Chapter 12
Solomon
They voted. They said yes. One last chance. I wasn’t going to waste it. I wasn’t going to mess up again.
I lay back on the bed, thinking. I had all I needed to complete the job, but this time it might not be as easy as it was before. I’d kicked that guy’s ass. Jay. Even though he deserved it, he and his friends might be looking for me. I imagined they wouldn’t let me just walk in like a welcomed guest without any repercussions.
I wasn’t hard to remember. I didn’t have one of those faces. And I was big as shit with a scar on my face that wasn’t going away.
The scar wasn’t one of those clear lines from surgery or a childhood mar that faded over time. It was broad and rough from a fight I’d had after school when a boy had called my mom a whore.
The boy had hit me with a brick, playing dirty since I’d been bigger and heavier, but I’d made it clear I wouldn’t tolerate having my mom called names. The injury had never been stitched or treated because my father didn’t pay for anything that wasn’t for himself. I’d bandaged it and iced it and it had stretched with time and aged like I did.
It didn’t matter. I knew what was in the club now. I didn’t need to go inside. I could wait it out. I would ride up and wait in the car. The plan was still in effect. Stake the club out, wait until everyone was out and then burn it to the ground. That was non-negotiable. I would watch until it was all in ashes, if not for that crazy ass sex ring they had upstairs, then for the way that jerk, Jay, had treated Jenny.
I set my alarm on my phone, ready to take a nap and put my churning thoughts to bed. Time was of the essence. I would trust myself as I had before. I would complete my mission, prove myself and become a Bandit. Then once I was secured in my brotherhood, I would pursue this thing with Jenny.
I had no idea what we had between us or if I’d like the road I was about to travel, but I’ll be damned if I wouldn’t find out. I wasn’t going to let the woman crowding my thoughts and dreams go. Not without a fight.
Night came. This time I parked near the front. I wasn’t hiding. I wasn’t going to go in, but I needed to see when the majority of people started coming out. Music played lightly as I watched the door. It was just loud enough to keep me distracted but low enough that no one could surprise me. I took a deep breath, prepared to wait all night, and relaxed into my seat.
My phone rang and I recognized the clubhouse number. “Talk to me.”
“Solomon.”
“Yeah, Prez?”
“You know someone named Jo?”
“No. Where would I know him from?”
“Not him. A girl. Kinda mousy. Brown-haired. Says she’s a friend of someone named Jenny.”
Jenny’s roommate? “She there? Put her on.”
“Hello?” said a small voice, obviously nervous.
“Jo, what the hell are you doing in my clubhouse? How did you know where to go in the first place?”
“I saw you leave our apartment last Saturday morning and I Googled the name I saw on the back of your vest.”
I cursed. “You know what? I don’t give a fuck why you’re there. You better take your ass home. Now. I don’t have time for this shit tonight.”
“But Jenny is in trouble.”
The words gripped my heart, and I knew I would leave this club standing again if saving Jenny meant going the opposite way. “What do you know?”
“Sarah went to Blue Nights even though Jenny told her not to and when Sarah didn’t answer any calls or texts, Jenny went after her.”
Her revelation made me see red. “Are you telling me Jenny went back to Blue Nights to save her stupid friend?”
Of course she did, even though this was probably the last place she ever wanted to see again. She was too sweet. She was willing to risk getting attacked again to help her friend. The friend, if I recalled correctly, who’d left her in the first place. I could only sigh.
“Yes,” Jo said, pleading. “I just know something bad had happened to them. Jenny told us what happened to her there last time. What if that guy took her again?”
“I’ll handle it,” I said. “Get my number from Gus and text me Jenny’s phone number.”
I hung up. Seconds later, my phone buzzed and I put Jenny’s number into my phone before calling.
It rang and rang before going to voicemail. “Hey, you’ve reached Jenny. I’m probably drawing or sleeping so leave a message and I’ll call you back soon.”
Then the tone.
“Jenny. It’s me. Don’t you worry, baby. I’m coming for you and whoever has you is going to wish they had left you alone,” I growled before snapping the phone shut.
With my mind clear and my promise resolute, I braved the front door. What would they do to me? Jump me? Not likely with the club as full of people as it was—even on a Sunday. I repeated the same steps I’d done the night before. Overpaid the bouncer. Walked in and looked around. Same set up, different night.
I headed straight for the stairwell and the guy met me in the bottom step again.
“I need more than one,” I said looking up the stairs and not at him.
“It’ll cost you.”
“Prices are for men on a budget. I want my choice of women. Now.”
What if they weren’t up there? What if they were already taken and forced to be with customers? I didn’t have time to formulate an answer before the man brought me into a small gallery-like room.
“Please sit,” he said, gesturing to a high chair fit for a king.
In front of me was a stage and women half-naked and walking in a line entered from the side. My fists clenched at my sides when I saw Jenny and, considering how tightly she was holding the blond woman’s hand beside her, I assumed that was Sarah.
“Those two,” I said, staring at Jenny, willing her to pretend she didn’t know me.
A man from offstage moved forward to grab them.
“No!” Sarah cried. Her shoulders shook, causing her tiny bikini to almost slip. “I can’t do it. Please.”
Jenny consoled her and whispered something in her ear. After rubbing her shoulders a few times, she nodded, allowing herself to be pulled by another man.
“Right this way, sir,” the wannabe butler said, gesturing down the too familiar hall. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Nothing,” I said, standing in the empty bedroom. “The women are all I need.”
“Absolutely.” He bowed his head and stepped aside as Jenny and Sarah were pushed through the doorway.
The man who led them clicked the lock from the inside and then closed the door. “Have a good night.”
Jenny, who had stood still until we were alone, ran forward and threw her arms around me.
“Oh, Solomon.”
I sunk into her warmth, squeezed a fraction tighter, as every muscle in her body lost its tension. Sarah stood by the door, no longer crying but watching us.
“You weren’t kidding,” she stated, her voice devoid of emotion. “I almost got kidnapped into sex trafficking.”
“But you’re okay now,” Jenny said, pulling away. “Solomon is going to help us get out of here.”
Her confidence in me was gratifying. “You’re damn right. We’re getting out of here.”
She was chewing that lip again. My hands touched her face, caressed her cheeks softly before I kissed her hard. She moaned, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me closer.
I pulled away before I took things much further than they should go in front of her friend, and in light of the situation. “I’m going to handle it.”
“I want to help the other girls, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I squeezed her shoulders in assurance. “Jenny. Trust me. I can handle this.”
Her eyes searched mine and, satisfied, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Now. How to get you past the security guard? I need you two to play the part. Look neutral, not too happy and not too sad. Hold each other’s hands and do not let go for any reason until we get out of this club. Do you understand me?” I looked pointedly at Sarah.
“Dude, I just want to get out of here. I’m not going to do shit.”
“Good.”
With a quick glance up and down the hallway, I led them quickly out, back towards the stairwell and the main club. If anyone tried to stop us, I planned to get lost in the crowd.
The lights were dim enough for us to leave shrouded in secrecy. The only real liability was the stairwell. It was well lit and the main focus of the room.
I didn’t care. I held my head confidently and, with a girl on each arm, walked down the stairs. I could see Jenny blushing. Given her attire, I couldn’t blame her. They were both dressed in the equivalent of bikinis, but tinier. The kind that with one wrong movement, there would definitely be nip slip.
The stair sentry intercepted us. “Sir! Um, the ladies are for private pleasure only. The kind that’s experienced upstairs,” he said, hinting that I should turn around.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
“I understand, but I wanted to take these two for the night. I liked the fit. I’ll pay extra and get them back to you tomorrow.”
He gasped. “Sir, that just isn’t done. These women are new and not properly vetted. I can get you someone more suited for your request.”
He grabbed my arm, but he moved it quickly seeing me stare at it like an offending appendage.
“I wasn’t asking. You can bill The Bandits.”
The man turned pale. “W-what did you say?”
I turned slightly, now at the bottom of the staircase and closer to getting the women out.
“Send the bill to 14003 Greenridge Road,” I said. Everyone knew that address. It was one of the few blocks most people avoided. “I’m sure you know where that is.”
Then I turned, merging our bodies into the thrumming crowd. Once outside, I hailed the first cab I saw and pushed them in.
“Go home. Don’t go nowhere but home. Text me as soon as you’re there so I can know you’re safe. Use Jo’s phone.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Jenny asked, with her leg in the way, preventing me from closing the door.
“No. You asked me to help the other girls and I’m going to do what I can.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to make sure this place can’t be used as their home base anymore.”
She opened her mouth again but closed it after a forceful look from me.
“Home.”
I closed the door and rapped my knuckles on the top so the driver would pull away. I watched the cab disappear from my view then walked in the shadows until I reached my car.
That rescue mission took longer than I’d thought and it wasn’t much longer before the club began to wind down. The music turned down and slowly employees trickled out, including the bartender and the bouncer. Once I was sure no one was inside, I went into action.
First, the check for cameras. There had to be some. I found two. I made a quick shot of them, exploding the cameras, and then I broke a door handle to get inside. I was planning on burning everything to the ground. Nothing would be left over, but it was best to cover all tracks just in case. That was what I was known for: getting in and getting out without a trace.
Leaving the door open, I hustled to the car for the gasoline. My first stop was that devil’s den upstairs. I started at the door on the farthest end, kicking it in and dousing everything from the bed to the sex toys to the floor in gasoline and opening the windows before traveling to the next room. I went in every room, checking that it was empty and dousing it in gasoline. I should have bought four gallons; nonetheless, I had enough to make sure nothing would be recovered from this arson.
At the bottom of the stairs, I made a split second decision to take all the alcohol from the bar. The MC went through cases like it was air. It wouldn’t hurt to up the inventory a little more, for free. It was better than letting good liquor go to waste, so I hauled the top shelf and beer, in quick succession to the trunk. After five trips, I had all the brother’s favorites and a few things out of our price range for a special occasion—like me being accepted as an official brother. One could hope.
I sealed the ground floor, making sure all the windows were closed before pouring gasoline. Once I ignited the fire downstairs, it would spread upward because there’s more oxygen up there. I still made use of the gasoline that was left. I wanted to make sure everything would be destroyed and once the second floor caved in whatever was left on the first floor would be useless.
I made my way from the stairs to the entrance in a big square. The dance floor could be left as is. No one would want it after the ceiling caved in, but the bar and the chairs around the dance floor needed to go as well. I worked mutinously, careful not to step in the gasoline or get any on me. This place was going to light up like a Christmas tree. I didn’t want to go up in flames with it.
I double checked my steps, making sure I left nothing. I’d worn gloves and brand new boots so there wouldn’t be tracks—the boots were going to be left to burn right along with this place or finger prints.
Then I flicked my lighter and lit a rag from the bar that I dipped in residual gasoline. Once lit, I threw it inside the door. The embers glowed as they leapt and twirled in the air before cascading to earth like gleeful fire fiends, setting alight the flammable liquid. I stepped back quickly from the onslaught of the heated blaze.
The flames consumed with a ravenous appetite, taking whatever it pleased. Its only criteria was if it could take it and reduce it to ash or something molten and foul, it would. The flames burned hot, short and violent with no care for what will be left behind.
Tendrils of smoke reached desperately into the sky, as if trying to escape the blazing inferno below. I jogged to my car and drove a small distance away, waiting to make sure the building didn’t somehow stay intact. I heard the windows explode in the distance and I smiled. Mission accomplished.
I sat waiting in the car until the fire trucks rolled up, but by then, it was too late. There was nothing to recover. Blue Nights was burned to the ground.