Chapter Seventeen
Bryce waited inside the dingy warehouse for Dalton and his informant to show. They had waited as long as they could for Ryan to show up with any information he might have, but the other man never appeared. It wasn’t like him, but maybe he had been caught up with something and couldn’t make it.
Bryce checked his phone for a moment to make sure the man hadn’t called. Just then, his phone buzzed. Tanya’s name lit up on the screen.
He almost hit the green answer button but stopped. He turned off the phone entirely and stuffed it back into his pocket. He’d just have to call her as soon as they were finished, and he couldn’t afford to be distracted.
A moment later, Reece pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Did my sister just call you?”
Bryce nodded. “Probably should just turn your phone or buzzer off for now. I shouldn’t have told her about the job. She’s probably freaking out and wants to check in.”
Reece nodded and turned off his phone.
It didn’t matter. This was the chance, and if Bryce wanted to catch the dirty cop, it was now or never.
Dalton had called earlier with the rundown. They had been told they would pass Bryce off as an accomplice to the gang during the exchange. Dalton would be off somewhere else while Bryce and this other man would be the ones to be on site.
Bryce still wasn’t thrilled with the plan, but it made the most sense. Whoever the other cop was, it was unlikely they would even know him. So many who were on the force now were new. Nearly all the good ones had transferred out.
Hell, even if he did recognize him, he’d probably assume Bryce was dirty, just like some of the rumors. Dalton, though, would be made immediately.
A car pulled up outside. Bryce glanced over to the corner of the room and nodded to Reece.
They had been told that Bryce needed to come alone, but neither thought a little coverage could hurt. Especially if shit went south.
After a moment more, Dalton stepped into the building. He looked nervously around the room, rubbing his wrists.
All these years, and the other man hadn’t changed. He wasn’t good at this sort of thing then, and he still wasn’t good at it.
“You alone?” Dalton said.
Bryce nodded. The less Dalton knew, the less nervous he would be. Last thing they needed was to make the informant nervous.
“Where’s your guy?”
Dalton shook his head. “He said he got held up and will be here in a few.” He paced the floor, already he was starting to sweat profusely.
“Calm down,” Bryce said, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. “You’re going to freak out your guy, and he’ll bolt.”
Dalton stopped and stared at him before laughing nervously. “Yeah, you’re right.” He ran a hand through his hair. “You always were better at these things. It’s probably why you were up for promotion before me.”
Bryce frowned. That was so long ago he hardly even remembered it.
It was kind of stupid. When all was said and done, Dalton would end up promoted, maybe even to chief. It annoyed Bryce that a man like his ex-partner would end up leading other men.
With a quick glance, he spotted the shadow of Reece in a corner.
The sounds of several footfalls reached his ears. He didn’t like the idea the informant might have brought his own backup, even if Bryce had followed a similar plan.
He turned to look to Dalton. The other man just shrugged. The guilty look on his face told Bryce everything he needed to know.
“Son of a bitch,” Bryce said. “You weren’t satisfied fucking me over before? You had to go and do it again?”
"Sorry," Dalton said. "They knew someone was dirty on the force, and if I didn't offer up some solution, I was bound to go down. Besides, I really want that job. Think of all the money I can make. It’s nothing personal, really. It’s just… you know, business.”
Anger exploded through Bryce. The rotten son of a bitch had hung him out to dry. Bryce had always known Dalton didn't care about the “protect and serve” part of being a cop, but now he knew for certain just who sold him out before.
"This the cunt?" said another man.
Bryce turned toward the voice.
A huge tattooed man stepped further into the room. Several of the Los Malos stood nearby. Dalton, the sniveling bastard, rushed over to hide behind the men.
Bryce stared down the man. He’d seen the guy’s picture enough in Allen files to recognize him immediately. “Blitz?”
The other man gave a nod and then turned to look at Dalton. “Not sure, but this ain’t an Allen brother, right?”
Dalton shook his head. “He’s one of Reed’s men. Still, it doesn’t matter. You pin this on him, and the whole firm will go down, Allens and whoever else.”
Bryce grunted. It was all starting to make sense now. He’d let himself be led right into all this. “So you going to pin this shit on me again?”
Dalton shrugged. “Something like that," he said. "Far as I see it, or at least I’ll say to anyone who asks, the Allens have been working to bring guns in on the side with someone. I don’t know. Russians, fuck, Irish. Maybe I’ll say the Allens are playing them both in this little story.” He grinned. “It doesn’t matter. Anyway, I showed up, hero that I am, and had to take you down like the dog you are."
Bryce scoffed, which only made Dalton frown. “Only you were too chicken shit to come on your own, so you got them to do your dirty work for you.”
Blitz’s face twitched. Bryce wondered if the biker had never considered that Dalton might just be using them to get his way. Whether it was part of revenge or not, the truth was no one liked to be a tool, and Bryce needed to stall.
“You fight him,” Blitz said to Dalton.
Bryce watched as Dalton froze.
“What?” Dalton said.
Bryce smirked.
Blitz pointed toward Bryce. “You want him dead. You have to prove that you’re on our side. Need to get a little dirty there, dirty cop.” He grinned. Blitz stared Dalton down. It was clear he meant business.
“Why not just shoot him?”
“Nah.” Blitz shook his head. “It’s easy to shoot someone. Hard to beat a man to death. You want to roll with the Los Malos, you need to prove you ain’t a pussy.”
Bryce cracked his knuckles. “What’s the matter, Dalton? Don’t think you have what it takes?”
He knew that was all it would take to get to him. All those years ago, Dalton had been the better fighter between them. Unfortunately for Dalton, Bryce had been training. He’d gotten better.
Now it was time for a little stalling and payback.