helpful.”
Reaching up, I cupped her cheek. “Gia, did he touch you, hurt you?”
Her eyes filled up, but she shook off my hand and dashed away the tears before they could fall. “No, Breech, he never got the chance. Drake was in to him so deep that Lane wanted him to turn me over as payment. I got away before he could.”
Boomer’s deep voice filled the cab. “You were smart and courageous, Gia.”
Excitedly, she turned in the seat. “Breech, I know how you can sneak in and get Jiji out. I’m so stupid for not thinking of it before I got out, because there is a network of tunnels above the barn that connects one building to another. It isn’t used at all, but I did to stay out of sight. I remember when the air conditioning went out and they hired an army of guys to come and fix it. One of the crew was a guy I knew from school. We would have lunch together and he told me about the crawlspaces, and we almost got lost a few times. Oh, damn, wait a second.”
She twisted around in her seat and dug around ‘til she came up with her pack. Unzipping it, she started pulling things out. Boomer watched from the driver’s seat until she came up with a small notepad. Flipping rapidly through, she stopped at a sheet of paper, folded up and stuck in the pad.
“Whoop! I kept it.” Unfolding the paper, she waved it over her head. “It’s a drawing the guy made of the main house. He was small enough to get into the crawlspace to fix the ducts, but the house was so big he made himself a map so he wouldn’t get lost.”
Boomer leaned over to look then asked, “Why do you have it?”
She flipped it over and, scrawled on the back was the guy’s name and phone number. “He shoved it at me the day the job ended. He said that maybe we could go for coffee sometime. The guys were laughing at him, but he did it anyway.” She turned the paper and written in the corner was I heard her screaming. Call me if you need help.
Sitting up, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and hit speed-dial. “Jamie, it’s Breech. Listen, man, I need you to get me and the guys to Florida tonight.”
Jamie replied, “How many, and do you need any supplies?”
“Six guys, and we will be locked and loaded.”
Gia spoke up loudly, “And one woman!”
Jamie’s chuckle sounded from the phone. “Is that your girl, Breech?”
“No, that’s not Jiji, and she’s not going on this mission, Jamie.”
“Yes I am going, Breech, I know that property better than anyone—and you need my help. I promise to stay out of the way, but I’m going and that’s final.”
Jamie laughed outright this time. “She’s got you by the balls, doesn’t she, Breech?”
“Shut up, Jamie!”
Laughing, he said, “Wheels up in two hours,” and hung up.
Swiping my phone closed, I gave Gia a hard look. “This isn’t going to be a walk in the park, Gia. People are going to get hurt.”
“Listen, Breech, I’m not a shrinking violet. I don’t expect this to be a fun trip. But I can help; I know that place better than they do. I want to go; besides, Jiji might need another woman.”
“Gia, I’m against this; not because you’re a woman or because I don’t think you can handle it, but because I’m going into a situation blind and I don’t like putting my brothers in harm’s way—nevertheless someone I’ve just met. But I’m going to take your word that you will follow our commands to the letter.”
“Breech, I promise to stay out of the way and do everything you say. I have no desire to go back, but I can’t not go if I can help.”
“Okay, babe, just do what we say and everything will work out.” Swiping my phone again, this time it’s Dukes who picked up.
“Yo, Breech, you’re supposed to be resting.”
“Dukes, I talked to Jamie, he’s got us wheels up in two hours.”
“You’re not going, Breech,” Dukes said.
“Fuck that noise! You’d have to kill me to keep me here, Dukes, she’s my woman, and I’m going.”
“Damn it, Breech, don’t you think we can handle this?”
“Dukes, I have no doubt you could, but this is my fuckin’ fight, and I’m not gonna sit on the sidelines while I’m still breathing. I know my limitations and I’m letting you take point, but I need to be there.”
“You damn well better mean what the fuck you just said, because I am taking you at your word, Breech. I’ll tell the boys to be ready.” The call went dead.
Resting my head against the seatback, I closed my eyes.